Endless Adventure

The Quest of Wisdom and Worth - Author May Clarke (part 2)

Expectant silence was all that was left after countless revelations had been projected in the court of the col. There was evil in my blood that was undeniable, but there wasn’t evil in my soul, actions or thoughts.

“I plead my case, that a person cannot be held accountable for the actions of others. I am of my parents, but I am the product of my grandmother’s teachings. Let me be judged on the outcomes of my decisions, let me be the light to their dark. They were rightly cursed, but others were punished, even though they were victims. Let this be the wrong that I heal, and the justice I deliver.” I shouted into the abyss. Dot gave a small bark to punctuate my sincerity.

“How will you decide who is worthy of magic and who is not?” The judging voice questions.

“I won’t. My grandmother told me that magic is a living thing. I will find a way for magic to pick its host, not the other way around.”

Silence.

“You have shown yourself to be a wise and considerate leader. You will be allowed to continue with your quest, and have our blessing.”

The sprinkles of light that had been cast on the floor, reach out to each other and light up the way. In the distance, I can see the other end of the passageway. Clutching Dot to my chest, we rush outside, gratified that a clear distinction had been made between my parents’ morality and my own.

Contrasting from the route we had taken so far, the exit brings us to a glowing forest. The trees were pink and peach, and it looked as if glitter had been scattered into the tree trunks. It pulses with magic and joy. Laughter could be heard, and the fluttering wings of unique birds seemed to herald my arrival as I walked along the mossy path. The air was sweet from the exquisite flowers that decorated the area, and I breathe them in intensely. For the first time, the sense of being watched had disappeared, and I couldn’t help but feel safer than I had before. Looking up, I could see little wicker pods in the trees with children’s tiny feet poking out of the edge. The people waiting for me seemed iridescent, their skin shimmered with power. The most significant feature was the points of their ears that I desperately try not to stare at, even though I am amazed by their beauty.

“Welcome to our home. You are in the land of the elves, Cara.” A tall, long-haired elf announced.

“Thank-you for your welcome” I replied, feeling foolish for not knowing the formalities of the elven people, even though I would have said that they were creatures to be found in fantasy books if I had been asked about them yesterday.

Graciously, I was led to a camp fire where a congregation of elves were seated. Behind them was a glorious marble altar. It was decorated with golden leaves that looked like veins feeding a beautiful yellow flower that was in the centre of the monument.

“That is the magic of your people, my possession of it is what has made you human. I am Aaron, king of the elves.”

Unsure about whether I should bow or not, I lower my head in respect. Ironically, I had been poisoned, then nearly drowned, and then been condemned as pure evil because of my parents, but it was now in front of a king that I felt the enormity of what had been asked of me.

“In order to return magic to your people, you must offer us a gift of great significance and meaning. Only then will we let you have what you are looking for.”

I had always seen guests arrive at people’s houses offering a bottle of prosecco, or flowers. Therefore it was to my upmost shame that I looked down at my dirty attire knowing I had nothing to offer the king. Dot grumbled against my chest, and I placed her on the ground letting her stretch her legs. What was the most significant gift that one person could give to another? Love seemed the obvious answer, but how could that be shown. I thought back on all my times with gran, hoping that she was still alive, and waiting for me. When did I know that she loved me the most? The times she dried my tears, or when she told me that my parents’ insults were only dust on the wind? Dot was yelping in the bushes, disturbing my inner turmoil. She had planted herself into an herb garden, and as if she had landed on the very answer that I had been looking for I began to pluck the coriander that she had been allured by.

As if I was a child again, I contemplated all the times gran and I had made this meal for lunch, she had said it was a potion for happiness, and I truly hoped there was a hidden meaning in that phrasing. Twenty minutes later I approached the king, holding out a bowl of warm carrot and coriander soup.

“What is significant about this bowl?” King Aaron questioned.

“It is the greatest gift that one person can give to another. The feeling of fullness, the idea of taking away the discomfort of emptiness, and the love that motivates us to want to do that for another is the meaning that you will find at the bottom of this bowl. Although a simple meal, it has been made with care and consideration, and that is the significance of the new relationship my people wish to have with your people. This is my gift to you.” I explain, calmly and respectfully.

Smiling, King Aaron dipped his spoon into the piping hot mixture. It was then passed around the campfire, and joy followed its progression. Holding my breath, I am desperate to hear the final outcome.

“We are pleased with your answer, Cara…” Aaron is interrupted, before he can deliver his verdict.

An aggressive caw erupts from the trees.

Searching for the cause of the commotion that was clearly close by, I turn to see Dot, looking very sheepish, with the flower of our people dangling from her mouth.

Laughing at her impatience, I run over to pick her up, and return the flower to the stand. Conversely, to my jovial dismissal of Dot’s silly antics, the elves circle us with their spears pointing in our direction. The soup long forgotten.

“She meant no harm. It can be returned, until your decision has been made.” I try to reason with them.

Swiftly, Dot is grabbed from my arms, and given to Aaron. He holds her by the scruff of her neck.

Instantly, I am annoyed that he’s handling her so roughly.

“She is not a dog, Cara. She is your grandmother’s spirit animal. Banished to the Forest of Worth when the magic was rescued from your parents, and your people. She has been in these woods waiting for your arrival, but she has tried to steal what would have been given, and so a new trial must be proposed.” Aaron explained.

Dread stills my heart. If Dot had rushed to take the flower it could only be because gran’s time was running out. Stumbling to explain the motivations was pointless. Aaron simply shook his head.

“You can take the flower now, and save your grandmother and your people, but the price will be the life of Dot, who tried to steal from kingdom of the elves. Alternatively, you can take Dot and return home, but you will forever be powerless, a simple human for the rest of your life. Make your choice.” King Aaron demands.

I have never been so conflicted. My eyes burn as I think of how the magic could save gran, but also give all people that I pass each day a better life. Dot’s squished up face, seems to be encouraging me to leave her behind, as if she knew the cost of her decision. The same words of misery fill my mind, ‘I am useless’ and ‘I will fail’. My parents were right. If I had been quicker, gran could have been saved sooner. My parents are the voice of doubt in my sub-conscious, and the ruin of our people. Magic could fix all the wrongs that they have done.

“You may keep our power, I will take Dot. I came to save my grandmother, but not in exchange for another life, she wouldn’t want to be saved like that. This adventure has made me wiser. Hopefully, I will do some good when I return home.” I answer, and hold my hand out for my dearest companion.

Instead of feeling my weighty, mischievous pet, I feel warm arms wrap around me. King Aaron smiles, and places the kiss of peace on each of my cheeks.

“You have passed the last of your tests. This addition was your grandmother’s input, we were happy to end it with the greatest gift, which was an excellent answer, by the way. Twenty-two years ago, she promised that she would help raise the next heir of the coven, and that she would be the best of you all. Your gran wasn’t wrong. The magic will do as you ask, it will always be linked to you. Remember that when you make your choices. Take Dot, and the magic of your people, and rule with the same worth and wisdom that you have displayed on your quest.” King Aaron proclaims, and instructs his guards to escort me back to my world.

The three hundred and twelve steps were easily conquered on my race to gran’s flat. Bursting through the door I call out her name, only to hear a faint whisper in reply. Frantically, rushing to her bedroom I am shocked by how frail and tired she looks. Dot instantly jumps on her duvet, licking her bony fingers.

“My old friend, it is so good to see you again.” Gran croaks out.

Refusing to waste a moment, I present the flower to my gran, holding the glow from the petals up to her face, like we used to with buttercups when I was little. Her face became plumper, and the thin skin filled out smoothing across her bone structure, her hair became thicker and full of volume. It was as if time had reversed, she was more than restored. She was magical.

“Gran! Are you OK? Are you feeling better?” I ask, even though her recovery is undeniable.

“I am so proud of you, my dearest.” She replies, and the tears roll down my face in utter relief.

Shattering our moment of celebration, the front door slams open with such force that the glass protests with an angry shiver. Standing in the door way are my parents, but they had clearly been through an ordeal. Their clothes were muddy, they were drenched from head to hip, and they were covered in deep cuts, but none of these details were as terrifying as their expression.

“How did you, the most disappointing, useless, irrelevant person we know, manage to come out of the Forest of Worth intact, when your mother and I barely made it out alive?” My father yells, incensed at the prospect that I could be successful at anything.

“Never mind that, the elves probably took pity on her. Give us the flower, Cara.” My mother demanded. Dismissing my father’s questions, and any interest in my own experiences.

Usually, when I was in the presence of one parent, the fear that I would feel was enough to silence me, but between Dot’s growling and gran’s smug smile, the only emotion that I could recognise was confidence.

“It has been decided that you will be imprisoned here at the windmill, which will now be the holding place for all those who commit crimes against our coven. As the new coven leader, it is my will that magic seeks out those people worthy of its possession, and you have been found wanting. You shall remain human for the rest of your days, in the place where you both tried to kill my grandmother.”

Outraged, they rush towards me, climbing over gran’s vacant bed. Although it wasn’t entirely unintentional, I am surprised when the power flows through my fingertips, pinning my parents down to gran’s settee, and stuffing their mouths with pink panther wafers. It was enough to shut them up at last.

Leaving my parents trapped in the flat, I feel an immense sense of freedom, and by the time we had left the complex I could already hear them screaming at each other, but their misery only brings me great satisfaction. I take gran to the village. She is so much healthier than I have ever seen her before. Kneeling on the earth at the centre of our community, I dig deep into the soft, rich soil, and plant the flower with care. Like an artist’s brush, the home I had always known is enlivened with colour. Plants double in size, and the air is a buzz with wildlife. People peek out of their homes, looking restored and happy as the magic is drawn to the people most deserving of it. The monochrome days of our lives are over, and the spectrum of colour in our future was breath taking. We sit on the bench, watching the power restore our coven, and a sense of completion settles within me.

“I knew you could do it. The amount of times we made that soup together, I knew King Aaron would enjoy it.” I could only laugh at gran’s self-assured review of my past twenty-four hours.

Smiling at her in response, I finally know I am worthy, but there was no doubt in my mind that my gran would always be wiser.

TITLE: THE QUEST FOR WISDOM AND WORTH

PEN NAME: Author May Clarke

PREVIOUS WORKS (All Available on Dreame):

The Birth of the Beta (Complete)

The Last Pack (Complete)

The First Wolves (On-Going)

FB GROUP: May Clarke Romance Author