Equinox

Weeks turned to months and Valerie began to make a real effort to enjoy life in Tylwyth. Though she didn’t have many friends besides Linden and Gorn, she found herself content. Winter came and Valerie insisted that they celebrate Christmas, a tradition she shared with her friends. They in turn took every opportunity to teach her new things. By the time winter had ended, Valerie could drive a team of reindeer, climb trees and had even been introduced to a mermaid who was an old friend of Gorn’s. Her homesickness gradually dulled to an ache that she largely ignored, though her uncle’s promise still rang in the back of her mind. She told her friends nothing of it, convinced that they wouldn’t understand. Soon the last of the snow melted and the countryside began to turn green again.

One wonderfully mild day Valerie was eating breakfast with her uncle when there was a rapid knocking on the door. With her uncle engrossed in a book and the cook busy making more pancakes, Valerie wiped her mouth and opened the door.

“Happy vernal equinox!” Linden yelled, throwing confetti in her face. Valerie brushed the glittery stuff off and looked at her uncle. “Vernal equinox?” She asked, eyebrows raised.

Reginald dug out his pocket watch. “Goodness, is that today?” He snapped his book shut and downed the rest of his coffee.

“What the heck is an equinox?” She repeated as Linden came in, smiling happily.

“It’s the first day of spring. Today day and night will each be twelve hours long,” Reginald said, putting on his jacket.

“And it also means no school for a week!” Linden said blissfully.

Valerie spun around. “You mean, like spring break?” She asked hopefully.

“Precisely,” her uncle affirmed. “We’ll have a half-day today and school will resume in a week.”

“Yes!” Valerie yelled, doing a little dance. Linden threw more confetti and they laughed loudly as the cook came in.

“Who’s gonna clean up all this bloomin’ confetti?” She demanded, setting a fresh platter of pancakes on the table and returning to the kitchen, grumbling.

“How could you not know about the equinox?” Linden asked.

“I’ve been busy with homework,” she said. “I guess I just forgot.”

Linden looked at Reginald pleadingly. Reginald sighed and waved a careless hand. “Alright, go ahead and tell her,” he said, smiling.

“Tell me what?” Valerie asked, looking at Linden suspiciously.

Linden drew himself up to his full height. “Your uncle has agreed to let you come stay with me during the equinox!” He announced, grinning hugely.

“Really?” Valerie asked, looking at her uncle.

Reginald nodded. “Linden asked me a few weeks ago and I think it’s a fine idea. You’ll have a wonderful time in Galon Tir.”

“What’s that?” Valerie asked.

“Galon Tir is a huge forest. It’s the home of the Dryads,” Linden explained.

“It’s a great honor to visit Galon Tir,” Reginald added. “Not many outsiders are afforded such an opportunity, but they made an exception for you.”

Valerie realized what a gift this was and gave Reginald a hug. “Thank you, Uncle Reginald,” she said softly.

The clock chimed and Valerie broke away, alarmed. “I’m gonna be late!” She yelled, running up the stairs to her room.

“Cook packed a bag for you,” Reginald called after her. “It’s already in the hall. You’ll leave with Linden after school.”

“Thanks!” She called, getting dressed as quickly as possible. Confetti fell out of her pajamas as she moved and she smiled again. I’m going somewhere for spring break! She thought happily. She tied her hair into a ponytail, grabbed her satchel and bounced back down the stairs just as the school wagon pulled up to the gate.

“See you in a week!” She called, grabbing her bag and Linden’s hand as she ran out the door.

The school wagon was boisterous, with large quantities of confetti being tossed at each new passenger as they ascended the steps. Valerie shook it out of her hair and sat down by Linden as the wagon lurched back into motion.

“Seriously, what’s with the confetti?” She asked, looking at him.

“It was a prank started by a group of sprites one year, but it caught on and became part of the holiday. Everyone carries around a sack of confetti to throw at each other. It’s fun.”

The Academy was one sparkly mass of confusion when they arrived, the courtyard teeming with people throwing confetti and laughing. The highlight was when the young dragon, whose name Valerie had learned was Etimer, took to the sky with a large bag of confetti and poured it over the entire courtyard, much to everyone’s delight.

The bell rang the first time to no avail, everyone’s spirits too high to be thinking of education. Finally after the third bell students began trickling inside, leaving a trail of glitter in their wake.

Gorn met up with them in the hallway, confetti sloughing off of him like snow. “Happy vernal equinox!” He said, dusting them yet again.

“At this rate I’ll be sparkly forever,” Valerie said, laughing as they entered their first class.

*      *      *      *      *      *

After lunch the final bell rang and the students charged the exits like bulls in pursuit of a cape, calling out “Goodbye!” And “Happy equinox!” And “See you in a week!”

Valerie followed Linden to the turnaround where the private wagons, coaches and carriages waited. He led her to a silvery coach with no driver and a beautiful woman waiting by the door.

“Valerie, this is my mother Lily, daughter of She Who Casts Down Leaves.”

Lily had Linden’s green eyes and brown hair, but was so dainty she made Linden look muscular. “I am honored to meet you, Valerie,” she said, her voice soothing like a summer breeze. “My son has told me much about you. We are blessed to have you visit our home.”

Valerie smiled awkwardly. “The honor is mine,” she managed.

As Lily and Linden got into the coach Valerie looked around for the driver. “Who’s going to drive this thing?” She asked.

One of the horses turned to look at her. “We don’t need anyone to drive us, thank you,” he said politely.

“We know every road in Tylwyth backwards and forwards,” said the other one brightly.

Talking horses. All we’re missing is a witch and a couple of beavers and I’ll be in Narnia.

Valerie climbed into the coach and shut the door, holding her bag in her lap. Linden switched seats to sit beside her and stomped his foot on the floor. “Ready when you are, boys!” He called, and the coach took off smoothly.

Valerie looked at Lily and was surprised to find her looking at her closely. Valerie quickly peered out the window, watching the Academy disappear into the distance.

“How far is it to Galon Tir?” Valerie asked, turning to Linden.

“It is both near and far,” Lily responded, forestalling her son.

Valerie looked at her, then back at Linden.

“What she means is it’s close in terms of distance, but for those who aren’t welcome it’s impossible to get to.”

Lily nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on Valerie.

“But if Galon Tir is a giant forest, how can it be hard to get to?” Valerie wondered.

“We saw to that after the Giant Wars decimated our people,” Lily replied, her voice never wavering. “Anyone who enters the forest and does not turn back after a day will find the way barred, both before and behind.”

“That’s horrible!” Valerie exclaimed.

Linden put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’s been centuries since anyone was trapped in the forest,” he said reassuringly. “Everyone knows to keep away unless invited, don’t they, Mother?”

Lily nodded serenely and Valerie gave her an unsteady smile. These people are tougher than they look, she thought as they continued on their way.

They passed over rolling hills and over long wooden bridges that stretched across shallow streams. The sun was bright and gave the countryside a glow that rivaled any Valerie had seen in Maine.

“So are there any cities nearby?” she asked. “I haven’t heard of any since I came here.”

Linden cocked an eyebrow. “What’s a city?” he inquired.

Guess that answers my question. “It’s like a town, but many times bigger. They usually have restaurants, shops, government buildings, things like that. Lots of people live in them.”

Linden seemed intrigued. “The closest thing would be the Royal Villa,” he said thoughtfully.

“The Royal Villa?” Valerie echoed disbelievingly.

“It’s where the royal families live with their nobles,” Linden explained. “They used to have individual ones scattered out across their respective provinces, but the Giant Wars made them all come together for protection.”

“But which province do they live in?”

“They didn’t want to choose one above the others, so they annexed a large piece of land and built their palaces on it. Its official name is Erva, but most people just call it the Royal Villa.”

“Oh, so it’s like Washington D.C.,” Valerie commented.

Linden looked at his mother blankly and was about say something else when a shadow fell. Valerie poked her head out and looked up. There were tall trees of every size and shape surrounding the carriage, their dense foliage blocking most of the sunlight.

“We’ve crossed the first border,” Linden said proudly.

Valerie had never seen so many kinds of trees growing together in one place. Evergreens grew next to oaks and chestnuts, all of them in full summer greenery. They even passed a few redwoods that towered above the rest like sentinels. The other trees were huge too, soaring higher than Valerie had thought possible for normal trees. One weeping willow was so wide it could’ve sheltered a hundred people behind its trailing leaves.

Valerie was in awe. She wished she could take pictures of the incredible trees, but had to content herself with just looking.

She felt a tug on her shirt. “What?” she said, barely turning her head.

“You have to sit down now,” Linden said insistently.

Valerie was perplexed. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”

Linden shook his head. “No, of course not. It’s just that we’re about to cross the second border.”

Valerie sat down, still craning her neck to see the trees. Lily reached over and pulled a silver tassel, causing a shimmery blue shade to cover the window.

“Why are you closing the windows?” Valerie asked nervously.

“We are approaching the second border,” Lily said, covering the other window. “Outsiders are not permitted to see the crossing.”

The carriage slowed and there was a groaning that sounded like the forest was being rent in two. The noise made Valerie anxious and she wished she could see what was happening. Suddenly the carriage lurched and they were moving at a brisk pace again.

“What was that?” she asked, clutching her bag to her stomach.

“The forest has welcomed us,” Lily replied. Linden didn’t elaborate and Valerie had the feeling that he knew as little as she did.

The carriage gently came to a halt and the horses stomped their hooves twice. “We’re here!” they sang out.

Linden opened the door and stepped down, extending a hand to his mother as she descended the steps. He offered it to Valerie, who accepted it gingerly and also descended from the carriage.

Valerie's first impression was of light; glorious, pulsing light of every color. Her eyes stung a little from the brightness, but they soon adjusted and Valerie beheld Galon Tir proper for the first time.

They were in a large oval shaped yard lined with buildings. The buildings were made of every kind of stone, from soft and regal granite to multicolored marble. This surprised Valerie, who had been expecting the dryads to live in houses made from trees. There were many dryads walking around, visiting the different buildings and chatting in the open. Valerie realized they were in a marketplace of some kind. The buildings were shops with openings in the ground floor like stalls. The light came from the large, round lanterns that hung from hooks and poles in every corner of the marketplace. That must be to make up for the sunlight being so dim, she thought, looking up into the trees. The lofty canopy did a thorough job of filtering out the sunlight, but with the lanterns she soon forgot about the lack of sun.

Linden shouldered his bag and took her hand. “Come on, we’ll take you to our house,” he said, leading her down a side street.

“Where’s your mom?” she asked, squinting slightly against the light.

“She’s going to get food for dinner,” he said briskly. “She’s worried that you won’t like our food.”

“That’s silly,” Valerie said, shaking her head.

“We don’t entertain many humans. She’s just a little nervous.”

She certainly didn’t seem nervous earlier, Valerie thought.

The village sprawled out more than Valerie first assumed, and she realized that they had ridden through much of it in the carriage.

“Why didn’t your horses take us directly to your house?” she asked, trying not to show how out of breath she was getting.

“Aeva and Tornar aren’t our horses, they transport people for a living,” Linden replied. “Besides, you can’t get to my house by carriage.”

The ground began to incline up and Valerie was soon sweaty. She began to regret packing so much when Linden stopped in his tracks. “Here we are,” he said proudly.

The house wasn’t large, but it was made with pieces of shale stacked and laced together in such a beautiful pattern that Valerie instantly forgot about her aching legs. Green-gold lanterns hung all around the house, turning the ground into a dazzling pool of color.

They made it to the door and Linden led her inside. Save for the one they just entered, there didn’t seem to be any doors in the house, or walls for that matter. The whole house was one open space, with curtains hanging in every crevice that could be closed to create separate rooms. The furniture was elegant and simple, but there was no fireplace or stove.

How do they cook anything? She wondered, the door swinging shut behind her.

Linden pushed back a blue curtain, revealing a set of cots on either side of a half-moon window. “Here’s where you’ll be sleeping,” he said, gesturing to the beds. “The left one is yours. This one is mine,” he said, throwing himself down on the mattress.

“So...this is your room?” Valerie asked, setting her bag by the foot of the bed.

“Yes. We borrowed the other cot from a neighbor and just moved mine over to make room.”

Valerie glanced at Linden, sprawled across his bed like a prince, then back at her cot. “And your mother doesn’t mind?”

Linden sat up on his elbows. “Why would she? There’s enough room for both beds here.”

Valerie blushed a little. “Well, seeing as I’m a girl…”

Understanding dawned on Linden’s face. “Don’t worry, I’ll change elsewhere,” he assured her. “And if you want to bathe, just say the word and I’ll get lost for a while.”

Valerie smiled and allowed herself to sit on the bed. It was comfortable and she lay down on the pillow, her legs hanging off of the bed.

“Linden?” Lily called, the door creaking open. Linden got up and helped his mother with her baskets.

“Can I help, Lily?” Valerie asked, coming over to the counter.

“Please do. I have little experience preparing meals for a human diet.”

“I’m sure it’s pretty similar to a dryad’s,” Valerie commented, peering into the basket. She was relieved to find it full of familiar fruits and vegetables. There was a surprising lack of meat and bread, though, and the only dairy she saw was a wedge of yellow cheese. “Are you vegetarians?” she asked.

Lily nodded. “Dryads do not require such things as meat to live. These things are sufficient to sustain us,” she said, gesturing at the basket.

Valerie thought about fried chicken and bacon and her stomach rumbled loudly. She pressed a hand to it, embarrassed.

Linden laughed. “Don’t worry, Valerie.” He went over to his bag and pulled out a leather pouch. “Your cook packed some jerky and ham for you.”

Valerie took the pouch, silently blessing the irascible cook for her foresight. She helped Lily wash and cut some fruit, which was tossed together in a bowl, and Lily directed her to do the same with the vegetables. When Valerie had finished, Lily took the vegetables, added some herbs, and poured them into a pot of water. She then opened a door in the wall and a small oven appeared, glowing red-orange with heat. Lily slipped the pot in and closed the door, wiping her hands on a towel.

“That’s amazing!” Valerie exclaimed.

“My father’s idea,” Linden explained. “This way we didn’t have to build a stove in the house and could better use the space.”

“Your dad designed the house?” Valerie asked, munching on a piece of jerky.

“He was an architect. He designed a lot of buildings in this area and even outside of Galon Tir. I’ve visited all of them; or rather, the ones still standing.”

Linden fell silent and Lily squeezed his hand. There was a hiss from the hidden stove and Lily opened the little door. A cloud of steam billowed out and she used a thick cloth to remove the pot. “Dinner is ready,” she announced, stirring the soup gently.

After dinner Lily dimmed the lanterns, giving the impression of twilight, and settled down by the window with a small loom. Valerie decided to take a bath, so Linden went for a walk around the village.

There wasn’t a bathtub in the house, but Lily showed Valerie a small, clear pool just around the back. It was surrounded by trees for privacy, and a small crepe myrtle with pink flowers grew over it, shedding petals into the water.

Valerie stepped in and was surprised to find the water warm and inviting. She bathed quickly, the forest darkening as the lanterns dimmed. She had dressed and was heading back inside when Linden came strolling up the path. The incline didn’t seem to bother him, but Valerie supposed that he was used to it after three centuries. He smiled brightly at her as he approached, the lanterns’ light reduced to a faint glow.

“Feel better?” he asked, reentering the house ahead of her.

“Yeah,” she said, heading to her cot. “I’ve never taken a bath outside before.”

Linden chuckled. “I’ve never taken one inside,” he admitted, digging through a chest at the foot of his bed. He pulled out some pajamas and left the room, presumably to change. Valerie leaned on the window sill and looked out into the night. She couldn’t see much past the lanterns, yet even as she watched they flickered and went out, leaving the room momentarily black. Then, as her eyes adjusted, the room became aglow with moonlight filtering in through the treetops. It seemed brighter than normal, though Valerie supposed that was due to Tylwyth having three moons instead of one. She rubbed the window sill absently with her thumb and felt something engraved in the stone. She squinted her eyes, trying to make it out.

Garland Coeden, son of He Who Draws Up Water, built this home.

The words were carved in a simple script, flowing across the window sill in a perfect line. Valerie marveled at how crisp the letters looked after more than three hundred years.

She heard the curtain rustle and Linden lay down on his bed with a sigh. “Tomorrow we can visit the shops in the village if you like,” he said, yawning.

Valerie nodded. “I’d like that.” She ran her fingers over the inscription again. “Garland Coeden was your dad’s name, wasn’t it?”

Linden pulled a blanket over himself. “Yeah. He carved his name into every building he designed.”

Valerie tapped the window sill. “He built all of those buildings?” she asked incredulously.

“No, he just designed them.”

“But it says here that he built this house.”

Linden turned on his side, looking at the window sill. “Out of everything he designed, this is the only building he built himself. In fact, this house was his last project.”

“Before the Giant Wars?” Valerie asked.

Linden didn’t reply.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Valerie said softly.

“It’s okay. I didn’t know him.”

Linden turned back over and Valerie climbed into her bed, her head filled with thoughts of her own father.