Blackthorn saw Wymsin's eyes widen. Clearly, she'd recognized the name. He was a little surprised. The names were a thousand years old. "If he is who he says he is, he's going to find himself very alone. His father's kingdom fell ten centuries ago. And yet he seems to recognize Madis."
The moon Priestess nodded as she nervously tucked a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear. Softly in Elven as to not interrupt Madis and the conversation inside the room she whispered. "That would make this young man over a thousand years old if this is true. The King Duvrion was wise and talented in the arts of arcane crafting. But I read that his line was wiped out assassinated... along with his sons Merrick, Judian, and Ells." She looked to her elven companion and licked her lips a story I remember reading about in my time at the mages guild. They had books on many things. Ancient history from around the world. I heard rumor that the King himself was even possibly a dragon, but I can't confirm it. Not sure how that works with offspring he doesn't look very draconic so perhaps the dragon thing was in reference to how he defended him homelands. I just recall after their passing they split his lands up into smaller territories. I suspect that where we are might even be a part of his old lands he ruled, but definitely not the heart of his country. "
She pursed her lips sighing softly. "If what he says is true, I don't know how he would handle knowing Orrin's family has... Passed beyond the veil. What are your thoughts on what is happening here?"
"Your history seems to have missed a son," Blackthorn replied. "I'd be more concerned with him trying to recover his lost kingdom. Nobles seem inordinately attached to things they think they own."
"Last of his line in a world that likely cares little about it. You two share that in common." Wymsin said wincing slightly realizing it wasn't super diplomatic. "Apologies I didn't mean for it to come out like that. But when the time comes perhaps, we can find a way to console him. What do you know of dragons? Have you ever met one before? Can they take human shape?"
"I take no offense," Blackthorn said. "He is, however, only the last of his line, whereas I am the last of my kind and couldn't give a fiddler's fuck about whether he is distraught or stoically unmoved by the news. There are always those who would seek favour and reward from one such as he. Should his existence be discovered, war would surely follow soon after."
The elf pursed his lips. "Four kinds. Black, green, rock, red and white. The more horns they have, the more powerful. It's been a while since any have been seen. They were likely hunted to extinction over a century ago. There are always stories but I've never come across a verifiable record of a dragon that could turn into a man. Or vice versa for that matter."
Wymsin nodded. She felt her heart race as she thought of the knowledge and ancient history that she could learn from the young man if he was willing to part any of his memory. History was important but she knew that she wasn't going to be foolish and just ask dozens of questions as she had when she had first met Blackthorn. "So, what do we do with him is the next question? He can't likely stay here, and we definitely don't need a pissed off half dragon man rampaging the country over something that happened a thousand years ago. I hope Madis knows what he's doing but if he doesn’t, I can't think of a way to subtly tell him that what we are dealing with here might be someone that is very dangerous if he provoke or upset him." The small priestess said in elven her face a stressed grimace.
"Are you two done muttering back there?" Madis's voice cut through their conversation blandly. He had yet to answer the golden-haired young man, who was watching him with a concerned look, chewing his lip. " "Was I perhaps wrong? Are you not my father's most trusted friend?"
Madis held a hand up to the young man as a gesture of patience.
"Not remotely," Blackthorn replied, lapsing back into a language he was certain Madis would understand. "We're discussing whether you were likely to introduce us to your old friend or whether you were going to continue denying that you are apparently older than dirt."
Wymsin’s mouth fell open at the comment as she looked at the Elf and how casually he just threw that comment out there. It seemed like she and him had something in common, a lack of tact or delicate hand at diplomacy when surprised. She was thankful Madis couldn't see her in the hallway as the crimson slowly crept up her cheeks and coloring the tips of her ears. She chose to slide her hood back up to hide herself in the meager shadows the hood offered feeling chided.
"as long as you put your arrow away." Madis said, an eyebrow raised as he looked towards the doorway. "Then you both may enter, and we can discuss my relationship with dirt to your heart's content."
The young man's face lit up and he stifled a laugh.
"Then you will have to be content to have only Wymsin join you," Blackthorn said. "I will stay here with my arrow ready." He met Madis' eyes squarely. He understood the need for personal secrets but this one was just a little too big to be easily forgiven.
"I am okay with staying out here and letting you two get acquainted...Or re-acquainted if you know each other? Or explaining that maybe you're more likely an ancestor and a dead ringer for this advisor since that is more likely and logical of the two choices rather than assuming you're as old as... Well, an elf..." Wymsin said shifting back into the common tongue speaking slowly trying to not offend as she leaned against the door frame.
Surprisingly, Madis chuckled. "What, blackthorn, do you think that I shall kill you now that you've discovered my terrible secret?" He said, moving so that his body was between the doorway and the apparent prince. "While it does complicate things, I have no intentions in doing so. Yes, I am who he says I am, yes, I am as old as...Dirt...as you say. No, no one else knows. No one needed to know."
Behind him, Raijin was just standing there in confused shock over the situation, and the golden-haired prince watched him, sensing the tension.
"How is that even possible?" Wymsin breathed softly at the confession. Humans had a life span of a century if they were fortunate. Perhaps a rare elixir to extend his life? Maybe he wasn't human but chose to pose as one? Perhaps a curse or maybe he was touched and blessed by the gods. She had so many questions but likely a barrage would only annoy the old man. Besides, they had a Prince that may or may not be a dragon or half dragon waiting for answers. Her questions would be paltry in comparison to his or so she assumed. Her silver eyes flicked back and forth to the people in the room and back to Blackthorns carefully neutral expression.
"You needn't fear me, Master," Blackthorn said. He nodded towards the door frame. "It is the rather vague use of the word Malice that holds me fast. I have no certainty that I could safely cross this portal. Your longevity is disconcerting at worst but hardly what I would consider problematic. I see no need to share your secret. It is yours and not mine, after all is said and done.
And it certainly expands the number of stories that we could share. I would be pleased to hear your perspective on times long past."
There was a faint shift in Madis's stance, as if he had somehow relaxed without truly seeming to. "Ah, yes. Magic can be tricky. “he glanced at Wymsin. " And I do not know for certain, although I begin to think it is somehow tied to my oath. " He then turned. "My prince, " he said with a sight bow and an odd pause as if he were pondering something. " As you have heard, you were indeed not mistaken. May I introduce my travelling companions." He introduced Raijin first as she was in the room. She wasn't exactly sure what to do so after an awkward moment she mimicked Madis. " And there are Blackthorn, my apprentice, and Wymsin, priestess of the moon goddess."
Wymsin gave the golden-haired lad a polite bow and a nod of her head.
The elf nodded but didn’t relax. He didn’t make it to the age he had achieved without paranoia.
"It truly is a pleasure to meet you all." Orrin said with a dazzling smile. "And Emos! I swear you haven't changed a bit! Well, except for your wardrobe that is. Ah! I feel terrible not being able to offer much hospitality. It would be wonderful to be able to sit and talk comfortably with you all, but, well... " he gave an elegant shrug. " The tower wasn't really meant to accommodate visitors, and I am not supposed to leave without Aravel. "
"She is fading," Raijin said softly.
Orrin looked alarmed and rushed towards the window leaning out to look. "Oh no! Her tree..."
Madis watched him with his usual unreadable look, then grunted. "Ah. Dryad."
"Her tree was struck during a storm," Raijin explained finally free to speak about some of her vision.
“Can we replant a seed?” Blackthorn asked. “If not for her then perhaps a child? I know little of dryads save what is common knowledge. Could she be saved that way?”
Madis turned. " We would have to look to see if there is a seed. " He looked to Orrin. " How long has she been protecting you?" He asked, finally understanding why they never found the tower before now. A greater dryad would have been able to draw people away with her magic.
Orrin looked back at Madis with a sheepish look. "I... Do not actually know. "
Madis looked thoughtful. "Let’s look then. You as well, my prince. I think to do so would be acceptable, given the circumstances."
The group left the tower heading back out into the night. Scout was tentatively sniffing the air as they left as Wymsin plumbed the depths of her memories trying to recall anything that might be helpful.
The concept and practice of taking care of plants from her days in the church and at the mages guild had given her some decent practice when it came to horticulture. Without plants you couldn't make potions, salves, or tinctures. "If we can find no seeds perhaps, we can try taking a cutting and cultivating it, but are Dryads not ones to lay with man to reproduce?"
“Or an elf,” Blackthorn said, nodding. “But hamadryads bind themselves to specific trees. If this Aravel’s tree is truly dying, she is likely to go mad from grief. If that happens, who knows how much damage someone of that power could do. Hopefully fortune favours us and the tree can be saved, a seed can be found, or a cutting will suffice as being the same tree.” The elf looked around in the darkness, seeking out the dryad’s tree. It had likely been hidden by magic like the tower but with the dryad’s life fading now both would be exposed. “A thousand years. She’s very old as it is. We might not be able to save her.”
"oh, she's not that old." Orrin said with a smile. He had been gently holding onto Madis's sleeve as they exited the tower and was looking around. "Although from the look of things it has been a long time since we last saw each other."
Madis looked at the young man, " is she the only one who took care of you?"
"Oh no, certainly not. But yes, the only dryad. We used to play together." His smile at the memory faded a bit. " Then things got dangerous again and she put me back to sleep." He said sadly, then shook his head. "This way."
He guided them through the dim light to where her tree stood, split by lightning, and dying. Madis stopped as he saw it, a shadow crossing his face for a moment. "You won't find a seed." He said after a moment.
“Not with that attitude,” Blackthorn muttered. He turned to Wymsin. “I’d wait until we got her permission before taking a cutting. With her tree that badly damaged, she might be a bit defensive.” He looked at the tree. “Aen Woedbeanna? How may one of the Aen Seishe aid you in your time of need?”
Wymsin nodded her eyes studying the tree. She had never laid eyes on a dryad before and had only read about them in books. Still, it was proving to be an educational experience and she wanted to try to commit as much as she could to memory so she could draw things out later on when she had time to add them to her sketchbook.
A withered face appeared between the crack in the tree, and soot fell down as the tree shifted further apart.
"Oh, Aravel..." Orrin sighed, sorrow in his melodic voice. He walked past them all to reach out a slender hand. " You should have woken me."
The dryad reached out a hand that was nothing more than thin twigs and brushed the golden-haired youth's outstretched hand lightly before she looked past him to blackthorn.
Orrin nodded. "she can't speak anymore, not out loud at least. She wants to know if I will be safe with you. "
"Certainly, safer than going alone. But by nature, our way of life and traveling on the roads and thru wilds does mean it is not without peril." Wymsin answered in earnest.
“If your lineage is discovered, you will not be safe anywhere, no matter your companions,” Blackthorn answered. “But if she asks for my oath to protect you come what may, she asks much of the last of the elves. Still a life could be well spent fulfilling a lesser oath to one such as she.”
"She doesn't have to ask for an oath from you, Blackthorn." Madis had spoken more this day than the elf had heard in all the time they'd known each other. "I gave his father an oath. It is for me to protect him now that I know he still lives. I do not expect any of you to share that task, although should you choose to stay, I will not turn you away."
Blackthorn turned to look at Madis. “As hard as it may be to believe, this isn’t about you,” the elf said.
Wymsin pointed heavenwards "A bit spread thin on oaths. The goddess received my oath many moons ago. The mages guild had their way of binding me as well. However, I travel where needed. Children of the moon we are all teachers, historians, sages, scribes, and chroniclers. Since having met you only a short while Master Madis, I've seen and experienced much. You draw the strange and unexpected your way."
Raijin gave Madis a bland look. "I am bound to you, just as Aravel is bound to her tree."
"It would seem no one is dissuaded. So, what comes next and what do we do with the young man in question? Do you have a plan?" Wymsin asked the grizzled hunter.
Madis crossed his arms, considering them with a raised eyebrow. " Not a damn clue. Blackthorn is right. If anyone finds out who he is, hell will come calling, to be sure. He can't stay here anymore though, not with the influx of slavers and the serious lack of magical protection."
"It will be fine, Aravel." Orrin told the dryad softly. "That's viceroy Emos. He was my father's best friend. I played on his knee when I was very little. It seems he has strong and honorable companions as well."
“You are overly generous with your praise and a poor judge of character,” Blackthorn said. “Honour has little to do with my nature.”
He turned to Aravel. “Is there aught we can do to save you?” he asked in the elder tongue. “I am no healer of trees but surely there must be something. Wymsin carries a great deal of knowledge of plants and in addition to serving the moon goddess is also a mage. Surely there is something. We could bind the split trunk together with stout rope or perhaps take a cutting, since Madis seems convinced that looking for a seed is pointless.”
While usually one to speak rarely on the common tongue, Blackthorn was almost talkative in his native language.
"I'm not so sure of that." Orrin told blackthorn with a cheeky grin, then looked at Aravel when he spoke to her directly. "Oh, Emos is right in a way. You won't find a seed until she dies. " His expression softened. "She's been holding on, hoping someone would come. Your arrival was almost too late. "
"So, there is nothing we can do for your dutiful retainer? Except make her comfortable?" Wymsin asked softly. She had so many questions...so many and yet this was likely not the time to ask them. The knowledge and answers were close enough to touch and yet she had to show patience and wait. The magic of mages came with a price she had that drilled into her head as a young candidate when she had joined the mages guild and undergone training. Her elven blood had made elemental magic come with some ease where others struggled, and the price paid for using it was less steep. However perhaps they could use transferal magic to take the life force of another tree to pour into the dryads tree. She voiced the idea to the group as the taking of a cutting and trying to cultivate it on the road seemed less plausible and successful. But then again it seemed like the only option that might work for certain. Still, it was a case of would a dryad be alright with her doing that to one of the other trees in the area…
Madis spoke up. "Even were that possible, think. Would it be a kind thing to keep her here? Say it works and she lives on. She is tied to this spot, where no doubt the appearance of the tower will draw the curious from town, or perhaps some of those slavers from earlier. She would know no peace."
Orrin tilted his head as he considered the half elf. "Aravel is one of many who protected me over the years. She is perhaps the one that taught me the most, the one I know most well. While I am saddened to see her go, I could never be so selfish as to keep her here for my sake." He told her.
Suddenly Madis grabbed his head and fell to a knee, gasping. To the others it appeared as if something had caused him great pain. His vision blurred as a memory swept through his mind that had been hidden to him. He and the king had been drinking and laughing, celebrating something. Perhaps a child? Yes, that seemed right, because the conversation turned to Madis's lack of relationship.
"One day, my friend, I hope you will find love and know the joy of fatherhood." The king had said, a heavy hand patting Madis's shoulder.
"Such things are not for me." He had scoffed, shaking his head. "No, I told you, didn't I? I owe you my life. Don't take my oath so lightly."
The king had chuckled. "Always so serious. Still, it is comforting to have such a trustworthy protector for my family. You will protect them for me, won't you?"
"Of course! I am yours to command, my King."
That heavy hand went to Madis's shoulder once more, clear blue eyes locking gaze with his own. " Then my command is this. Protect them when I cannot. But do not protect them with your life, Emos. Live to protect them."
A wave of dizziness had come over him then. At the time he had thought the drink had gone to his head, but now he remembered Duvrion had said something else after that, as he had gently laid his friends head on the table, so he wasn't injured. "I'm afraid I'm selfish after all. No doubt I've truly earned your ire now."
Wymsin's brow furrowed. She held her tongue but found it hard as she cast a look over to Blackthorn. She wanted to say something in particular. Her heart ached but she held fast and did not spit venom. She chose her words carefully, as diplomatically as she could instead." Abandoning your protector here after so many years of faithful service," She let out a heavy sigh. "If I recall and perhaps, I am wrong with her tree mostly dead is there not a chance she could go mad and attack any that come into this clearing? If you don't mind, I would like to take a clipping, if you are just going to leave her to her own demise. A small chance of survival is better than none at all. And a potted seedling is something that we could take with us. She is the first of her kind I have met, and I do not know how common her kind is, but it seems cruel to just abandon her. Centuries of knowledge and the things she has seen, the things she must know..."
Orrin gave that elegant shrug again, his face showing confusion. " Mad? Maybe one lesser than she." His brows furrowed as he looked over at Madis, who seemed in pain. " And Emos is right to say leaving her here would be a cruel thanks. I intend to bring her seed with us so that it can be planted somewhere beautiful." His blue eyes shifted back to her.
"How does that work. Will she regain her memories? Or is it akin to siring children? " Wymsin asked as she closed her silver eyes pressed her fingers to them. Perhaps it was her halfbreed heart that made her blood hot about the subject, then again maybe it was just her being herself, a later time she would ask the elf, but she wanted to know more and likely was coming across to the old man and the blonde as being difficult. She needed to know more to let her conscience be at peace.(edited)
"Beautiful to her or to you?" Blackthorn asked. "I suspect the two would be vastly different because yours would include some element of renewing her service. You seem concerned that she might meet slavers, when she would be safe in her tree and yet you seem to forget that she has been literally bound to your service for centuries. Whoever bound her to your protection was a cruel master, for I cannot see this being a choice for her. A thousand years ago, when your father was a noble loved enough to be overthrown, you all lived a parasite's life, you would not have thought twice about bending another to your will."
The elf looked at Madis. "Your oath is sworn to this one or his father? I trust you less. And I trust him not at all, especially when he speaks for the dryad. He claims they are her words, but I hear only his."
Orrin blinked. " Someone has obviously hurt you." He said to Blackthorn.
Madis shook his head, standing again. "He wasn't overthrown." He said softly. " He was murdered... they all were... by creatures I had never seen before and haven't since. "
Orrin's expression darkened at the mention of what happened to his family. He stepped away from the tree and to Madis's side. His blue eyes turned back to blackthorn. " You want to speak with her yourself? Go ahead. Touch her. But I'll tell you this, you won't get words. " He shrugged and turned to Wymsin. " To answer your question, it's like both. It would be her child and yet she would have access to ancestral memories, since you seem most concerned with the knowledge you would be denied by her death. Perhaps the elf was right, and I mistook the type of company my father's friend keeps. "
"Perhaps it best before we embark that we sit and parlay and have truth. I think you misunderstand my intentions. My concern was that you wished to murder her. And that for all her years of service she would be cast aside with little thought young man. The years of your slumber and I you expect that was a long passing of time, to lose her and not have someone that could catch you up on the current climate... That was part of my concern and not 'selfish reasons' if I do so lie may the goddess strike me dead where I stand right now." Wymsin said softly but her eyes locked the youths and did not back down. "I wished to not bombard you with questions before we took to the road but you sir, seem to have regained a certain level of piss and vinegar, so let us speak clearly and in earnest about things, unless you prefer to have your secrets...I feel the air needs clearing like a clouded night it seems a lack of knowledge has clouded things for many of us."
Raijin watched the exchange in silence. She moved towards Madis, pulling her cloak off freeing her wings. She peered at Orrin as he grouched about the others. In a gesture picked up from years spent with the grizzled hunter she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I could have been spared this vision," she muttered to Madis.
"I am familiar with the concept," Blackthorn said, in answer to Orrin's description of how communing with the dryad would be. "Mind to mind, concepts conveyed by touch. And I'm pretty sure murder counts as a way of overthrowing a kingdom, Madis."
He approached the dryad, laying aside his bow and unbuckling his sword belt. To Aravel he would kneel. To this relic from the past who had somehow escaped his family's fate and had no place in this time? Never.
My apologies if my harsh words to your charge offends you. That is not my intention. I would know if there was aught that could save your life. I am Blackthorn, last of the Everglade elves. I have seen far too many trees that I knew in my youth die to allow a hamadryad's tree to pass without at least an attempt to have both it and you. Tell me, woodsoul, how can I serve you in this desperate hour?(edited)
Wymsin settled her petite frame down onto the grass and sat cross legged as she watched Blackthorn go to the tree and touch it. She watched the golden-haired youth hoping that he would see that all she desired was clarification. Her dire wolf settled down beside her licking the side of her face as she let the time pass as the silence and the sound of the wind in the trees and the crickets song kept them company.
The fact was she had somehow managed to encounter something more mysterious and curious than anything she had seen in her time on earth. A decade of living in the church and learning the love, compassion, and skills necessary to become a member of the moon goddesses clergy, could not have prepared her for tonight. Neither did the decade of strict tutelage and training that came with the many harsh and dangerous lessons that the Mages Guild had challenged her with during her time with them in her hometown of Nicklebey.
Cast out into the world to do as she desired for the past five years, she felt a small kernel of self-doubt. They had not let her take the final rite at the guild of mages. The tower advisors and council had argued that due to her elven heritage she would live long and that she would serve them better if she were not to be placed at the side of a King or Queen to advise, but to be given time to traverse the world and cultivate her talents further before they settled on letting her take the final rite. No one would know of this with the exception of she and the council.
She suddenly was grateful for not being tied down with the unfortunate concept of being tied to a noble family and having to clean up their messes and yet somehow, she had managed to find herself in this strange situation. She had no claim on anything this much was true and should they ask her to shove off and leave them, she would have to respect that. Still, she had much she wanted to know before she could make a more informed decision, they were all interesting folks. Each with their own unique tale and flavor or origins. Madis the undying. Blackthorn the last Elf of the Everglades, Raijin the mysterious Plumekith, and then Narisha the hedge witch who seemingly found talk to be cheap and did so sparingly. They all had their own mysterious origins and secrets to be sure and now this blonde prince from a millennia ago. The truth and deeper understanding had to prevail, she told herself silently as she looked up to the sky at the shining moon as she bid her goddess to help her see with more clarity and let cooler heads prevail.
The dryad sent a feeling of peace to blackthorn. He got the impression that neither was she angry with him for his words, nor pained by her own situation. He received an image next, of hands taking something from her chest, followed by the image of that thing, which looked like a nut of some type, being planted near a waterfall.
Orrin sighed. "I was asleep for a long time. Aravel taught me everything she could, and there were others who did as well. Has it truly been a thousand years since that night?"
Madis grunted. "We both might have been spared. " He grumbled to Raijin. "It has, and I agree that a discussion should take place. As soon as my surly apprentice is finished, that is."
Orrin shrugged. " I am sure he has his reasons for being so sour. "
I will seek your waterfall and when I find it, I will bury your soulseed there and will keep it safe and help it grow. May there be peace in the shadow of your boughs.
He was reluctant to pull away, but he knew his reasons were selfish. If the dryad was prepared to for this version of her life to end, who was he to try and force her to remain? He would do as she bade him. No doubt Wymsin would assist.
Wymsin nodded as Madis agreed that they would have a chance to talk. Talking was good. Her eyes left the night sky to look upon Blackthorn as his hands slipped off the dying trees trunk. She cocked her head ever so slightly to the right as she studied his face in the moonlight looking to see what information had come from wood spirit and his silent conversation. She didn't want to burden the Dryad with touching her and asking her things if she was close to death, she would be a nuisance. Not being a full-blooded elf; it felt like it might be unwelcomed. Perhaps offensive and sacrilegious in a sense. A mixture of curiosity wonder and sadness filled her chest as she felt so ineffective and helpless. every thought and suggestion she could think of was starting to look like it was not going to be enough. A small pang of hope that a seed could be planted. It wouldn't be a new life for the dryad, but a continuation of her line and the ancestral memories would live on in the new tree and creature that grew. Perhaps they could find somewhere far from the reaches of man to plant her seed so she would not have to worry about man's axes and fire.
