The Stone of Life

Chapter 3

I could see the beauty that this place had once held, now the shrubbery and forest had taken it for its own. I had always imagined what the lost ruins would look like, but what I saw now was nothing compared to that. This place was once the centre of light eleven soceity and believed to be where the stone was forged, and that it had been hidden in its orignal place of creation.

The walls were still intact, covered in lush vines. The roof had fallen down long ago and now the remains lay scattered across the leaf cover ground. I made my way into the centre where there once stood a fountain that now lay dormant, covered in dirt and debris.

The soft humming of tree pixies whispered through the air, they were the ones who guarded sacred places such as this, on orders of the high elven society. I knew I was being watched but I didn't mind as they only harmed those with negative intentions.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for but I could feel that I would just know when I saw it. Unfortunately as the minutes rolled by and every rock had been unturned I still stood with empty hands.

My fathers words danced through my head, "It's just a fantasy." As I came to realised that maybe he was right, I fell down to my knees. The cold stones seeped through my dress as I knelt there sobbing.

After what seemed like hours I picked myself up and dusted away the leaves and dirt. Swinging my satchel and bow around my shoulder I looked up to the sky. Through a gap in the trees I could see the orange glow of the sitting sun.

Taking a deep breath I set forward to walk through the night. As I left the ruins behind the soft sound of the pixies drifted away and I was left with the silence of the forest. As I wandered deeper into the dark forest there was one thought that haunted me to the core.

Dry of tears I knew that I couldn't go back, I didn't have the strength to face my disappointed father or see my mothers hopeful face break when I told her the truth. I did however know that I had to say goodbye to my sister.

.......

I had been stuck standing in the same spot for minutes just looking at the place I had grown up in, memories of playing and laughing left a bitter taste in my mouth. With all my courage I placed one foot in front of the other and entered the house. It had been close to a month since I had left in search for the mythical stone of life.

It was the dead of night meaning that everyone was asleep. Quietly I closed the wooden door and tiptoed into Lillian's room. It was if she hadn't changed, she lay as still as ever with her hair now tied into two French braids.

With the light of the moon shining through her window I could see the soft brown freckles that dusted her nose and cheeks. Coming to sit by her side I picked up one of her hands and held it in mine.

"Please forgive me," I whispered as a tear rolled down onto her chest.

Lightly kissing her hand I stood up and cast one last glance at my beloved sister. Slowly I crept back into my room and gathered everything that I needed or loved into one big bag.

As I walked past my parents room I felt a twinge of guilt, not only were they going to lose one daughter but both. Taking my final steps out of the house I continued down the dirt path.

A small light flickered in my peripheral vision, slightly moving my head my eyes glued onto a dark figure standing in my parents window; my father.

Even as I moved further and further away from Ardel the lingering image of my fathers shadow lay burnt into my memory.