by K T Durham
Her mind was reeling. “So now that the Tree has been weakened of its powers…”—she looked at them in horror—“will the Beast break free?”
The Vierran spoke up. “That would be our worst nightmare. Yes, it is possible.”
“But there is hope,” Mr Huerin’s piping voice declared. “We need someone to get the orbs restored to their full powers.” He paused and looked at the others, then fixed his grey eyes on Elly. “We have found the candidate.”
A heavy silence ensued. Then Elly’s knees buckled as a cry escaped from her. She stumbled and fell backwards in her chair. “You can’t possibly mean that… that I can get the orbs restored?”
They all looked back at her solemnly. Elly shook her head in disbelief as she sat staring back at them. “No. I don’t understand. Why me? Surely, there are many more… qualified individuals?” she asked, her voice strangled. “I’m just an elfling. No. I can’t do it.” She shook her head fervently.
The Vierran spoke up. “It has to be you, Ellanor. It is your destiny.”
Elly stared at him, her eyes bulging. “What do you mean?” she cried. “I’m… I’m just an elfling! I could’ve died when I was stuck in Gaya by myself! Surely, you cannot expect me to—to go on some ridiculously dangerous mission after that ordeal!”
Mrs Silverwinkle gently took her hand. Elly was shaking with indignation and terror.
“My dear, let us explain. You are gifted with the ability to dwell in the human realm without succumbing to the debilitating effects of contamination.”
Elly looked at her, flabbergasted.
“You see, elves normally start to show symptoms of contamination after staying in the human realm for several days—extreme tiredness, inability to use magic, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties. We literally fall ill. In extreme cases, elves could die from contamination. To combat this, elves must replenish themselves with manna to survive in Gaya. But manna really only treats the symptoms of contamination, not the root of the illness. Even with manna, elves must return to Alendria every full moon, to recharge their powers, so to speak.”
She sighed. “It was not always like this. As explorers, your grandpapa and I were once able to dwell in Gaya without any difficulty. But about three hundred years ago, when the humans began to create machines and technology that polluted the air and the seas, we began to fall ill. From then on, to survive on Gaya we had to replenish ourselves with manna every few days.” She shook her head ruefully. “Sadly, we could no longer stay there for months at a time.”
“Yes,” Grandpapa spoke up. “If what I have gathered is true, then it would have been perilous for us when the humans unleashed those horrific nuclear bombs during their Second World War. The radiation that spread like poison might have killed us if we had continued teleporting to Gaya at that time.” He gave a sorrowful shake of his head.
Mrs Silverwinkle nodded solemnly. “Gaya is significantly more polluted now. But you dwelled there for a month, and you never showed symptoms of contamination. Even without manna.” She looked at Elly. “We had to be absolutely sure that you were truly all right. While you were unconscious in bed, the healers examined you meticulously. You received a clean bill of health.”
Elly gulped, astonished. “You mean, other elves wouldn’t have been able to tolerate dwelling in Gaya like I did?”
Mrs Silverwinkle nodded. “Manna is produced from a specific sap extracted from the Tree. However, now that the Tree’s powers are greatly diminished, the sap that it normally produces has been depleted. As a result, we have not been able to replenish manna for the past month. This has put an enormous strain on the healers, as they use manna for various medical purposes, such as in the case of healing Mr Holle. They’re dangerously low on manna, so they have been rationing it as carefully as possible.”
“Which means they can’t afford to distribute manna for other uses, such as giving a substantial amount to an elf in Gaya,” Elly deduced.
Mr Huerin was impressed. “Yes, you are astute. This is one of the major reasons we need someone with your immunity to help us restore the orbs in Gaya. It could be a lengthy, drawn-out process. The fact that you’re able to dwell in Gaya without manna, probably for an indefinite period of time, is a godsend to us.”
Elly was thunderstruck. So, this was her gift.
“So, I could have died from contamination if it weren’t for my immunity,” she said in a whisper. They regarded her silently. She tried to keep her voice steady. “So, either I stay here and watch the Tree be destroyed along with Alendria; or I choose to go to Gaya and try to have the orbs restored, even though the very thought of it terrifies me beyond measure.” She was talking more to herself now. Then she glanced up. They were all looking at her. “Isn’t there anyone else? Someone more… experienced?” she asked desperately.
Mrs Silverwinkle sighed and shook her head. “Not one that could survive on Gaya without manna, no.”
But something nagged at Elly. She scowled. “Wait. I don’t understand. Why must we go to the human realm to have the orbs restored? Why can’t we get them restored here in Alendria?”
The Vierran spoke up. “The orbs were forged in the human realm. They were created by the Four Guardians of Gaya.”
Elly’s mind swirled. The Four Guardians? Didn’t Greymore mention them once? But she had thought they were the Guardians of Alendria. She shook her head, bewildered. “The orbs were made on Gaya, not Alendria? But… why?”
Mrs Silverwinkle looked at Grandpapa. She snapped her fingers, and an oval-shaped looking glass appeared; it levitated several inches above the desk like a shiny silver coin. Elly’s eyes widened: it was an earlingrand!
Then suddenly Mrs Silverwinkle stumbled, her face ashen. Elly gasped and stood up; but Mrs Silverwinkle raised a hand to stop her. “I’m all right,” she said softly, grasping onto the edge of the desk.
Grandpapa put both hands on her shoulders to steady her. “You need to rest, Larabeth,” he said in a low voice. “Let me tell Elly.”
Nodding, Mrs Silverwinkle sat down heavily in her chair and closed her eyes. Elly looked at her worriedly, wondering what was wrong with her.
The Vierran stood back in the shadows and continued to watch silently. Mr Huerin was perched cross-legged on the edge of the desk, his face serious.
Grandpapa went to stand behind the desk. “Elly, for you to understand everything, I’m going to tell you a story. Look into the glass and hold onto both my hands. Do not let go.” He sat across from her so that they were facing each other, with the earlingrand between them.
Elly nodded and nervously wiped her damp palms on her skirt. Then she took Grandpapa’s outstretched hands and looked into the glass. She saw her own reflection staring back, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright.
Then her reflection dissolved, and she was looking into Grandpapa’s grim face.
After several moments, his face also dissolved, and the earlingrand showed nothing but an expanse of spotless white. Then two slender figures materialised, silhouetted against the bright light.
Grandpapa began to speak.
“In the beginning, there were two Makers who loved creating things of great beauty. They were twin sisters, and they were also best friends. Their father loved them dearly and equally. Both Freya and Marah were beautiful to behold, and in outlook they seemed so similar that many who did not know them had difficulty telling them apart. But in character, the two sisters were as different as night and day. Freya displayed great humility, and loved to create and nurture; Marah was proud, and loved to create and dominate. But despite their differences, the two sisters loved each other and were inseparable.
“One day, Freya created an exquisite jewel, which she named Gaya. She poured a great deal of her love and powers into making it, and it was a masterpiece, a brilliant mosaic of so many colours that it outshone every other thing the sisters had ever created. Father was very proud of F
reya, and gave her his blessing to nurture Gaya. Freya loved her creation dearly, and decided that it would be a shame if she were the only one to enjoy it. So she assigned Four Guardians to safeguard Gaya, and created beings that would inhabit Gaya and make it thrive and grow ever more beautiful.
“And for a time, that was how it went. The rivers and seas were as clear and blue as sapphires, the trees and grass were as bright and green as emeralds, the air was as clean and pure as the most perfect diamond. The beings lived on Gaya happily, and they sang songs of love and celebration in tribute to Freya, their beloved Maker.
“Though she concealed it well, Marah became very jealous of Freya, and she came to desire Gaya all for herself. So she went to Freya and asked, ‘My dear sister, I would be so grateful if you could let me dwell in Gaya for a time. Its beauty would inspire me so.’ Freya loved her sister, and she wanted to share everything with Marah, so she happily agreed.
“But Marah transformed into a great black snake in secret, and burrowed into the depths of Gaya, coiling herself around and around the core until she finally felt that Gaya was hers and hers alone!
“At first, Freya was not aware of Marah’s deception. But changes gradually began to take place. A rift formed among the beings because they began to have very different ideas about how they wanted to live. The humans wanted to explore the vastness of Gaya, conquer their own lands and enslave animals, while the elves longed to dwell quietly in the forests and protect the land, living alongside the creatures of the wild in harmony and friendship.
“Eventually, many humans stopped singing for Freya. Instead, they began burning foul sacrifices for Marah, their snake goddess, who had been luring them with thoughts of power and dominion. Even some of the lesser elves were beginning to fall under Marah’s spell.
“Then Freya discovered her sister’s treachery, and became enraged. She was grieved by her sister’s evil plans to dominate Gaya, and for pitting the humans and elves against each other. All that Marah had done was at odds with everything Freya loved. So she turned to her Father for counsel. They implored Marah to turn from her evil ways. But Marah laughed in their faces. ‘Fools! There is no such thing as good and evil; there is only power and victory. Why waste your energy on loving and nurturing beings so that one day they might bite your hand and conquer you?’
“Freya and her father were devastated. To save Gaya and all the beings that inhabited it, they came to the painful decision that Marah must be banished. To the north of Gaya was a star called Alendria, which was created long ago to give light to the vast universe. Upon Alendria, Freya planted a seedling that grew into a massive Tree. Marah would languish far beneath that Tree for the rest of eternity.
“And so it came to be that with their combined powers Freya and their father wrestled Marah from the depths of Gaya and banished her to the Northern Star. The impenetrable roots of the Tree imprisoned Marah as she writhed in agony, having quite lost her mind from rage and bitterness.
“The roots of the Tree were immune to any venom or physical blow. Marah hated her Father, and hated Freya more so. By then, Marah could no longer transform back into her fair bodily form, for her soul had become too closely entwined with the foul, monstrous form she had taken. She had truly become the Beast.
“At Freya’s request, the Four Guardians on Gaya created the orbs of power that would sustain the Tree. The first three orbs encompassed the powers of water, earth, and light. Then the fourth Guardian, the most powerful out of the four, breathed life into the fourth orb. The orbs were then concealed in secret locations on the Tree.
“Despite everything, Freya still loved her sister and did not wish to abandon her to solitude forever. In her grief and sorrow, she pledged to stay close to her sister, transforming into a bright star that shone upon Alendria. Freya harboured hope that she would one day reconcile with Marah. She bade her father farewell, and asked the Four Guardians to guard over Gaya in her stead.
“The elves on Gaya did not wish to be parted from Freya, so they made their plea to dwell in Alendria and become stewards of the Tree, to protect and nurture all that would grow there in honour of Freya, whom they loved. Their wish was granted. Only a small circle of high elves were entrusted with the knowledge of the orbs’ whereabouts. Even when the goblins came and dwelt in the very depths of Alendria, the beast continued to seethe and plot its revenge.
“To this day we still gaze longingly at Freya in the night sky, our most beloved star.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Beginning of Things to Come
Grandpapa stopped talking. It seemed as though a shadow had suddenly seeped into the room.
A long silence ensued. Elly sat quite still, transfixed by what she had heard. Dumbfounded.
In the earlingrand, Elly had seen everything that Grandpapa spoke of. Now she could see only her own reflection, her eyes filled with fear.
Finally, she found her voice. “I thought it was just a legend,” she said in a whisper. Throughout her childhood she had listened to countless stories about Freya, the Maker of Alendria. But she did not know about Alendria’s connection to Gaya, and nothing about the Beast that lay beneath. She did not know that elves once lived alongside humans on Gaya… Not to mention that they were created by the same Maker.
The Vierran emerged from the shadows and stood beside Grandpapa, who remained seated and deep in thought. “All legends contain an element of truth, Ellanor. Sometimes, people are not prepared to hear the whole truth. It can be accepted more easily if it is told in the guise of folklore.”
Leaning forward, Grandpapa spoke in a low voice. “Yes, elves and humans once coexisted on Gaya, Elly. Despite our many differences, did you never wonder why we also share so many similarities?” He smiled wryly. “Elves and humans love and hate many of the same things. We are moved by music and poetry. We rejoice in happiness, we struggle with tragedy, we blossom or crumble in the face of hardship.” He paused. “Despite being blessed with long life, approximately ten times that of a human life, elves also come of age at twelve years old, very similar to humans.”
“And like humans, we have a strong penchant for sweets, though our teeth are markedly more resilient by comparison,” Mr Huerin said with a chuckle as he polished off a second pineapple bun.
Elly nodded slowly, then took a deep, shuddering breath. “Tell me what I have to do,” she said quietly.
The Vierran spread out his arms in a wide arc, and a silver-lined map of Gaya appeared in front of him. “You must find the Four Guardians and have them restore the orbs. Unfortunately, we have only clues as to where they now reside on Gaya.” He shook his head. “It seems that the Guardians have moved to other locations in the past one hundred years, which is not surprising, seeing how much time has passed since they were last consulted by any of us, and how much change the land has undergone from the effects of pollution and industrialization. In the past month, we have raced against time to find out as much as we could. We have compiled this map, which gives us approximations of where the Guardians might be.”
Four glowing dots appeared on the map. Elly gazed at them quizzically, lacking the geographical knowledge of Gaya to understand what she was looking at. The dots—blue, green, red, and white—were spread out across the world map. The Four Guardians.
Mr Huerin chuckled. “Don’t worry, Elly. We will help you decipher the locations. We do have two famous explorers with us, after all.”
“I have a question,” she said. “How is it that even without the orbs of power, the Tree is still able to stand like nothing is wrong?”
Mrs Silverwinkle took a sip from her goblet. “All that is gold does not glitter, you see. Looks can deceive. The Tree looks unchanged, but inwardly it suffers grievously.”
She sighed. “The Tree is still standing because the elders of the High Council have been channelling their powers to keep it alive, Elly. Alive, but only a shadow of what it once
was. I will not go into specifics, but the effort involved in sustaining the Tree is beyond exhausting. It has taken every ounce of our strength. The Beast has long been dormant, but recently the temperature beneath has grown warmer. This could mean that the Beast is coming out of hibernation, though it could take months or years for the Beast to fully wake. It is only a matter of time before it unleashes its devastating strength upon us.”
She paused. “Without the orbs of power, Alendria will eventually fall. We can’t keep up the channelling process indefinitely. The enormous amount of energy that we expend will be the death of us, sooner or later.”
Elly understood. “Is that why you couldn’t leave Alendria and teleport to Gaya to fetch me?”
Mrs Silverwinkle nodded. “Partly. Along with the other elders, I have been channelling my powers to help sustain the Tree. The effort is beyond exhausting, but still manageable. Your Grandpapa and Mr Huerin have also been involved in the channelling process. As you can see, they are doing much better than I am.
“But the main reason I could not come rescue you right after you fell through the portal was because I simply couldn’t.” She paused. “I was poisoned.”
Elly gasped. “No!”
Mrs Silverwinkle nodded grimly. “I was the first to touch one of the contaminated orbs. That was my folly. I was far too hasty. The orbs were riddled with powerful black poison, possibly from the venom of the Beast itself.” She closed her eyes, looking more fatigued than ever. “The poison very nearly killed me. I was already depleted after the channelling process, but then to be poisoned… As you can see, I have not made a full recovery.”
Grandpapa spoke up. “The poison did not take effect immediately. It must have been concocted to elicit a latent reaction. Remember, on your birthday Mrs Silverwinkle was still able to function quite normally—though she was starting to feel the effects of the poison.”
Elly nodded as she recalled Mrs Silverwinkle looking quite pale throughout the day.
