Brian Anderson - Of Gods And Elves

Gewey blushed and whispered. “ Unorem …”He looked up at Linis. “I hope I'm ready for this.”

“You're ready,” assured Linis. “And ifyou are not, then you soon will be. In fact, I envy you. It takescourage to enter into the bonding .To share that much of oneself is not a matter to be taken lightly,yet I cannot help but wonder what it would be like.”

“Do you have an… unorem ?”asked Gewey.

“No,” Linis replied. “I loved once.But my life as a seeker kept me ever from her. In time she choseanother.”

“And now,” he asked. “Is thereanyone?”

Linis paused for a long moment. “There is someoneI desire. And I believe she desires me. But, I fear I will never havethe chance to find out.”

“Who is it?” Gewey pressed. “Tell me.”

Linis smiled dolefully. “It is not in our customto ask such questions.”

“I'm sorry,” said Gewey. “But it's notlike I would know her. The only elves I know are mostly here withus.”

“And what makes you think she is an elf?”asked Linis.

“You mean she's human?” exclaimed Gewey.Akakios and the other guards looked up for a second, then returned totheir meal.

“You must learn discretion,” Linis scolded.“I did not say she was human. I did not say anything.” Hesighed. “I will tell you. But you must keep this knowledge toyourself.”

“I swear.” Gewey leaned forward.

“Celandine,” said Linis.

“Dina?” Gewey laughed as quietly as he couldmanage.

“Is it in your custom to make sport of a friend’semotions?” he said.

Gewey calmed himself. “I'm sorry. Really. It'sjust unexpected. When did this happen?”

“I knew I felt something for her the moment wemet,” said Linis. “Though at the time I thought she wasfully human. Then, it was easy enough to dismiss. I would livehundreds of years, and she would grow old and die. I would not courther only to watch her slip away. But when I touched her hand for thefirst time and felt the elf blood coursing through her veins, itbecame clear to me that I could not simply ignore what I felt.”

“And you say she feels the same way?” askedGewey.

Linis shrugged. “I can tell she feels something.But what, I don't know. If we both live through this adventure, Iintend to find out.”

Gewey slapped him on the shoulder. “We'll livethrough this. And when we do, I just know it will work out for you.”

“Perhaps,” he said. “But that is aquestion only the future can answer. For now, we must concernourselves with more immediate issues.”

Linis spent the next few hours going over the ceremonywith Gewey, having him repeat it back to him over and over. OnceLinis was satisfied they had covered as much as they could, the twoof them lay down to sleep for what little time remained. Gewey couldfeel Kaylia through their bond and was tempted to reach out, butdecided not to risk trouble with the elders. He still wasn't sure ofthe extent of their abilities and didn't want to stir things up untilhe had to.

An hour before sunrise they were underway again. Linisspent the first few hours picking up where they had left off thenight before. The bonding ceremony wasn't very complex, but Linis hadmade it clear to Gewey that each part held great significance, and itwas very important to get it right.

“I have never seen the bonding performed,”he said. “And I don't really understand the bonding in the sameway that Theopolou would. But, as you are connected with Kaylia'sspirit already, I don't think it will be difficult for you.”

“I hope not,” said Gewey.

Linis threw his arm around Gewey's neck. “Don'tworry. Things will go as planned. Besides, you are about to becomethe envy of many an elf.”

They went over the ceremony a few more times, then lettheir conversation drift to lighter subjects. Gewey's guards kepttheir distance, but by midday Akakios joined in. He had heard ofLinis and held him in high regard, despite the fact that he had beennamed a traitor.

They covered another forty miles before they stopped.Gewey noticed the elves occasionally glancing over at him to see ifhe were tiring. Gewey knew it would be wise to feign fatigue, but hispride wouldn't let him. Every time he caught one their eyes he wouldsmile happily and whistle. This brought fierce stares and chatteramong the elders. All except, of course, Theopolou.

Once camped, Kaylia joined them again. She lookedburdened with worry. “What’s wrong?” asked Gewey.

“Theopolou,” she replied. “He doesn'tseem well.”

“You mean he's ill?” asked Gewey.

Kaylia shook her head. “Not ill. It’s likehe is… drained, weary.”

Linis smiled sympathetically. “Theopolou is veryold, Kaylia. Perhaps this trip, and our quick pace, is too much forhim.”

Kaylia shook her head. “I know, but it's more thanthat. It's as if his spirit is being drained from him.”

“I might be able to help,” offered Gewey.

“How do you mean?” asked Linis.

“I could… give him part of what I have”said Gewey. Then he shook his head. “No. That's not what Imean. I… I can't describe it, but I think I can put power from the earth inside him.”

Linis looked at Gewey in wonder for a moment. “Howdid you learn to do such a thing? Only the greatest of elf sages haveever been able to do this.”

“I don't know,” he admitted. “I don'treally know that I can. I just feel that I can. Ever since Ijourneyed to the spirit world, the first time, I keep gettingthese… impressions. It's like I know I can do a thing, but I don'tknow what it is.” He rubbed his chin. “I don't understandit, but I think I can help Theopolou… if he'll let me.”

“I'll ask him,” said Kaylia and rose tospeak to her uncle. She paused and looked down at Gewey and smiled.“Thank you.” With that, she walked off to speak toTheopolou.

A short time later Kaylia returned, accompanied byTheopolou. The old elf sat next to Gewey, though he did not look athim.

“Kaylia says you have the ability to transfer the flow from yourself toanother,” Theopolou remarked.

“I think so,” said Gewey.

Theopolou turned to Kaylia then to Gewey. “Thenyou are not certain?”

“Not entirely,” Gewey admitted. “Butlike I told Linis and Kaylia, when I woke up from being in the spiritworld, I felt like I knew things… without really knowing them. Iknow I can do this. And if you're ill you should let me try.”

Theopolou scrutinized Gewey for a long moment. “I'mneither ill nor tired as Kaylia might think, but something is wrong.”He stood up slowly. “I feel as if the energy of the earth issomehow being drained from me.”

“Drained how?” asked Linis.

“I don't know. I have never encountered thisbefore. I have attempted to track down the source, but so farunsuccessfully.”

“Could it be one of the elders?” askedGewey.

“I don't think so,” said Theopolou. “Ofall the elders and other elves here, only Chiron has a strongerconnection than I… and perhaps Linis. Neither could do this.Actually, you are the only one here with such ability.”

“I swear-” Gewey began to protest, butTheopolou held up his hand.

“I did not mean to suggest that you had anythingto do with it,” said Theopolou. “Only that you are theonly one I am aware of that could. It is possible another has somehowgained this ability. And it may not be anyone. It just may be ananomaly.” His eyes grew sad. “Our people have lost somuch knowledge. Even the wisest of us are mere children compared toour ancestors. They had such vast knowledge in matters of the flow ,it is said they could trace it to its source.”

Linis joined Theopolou in his melancholy. “Yes.The seekers of old were said to have been able to out run a deer, andhear the heartbeat of a rabbit from one-hundred yards away.”