Greenstone

by C E Johnson

  “When will the elves reveal themselves?” Anna peered darkly into the thick forest.

  “I imagine right now we’re being tracked by several elf riders on green dragons.” Dr. D peered upwards, where fragments of light penetrated the dense canopy. “Is that true, Em?”

  Emily went into a mind-link with Ammolite to see what else she could learn. He’s correct, Ammolite informed Emily, passing along her vision from above. Emily could see elven dragon-riders just above the treetops.

  “Yes, there are several elf riders just above the trees looking down on our party. Ammolite’s staying out of their range and using her camouflage. They haven’t detected her yet.”

  “Not many people enter the elf lands without the elves knowing what they’re doing.” There was a hint of admiration in Dr. D’s voice.

  As they continued through the forest, the path that they rode upon became more difficult to follow and began to blend into the forest floor. The trees had the most massive trunks Emily had ever seen, huge towering magnificent structures that stretched to the sky. She could feel something drawing her onward, and using this sensation along with her mind-link with her dragon bondsmate, she was able to guide them directly toward the center of the forest.

  Xena left Emily’s side and quested forward, scouting ahead silently. There are elven warriors just ahead of your position, she whispered.

  Isabelle’s horse whickered softly as she urged her mare next to Emily, who was at the front their group. Isabelle quieted Dormienda with a caress and a hushed word. “I’m beginning to notice quick darting motions running alongside our group.” Isabelle gesturing ahead of them. Her face was full of wonder.

  Emily and Isabelle both gasped as the path emerged into an open glade where a contingent of around fifty elf warriors waited on horseback. Every elf present had an aura of some sort. The majority were blue and green, but the periphery of their auras was the riveting feature. Whorls of streaming multi-colors surged against the fringes of the auras in convoluted sweeps of patterns and designs. Emily caught her breath, wondering if her heart was big enough to hold her happiness at the sight of the many hues.

  The lead elf looked young and lean, wearing leather armor, but his eyes were filled with knowledge, giving a better clue to his actual age. There was a tree etched into his steel breast plate and a green cloak hung from his broad shoulders.

  “He’s so handsome,” Anna gushed to Emily in a whisper from her position just behind Emily. He had jet black hair that was pulled back in a short pony tail and his lips curled up slightly to reveal a hint of a smile.

  The lead elf gave a graceful bow from horseback in the direction of Dr. D and Emily. “I’m Crittenden Quercus, lead warrior of Queen Elaina.” He put his heels into his steed, urging his horse forward and reining to a halt beside Emily. He reached out his arm in her direction, and almost instinctually Emily mirrored his motion, her hand locking on his forearm. Crittenden nodded, and Emily felt lost for a moment. She found herself drowning in his deep green elven eyes, wiser than she could imagine was possible, and in his perfectly formed mouth. Her heart began to flutter with a most peculiar rhythm as he spoke to her, “Welcome home, Emily Dalton, princess of the forest.”

  The other warriors on horseback gave a nod of approval. They sat proudly in their saddles in matching plate and leather armor. Each squad-member had a longsword, nearly hidden under dark green cloaks, along with unstrung longbows fastened to the sides of their horses.

  “It’s good to be home.” Emily smiled. Her throat felt dry and she could feel a flush creep up her neck. She tried to straighten her hair which suddenly felt extremely disorderly. “I know you,” she stammered to Crittenden as she studied his aura-signature. “You saved me.”

  “How did he save you?” Luke asked sharply, he sounded confused.

  “He kicked at Cyril’s head when I entered Eusebius.” Emily could picture the scene.

  “You’re correct, my princess, we last met by the gates of Eusebius when I was investigating Cyril for our queen. I saw your conflict and noticed your elven aura.” He released her arm. “I didn’t know your identity at that time. I was lucky enough to distract Cyril’s attention from you. Now that I realize who you are, I wish I’d helped you further.”

  Emily thought back to the evil in Cyril’s expression when he cornered her, and she tried to hide a sudden shudder that went down her spine as she remembered that daunting moment. She recounted the event to her father and friends, “Cyril used a spell in an attempt to overtake my mind, but Crittenden’s kick threw Cyril off balance and gave me time to escape.” Emily inclined her head to honor the warrior, “You were wonderful to help me with a sacrifice that I’ll never forget.”

  Luke was swiftly at her side, appearing tense, “I’m helping to watch over her now.”

  Crittenden smiled warmly at Luke, and Emily could see the elf studying Luke’s broadsword. “Well, then, I think I’d better teach you a few sword maneuvers for that weapon. Techniques that only the elves know, so you can help me protect our princess.”

  Luke smiled, all of a sudden appearing more at ease. Emily knew that anyone who would teach Luke something about swords would become a friend for life. “I’d appreciate that.” The concern completely melted away from Luke’s face.

  Their auras are beautiful, Emily whispered to Ammolite.

  Their multi-colored auras represent fragments of all the visible spectrum of the light of Acacia, Ammolite explained. Next to the dragons, they’re the closest approximation to creatures using and fusing with the fabric of the world. The lights emanating from the very forest appeared to be in harmony with the beautiful creatures. Emily wanted to talk to Crittenden further, but she fell silent, distracted by the muscles in his arms.

  “We need to move quickly.” Crittenden led his column of mounted warriors out of the glade. “The queen wishes to have an audience with her daughter and with King Dalton of Angkor tonight.” Crittenden didn’t look at Dr. D as he spoke, and Emily thought she could sense an underlying tension between him and her father. Her father voluntarily went to the back of the column.

  Emily urged her stallion to catch up with Crittenden. Xena bounded by her side. “Impressive bondsmate.” Crittenden motioned toward Xena.

  “A Doberman,” Emily giggled as Xena pranced proudly in front of her horse.

  Look at the size of that elk, Xena gushed while darting to chase a creature with massive antlers through the woods.

  Don’t kill it, Emily implored her bondsmate. She studied Crittenden’s steed. “Your horses are a different breed from ours.” The horses of the elves were tall with a golden metallic-sheen. They were palomino in color, but more similar to a horse breed on Earth called an Akhal-Teke. Their coats seemed to shimmer in the light filtering down through the trees, and their large almond shaped eyes, slim bodies, and prominent chests reminded her of a sleek greyhound.

  “These are Botai, the fastest horses on Acacia over a long ride, bred for their endurance. Graceful and athletic.”

  “They’re beautiful,” Isabelle murmured from her position just behind Emily. “You’re such a good rider, Crittenden.”

  Emily turned back to Isabelle and rolled her eyes at Isabelle’s obvious flirting.

  “They’re very intelligent and usually allow only one rider at a time,” Crittenden explained, “almost like a bondsmate.”

  As they continued their course, Emily began to see sturdy houses made of wood, decorated in intricate carvings, both in trees and on the ground. Crittenden saw the direction of her gaze. “An elf may start a house anywhere they choose within the forest. No one owns the land or the trees and we’re free to build where we want. The majority of our citizens live near the Queen Tree, the Nuwa tree, where your mother lives, at the center of our forest. The power of the forest is greatest by our Queen Tree, and our magus is the strongest there.”

  A cluster of green dragons appeared through a crack in the branches above, gliding silently on the wind. “Where d
o your green dragons live?” Elizabeth stared upward.

  “The green dragons live in our larger trees near the core of the forest high in the branches where they receive the most sunlight. The greater the heat, the greater the size a dragon may attain. Our dragons are relatively small, only able to carry one or two elves comfortably, dwarfed by the large dragons born near volcanoes or in the desert.”

  “Do many elves have bondsmates?” Luke asked, glancing at the elven warriors. “I don’t see any among your squad.”

  Crittenden answered slowly, “You’re correct, there aren’t many bondsmates among the elves. For most, the forest is our only bondsmate.” He took a deep breath of the cool clean air and gestured toward the old trees surrounding them. “Some do bond with our green dragons and I’ve been honored to interact with the hatchlings of two broods of green dragons, but I wasn’t selected. The honor of a bondsmate is wonderful, and I would love to bond, but there are also negatives for us. Elves lose much of our attachment and power from the forest when the vinculum occurs, and I’ve learned to find peace with my current path. I’ve decided not to undergo another brood selection. We also live so long that there isn’t the age benefit that so many humans on Acacia desire through a bonding.”

  Xena returned, bounding through the forest. She was panting with her tongue lolling out. A light breeze arose and Xena sniffed the air. Emily closed her eyes to mentally sample the wind through Xena’s nose. There was a scent of pollen, hidden fruit and flowers, mixed with moist earth and rich grass. “Are there orchards near here?”

  Crittenden arched an eyebrow at her, appearing impressed. “We do have food-fields scattered through our woods and our main orchard is not too far away.”

  “Does Emily’s mother have a bondsmate?” Anna moved her horse up next to Crittenden, artfully cutting Emily off and placing herself directly next to the handsome warrior. She began to play with her hair while batting her long eyelashes in his direction.

  Crittenden awarded her a generous smile, appearing amused by her obvious antics. “No, but she has an extremely powerful bond with the forest that helps her better rule our kingdom. She’s a great leader and we all missed her when she chose to live outside the forest in the past.”

  Emily nodded thoughtfully. “I think I understand why you’re angry with my father … he took her away from the forest.”

  “Are my feelings so shallow?” Crittenden sighed. “I’m not angry with your father, Princess. I’m thoroughly impressed by any Acacean who can win the love of an elf. I only worry that he plans to take her away from us again. Sometimes I wonder if she should have married an elf instead of your father, such as Shadoe, one of our greatest mages.” Crittenden stopped speaking for a moment. “But then, we wouldn’t have you. Excuse me for my words.” Emily smiled at his obvious discomfort.

  Crittenden continued. “I don’t like to see any elf leave the forest, but especially our queen. Our powers are not as great outside our realm and she’s more vulnerable outside our lands.”

  Elven houses still blended in with the trees and forest, but they were becoming more ornate and closer together as the buildings became larger. Children and older elves became more numerous, coming forward to observe their party with interest. As the sunlight began to fade, they arrived in the central core of the forest where a monolithical tree, by far the largest tree Emily had ever seen, stood at the edge of an enormous body of water. Portions of the branches swept out over the lake-like area, while the other side of the tree stretched over a field filled with intricately shaped gardens and flowers. There was a rounded grassy area, which was open to the sky, and a group of elf dragon-riders in a ‘V’ shaped formation landed in the open field like planes descending on a runway.

  The main trunk of the tree was obscured by a fascinating brown and green structure that looked like a tree-castle. There was a wide main building at the base of the tree, forming a foundation, before rising steadily in circling spires of carved artwork soaring toward the heavens. Portions of the castle were extending outward along larger branches, with smaller branches extending through gleaming turrets of silver and coppery bronze.

  More dragons began to land, both on the field and on rounded platforms scattered within the main tree. “We try and build to accommodate our dragons any way we can,” Crittenden laughed, nodding toward the castle where a riderless group of small, adolescent-appearing dragons began to land while jostling with each other.

  “This is a much larger city than I had pictured.” Emily studied scores of ships dotting the body of water at the base of the tree that was so broad Emily could barely see the distant shore. Many ships were berthed along a great dock in a still harbor, with others going and coming from a river that exited to the north and disappeared, meandering through the forest.

  “We keep up good ties with our other cities of elves.” Crittenden reined to a halt gesturing toward the great body of water. “This is the Vatten Sea.”

  Groomsmen ran up to take their horses. Emily and her group dismounted, and Crittenden led them through great gates of wood, bound with gold and silver, into the ground floor of the castle. After passing through several guardhouses, they entered halls that were filled with artwork. Statues of wood and stone stood proud sentry, and paintings incorporating primarily scenes of nature and dragons bedecked the walls. They continued to ascend a variety of staircases until they were at a level high in the tree.

  “The queen is through there,” Crittenden motioned ahead toward doors of a light ironwood, “in the Tower Room. She wanted to meet with you and your father alone. I’ll take your friends and give them a tour of other portions the Nuwa tree.” Anna and Isabelle instantly latched themselves onto each of Crittenden’s arms. Isabelle glanced back at Emily and teasingly stuck out her tongue. Luke rolled his eyes at Emily and followed Crittenden with Elizabeth. Emily could hear their excited talk slowly fade away as Crittenden led them down the main staircase.

  I’m scared, Emily thought to Xena while shaking with nervous excitement. A lump was growing in her throat.

  You’ve been too long without your mother, Xena reflected. Emily could sense Xena was just as excited as she was.

  Her father walked up next to her with Dax on his shoulder. His eyes gleamed as he leaned toward her, giving her a small hug. Emily knocked on two solid great double wooden doors, which were quickly opened by two bald elves in rich green silk robes. Each had a pointed beard, one black streaked with gray and the other brown. They bowed to her and her father before walking outside the room and closing the doors behind them.

  Emily gazed around in amazement. There were no ceilings and light streamed down through the open roof that was partially covered by green and bronze leaves and by the sturdy limbs of the massive tree. There were tables and chairs that were made of a dark wood with carvings of dragons. Emily noticed steps that led up into an orderly garden with plants and flowers cascading adjacent to the stairs. The buildings and nature were interwoven together nearly seamlessly. “Have you been here before?” Emily asked her father.

  “Yes, I first met your mother in this room. I was traveling through Acacia, trying to learn more about portals. When I came here to talk with the queen, I was captivated by her perfection, intelligence, and beauty … I didn’t leave her side for several years.”

  “Just as I was captivated by your daring explorations and your stories of Earth.” Queen Elaina spoke to Dr. D while gracefully descending the steps from the garden. Emily turned and was instantly dazzled by a rich green aura with the most striking pattern of multi-colors at the periphery that she had ever seen in an elf. Her aura suggested wisdom, foresight, and enlightenment. Emily felt so overjoyed, she worried her heart would burst. Queen Elaina was staring at her with piercing green eyes that seemed to delve deep into her very soul. She spoke so softly, Emily wondering if she was speaking to herself. “I can’t believe that I’m looking upon my daughter.”

  Ignoring protocol, Emily ran to her mother and hugged her, burying
her face into her mother’s dress. As she held her mother, she began to cry with huge sobs that came from nowhere, shaking her body. Emily felt her father join them, putting his arms around both her and Elaina. Emily glanced up into her mother’s face with its smooth porcelain skin, high cheekbones and soft curves and witnessed tears of joy also streaming down her mother’s cheeks.

  The queen leaned over to give Dr. D a soft kiss. “Thank you for bringing back my daughter.”

  Dr. D beamed with pride. “I’m not finished. Aramis is also in this world and I plan to bring him to you soon.” Dr. D hugged them both tightly one more time, before he quietly departed the room through the great doors.

  Emily stared at her mother in awe, barely able to contain her happiness. This isn’t a dream, this is real, she repeated to herself over and over. Her mother’s elegance was exquisite, a timeless beauty, and she couldn’t begin to guess at her age. She was fairly tall, Emily’s height, and had long brown hair pulled back in a wraparound French side braid, with a delicate silver crown adorned with small silver leaves. Her movements were quick and dainty, like those of a ballerina, and she flowed with incredible grace. She led Emily to a couch, where Xena jumped onto a cushion to also introduce herself to the queen.

  “What a noble bondsmate.” Queen Elaina gave Xena her full attention for several minutes.

  I like her, Xena gave her approval as Elaina finished lavishing affection with long fingers with glittering nails that shimmered with inlaid jewels. Xena curled up, making gentle contact with their feet and closed her eyes.

  Elaina turned to Emily, visibly composed herself, and spoke in a hushed tone, “There has not been a single day... a single hour... that I haven’t thought about you. Now to actually look at your beautiful face, I’m overwhelmed. Next to giving birth to you and first seeing you, this is the happiest moment of my life. Now tell me all that I’ve missed.”