by Tom Liberman
“It has a long name which would just confuse you,” said Dahlia. “Foreigners simply call it an Acanthus Wafer or even more simply an Elf Wafer. We do not eat meat here in Acanthus and hunting of wild beasts is strictly forbidden.”
“Do not the rabbits eventually overrun all your crops?” asked Rhia for she had just spotted a long-eared bunny hopping along the trail.
“There are hawks a plenty in the forest.”
“They eat meat,” said Rhia. “Should not they be banned from the wood?”
Dahlia laughed, “It is not an unreasonable argument. Perhaps you can take it up with the queen when you meet her.”
“We are to meet the queen?” said Rhia attempting to feign astonishment.
Dahlia laughed again, a musical sound, “Of course. You travel with …,” and then came that same little musical song. “I would be greatly derelict should I not bring her before the queen.”
Mike rolled her eyes, “My name is Mike.”
Dahlia looked at her and smiled, “Mi-ke?” she said carefully.
“Yes,” said Mike. “That’s my name.”
Dahlia laughed, “It is not very pretty.”
“It’s not supposed to be pretty,” said Mike. “It’s just a stupid name.”
Dahlia laughed again, “We are almost to Acanthus. We do not tolerate violence. Any such behavior will result in your being expelled from the forest. We will have to find dresses for you to wear to the royal court as your current attire is not appropriate. If this is not acceptable you can simply wait in the guest chambers.”
“Dresses?” asked Rhia who had refused to wear dresses after her fifth birthday. “I’m not sure if I can tolerate that.”
“That is acceptable,” said Dahlia. “If you do not wish to wear a dress then you can simply wait for us to finish. Be assured that I will find you something appropriate.”
“I’ll have to see it first,” said Rhia shaking her head. “I don’t have the figure for a dress,” she said and made a muscle. “I’m built for fighting not dancing.”
Dahlia laughed again, the girl seemed to do a lot of that, “I understand completely. We often entertain guests of many races and there are dresses for all body types. Please trust me. I’m sure the queen will want to meet companions of … Mi-ke.”
Mike gave off a loud sigh, “I suppose there is no way for me to skip out on the meeting?”
Dahlia shook her head, “Oh no. You will be an honored guest. Much preparation has been made for your coming. You have not visited us in several years. The queen is much disturbed by your absence. You are, after all, in line behind her own children for the throne of Acanthus. There are many here who hoped that you might show better judgment than your mother in this regard. Acanthus has much to offer.”
Mike stopped and looked at Dahlia, “Better judgment?”
Dahlia’s eyes opened wide, “It is not for me to say. I have spoken out of turn. Please forgive me. The queen will more fully explain the hopes of the people of Acanthus.”
Mike looked at the young elf girl and frowned, “Hopes of the people of Acanthus?”
“I am sorry,” said the girl bowing low. “I should not have said anything.”
“Fine,” said Mike turning to Rhia and Marianna. “I suppose it has been a while since I’ve been here. It would be wise to make a good impression.”
Rhia nodded her head and gave off a loud sigh. Then her eyes opened on wonder as they came to the outskirts of the great Tree City of the elves in Acanthus. Beautiful homes soared into the sky seemingly built into the massive trunks that rose high above them. The trees were shaped to allow sunlight to sparkle down in scintillating patterns that reflected on strategically placed ponds, mirrors, and sparkly rocks. Colors exploded in all directions and the sound of singing birds intermingled with stringed instruments and the voices of some chorus of singers hidden away. “I … I … I …,” said Rhia standing and staring in awe at the beauty of the place.
Marianna just stood with her jaw wide open with a wide-eyed stare. Her eyes darted from one marvel to the next. On one side of the clearing there was a fountain whose jets seemed to defy the laws of motion. Above their heads a flock of brightly colored birds flew in an intricate pattern. Nearby a group of small deer waggled their tails while drinking from a fountain. It was one wonder after the next and Rhia and Mike simply stood and stared.
“You will have time to explore the city later,” said Dahlia, giving Rhia and Marianna a gentle nudge on their shoulders. “We must get you fitted for a visit to the court. Come along, come along. There is much to do and the Queen awaits.”
“I could stay here forever,” said Marianna as they allowed Dahlia to lead them over to a large tree. A little wooden lift awaited and sent them soaring to the sky once they boarded. It was worked by ropes although Rhia could not fathom exactly how and assumed magic must be involved.
Marianna gasped as the view of the city expanded as they rose. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world.”
Mike rolled her eyes but also smiled and took in the sites. It had been several years since her last visit and she was only a girl at the time.
“Mike,” said Rhia, also stunned by the beauty of city. “Why didn’t you tell us it was like this?”
“It’s not that great,” said Mike frowning.
“It’s the most beautiful place in the world,” said Marianna smiling.
“I’ve been a lot more places than Marianna,” said Rhia. “But I don’t think I can disagree with her. If I lived here, I don’t think I’d ever want to go anywhere else. The rest of the world is ugly compared to this.”
Mike sighed, “Fine, it’s pretty. I grant you that.”
Rhia laughed and muttered under her voice to Marianna as they allowed themselves to be led away, “Pretty, yes I suppose you might call it that.”
Mike watched Dahlia lead away her friends and then turned back toward the center of the city. A handsome young man with a little silver crown upon his head nodded to Mike, “Cousin,” he said and bowed with a flourish.
“Cousin,” said Mike with an almost imperceptible little curtsy.
“My mother awaits. You have been away too long,” he said and waved with his hand further into the city. “You remember the way?”
Mike nodded her head and strode past the young man. They walked past marvel after marvel as great houses soared both above and below them. They traversed from tree to tree on little wooden walkways guarded by vines to prevent a misstep. Eventually they came to a huge tree in the center of the city that soared above those around it. The boy lifted a hand and a massive bird carrying a simple basket carriage took flight from the upper reaches of the tree and landed on a thick branch nearby, apparently designed for the purpose. The carriage swung to a halt in front of them and the boy stepped across with a movement of extreme grace apparently not concerned by the fifty foot drop below him. Mike followed although her movements were not as smooth.
The bird took flight and they flew across the gap to a massive, many-tiered structure built into the giant tree. The bird landed and the carriage slowly swung to a stop. The boy opened the little door and they jumped to a wooden platform.
Mike walked off but stopped as the walkway went into two directions.
“To your left, cousin dear,” said the boy with a motion of his hand.
“Why thank you, dearest cousin,” said Mike and again dropped into an almost imperceptible curtsy.
They walked for a ways and the path suddenly seemed familiar to Mike and she made all the correct turns. It had been years since she’d done it but somehow the feel of the place was coming back to her, as if she had been born to traverse such glorious heights. Soon they arrived in front of a green door woven of leaves.
“Mother awaits,” said the boy and bowed again.
“Thank you for your kind escort,” said Mike and this time gave a deeper curtsy.
She turned to the door and opened it. The throne room of the elves who ruled the Ac
anthus Forest was both elegant, stunning, and yet simple. The throne was a delicate thing of growing wood emerging from the floor and spiraling up to the ceiling of the ancient chamber. Beautifully woven rugs depicting natural scenes covered the floor and tapestries of the same ilk hung from the wall. Seated on the throne was an elf woman with long blonde hair that flowed down past her mid-back and curled in luxurious waves all around her body. “Aunt Ellesia,” said Mike and dropped into a deep curtsy.
“My darling angel, my only niece,” said the woman with a broad smile. “I cannot tell you how lovely it is to see you after all these years. Your mother has, no doubt, poisoned your mind to the beauty of the birthright she abandoned. But here you are and the difficulties between your mother and myself do not involve you.”
Mike rose up and smiled, “Mother does not speak much of Acanthus.” The reality was that her mother almost never spoke of the forest except to urge Mike to visit her relatives more frequently. The fact of her absence was far more her own stubbornness than that of her mother, but she decided not to tell her aunt. “She is preoccupied with running the villa and surrounding gardens.”
“Frankly I do not care to what we owe this great pleasure,” said the queen with a smile as she stood up from her throne and walked over to Mike. “What has she done to your hair? Is she so determined to strip you of your nature, or is she perhaps jealous of your beauty. She was always a petty one, my sister.”
“I chose to do this so I might travel the countryside unrecognizable and as a boy. Mother hated it as much as you,” said Mike with a laugh and embraced her aunt. “It is good to be back here though.”
“Back home,” corrected Queen Ellesia with a gentle prod. “This is your home and it will always be so. Your mother chose to forego her birthright and that was her foolish choice but you belong among us, and you will always be welcome. Please my royal ears and tell me that you plan to stay. It will make your mother so furious!”
Mike stared at the woman for a moment and narrowed her eyes, “I never knew you felt this way, Aunt Ellesia. How come you never told me before?”
The queen smiled and patted Mike on the hand, “Come sit down. Refreshments!” she called out and young elf boys immediately emerged carrying trays with artfully decorated treats. The queen led Mike over to a pair of small chairs at a table, all of which were apparently alive and growing, and motioned for her to sit down. “You were but a girl. I didn’t not wish to interject myself between you and your mother. She made her wishes quite clear. But you are an adult now and can make your own decisions in life. Your mother no more controls you than do I.”
“That’s right, I’m an adult now,” said Mike taking some of the sweet cakes.
“Something to drink?” said Ellesia and clapped her hands. More boys and more trays appeared. This time they carried tall glasses containing liquids with all the colors of the rainbow. “I remember you liked the lemon sweet when you were a girl.” She reached for one of the yellow and green colored drinks, pulled it from the tray, and handed it to Mike. “Enjoy, my darling niece. This is such a happy occasion.”
“What did my mother make clear?” asked Mike taking the drink and sipping it. It was very sweet, almost too sweet. She remembered loving it as a girl but now it was somehow not as good. “You don’t have any dwarf stout by any chance?”
Ellesia laughed aloud, “What a prankster you are, my little Sunset. The only proper thing your mother ever did was give you a good elven name. Your mother’s actions made it very clear that she did not want you raised here in Acanthus. She acquiesced to that horrible little dwarf of a father you have.”
“He’s not horrible,” said Mike standing up and crossing her arms across her chest. “What are you talking about?”
“A common soldier,” said Ellesia shaking her head. “Your mother was the most beautiful woman in Acanthus. Elf princes from a thousand miles away came to visit her even when she was just a girl. I remember the fuss, don’t you think I’ve forgotten how they shoved me to the back. She did it to spite our mother you know. A dwarf? A commoner with no money. No, it was not love at all. She did it to hurt your grandmother and grandfather. She was always petty.”
“No money,” said Mike more as a statement than a question and she was still standing. “But we have that villa. It’s lovely and there’s plenty of money.”
Ellesia laughed a bitter laugh, “Of course she was happy to turn her back on Acanthus and all the wonderful things here, but did she turn her back on her jewels? No, of course not. Those should have been mine! Mine. Instead they built that awful villa.”
“It not awful,” said Mike taking a step back. “You’ve never visited so how would you know?”
“And I never will visit!” said the queen shaking her head. “And you should never want to go back to that awful place and those awful dwarves. I don’t know if anyone ever told you, but your grandfather on that side of the family was nothing more than an escaped slave.”
“Paw-paw?” said Mike looking at the woman.
“Never say that again,” said Ellesia. “What a vulgar way to refer to your grandfather. Your mother raised you just like that awful brother of yours. At least you were given beauty and brains. We can work on your manners, your courtesy, you are not beyond saving. The first time I saw your brother … what a shock that was. I feared the worst when your mother got pregnant a second time but then you came along. It proves good elf stock wins out in the end.”
“Ironhead isn’t that awful,” said Mike surprised that she was defending her awful older brother.
“That name,” said Ellesia cooling herself with an elaborate fan decorated with gemstones that she pulled from a small fold in her dress apparently designed for the purpose. “Horrendous. It broke your grandmother’s heart. Broke it. I remember her having to hold him when he was a baby. Disgusting. I refused of course but she still loved your mother, all the way to the end she defended your mother’s decision. Your mother was the favored one. But we can put all that behind us now,” concluded the queen with a smile and patted Mike on the hand. “You’re our little Golden Sunset now and you never have to go back to that terrible place.”
Mike stood there for a second staring at her aunt and said nothing.
“Sit down, sit down,” said the queen patting the seat beside her. “You have not even seen the best of it. There are wonders beyond the imagination of those outside, but we do not display them for guests. Only for those who come to stay.”
“I’m … I’m not sure I’ll be staying. There are things I need to do in the world. My friends ….”
“That hideous half-orc girl?” said the queen. “Oh no, of course not. I hesitate to even call her a girl. She’s more of a man. Have you seen her private parts to confirm she’s a woman?” asked the queen and laughed at her own joke, as did several of the young elves who continued to bring various trays of drinks and food. “The red-haired one is pretty enough. I don’t see why she couldn’t stay as a guest and playmate for a while. But an orc? Heavens no. Frankly, Golden Sunset, my angel, the sooner you realize the importance of your heritage and your royal duty to Acanthus the better off you’ll be. People like that have a place in this world but it is not to rule.”
“I mean,” said Mike sitting down with a thump. “They’re my friends.”
“Of course, of course,” said Ellesia with a gentle smile. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you. If your mother had allowed you to be raised here in Acanthus from the beginning you would have much better friends. Nothing against those girls, I’m sure they’re absolutely wonderful young women but they aren’t helping you. You are helping them. You are elevating them but they are bringing you down. People like that have their uses in this world; I’m certainly not saying they should be killed or anything.” The woman laughed. “I’m just saying that you are better. Just because your mother made such a terrible decision doesn’t mean that you have to be stuck with it forever. You’ve come here to Acanthus, to me, of your own f
ree will. You know your mother is incapable of making good decisions. Tell me you don’t despise her in your deepest heart.”
Mike looked at the opulence and beauty that surrounded her and thought of her mother and their lifestyle at the villa. Her mother out in the garden with dirt smeared on her perfect features as she worked on her beloved roses. Her mother in the kitchen with flour on her apron, making a meal for her father. “I do hate her?” said Mike but this time it was more of a question than a statement.
“Exactly,” said the queen and patted the girl on the hand yet again. “Besides, Tanelorn and that brute of a Gray Lord might well be doomed. Have you heard of the goings on in the world?”
“I know the gnolls of Grelm are now ruled by the Sunbringer who wishes to wage war upon Tanelorn, if that’s what you mean,” said Mike her eyes still wandering around the magnificent room.
“That’s not the half of it,” said the woman shaking her head. “Since Jon Gray, he is a handsome man, returned with the Staff of Sakatha the dragonkin have been looking for an excuse to invade. They will coordinate their attack with the gnolls and one strongly suspects the Rock Lord knows of all of this and will join with an assault from his demesne in the west. It will be all I can do to keep Acanthus safe. We do not have the manpower to defend Tanelorn and our own borders despite what your cousin might say.”
“My cousin?”
“The boy, like everyone, was most taken with young Gray’s recent opinions on the subject of self-reliance. He wants to help the Tanelornians and I can’t say that I wasn’t taken in by his speech myself. He is a fine speaker. If only your mother had not left and married such an inferior specimen. Still, you’ve seen the Gray boy, yes?”
Mike nodded.
“If you stay a match yet might be made.”
“Me and Jon?” said Mike turning to her aunt with wide eyes.
“Why not? He wants an alliance and such things have been done before. He’s not an elf of course but it would not be a disadvantageous marriage in the slightest.”
“When did you speak with Jon Gray?” said Mike looking at her aunt with narrowed eyes.
