Lily would fill Toame's dreams that night. Her beauty was unmatched, even by the elves; who were known for their unusual beauty. He returned to the palace walls to view once again the portrait of Bayla. The likeness was astonishing. They were virtually identical in every way. They even shared the same deep dark blue eyes, a rare trait in elves. Most elves bore ebony eyes like his own, but Bayla like all the females in her family shared the blue. It had been written in elfish legend that only the magic weavers were gifted with blue eyes. The magic weavers had always been of royal blood and chosen personally by the Great Spirit of the forest. The stories Toame knew of Bayla, told of how brave and beautiful she had been. She had been a master magic weaver and a fair ruler. He had always been fascinated by her portrait and the stories of her heroism. He had fallen in love with her in spite of the fact that he had never known her. Lily bore such a striking resemblance to her that he could not kill her as he was instructed to do to any human who dared enter the forest. He couldn't have harmed her for he loved her at first sight. He couldn't wait to see her again. A smile graced his faced at the vision he had of her.
"Really, son." His mother startled him. "You simply must stop staring at these. People are beginning to wonder if you've lost your heart to a ghost."
"Oh, but I have, mother." He said jokingly to her. "I have lost my heart to the dream of what we were when she was alive."
"And what is wrong with the way we are now?" She remarked contemptuously.
"Oh, nothing, it's just that… Well… Nothing I guess." He had noticed her stern gaze and dropped his curiosity. "I shall attend to my studies now. Please excuse me." He quickly left his mother there in the halls and retreated to the library for his daily lessons. Once he was sure she was out of earshot he turned to his trusted tutor with his questions. "Are there any elves that live outside of the forest? Have there ever been any marriages between humans and elves, you know before the war? And what really caused the war anyway? Did the humans really kill the queen? Does anyone know for sure what really happened to her? What is the punishment for not killing a human found in the forest?"
"Dear boy, slow down. I cannot answer all these questions at once." The old elf stated. "I am old and need time to think upon your inquisitions."
"My apologies, sir. It's just that I was looking at the portrait of Bayla again today and my mind began to wander into possibilities that had not occurred to me before." He was being careful no to reveal his meeting with Lily. No one must know of her. He trusted this old elf with his life but was unsure of his loyalty to the king and queen should he learn of Toame's betrayal.
"Staring at them, would be more accurate." He huffed with a chiding laugh. "I fear, my boy you are in love with her ghost. That is not a wise endeavor for her spirit cannot return to land of the living."
"She was a magic weaver, was she not? Could they not perform a spell to allow a visit?"
"Aye, they could. But alas, she was the last of her kind. She left no heirs, which is how your father was able to assume the throne upon her death."
"Because he was the only living relative she had; right?"
"Yes, though no royal blood flows in his veins, he was of some relation to her."
"My questions, sir; can you answer any of them?
"Ah, yes. Your incessant inquisitions. Let me think. There are no elves outside of the forest that I am aware of. None would dare leave the forest for fear of their lives being lost. Yes, humans really did kill our precious queen. Though they claim no memory of her or her murder, the truth of it is well known amongst our people. Such acts of violence and disrespect cannot be forgiven." His eyes misted at the mention of her murder and he then changed the subject. "Now then, on with your studies master Toame, enough of this nonsense."
Toame relented his query for the time and tried to focus on his current lesson. "Master Elf, may I ask one final question is regards to Bayla of the Valley?"
"If you must." The old elf grew tired of the boy's curiosity.
"Where is she buried? I could not find her in the royal cemetery behind the palace where all the other Kings and Queens have been laid to rest. I do so desperately wish to visit her and pay my respects."
"Forget it, boy. No elf knows of her burial site. It has been a mystery unexplored before and it should remain as such. You would do better to pay your respects by letting her alone. Now be done with you. I have had quite enough for one day." The question had awakened anger in the old elf that Toame did not recognize. He dropped the subject out of respect for his tutor.