Chapter 20
Pressing
onward again, the group finally came upon what had to be the deepest, darkest
part of the forest any of them (besides Pandora) had ever been in.
"This
is it," she said, stopping suddenly.
"This
is what?" asked Ian.
"This
is my home," said Pandora.
"Kinda
lonely, ain't it?" suggested Dabble.
"No,
not out here!" she laughed. "In there!" Pandora pointed
to a tree not far from where they stood. The tree looked fairly normal and was
not of a disproportionate size. Everyone nodded in understanding except Dabble
who looked even more confused.
"What?"
he demanded. "You've gotta be..." Before he could finish, there was a
yell from above them and within seconds of the beginning of the yell, an
awkward looking young dryad fell from the tree, providing the end of the yell.
She was caught by a strong looking vine around her ankle that jerked her away
from the ground just before her head hit and let her bob above it wildly until
Ian stopped her.
"Thanks!"
said the dryad eagerly, as he helped her undo the vine. "Gee whiz, you're
strong! Pandora, you're back! I knew you'd come back, I told everyone you'd be
back! Who're you're friends? Do you like what I did with the vine? Now I don't
have to worry about falling out anymore! Hey, where did you go for so long? Mother
Ona was worried and..."
"Wiji,
slow down!" said Pandora. "Not everyone's used to your rapid fire
conversation."
"Oh,
sorry," said the dryad. "Sometimes I forget most other beings have a
lower tolerance for excess chatter."
"Oh,
I don't know about that," said Magbert, looking at Crystal. "I'd say
we've weathered it pretty well lately."
"Well,
now, what was that supposed to mean?" Crystal demanded, hands on her hips
as she looked back at him.
"This
is Wiji, Mother Sipa's daughter," said Pandora before anyone else could
answer Crystal. "Mother Sipa lets the Council and its visitors house here
and Wiji keeps watch for anyone that needs to be let in. No one can go into the
tree without her or Mother Sipa."
"Well,
then how can this Duke guy get to them?" asked Dabble of Crystal, as she
flew over to sit near him.
"He
could start by taking down the tree after Wiji spills her info about it,"
replied Crystal softly.
"Mother
Ona will be so happy to have you back," gushed Wiji, practically dragging
Pandora to the tree of Mother Sipa and nearly upsetting Crystal and Dabble in
the process. "She hasn't let anyone have a decent minute peace since the
day you were supposed to return. I mean, I knew you were fine, but Mother Ona
just insisted that..."
"Wiji,
something has happened and I need to see my mother and the Council
members immediately. My friends, too," said Pandora.
"Oh,
right," agreed Wiji. "You don't wanna spend anymore time hanging
around here if you've got important info, that's for sure." She laid a
hand on the side of the tree and the tree trunk seemed to unfurl, revealing a
hidden entrance. She went inside and the group followed her. Once inside the
tree, its entrance disappeared, leaving them in an extremely wide passageway.
They followed Wiji for a short distance until they finally came out into the
open again, this time in a small sunlit courtyard surrounded by trees. Other
nymphs and dryads were in the clearing, but scattered abruptly upon seeing the
wayfarers. They continued to watch the group from a safer distance, marvelling
in audible whispers at Ian's height. Wiji continued to lead them toward another
tree, one much larger than the one they had come through earlier. When they had
reached it, she stopped them.
"You'll
have to stay here," said Wiji to Crystal and Dabble. Crystal flew off
Pandora's shoulder, grew herself to Magbert height, then let Dabble jump onto
her shoulder so Pandora could go in alone.
"She
has to explain herself to our Mothers," whispered Wiji, as Pandora
disappeared inside.
Pandora,
meanwhile, entered the Temple of Bios to find the Mothers of the Earth sitting
in a circle around the beam of light that poured in through the ceiling.
"Great Mothers of The Earth," she began reverently, falling to her
knees and bowing her head. "I have returned."
Child
of human and earth, rang a chorus of voices in her head. We welcome your
return. Your safety is always of great concern to us...
"Bah!"
snapped one of the women, jumping up. "I can't speak this way to my own
daughter!" She rushed to Pandora and embraced her fondly. "My dear
sweet Pandora, I was so worried!"
"Ona!"
came a reprimanding voice from one of the women.
"Let
her go, Trilla," came another. "Ona has but one daughter."
"I'm
alright, Mother," smiled Pandora. "I have so much news to tell
you..."
"Just
let me look at you first," said her mother, cupping Pandora's face in her
hands. "Thank Bios you're home safe!"
"I
was in danger for a while, mother. Gerald has taken over the kingdom and he
wouldn't let me come to warn you. He wants to kill us all!"
"I
had hoped Gerald would not ever replace your father," Mother Ona sighed.
"My
father is dead," answered Pandora, suddenly overwhelmed with the true
realization of the fact. She began to cry and her mother hugged her again.
"Oh,
darling, I know it must hurt to see him leave, but he is one with the Earth
now," said Ona comfortingly. "We here have felt his passing as well
and know his spirit has completed its journey. Be of good cheer for him."
Pandora
sobs slowly became less violent. She knew that her mother would know more than
anyone whether or not any spirit's journey to Bios had been successful. In
this, she could find a certain peace. "I...I have friends who helped me
escape Gerald and return home," said Pandora. "They're waiting
outside to meet you."
"Well,
then, why don't we go out and thank them?" She bowed to the other Mothers
in the temple, then she and Pandora went outside.
"This,
everyone, is my mother, Earth Mother Ona, High Priestess of the Nymphs of Alkin
Forest. Mother, these are my friends. This is Lokey, Magbert, Crystal and
Dabble. And this," she added, taking Ian's arm as she spoke, "is Ian.
He saved me from Gerald's soldiers."
"My
eternal thanks to you for saving my daughter," said Ona to Ian. "No
nymph in Alkin will ever forget this deed. And to the rest of you, thank you
for seeing her home safely. You," she frowned, looking at Lokey.
"Your father is combing the Forest trying to find you."
"Prince
Lokey of the Highbred Elves at your service, my lady," said Lokey, taking
a deep bow. "And, yes, I have been told he was looking for me. It is a
private matter I wish not to discuss."
Mother
Ona nodded, then looked at Crystal. "You are not a gnome, are you?"
she asked.
"Oh,
no," laughed Crystal, changing back and catching Dabble before he could
hit the ground. "It's just easier to be taller sometimes."
"Never
do that again!" said Dabble through his teeth, trying his best to relax
after his near-fall.
"And
a brownie!" laughed Mother Ona. "Never had I thought to see the day
where travellers were merely accompanied by brownies, rather than plagued by
them."
"Neither
did we," grumbled Ian, Lokey and Magbert at once.
"He's
a friend, mother," giggled Pandora. Dabble looked at them all
suspiciously, then muttered,
"I
know when I'm not wanted."
"You
knew that to start with, you little..." began Lokey.
"I
think the two of you could use a good night's rest," smiled Mother Ona.
"I
think we could all do with a little rest," agreed Magbert, baring his palm
so Crystal alight on it and set Dabble down.
"Then
let's get you all to bed," said Mother Ona, turning to lead them to
temporary bedding.
After
they had all found spaces to settle in for the night, Magbert and Crystal sat
talking to each other about the whole ordeal with Kathyrn. They traded off
during their moments together on who would grow or shrink to the other's size.
Tonight was Magbert's turn to shrink to Crystal's height.
"I
nearly lost you," he murmured, stroking her cheek lightly as they sat in a
small jewelry box Pandora had filled with a silk scarf for Crystal and Dabble
to sleep in.
"You
did for a while," she answered, taking his hand in hers. "But I'm
back now and I'm okay."
"But
you might not always be and I couldn't stand to lose you again. I mean, I'm
afraid to go to sleep for fear that you might not be there when I wake up,
Crys," said Magbert seriously.
"I
can take care of..." began Crystal.
"Not
always," said Magbert, "and that you have to admit.
Being spritenapped is not something you can guard effectively against,
especially if you're unconscious, right?" Crystal shrugged in reluctant
agreement, the scare from her very recent proof of this fact still with her.
"So, Miss I'm-Free-To-Get-Myself-Killed-Whenever-I-Feel-Like-It, how am I
to help you if I don't know where you are?"
Crystal
thought a moment, then said, "Oh, I know!" She clasped her hands
together and closed her eyes. Presently, light began to pour from the cracks in
her hands.
"Crystal,
what are you doing?" Magbert asked, looking at her strangely.
"Making
you a crystal," she replied in a strained voice. "I don't know why I
never thought of this before." The light in her hands grew bigger and
bigger until finally, Crystal relaxed with a gasp. Leaning back into Magbert's
arms, she held up a large chunk of pure crystal in the rising sunlight of the
new day.
"It's
beautiful," Magbert whispered, awestruck.
"It's
yours," said Crystal, wearily, passing it to him over his shoulder.
"It's how I got my name, but it hasn't made me anything special. It's a
talent that's been passed down through many generations of sprite women, but
they all seemed to make valuable stones. My mother's name was Sapphire, since
that's the kind she made and my grandmother's name was Ruby. My grandmother
before that was named Diamond. Now she was a woman who could really make
some precious stones! Why, once, she even..."
"This
Crystal will always be special to me," interrupted Magbert, giving Crystal
a squeeze and a kiss.
She
looked up at him shyly and giggled, then continued. "This crystal is actually
a part of me, which is why it took so much effort to make. If it had been
smaller, it would have been easier, but not as helpful to you."
"I'm
not sure I follow you," said Magbert, shaking his head.
"As
long as you have this crystal, Magbert, you'll have some sort of contact with
me. I mean, you might not have total knowledge of everything that happens to
me, but at least you can sleep now." She sat up and took a small pouch
that Magbert was wearing from around his neck, then placed the crystal inside
it.
"That's
got magic herbs in it," protested Magbert.
"That'll
help it some," said Crystal, retying the pouch. "Don't forget, it
won't grow when you do, so it'll be kinda small to you and I don't want you
losing it." Magbert nodded, then kissed her goodnight.
"I'll
treasure it always," he said. "And you as well."
"Oh,
Magbert! That's the..."
"Most
disgusting thing I've ever heard!" came a voice from outside the jewelry
box. "Can you snap it up a little, I'm kinda tired out here!"
"Just
a minute, Dabble!" replied Crystal. She turned to smile at Magbert, whose
face was contorted in annoyance.
"I'm
gonna kill that kid," he grumbled.
"Get
used to him," said Crystal. "He's my personal project now."
"I'll
project him, alright," said Magbert.
Crystal
giggled. He likes him, she thought to herself. He's trying not to,
but he does...!