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earindle

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I am back to my daily work in the orchards. Earlier than usual, but the Faeries’ conversation and what has been happening for the past months has been haunting my dreams for a few days now. I know mother told me not to wonder or elucidate on the fire but I can’t help myself. This afternoon, I’ll go back to the opening and investigate around to see if I can’t find clues to answer my questions. Then, when I have time, I’ll go to the Old Witch’s house and ask her to recount the Faerie stories and what happened nearly a century ago. That’s as close as I can get to reveal my secret and if she interrogates me, I’ll just tell her that I’m interested. Afterwards, if I have enough courage, and if I get some time off, I’ll go back to my village, back to Bellock Hill and see what remains…

I enter the forest and, unlike last time, the birds seem very quiet. The stream appears to be anxious and the reflection of the trees and flowerbeds in the water unsure, broken. The atmosphere is heavy and weighs on me. I am eager to arrive at my destination, look around and go home. I have a feeling I am not the only one here, that someone is spying on me. Finally I arrive at the opening, every muscle in my body is tense. I jump every time I walk on a stick and it cracks. I am lost in a pool of toadstools and daffodils. There isn’t any trace of ever having been a Faerie gathering. I turn around and a young man appears from out of nowhere.

“-Hello.” The boy, or adult as there isn’t any trace of age, is standing there, staring at me. He is quite thin and tall yet has a strong build. His eyes do not let me know why he is there and his voice is plain, no tone whatsoever.

“-Why did you take me by surprise?” I ask in an angry voice stranger to me. I don’t know why but this person doesn’t make me feel at ease.

“-I’m sorry to have frightened you,” he answers. The words seem to flow out of his mouth as if he were singing. Suddenly, everything feels calm, the birds are singing louder than before. I relax; this man is very bizarre.

            “-It’s alright, I murmur.

            -I was looking for you, he says as if it were a very common thing to say.

            -You were? But who are you? I have never seen you!

            -Let me introduce myself. I am Erwin, just an ordinary Elf. You have never seen me, it is true, nor have you ever heard of me but I cannot explain to you why I am here. It would take too long and we don’t have that much time.”

            I gap at what he tells me. He must’ve seen the surprise in my eyes for he smiles at me. An Elf, and just an ordinary one! First the Faeries and now an Elf and who’s looking for me. This must be more than just a coincidence. Maybe he can answer my questions. I look in his face. He has long blond hair almost as long as mine but I mine are red and wavy. I look to where his ears are and I see two points sticking out.

            “-Why were you looking for me? And how to you know who I am?

            -I just know that you are very special and that your name is Alienor. I can’t answer your questions now. However you must listen to me. I know this might appear very surprising but this is extremely important. You must run away. Take the main road to Fenraldia!”

How does he know my name? I can’t trust him! Yet as I think about it I know that I’ll do what he tells me to do. Why, though? Every time he talks, my stomach lurches. Perhaps I feel that way because he is an Elf… Also he’s the second person to tell me to run away. Mother must really have known something I didn’t.

            “-What is Fenraldia? I have never heard of it.

            -Take the main road through Darlock Forest to the Sper Mountains. Fenraldia is the Elf city. I will meet you in a short time.

            -Why should I trust you?

            -Because you must! Alienor, you have witnessed something that will change history and you play a very important role in it. What do I have to do to gain your trust?

            -Erwin, how do you know what I have lived and seen? The only way to gain my trust would be to answer my questions.

            -I have been watching over you for a while now. I cannot tell you whose orders they are though, nor can I answer many questions. I am sworn to secrecy.”

            What have I to lose anyway? I hate my life here and I’m sure that if I follow him, I’ll get answers to my questions. Maybe mother would want me to go that way. He seems reliable and from what I’ve heard Elves cannot lie.

            “-Alright. Do I have to leave now?

            -No, wait until tomorrow at dawn. Do not tell anyone that you are leaving. The police will be looking for you, but don’t worry, everything will be fine. I must leave you now. Farewell Alienor.

            -Wait! Do you know anything about the Dragon?” But he’s left and so must I. I wonder if I have made the right choice…

********

            It is dawn and I have just entered Darlock Forest. Before leaving, I stole some provisions from the food storage because I don’t know for how long I’ll be walking. However, I know that I’ll have a lot of time to think. I must be very special. First the fire with me as the only survivor, than the meeting of the Faeries, and now with Erwin. And that mysterious girl Dragon. What if it was I? Dragons aren’t sensitive to fire and the Faeries were talking about one being extremely important. If Erwin was spying on me than he must have seen the Faerie gathering too, and therefore they have everything wrong. They are not the only ones anymore to know about the world’s fate. What I realize is that this journey will be a long one and it will change my life forever. And if I am the girl everyone is looking for, I know that I will never pierce the heart of a Dragon…

Earindle

                                       Copyright ©2007 Earindle