Power of the Dark Lord, Chapter 22 Copyright 2010 by Bert McKenzie
CHAPTER XXII
The mountain chain rose up before them like jagged and broken teeth. These were the Eldritch Mountains located in a parallel range just north of the Crystal Mountains. The northern chain appeared to be much older, not to mention extending for a much greater distance to the east and west than did the Crystal Mountains which housed the seat of the Tuathan government, the Palace of Esbereth. A cold north wind blew icy fingers down into the valley at the feet of this ancient range and stabbed the small army as it rushed through their ranks.
"We aren't dressed for this kind of weather," Sharon protested through her chattering teeth. "When did winter suddenly hit?" She looked around, but was surprised to see the only ones suffering were the humans, hunched over against the cold blasts. The fairies were still sitting erect on their mounts, if anything, looking invigorated by the temperature and wind.
"Nothing seems to bother them," Jennifer said as she rode close to the doctor. "You should have seen them in Colorado. They only wore winter clothing because it looked good on them. I think Caseldra would go out in the snow naked if I'd let her."
Sharon suddenly felt a warm shield from the cold. She leaned back and realized there was another rider now sharing her horse. "I wish not for my human healer to freeze," Rood said in her ear as he leaned forward and wrapped his strong arms around her body. She was about to protest his actions, but it felt so good and so comfortable that she just leaned back to enjoy the physical sensation.
The army slowed to a halt. "These are the Eldritch Mountains, lord," Rood said as he and Sharon rode up to join Scott. "I know they hold the gateway between our world and that of the land of evil. But I know not where it may be."
Scott looked up, trying to get his bearings. When Ellenia and I came down from them I think it was on a steep path further to the east. I don't remember it very well.
"Then we ride to the east," the captain replied. "I trust you, my lord. You will know the path when you see it." The group turned eastward and again took up the search.
In only a few hours' time they came upon a large, round boulder. On the top of it sat a tiny little man. He was perfectly formed, but no larger than eighteen inches in height. Scott stared in disbelief. After all the strange things he had seen and experienced in this world, he was still shocked when confronted with the impossible. He glanced around at his companions but no one else seemed to take the slightest notice of the little man. "That's it. I'm finally cracking up," Scott thought to himself as the group paused to rest their horses.
"Greetings, great lord from the other world," the little man said with a bow. Scott stared at him with open mouth.
"Scott, what's the matter?" Jennifer asked as she climbed down from her horse.
"Matter?" he said as he quickly jerked around to look at the rest of the party dismounting. "Jen, do you see anything unusual about this rock?"
The girl looked at it curiously as Caseldra came over to join her. "It's unusually round, I guess, but I've seen other rocks like that. Why?"
"No reason," he snapped tersely. The two girls eyed him curiously, then walked away to visit with the others.
"They cannot see me," the little man said. "Not even the excellent, sharp eyes of the fair folk will spot me unless I let them."
"Who are you and what do you want?" Scott asked quietly.
"Who am I is not important," the little man replied. "The question should be what seek you?"
"I...I'm looking for..."
"Your heart's desire. I know." The little creature laughed and cavorted on top of the boulder.
"Scott, wouldn't you like to join us?" a voice asked. He glanced down from his horse to see Sharon and Rood looking up at him, concern showing on their faces.
"Join you?" he repeated.
"I think you need rest, lord," Rood said. "You speak to a stone."
The irony of the situation hit Scott, causing him to laugh. How many hundreds of movies had he seen where the protagonist spoke to an invisible ghost or some other fantastic creature and his friends all though him crazy? Now it was happening in real life. "You think I finally flipped," he said amid his semi-hysterical laughs. "Maybe I have. I'm talking to an invisible little man that only I can see."
Rood swiftly drew his sword and was almost instantly joined by Akuta and the others with weapons readied. "A gnome!" he said. "They are evil tricksters who would harm us."
"You believe me?" Scott said incredulously.
"Of course they do," the little man chortled. "See how they fear me? They may be big, but still they fear my power."
"Where stands he, lord?" Rood asked as he looked around cautiously. "He will only show himself to one person at a time. Where stands he now?"
"On top of the rock," Scott said and looked back. It was now empty. "No, he's gone."
The little man laughed heartily at Scott from where he now stood on the path. "I cannot be caught that easily," he said as Rood felt around the boulder. The big guard suddenly cried out and jumped back. This caused the little man to fall to the ground in a fit of laughter.
"Stinging fire weed!" Rood said as he came away from the stone. "The backside of this boulder is covered with it and I stepped right into it. He dropped to the ground, pulling off his sandals. Long, blue lines were etched on his feet and calves.
"It's some sort of allergic reaction," Sharon said as she examined his legs. "I have some herbs that should help." She grabbed a small bag she had prepared before leaving the palace, and removed some plant leaves. She then crushed them against Rood's skin and began massaging his legs. He leaned back and smiled. "Is it better?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered. "But the pain has extended up above my knees." The doctor gently rubbed his thighs with the soothing leaves. "Just a little higher," he said. She quickly broke off her ministrations and gave him a dirty look, and then went back to working on his calves.
Meanwhile the little gnome was speaking to Scott. "Your heart's desire is high on this hill," it said. "You had best hurry and find it before my friends push it off a cliff. The trail leads up from behind the rock." He then scampered away, leaping into the middle of the group and jumping into the air to land with all his weight into the middle of Sharon's back. She fell forward, landing with her face in Rood's crotch. The little man danced off saying, "You had better hurry, big lord. He will fall off the hill soon."
Scott jerked the reins and guided his horse around the oddly shaped boulder. Sure enough there was a hidden trail leading upward onto the mountain. Urging his horse to a fast pace, Scott quickly followed the path upward.
"Scott, come back," Jennifer shouted as she saw him ride off. Before anyone could react, the rest of the horses began to rush off down the trail to the west. A high pitched laugher echoed along the hills after them.
By the time the caravan had reached the eaves of the great wood, Dave had learned to speak much more fluently. He could now easily converse with more intelligence with the other members of the traveling group. The same could not be said for Clive. He didn't have the patience it took to learn the skill of speaking English. Also, as the caravan made camp near the forest gate, Ellenia was beginning to change. She was no long the sylph-like woman Dave had first met, but had gained a considerable quantity of weight. It was fairly evident that she was pregnant and in a few more months would deliver a child. Clive's pride in his mate seemed to increase with the size of her stomach.
The merchants quickly unloaded a good deal of commodities that were apparently meant for the wood elves. No sooner had they made camp and finished the unpacking, than a great number of bronze skinned, little people dressed in leaf green jerkins appeared at the edge of the wood. Clive greeted many of them as old friends and invited them into camp.
That first night at the edge of the great wood was one that Dave would always remember with great joy and great sorrow. There was a huge celebration and the elves sang and danced for hours, beginning at sun down. Clive spent most of the time dancing with his boyhood friends and telling them tales of his adventures in the palace as well as stories of the strange human world. The other woodlings found it hard to believe that their old woodmate, Robin, was now the high king of all Tuatha. He had been raised with them in the great wood and they had played together as children.
For the most part, Ellenia was deserted. She sat alone, a discreet distance from the others, enjoying the singing and dancing. Dave noticed the wistful expression on her face and asked her if she would like company. "I thank you for your kind attention, lord," she said. "How like you our singing and merry making?"
"I like it very much," the human said. There was a special magic in elfish music that touched his soul. He then noticed the sad look on her beautiful face. "Are you not happy, lady?" he asked her.
"I am as happy as ever I have been," she replied. A long silence fell between them. Suddenly she turned to Dave. "Know you anything of birth, my good friend?"
The scientist was surprised by the unusual question. "Well, yes. If you mean biologically, I studied medicine at UCLA."
She smiled sadly as she place her hand gently on her stomach. "My son will need help entering the world. Help I shall not be able to give him. In our world he would die, but I ask you to see that he lives."
"Is there a problem?" Dave asked. He looked at her face closely. "Are you experiencing any pain or bleeding, or any other symptoms?"
"No," she said. "Swear you shall not tell anyone else,"
"But, lady..."
"Swear!" she said imperiously.
"I swear," Dave answered.
"I feel a coldness in my heart," she answered sadly. "It is the plague."
Alee, Faylar and Stan went in search of the horses. They were no doubt spooked by the gnomes as a vicious prank. Akuta, Alex, Caseldra and Jennifer went dashing up the mountain trail on foot, following the route taken by Scott. "I would go with them," Rood protested, but Sharon wouldn't hear of it.
"This plant poison could get worse if you walk on it," she said as she continued to massage his legs.
"But lady, if you insist on this treatment, everything else may get worse." He was already aroused and having a difficult time trying to conceal his erection under the hem of his short tunic.
Sharon had to laugh inwardly. This brash young man had been flirting with her for the past three days and she had continually avoided his advances. Now that they were alone and she was no longer resisting, he was the one who was acting frightened. "I'll have to work a little harder," she said, sliding her hands higher on his thighs. "We'll have to take care of any stiffness you might have." Rood closed his eyes and groaned as her fingers slipped beneath his tunic.
Meanwhile, Scott slowed his horse to a walk. The trail seemed to melt away in the midst of high rocks. He got down and began to walk along the narrow path. A small cascade of fine gravel fell down from above, dropping onto him. Scott jumped back from the wall and looked up, but could see nothing because of the curving angle of the rock. As he looked up, a large, dark, oddly shaped boulder came over the edge of the wall above and fell directly on him. There was no time to move aside, all Scott could do was throw up his arms for protection. The weight hit him and he fell to the trail, coughing as dust filled his lungs. "I must be dead," he thought. "I can't possibly be in this position and not feel any pain." His leg was only inches from his nose. He tried to move, and then realized it was not his leg, but that of someone else. The shock of this realization caused him to jump away, scrambling to his feet. The owner of the strange leg did the same thing.
As Scott looked up, brushing the dirt from his eyes, he saw Robin standing in front of him. "Thank you for breaking my fall, love," the king said with a smile. Scott let out a shriek of happiness and fell upon his lover, kissing him passionately. Ten minutes later the others of the search party crested the hill to see the two lovers locked in an embrace. They all broke into cheers of joy, knowing their quest had a happy ending.
Once the horses were rounded up, the trip back to Esbereth was pretty uneventful. Rood and Sharon had grown much closer during the journey and the king and his consort spent a good deal of time getting reacquainted, but on the whole, the three day trip passed quickly. Arriving at the palace, they found everyone busy with the two caravans that had met on the same day just beyond the foothills. Life seemed to be settling quickly back into the comfortable Tuathan routine.
The only unsettled business was that of Stan. He still had not found any clue to the whereabouts of the missing human scientist. Shortly after their return to Esbereth he made an appearance in the throne room to request an audience with Robin. "You need no such formalities, dark lord," the king said from his seat of shining quartz crystal. "We owe you much for the assistance you have already given us. You may speak to us as friend to friend."
"You highness," Stan answered. "I'd like to ask your permission to go on a journey."
"Of course," Robin said. "Where will you go?"
"We figure the horse that Strahan was on ran out into the grasslands. He either died out there or was picked up by one of the many caravans that cross the prairie. That's the only way he could have survived."
"Go on," Robin nodded.
"I'd like your permission to take a couple of your men and ride out to look for him," Stan finished.
"If you find no trace of the body you would then follow the caravan trails in search of him?"
"Yes," Stan agreed. "If he didn't die in the prairie then someone somewhere must know where he is. We want to take a look."
"By 'we' I assume you know which knights you want?" Robin asked with a smile.
"My lord, we would like to volunteer," Alee said as he and Faylar approached the throne.
Robin grinned broadly. "Actually, I thought you might." He again looked at Stan. "Dark lord, these two are young and impetuous. You shall have your hands full," Robin said in English so the two knights would not understand him.
"Well, they aren't much of a commando force, that's for sure. But I think I can whip 'em into shape," the black man grinned back.
"I have but one condition," Robin added. "On your journey please follow the caravan to the great wood. I desire news of my cousin and my friend. Express to them my love and tell them all Esbereth awaits their safe return."
Eight months had passed since their binding. Clive stood outside the den that was built high in a majestic oak. This was the 'house of joy' as the elders of the village called it. This was the den where the children were born. Just a short time ago Ellenia was carried into the big, wooden den, leaving Clive outside to worry. This was typical. The mother was always taken in and prepared by the village women, then the father was admitted as the time drew close, so he could witness the birth and offer support to his mate.
But Clive was very agitated. He could tell that something was wrong. Ellenia should not be ready to give up the child for at least another month, possibly two. On top of that, as she was going into the house of joy she insisted that Dave, the human she had grown so fond of, be admitted with her. This bothered Clive more than he wanted. He couldn't understand what was happening.
Inside the wooden hut, Ellenia was unclothed and stretched out on a soft bed of fern leaves covering a wooden pallet. She was not having an easy time of it. "If the child comes not, they both shall die," an old woman said. She had performed the job of midwife many times.
"The father should be called to witness the birth," another woman said.
"But there is no birth," the first woman replied.
"Let me see," Dave said as he came into the room. Ellenia's mother-in-law had shown him where to wash and clean himself as best he could. He was appalled by what humans would consider the unsanitary conditions of the house of joy. Everything was clean, to be sure, but certainly not sterilized.
The old women protested, but Ellenia and Clive's own mother insisted. Dave quickly knelt between the girl's legs and examined her. "The baby's too large," he said. "She isn't dilating and I don't think we can do much about it. We'll have to take the child by Cesarian."
"What mean you?" the old midwife asked.
"She can't have this child normally. We'll have to open her abdomen by surgery or we'll lose them both."
No one seemed to understand him. "I trust you, my lord," Ellenia finally said. "They shall do whatever you tell them, only please save my child."
"I'm going to save both of you," Dave answered her.
"That is not possible," she said calmly. "I am ready for my journey, but please take my son from my body."
Dave knew he was taking a big risk. This was certainly not the place to operate with no equipment. "What wish you for your task?" Clive's mother asked.
The human swallowed hard. "Let's start with lots of clean white cloth," he ordered. "Then someone build a fire quickly and heat some water. We'll also need a very, very sharp knife..."
Hours seemed to fly by as Clive sat in meditation on the little, wooden porch. Finally his mother came to him, touching him gently on the shoulder. She escorted her son into the gloomy interior. He immediately crossed to the pallet where his mate lay beneath white sheets. She was no longer large with child, but seemed now tiny and withdrawn looking.
"Are you well, my love?" Clive asked as he knelt and grasped her hand.
Her hand was cold and the grip weak. "I love you so," she whispered as she reached her other arm up to brush his tousled hair. Clive then noticed the bright blue stains on the cloth at the foot of her bed. "Fear not," she said, catching his eyes. "It is over and our son lives. The women are cleaning him before presenting him to you."
"But...I thought..." The woodling was confused. He was supposed to be called in before the birth.
"You were not prepared to see what actions had to be taken," the girl whispered. "Had it not been for David Strahan our son would follow me."
"Follow you?" Clive asked in confusion.
"I go on a great journey," Ellenia said. "It is one I must take alone."
"No!" Clive cried as he began to understand her meaning. "You must be well."
"It is too late," she said. "I follow my parents to the western islands."
"I shall go with you!" Clive said angrily.
"No my lord, and my love," the girl said weakly. "You must be strong for our son's sake. Teach him to be a man, and tell him of me. Tell him I loved him so very much, and know that I love you too." Her voice was fading quickly as her strength waned. "Kiss me farewell, my love."
Clive bent down, taking her fragile body in his arms and kissing her gently. He felt her relax and go suddenly limp. "No," he moaned, hugging her tightly as if he would physically hold her spirit back from its journey. He decided to stay here, never to let her free of his arms.
"My lord," a voice said gently behind him.
"Go away!" the woodling cried as he held his dead love.
"But, my lord, your son need you," the woman said. Clive slowly looked up and his eyes met those of the little baby in his mother's arms. They were the same sparkling green as Ellenia's. The tiny, undersized child began to softly cry. Clive quickly jumped up, grabbing the baby and hugging it fiercely to his breast, his tears mingling with those of his infant son.