The Last Elf
Page 3
wiped a tear from his. A blinding flash of light came from out of the sky and to any who were looking, it seemed that a winged horse was soaring down to Earth. A moment later, the wind had died down and the dark descended and the only sound was the whisper of the pine trees singing farewell to Meriandor, the Elf.
Rosemary bent down and picked a flower off the ground. She turned and ran to the porch and holding onto her grandmother's skirt, she sobbed into the folds of the soft cotton. Tears welled in Grandma's eyes and Rosemary looked up at her to see that she held a flower, too. They looked at the flowers each held in her hand and as they looked the flowers turned to crystal.
"Good-bye, Meriandor," called Grandma.
To Rosemary she said, "I remember him now and I miss him. But I'm glad he made it, at last. He needs his family and his home."
Rosemary looked into her grandmother's eyes and saw deep understanding, and patience, and lasting love. She knew she'd always find strength in her grandparents when she needed it. And she understood what Meriandor had told her and Grandma had quietly shown her, that she must make her own life and live with what is real and be strong and patient and understanding.
"It's time for me, too, Grandma. I'm going home."
"I know, dear."
As she held her little girl close to her, they saw in the sky, mounted on the horse's back, a shining star that gleamed with a brilliant light that was not so much green, as it was blue. And through the crystal clear night, they watched until it disappeared deep into the heavens.