Bloodstone IV: The Plea

The wide band of tiny silver bells at the hem of her cloak fall silent as Danica Elarinya stops. Remaining in the dark shadows of the forest that surrounds the sacred grove, she stood watching and waiting for Lady Moon to reveal herself. A thick band of slow drifting clouds blocked the Lady from view. Patiently waiting Danica once more thought of what had driven her here.

 

Another argument with her father! Just the latest of many the past few cycles of the Lady Moon and as always over the same issue! Marriage! A marriage not of her choosing but one of appeasement; a marriage to one she simply abhorred, and into a family she detested. It wasn’t that she did not understand his reason it was simply that she disagreed that such a marriage would accomplish what her father hoped. She believed, in fact, that it would cause just the opposite.

 

Long seasons past King Minyadan, the last king had sent the Bloodstone away to be hidden but it had been lost. When he had crossed over the Forest Elves were leaderless for no king could be crowned without the Bloodstone. Expedition after expedition had been sent to search for it but all met with failure.

 

The council argued at length over how to lead the kingdom. Some demanded a King be chosen from one of the major families. Others argued that tradition must be kept because only with the Bloodstone could a true Elven king be chosen. At last a compromise was reached. The patriarch of each major family at the turn of Sheelala would assume the role of leading the council.

 

Still the argument remained. The Tyrneadlues family continued to speak for abandoning the old ways and not waiting but simply choosing a king from one of the leading families. And, of course, it was one of their own that they hoped to have chosen. The Rilynnathem’s, her own family, insisted in keeping the old ways in hopes that the Bloodstone could be recovered and thereby a rightful king chosen.

 

Over the past few turnings the argument had become more and more bitter, causing many Elves to choose sides dividing the kingdom. Koehro, her father, had worked tirelessly to bring the two sides together. When the Tyrneadlues’s had suggested a marriage of his daughter to their eldest son, Malaer he saw it as an opportunity to end the feud. He felt it would go far in reunite the kingdom.

 

Still fuming she thought, “Could he not see what they were trying to do? The marriage would consolidate the two most powerful families and reinforce their position to place Malaer in a stronger position to be king.”

 

Their argument had become heated, resulting in both shouting at the other which they had never done before. Furious, Danica had stormed out of the library and gone directly to her fret high in the trees where she hastily threw necessities into a pack. Sword strapped firmly across her back, bow in hand she and her anger fled into the forest.

 

Having trained as a Hunter, she was at home in the forest. Traveling toward the most distant end of the kingdom she turned her thoughts to developing a plan to end this talk of marriage and at the same time perhaps unite the different factions.

 

“If only the Bloodstone could be found!” 

 

                                XXX

 

The silence, the absolute darkness engulfed, smothered. From out of the emptiness a faint but persistent call penetrated his spiritual consciousness forcing him attention. Then in his mind’s eye he saw it, a glowing gold streaked toward him. His own shimmering blue spirit soared across the vastness of the Otherside in response.

 

The glowing gold and shimmering blue meet, sharing the warmth of love, the cold of grief but only for an instant, then they were off. Thru the vast silence they moved. With sightless eyes he saw below a scene of vast mountains dressed with dark green forests. In the distance one mountain stands taller than all the rest. Then they are looking down upon the mountain. The cold gray rocky peak was capped in glittering white snow. Just below the cap is a forest of giant Bostonian-like pine growing thick over the slopes and as far down as the eye can see.

 

As they moved just above the tree tops they streaked around the mountain. Abruptly they left the forest and came to a sheer rock wall. The dark opening of a cave at the foot of the wall beckoned. Thru the opening they flew the darkness, following the path towards a pinpoint of yellow/red light in the distance.

 

The passage came to an end at a small doomed grotto with a fire burning brightly in a raised fire pit in the very center. Thousands and thousands of tiny crystals embedded in the walls reflected the yellow light like the brightest morning sunshine. Beyond the fire pit was a ledge that ran along the back wall.

 

It was what lay upon the ledge that drew the eye, ranged like wings of some gigantic bird lay an assortment of weapons, swords, bows, and even a huge hammer. As if placed in a position of honor in the middle was a long, slender blade with a two-handed grip just above the downward curving guard. The pommel at the end of the grip seemed to be missing something………

 

Suddenly the view changed. Now it was that of a small meadow surrounded by a dark forest. One moment it is empty and then the next a figure steps from the shadows moving toward the middle. 

 

                                XXX                                    

 

The thick bank of clouds slowly drifted past unveiling the face of Lady Moon who cast her clear light down on the small meadow. From the dark shadows came a figure covered from head to foot by a dark cloak with a wide band of tiny silver bells that chimed with each step.

 

Lost in thought of what she was about to ask of the Lady, Danica Elarinya walked slowly to the middle of the meadow. The tiny bells become silent as she stops. Long minutes pass as she gazes to the dark sky. Pushing the hood of the cloak from her head clear moonlight reveals a delicately chiseled face; a small, straight nose; and almond-shaped eyes.

 

Never taking her eyes from the object of her attention, elegant fingers unknotted the cloak ties. Releasing them, the dark cloak slid down to pool at her feet, leaving her clothed in a long, wispy gown so sheer it did nothing to hide the lithe, firm body underneath. The gossamer material immediately joined the cloak on the ground.

 

Lifting her arms in supplication she began to sing softly. Her body began to sway as if in rhyme with the Elvish words. As her clear, perfectly pitched voice gained volume she moved into a graceful dance to each of the cardinal directions offering greetings.

 

Now dancing a circle widdershins, she offered her reverence to Mother Earth, the Spirits of the Air, the Lord Fire, and the life-giving Waters.

 

Preliminaries done, she turned her attention to the Lady Moon. Her dance became even more graceful and sensuous. Face lifted, her song, her dance pleads for guidance. The dance moves from a sedate pace to one of almost a frantic passion. On and on, round and round, she moved until exhaustion overcame and she collapsed in a heap. Silence reigned. Once again clouds drifted across the face of Lady Moon obscuring her from sight.

Reviews

[Wildfleour]

Marriages to join families is so ancient and makes for great storytelling. Here is no exception.

Here is an epic story unfolding.

I think my icon is like Elarinya - don't you? (smile)

[Diamondjules]

Excellent my friend! I can't wait to read the rest of this intriguing tale!! :)