Forty Seven: An Agreement of Elves

By the time I dragged my tired body to bed, I didn't have the energy to take off my dress. I just dropped my shoes on the floor, and fell into the mattress. In a matter of heartbeats, I was asleep.

But that didn't mean my night was restful. The sensation of floating in and out of the black nothingness stirred me enough to almost wake up, and then lul me back to sleep once more. I eventually woke well after dawn, but I still felt as though I needed to sleep.

Yawning, I pulled my elven outfit back on, but this time with my sturdy leather boots in case I left the keep again. I washed my face, hopeful that it would help wake me up, and then left my room.

"Wren, good morning." Nassir was in the room across from the bedrooms, sitting at the table and already enjoying a steaming bun with some kind of seeds on top. My stomach growled loudly, and I grinned as I joined him at the table.

"Good morning, Nassir. You didn't stay at the table all night, did you?" I asked, taking a bun of my own from a shallow silver bowl.

"No, no. I woke and went to bed when I heard you two close your bedroom doors," he answered, then took a big bite of his breakfast.

"We would have woken you up but it's hard to tell with you when you've finally gotten comfortable." I yawned. "And after our long night, I would hate to interrupt your sleep."

"What are we talking about?" A very sleepy Schula came in, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Good morning, Schula," Nassir greeted her. "We were just talking about how none of us seems to have gotten much sleep."

Nassir winked and I giggled as I pulled another bun from the bowl and passed it to Schula. She sat next to me and leaned over, laying her head on my shoulder and closing her eyes as she took a bite, still half asleep.

"I hope we find out what the elves think of our presence today," Nassir said. "It is always nice to know when one is going to be a guest or a prisoner."

"Don't say that," Schula mumbled, still sleepy. "Kalor wouldn't let us be prisoners. We'd just get kicked out of Eidelhein. Well, not Wren. She could stay."

"Hey!" I nudged Schula gently. "I'm not staying without you."

She kept her eyes closed but grinned and took another bite of her bun.

"So, when will we hear from them, do you think?" I asked.

"Soon I'd imagine. Teyber has been in and out of here this morning. He's watching for Kalor to arrive, so if he expects they could be done soon I suppose that's a good sign," Nassir said.

I nodded, accepting his words and began to eat my breakfast more seriously. I eyed the bowl that had been refilled with fruit as well, and plucked a honeyfruit from the top.

We sat in reflective quiet for the next while after breakfast. Nassir meditated, which was a typical activity for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he was even more powerful in his movements and observations before we returned to the Wyldes. His physical sight hasn't hindered him much at all lately, which made me smile.

Schula and I though, I knew what we were both thinking about. The black thing. Whatever, or whoever, it was, it was strong. Or old. Or probably both. Was it even a fae creature? What if it was something else? Or something unseelie? What was it's purpose for calling us to it?

Too many questions swam in my head, and I could tell that they haunted Schula too. But how do we bring up such an outlandish thing to Nassir? Would he even believe us? Probably, he hasn't dismissed anything we said easily before, but it would still be a difficult thing to explain.

Schula sighed loudly, stirring in her chair and pulling another book to her. I did the same, maybe looking for the words of the witches past could help the time go by.

And it did, somewhat. We didn't find much of use, but there were still many books to look through still. We scratched notes as we saw things of importance, we occasionally ate more buns from the bowl, which were admittedly very good, and sometimes would get up and stretch. Teyber popped in a couple times but didn't stay. Each time he looked more frustrated than before, but he would go back to his other duties and promise to return when he could.

After a long and tedious morning, something finally happened. The soft shuffling of slippers, not boots, down the halls caught our ears. It wasn't Teyber and it wasn't Kalor, but someone was here.

I looked at Schula, who looked back at me with a shrug, and then we both turned to Nassir who shrugged too. I stood from my chair, and walked over to the open doorways to see who was coming and nearly bumped into them.

"Ooh!" A small voice squeaked as they recovered from the sudden surprise of me appearing around the corner. A young boy in a simpler but similar uniform to the scouts. His ears had a slight point to them, he was one of the elven children, and he carried a note.

"Sorry about that, are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes, Lady. I should have been paying more attention," he said nervously. "U-um, you wouldn't know if a Lady Wren is present, would you?"

He peeked around me to the room with Schula and Nassir, and his eyes widened a little as they settled back on me again. It made me smile, and I moved enough that he could see them more clearly.

"Yes, I'm Wren," I answered. "Do you need me for something?"

He shook his head furiously, holding up a sealed note. "This is for you, Lady."

"Thank you," I said and took the note from him. The moment I did, he rushed a bow and retreated from us as quickly as was still polite. Schula giggled behind me.

"I think the big bad fae frightened him," she said.

I smiled as I came into the room, bringing the note to the table. "Well, let's see what was so important as to send me a note."

The seal was a simple branch from a tree with some kind of flower on it that I wasn't familiar with. I cracked the wax open and unfolded the note.

Wren, my daughter. We have finished our deliberations and I am pleased with the results. However, the council has unexpectedly requested to meet you straight away. I am sending Teyber a note as well, he will accompany you to us. Please wear what you are most comfortable in, but I have also provided some new clothing options for yourself and your companions. They are laid out in my quarters, if you would like to use them.

Warm regards,

Kalor

Kalor's scrolling hand signed the bottom of the note. I smiled at his thoughtfulness, since he would have had to arranged the clothing before now for it to already be ready.

"What does it say?" Nassir asked.

"The elves want to meet me, and Kalor has a gift for us. We've got clothing, if we would like to use it," I answered.

"Well obviously I want to try on elven clothihng," Schula practically squaled. She had been reading over my shoulder and began walking out of the room.

I laughed and followed her. "Can you help me get dressed, and then you and Nassir are free to inspect the rest? I need to get ready for Teyber."

"Of course," she said.

We entered Kalor's front room and sure enough, there were three fine outfits draped over the furniture. One of the dresses was far slimmer than the other, and would never fit over Schula's bust and hips. It was obviously meant for me, so I picked it up to inspect it closer.

It was soft, a greenish sort of blue that reminded me of deep waters I had seen in the Wyldes. The sleeves were full and long, and the bell of the dress fell straight down like a waterfall around my legs.

"It's pretty," Schula said. "Take yours off so we can see it!"

She helped me out of the plain green on and into the one Kalor gave me. It was comfortable, and would be a bit warmer for the rainy days that Eidelhein seemed to have often. I smiled and swept my hand down my side, admiring the fabric.

"I'll have to thank him later," I said, then I sighed. "But I suppose now I have to prepare to meet this council of elves."

"You'll do fine," Schula said. "Just don't say or do anything that gets me and Nassir killed."

I slid my eyes to her, unimpressed. "Thank you for not making the pressure any worse."

A knock on Kalor's doors turned both our heads. Probably Teyber. I walked over and opened the door.

"Hello, Wren," Teyber looked up and down my new dress and smiled. "You look just like an elf now."

"Thank you, I think," I smiled. "Well, are we going to this council?"

Teyber nodded, his face more serious. "Yes, let's go."

I followed him through the halls and as we twisted and turned I tried to make note of where we were going. All I could really tell was that we were in the administrative wing where Tobias and Teyber's offices had been. Beyond that, I had no idea where we were.

We finally ascended a staircase at the back of a hallway and went up. As we climbed the stairs, I reflected on what it might mean to be Kalor's daughter to this council. What had he told them? Had he spun our story in a light that would gain us favor with the elves?

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Teyber stopped before a large set of doors. They had lovely silver inlays set into them, depicting local plants and animals. When Teyber knocked on the door, it was a surprisingly light sound.

"Come in," a voice from inside answered.

Teyber gave me an encouraging smile, then opened the double doors for me. The room was very spacious. There were five of everything. Five large chairs around a grand table. Five desks set around the walls, each under one of the five beautiful windows. This was a room of purpose and discussion.

Kalor had been sitting at the table and stood with a smile as I entered. Halduin stayed seated with a frown. A third elf was standing, gazing out a window and two others were seated, facing away from the grand table and more toward each other in some kind of heated debate that had been interrupted by my arrival.

I stepped inside and all five heads turned my way. Five pairs of eyes, all different shades of gray or blue, watched my movements. Kalor was the first to speak.

"Wren, this is the council of Eleves who advises the ruling bodies of Eidelhein. And to the council, I would like to introduce Wren, my daughter." Kalor held out a hand as he walked around the table and I took it as he reached me.

"She's the spitting image of Lark," one of the seated elves said.

"Except for the eyes, I see Kalor's eyes," said the other.

"Let's get on with this," Halduin grumbled from his place at the table. "We've already been at this all night."

"And who's fault is it that we had to keep reviewing the protocol for half elven children, Halduin?" The quiet elf who was staring out a window finally spoke up. I looked at him, and his soft grey eyes met mine. Different from Kalor's but still a bit familiar.

"Thank you, Fandor," Halduin drawled. "I'm sure we all needed that to be pointed out."

Fandor. Celestia's father. No wonder the eyes looked familiar, most of the partial elves in the city had them.

One of the seated elves cleared his throat. Apart from Halduin's gray hair, the rest of the elves had some shade of black to brown with the exception of this one who had hair a sort of golden wheat color I hadn't seen on a head since the Wyldes. He wore a deep blue tunic, and carried himself like a king, even though I had been told Halduin was the leader of this council. But none the less, the other elves paid attention to what he was going to say.

"Wren, thank you for joining us. My name is Gelladon. I'm sorry we have kept you from a meeting that so heavily involved you and your presence in Eidelhein. We had much deliberating to do, regarding the company you keep."

My eyebrows raised slightly. "The company I keep is the company that has kept me alive when my kin did not know about me."

If my answer surprised him, he did not show it. He simply nodded and gestured to a seat at the table. "Please, join us. Fandor won't use his chair, he rarely does."

I looked at the pensive elf by the window, who gave me a small smile and a nod.

"Thank you." I nodded back and took the offered seat. I was glad to see it was next to Kalor, and a bit unhappy to note that Halduin was on my other side.

"With such an unexpected mature half elf in our midst, we had no time to prepare," Halduin said. "That said, as Wren stays in Eidelhein, we will expect of her the same decorum her influence allows that we would expect from any other elven children."

My brows knit together. "What exactly does that mean?"

Kalor placed a hand over mine at the table. "It means that you are welcome as a part of Eidelhein and as my only family. You have the privilege of quarters in the keep, as well as freedom to use our facilities here as you wish. But while doing so, you must bear in mind the influence you have here as a half elven child."

"I understand from Kalor that you are here on some sort of business," Gelladon said.

"He is right," I said. "I come most recently from the land of my mother's people. The witches. I'm on a journey to research some magic long lost to us."

It wasn't a lie, exactly. I was on a journey to find out how they made the barrier to the Wyldes. But I also didn't know what exactly Kalor had told them yet, or if helping the fae would be a wise thing to admit just yet. Regardless, Kalor beamed at me, pleased with my answer.

Halduin scoffed. "The last thing this city needs is more meddlesome witchcraft."

"Halduin," warned the last elf I had yet to place a name to. "This council has agreed to accept Kalor's daughter into Eidelhein. Your place in this council's deliberations is over. Play nice."

Halduin snorted and shifted his eyes away.

"So, was all this just to meet me?" I asked. "Or was there other business you needed me for?"

That's when the elves began to give each other odd looks. Kalor exchanged a look with Gelladon, Halduin with the other elf, and Fandor continued to watch out his window in silence.

Gelladon cleared his throat. "Regarding the warning you bring with you, we have more to discuss on the matter. In the mean time, we will be treating your companions as presumed guests. As a thanks for their cooperation, they will receive permission to wander the grounds with an escort. You understand there is a history with the elves and the fey, do you not?"

I sighed. "I do. I thank the council for the limited freedom bestowed upon my friends, and ask that you consider a little more leniency with them as they continue to prove themselves your allies."

"We will consider it," Halduin drawled. "In the mean time, you will be granted a guide in your new role as a half elf of the city. We will send her this evening, and after meeting with her, you can expect the news of your presence to be spread across the city."

"You will also be provided access to our libraries, in the event that they can help you in your quest for knowledge," Gelladon added. "We would also like to see you present at dinner in the evenings. If you are to be one of us, I'm sure your fellow partial elves will be very curious about you."

"And maybe your presence will actually draw Kalor out to dinner as well," the unnamed elf mused.

"Oh stop it, Neuldor. I come to dinner," Kalor protested.

Neuldor smiled. "Yes, a few times a year I suppose you do."

The table chuckled at that, and Kalor gave up, smiling along with them. Then, he turned to me.

"Welcome to Eidelhein, Wren. I'm glad you're here."

I smiled back. "Me too, K- father. Me too."