As the Golden Phoenix and Deidera watched, it seemed like days and nights fast forwarded within seconds with the rising and setting of the sun and moon. A gentle tap was then heard and the scene was perfectly still.
"Come in" Said the Elf Child who had now grown into a beautiful lady of fifteen. The doors opened and in came the human whom she had saved earlier. He too had grown older into a man in his thirties with a beard neatly trimmed and obviously fashioned by the Elves.
"Thank you for your kindness Your Highness. Your daughter was most kind to me but alas I was too frightened and forgot my manners." The human bowed in a mortal fashion of addressing a noble.
The Princess smiled with amusement and said "you have been asleep for the past 10 years. It was only recently that you awoke from your slumber. The Elf Child you met was me"
Shocked the human gapped at the elf before him "surely you jest, Your Highness…. unless you mature at a different pace from humans"
"Indeed we mature differently but 10 years have passed since we found you asleep in fitful dreams…"
"WHAT?? 10 YEARS??" Exclaimed the human in utter shock.
"Fret not, my child. Your loved ones still live though they have given you up for dead. Still, we will escort you to the edge of our forest and point you in the direction of your town where you would still be greeted warmly at home. You will be treated with respect and kindness should you venture into our borders again." answered the Elf princess who read the thoughts of the human and understood his emotions.
"Oh…how can I ever repay you? Thank you so much for saving my life. I am forever in your debt." The human said ashamed of his outburst and grateful for the Elf princess' tolerance and generous nature. Throughout, he was holding back the tears in his eyes when his family was mentioned. Above all, he wished to see his mother. To apologize for the argument they had as he did not wish to marry the woman of his mother's choice. He had loved his carefree woods-guide nature, living day to day as a single man with no worries and no responsibilities. Women! They were but noisy crows that disturb the peace and serenity, scattering the peaceful chirping of the other birds in the environment. But now, given the chance to reunite with his aging mother again, he would marry 10 women if his mother so wished it.
"I but ask two things of you, human" said the Elf princess.
"Anything and I would fulfill it if it were within my capability to do so" replied the human with another low bow.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Ashar the Woods-guide, Your Highness."
"How did you come to fall into that fitful spell, Ashar the Woods-guide and what happened?"
"Erm… I would tell you, Your Highness….but.." Ashar swallowed his saliva with great difficulty and embarrassment before continuing "I'm not sure that the details are appropriate for a lady, what more one as noble born as you."
"Come" couched Princess Balqis in a gentle voice as she motioned him towards her and pointed to cushion that appeared a few steps below her own. Meekly obeying his savior, Ashar understood the Elf princess intended for him to reveal his story anyway. Taking a deep breath, he started.
"I took a morning stroll and decided to take a nap in the clearing before heading back to the village…" Ashar's face turned ash pale as he fought to keep his fingers from trembling while he struggled to continue. "In…instead I was caught in a nightmare that did not seem to end. I dreamt that I was lost in a strange forest in the middle of the night and came upon an old castle. Despite its eerie atmosphere, I decided that having a dry and maybe even warm shelter for the night would be better than braving the cold damp ground with the risk of being eaten by wild animals."
Sensing his distress, Princess Balqis offered him some tea to calm his nerves. Muttering a silent thank you, his shaky hands reached out for the cup carved from wood and richly adorned with gold leaves. Taking a sip, he grazed into the gentle princess' eyes to see her soothing, compassionate gaze and regained his composure.
"There was a gigantic grand stairway unlike any I have seen…it would have been a true royal home once. But in my dream, the entire place was covered with cobwebs, candlesticks that were several hours old lit up the entire place and as I moved up the stairway, I saw skulls and human bones scattered everywhere. I was frightened but something made me move up to the very top. There, I saw two…two…" suddenly gasping for air and staring at the floor, Ashar seemed to be absorbed into a daze as his face was turning from pale to blue. Quickly, the Elf Princess reached out to touch the human and commanded him "come back, Ashar the woods guide. You are safe from all terror now. It is just a memory…"
Ashar's vision slowly cleared from blurry vision to see the beautiful face of Princess Balqis and burst into tears. He flung himself at her feet and begged "please Your Highness. Do not ask me to remember anymore. I beg of you…this…this monstrous memory is one I would rather die than to recall. It has taken my soul and I feel it gnawing at my heart…I beg you" Moved to pity, the Elf Princess decided that it wasn't such a wise idea to force him to reveal what had happened. Human beings have never been as strong as the elves. They too often gave in to guilt and temptation. It was their weakness. But it was definitely not one that the Elf crown princess despised. She would simply have to consult her late father's advisors on the next move. It is vital that she knows this threat that may harm others in her kingdom. But the question is how?
To be continued….