"Oh, Penelope, you are so cute, I love your dress!" said Izzy smiling down at her.
"Thank you, you are really pretty too.." Penelope said and and her once bluish cheeks turned a violent shade of purple.
"Hello, Felix, Reuben and Penelope, we are pleased to make your acquaintance, this is quite the party." said Seb smiling and crouching down to see them better.
"Hello, I am Gwen, these are my friends Seb and Izzy. Thanks for inviting us to your protectors' birthday." said Gwen giddily. After everything that was happening in the past few hours she really needed this small freeing activity. She felt truly happy in that moment and pushed every dark thought to the back of her mind. The sound of music filled the space they were in and Phineas beckoned everyone to dance merrily around Gildor, who was still swaying his branches to the music. Seb looked at Gwen, wanting to ask her to dance, but before he could mutter her name, Phineas spoke.
"Gwenny, could me have a dance with you? Me would be very happy if you accept." he said and bowed so low his nose almost touched the ground. Gwen curtsied and nodded happily.
She took him in her hand and he held to her thumb as she swayed here and there to the music. It was a really funny scene to look at and Izzy couldn't stop the smile bursting on her face. She wasn't sad at all, right here with all the happiness, music and her friends, nothing could hurt her no more.
Sebastian decided to ask Isabel for a dance seeing as Gwen was still dancing with Phineas and the other three gnomes were now dancing in a circle all together.
"If you would please give me this dance milady." He stretched his arm and bowed before Izzy. She took it and together they swayed to the music laughing at the creatures around and trying not to hurt them as they passed through the sea of them.
"Phineas, don't you want to ask Penelope for a dance, I saw how you were looking at her before.." she said Gwendolyn in a whisper, now that they stopped dancing and surveyed the scene together, him once again perched on her shoulder. She knew he had turned red without the need to look at him.
"Me.. me want to dance with miss Penelope, but me not sure she wants to.. me likes her but.. me is scared, she is too pretty you see." he fumbled with his small hands and looked to the ground.
"Nonsense, I think she would be very happy to dance with you. You are the chief of the village I am sure it would be an honor for her. Plus, you are very cute, I am sure she sees it too." she said earnestly and understood his fears better than most, because they were her own fears too. Phineas jumped on her shoulder and gave her a small kiss on her cheek, thankful for the words of comfort she had given him.
"Thank you Alvena, there really isn't a better friend than you." he said and jumped from her shoulder and hopped happily towards his friends. She still looked at him as he shyly asked Penelope to dance and she nodded just as shyly back to him.
"Cute isn't he?" said Seb from her side.
"Yes, very much so. I am so grateful for this peaceful moment Seb but I can't stop thinking about the uncertainty of tomorrow and how to shake the feeling of going directly into a lion's den." she said and looked in his eyes.
"Dance with me." it wasn't a question, almost an order. He knew she needed to take her mind off even for a couple of hours and he would gladly dance with her for the whole night if he could make her feel even slightly better. He would really do anything for her happiness, he couldn't bear to look at her frowning or scared.
"Lead the way, my dear Sebastian." she said and placed her hand upon his chest close to his heart, that was now beating wildly to match her own. He covered her hand with one of his own and put another on her waist. She let her head rest on his shoulder and he gently lulled her to the music. They were in that embrace for minutes but both would gladly spend an eternity together in that position. Seb couldn't help the feelings he had for the girl in his arms, he knew he shouldn't.. but he still let his lips hover over her cheek and did it without second-thinking himself. He still would not give in to the burning passion in his gut, but that innocent kiss felt better than cold water on a summer's day and he would never regret it. Gwendolyn turned a beautiful shade of pink and happiness engulfed her. She felt as if she was flying and his small act of intimacy was enough to fuel her flight. She was done for. Still even though she didn't want to she pushed him a little and burst their bubble. They had to get back to their friends.
"Let's go find the others." she said and entwined their fingers once more, missing the feel that it gave her.
"Gwenny, Seb, come with me Phineas will present us to Gildor. He is almost 570 years old, imagine what stories he could tell.. oh I am so happy!" Isabel was ecstatic, and run off before them. Their friends were all crouched in Gildor's shadow. Sitting all over his roots.
"Gildor, these are the friends me told you about. They are very happy to be here for you on this special day." said Phineas jumping from branch to branch.
"Alas, before me you are." an old gravelly voice thundered inside the small group's heads. There was no mouth, nor eye on the tree's trunk which made his words even more mysterious.
"Young Gwendolyn, providence has brought you to me as I always knew it would have." Gwendolyn's body shivered at his words.
"How.. how do you know my name? or who I am?" asked Gwen confused.
"Clues, my girl. There are clues everywhere, the air, the rain, the ground even the sound of birds carries them hidden from plain view. Us Elder trees pick them up very easily, after all we have the important mission to help, care, guide and protect many others. I knew you would come to meet me many moons ago and so I awaited patiently for the day I too could help you in your quest, the day I could warn you and tell you to look beyond, to always trust your heart and instincts. Phineas would you be so kind as to fetch 4 vials, they will need a bit of my resin, I fear their journey will be rough." Phineas disappeared and reappeared within seconds with 4 glass vials safely in his hands. He handed 3 of them to Felix, Reuben and Penelope and they all got close to Gildor's trunk. Large white beads that looked like tears started falling into the glass vials, filling them up. Gwendolyn didn't dare speak, she was too enthralled to mutter anything. The tree was crying just to help them out. She knew of the numerous benefits of tree resin. If consumed tree resin strengthens magic and saves someone even from the worst of wounds. She knew it was a precious thing to have if they wanted to make it out alive.
She also knew how difficult it was to procure, since the tree had to willingly cry to get some. It couldn't be taken by force. Gildor was doing it for her and her friends without even knowing them. She was instantly shocked, amazed and grateful for his help.
The vials were full now. Phineas brought his to Gwendolyn, Penelope gave hers to Isabel and the last two found their way into Seb's hands.
"I trust you will give the last one to your friend Alex. Now sadly this is where we part ways, you three should go back, tonight you will need your sleep. Young Gwendolyn, our paths will cross again, one day you will come of your own volition and I will be here waiting for you." he said, still inside their heads. Gwendolyn thought that if he was human he would be bowing in front of her. The music and creatures were faded in her ears and everything was still for a moment. The freeing feeling she felt before was now gone, the problems and gravity of the situation came back harder inside her head. She bowed low to the tree, put her hand on one of the roots and said:
"Until we meet again. Thank you for your help. I appreciate it." she felt something press lightly on her shoulder. It was one of his branches. He spoke directly to her.
"Brave and fair one, I can see your heart is strong, the mission will try to break you, trust your heart and you will make it through. Goodbye, my child." she stood and smiled. A small weight was lifted from her shoulders. She turned to Phineas and his friends.
"I won't forget you. I promise I will come back as soon as I can. Please be careful." she said and gave them all a small smile.
"Alvena, we will wait for you. Goodbye to all of you and till we meet again." they all bid their goodbyes and parted their ways. The sound of music could be heard even after the small group found themselves back into the forest. Their hearts felt lighter but still the dark thought slithered into Gwen's mind. Could she keep her wits and be strong when so much depended on the success of her journey. She sighed and looked at the small vial in her hand. The white liquid swirled inside, powerful but small in its quantity. However small she was glad she had it. They could see the lights from their camp and they made their way to their tents, towards the middle. Outside Izzy's tent was Alex, pacing back and forth.
"Where did you three go, I was searching for you all over! You left, without even informing me.." Alex said, quite agitated.
"I am sorry Alex, it's my fault. We met some gnomes and went to one of their parties. Here this is a gift from their tree protector. It's tree resin." Seb said and tried to diffuse the situation. He handed the vial to Alex.
"Thanks, I guess, just please inform me next time you decide to go to a party in the middle of a war." he said and his serious demeanor changed to a lighter one. He looked at Isabel and she quickly looked away. She was still angry with him, the temporary happiness bubble had popped and she now wanted just to go inside and sleep. Gwendolyn didn't miss the silent exchange of looks.
"Well Alex, since we are all okay and it's getting quite late, Seb and I will leave you two to talk. Goodnight." Gwen said and felt Isabel throwing death glares her way. She quickly entered her tent, Seb following suit.
"You're so mean. You know she didn't want to talk to him." he said laughing and shaking his head.
"I know, Seb. But they need to resolve whatever they have, they're both my best friends and I don't want either one of them to walk around egg shells. We will be spending a lot of time together and I want it to be as normal and pacific as it can be." she said and put her vial of resin in one of her bags, at the foot of their bed. She then turned to face him and found him very close to her.
"I know and as always you're right. Are you tired?" he said and rubbed small circles on her arm.
"No actually, I am hungry." she said laughing.
"Wait here then, I'll go raid the kitchen and bring something back for us." he said swiftly and left.
----
Izzy couldn't believe her best friend, sure she knew they had to talk eventually, but she thought she could have pushed the inevitable to tomorrow. She tried to walk past Alex and go inside, but he stopped her by taking her hand delicately.
"Isabel please wait, I won't take much of your time, I know you're tired. I was so worried when I didn't find you here, I spent hours looking for you." he let her hand go. She didn't let him continue.
"I am here now, so you don't have to worry about me no more." she turned her back again to him.
"I will always worry about you." he said almost inaudibly. She heard him though.
"Then show it Alex, you say things and you expect me to always believe them. Words don't mean anything to me, because you see, your actions speak louder than your words. Let's just forget about what happened between us, as you so unceremoniously said and showed me it wasn't important. Just a kiss so let's forget the whole ordeal and go on. We have to share this tent and I would like it if we could be civil around each other." she wanted to end that conversation and with that the painful feeling in her stomach.
"Alright, if that is your wish. I am truly sorry, I am an idiot and you deserve much better, sorry for treating you so badly. It truly wasn't my intention to hurt you. Please accept my sincere apologies. if you want we can change the room, so that you can have your space." he offered.
"I accept your apology and no don't worry, I am okay with the room as it is, just please give me some time and let's not talk about this again." she said and walked inside. She stored her precious resin vial in her small bag but only after casting an anti-breaking charm.
---
Alex sighed by himself and looked up the sky, he would give her some time to be on her own. Maybe it was better that way, he would forget about the kiss and focus on his true mission. Love only complicated things anyway. He sat in front of the tent and tried to meditate. He pushed every thought out of his mind and focused on trying to find his inner peace. After half an hour when the uncomfortable buzz in his chest had stopped and he finally felt calmness and sleep engulf him he decided to go inside. Isabel was already in bed, her long hair all over her pillow. Her hands were under her cheek and a peaceful look adorned her face. He took his shirt off and slipped underneath the covers. He didn't trust himself and turned his back to her. He quickly fell in a deep slumber, listening to her slow breaths.
---