Tess short's story chapter 5

Chapter 5 : music in the night 

Morning sunlight shone on the questers, they had survived the night thankfully…but hardly any of them had slept the night, Robin on the other hand did not look tired at all, he looked as if he had gotten a good nights sleep , while the rest of the group had circles under there eyes and could hardly keep their eyes open… “I’m afraid this place is to dangerous for us to stay…” said Robin. “Considering there a people , who want to eat us” he added. “One-eyed people” Inny corrected Robin. “Right, that what I mean anyway…I believe we might have to sleep in a Inn to night” said Robin…Tess let out a Happy squeal…and shouted “FINALLY GOOD FOOD, AND A COMFORTABLE BED!” there was a silence…”What?” asked Tess. “I like umm…being comfortable…don’t you?”. “Of course….” answered Inny.  Robin was silent…”There is a town nearby…just over a few hills…and I doubt any cyclops are there” he said, looking at his map. “Is it a Hobbit Village?” asked Tess. “No…it’s a human village” said Robin. “Why do you ask?” he added. “No Reason…” said Tess and mumbled under her breath “Big people” . “Did you say something?” asked Robin. “No not at all…” said Tess. The questers set off to the village…never knowing of the spy, watching their every move, every jester…it whispered in it’s hollow voice…words no one, but it’s master could understand… 

The group walked to the Village, past many hills ,But they where not inhabited by Hobbits unfortunately …Tess’s feet where tired from walking so far…She almost sat down a few times but Robin pushed her forward. “We need to go…” he said. “We don’t have time to rest”. So Tess continued forward, she felt as if she could walk no fever…but the words of Robin kept her going. The trees leafs rustled in the wind. Trees where normally comforting to her, but she felt as if she was being watched…by something in the tree? No of course not…those tales people told of girls living in trees was probably made up… No they weren’t they were real, just…

There was a rustle in the trees, and a maiden stepped out, she had amber colored hair, and skin the color of the moon. her eyes where a flashing green, “You have trespassed , We do not allow weapons in! that are made by men…” she said, pointing a thorny arrow at Robin. “Who ar-“ Tess began, but the maiden pointed her arrow at her, “Silence…” she said. “But this is a elvish sword” protested Robin, bringing out his sword. “But that down, now” said the maiden…Robin was forced put his sword down. “No Weapons, allowed beyond this point…especially magic ones” she added. “No nature should be harmed or killed…”. there was silence.

“Those nasty hunters” she said. “So careless…and harmless…”, she sounded in verge of tears. “Are you a tree spirit?” asked Tess. “Be quite…but yes, I am” she said. “You may call us, what you like (As long as it isn’t insulting) , we are known as dryads, tree spirits, or nymphs” she said. “Those are beautiful names for your kind-“ began Robin,. “Shush….and be quite elf” she said, and a vine curled around Robin. “And that will be the same for the rest of you” said The dryad. “hunters , will not be allowed in” she said. “You don’t understand, we aren't hunters , woodcutters or anything else like that .. we are just lonely travelers” said Inny. “That what all hunters say” she said, stumping her foot, and more vines curled around the rest of the group… “You took it the wrong way…we where just walking through…” said tess. “And we didn’t mean to intrude!”.  “Please stop, I’m half wood-elf I would never want to hurt nature” she added, almost choking, The vine stopped curling around the questers… “ your a Wood-elf?” asked the dryad. “Yes and I am the daughter of Mr.Short and the wood-elf princess Gletta who gave her throne over to her brother, to be with Mr.Short” spluttered Tess. “Mr.short…I have heard of him, that insane Hobbit” muttered the dryad. “But how do I know you aren’t lying to me?” asked the dryad “Well….” Tess said, how could she? Her name? elves and only elves called her by her Elvish name…but how could that help? at least she could give it a try…”My name known to elves is Tesariel” she said, the moment those words came out of her mouth the vines loosened and she landed thump on the ground. The dryads eyes where wide and surprised…”You are who you say to be” she said, “You are welcome to come to my kingdom of the forest for the night…if you want too” she said, pulling up the questers from the ground. Robin was stunned what had Tess done? and why was this dryad suddenly be so kind to them? And why hadn’t Tess told him her full name…and not just her shortened name? Had telling the dryad her name , done something? “We’d love to” said Robin. “Alright, my mother would probably love you to stay, no guests have come since….” the dryad paused, “Since?” Robin inquired. “Since , mankind  turned there backs on us” she said. “That’s terrible” said Inny. “They have forgotten about nymphs, and that we live in trees, and that if you cut down our tree, we will die” she said. “Now come on” she added. and lead the questers through the wood, and into a clearing of trees. there was serval other dryads, some in there trees, others on the ground, and on a tree so big, and almost seemed to curve into a seat, 

and on the seat sat, a beautiful women her hair was so long and brown it reached all the way to her toes, leafs where in her hair and her eyes where a nice warm blue color, her clothes seemed to be made out of red autumn leafs. As the questers and there friend the dryad came in, she slowly sat up from her seat. “Selena, who are these people who you have brought to my kingdom?” she asked, her voice was soft but you could feel power in it. “Oh mother of dryads…they come in peace, they have no wish to harm us” said Selena , for that was her name. “Is that true” said the women, turning to Robin. “Yes my lady” he said. “We have no wish to harm anyone”. The queen gazed at him for awhile…then she broke into a smile…it was unclear weather she was happy or sad, she looked somewhere in-between. “Welcome” she said. “To the realm of the dryads”. she looked at the questers for a minute, “We’l get you some clean cloths…” she said. “And fresh food and water”. after the questers had been dressed , in clothes completely made out of leafs, which where actually  quite comfortable.”You look like a wood-elf, robin”  giggled Inny, “Well you do too” teased Robin. when the questers came to the dryads feast, it was played out on the table, there where wooden candle sticks , instead of a flame on the candle there was a little fire-fly that flickered on and off, and the table cloth was made completely out of leafs…the feast was set out along the table, mostly fruits…and what looked like leafs. Selena , was already at the table…”Oh hello, you have come to join the feast haven’t you?” she asked. “Yes” said Tess, happily. and immediately sat, down on the log next to the table. Robin and Inny, fellowed…Inny stared at the food, it was leafs and water. “Inny is everything alright?” asked Tess. “Yes…umm..do you have anything else to eat besides..leafs and water?” asked Inny. “Leafs are the best food you could get around here” said Silena. “Water is fresh from the stream…” she added. “But i’m afraid that all the food we have right now…it’s because of those people…”….In her eyes there was fear and sadness. “I’m sorry if I upset you” said Inny. “Oh don’t worry…it’s just the sadness that has fell over our realm” she said. “What do you mean?” asked Robin. “ever Since man-kind turned their backs on us, and forgot about us…darker things have started to happen…” she said turning her head to the trees, in the distance. “I’m not quite sure what happened to them, but they seem to have gone all evil and cold in side, the dryads who live there haven’t wanted to talk to us , if we go talk to them…they will drop acorns and pin-needles on us…or just tell us to leave, there trees leafs have changed to a midnight black color, their bark is as cold as ice” she said looking into the distance. “Let us eat” said Silena, changing the subject. Inny took a sip of the water, it tasted more then just water, it tasted slightly like Lemon and lime, but it had coolness water normally has. “Where did you get this water?” asked Inny. “From the stream” said Silena. “It is quite magical…but that’s a long story” she added. More dryads started to sit down at the table…. “what brings you to our forest? asked Silena. “Well…” began Robin. “the journey was long, we did run into a few dangers , such as cyclopes…we almost got eaten by those terrible one-eyed beasts …” he said. Silena nodded, “continue…” she said. “As we left we ran into you…it isn’t quite a long tale, but our journey has been filled with beauty and dangers” he said. “Indeed” said Silena…”You look like you have had a long journey…I have stayed here for over fifty or something years…Time has passed slowly , hardly anything has happened expect, woodcutters trying to cut down our trees and other things” she added. “If only I could see the world beyond the forest”…. 

with that three dryad minstrels broke into a song:

Autumn leafs faling from the trees,

in and out, through the meadows, 

past the streams. 

ah ah ah…

autumn leafs faling from the trees 

in and out, past the pine trees , 

through the marshes 

 ah ah ah….

I danced through the forest leafs in my hand, little did I know danger was at hand…

ah ah ah…. 

Autumn leafs falling from the trees 

in and out…through the meadows

past the steams,

ah ah ah… 

In caves, past the winding stair, I saw it standing there 

ah ah ah… 

Autumn leafs falling from the trees 

in and out , past the pine trees 

through the marshes

ah ah ah… 

 Red eyes , clothed all in black 

a shiver went down my spine , for danger had crossed the line

ah ah ah… 

Autumn leafs falling from the trees 

in and out, through the meadows 

past the streams ,

Ah ah ah… 

later that night the questers where shown where they would sleep, it was clearing, it was surrounded by trees..beds made out of leafs where laid out on the ground. 

fire flies in lanterns where in the trees..Silena bid them a good night and left… Tess and Inny were the first people to fall asleep, Robin though was lost in thought, there journey had just started and there would be dangers ahead…