The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 39

As they passed into the shade, Catriona shivered. It was much colder than she’d thought it would be. Isla didn’t seem to notice, and the stag went deeper, until he refused to go any further. They slid off his back. She barely listened as Isla spoke softly to the stag, too horrified by the damage around them.

Fallen trees were everywhere, the raw breaks still bleeding dark sap, like blood. Vines were already growing around them, encasing the trunks. The ground was torn up, like some great beast had dragged its claws through the earth, leaving deep gashes. Similar gashes could be seen on the few remaining trees that were standing.

“What…it’s terrible.”

“Yes. And it will get worse when we find him. This way.”

She followed the elemental deeper into the trees. As they walked, the words of the elementals proved true. The damage got worse, until there were no trees left standing, and not even the vines were growing over the discarded trunks.

They found Dvalin in the midst of the wreckage, almost in a crater. The earth around him was chopped and churned, piled high in some places, and showing deep holes in others. The elemental himself was kneeling, his head buried in his hands, and his tattoos glowing so angrily that the light almost blinded the princess. Tears came to her eyes at the obvious signs of his suffering, but what Isla did made her mouth drop open in shock.

“You’re being a blentyn.”

“Mynd i ffwrdd.” It was a snarl, almost more animal than human.

“Nonsense. Face it. Throwing tantrums and destroying the woods won’t get her back. You’re acting like a child.”

The dark elemental glared at his mother, scaring Catriona with the degree of pain in his eyes. Isla didn’t seem affected.

“You told her yourself. She’s only a human.”

Catriona drew in her breath in shock. She didn’t understand what could be gained by making his pain more acute. She didn’t speak though, seeing the glint in Dvalin’s eyes.

“You’ve lost her, carw dewr. You’re the one who pushed her away; broke her heart. How can you expect her to welcome you back with open arms? After you left her to be shamed?”

The ground rumbled, something Catriona was starting to learn showed his anger.

“Go away, Mam!”

Isla ignored his words, continuing. “Snap out of it. You told me yourself that she didn’t want to see you again. Why do you persist in chasing her? There are plenty of other girls out there.”

There was a crash, and Catriona nearly jumped out of her skin as a tree near them fell.

“Fi cariad ei!” he snapped, the ground shaking hard enough to cause Catriona to fall to her knees.

“Ah.” Isla’s sound of satisfaction had Catriona trying to stop her giggles. She took the elemental’s offered hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

“Isla?” she whispered, careful to keep her voice low. “What did he say?”

“That he loves her,” Isla replied, and addressed her son again. “So what are you going to do about it? Continue sulking like a child?”

He scowled at them both, and the earth rippled, carving another deep furrow in the ground. “I’m not a child.”

“You’re certainly acting like one. No wonder she continues to push you back.”

Catriona gasped. “Isla!”

Fury flared in Dvalin’s dark eyes, and his tattoos flashed almost white. “You never approved of her, did you?”

“What does it matter what I think?” his mother answered calmly. “You never listen.”

The princess couldn’t bear it. “Isla, stop! He’s hurting!”

Both of them looked at her, and she swallowed nervously, taking a cautionary step back.

“Don’t hurt him more,” she finished, her gaze flickering between them both. For a long moment, the earth continued to shake, but then it subsided, slowly. Isla turned and left, disappearing almost instantly. Her breath coming faster, the princess put her gaze on the earth elemental, trembling.

“Why do you care?” he asked, his voice softer. There was barely any trace of anger in it now, only curiosity. Catriona swallowed again.

“Because you’re hurt,” she whispered. “It’s not right to hurt you more.”

“And how do you know that I’m hurt? Did Mam tell you?”

She nodded slowly. He snorted with disgust and turned away.

“But I…I knew before that,” she managed to say. He paused, looking at her.

“You knew before?” he echoed, and she nodded again. “How?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I…I just did.”

He picked his way over to her, disregarding the destruction around them. “How?” he asked again.

She shook her head, her trembling turning to shaking. “I don’t know. The…” She shrugged again, unable to explain herself. “The earth told me.”

She saw surprise in his eyes, and then he grabbed her arm. She flinched away at the sudden movements, but he didn’t let go, towing her out of the forest.

However, when they returned to the house, Isla was nowhere to be found. The house was deserted, and the gardens empty.

“Where would she have gone?” Catriona asked, rubbing her wrist where he’d held her tightly. He looked at her, taking in her movements.

“Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “No.” She knew now that he wouldn’t dream of hurting her. “But where is she?”

He sighed, dropping into a chair. “She won’t be back for a while. It’s going to be just us for dinner.”

She felt herself go pale, but she nodded. “So she’ll be alright?”

“Yeah.” Despite his words, he looked worried. “It’s been a while since I yelled at her,” he admitted.

“She pushed you, though.” This was what she didn’t understand. “Why did she do that? She was worried about you before.”

“I know. She still is. But the easiest way to make me think is to do what she did. She knew what she was doing.”

“So why did she leave?”

“Because you remind of her someone. Someone she lost a long time ago.”

“Who?” It fascinated her, and she sat with him. “Do you know?”

He shook his head. “No. She refuses to tell me.” He heaved a big sigh, and got to his feet. “It’s a good thing she made this before she left,” he said ruefully. “Otherwise we’d be looking for berries in the forest.”

She couldn’t stop the giggles, and the reproachful look he gave her only made them worse.

Translations:

Mynd i ffwrdd – Go away

Cawr dewr – brave stag

Fi cariad ei – I love her