Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians

by Unknown

  The cloak she had seen whispering through the woods emerged from her left. Stretching out her arm, the tip of the knife touched Lena’s throat. “Stop where you are.”

  “She is brave, I will give you that,” his voice resonated through the trees and drew Aryaunna’s gaze for just a second. That was all it took. As Aryaunna returned her sight to Lena she had changed. Her fair cream skin had darkened to the ebony of the night. All but her blue lips. She was taller. The blade rest against her chest. Though Aryaunna was startled, she dared not pull back.

  “Stay away from my sister. Leave us. We’re nothing to you. Let us be on our way!” she demanded as she looked up into Lena’s silver eyes that shone clearly in the night.

  “Your sister, I fear, would not make it back to Kenan, let alone anywhere safer,” the deep voice informed.

  “I will see to her safety just fine, thank you.”

  “I am sorry if we frightened you, Emissary. You must understand we had to be sure you are who we’ve been waiting for. Please, allow us to help you.” Lena smiled lightly, silently asking for Aryaunna to trust her still.

  “You are welcome to fight Lena. She will defeat you with ease. But the longer you draw this out, the longer your sister will suffer. Is that what you want, Aryaunna?”

  “I want a great many things. However my sister’s suffering is not one of them.” Stepping back, she sheathed the knife at her side. Without hesitating she turned her gaze away from them and stooped down to Elizabeth’s side. She did not look well. Cupping her hand to Elizabeth’s cheek, she felt fevered flesh.

  Elizabeth smiled sadly, as if in defeat. “I’m sorry, Ary,” she whispered to her as a tear brimmed over her eye.

  “I swear to you, on my life, you shall be safe with us in the Hollow, Aryaunna,” his voice sounded from just behind her. “The both of you.”

  “And I shall hold you to it,” Aryaunna warned. Reaching out, her arms cradled Elizabeth to her and eased back up to pull her sister to her feet.

  A strong hand supported Aryaunna’s back as another took Elizabeth’s arm. “We still have a ways to walk yet. Please, let me take her.” Looking up, Aryaunna was surprised by the face that loomed above hers. He’s chosen to appear human for me, she thought.

  Elizabeth looked up to him and studied his features openly. “Do I not get a say in this?” she asked boldly.

  A smile crossed his lips as he stepped back fluidly. His chin was all they could see beneath the shadows of his hooded cloak. It was a strong chin, with an amused smile on fair lips. “But of course, my lady. Walk to me, and I will allow you to make your own way.” He stood but ten paces from her. “Without falter of course.”

  Elizabeth had always been independent. Challenging aid did not surprise Aryaunna in the slight, though the gleam in her eye and the twist of Elizabeth’s lips did. Pulling from Aryaunna, she walked slowly, light of foot across the whitened earth. The air hushed as Lena and Aryaunna watched them closely.

  Elizabeth stepped so tenderly that even the crush of the snow underfoot could nary be heard. Her fawn like grace brought her to stand before him. She did not falter once. “You’ve succeeded.” There was a tenor of pride in his voice for just a moment before it was displaced with a mild scorn. “At what price, I wonder? Is your pain a worthy expense to compensate your ego?”

  “Indeed, it is.” Elizabeth smiled sweetly, even going so far to give him a small curtsey before she turned on her heel to rejoin her seemingly stunned sister.

  “You’re going to regret that, aren’t you?” Aryaunna whispered under her breath against her as she took her arm for aid.

  “Oh yes, I already do.” Elizabeth was generally mild natured, but there were times Aryaunna wondered if that was no more than learned behavior from the Church. She had another side to her, a side no one really even knew, for she had hidden it from the world since she was six. Sometimes, she wondered if Elizabeth even knew it was there.

  Stooping down, she swept the cloak up from the forest floor where it had been left to lay. It was not too wet. It would at least help keep the wind off her. Aryaunna twisted the cloak, allowing it to billow from her fluid motion until it lay over Elizabeth’s shoulders, and clasped it over the one already in place. “Ary… you need to stay warm.”

  “I am warm.” She smiled to Elizabeth, reassuring her the only way she could. Looking back over her shoulder, she took note of the man watching them, despite his hidden eyes. “Please, after you.”

  “As you wish.” With a bow of his head, he walked briskly past them to Lena’s side. An exchange passed between them silently before he continued on. If not for his cloak, he would disappear into the darkness of the wood. Lena remained closer to them now, just a few short paces ahead.

  “I fear I must apologize to you, Elizabeth.” Their hands clutched together tightly. Aryaunna’s other arm wrapped around behind her sister and held to her side, trying to ease her every step in what way she could.

  “You must not. You cannot apologize for your destiny, Aryaunna. Though you have been hidden from my own sight, it was never a doubt that the Fates had great plans for you, my sister. Even our mother knew that.”

  “Do you not trust us, Aryaunna?” the man questioned. The sky was lightened for the coming dawn, though the sun had not broken through yet. Aryaunna had bid them to stop and let her sister rest. Her eye was ever watchful over Elizabeth.

  “Trust is not something that comes easily to me. I do not even know your name, or what you look like. Forgive me if walking my injured sister into the valley of the Hollow makes me anxious.” Elizabeth sat resting on a fallen tree, just ten paces from them. Lena stood near her, eyeing her closely. It was not a threatening gaze, but a knowing one. The cold, exhaustion, and Elizabeth’s injury was adding up into a much higher threat than Aryaunna had realized.

  Turning back to face him, she let out an ill content sigh. “My name is Allos.” Raising a hand, he pushed the hood of his cloak back. “You see me as I am, Aryaunna. I am not of Drow blood.” Allos appeared as a harsh man, with his square cut jaw, tight mouth and large frame. It was his eyes that gave away his kindness. His head was as bald, and decorated with intricate patterns of blue ink. He was older than the sisters, a few years senior to Elizabeth.

  “You’re human?” it sounded an accusation perhaps, but she did not believe it even in slight.

  He brought the hood back up to protect him from the bitter cold. “Did I claim to be? No, I am no more human than Lena is. Though I am hardly Drow, so I have but one face to show you.” The Drow were Elvin bloodline. What she knew of them came from the Church. Aryaunna had little to go on other than dark horror stories of the creatures that dwelled in the Hollow.

  The stories were much like that of what the Church said about the Guardians. Monsters in the night that killed without mercy-that enjoyed their prey’s pain. Demonic winged beasts that devoured the lands, and despised the Church and all that it stood for. Aryaunna’s Guardians. The beautiful Dragons that saved her from her own horror story. The Guardians that had infused her family with their light thousands of years ago, entrusting the generations of her family’s bloodline with a rare power.

  Aryaunna grew up believing them false, yet questioning at times if the Drow even existed. But seeing their skin, so dark grey it was black, their impossibly brilliant eyes and the blue hue of their lips hiding razor sharp teeth, it was hard not to question what else in those stories had been true after all. Lena was beautiful in her own dark way, but still yet she was frightening. Her long lithe body sang the truth of her agile warrior nature.

  “I know what you have been told of the Hollow. I know a great deal about the Magistrate and his control over the people. Tell me, Aryaunna, do you believe the words of your Magistrate?”

  “He is nye my Magistrate. We were wards of the Church. Kenan is no home to me,” her voice was dark with vehemence.

  The shadow of his hood engulfed his face as he leaned down to get a better look at her. “Your anger burns yo
u. I am sorry for this.”

  “More than anger has burned me, Allos. Much more than anger… Take us to your village. I will not delay you longer. What will be will be. I will trust in the Guardians to see to us, and to see that you keep your word.”

  “Very well. Gather your sister, we shall be there soon.”

  “You know, as far as we’ve walked, one would think they wanted to keep their village a secret or something.” Elizabeth smirked as she nudged Aryaunna with her arm.

  “Something like that it would seem.” They shared a laugh that was too weak to ride the air.

  Allos and Lena slowed until they flanked the sisters on either side. Before Aryaunna had realized it, they’d walked into the thick of a fog. Something felt different, as if something in the atmosphere had changed. The trees were still dark, despite the break of dawn’s first light. Without thinking, Aryaunna’s hand placed to the hilt of her old work knife.

  Allos’ hand rose up slightly, signaling for her to stop. “We are here, Aryaunna.”

  “But I see nothing,” Elizabeth challenged.

  “Our homelands are protected with great magic. We will have to wait here to have your senses cleared before you will see as we do. Mayla is coming. You will feel her touch. Do not fear, you are safe here with us,” Lena explained. For some reason, the only words that stuck with Aryaunna was the ‘with us’. If Allos and Lena were not by their sides, would they have been so welcome?

  Elizabeth’s hand slid from Aryaunna’s arm to stand on her own. Did she have the same apprehension? Could she see more than she should already?

  A warm pressure touched to the center of Aryaunna’s forehead. A finger touching over her third eye, stroked in a long circle. Perhaps swirling. Slight moisture cooled in the winter air where the warmth trailed.

  As if she’d been standing in a cloud, Aryaunna’s vision hazed over. Blinking her sight clear, she could see the woman before her, as well the world which had been hidden from her just moments before.

  An ageless woman stood before her, with skin as white as the very snow. Like Lena, her lips were blue as the sky in the day. Her eyes shown like molten silver poured right from the kiln, as did her hair. Radiant silver strands were braided into a million braids yet still fell to her hips. This woman was not what Aryaunna had expected to find in the Hollow.

  Smiling, the woman said nothing before moving on to Elizabeth. A small bowl, barely the size of her hand rest in her palm. Dipping her finger into the bowl, she lift a red coated finger to Elizabeth’s forehead. The symbol represented the circle of life, a perfect spiral.

  Gripping Aryaunna’s hand in a bone crushing grip, Elizabeth gasped and cried out as she collapsed. “Elizabeth!” Aryaunna cried as she caught her sister and stumbled back into Allos, who kept them both from the ground.

  “Bring the Emissary and the Seer!” Mayla ordered as Lena scooped Elizabeth up into her arms as if she were lifting a child. Allos kept a firm grip on Aryaunna’s shoulder, righting her to stand back up to her feet. Without question, Aryaunna followed after Lena, running to keep up.

  The Drow surrounded them, watching. Aryaunna had no time to acknowledge them, or to see if their looks were that of worry, fear, or even disdain. “What happened to her?” Aryaunna ran to keep up beside Lena who walked swiftly despite the weight of her burden. “Is she sick?” Aryaunna didn’t question or fear that this enchantress had done something to her sister. It seemed reasonable that if that had been the case then the same would have happened to her.

  “Your sister is a Seer.” It was not a question, but Aryaunna nodded anyways. “My blood has given her a vision. It overcame her in her weakened state. She will recover. I worry more for what the winter’s frost has done to her now.”

  The Drow lived in a very natural village, almost as if it had grown into place rather than having been built. Aryaunna followed the two into a place created of raw stones, draped in ivy and surrounded with different plants and herbs.

  Lena laid an unconscious Elizabeth onto a wooden table. One so like and yet so different from the tables she had worked at most all of Aryaunna’s life. The wood was pure and white, carved with symbols of the Drow, and the Elements alike. The Elements she easily recognized. “Who are you?” Aryaunna questioned the mysterious woman who hustled to and fro, gathering supplies.

  “Get those cloaks off of her now,” she ordered rather than answering Aryaunna. “They’re drenched and frozen stiff. Korena!” she called. “Bring up the blankets, child.” The woman tended to the fireplace, tossing on a couple of logs that were whitened with age, much like drift wood.

  Lena motioned to Aryaunna who stood by her unconscious sister’s side. Aryaunna slid her arms behind Elizabeth’s head and shoulders, easing her up as Lena unbound the cloaks and pulled them carefully out from under her. As she eased Elizabeth back down, Aryaunna looked around the room more closely. Herbs hung from ladders in the rafters, so thickly it appeared as if the ceiling was growing. She was inside an apothecary Aryaunna realized as she looked at the shelves lining every wall, filled with countless bottles and jars holding anything and everything. She was in the home of a witch.

  Looking to the fireplace, next to the burning fire in the same stone pit was a massive black pot. The coals beneath it heated a substance that was overwhelming in fragrance, a zest of lemon, heady lavender, and something distantly familiar. It was almost like eucalyptus but softer. “You’re a witch.” While the words seemed an accusation, Aryaunna spoke with pure surprise and relief.

  The enchanting woman stopped grinding her ingredients in the mortar and pestle to look up at Aryaunna. Half astonished by Aryaunna’s reaction she let out a bell’s laugh. “Well, I suppose that is what I would be called in Kenan, yes. I am a healer to the Drow, blessed by Guardian light, Emissary. You may call me Mayla.”

  “So are we. My sister… well, our mother was a witch.” Looking down at Elizabeth, she brushed her sister’s deep red curls back off her forehead.

  “Yes, I know. Annalee... She was a beautiful soul.” Walking over to the table, Mayla brought with her a bowl with a folded cloth. Cleaning the blood from Elizabeth’s forehead, she whispered under her breath quietly.

  “You knew our mother?”

  “Mayla, what’s going on?” A sleepy-eyed girl stood in an open doorway, her hand still braced to the now open door for support. It was startling to see her. The girl looked so very different from Mayla, and yet just the same with molten silver eyes and hair, skin paled as snow. Her eyes were doe like though, filled with a child’s innocence. A heart shaped face with a cupid’s bow mouth. The girl was pure beauty.

  “Korena! It certainly took you long enough, girl. You could sleep through a raid of Orcs!” She smiled as she turned to the girl. “Go and fetch the blankets, girl, quickly!”

  Scarce minutes passed before Elizabeth had been shed of her excess clothes and covered in coal warmed blankets. The blood, too, had been washed from her forehead. Mayla had treated Elizabeth with tonic and a blessing of her people. “Your sister needs rest, Aryaunna,” Mayla proclaimed whilst approaching them. “I’ve given her something to help her sleep.” Mayla’s hand brushed Elizabeth’s cheek and then gently pat Aryaunna’s hand. Her eyes were full of warmth and caring. It was a look Aryaunna had not seen since being a very small child.

  “Lena, Allos, will you see that Aryaunna finds warm clothes and something to eat. She shall need her strength.” Mayla looked back to Aryaunna before turning. “Your journey has only just begun, Emissary.”

  Aryaunna could gather no words for response. Knowing she needed to let her sister rest, Aryaunna leaned down, brushing crimson curls back and kissed Elizabeth’s forehead. Warmth spread throughout Aryaunna’s entire body. The grace of the Guardian’s enveloped her as she touched Elizabeth.

  Aryaunna’s light embraced Elizabeth completely. The magic that swelled between them was powerful. “Rest well, my sister. Be at ease, and let your dreams be ones of peace.” Elizabeth did not open her eyes, bu
t Aryaunna could feel the peace wash through her. It radiated from her body for the strength of it.

  A hush fell over the room. As Aryaunna stood, her hand falling, she met four gazes.

  “How did you do that? Mayla, how did she do that?” The girl looked from Aryaunna to Mayla again, completely confused.

  “She is the Emissary, Korena. She carries the purest essence of the Guardians within her.” Mayla smiled, setting down the corked blue glass bottle back to its place on the shelf. “Korena, fetch the wraps and powdered amethyst. Let’s take care of the Seer’s ankle, before she wakes.”

  “Please call me Aryaunna, or Ary even.”

  “Why is that? Do you not believe it to be true?” Mayla’s brow furrowed as she studied Aryaunna for response.

  “Of course I do. I ask to be called by my given name for it is titles such as Emissary, and Magistrate,” she spat the words as if saying them tasted vial, “that corrupts power. Please, call me Aryaunna…”

  The smile returned to Mayla’s lips as if she was indeed satisfied. With nothing more than a nod, she turned, dismissing the three as she continued about her work with the young Korena. Allos opened the heavy door, and waved a hand from Lena, past Aryaunna, to the door.

  It was impossible not to look around as she sipped the potent mulberry wine. They sat inside a great tavern that looked to feed and seat the entire village. It was not until they entered the tavern that Lena and Allos pulled back their hoods. Lena was just as Aryaunna had seen her in the woods. Tall and lithe bodied, hair that shined like the full moon, braided into thousands of intricate braids that hung long down her back. She was stunning with her radiance of power and beauty.

  Aryaunna could only guess, and still would surely be wrong at her age. After just brief conversation Lena had explained even Korena was well over twice Aryaunna’s age. The Drow aged slowly, thus had lifespans that saw centuries come and go.