Chapter 2: Chapter Two- Memories Tide

     Running through the dark forest, Maryia feels the air and smells the sweet scent of nectar in her nose. Her companions following close behind her. Memories of better days flood through her head as tears fall from her eyes. My lady are you ok? Caliban said with concern. Sorry, Caliban, I am just remembering the good days, Maryia said. Clinging rings out as Elidan runs with a large brown sack on his back.

     My Lady, a fallen tree is ahead of you, Elidan said with worry in his voice. Maryia sees the fallen tree and leaps and rolls forward. Landing she rolls and feels the ground beneath her feet and stands up and runs again. Thank Elidan, Maryia said with application. No problem my lady, Elidan said.

     Maryia catches the scent of moon Lilies in her nose, her face starts to show sadness. I have to make a detour, Maryia said. You smell moon lilies? Elidan asked. I do, she pauses as she ponders on going. We are not far from their resting place, Maryia said with a horse voice. We will accompany you my lady, Caliban said. Thank you, Maryia struggles to say. Turning right, they make their way through the forest as they look for the flowers. Splitting up, they run off into the forest.

     Minutes pass as Maryia follows the scent. Coming to a tight clump of trees, she sees the flowers under the base of the tree. The white, blue flowers blooming in the light of the moon. She comes to a stop, her feelings starting to boil over as her eyes water. She remembers they day he gave her a bundle of these flowers. I guess I am lucky today, Maryia thinks to herself. Counting ten flowers, more than enough, she thought to herself.

      Kneeling, she reaches back and pulls a wider dagger with pointed blade. Old crusty blood clings to the daggers blade. The worn metal was rusting on the hilt and cross guard. A worn stag crest was imprinted into the dagger along the crossguard.

      She slowly uses the knife to cut the flowers stems and makes two bundles of five. Sheathing her dagger, she reaches up and plucks several strands of her hair. The pain was hardly noticeable as she let her tears run. Tying the flowers together, she fights to block out the memories. After a few minutes, the flowers were ready. Taking the flowers in her left hand, she stands up and turns around. Hearing the sounds of waves behind her. She turns and starts to run, moving through the trees with speed and determination.

      Her memories build as she remembers riding a horse through the forests. Grabbing Kaiden’s waist as he took her on a ride with his horse. Camping under the stars as they looked over the old Capital with star struck eyes. The day he asked her to marry him in front of her father. Shaking her head and blocking out the memories. She shows a large smile on her face as she feels the pain slowly fade.

     After a few minutes, she blocks out the memories and feels the pain return. It's been three-thousand years, but the pain is so fresh, Maryia thought to herself. The blood is still on my hands, I drove it into his heart, Maryia thought has her heart aches. I will not let him go, Maryia pauses as she moves her right hand to her belly. I will not let you go either, Maryia said.

     Reaching a lake, she stops and looks around. Seeing a mountain range just to her left and woods to her right. The lake stretches to the horizon as the moons reflection lights up the lakes surface. Stars shine around the moon as making a crown above the moon. Turning right, she starts to run along the edge of the lake. Her reflection shining as it follows behind her like her past. Looking back, she sees her reflection of her old self, hazy in the water and moons light. The waves distort the image even more.

     After a minute she reaches a small clearing, two carved gravestones and a large tree on the other side of the clearing. The waterline was seven feet from the gravestones. Leaves litter the area in front of the gravestones. Walking to the front of the gravestones, Maryia kneels and leans the flowers against the graves. The larger grave had a stags head carved on the grave with marble antlers hanging on the sides. The smaller grave had carved flowers along the sides as vines growing over the top.

    “Kaiden, I know its been a few days since I have visited. But I miss you every day, my long life has been more unbearable since that night. She reaches back and pulls the blood crusted dagger and lays it onto the ground between the two graves. As I promised I kept the dagger with me. I never cleaned your blood off it, the rust shows how much I miss you. You were the only murder I ever committed. But I have slaughtered hundreds if not thousands of people in the last few thousand years. I do not know If you still love me after everything I did. I would not blame you, to many I am just a crazed assassin. She looks to the smaller grave. Hey Maryia, mother misses you, I hope you are with your father. I am so sorry for taking your name my child, I hope he is holding you tightly in the starlight fields. I will join you both one day, please wait for me, Maryia said with a broken tone.”

      Her companions emerge from the forest and slowly walk towards her. Reaching her, they look down and see the two graves. Elidan stands to her right as Caliban stands to her left and kneels and places his right hand on her shoulder. I remember him getting lost in the capital on his first day visiting, Elidan said with a happy tone. He was so focused on the beauty of our old home, could have not been more than ten years old, just a baby lost on the streets, Elidan said.

       I could not have been 1500 years old when we met here, Maryia said. He got lost on a hunting trip, wandered aimlessly for a few days, Maryia said as a small smile breaks on her face. I stopped to rest under a tree when an arrow hit the tree, startling me, Maryia said. Eldian, and Caliban start to chuckle and break out laugh. Maryia looked confused as she looked at them. Sorry my lady for us laughing, Eldian said. Maryia looks away from the graves and looks to them.

       It’s ok, we often laughed about that incident, Maryia said. The moon moves towards the horizon as they spend a few hours talking to the graves. Caliban looks out and sees the moon setting towards the horizon. We should head back, Caliban said. A stag screams out in the distance, all three looking out and sees a white stage with gold lines. Its antlers were like marble with powerful shoulders. Eldian smiles as he kneels.

      Thank you goddess of the moon, Eldian said with a happy voice. I guess he is carrying the souls of our people to be reborn, Caliban said with a happy voice. Maryia stands up and places her hands together. Please sacred beast, carry the souls of Kaiden and Maryia to the afterlife, she said as he voice breaks. It raises its head and screeches, leaping down the rocky terrain and reaching the lakes surface. Touching the waters surface with its hooves, the lakes surface glows a whitish color and runs majestically across the water. After a few minutes of watching, it heads towards the horizon and disappears.

      Maryia breaks down crying as her heart aches even more. My lady are you alright? Eldian asked with concern. Just a memory, it’s a good kind of pain, Maryia said. I will tell you both later, Maryia said as she looks back to the graves. Placing her hand to her lips, she blows a kiss to Kaiden and Maryia, I miss you so much, she said. Caliban, Elidan, when I die, please bury me here, I want to rest with my family, Maryia said with a broken voice.

      Shock breaks on Elidan’s face. My lady don’t say that you are needed for our peoples future, Caliban said with a firm voice. Maryia turns  and looks to them.

      Why? I am not that important, Maryia said. My lady you’re more important than you imagine, Caliban said. Your possibly the last of your family, your daughter would have been the next in line, Caliban said. It’s because of the pact your ancestors made with the God’s after the war of twilight, Caliban said. I know since I was born shortly before the end of the war, I saw how we changed following the war, Caliban said.

      Maryia looks away in shame. He kneels down, my lady I swore to protect you until I die, Caliban said. It’s also why I hide my face from you, Caliban said. My shame for failing your family and my brothers and sisters when the Capitol fell, Caliban said.

      Maryia looks back to them, Elidan? Maryia asked. I agree with him, though I am younger than him, I hide my shame as well, Elidan said. Caliban and I both feel the dishonor of surviving when our comrades died, Elidan said. Seeing your family taken, it was my bloodying, Elidan said with a sad expression. He kneels and looks to the ground. I swore to protect you and your family to my dying breath, Elidan said.

      They hear the sound of mud squishing as something approaches. A narrow wolf with a hunched back and thick extended shoulders. It’s midnight black fur was shaggy and shifts in the night. Long curved horns extend over its snout as its golden eyes look to Maryia. Long claws emerge from its paws as its tail swings from side to side. It walks slowly and stops next Elidan and lowers its head. Elidan looks to his left and sees the wolf.

      Fenris, Elidan said with shock. Fenris turns its head and licks his head. I guess I can’t fight the fact Fenris wants to serve as well, Maryia said. Please rise all of you, Maryia said. They rise to their feet and stand still. I just wanted you to know what I want if I am killed, Maryia said as her heart aches. We promise, Elidan and Caliban said in unison. Fenris howls a happy tone.

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       Lets head back, Maryia said. Fenris moves its head and takes the bag in his mouth. Elidan, does Fenris do this often? Maryia asked. Sometimes, I don’t often pry with Fenris, Elidan said. I feel the cloth in my mouth right now, Elidan said. The turn and start walking towards the mountain, my lady? Elidan asked. Yes, Elidan, Maryia responds. Would you like to ride Fenris and rest for a bit? Elidan asked. She looks to Fenris as it lowers itself down and rest on the ground. Maryia smiles and shakes her head from side to side. I can not ride such a noble creature, Maryia said. She turns and walks along the edge of the lake.

        Heading towards the mountain, the others catch up and start to run. Moving along the lake, the moon and stars dance along the waves. The sky turns to a twilight as their strength slowly fades. Maryia looks to her right and sees the sun starting to rise.

        Sorry, I spent too much time at their graves, Maryia said. Its no problem my lady, Elidan said. Reaching the mountain’s side, they see a hidden path along the right side. Leaping up, they land on the rocks and head towards the path with several leaps. Reaching the path, they start to climb with haste. Once we get back to Cel’mavras, we should rest for a while, Maryia said. Hopefully we can, I doubt they will have another assignment for us, Caliban said. Maybe you should spend more time in the valley? Elidan said. That determines if our lady has no need of us whence we get back? Caliban said. Even if I told you two to take a break I would find you nearby, Maryia said. Don’t give me that oath stuff, I can not have you two tired, Maryia said.

      When we get back, take a day or two to rest up, Maryia said. As you say, Elidan and Caliban said in unison. Moving along the path with a quick step, the sun starts to crack over the horizon. Reaching the end of the path, they find an opening to a small cave. Entering the cave, Fenris hits the bag against the wall as cling echoes out in the cave.

       Elidan looks to Fenris with a confused look, trying to get us eaten, Elidan said. Fenris snarls and snaps at him. the bag drops to the ground as the cling rings out again. Caliban reaches down and takes the bag and smacks Elidan over the back of the head. That is the last time I let you carry the money from a job, Caliban said with frustration in his voice. Throwing the bag over his left shoulder, sorry my lady, Caliban said. Passing through the cave in silence, they come to large circular room. Two large, elegant stone pillars with an arch connecting the two sits in the center of the room. A small panel sits just before the pillars. Elidan rushes ahead and moves towards the panel.

       Looking down upon the circular panel the octagon buttons shined white as energy flows through them. Reading the elven language on each of the buttons. The others reach them as Fenris disappears from sight. Hopefully, we still have time to activate the gate? Maryia said with concern. We should, the network maybe offline thanks to your father, Elidan said. I know he ripped parts of the central gateway and tossed the parts into the Veinway before it closed. It’s why we can only go one way, Maryia said. She places her left hand onto her forehead. I just wish I knew were the parts ended up? Maryia said. Removing her hand, she wounders a few things.

        But we should have just enough time left to head home, Elidan said. This gateway can only be opened at sunrise, Elidan said. Elidan feels his strength slowly fading, he taps the buttons and sees the buttons light up. The panel goes dark as the room starts to illuminate from the sides.

        The room shakes as the pillars light up. After a few seconds light erupts from the archway as a swirling door opens up. They move quickly and enter the doorway. The world goes bright as they feel fluid rush all around them. Maryia feels her darkness wash away, the fluid entering her lungs as she breaths gently. Her pale skin returns to its sun-kissed state as her hair turns brown. After a few seconds they emerge in a similar room. The gateway was surrounded by multiple pillars along the walls of the room. Maryia looks to her hands as they become pale again. Are you two alright? Maryia asked. I am fine, Caliban said. Ok, just a little weak, Elidan said.

        Breathing gently, Maryia feels her darkness slowly return. I can’t believe that we used this to transport dark elves to Cel’mavras, Maryia said. The veinway is why we used it to transport dark elves after the war, Caliban said. It was meant to keep use under control and locked away, Caliban said. Still hard to believe we fought over darkness, Maryia said with a concerned tone. It was not over darkness itself, the original dark elves where chaotic to say the least, Caliban said. It corrupted the original dark elves, increased their destructive urges and instincts, Caliban said. From what I read, the original dark elves where three of the seven elven lords, Elidan said.

      “Caliban looks away as he remembers those days. They were, the darkness that flows through us drove them to madness. Their powers were completely destructive to us and the world itself. The aftermath was hard to live through. Their powers make ours look like children playing with wooden swords, Caliban said” It must be why my father said there is to be only fifty dark elves at a time, to be pushed physically and mentally to resist the influence it holds, Maryia said. It was, even though I was against the formation of our order, Caliban said.

       Why are you against the Dri’shura? Maryia asked. Caliban looks away as his back tightens. They slaughtered my father and mother, crazed eyes and laughs as they butchered their way through our village, Caliban said. Maryia looked confused. Villages? Maryia asked. I know humans have villages, we had a massive city? Maryia said. We built the city after the war, so the survivors on both sides could find peace, Caliban said. When you’re father formed Dri’shura, I openly opposed my friend, I felt using darkness was beyond wrong, Caliban said. Why do you still serve me when I became a dark elf? Maryia said.

       It's my duty to serve your family, I became what I hate, Caliban said. Luckily my wife will not know this curse, Caliban said. Like you I have embodied my pain of failing my friend, brother’s and sisters, Caliban said. Maryia looks away with shame on her face. Caliban sees it and looks away. Sorry my lady, you became a dark elf out of the loss of Kaiden and Maryia, Caliban said. Elidan sees Caliban tightening his left fist in shame. How was the Veinway discovered then? Elidan asked. Caliban looks around and examines the room and looks to the base of the gateway. The Veinway was discovered during the last days of the war, Caliban said. It’s an, ever flowing stream of energy that pumps life throughout the world, Caliban said. It’s similar to sunlight, it will strip us of our powers for a day at most, Caliban said.

      Lets get moving, we should reach Cel’mavras within an hour and then rest for the day, Maryia said. Looking around, she finds the exit just in front of her. Starting to walk, she feels her legs wobble a bit with each step. Caliban feels the weight of the back as he starts walking. Elidan follows behind as he breathes deeply. Moving through the cave, they hear the sounds of howling winds echoing through the cave.

      After a few minutes they exit the cave and into a snowy mountain range. A small bright beacon shines in the distance. A long stone path runs from the caves entrance and towards the beacon. Snow blows from the path as the wind picks up. Starting to walk, Maryia raises her left arm and blocks the wind from her face. Walking they feel the cold seeping into their skin. The snow clinging to their boots as the sun breaks through the clouds. Moving along the path, the wind picks up and pushes against them. They see cloth tied the rocks on the left. Elidan slips a bit and catches his footing as snow falls from the path and down into a deep canyon.

       I see why they built Cel’mavras in such a remote place, escape is next to impossible, Elidan said. It was meant to help the old Dark Elves, this was so if a dangerous one escaped they could not get far, Caliban said. I wish the sun were not out right now, Maryia said. Its was why we chose to locate it here, it would cut off our strength and powers, Caliban said. Walking along a curve, they see a long stone tower near a mountains peek.

        Birds and mountain goats could be seen along the rockface on the other side  of the ravine. Two goats start charging and head butting each other, Maryia stops and looks at those two fighting on the rocks. They slam into each other as they leap from rock to rock.  A sense of shame comes over her as she reaches up and grabs her left arm. Caliban see it and comes to a stop as he sets the bag down. He places his left hand on her shoulder. I am not angry you became this, I have more hatred for myself, Caliban said.

        The day you relinquish the darkness and let go of the pain, I will as well, Caliban said. That means I have to forget my family, my lover, my child, Maryia said. It’s the pain that was brought on by losing them, your memories of them are a greater strength, never let that go, Caliban said. Maryia reaches up and takes his hand from her shoulder. Thanks, Uncle Caliban, Maryia said. He reaches up and rubs her head, still that little girl, Caliban said. They see Elidan further down as he stop and looks back. Caliban reaches down and takes the bag and throws it over his shoulder.

         Maryia and Caliban start walking again and reach him quickly.

         Coming around the corner, they see long stone stairs leading up to a smooth stone building. Elegant designs along the face of the stone building. Two towers line the sides as they spot elves along the walls. Maryia reaches up and waves her right hand. Seeing the Elves wave back, we are clear to approach. Stepping onto the stairs, they climb with haste as their strength fades away. Maryia starts to breath heavy with each step she takes.

         The long circular doors with silver metal decal opens a woman runs out. Maryia sees her sun kissed and white and green dress. The elegant dress hangs over her shoulders and splits near her waist. Her white boots clung tightly to her feet. her long blond hair waves in the wind as she rushes down the stairs with haste. Ali’cia, Caliban said. She reaches them and quickly hugs Caliban tightly and feels the cold. About time you got back, Ali’cia, said with a worried tone. My dear, I told you I would be back, Caliban said. If anything happened to you I don’t know what I would do, Ali’cia said. Maryia and Elidan stop and look back to Caliban and Ali’cia. 

         They release each other and start walking towards the doorway.

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