Spring Inspiration

Today was gorgeous—sunny, slight soft breeze, blooming bushes and flowers and trees, a true Spring day. After school, I headed for the barn and took Mo out for a ride. We have a competition this weekend, so, we needed to jump some cross country, especially the two ditches. Many times when I ride, my mind wanders and comes up with new scenes, characters, story lines, etc.; but that’s not a good idea when jumping your horse. While on the hack down to the bottom field with the various cross country jumps, I did have an inspiration about what happened when Syllé, Falinor, and K’tanna finally made it into Calarta. Because King Arterius was wary of outsiders afte everything that had happened in his kingdom and the danger his daughter Esmerelle had found herself in, he imprisons his visitors trying to keep Esmerelle safe. It doesn’t work out well for him and Esmerelle is incensed he kept the wounded Falinor from her as she is sworn to use her powers of healing for all who need them. After losing the argument, Arterius is determined to figure out the mystery of his guests. See what you think.

Eight days after the arrival of the newcomers in Calarta, King Arterius waited for Esmerelle to flee the citadel before heading for his daughter’s rooms.  The king strode purposefully into Falinor’s room, but the sight that greeted him caused him to stop dead only a stride or two from the door.  Falinor lay pale and barely breathing in the middle of the bed and Sylémar lay curled up next to him with her head on his shoulder and her soft breathing quietly ruffling Falinor’s hair. King Arterius was quickly transported to another time and another healing room—this one filled with wounded—and his daughter curled up in a bed beside Dréger, a dwarf who had been Esmerelle’s bodyguard and dearest friend.  Dwarves would never remember him, but they would remember his grandson, the greatest dwarf king in history, King Asger.

Arterius was pulled from his memories by the itchy feeling that someone’ eyes were on him. Without taking his gaze off the figures in the bed, Arterius addressed his hidden watcher, “So, Ghost, why are you in my kingdom?”  Silence. 

 Arterius continued to study the figures on the bed.  He could still feel the other child’s eyes boring into him but resisted the urge to search the room for her. “I have heard of Falinor, the great elven warrior.  Never met him, but I have heard of him, and I never heard any stories about a family, especially a daughter or daughters.  Who is he to you?”  Silence.

 Arterius made no move towards the bed and continued to stare at the pair lying there but his gaze was contemplative now.  “She is important to you as you fiercely protect her, but Falinor?  I think you’d leave him without a second glance.” Arterius chuckled slightly to himself, “If I promise you to care for him and keep him safe, will the two of you leave my kingdom immediately?” Silence.

 This time Arterius took his answer from the silence. “Probably not. He is important to her, and she won’t leave him. Am I right?” Arterius started to turn his head towards the eastern corner of the ceiling where the shadows were deep and K’tanna kept her vigil, but Sylémar’s voice from the bed stopped him.

 “Is it my fault if he dies?”

 Arterius was startled, having thought the child was asleep, and swung his gaze back to the pair on the bed.  When his eyes met Sylémar’s, Arterius was struck by the ardent grief mirrored in their depths. The intensity of the sorrow pouring out of Sylémar’s eyes took his breath away, reminding him of his theory that she was centuries older than she appeared. 

 “Who are you?” Arterius’s question unconsciously slipped from his mouth, as he stared quizzically at Sylémar.

 Sylémar answered his question with a repeat of her own. “Is it my fault if he dies?”

 Arterius shook his head and gazed a little more kindly down at the child as he moved closer to the pair on the bed. “Unless you ordered the basilisk to skewer Falinor, you are not at fault. Did you command the basilisk?”

 Sylémar shook her head, but Arterius could still see the pain and remorse pouring from her eyes.

 “So, then, why do you think his wound is your fault?” Arterius cocked an eye at the child.

 Sylémar returned her gaze to Falinor before answering. “K’tanna said it was my fault.  That I had killed him.”

 Arterius chuckled softly to himself as he took Esmerelle’s customary chair beside the bed, turning his gaze on Falinor. “Your friend is rather intense, I have noticed, and extremely protective of you.”

 Sylémar shrugged her shoulders. “We protect each other.”

 A snort of laughter from the dark corner reminded them that they were not alone. Sylémar scowled irritably in K’tanna’s direction while Arterius smiled in amusement. “Obviously your friend doesn’t share your opinion.”

 “I guess she’s not my friend,” Sylémar quietly replied, turning her gaze back to Falinor.

 Arterius leaned forward. “I know of Falinor and his great battles against the agents of Merilik, but I do not know you.”  Pressing his point, the elf king continued, “So, who are you?”

 Before the child could answer him, a surprisingly strong voice grated from the bed, “She is my daughter.” Opening his eyes, Falinor stared intently at Sylémar and smiled.