by TP Keane
Chapter 26
Ol?rin couldn't help but think about recent events as they sat in a small hollow mid-way up an ancient tree. It was Sudia's home, but for now, it was also theirs. He had never liked heights, but not wanting to appear to be an ungrateful guest, he said nothing. Instead, he kept his back firmly against the farthest wall away from the small opening which, if stepped through without a vine, would see him plummet to the forest floor and to his death.
The hollow was warm and dry. This made it easier for Ol?rin to forget how high up they were, unlike the cages they had first occupied. As much as he had tried to sleep on the first night, he couldn't, the moving of the vines and the swaying of the pod was all too much for his nerves. And so, he spent the long hours watching elves mill about, trying to imagine that they were on solid ground, to no avail.
After the decision of the Elders, all their weapons were moved into Sudia's home. Ol?rin had felt quite naked, and weaker, without the newly imbued staff. Being creatures of balance, Edwina's gift had drawn a few disapproving looks from the elves, and Ol?rin decided it was best to keep it within the safety of his hat, for now. Aramus, on the other hand, had strapped his silver sword around his waist again and returned the golden one to Aria. Ol?rin wasn't sure that it was such a good idea, but he kept his objections to himself.
Aramus had also removed the bandage from around his right wing, his wound now almost completely healed save for a few missing feathers. He sat on the floor with his back against the wall to Ol?rin's right, while Aria, forgoing her usual weighty armour in lieu of the blue dress, occupied a small bed to his left. It was a time of quiet contemplation in the treetop home, while they awaited for Sudia to return with some food.
"Ol?rin, what do you know of that young girl, Thalia?" Aria asked.
Ol?rin had been waiting for her to ask this question for some time. The truth was he knew very little about her, other than what he heard in the wizard's towers of Lothangard. But if anyone deserved to know that small nugget of information, it was Aria.
"Mirathall has asked me not to speak of it," he replied, twiddling a small bit of moss between his fingers.
"But she has something to do with the quest, doesn't she? I mean, how could she not? She bears the mark of Edwina and Dantet," Aria said.
"Although her mark may not be as obvious as Aramus's affliction, bearing such a symbol would leave Thalia open to the prejudices of others, as it did with Aramus," he said. "I am not sure that I would want her to suffer as he did, and by telling people of her prophecy, I cannot imagine it would do anything but."
Ol?rin saw Aramus furrow his brow as he spoke, and Aria instinctively looked toward him. Although the young man was hard to read, Aria's expression was clear as his sadness turned the corners of her mouth downward. Finally getting a glimpse into Aramus's soul, even if it was only through the queen, Ol?rin was despondent to know his miserable life truly had affected him.
"All I can tell you, is that it is a very good thing she is here," Ol?rin said. "Whether we succeed or fail, Thalia will be a catalyst that will see your brother on the throne."
"This prophecy is about Pearan?" Aria almost shouted, hopping off the small bed to take a step toward Ol?rin.
Aramus's interest seemed to have been piqued too.
"I didn't know you had a brother," he said.
"You have to tell me about this prophecy," Aria demanded, ignoring Aramus. "I have a right to know. Is Pearan in danger?"
"No, he is not," Ol?rin replied. "At least no more so than the rest of us. But you have to remember that I am not the only one who can have visions. The prophecy about Thalia was from one of the elves own seers. I cannot tell you what they saw, and I doubt that they will be persuaded to tell you either. All I know is her fate is intrinsically linked to Pearan's, and to Naretia's too. But that prophecy is more fluid, changing, than Aramus's. For now, the only danger I foresee for your brother, is if we should fail."
Ol?rin watched as Aria paced the small hollow, running one hand through her curly red hair and clenching the other so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Aramus seemed to pick up on her agitation and shifted uncomfortably where he sat.
"Why, why does fate have to bring my brother into this?" she fumed. "It can have me all it likes, but not my brother."
"We are all brought into this," Ol?rin replied. "Whether fate sees us live or die, the events that take place, which we help to take place, will affect us all. But prophecies are not set in stone. Should we succeed, then I hope Thalia and Pearan's path might be very different. In fact, I should think that they would never meet at all."
Aria plopped herself back down on the small bed with a long sigh.
"You truly love your brother, don't you?" Aramus asked her.
"I would die for him," she replied without hesitation.
Aramus smiled, and this seemed to irritate Aria.
"Why are you smiling?" she snapped.
The young man's smile faded and he fixed his eyes on his boots.
"It's nice to see, that's all," he replied.
Aria didn't look convinced. She studied Aramus, her eyebrows knitting together so fiercely Ol?rin thought she might stay that way forever, but she said nothing. She didn't say anything when Sudia returned on a vine and glided gracefully into the hollow, either. Her furrow only deepened when Aramus's eyes couldn't help but follow the elf around the small room.
"Some food," Sudia said, placing a small leaf of nuts and berries on each of their laps.
"Good thing Bernard isn't here," Ol?rin said, attempting to lighten the mood. "I've never known a dwarf to be content if there wasn't a copious amount of roasted meat and ale at a meal."
