Galena awoke the next morning feeling a sense of urgency that had not been there before going to bed the previous night. Instead of staying a couple of nights like she originally planned to, she insisted they eat and head out. Elenio, who acted much better after a good night’s sleep, still looked confused, but said nothing in response to this new suggestion. They ate their morning meal, collected their things and Twoit, and headed out.
They walked through the woods for most of the day, not stopping at all if Galena could help it. She remained deep in thought, replaying the dream repeatedly in her mind as they drew closer to the dreaded cave. Elenio respected this and continued with her, only responding to the questions she asked. Finally, around twilight, they decided to stop for the night, as they would be arriving at the heart of the western woods sometime the next evening.
Galena felt extremely edgy and started at every little sound. When Twoit went scurrying out of her pack and down her legs, she nearly jumped out of her skin. Elenio had to remind her to put up the protective barriers and even to light a fire for their camp. He dug out the food and served it as she stared into the fire, her thoughts consuming her.
“Why the sudden rush?” Elenio finally ventured to ask.
“I had a dream with Mira in it last night,” she replied as she continued to stare into the fire.
“And...” he asked, encouraging her to go on.
Taking her eyes from the fire, she focused on Elenio for the first time that day. He looked concerned as he watched her and waited for a more adequate response to his question.
“She told me I needed to hurry, because Haulua was fighting to free himself from the prison she and her other brothers created for him. It seems they devised a clever plan that links his life with Rau’s. If one of them dies, they both do.”
“How is it possible for a god to die?” Elenio asked, eyebrows raised at this statement.
“I don’t think anyone other than another god could do it,” Galena started, her eyes finding the fire yet again. “It may be that he doesn’t die, but just goes into a deep sleep that is similar to death. I don’t know for certain. I just know what I’m told.” She started stripping the bark off a small twig she’d found lying next to her on the ground, fear creeping up on her again.
Elenio sensed the fear and reaching across the fire, he put his finger under her chin, raising her face so she was looking at him. “There’s more isn’t there.”
“Apparently, my fears will become a reality in the cave. I’ll have to face them alone and I’m not really sure what my fears are. What if I can’t handle it?” she nearly wailed. Not the girly elf thing again, she thought angrily to herself. The whole cave thing must really be getting to me if I’m going to whine and complain at every turn.
“You have to,” he said simply. There was no doubt there, no fear, only the simple truth of it all.
“I know. I keep letting this get the better of me and I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of hearing myself whine.”
Elenio smiled at this, poking the fire with a stick. Twoit came back shortly before Galena set up the protective barrier, and chomped on a small bird, regarding the two of them with bright eyes.
“I was wondering when you would notice what an infant you’ve turned into,” Elenio said, laughing quietly.
“Don’t make me kick your butt the last night we may be together,” Galena said as she chucked a small pebble at him.
He dodge it easily and moving with the grace of a cat, stood and lightly leaped across the fire, seemingly in one fluid motion before knocking Galena onto her back. She rolled back, bringing her legs up to her chest before thrusting them out in a snapping motion, putting herself on her feet, and facing him. He grinned wolfishly at her before crouching low and swinging a leg out and around, knocking her feet from under her. She started to tip back, but threw her arms behind her and did a somersault, allowing her to land on her feet once more. Sticking a hand out, she thought of wind and raised Elenio up with it. His grin faded and he looked at her in an irritated sort of way as he floated above the ground, supported by the wind Galena controlled.
“You used to be so much more fun to wrestle against when you weren’t using magic,” he said, sighing heavily for emphasis.
“Maybe this is not as much fun for you, but I happen to be enjoying myself.” She grinned wickedly at him as she made him do several summersaults in the air before placing him gently on the ground. He wobbled from side to side until he promptly plopped down on the ground, his head bobbing around in apparent dizziness. Galena couldn’t help it, she laughed. His expression was a mix of indignation and nausea, which Galena found extremely humorous.
Shaking his head slightly, he shot an arm out to grab Galena’s arm. She was laughing too hard to react and continued to do so even as he pulled her to him. He ended her laughter by giving her a brief kiss.
Grabbing their packs, he pulled them behind him. Lying back, he pulled Galena with him so she could lay her head on his chest. She still laughed in sporadic bursts, but the fits were definitely fading. Taking a deep breath, she fought for composure. This task alone seemed to be more than she could handle, because the more she tried, the harder it seemed. Elenio just shook his head in amusement at her giggling outbursts, but said nothing. He patiently waited for the fits to subside as he stared at the fire and stroked her hair and back.
“I’m sorry, I think I’m more tired than I realized,” she was finally able to say after several minutes had gone by.
“I’m glad to hear you laugh. You had me worried today.”
“Why was that?” she asked, flipping onto her stomach so that she could look at him.
“You managed to shut me out so I couldn’t hear your thoughts or feel your emotions very well,” he said simply.
“Hmm. I didn’t know I could do that,” she said, pondering the implications of this.
“I didn’t hear anything from you and I have to say, I didn’t like it. It felt too much like when I thought I had lost...” he let the sentence trail off, but the pain in his eyes was clear.
She scooted up and kissed him gently before laying her head back on his chest. She knew there was nothing she could do to change what had happened in the past and she wasn’t going to apologize. She did what she had to in order to save them and in the end, it worked out. Now, she would go in the cave and do it again in order to save everyone she loved. There was no one else who could. With this new resolve in mind, she snuggled closer to Elenio and closed her eyes. Tomorrow, she would face the cave and all the terrors within. She would do what she had to; come what may.
The following day they started out early. Elenio even managed to wake up before the sun, surprising Galena. She didn’t complain however and toward the evening of the second day in the western woods, they reached what they considered to be the heart. It was then that Elenio and Galena slackened their pace. Galena felt they were getting close for reasons she was unsure of. It was almost as if there was a presence in the air, causing her to turn and look around her for the feelings of being watched constantly nagged at her. Elenio felt none of this so he simply fell in beside Galena, trusting her judgment. The light was growing weak in the surrounding forest and Galena was beginning to think they’d passed the cave. She stopped and looked around her; sure there was someone there, just out of her sight.
“What are you looking for?” Elenio asked not unkindly, but with a hint of impatience in his voice.
“Don’t you feel it? There’s someone here,” she said, still scanning the forest around her.
“That would be me and Twoit. Now quit, this place is strange enough without you stopping to sight see every few minutes.”
Galena stopped looking for the eyes that followed her from their hiding place to find something to throw at Elenio instead. He was going to feel strange all right.
“Lose something?” a voice whispered in her ear.
She couldn’t help it, she screamed, more from absolute shock than fear, but still it was enough to shatter the otherwise peaceful night.
Elenio’s response was no better and Galena had to stifle the laugh that followed her initial surprise when she saw him jump, spin in midair to face her, then landing badly, causing him to fall flat on his backside. The voice she’d heard moments before chuckled as well. She felt a warm breeze sweep past her face. The smell of sweet bread and Elenio overwhelmed her and she searched in vain for the body that went with the voice.
“You will not be able to see me for I am this place and this place is me.”
“Are you the guardian?” Galena asked in a voice calmer than what she felt.
“I am.”
Elenio was standing and brushing off his backside as he too looked around. He must have felt the same breeze as she, for she watched him lift his face upward and his hair stir around him.
“How do I know that you are the one Mira sent to protect the cave?” Galena asked, unsure how she would be able to prove or disprove the being.
“Because you still live.” The voice was wispy, like the wind blowing through the branches on a windy day, but it gave Galena peace, much like speaking with Mira did.
Galena began to look around for the cave, for if they’d found the guardian, the cave was nearby.
“You will not find it until I reveal it to you.”
Well, that puts the hunt to an end, Galena thought humorlessly to herself.
“Why do you search for the cave?”
“To find the Sword of Lumina.”
“Why would you have the need for such a sword?” the voice asked from somewhere behind her.
“Because with it, we can finally bring Rau’s reign to an end.”
“Why do you think you are the one who can retrieve it?”
“I am Mira’s chosen one. I am the only elf in centuries who can do magic without ill effects. I am the hope of the elves.” Even as she said it, she felt confidence she’d never felt before, run through her veins. She had hope the others did not and for that, she would give everything she had to see her people free.
“You will have to enter alone,” the voice said much closer to her this time.
Glancing at Elenio, she nodded slowly, seriously. “I know. You will protect Elenio and Twoit while I’m gone.”
“I will. Nothing enters this area without my help.”
“Even Rau?” Galena asked, fear for them starting to choke her.
“Even Rau.”
Galena looked at Elenio and held his steady gaze. She knew he would be able to defend himself well enough, but she felt better knowing there would also be magic to protect him. After all, he had her heart and mind with him. Reaching out a hand to his, they entwined their fingers together, never taking their eyes off one another. With his other hand, he caressed her face before burying his hand in her hair.
“You had better come back to me,” he growled. “Because I can’t lose you again. I can’t survive without you.”
Galena gave him a weak smile and turning her face, she kissed his palm. Releasing both of his hands, she swiftly turned; preparing herself for the cave she was sure would appear.
“I’m ready,” she called out to the being.
“May Mira be with you.” With this, the cave appeared directly in front of Galena.