REALM'S END (BOOK OF FEY 1) (13 page)

Meeting Dembys

Gwenth sighed and moved back through the inner cavern. Briok still had not told her the story of Lillith, though she felt too exhausted to really care. She just wanted to lie down. Sitting down in the warm sand, she thought of all the things that were different here, and of all the things that were similar too. Moving her eyes across the crystal wall, a shimmer of light caught her eye. She forced her exhausted body up again, left the warm sand behind, and walked over to the wall where Briok had pointed out the translator stone. She reached toward the stone, and then hesitated, before her courage reasserted itself and she placed her fingertip lightly on the tiny purple stone.

Abruptly the cavern air felt heavy, and there was a pressure behind her eyes. Instead of being pulled forward into the wall this time, it felt as if the wall was waiting for her to take action and step through. Steeling herself she took a deep breath and stepped forward. A rush of disorientation came over her. Once more she found herself in the small room with no windows, which she now knew to be inside the body of the Great Rowan.

“So you came back did you? I wondered if you would.”

Gwenth turned and found Lillith sitting alone at the small branch like table which held a single tea cup. Smiling at her, she walked over. “Yes I came back. I need some answers, and it seems as if they are hard to get.”

“Oh is that it, or is it more likely that you don’t want the answers you are getting?”

Gwenth was surprised by Lillith’s reply. She gave the young Fey a searing look; all the while Lillith sat smiling in a completely beguiling way at her, finally Gwenth couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, I suppose you are right. I am having a very hard time, you see, believing this is all real.”

Lillith jumped lightly from her seat. “Here sit down I will get us another cup of tea, and answer as many questions as I can,” and then Lillith disappeared.

Gwenth sat down gently on the branch bent into a seat and let her eyes roam about the room, her mind struggled to comprehend. It was a little unsettling to consider that she was inside of a living tree.

Lillith reappeared.  Setting the second cup down on the table, she looked at the tree a moment and another seat appeared, fashioning itself from the tree wall. Lillith pulled the seat closer to the table and sat down. Her hand reached out and she patted Gwenth’s knee, while she poured tea with the other hand.

“How did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make a seat from the tree?”

“Oh that. Well, I asked the tree in my mind. We are connected that way and she provided it, that’s all.”

Gwenth picked up her tea cup and sipped at the warm spicy drink. So I’m sure you have your reservations about my saving you? You know I don’t know any magic right?”

“Ah, so that’s it. You are afraid of not being able to save me. The Rowan, says not to worry; you are ready now, just as you are. You will use your magic when you need it.”

“How is it you can talk with the Rowan like that?”

“The Rowan says it is like when you were young and talked with your little doggie back home. You knew she answered you though you couldn’t say so to anyone.”

Gwenth mulled this over in her mind. She did think the dog had talked with her, but had never said so. “Alright, I don’t know how the Rowan would know that, but it is so. “

Lillith’s orange eyes watched Gwenth, “Isn’t there more you want to ask,” Lillith said, as she sipped her tea.

“Yes I suppose there is, probably much more if truth be known. How did this place come to be and how does the Rowan know of my world? How can you and I be related? Am I a witch then or a Fey? How am I going to get home supposing I do manage to save you? What if I can’t save you?”

Lillith put her small hand up at his point. “Whoa, slow down, too many questions at once and the Rowan will only confuse me. First off you came here from the magic in you and in the Rowan, because you are related by ancestry, so it is within you to just come. You will always know home in the same way that your Scotland will always be home too, so will this place always call to you because it is in your blood to know. As for blood, well on one side or the other you are Fey, but Rowan says you are more too something even stronger, not a witch exactly, she thinks, perhaps a young Goddess. As for getting home a way will present itself, though none of us know what that way is as of right now and if you can’t save me then we will both die, because I am your ancestor, so by the very fact you are here you clearly will save me. Now can I ask you a question?”

Gwenth stared at the calm young fairy. She sat her tea cup back down. “Yes of course,” she said.

“How is Briok?”

“Briok, oh well Briok is fine, though he is cantankerous if you ask me, and somewhat rude, but he is alright I suppose.”

Lillith laughed, “Well that is a new side of him I’ve never seen, cantankerous and rude. Of course he was younger, when I was first imprisoned here but he was such always such a gentle wee lad then.”

Gwenth was startled. “Younger then you; that can’t possibly be, he is clearly older than I am and I would guess you are younger than I am.”

“Well that is where you are wrong. When I was imprisoned I was much older then he, it is only the Rowan’s powers that has kept my youth in-tact, while everyone outside has gone on ageing. As for your age, surely Briok told you how we age much slower. Even he is many hundreds of years older than you are right now.”

Gwenth blushed and looked down at her lap, “He did tell me; it’s just so hard to believe. So it’s true then. Do all the Fey live such long lives? He seems so much like the age of the boys back home; it’s hard to remember he’s older.”

Lillith nodded.

“Does the Rowan have anything to say about how I am to go about freeing you?”

“She says only that it will be much like when you would lie on the heather and dream your stories awake.”

“Dream my stories awake? What does she mean by that?”

“I have no idea, I hoped you would know.”

“How does she know about my dreaming, and how do you two communicate? I can’t hear anything or anyone talking.”

“She knows from plucking the energy from your aura. Everyone has energy coming from them all the time. She is just better at reading it then most. She says you are easy to read, and while normally she thinks you should learn some protection, it seems useful, somehow, so she will not bother you with lessons for now. As for the communicating, I am with her, in her, of her now. It is like knowing your own mind, but bigger I think. We cannot be separated except in death. She could speak to you directly, but she feels even that may be too much for you.”

Gwenth sat quietly for a while, and considered all Lillith had shared.  She looked at the Fey girl, and she sense there was some bit of knowledge she was forgetting, but it was if it was stuck in the corner of her mind and would not come loose.

“Rowan want’s to ask you a question if you please?”

Gwenth leaned over the table toward Lillith, “Yes of course,” Gwenth said.

“She wonders why you have not befriended the translator stone yet. It is said that the future one will speak clearly with the traveling stones.”

Gwenth felt flustered. “I…I don’t know how to befriend a stone. I don’t even think stones can be befriended, can they? Maybe this is just another sign I’m not the one you’ve been waiting for.”

“The Rowan says you must make friends with them, as you would any friend and offer assistance, and ask them for guidance. They are waiting to be of help. She says you should go back now, and do this and she also says don’t be afraid to touch the stones, Briok was wrong in that.”

Lillith stood and disappeared momentarily. While she was gone Gwenth looked around again at the smooth walls of the room, she saw something she hadn’t noticed before, thin dark lines that ringed the room and she saw how the tree used those thin rings pressing them outward, to provide all that the young Fey needed, from the table and chair to a place to rest, even shelves and cubbies seemed to grow right out of the tree’s inner walls. Gwenth felt unsure and more than a little lost. How could any of this be real?

Popping back into the room, Lillith held a small net bag. “Here is some fruit for your evening meal,” Lillith said. “The Rowan wants you to watch your dreams tonight, for they may teach you much. She will send you back through the door now.” Lillith stepped forward and shyly hugged Gwenth. “Take care little one, we will dream of your success,” Lillith said, stepping back.

Gwenth bowed. “I hope that will help and thank you both.”

Gwenth unexpectedly found herself looking at the crystal wall across the deep cavern; all the stones seemed to be reflecting her image back at her. Perhaps it was only a dream, but then she looked down and saw the bag of fruit in her hand. “Hmm, make friends with the stone wall. Ok I wonder how I go about that.”

Gwenth took the fruit over and sat down in the warm sand, in the place that had oddly begun to feel like home, or at least a safe haven which was far better to her mind than a prison. Through the top of the doorway Gwenth could see it was dark outside, but here inside the cavern the walls glowed softly. She pondered her assignment from the Rowan, as she ate the fruit. Jumping up suddenly, Gwenth went to the wall and spoke. “Hi, I’m Gwenth, would you like to be my friend. I can offer you my assistance and I have some sacred water and fruit to share.” She stood still waiting several minutes, but nothing happened. Feeling silly she turned and wandered back to sit down once again in the sand. Gwenth was puzzled and as she continued to eat she let her mind wander, trying to guess what actions she should take. “Perhaps I need to talk directly to the translator stone,” as soon as the words were out of her mouth the soft glowing walls brightened sharply, then once again faded back to a soft glow.  Standing up she dusted herself off and once more walked back to the wall and quickly located the tiny translator stone. Gwenth felt rather silly, but cleared her throat, “Hi, I’m Gwenth and I wanted to tell you I think you are so beautiful, and all your friends too.” At this the stones all grew visibly brighter and stayed brighter. “So you can hear me,” Gwenth said her own voice bright with pleasure. “Wonderful! Would you like to be friends? I have water and fruit if you would like some, though I don’t know if stones eat fruit and the Rowan says I should offer my assistance, which I’m happy to do.” Again the stones grew still brighter.

Suddenly the walls began to vibrate. Gwenth became afraid as the ground began to shake, and she let out a screech, as she hurried back to the soft sands.

“Child there is no reason to fear, we were just sharing a moment of joy that you have finally spoken to us.”

Gwenth’s eyes grew wide for the voice came from all around her. She could feel her heart pounding, thumping hard inside her chest.

“We of the ancient stone people are delighted, and while we don’t eat fruit, if you would pour a few drops of water over me, we all could delight in that.”

Gwenth’s hands shook, and her voice squeaked, in an unrecognizable high pitch when she opened her mouth to speak. “Ah sure, but who is me,” she asked?  She coughed trying to clear her throat and regain her composure.

“I am the one you call, the translator stone. I can communicate with you and the other stones as well. It is my purpose to share with the others, and with all who learn the ways of the stone tribe. I also translate languages to help people communicate better.”

At this Gwenth retrieved the water flask and took it directly to the wall, and poured out several small drops of water onto the tiny stone.

The wall suddenly flared up brightly and then a sound of cracking could be heard echoing throughout the cavern. “Do not be alarmed child, it’s is just us being refreshed, from the sacred waters.” Right before Gwenth’s eyes the translator stone came away from the wall and fell to the sand.

“Oh no,” Gwenth fell to her knees and there in the sand lay the beautiful stone, a long slender purple crystal glowing brightly.

“Don’t fear my child, this was always meant to happen. I am free to go with you now and we will give aid to you in the coming time ahead. Please, it’s alright. Pick me up.”

Gwenth reached down and gently picked up the stone. She gently brushed the sand from the stone’s crystalline faces. “Truly I never meant to hurt you?”

“Let your mind be at rest dear one, there was no pain I could not stand. Unlike your own race our race is not so afraid to face pain to grow. We are the oldest race in the Realm, no others came before us, and when all die they eventually return to us. Even the Rowan and the Realm are young compared to us.  Please take me over and sit upon the warm sands. It will sooth and help you to calm yourself. I don’t wish my people to be the cause of any fear for you.”

Gwenth took the stone to the sand and settled herself in; it did indeed feel better to sit down in the warmth.  She couldn’t imagine how she could be so tired, but she was.

“Thank you for befriending us, we have waited a long time for your arrival. Drink some of the water and then lie back and rest. Put me down at your head so that I may listen to your dreams. The cavern will protect you tonight, while you sleep.”

Gwenth did as she was told. She drank thirstily from the flask and even before she could put her head down, she felt the healing bubbles running through her. Carefully she laid the stone near her head after she lay back in the warm sands. “Oh my, I forgot to ask your name?”