Of Magic in Man

The World's Best Tutor

Ruddy calculated that the coma had lasted two months now and the solstice Finarion spoke of was approaching faster than he'd like. He was starting to get worried. The chances of waking up again were only about 50/50 and growing slimmer by the day. The book in his hand slid to the floor with a thump. 

Elowyn crossed the room with her easy, graceful steps and plucked it from the floor, setting it on the table. She ran a hand over his head and kissed the top of his scalp. Ruddy didn't know how she did it, but she always knew exactly what to do to calm him down.

He'd found the Eladrin language remarkably easy to learn. That was probably because he'd spent every waking hour for eight weeks learning it and lived among the people who spoke it. He and Elowyn even started communicating in Eladrin for simple things, including where they were going and weaving it into lessons.

"Something troubles you," Elowyn said, slipping her hand into his and sitting on the bench next to him.

Ruddy squeezed her hand briefly and nodded, "Yes, I've learned enough Eladrin to carry conversations and formulate simple spells, but there seems to be something stopping me from making even a flower shine a little brighter."

"Hmm," Elowyn sighed, "Do you believe in the power?" She asked.

"Believe in it?"

"Yes," she giggled, "Come now, Ruddy. You can't manipulate the world around you without believing in your ability to do it."

Ruddy perked up at that. Of course! This was his dreamland, full of his imaginary friends. He was limited by some rules buried deep in his subconscious but others he could definitely control. For example, he'd imagined himself as a nature wizard. That had to be because he'd always believed in a near magical connection with the natural world; to see animals and behaviors others would miss; to read the unspoken language of beasts. That much he could do!

"Thank you, Elowyn," he laughed.

She ran a hand through his now much longer brown hair. The familiar touch was soothing, but it only made Ruddy sad. Amy was fond of his hair.

The elves had a concept of a barber. It was someone who specialized in magical enhancements for hair like color, style, etc. Vylyr Threnar like Elowyn knew some basic spells that kept hair clean or changed its color. A barber could do much more. 

Their services were mainly limited to preparations for the great many festivals the high elves engaged in. There hadn't been so many lately with the war, but that hadn't stopped Valemdar from declaring one for this evening in Ruddy's honor. Apparently, becoming fluent enough in Eladrin to hold twenty-minute conversations passing well was something to be celebrated.

But that was this evening. Right now he had the incredible privilege of picking up yet another book and attempting to decipher it with Elowyn's help. He got through a good portion of the page ok:

"Origins of the Eladrin," Ruddy read the title aloud slowly while Elowyn looked calmly over his shoulder, "the high elves of Eladar were born from the light of Aurenle through the power of the Great Wizard Lysandrius in the first era of the...wait what is this word?"

Elowyn peered at it closely, "Hamarladel," she replied, "And there is no 'of the.' I know the articles can be confusing. 'thil aran Hamarladel' literally translates as 'The First Era Hamarladel' It's just the name of the era."

"Why is it significant?"

"Hamarladel was a time of peace and creation in the world preceding thil aran Anubador, the time of chaos. Even the early homodrin were keen to create something greater than themselves. They succeeded in some ways, yet failed in others."