Wild Jewel [Enter a world of Faerie Romance]

Wild Jewel - Chapter 12

One day, my mother, the Queen, called on me, and I managed to find the small glen in which she was easily enough. Arielle and Delius knew there was no chance I could be some sort of spy now, and knew that running freely through the entire forest would not be some trouble.

When I found my mother, she was sitting on her knees under a very large tree with her eyes closed, like as though she was listening to something. Her wings were outstretched and cunning, though beautiful to stare at. In the glen, a couple of deer grazed in the grass, like as though we weren't there at all.

She heard my approach, and turned her head to me with a smile.

"There you are my daughter." Her Elvish sounded like as though she rather breathed it.

I smiled also, though suppressed the urge to grimace at the warm cozy manner in which she addressed me, like as though we had known each other our whole lives, and not only met a few times since being here. "Yes, you called for me?"

"Come sit with me," she inclined next to her, and I sat down gracefully with my legs crossed.

After a moment of silence passed, she spoke. "You see this tree? It's our most sacred tree of the Glade. An Elder tree. It allows us to be close with the 'Hiril'."

I looked up at the tree. It looked like just any normal tree to me. She must have seen my bland expression.

"There are many Elder trees around our Glade which allow us to communicate with our deity, though some have been bewitched by our past Earth elemental ancestors who watch over us. However, we have found outside the Glade, Elder trees sometimes are witches in tree form, trying to take the bodies of anyone who passes. Witches are cursed, as they turn to their dark magic against the 'Hiril', and they slowly degrade, looking diseased in form. They try to find ways to gain their beauty back from when they were once Faeries.

"It is our gift from the 'Hiril', our beauty, as well as our magic. Though what energy is given to us, we believe must be given back, in a circle of life." She had begun to wander her eyes over the beauty of the 'Taurë', and then met my eyes. "Though that is not all I wanted to talk about. But first, I want you to relax your mind. I want you to listen for what the 'Hiril' has to say to you."

I looked at her in confusion. "What? Listen?"

"Yes," she prompted, "calm your body, close your eyes."

I hesitated for a long moment before closing my eyes like she told me.

"Now tune out your thoughts, and begin to listen to the forest. Feel the forest. Relax your mind to make it feel like you are one with the forest, and then listen for the Elder tree."

I remained stiff and poised for moments lost, then as I began to tune out her presence, I began to almost dream. My thoughts going blank, I managed to tune my mind into the forest around me. The wind was much cooler now, and I knew fall was well underway, though the sun maintained my body heat, which allowed me to sink into a daydream with the forest.

And then, almost as clear as Indriel's voice, came a soft sing-song voice, but it managed to demand my entire attention. 'I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, han mathon ne chae a han noston ned 'wilith.'

The words were beautiful Elvish, and I knew exactly the meaning; 'The world is changed, feel it in the Water, feel it in the Earth, smell it in the Air'.

I gasped out loud, like as though something had hit me.

"Did you hear her?"

I nod, not opening my eyes for a few moments, but feeling the tears well from the shock I felt. She is real! And she speaks. When I open my eyes, the feels are running down my cheeks. "That was an experience."