A Flower's Hope

Visiting the Keeper

He stared in the mirror. Fixing his hair, as much as he could. Tucking his necklace into his shirt. Today was the day. The Keeper would see Zoltan, something he has been fighting for years, he will do what Adabelle failed to.
"Zoltan!" A small child called to him "are you really seeing the Keeper?!" She beamed.
"Yes!" He smiled back at her, "then I'll come back and get you!" She giggled, her curly blonde hair bounced with her excitement.
"What job will the keeper give you!?" She gazed at him with wonder. "What do you want to be?"
"Any but a soldier, even then as long as you are safe, it's all I care about." He bent down and gave the girl a hug. She hugged him back, he felt her body shake.
"You aren't leaving forever are you?" She sobbed.
"Oh, Thalia." He hushed her. "Didn't I just say I was coming back for you?" She pulled back, tears staining her honey colored skin.
"Yeah" she mumbled. He kissed her forehead. "I believe you." She resigned with a sigh.
"Let us say our respects, then. Pray to Keeper that they'll let me keep my promise" He guided her out of the long hall ways of the nearly empty house and to the gardens. Kneeling before the flowers, they bowed their heads holding each other's hand.
"Keeper, under your protection and guidance we humbly ask that you allow happiness rule our hearts"
Thalia giggled, "Do you really think the Keeper can hear us from here?"
"Of course, the plants are the homes to the Keeper's children. So you keep praying to the Keeper, until I get back. Okay?" He smiled at her.
"Yes! Of course!" Her bright smiled never ceases to make him happy. Scuffing up her hair, he left the gardens. She stayed kneeling before the foxgloves, praying to the flowers.
"I will find us a new home" he promised. Today he is a man, eighteen years old. The Keeper finally saw Zoltan's worth and accepted his request. He readied his bag, placing it on his back. Helpful books, food, and clothes, were packed tightly inside. He slung his belt and short sword around his waist, and headed out of the house. The old oaken door stared him down.
"I'll be back one more time, then this damned door will no longer mock me" he thought, annoyed.
A bright day was ahead of him, the streets were busy. People were yelling, and horses carted produce. They stared as he past them, the town knew that the Keeper let the bottom of the barrel see them. Something that both peak their interest and their disgust.
"We should have been allowed to kill you, traitors" A boy about Zoltan's age, shouted.  Throwing a rotten tomato that smacked Zoltan in the back of the head, the people laughed. Zoltan's face burned with shame and embarrassment.
"I didn't choose my name nor my lineage" he wanted to shout back at them, but Adabelle had made that mistake. One that cost her freedom, and life. He kept his head down, "Thalia is the last of us. I can't let her live with this shame either." His head raced, as he made his way through the laughing crowd. "The Keeper is unbelievable kind, surely they have heard our prayers. Our dedication, and our suffering for the sins of our parents." He hoped. As the town started to fade into the distance, a forest came into view. The Keeper's temple was somwhere within the forest, only the spirits knew where. Spring was about, birds sang beautiful songs and flowers bloomed with vibrant hue. The tree's shined with a true viridescent shade, their live foliage protected the ground from the harsh sun rays. As Zoltan entered the woodland, he was overcome with a sense of wonderment. It seemed to be full of life, and the trees almost felt as if they were speaking to one another. Zoltan hummed Adabelle's lullaby, making sure he stayed on the well worn path. Remembering the stories told of people becoming lost forever in this forest kept Zoltan in check. Children giggling in the distance made Zoltan check his surroundings. His eyes darting, like a frighten deer in search of danger.
"Hello?" He called, placing his hand on his short sword. The giggling stopped.
"Hello." Was echoed back at him. The voice sound much like his own.
He smiled, forest spirits.
"I am Zoltan! And you?" He called back to them.
"Zoltan! I am Zoltan" they repeated, he grinned, they were playful today. Seems the Keeper has heard Thalia prayers.
"Then I must be the forest spirit!" He gleamed. "I am the honorable one who protects this forest!"
"No! No! You are Zoltan! We are Forest spirits"
"Oh? Then I guess you all know we're the Keeper's temple is then?" He pushed
"Yes! Yes! We follow the birds, for they know. But only the blue ones! The black birdies are nasty" they called back.
Zoltan thought for a moment "follow the blue birds.... They must nest at the temple." He looked to the sky, and found the blue Jays dancing above him.
"Ah! Thank you, kind and honorable forest spirits!"
"Zoltan should play! We like Zoltan" they giggled, tree roots rustled in the ground, rasing to stroke his ankles. 
"I'll bring my little sister later, we shall play then, I promise" he said assertively "But I must speak with the Keeper first!"
They continued to giggle, but agreed to Zoltan's promise. The blue birds were patiently staring at Zoltan, as if waiting for him to follow. He whistled a tune for them, they whistled back and flew off into the forest. Hesitant, Zoltan watched them, "I won't get lost, I have to save Thalia" he thought, placing a foot off of the beaten path. The birds were almost out of view, Zoltan chased after them. They lead him deeper and deeper into the woodlands. Finally, they landed on a large twisted tree that engrossed itself on the side of a boulder. Zoltan's blood ran cold, this wasn't the temple.
"They have to be right, forest spirits can't lie." He thought calmly. Exploring the tree, he placed his hand on it tracing the bark and started praying.A letter seemed to appear in the bark, then whole words.

The Keeper can only see the faithful. Those who wish to serve them, and the Forest of Semper Viridis. State your name, and seek our judgement.

"Zoltan" he whispered. Nothing, the forest continued to bustle. "Zoltan! I am Zoltan of the Aldara Clan the last of my people." He yelled, with confidence. The forest silenced itself. Goosebumps traveled down Zoltan's body. The tree groan, and shook, making the Blue Jays flee. Warping and untwisting the tree opened itself, beckoning him to enter the blackness. Unsure, he stepped through the tree. Pain shot through Zoltan's entire body, he tried pulling back but felt stuck. The more he pushed through, the more intense the pain became, the darkness enveloped all light, Zoltan cry out in agony. Until, a light shone through. He came upon a beautiful white marble temple. Fresh, sparkling blue water surrounding the building. The area was teeming with life, blue birds flew in the sky, and fish swam peacefully in the water. He felt around his neck quickly, the necklace was still there.
The forest spirits stopped their play with the squirrels to greet Zoltan.
"You are here!" They cried, the small little white wooden creatures ran to him. Each one looked like a different furry animal from the forest. They crawled up his pants and hugged him, he smiled. The Keeper truly did accept him, and even their children wanted to play with him. He held on to his new friends, as he step forward. He vision was hazy, the earth seemed to spin below him, and he lost feeling in his body. Darkness started to consumed his vision, as he fell to the ground. A figure of a beautiful young women came into his sight.

"Adabelle?" He mumbled before drifting into the void.