One day long ago, came a long-necked swan bearing a marriage contract for Flax. She is still nervous about the impending marriage to the sea god. Hours pass without a single word from her. She takes long walks through the forest looking sad and distant. She reads scrolls endlessly. No one is sure what she is looking for. Her father breaks the tension by asking Flax to send her first born to be raised by him. He wants someone to remind him of Flax. Her response is a hopeful, but sad expression upon her face. Gilda tries later to comfort her by saying she will visit often and will rescue her if Elexi harms her. Flax says she does not wish harm in the first place. Gilda tries again and points out the black fortune telling mirror Elexi gave her. He would not do that if he wished his bride harm. Flax never confides what is troubling her about her betrothal. She just signs the marriage contract and mopes around the house for days. She decides to change her name to Lixi, meaning seashell in mermaid language. Her mood shifts to pure happiness and no one questions what changed in her. The going away party plans are set and Flax’s belongings are shipped by mermaid delivery to her new home. Alaric returns to celebrate Flax’s departure. The bride-to-be greets her guests with a bright smile. Alaric questions the shifty mood changes. She is happy one moment and snaps into anger over the cake being overcooked. Flax is defensive of Alaric’s accusations. She is really bitter about the betrothal, but grudgingly gets married to make everybody happy. He decides to give her the scrolls when he wrote about life in a human village. Perhaps, they will lift her spirits living at the bottom of the ocean. He changes the scrolls into blueberries to protect them from the watery journey.
The bride-to-be courteously accepts the gifts from the elves. They are placed in knapsacks to be toted towards her new home. She receives flowers, fruit, wreaths, belts, armbands, shoes, rings, and Alaric’s blueberries. An entourage forms the next day to escort Flax into the deep dark seawater. Rose petals are tossed by the fairies above the wedding party parading to Aurora Falls near the coast. One by one, they step into the water beginning their journey into the sea. The Sorceress turned them into large fish. The mermaids carried the packages and led the way to Elexi’s castle. At a distance the castle seemed small, but at a closer glance it is quite gigantic. The fish and mermaids swam up a cavern tunnel to a large cavern filled with plant life. The fish returned to elf stature. The sea god Elexi stood at a door on the opposite side of the room. Today he took the form of an elf man with a long beard. He had a golden crown with huge sapphire jewels incrusted in the higher points. He wore elf clothes of brown leather pants and boots, a white tunic, and a thick braided belt. On top of these elf clothes was a long royal purple robe. The sea god welcomes his guests and transformed the mermaids into lobsters. Next, he guided the wedding party into their bed chambers. Alaric noticed holes in the walls that held a water barrier. Fish and skates fly by the windows. He learned later that the sea god emptied the castle of all its seawater because the other gods and elves are not accustomed to such wet surroundings. The forest room would be moved to another part of the castle later on so Flax could visit it when she felt homesick. The god will lock it with a spell only Flax could pass. For the moment, the forest room held up the wedding decorations and seats for the ceremony guests. Alaric gets dressed and meets with his sisters.
The bride looked ravishing in her pale pink gown with flower buds attached to the hem of the skirt. Her lemon yellow sash and pale pink slippers complimented the dress. Her hair had tresses next to tightly woven braids. A gold headband caressed her head as long pieces of lace comforted her hairstyle. Gilda wore a similar wardrobe, a forest green gown with the same flower buds along the hem. A midnight blue linen sash tied at her waist and forest green slippers supported her feet. Her hairstyle was the same, except flowers were tied to her hair tresses instead of a headband. Flax’s room was filled with her belongings. Her black stone mirror lay on a table along with her seashells, jewelry made from objects from the bottom of the sea, and an otter to carry messages to the surface. Her clothes and shoes were in another room. Murals covered the walls along with a shelf that held up her blueberry scrolls. Mermaids in elf form knocked on the door to give the bride and attendant bouquets of flowers the Leesville elves presented the day before. Alaric entered the forest area with Gilda and parted when they reach The Sorceress conducting the ceremony. Alaric stands besides a nervous Elexi and another god of tall stature. The metal-smith guided Flax to the front of the room. Servants of the sea had already covered an aisle with lilia petals. Gods and goddesses looked on the elf wedding ceremony. The Sorceress blessed the couple first. Gilda sang a song of praise for the couple. Candles are lit to insure fertility prayers to the great god Alano. Flowers are offered to statues of Ishtar, the goddess of love, and Pisos, god of money. Then, vows of loyalty are spoken by the couple to each other.
“I Elexi, god of the sea and King of Itheram Castle, take in marriage Flax Starlin of Leesville. I shall provide comfort, hope, love, security, and happiness for my wife forever.”
“I Flax, daughter of Starn Marslin, take in marriage Elexi of Itheram. I shall provide comfort, love, security, hope, and happiness for my husband forever.”
The marriage contract is read to the guests, and finally, a dowry paid. The father of the bride handed over her share of her inheritance that would always remain under her control. Two sacks of coins, an array of weapons, and three spell books completed the dowry. The money god Pisos complained how small the dowry was when the new bride is marrying a god. The parents of the bride defended that it was all they could spare for their daughter. The money god raises his hand to magically present the new bride with twenty sacks of coins and twenty chests of jewelry. The new goddess, now named Lixi, thanked the god Pisos for his kindness. The Sorceress announced the wedding bond sealed and presented the groom Elexi, god of the sea, and the bride Lixi, goddess queen of the sea. The wedded couple strode into the next cavern where the reception is set up. Garlands of starfish, snails, clams, and coral were hung all over the great hall walls. Alaric paced around looking at all the murals. He smiled at the freshly painted portrait of Flax. He met a beautiful young goddess named Iris with flame colored hair and shimmering pink gown. She is the daughter of the sky god Andos and sun goddess Petrie. She pointed out her parents dancing on the ballroom floor. Iris is the rainbow keeper and human fertility/marriage goddess. Tales are told of a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. Iris guards the treasure in her own fortress with the help of a magical mirror. She has no husband and her children died before they could be given immortality. Her one husband broke the marriage agreement and left her forever. She cast him into a volcano and he climbed out to meet a human maiden upon the mountain, hunting game for her unfortunate family. He married her and made her the volcano goddess Maya, who all creatures in the Olin Mountains worship since she has the power to wipe out vast areas with lava, ash, and mud slides.
Alaric was quite delighted to find a companion at this large reception. Iris seemed delighted to meet him as they danced together. He took her around the castle passageways and Iris filled him in on the stories the murals represented. At the end of the evening, the elf boy kissed the rainbow goddess good night and reviewed the reception with Gilda in her bed chamber. Gilda talked about finding her betrothed and the god met her approval. She noticed a man meekly glancing at the dancing guests from the banquet table. He had a smudged nose and antlers peeking from his hairy head. He remained timid toward whoever approached him. Gilda watched the man drink from a golden cup and debated whether to pity the creature, or laugh at him. Just then, the groom asked the fair maiden to dance. He inquired about the bride’s moods that swing like a parakeet in gilded cage. The bridesmaid explained her uncertainty of her future with him. Stories are told of his arguments with his past wives. Gilda reflects if the mermaids adore him, he must have redeeming qualities. Elexi was astounded that the river mermaids adore him, and flattered. He assures the elf maiden that he will do his best to comfort his bride’s insecurities and homesickness. He promised to give his new wife a grand tour of the realm and she may freely go anywhere she pleases. He set up a room for only Lixi to enter and dwell in a forest whenever she is homesick. Elexi decides to have morning breakfast in the new forest room before it is sealed. Also, his son by another goddess visits often bringing news of the surface. Changing the subject, Gilda inquired about the stag-looking man at the food table. Elexi smiled as if he expected that question was coming. He explained that the darman creature is indeed Daxus, Gilda’s betrothed. She asked if the god would mind if she asked him to dance. The groom assures Gilda, he will not ask her.
Encircling the room, the elf maiden seeks out her partner. He avoided eye contact with Gilda when she came near. She sampled various meal trays and beckoned a drink. Daxus handed her a cup of punch the octopus filled. He glanced at her curious face and quickly turned his head. Gilda continued to stare at the darman until he snapped attention towards her. He raised his voice above the flutes and stringed harps playing to demand why this elf is staring at him.
“I know who you are, Daxus.” stated Gilda.
Before he could respond, she whisked her betrothed to the dance floor. He stumbled in embarrassment as he tried to keep up with this aggressive elf maiden. They shared stories of their homes and families. Daxus barely said a word about the various gods and goddesses. Though unsure of himself around other gods and goddesses, he lightened up towards Gilda. They paced into the forest room and compared strange creatures from their homes. They were interrupted by palace servants moving the forest into another chamber. Gilda was ready to mingle with the other gods and goddesses with Daxus, introductions were in order. Instead, Daxus simply indicated out the jobs of the godly persons in attendance. Some of them resent his godly position because he was born a mortal fawn. His only induction was to Elexi’s son, Elmo. He is the patron god of sailors. Elmo’s mother, who was conveniently not present, is the Lady of the Lake in Lotan. She arises from an enchanted lake with a sword to appoint the next King of Lotan. Her husband, Lord of the Lake, is an immortal magician who is top advisor to the king. The Lord aided the first King of Lotan in defeating Blythe invaders for years. When the king rejected the magician’s plans for the next battles, the sovereign was killed and the Lord sought solitude in a siren infested lake full of singing mermaids whose song causes humans to drown themselves in the enchanted water. When he married Elexi’s former wife, the Lady was given a magic sword to choose the best monarch for the land by her new husband. The first man she chose became a great hero of Lotan. Upon a monarch’s request, the Lord will arise to aid any crisis.
Gilda learned a great deal more about the gods and goddesses that she was ever told in school classes. When volcano lava hit the rock inside the lake of immortality and created the great god Alano, the newly born god instantly discovered his powers. He added moisture to the volcanic rocks and made the earth god Eridu. Realizing there was something magical in the moisture from the lake, he submerged Eridu to see what would happen to him. The god glowed from the crystals he was made from. Then on, all immortals and gods receive a crystal that gives the wearer magical powers. Gilda grabbed her own glassy stone hanging from her neck. Elexi came next. Alano tried out his powers with the volcanic sands along a beach by the great sea. He poured sand into a beached sea shell and created the sea god Elexi. He dipped Elexi in the Pool of Immortality and he grew a fishtail. Alano placed his son in a nearby sea and discovered great darkness. He then cooled the fire of the volcano with sea water and created the learning and astrology goddess Alma. He raised her body above the earth to separate the heavens and earth. Made from volcanic fires, four fire horses ride across Alma to give the land light. A large seashell was placed above Alma to control the sea tides and provide light at night. Primordial souls trapped in the heavens became stars. Watching everything from above, Alma made rain clouds to bring life to the earth. Alano grabbed one of her clouds for a drink. The moisture that squeezed from his hands became the sky god Andos. Andos was given the realm of the clouds below the heavens.
Eridu blew life into a handful of volcanic dust and created a daughter. She was plunged into the Pool of Immortality and turned different colors. He spread the beautiful goddess over the barren world to sustain life to plants and animals he made. He called her Eartha and the landscape earth. Living creatures worship her, the mother of all life, and beat drums to symbolize her beating heart. Just as Alano thought he was done creating things, Eridu complained there was too much life and the newborn animals and plants had no room to flourish. To solve the problem, Alano removed all the lava from a volcano and assigned the underworld for those who are no longer living. The lava flowed down into a forest and burned everything in sight. A handful of ash was immersed into the Pool of Immortality and became the goddess Isis. She took over ruling the dead souls in the depths of the underworld. Finally, the people and animals migrated to the ends of the earth and lost touch with Alano. He captured a ray of light and drowned it in the Pool of Immortality. The wisdom goddess Athena was born and guided the living creatures of the earth. Daxus told Gilda that was how all of Alano’s children were made. Elexi, Eridu, and Isis are the only ones friendly to Daxus. The others cause him problems when he flies around the world tending the human and elf agriculture. Athena and Alma also forbade any betrothals of their daughters to Daxus. Soon, Elmo interrupted the conversation to announce his mother wrote asking for a visit, so he will guide the wedding party back to the surface tomorrow. Finally, came the story of Daxus. When Iris’s parents fought with fire and lightening, they scorched a grand forest where Alano found a doe and fawn hiding in a cave from the fire and smoke. Alano married the mortal doe and gave the fawn an immortal life as a darman that is half deer and half man. Alano named the darman Daxus and gave him the Black Forest to rule as god of agriculture when he grew up. He spent many years alone in his stone castle waiting for a betrothal. He felt joy knowing the fascination of Gilda. Alaric wondered what kind of goddess this Iris is with parents who fight so violently.
Where the morning meal was held is the new location of the forest cavern. Lixi was in delightful spirits. She announced a grand tour of the sea by her newly wed husband. Lixi’s family thought it was a joy to see her smile again. After a small feast, most of the guests leave. Elmo and Lixi’s family remain the rest of the day. The water returns to the inside of the fortress and the elves are transformed into sea turtles. Elexi and the mermaids guide the family around the ocean floor to introduce Lixi to the sea creatures. All animals welcome the new goddess queen to their humble homes. Angelfish, codfish, squid, clams, sharks, and skates greet the goddess and god. An oyster bed gave Lixi their pearls. Elexi magically strung them and slid the necklace over his wife’s head. The oysters waved good-bye. A whale and dolphin stopped their chasing game to look at the goddess coming by. Alaric saw the whale bite the dolphin’s head off when the entourage’s back was turned. He swiftly swam away to avoid an attack from the whale. The coral reefs were a spectacular sight to see. An octopus ate a clam before saying hello to the tour guides. A lobster walked along the sandy bottom to be eaten by a fish hiding in the sand. An eel gave Gilda quite a shock. Upon returning to the palace, the elves pack their baggage and bid farewell to Lixi. Elmo takes the sea turtles back to the surface and changes them back to elves along the black sand beach. Then, he waves good-bye as he leaves for Lotan.
Months turned into years and a baby merfish arrives with Lixi at the elves’ doorstep. She cast a spell on the infant daughter to change her into an elf until she would see her mother again. She commented how good Elexi treats her and is quite different from the myths about him. Lixi is relieved to be pregnant so soon after her daughter was weaned to solid food. The daughter was named Lanie after The Sorceress’s grandmother. After an evening meal, the elf family slept together again. Alaric spoke to Lixi of his adventures to the capital cities and rescuing the villagers from a life of slavery. Lixi seemed amazed how fast her little brother grew up into a hero. Alaric left the following morning for Brightsburg. He only comes home around holidays. He commented how grand the Midsummer celebration is in Leesville, but simply a feast and bonfire in Brightsburg. He left his human gifts for his family behind. He did not expect his sister Lixi to be present, so he gave her a painted dagger made of holy oak wood used in ceremonies to symbolize strength. Lixi left as quickly as she came. The elf household was busy watching the baby crawl over the floor and get into trouble. Potions and weapons were placed up high or locked in trunks. The elf girl mostly cried the first two days, until she adapted to living with elves. Gilda assisted her mother quite a bit when she traveled to care for sick creatures, deliver human babies, and bless elf marriages.
In Brightsburg, Alaric and Alexis searched high and low for betrothals in the years to come. They discovered females not capable of looking at the elf warriors without giggling. The Sorceress assured the weary warriors that they are bound to marry somebody. Cossus the Dragonslayer encouraged the boys not to give up. Fully trained warriors win many admirers. The apprentices worked hard to gain audiences with the skills they acquired. The future heroes tested their courage against the humans in Brightsburg during the fall harvest contests. Alaric won the foot race through the village. Alexis won the attention of the blacksmith’s daughter, Myra. He planted a garden for her and erased many of her chores. Alaric pointed out how many other potential husbands were doing the same thing for Myra. Alexis rejected his friend’s warning as jealously and had Alaric’s father make a necklace for Myra when he will ask her for a betrothal. Myra gladly accepted the necklace and wore it everyday. Alaric began attracting their mentor’s daughter. As Alexis sharpened his arrows for the archery contest, the daughter Nix, inquired about Alaric. Alexis invited Nix to their bunk to taste one of Alaric’s soups. Tonight is carrot and meat soup. Nix accepted the invitation with glee. For the rest of the day, Alaric received much teasing from his best friend. Laeos is very protective of his sister, not even Alexis would dare tread that path. The human girl came up the stable ladder and ate a bowl of Alaric’s soup. She praised his cooking as she placed her hand on his knee. Nervous, Alaric returned a compliment with how well she cooks nut bread. Alexis held back a scoff because Nix constantly overcooks nut bead, thus making it quite dry. Nix gave the apprentices a couple jars of a fruit sauce before she left. Alaric and Alexis drowned the gifted nut bread in a cloth with the fruit sauce. The next day as Alaric and Alexis piled up chopped wood, Gilda and Lanie arrived on unicorns to request a visit home. The ladies were not disappointed.
Alexis found an admirer in Lanie. Everything he did amazed her, but then magic thrills children so Alexis dismissed the girl’s affections. The elf harvest festival held contests as well. Our young, cocky heroes had another chance to woo followers. Alexis won a new sword for winning a battle against his oldest brother. He learned later in the day that his defeated brother was distracted by the news of becoming a father of another child. Alexis resented being told his brother let him win. Nonetheless, he toasted his brother and sister-in-law good fortunes with their fifth child to come. Alaric won a target contest and nearly severed his opponent’s arrow hitting the inner circle. He received a medallion of a snake etched on it. The lads cheered themselves victorious on the way back to Brightsburg. Females were beginning to notice them. When they returned euphoric, Alaric mustered all his courage to ask to court Nix. To the dismay of Laeos, who thinks his sister should marry a warrior chief not under his father’s roof. He vows to watch him closely. Alaric strives rigorously to meet this skeptic’s approval. This will not take long to conquer. Alaric makes a braided leather belt for her birthday.
Soon after the fall festival, an announcement is made to the village by Myra’s father. The delighted father claims his daughter Myra is now betrothed to the innkeeper’s son Modred. Alaric could hear Alexis’s heart break. Alexis cried alone in his bunk. As the town celebrated the betrothal of Modred and Myra, Alaric sought revenge by arriving at the inn in Alexis’s image to demand his necklace back. Modred answered the door and handed back the necklace to the elf. Alaric was sure Myra was standing behind the door. To cause more trouble, he hung around to watch Myra get ready for bed. He climbed the vines into her window to steal a few kisses from the future bride. She immediately knew this was not the real Alexis. Alaric assured her that he was Alexis and imitated Alexis’s grabbing of her waist suddenly to kiss her. The commotion alerted the other occupants of the inn and Modred stormed into the room. Alaric jumped out the window to twist his ankle. He limped back to the barn proud of the disturbance he stirred up. Alexis was relieved to get his betrothal gift back and decided to keep it in a box for later use.
Nix soon heard from Myra what Alexis or Alaric did the night before. Nix entered the barn as Alaric fed the animals, concerned of his intentions toward Myra. Alaric explained Myra hurting Alexis and it was only revenge he committed, not lust. He then locked the horse stall with his magical knife and gave Nix a heartfelt kiss. Alexis then pulled on the stall door to ask if Alaric was in there with a girl. He admitted to his friend that he was. Later at the Midsummer’s Eve celebration, Alaric gives Nix a cherry tart from a batch he made. Nix was in awe of this male’s skills at cooking and sewing. Human men and boys never learn such things. Alaric explains that a wizard must be able to live independently. Alaric also asks Cossus’s help in more opportunities to speak to Nix. She is watched by her mother and Laeos constantly. It made it difficult to maintain affection from Nix. Cossus asked Alaric to plant flowers by the house and speak to Nix through the windows. He also sent her out with food and drink to the apprentices chopping wood and herding sheep. Many times she awoke early in the morning to speak to the elves washing their clothes in the creek. She asked why they rubbed their soapy clothes against rocks instead beating the dirt out with twigs like humans women did. The elves believed their way was better. Her questions of elf life never deterred Alaric in his love for her. For the Winter Solstice, he gave her a Narva pearl necklace valued far inland. During the return of spring, he further showed off some of his magical powers, but not every thing he can do. He changed himself into a falcon and flew around her head. He returned back into an elf and directed his crystal at his love. They now both transformed falcons, Nix had difficulty getting off the ground. Alaric gave her a flying lesson and they perched themselves at the top of the temple. He further excited her by laying an egg and cracked it with his beak. A large ruby ring peeked out of the shell and Alaric asked for a betrothal. The love birds flew back to the bunks above the stable and changed back into their original form. Nix immediately noticed a kitten sleeping on Alaric’s bunk. It stretched itself out and meowed. Alaric greeted the kitten.
“What are you doing here, Iris?”
The kitten meowed again and Alaric assured the animal that the mortal knows he has magic powers. He sat down next to the goddess and Iris told him that she was hiding from her brother. The morning star god objected to Iris’s engagement to a mortal man and turned him into a panther. It was traumatic for her because she had not told the man she is a goddess. Her brother refused to undo the curse and the panther changed his mind about marrying her. She ran away in tears to Alaric after a hunter later killed the panther. Alaric kissed the kitten’s forehead and comforted it. They all walk down for the evening meal. Nix’s mother feeds the cat milk and it spreads itself out over Alaric’s lap as he ate. He describes Iris as a stray cat. The devoted kitten watches Alaric practice his dagger fighting with Laeos the next day. The hero knocks Laeos down in victory. When the rain clouds are seen in the distance the next sunrise, Iris must leave. Alaric looks outside to steal a glimpse of the goddess leaving. Nothing out of the ordinary occurs to his frustration. Life continues as usual with washing, cooking, chopping wood, tending animals, sharpening weapons, and visiting the marketplace. Once a woman selling roses looked oddly familiar, but he was sure they have not met before. After thinking for a while, he thought the rose seller might have been Iris. Just then, a baby crying broke his concentration. He walked up to the woman and gave her a potion to calm the infant. He subsequently informed her that the child was afraid of the horse she is near. The woman dabbed the potion onto the weeping baby’s tongue and it immediately stopped fussing. The grateful mother shared her purchases with her hero. Alaric took only an apple as payment. Laeos standing nearby gave his blessing at the prospect of this healer marrying his sister. For the first time, he began to see a few charming aspects that attracted Nix to him.
Walking home, the young men talked how The Sorceress taught her son well. He learned many languages at school. It amazed Laeos to know someone who spoke to various animals and amazing creatures. Alaric went on about his mother traveling around the mountains and grasslands to heal all the villagers and creatures who needed her. She learned everyone’s customs and language to communicate with her patients. Many merchants and peddlers came to Leesville and taught what they knew to the elves. The Sorceress once trained a fairy in potions and distinguishing marks of illnesses. Not all creatures show the same reactions to the same sickness. Laeos began joining the apprentices when they scavenged for potion ingredients. Once a unicorn enchanted Laeos as a beautiful woman, but Alaric chased her away. Alaric explains the unicorns are nature goddesses in disguise. They only appear as beautiful females when enticing a husband. Once a unicorn bewitches a male, he stays with her forever. He learned a few useful prayers and spells; such as spicing food, pain relievers, cough tablets, and speaking to animals. Elf prayer stones were given to Laeos at the Winter Solstice feast. Snow fell as they strung berries and decorated apples on an evergreen tree. The apples of the god Idun renew youth for all who eat them.
The Winter Solstice Idun myth says that the astrology/writing goddess Alma was lifted to the heavens by the creator Alano. Soon she longed for a family of her own. She sent a shooting star to earth and promised the creature who found it would be her husband. The star hit a home of a human man. The man named Pisos cooled the fire stone with water and a son was born. He soon had a sister from another shooting star. Pisos married Alma on the moon. Bright lights streaked the sky in celebration. Since Alma is the heavens, Pisos raised his children on earth. Lonely for their mother the children’s hearts turned cold. The son became the frost god and the daughter the ice goddess. Humans still speak of when the world was covered with ice and snow. The frost god Vanir came of age to marry the wisdom goddess Athena’s daughter Ishtar. Ishtar, the goddess of love, gave birth to a son, Idun. The son filled with Ishtar’s love awoke many plants during the ice years. He discovered apples blossoming in the mountains that gave youth back to all who eat them. The apples of Idun were planted around the mountains and much snow and ice melted. He gave humans a spring to plant crops and an autumn to reap them. Vanir and his sister Ymira run amok during the winter months freezing everything. Idun gives renewed youth to other plants during the dreary winter months. The creatures celebrated him as a hero and gave him a crown of holly sprays to thank him for his compassion. Every winter solstice, Idun comes as the Holly King and leaves gifts for creatures large and small to give hope of the coming spring. Reed baskets are laid out and filled with gifts during the night, when Idun visits his worshippers. He takes the form of a man on a winter white horse. Turnips and carrots are left in the baskets for the horse to eat.
Laeos arranged the prayer stones from Alaric and recited a prayer for his ailing intended. On the day of Idun, the humans and elves found gifts in their baskets. Alaric received clothes, cakes, red beeswax candles, and a wooden sword. The humans gathered for a feast and polished off the decorated apples. Two weeks later, the love of Laeos was well and Laeos sent over a marriage contract. He set the date in the spring for the wedding. Alaric paid attention to these unarranged marriage rules. Nix will expect him to follow them when they get married. Meanwhile, Daxus aimed vigorously in keeping Gilda’s affections. He wrote letters and visited when he could. Now, Gilda sends her own gifts to Daxus. Alaric heard elves talking about Gilda’s betrothal, as if it was any their business to judge the couple. Some approve of marrying a god, who would not wish that? Others say Daxus bewitched her to stay engaged to him. Who would want to marry a darman? To Gilda, the only charm was that Daxus fulfilled her needs. With Lixi gone to the bottom of the ocean and rarely corresponding anymore, Gilda was lonely. Her daughter was attached to her, but she was not the sister she missed. Daxus brought comfort as she mourned the loss of a close relationship. Still she continued to write endlessly hoping for a response from her sister, Alaric kept in touch often. Daxus was a bit confused how much she pined for her sister, when he bestowed lavish attention onto her. His chance to leave a lasting impression on his future bride came by accident. One day, Lanie and Gilda swam in the river and were attacked without provocation by blackbirds. Alexis, who was hunting nearby, came to find the commotion from the birds. He fought the blackbirds to make them shift their attention onto him to no avail. Alexis decided to carry Lanie to the mermaid caves and Gilda followed him. The Queen Mermaid provided shelter for a few hours, when her subjects found no more birds on the surface.
One of Daxus’s servants stole away as The Sorceress dried off the victims. They did not notice the absent creature until the evening meal was served. Days later, the creature reappeared, with Daxus on the front porch of the elf home. He spoke of meeting with Andos inside his castle. It is believed that the blackbirds were supposed to carry off Lanie to the palace of Andos. Apparently, he wants a betrothal with Lanie, but Lixi forbids it. Andos has a well recited violent temper. Daxus exchanged harsh words with the sky god about attacking his love. Andos sneered at him. He often gives the agricultural god difficulties by sending harsh floods after droughts and ruin crops. After hearing Daxus’s account on the confrontation, Gilda’s heart was forever won. Daxus drew his blazing fire sword at the sky god’s scoffs. Andos drew his sword of lightening and slashed back at his attacker. The battle ensued across the room into the halls. A goblin grabbed him and he dropped his sword. He tossed the goblin at Andos and was only cut on his arm before picking up his sword again. Anger overwhelmed the god and he defeated the foe when Andos tripped over a chair a servant moved attempting to help its master. Andos yielded to his enemy and Daxus only warned that his betrothed would be protected from now on. Daxus can not completely defeat Andos since he does control the weather. Gilda’s lavished generous attention onto her courageous hero. She even drew a small Daxus figure above her bed. Daxus was happy to hear that report from his faeries.
Gilda thought Andos sounded much like the tales of Elexi, but then they are brothers. All gods must have hot tempers and are quite selfish. Daxus seemed not as challenging to deal with. He left as quickly as he came. He promised unseen spies watching the forest to better protect her. She continued to dream of Daxus and etched a portrait of him in a golden shield. Daxus was happy to hear this report on her shield and hear that she rubbed a protective potion onto the shield. Gilda is quite the warrior too. Alaric writes about everything he learns to her. Within a few years, she knows he will want to prove himself worthy and look for trouble. Gilda feels a close fondness for her siblings, even if they are less fond of her. She never understood Lixi’s distance, but learned from Daxus to accept it. It gave her hope to know her life with Daxus will be as wonderful as her childhood, at least the good parts. Lixi used to share all her secrets with her, but now she won’t even speak to her own daughter. She wrote a long message of congratulations for winning the quickest unicorn race. Gilda spoke to the animal and promised carrots if it won. Alaric questioned her method of winning after receiving a floral garland on her head. She assured Alaric, he heard the unicorn speech from her correctly. After the blackbird incident, the elves returned to swim in the Aurora River again. This time, Alexis snuck up on Gilda and swept her mother’s wand through her hair. She demanded to know what he was doing as goldfish dropped into the mist of the waterfall. Alexis clarified that The Sorceress gave him the wand to discover the person he would align himself with in the future. Something magical would occur when he swept the wand through the hair of his future master. All warriors serve someone. The Chief of Leesville serves his village as judge, protector, and leader of councils.
“Thank you my mistress,” sprints Alexis back into the forest to return the magic wand to its owner.
Lanie giggled hysterically, everyone knows Gilda hates Alexis. Gilda decided the swim was over and rode a unicorn through the forest out into the beach where mermaids dug up turtle eggs. Back home, her mother mixed a potion to see the future. She confirmed that Alexis will be at her service when she marries. Gilda was somewhat comforted by Alaric, who said the prophecy does not say if they will become friends, only he will be at her service. She wished hard for Lixi’s black stone future mirror. Alaric says the future events she would see might not make sense anyway. In her sorrow, she wrote a new poem. Elf school was not always fun, but one teacher encouraged Gilda in her writing skills to become a bard, traveling village to village reciting tales of old and new events.
“The Faerie Flax”
By Gilda Starlin
The Faerie Flax sailed to her fate
And sunk down to Itheram’s gate
I never wanted to say good-bye
But I failed to cry
I knew a someday would come when
She will be my Faerie again
I wish to see her every day
But she is so far away
A farewell embrace was not enough
Moving on is very tough
I wish we could be what we were
I am not as strong as her
I need my Faerie for bad and for worse
I am a shaky boat on an unknown course
Who will hold my hand?
When I can no longer stand
She meant the world to me
Our future is too hard to see
Hold me tight as you once did before
Since you are my Faerie no more
My tears run dry
I no longer try
Farewell to the Faerie Flax
The wedding of Laeos was soon at hand causing Alaric and Alexis to return back to Brightsburg. His bride paraded through town towards the Temple of Ishtar. Her bridesmaids scattered iris petals along her path. The groom rode his horse to the grand stone temple, with his close family behind him. His cousins rode ahead of the groom with raised bows to honor him. The horses, with white spots upon their foreheads to symbolized good luck in marriage, were tied to the front entrance of the temple. Laeos arrived first and tossed coins to the onlookers from the village. The bride shows up shortly afterwards. Her father tosses coins to the crowd. The two families and their friends stand aside to create an aisle for the wedding parties to tread down. Candles are lit to honor Iris and pray for fertility of the bride, in addition to a happy marriage. Flowers are offered to the stone statue of Ishtar. The couple is blessed by the High Priest of Brightsburg. A cousin sings a song of celebration. The marriage contract, signed and blessed, is read to the witnesses. The vows came next.
“I Laeos Athson, son of Athar Lison the Dragonslayer, pledge to my wife love, security, comfort, riches in children and gold, and happiness in old age for as long as we live.”
“I Marianna Erison, daughter of Erich Anson the Falconcharmer, pledge to my husband love, security, comfort, riches in children and gold, and happiness in old age for as long as we live.”
Laeos presented his love with a crystal necklace pieced together in the shape of a dragon that he bought from Alexis. The bride’s father presented her dowry of ten jars of wine, five dogs, four sheep, five cows, two hogs, one goat, two horses, sixteen boxes of jewelry and coins, and one chest of clothing. The groom’s father accepted the dowry and the couple were announced as married. The couple and their families filed out of the Temple of Ishtar. The couple chose the day of the dawn goddess’s festival day as the wedding day. Brightly colored eggs in baskets encircled a statue of Petrie in the marketplace. It is said that the goddess travels to earth during the night disguised as a fertile rabbit and lays eggs for her worshippers. At the wedded couple’s reception, the eggs are cracked open and eaten. It is also said that anyone killing a bunny at his time will receive the wrath of Petrie. The couple settles into a hut built by Laeos and his friends, along with his relations. As days go by, Alaric and Alexis are honored as they complete their warrior training. Their weapons shined and sharpened, the future heroes return home.
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