Chapter 6: The Alliance

Aster:

This was the first direct challenge to my management. But Friends gathered round, and we learned a little more each time. I had not quite realised how the connections with humans had multiplied, despite my own relationship! We had no more incidents after Diamuid set up a ‘trip wire’ warning. We’d learned the location of our antagonist, if not his nature. Beyond that, Padraig had arrived, providing my Oliver with a supportive companion. His presence also mellowed our river sprite. She lost none of her joie de vivre, but stopped seducing visiting men. My father came through with a platoon of fighting elves, who established themselves around the shadow. Padraig and Oliver spent time with them, individually and together, but the shadow was quiescent and we learned no more.

At the Equinox, the Allies assembled; Kat, with her mother and daughter, and the Coven. Her son came too, and was parked with Betula. As it turned out, he could not be excluded from the action. While Aibhilin exercises considerable power, it’s in bursts. Diamuid is much quieter, and his power, while less in peaks, is much more sustainable, and he became vital in the battle which followed, though I hadn’t counted on anything from him.

The link between Kat and her husband was important, too. As the moment approached, the Coven came together. They decided that the best place for them was in the little quarry, where they kindled a small fire and gathered in a circle around it. Harry was placed a little outside them in a corner, well supplied with a large flask of coffee and sandwiches. Why? Because Kat draws on his strength when she faces a spiritual challenge. Neither of them talk much about what they’ve done, but Aibhilin is a little more forthcoming. As a result I’m very aware that Kat and Harry make a formidable combination. In fact, Chloe and Burt were there, too.

The plan was for the Elvish contingent, with myself, Oliver and Padraig, to move in at dawn. The Wise Women would observe in Overworld, whilst weaving protective spells and attempting to penetrate the shadow. That was the plan. Humans have a saying, ‘The best laid plans go oft awry”. I understand it’s taken from a Scottish poet. But he was dead right. As my people were preparing to assault, we were, in turn, assailed, which threw ‘the plan’ away. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was using their ultimate strength to defend against the attack. Hags, ogres, goblins, a chimera, a manticore ... I’m not sure what else. It was a frantic and confusing situation, and we couldn’t move in for several hours.

Betula:

I am not a warrior. Few Dryads are, if any. I suppose our nature is more about being, with our purpose being to sustain and protect our woodlands. We live a long life, we dryads, and reproduce slowly. The young of other species, though, fascinate us. Of course there are some, at least among human children, who seem destructive. This is not an attractive characteristic. For the most part, though, children will accept and enjoy us and our world. They learn that damaging plants, for example carving their initials into the bark of trees, is a Bad Thing. I enjoy the children I encounter: of course, they are mostly the offspring of adults who love the natural world. Two of them, though, stand out. It’s hardly surprising, perhaps, that Kat’s offspring are special. Aibhilin is a live-wire. Excited and enthusiastic about the world, yet sensitive, empathetic and caring. Her little brother, Diamuid, is just as personable, but his nature is calm, serene. I was quite happy to entertain him while the others set out to deal with the shadow.

I probably need to say that Aibhilin and Diamuid are natural kids. I mean, they have childish pleasures and emotions. They enjoy swings, simple things like that. However, they are not only kids, but inside are developed personalities with skills, talents and knowledge well beyond their apparent age. The point of saying this is that while Diamuid was toddling around me, he suddenly stopped and held his arms up to me asking to be picked up. I did so, and sat myself, leaning against my tree, cradling the little lad. “My sister is calling,” he said, and closed his eyes. It’s just as well that I was comfortable and well supported, because he, his essence, that is, was absent. I realised that it was important to him that he be held and his body kept safe.

Kat Bird:

Silly me. Imagine putting Diamuid ‘somewhere safe’ and expecting him to ignore what was happening to me and to Aibhilin. The first inkling I had of trouble was realising that Aibhilin was looking up at me. I bent enough for her to whisper in my ear.

“My brother is coming for me.” she said, kissing my cheek, “we have something to do. Watch over me, please. I love you, Mummy.” She then laid herself down at my feet.

Normally, I only see people in Overworld if I am there also, but that night, I saw the silvery shape of my daughter, late teens, rising from her supine body. Seconds later, she was joined by a similar figure, male, my son, bearing his staff. Aibhilin took his hand and they left. But I, I was seeing double. I was seeing the little quarry and the coven in the gloom, but I was also seeing what Aibhilin was seeing.

I saw that opacity and I felt the shadow. I saw figures among the trees, swords and battleaxes glinting. Other shapes, too. Distorted, ugly, malicious. I was there, among the fighters, Diamuid next to me, his staff raised. Chanting; I was – Aibhilin was – chanting and Diamuid in counterpoint. Power flowing, to me, from me. The tide of battle turned, the assailants suddenly confused and ineffective. Swords flashed, shapes fell, and suddenly the onslaught was done, the warriors standing, panting. I – Aibhilin, that is – walked among the elves, a healing touch here, a word there, until we came upon the crumpled form of an elven woman, sword laid beside her. We stooped, fell to our knees by her. She was still breathing, just.

“Oh, Goddess!” Was that Aibhilin? Or was it me, that appeal? Whatever, that shining figure appeared there, stooped to touch the crumpled form. Tears were pouring down my cheeks.

“Be at peace, little sister. It is her time.” A silvery form rose from the body, to stand, then fall to her knees in front of the Goddess. “Stand, daughter of the elves.” Viviane had to stoop a little to kiss the shining figure. “We have a little to do before we leave.” She reached out to Aibhilin/me. “There you are Aibhilin, Kathleen. Stand with me.”

Chloe Dogwood:

Burt wanted to go like before, with me tagging along at a distance. I wasn’t happy with that. “Burt, My Love, we stand or fall together. Where you go, I go too.”

He followed the same route he had before, though I went with him. He was much more sure of his way. We, or our spirits anyway, found that poor dogwood and Burt and I began a healing process. We had to delve deeply indeed to find strength with its origin in Gaia, but slowly we were able to help the tree, and we could sense the relief in it. Our efforts reached further, despite an oppressive evil about the place, until we met a Shadow. The resistance to our work was intense and very strong.

Narrator:

In the house, the Owner frowned as he sensed changes in his property. He looked across at the two nymphs, who appeared shrunken and old, though still breathing. He reached out and found that he could not sense the creatures he’d summoned and released to assail the elves. Closer to home, in the property, though, there was a presence that was foreign to his design. He realised that his grip on power was weakening, and determined to use every resource he could to strengthen his position.

Sir Oliver:

We were sore beset. My focus was almost wholly on defending my beloved wife and Princess. I refused to despair, despite the power of the onslaught, concentrating on eliminating the peripheral threats. Aster, my love, was a better swordsman than I, and more experienced, but I could watch her back and sides. Around me the other elves fought, male and female together. As I watched Aster’s back, my new friend Padraig watched mine. In my peripheral vision I saw one of the elves fall victim to one of the flying beasts, perhaps a manticore. That then headed for Aster, who neatly beheaded it before I could do anything.

I don’t know who would have won the battle, but two glowing figures appeared among us. It looked like two late teenagers, one male, one female. The woman had, I suppose it was a wand, which she pointed at one creature or another, but the man bore a long staff. He swept that in a circle, and our assailants lost any coordination or direction – suddenly it was straightforward to deal with each in turn until we stood panting in the midst of horror. Around me, elves were checking themselves for injury, and I saw the two glowing figures moving among them, a touch here, a word there, before they reached the fallen elf. I suppose it was a mercy that we lost only one warrior, and it should not have mattered that the fallen one was a woman, but it did.

I heard the glowing woman sigh, “Oh, Goddess!” before another glowing figure, much brighter, taller, appeared and stooped over the fallen one. I could not keep looking there. She was far too bright. I fell to my knees.

“Sir Oliver. Sir Padraig. Approach me.” The words echoed in my head, not my ears.

However reluctant I may have been, I was unable to resist the command, and neither was my companion. So Padraig and I stood with Aster, and the two glowing figures of Aibhilin and Diamuid.

“You face a serious threat, a Shadow-wight, an Elf-bane, and I cannot help you. But working together, you can prevail. Your Druids are inside, and distracting him, so you must invade while you can. Aibhilin, you and your brother can save two nymphs who are in his hands, but you need to go immediately. Do not weep for Mirabelle, for she is beyond pain and fear now.”

I realised that ‘Mirabelle’ must have been the elf who was killed, as the Goddess and the elf-spirit left. The other two also left. Aster indicated that we should approach the wall. It should have been dawn, but the gloom persisted. I restrained Aster from crossing the wall first, my efforts reinforced by the other elves who went first. Several were boosted to the top of the wall, where they helped the others over, then myself and Padraig, and Aster last, fuming in frustration as she waited.

It was a very uncomfortable feeling in that garden, but we – Aster, Padraig and I – headed towards the house, while the other elves spread out. I noticed that one of the trees was glowing and seemed to be straightening even as I watched. There was resistance to our approach, but not enough to stop us. At the door, Padraig touched my arm.