ELO Page 3

  Bree came to hearing Elo say, “well, I didn't think the King would come and visit you so soon" Elo stood over her, wiping blood from Bree's forehead. “Tho now that he has! Bakura can't complain; him visiting you means you're like us and safe" Bree head ached from where she had dashed it on the ground. She did not flinch when Elo used moss to dab the blood from her forehead. She said,"I was here for weeks until the King asked me to join his herd." Bree tried to whisper a question, but again her voice was still gone. Instead, she bleary stared at Elo and the herd of white deer that were once more gathered by the stream. The slender golden deer that had scolded Elo walked confidently towards Bree. Bree cradled her knees to her chest, nervously. Elo backed away a respectful distance as the deer changed, blurring from Bree's vision into a tall, dark woman that stood taller than anyone Bree had ever seen. Her curly hair haloed her face, and the woman looked down at Bree.

  She said, “you may not hunt any of the pale deer that graze by the spring and the King's forest. I will allow you to hunt deer from outside the forest, as they are only animals. Any deer with the white pelts are marked as the King deer and cannot be killed by mortals. All who joined this herd were once mortal man, and we are here in this forest to find our peace." Bree looked frightfully intimidated by the enormous woman and her confidence. The woman touched Bree's face gently. She said,“You have been through much, and if you choose to be as you are, you may return to your mortal realm." Bree looked uncertain. Perhaps this was death, she thought? If it was the afterlife, this was not what she expected. Bakura looked at her and read her mind. "I can feel your thoughts, I can't hear them directly. You are not dead, you are in a heavenly place which is someplace between the realms and the heavens." Bree, overwhelmed, put her hands on her head, and started sobbing. She was dead, or had died or something in between. This was not what she expected. She had thought her life would have been better. She wanted to live in the wilds with her grandmother, not dying a half-starved slave, her village devoured by machines, and being taken advantage of by uncaring fools. Bree began crying, her face scrunching, turning beet red, and an ugly sob escaped her lips. Bakura sighed and stepped away; she turned to Elo.

  She said, “I want you to keep her company until she makes her choice. Take care of her. If you need anything, you know we're to find the herd." Bree sobbed loudly, confused as Bakura left, Elo sat down beside her. She muttered softly, “there, there. You still have a body, you haven't changed like us. You still have a choice to make." Bree's memories came flooding back. The slavers, the village lord, the men that used her and had bought her. Bree cried until she vomited, and she lay on the ground, miserable vomit trailing from her mouth.

  Elo disgustedly began sweeping it away from her.

  She scolded, “don't just lay there, it's not that bad." She scooped up Bree and brought her to the stream, washing her face. Bree, frustrated, battered Elo's hands away, but Elo didn't seem to feel her slaps. She said, “It's like bathing a barn cat, but it's for your own good. You cant be lying in your own filth." Bree sulked in the corner, unable to yell at Elo, unable to speak and ask questions. She decided to ignore her and the strange herd of white deer that stood a distance away, onlooking the scene with mild disinterest. Elo left, and Bree, having finally calmed, tracked her prints in the dirt. Elo was not far gathering vegetation and more wood for the fire pit. Bree hovered nervously, looking out over her furs with red-rimmed eyes.

  "You're here, and that's all that matters now," Elo said gently. "The king gave you the option to go home, so you could go back." Elo looked at her sideways, "but I don't see why you'd want to go back to slavery." Bree stared silently stoic. She sat beside Elo, then she tried to speak.

  “Fae...Faelooo...”

  Elo raised her eyebrows, "Faelorn? He's a wild one, not really human anymore. Sometimes he stays with the herd usually to play with Eli, or do Bakura's bidding..."

  Bree stared frustrated, wanting to know more about her rescuer. Elo explained, "well, I suppose that's who Faelorn is, his job is to protect. When the hunters come looking. Faelorn's is there. He's helped most of the herd find their way here, and he protects even the animals who live in the forest, which is more than the king asks of him."

  Elo looked at the forest. She said, "I suppose he is more animal than man anyways. Well enough, once you change, if you join the herd, he'll stop being so shy. You can thank him then if you want." Bree shook her head; Faelorn had saved her. She thought to thank him as soon as she saw him again. Elo got up, wiping her dirty hands on her white pelt. "Well, dear, we have a long day ahead, let's get started, shall we?" Bree bit her lip uncertain. Elo motioned for her to follow, "Come now, follow me, little one."

  *

  Elo hauled the wood over one shoulder and carried a bundle of edible plants in the next. She said, "We'll lets make clothes for you, then make a proper fire. Joltrun should be visiting, and he knows that you're here. He's the one that healed your arm when you were half dead." Bree trailed behind Elo, clutching her oversized furs. As they made their way into camp, Elo turned back at the mouth of the cave. Bree felt eyes on her; she turned around quickly. She was sure that she saw a glimpse of something lurking at the edge of the forest. Goose flesh crawled on her arms as the forest seemed to get taller and more foreboding. Bree hurried inside as Elo began rebuilding the fire.

  A few days passed with Elo for company. As each day came and went, Bree felt more comfortable around the deer woman and her strange herd. Bree was bundled in her piles of furs by the warm fire, Elo was roasting various edible plants. Bree never really spoke, but Elo didn't seem to mind. In fact, she talked enough for two people. Bree soon learned that Elo came from a home with nine siblings. She was the seventh eldest and the oldest girl. Elo once lived in the village called Therftwood that lay just outside of the forest. Elo also told her all about the town's goings and comings, none of which Bree remembered as she was usually half asleep recovering further.

  It was on the fourth day that an unexpected visitor arrived outside of the mouth of the cave. It was a shriveled old man. His skin was dark and wrinkled as leather that had been left out in the sun to long. His nose was large and full, and his eye heavily hooded. He looked at Bree, and Bree looked back at him, through her pile of furs. The man wore a headband and thick heavy clothes, which showed that he had traveled for many miles. He carried many packs on his back and complained as he walked on stiff joints to the fire-pit. He grumbled, "Well, Elo, are you just going to stand there or are you going to help an old man unpack his things…" Elo complained, "I'm busy enough, and I don't see why you must pack up your house, old man." He grunted, " I need to give you and the newcomer supplies if you two are going to live in this dump of a cave." Bree was petrified; she was frightened of the stranger. She swallowed nervously and held her furs around her body, curling uncomfortable by the fire. She clutched a stone ready to throw if things got out of hand.

  The old man eyed Bree as Elo helped him unload his massive pack from his back.

  “God's Man! This is heavier than a mule's ass!”

  Elo smashed the pack to the ground, and the elderly man scolded. “God's dammit girl, be careful. I have valuable goods in there!" He sat down slowly on a boulder that Elo rolled his way. With a great sigh, he rested. "God's, I wish my cabin weren't so goddamn far."

  Bree hugged herself uncertainly as the old man gave her another good look. He said, "well, it's good to see you're better than when Faelorn brought you to me. I was sure you were dead. In fact, I'm positive you were. He refused to give up on you and brought you to the Spirit of the King and his sacred spring."

  The old man pulled out a pipe and fumbled for a bit of hash from his pocket. He lit it with the small fire that Elo was roasting a spit of vegetables on. He took a deep pull and looked down at Bree and said

  “I am Joltrun, I used to be a protector of this here spring, but I'm retired. I work as a healer and travel a bit. Winter months, I usually stay in my cabin yonder way, and I begin my travels
in the pleasant months."

  Bree stared saying nothing nervous, hiding her face in her furs. “Not a talker, eh? Well, I'd at least like to know your name, child." Elo noisily pipped up, annoying Joltrun. “Her name is Bree. Stop frightening her! She woke not to long ago. Also, she needs a set of clothes. I'd sew her something, but I knew you were coming. I'd thought you'd be here sooner, though."

  Joltrun grunted. "Well, I had business to attend to that was more dire than this. Plus, the herd won't be caring if she's naked. I healed her arm, and the village is a week's walk to get clothes and the like, I came back as fast as I can." He searched through his packs and brought out a bundle. He said, “It ain't much for a girl, mostly it's boy's clothing. Pant's, a man's shirt, and some shoes though they might be a little bit big." Elo rummaged through the bags. She said, “I can sew just fine if you brought a needle and thread." Bree watched them uncertain. Joltrun pulled a kettle and teapot from his bags. He said, “ I'll stay awhile, but I've got to leave in the morning."

  Bree watched, and the man pulled out a handful of herbs from a kerchief in his pocket and tossed them into the teapot.“Now, girl, I'd like to look at your arm and make sure that you're alright." Bree clutched her bundles of furs around her tighter forming a cocoon. Elo encouraged her, "Now he ain't no peeping tom, he took care of you the first few weeks before you came to."

  Joltrun grunted, "I have great-grandchildren older than you child, you be nothing but a babe. I just want to make sure that you've healed." Through her cocoon of ragged furs, Bree reluctantly showed her scarred arm. Joltrun hobbled over and took a look at it, examining it thoroughly. He said, “Well, I'm glad that Faelorn got to it in time. If he hadn't put your arm in place and wrapped it up good, the spring might have healed it incorrectly." Bree snatched her arm back from Joltrun and fled back to the corner of the campfire.

  Joltrun turned, looking sharply at Elo. He said, "She can't speak?”

  “She can talk a little," Elo replied, "I think her voice is hurt.” Joltrun hobbled and half yelled at Bree.

  “Do you understand me!" Bree covered her ears, annoyed. Elo snorted with laughter. “She's mute, not deaf, you daft old geezer." Joltrun grumbled, "Can't speak, can you read?" Bree nodded her head. Joltrun squatted in the dirt.

  "If you can read, then you must be able to write, now where are you from?" Bree scribbled in the dirt the words.

  “the mountains. "

  Joltrun scratched his head "well… the only mountains I know of lie east of here in another realm."

  He scratched his chin."Do you remember how you got here?" Bree hesitated, blinking back tears, then she scrawled one word.

  “slave….”

  Joltrun sighed; it was all he needed to know. He said, “well, I'll see what I can do to help you. You're safe here, but I'm afraid if you return to the forest we found you in, you'll probably be returned to the slavers." Bree hugged herself, terrified, Elo uncomfortably fumbled with her thread and needle and adjusted Bree's new pants. She said," Well, at least she can talk to you somehow. I can't read or write never had any need for it, being a farmer's daughter..."

  Joltrun asked, "Who taught you to read and write?"

  Bree wrote down, "grandmother."

  Joltrun sipped his tea and said, "aye, rare for someone who isn't nobility to know how to read and write."

  Bree wrote, "She was taught to read by nuns." Joltrun nodded, "aye, well, at least for that." He puffed on his pipe, lighting his face with gentle orange light. He said, "Well, child, I suppose I ought to tell you the truth. You died, but Faelorn, the protector of these woods, healed you and somehow your spirit came back to life." He continued as if what he had just said was entirely reasonable. "You're stuck in a place that few mortals are allowed to dwell. It's called a heavenly place. The Spirit of the King rules over this place; this spring is in between reality and heaven. Though if you were to choose to stay here, you would change and become like the deer in the field. Eventually, you would lose the ability to return to your home entirely, and maybe if you stay long enough, your memories of being human will disappear."

  Bree stared into the fire solemnly, and Joltrun poured piping hot tea into two tiny clay cups. "It's your choice, and I'm sure over time you will decide," Bree said nothing disengaging and instead turned to stare at the bubbling spring and the waterfall that trickled from the cliffs above. Elo and Joltrun spoke in hushed voices. Bree ignored them; she felt lost. This place that she dwelt wasn't even real. She shivered, thinking herself insane. Perhaps she was alone in the forest, believing that she saw people and creatures, not of her world. Miserable and confused, Bree decided to sleep and wait another day to sort out her problems. As Bree slept, Elo sewed her shirt quietly, and Joltrun snored loudly, half asleep by the fire-pit. Elo asked, "Jo if she returns to her world, will she even be human anymore? She drank from the spring and bathed in it. It appeared to her; I didn't even see the spring until after I accepted the Spirit of the King and became part of the herd."

  Joltrun snored, startled awake at Elo's question. He answered gruffly,

  "Well, I don't know, the spirit works in mysterious ways, but he always has."

  Joltrun turned to Elo and asked, "What about Faelorn? I haven't seen him around since the girl awoke."

  Joltrun growled, "He best not be showing his face, I've got a thing or two to say to him when he does."

  Elo's brow furrowed " If you see him, will you tell him that he should come home to the herd? Eli misses him, and so do I." Joltrun scolded, "He's no good until he can control his blood-lust, I suggest you stay away from him." Elo argued, "He's killing slavers for good, why can't the King just accept him for what he's done." Joltrun barked. "It doesn't work like that! It's not what Faelorn is doing that is evil; it's what's in his heart, that hatred will consume him one day. Evil never dies Elo, Faelorn can murder them all, but it will always find a new host."

  Bree moaned in the corner under her furs. Joltrun and Elo stared at her for a moment.

  "Joltrun, what do I do? Should I just watch over her for now." Elo asked, returning to her sewing anxiously, looking over at Bree. Joltrun sipped his tea, "That's all you can do." Joltrun stared at Bree for a long moment, a puzzled look on his face. He said, "I must go, Elorna, take care of her. I need to go to the towns and gather supplies; she going to be here through most of the summer maybe longer." Elo sighed, taking a deep breath. She looked up at Joltrun as he transformed into a beast and walked to the exit. She called, "You will try to make up with Faelorn, will you?"

  Joltrun sighed, "maybe Elo…keep watch over Bree."

  Chapter 5

  Bree dreamt of a monster. He ripped the bodies of men to shreds like they were cloth dolls. Bree watched, unable to move, she was in an endless void of darkness. She stood in a pool of blood. Men and women ran screaming, the monster tore them apart running on two legs, four legs, and sometimes turned into a serpent and slithered. He caught his victims, pinned them, and rendered them apart with his jaws. Bree looked down at the pool and saw that her legs were stained with blood. She covered her mouth, stifling a scream. The creature stood over a mound of corpses searching for his next prey. Bree ran and fell, stumbling over bodies as she tried desperately to run from the monster. She looked back in horror; he turned and glared at her. His black eyes flashed with malice. In moments he was hovering over her. His antlers were covered in the flesh of the people he had murdered. His hair was stained with blood, and it ran down his face. Bree screamed as he caught her, then pushed her down, drowning her in the blood of his victims.

  Bree woke covered in sweat. It was mid-morning, and she blinked bleary-eyed and disorientated. Elo stood in her deer form by the entrance. She was grazing quietly, and Bree stared at her for a long moment before sitting up. As she watched the white deer eat, Bree recalled her grandmother's stories of the changelings. Changeling's where babies that were switched out at birth with a child born of the fae, also known as the fairy folk. The unsuspecting human parents raised the
fae child, who would disappear and return to their fae parents one day. In other stories, her grandmother had told her changeling were humans that could change and shift forms, usually, they were werewolves in those stories. Bree never dreamed that she would see a real changeling.

  She struggled to accept the new reality she lived in, a place between earth and heaven. Being in a world of changelings and magical kings was far better than being a slave. She chewed her lip, if she did try to go home, what was left for her? Her village was destroyed, her grandmother was dead, and she was a branded slave. Bree knew that she never wanted to return to her home. However, she wasn't sure she wanted to live in a reality of changelings and magic. What possible danger lay in this new world? Her thoughts shifted to her rescuer, Faelorn.

  She hugged her knees, wondering what the connection the dream had with him. She wasn't sure if he had been the monster, though it did resemble him. She took a deep breath soothing her nerves. The dream had just been a nightmare. Monsters did not rescue slaves, she told herself. Faelorn, she said the name on her lips. She wanted to thank him, it didn't feel right that she hadn't been able to thank him. Despite everything she had endured, Bree was grateful to be alive.