by Sharon Gibbs
‘You shouldn’t have let him leave the Keep’s grounds,’ Elle said as she passed by Eron and headed towards the boy.
Christopher raised his hand to the giant. ‘I wouldn’t bother, Eron. There are no words which will pacify the lady at present. You did as the young boy asked, and to accompany him was better than letting him wander off alone.’
‘I couldn’t refuse him. He is a wizard just as you are. If you asked the same of me, I would have no choice except to follow your wishes. It matters not the size of the wizard, only that you are who you are. That is why we were created.’
‘He is a wizard?’
‘Yes. He may be small, but he is a fine wizard. One of hopes and dreams. The tree would not have survived if not for the boy. He has done what only one other before him has. He has brought Elune to life.’
Christopher walked over to join the others gathered under the tree. He could hear the excitement in the boy’s voice as he chirped out the details of his adventure.
‘So what did you do when you ran out of food?’ Shyla asked.
‘Elune fed me.’
Shyla whispered to the boy, ‘Who is Elune?’
‘She’s the lady of the tree. She would talk to me at night and she knew when I was hungry.’
‘That’s silly. Trees can’t talk, Finch.’
Christopher reached up and touched the tree’s bright green leaves. ‘On the contrary. Shyla,’ he said. ‘This tree is the mother of the wizards’ magic. She may be capable of many things we are unaware of.’
Finch reached into his pocket and pulled out the stones from the fruit. ‘I saved the pips for Henry.’
Christopher looked at the round seeds in the boy’s hand, and they resembled the speckled ones he’d previously seen in the Wizards’ enclave. ‘Henry will be pleased,’ he said and smiled at the boy. His grandfather’s words whispered to him, stirring memories from long ago. There is only one Tree of Life, but to collect the seeds is a difficult thing, for they cannot be plucked from the tree. One has to wait until the tree is ready to let its seed fall and if the seed isn’t found soon after its release, it will disintegrate into the soil.
Elle studied the towering tree. ‘Didn’t magic exist long before the Tree of Life?’
‘Yes, but there are many types of magic. Our gifts somehow are connected to the tree. Elune’s mother Morgana was the first to bring the gift to this land. She was a healer, and both of her children were born with the magic. There are stories in the Wizards’ scriptures of how Elune’s love for the people was equal to the love she’d found with her husband. A love that would last the test of time. When he planted the tree on her grave, somehow her magic was transformed. She is our guardian and provides the balance needed in our world.’
Finch walked up to the trunk. ‘She is the Lady of life,’ he said, studying the towering branches overhead.
Christopher walked up to the boy and placed his hand on his shoulder. ‘We need to head home, Finch.’
‘I cannot leave. I swore an oath to stay with her until she could survive on her own.’
Elle moved next to the boy and slid her fingers over the silken trunk. ‘She is sturdy and her branches spread wide. You have fulfilled your pledge. Look up there,’ she said to him. ‘Do you see those green buds?’
Finch looked to where she pointed and nodded.
‘Well soon they’ll burst with new leaves. She is strong, Finch, and you can come back to check on her whenever you like.’
‘Do you promise?’
‘Cross my heart,’ she said as she traced her finger over her chest. ‘Just let us know next time you plan on heading out.’
‘I will.’ He wrapped his arms around the tree and pressed his cheek against the trunk. ‘I must leave now. Thank you for taking care of me.’ As he let go of the tree he looked up at Elle.
‘Are you ready now?’
‘Are you sure I can come back any time?’
‘I’m sure,’ she said. ‘It’s time to go home.
Chapter Sixty-two
Victor sat by the warmth of the hearth as the storm rumbled to the east, and he watched the old woman pack what she needed. The seer carried baskets and sacks out to the hand-cart under the rickety lean-to. She made sure she stacked her supplies well before she threw an oiled skin over the top and tucked in the sides to keep everything secure.
Returning inside, she lifted her cup from the old wooden stump and sipped the warm brew. Victor barked and then whined as the cup fell from her hand and the old woman slumped in the chair. He licked at her wrinkled hand and it quivered with his touch. With a yelp he jumped back as her arm twitched and flicked about. Her body shuddered and her faithful companion retreated to the safety of a shadowy corner to wait. The seer’s body writhed in the shabby wooden chair, her foot flicked out to catch the broken cup and send it skipping across the floor. Victor cowered further into the corner and growled. The scattered tea leaves displayed a pattern which he did not understand.
A cry stole from the old woman’s lips as her back arched away from the safety of the chair and a trickle of blood ran down her forehead to seep along her nose. Beneath the rivulet of blood her wrinkled skin split and, writhing inside the husk of the old woman, the being trapped inside struggled to escape. With a thrust, the old hag’s scalp tore open and peeled down her back as the woman inside tore free of her bindings. She rose pushing the rest of her confinements to the floor and stepped out into the flickering light of the fire. Making her way outside, dripping with gore, she went to the wooden barrel of rain water next to the front steps.
Victor padded behind her and sat on the sun bleached porch to watch as she poured bucket after bucket over her head to rinse off the bloody muck. It had been so long since he’d seen her standing naked before him and he wagged his tail. Her long dark curls dripped a rosy red as she washed away the taint of her tomb. When she had finished she re-entered the house and slipped the dress over her head which had hung on the back of the door. Making her way down the steps again she headed over to the rickety lean-to where she had left the hand-cart and lifting the handle she called out to her love. ‘Come, Victor. The spell is broken and we must be on our way.’
With a bark, Victor scampered down the steps and trotted after his love. Helene was finally free to continue her quest.
Epilogue
Two months later the inhabitants of the Keep were preparing for winter. There was wood to be stored for the cold months ahead and feed for the livestock needed to be sorted. But today none of that mattered as the ceremony was about to begin.
On the high plateau of the Keep amidst the fresh mountain air, the guests from afar had gathered to watch the two be joined. In the early morning light they walked through the crowd hand in hand to join Brother Clarence under the oak tree. Clarence smiled at them both and began to read from the scriptures they had chosen.
‘For each of us there comes a time when we need to leave our old life behind and begin a new journey. Today we bear witness to such an event by the ritual of the Joining.’
Clarence’s voice filled the air and the breeze carried his words for all to hear. Henry smiled as he remembered when he and Eleanor had stood under the very same tree. It was time, time for a new beginning.
As Clarence spoke the final words of the Joining, Finch raced from the Keep in search of Henry. He dashed up to his side and tugged on the old wizard’s sleeve.
‘What is it, lad? They’re just about to complete the ritual with a kiss.’ He looked back just as Saul leant forward and embraced Carrie. Finch tugged on Christopher’s hand. Smiling, he looked at the boy.
‘What’s wrong, Finch?’
Finch swallowed. ‘I’ve had a dream.’
Henry’s attention turned to the boy and he looked up at his grandson. ‘Oh, dear.’
The End
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