Forestlore Ch. 2: Faalshire Beginnings

a note on pronunciation: Anja- (AHN-ya)

                                     Eliant- (eh-LIE-ent)

                                     Ionquin- (ee-ON-quin)

                                     Sunia- (SOON-ee-uh)

2

I took a step back and shook my hand away from Anja's. "No," I answered without hesitation; but for a brief moment I caught the hopeless look on the girl's face and I awkwardly added, "thank you."

Anja turned her eyes briefly to the ground and met mine again. "Where will you go?" she asked softly.

"I don't know," I rubbed my head irritably. There was now a great throbbing in my temples and a clamminess to my skin. I didn't feel good about anything. I don't know what was keeping my frightened head on my shoulders.

A small hand touched my arm. "I promise you, Eliant, I will explain to you this world as best I can. I know why you are here and I can answer your questions in time."

Shaking, I held my gaze on the archway of trees creating the dark path before us, leading into the forest. Still nothing could be distinguished past the thick fog. What lied beyond there? And could it be possible I had really been sucked into some magical place of being and was here for a special purpose? 

I closed my eyes and bowed my head low. "Anja, tell me this: wherever I am now, will I return home?" The only thing other than myself that I could trust now was this little girl; she was all I could put my faith in.

There was a lengthy pause, longer than I would have liked.

"Yes."

"And this...your home...is a safe place?"

To this, she did not answer. She only replied, "You will come to like it, I think." Anja wore a tight smile on her pale lips.

What choice do I have? I thought. This way seemed better than wandering aimlessly, as risky as it was.

Without another word, I stepped towards the bent trees. Smiling gently, Anja lead.

For the while we walked the path into the Forest, Faalshire, my mind became completely empty. I was overwhelmed with a sense of calmness, like the feeling just before sleep on a tiring night. 

All that was vitally awake were my eyes. They became sharp and alive at the sight of the mere trees because it was as if they emanated sheer purity and goodness. Such a feeling can't be described in words. It was all beauty. Almost haunting, once I remembered the fear and displacement I endured first waking here. The state of terror and wonder merged easily.

The ends of the branches and leaves of the thriving trees bent above us seemed to shimmer in the morning light, which only shone through streams and sun-rays between the foliage. 

Anja strolled leisurely and waited for me. From behind I first noticed her dress, matching with her surroundings: a pale green color. There was a chain around her neck- a short necklace. Her short, curly hair settled perfectly above her shoulders as she walked. Without seeing her young face, you might have thought she was a young woman, or a princess. 

"I understand if you feel...intimidated at first. The Forest is immense and very grand," she said to me without turning her head.

"Like a castle," I whispered without thought, my eyes still vigorously exploring the rows of trees that carried on endlessly and the golden-colored path ahead. 

By the time Anja stopped, my legs were weak. I looked up and realized I had been so engulfed in the scene I hadn't been aware of what was right in front of me. 

"This is Faalshire," she presented as I gasped, simply astonished.

The leaves were a brilliant purple and blue to match with flowering shrubs. The rocks were a shining silver, and the shadows of the distant trees a dark grey.

And there were lights...lights like white fireflies fluttering throughout the clearing.

There were no words I could speak, and before I considered opening my mouth, I felt a tickle on my ankle. Peering down, I saw a creature of the same bright light as the others blinking around; I made a startled noise. 

It was a fairy. 

The size of an extended hand, the fairy had small wings that were constantly flapping, like a hummingbird. It was without clothes or a shapely figure with a smooth body and had long hair draped over its shoulders. The creature was neither young nor old, male nor female. When it moved it carried a faint trail of fog with it, like a ghost.

It flew up so it was eye-level with me.

"A new mortal friend I see, Anja?" the ageless voice rang out.

Anja turned to the fairy levitating in front of me and nodded tentatively. "Yes. Her name is," she glanced at me, "Celest."

I watched her closely until I felt the same tickle on my cheek; the fairy had drawn closer and was releasing a cool air on me by the force of its wings.

"I've never seen you here before," it almost smiled.

"It isn't often men come through Ionquin, now is it?" Anja countered. I stood back and didn't pretend to understand, still gazing at the interior of this land.

The fairy shifted. "I suppose not."

"Besides," Anja took a breath, "...she's from outside."

The creature stopped. I turned to pay attention to the scene. 

"Outside?" A strangely hopeful look appeared on its face. "You...you mean to say she's left behind from Sunia, I'm sure."

Anja paused. "Yes. Of course."

The look of anticipation drained from the fairy's face and left a shadow of sadness. "Right, yes."

"We should get going." Anja turned away from the fairy and towards another dark path out of the clearing. Ionquin, they called it.

"Goodbye," the fairy waved to us, locking its small eyes specifically on me.

I shyly lifted a few fingers in reply before Anja held my wrist. 

"I'm sure we'll be back in time," she murmured under her breath.

I seized another moment to take in the beauty of this place before thinking of all the unanswered questions just raised. Why had Anja told the fairy I was from Sunia? What was Sunia in the first place? What was any of this?

My head swam too much for my comprehension, so I tried to stop. Before I knew it, we were moving again through the trees. 

I didn't feel like spilling all my questions to Anja; I knew she wouldn't answer them anyway. I found inner patience and decided to let myself solely be entranced by Faalshire instead of worrying. That was a challenge in itself given the utter presence of the place made me shudder despite its beauty.

"Thank you," Anja finally broke the silence between us.

"What?" I blinked. 

"Thank you for not...saying anything."

I frowned.

She cleared her throat. "There are few people I feel comfortable telling you about. For most, I'll explain you're from Sunia. They'll understand. You won't have to do any of the talking," Anja assured.

Pursing my lips, I nodded a little.

Slowly as we continued walking, the trees morphed from their purplish color to a greener one, more like the classic forests back on Earth (if, for certain, we were not on Earth.) I didn't hear the usual scurries of forest animals or tweeting of birds, though. Instead there were light chiming noises, but no breeze. Not even a wisp of air; simply the distant sound of lights. And humming. Rather, a singing. Breathy and echoing, so indistinct I hadn't noticed it before. It was like the songs I imagined of the Sirens of Greek legend.

I closed my eyes momentarily as I listened, captivated.

That's when the music was pierced by Anja's shrill scream, and an iron arrow whizzed past her head.