Descallhe Dralhadhanlhe

Chapter I
“Serenity’s Sorrow”

Within the eldest sun-sprent shades
of the far-off Emerald Forest deep,
amid those hallow’d, ancient glades
a band of Woodnymphs keep.
When eternal youth and beauty fail
to bind a heart immortal rent,
thus begins the hapless tale:
A Drayad’s dark descent.

¶I.

βI¶I. [Long Version] Back in the day, hidden deeply away amidst the lustrous and untamed wylds of the great Emerald Forest^[1] outlying the foreign Fairlands^[2] of Transylvany^[3] by The Worldmarch^[4] bound where it crossed the Southwestern fells of the Bruindowns, throve there spectrally in those ethereal mysts^[5] outlying The Crosshatch^[6] of yon Fairlands that veiled^[7] the unseen realm of Fairy^[8] from this ephemeral middle-earth^[9] hight The World^[10] which Men indwell, a band of Sylvan Nymphs^[11], numbering but ten^[12]. Foremost among them was Lady Destiny^[13], exalted Alpha-Dryad, of her Adryad^[14] sistren twelve. Lady Faith^[15], the Beta-Dryad^[16], High Priestess^[17], Witchess^[18] and Shamaness^[19] of the Band of Destiny^[20], learned in many a manner of seid^[21] and spellcraft. Lady Charity^[22] the Munificent, who toiled herself ever in works for the better of all whom she had in her myriad years counted among her sistren, [*]. Lady Glory^[23] the Embodiment of Woodnymphery, the magnificence radiant from the countenance of whom to look upon was belike rapture with the alacrity of a drawn blade’s wheep to discover oneself adrift amidst a field of stars and cast adown with a thunderclap such as would shake the fells and downs asunder ere that bolt which bore it struck fast the earthen scape beneath. Lady Harmony^[24] the Rhapsodist^[25], most skilled Piper of all among them whose voice rang forth from her bellows with the chime of ____, gift by ___ an argent fipple flute / fipple pipe / ducted flue recorder / duct flute / tubular-ducted flute fired by ___ in the white flames of the Alban Forges kilned from a ___ made of the finest silvern silt powdered by ___ and bound in blood unto them lent of that bled by ___ who had for such purpose their own veins rent spilt. Lady Trust^[26] the Faithful and Feal; Lady Divinity^[27] the Transcendent, who kenned always and kept ever foremind the temperament of The Gods and The Will of The Fates; Lady Grace^[28]. Lady Eternity^[29]. Lady Solace^[30]. Lady Felicity^[31]. Lady Ecstasy^[32]. Lady Serenity^[33]. Incarnate was theirs the beauty of eternal springtide, virginity and lust, wisdom and innocence, ferocity and temperance. More wondrous were these winsome wights than any mortal woman had ever imaged being, fairer were they beyond measure than any mortal maiden had ever beforetime been by a mortal man beheld, and comelier these callipygian creatures and all their kind than aught which embowered beneath cover of the canopy’s boughs ever had therein dwelling been: Dryads bearing faces fair and by faint dustings of freckles dappled, decked by fax manes their pates deflowing, or framed by fiery red or ruddy blonde hair, whilst beneath their bonny brows sat eyen either of brightly bespangled blue or aglow with glinting green of brilliance borne, or of still some shade the twain between, whenas sveltely were sculpted their physiques’ forms about their slender centers, yet also sonsy were their shapes: beset with large, sphery mammets steeled high upon their breasts, borne far above the waspish waists and midriffs slightly incurved before aloft which proudly they upreared stood and below which were these bonny wights bestowed sloping faultlessly from the piths of their slender waists the brawniest of bombous napes behind robustly stalwart hips, for strongly thus neath spheripygian haunches were limbed they each nimbly upon lithe legs. Yea, propertied such amaranthine feature were these and all Nymphs that yet the least of them was her possessed of a face forever so softly and perfectly hewn as to doubtless have rapt from any living man his breath, and also so supple and blest in its every proportion a form as to surely have reft from still the strongest of men his might. And no mortal woman durst her mind delude to dream herself match to such evermore mignon maids. All throughout their halcyon days gamboled and romped these libidinous maids through the greenest of holts, napped they by cover of shade-dappled glades, and made they love by hot kells in lush glens. Never was among them the faintest thought of worry or concern to burden their frolicsome hearts, and never had they known true sorrow. Until, very late one morrow, poor Serenity was grown forlorn.

¶II.

Serenity

βI¶II. [Long Version] There in a glade post high upon the crest aloft of a rock amid the high-flown ferns of the forest floor nigh, sat curled into herself the Dryad Serenity, arisen from her slumber amid the white blows bespangling the bolework twined intorsions of the densely braided trestle-boughs girt in soft, dew-sodden dress of silvern greybeard draping that same nigh hither tree upon which Serenity had in youth suckled and of yore become an Adryad yare of that cherished tree-type called the cherry; yonderly now weeping the wan-haired wight neath the flickering morntide rays that in hovering lightmotes besprent upon her naked form shone through the dancing pied shades of ancient yew and oak, of elm and of elder, alder, rowan and ash, and of apple and holly, and poplar, of the sprawled weeping trees which the osier willows exemplify, and of high hemp hedges, and of aspen, birch, cherry, and beech, and of maple among many an other, and many a kind more still an ever a man durst give tell his trial -- boughs and boles in mantles of ivies and mosses, spangles of white catkins, tufts of tree ferns, sundry sprays of sallow lichens and curtains of greybeard dight, bedewed as a starlit dawn during eft the daily sunrise draw nigh beneath dappled dark of the treetop’s vasty ceiling dim -- as the calm morrow breeze that with each new day renewing meandered drowsily ’midst the horsetails, grasses, ivies, osiers, clovers, mosses, and ferns, wheedling the sweet smells of the underwood’s oping, dew-laden blows astir, and wisped away the morntide haze, crept over her shivery skin. There in that perfection the Woodnymph Serenity sat, inly chilled by the dull of the woodland’s still, returning afore at times her tear-sodden gaze to see little ’yond wafts of her own gilded mane dancing for and fro across her vise, and ever the while lamenting a whit she knew could never be -- for a whit abandoned of yore by her most ancient of kin, and wanted never for again. For Serenity this morrow longed to do as the ancestral Elves of all Nymphs had done countless a milliad gone: to mate herself unto a man, and to rear her own bairn. And futile was to hope that any other of her Dryad kin could even feign to comprehend.

¶III.

βI¶III. [Long Version] Yet whenas it was that Serenity’s sistren heard her lonely there atop the stone amidst yon ferny glade as she so lachrymally did list, so deeply grew doled those feal-fellow sistren of Serenity so sorrowed such by the woe sounds of their weeping sister’s sobs that unto her they hastened, seeking wherefore her heart had in the morrow’s idyll grown so dourly discomposed. And Destiny, the Alpha Dryad of their band, fairest win-wife who of fealty was famed far among all Adryads longly and in deepest loyalty did many a band of that breed of Dryad lead, clomb upon the rock and there atop the stony crest perched herself abreast her sister’s dextrad side. And tenderly wrapped Destiny her sinistrad arm ’round the small of Serenity’s back, and with the backs of her fingertips lovely wiped from Serenity’s cheek her tears.

¶IV.

βI¶IV. [Long Version] “My Serenity,” said Destiny, “wherefore so verily sorrowed art thou? Whereof sithence the yestern eventide could so suddenly become now thine heart despaired?”

¶V.

βI¶V. [Long Version] Aback from her sister’s clasp then pulled Serenity slightly, with an uncertain, thoughtful gaze delving longly into the sparkling sheen of her sister’s glinting eyen so brightly green, questing desperately some subtle hint from her Destiny as to how she might tell the highth of her sorrow in words her Dryad kin might somehow apprehend. “Never couldst thou feign to comprehend,” said she finally, her pate in dismissal swaying as it hung ashamed from her languid shoulders.

¶VI.

βI¶VI. [Long Version] Into her sister’s vise deeply then wry-necked stared Destiny, questing herself what doom could so woe her Serenity mistide as she began tucking behind Serenity’s pointed dexter ear awaft locks of her silken, gilded mane whilst along Serenity’s pith she stroked. Then as well upon the rock clomb Faith and abreast her sister’s sinistrad side atop the high stone she then there promptly sat. And belike Destiny before she warmly held her sister, and her sister’s cheek she kissed with her arm wreathed ’round Serenity’s waspish waist, and smiled unsurely, quite unknowing how she might return unto Serenity’s face her smile.

¶VII.

βI¶VII. [Long Version] “Wherefore, O Serenity, must thou so coldly draw away?” queried Faith, fondling the long and silken gold waves of Serenity’s shimmering mane. “Wherefore’st thou away from us here hidden upon this lofty stone amidst the ferny glade, bewaring how we thee so love and need?”

¶VIII.

βI¶VIII. [Long Version] Serenity sighed. “Erely this morrow went I the Treen Hall easterly unto the Elfton Leifax of Elfley at the brake of the Emerald Forest, beyond the ___ of ___ Fen and ___ of ___ Carr by way of Mossford through the quickset cypress, rowan trees, osiers, hawthorns, and water elms of Faimoss , containing on either side of the Covered Highway the old Gnomish??? village of Whelstow with its subterrene pantries and stores, moot halls and libraries and workshops, kitchens and great meadhalls, armories nether recesses weaved craftily under the hammocks and fords of Mossexe , whither and whence wound sightlessly wrought were its earthwork tunnels up into the quagmire hags and flagstone-arcaded caponiers girt in reeds, sedge, fetlock, ,……… warding the sallow-stilled meanders of peat-covered bog waters……… through the clayey soil of the eights up into their ivy-clad and osier-dight cobwork dwellings of Gnomes, Wooddwarrows,---- wrought with unhewn and cob-mortared rubble masonry between saltire buttresses of thick, aerial roots trussing the external walls, bound thusly neath the helically columnar plies comprising unevenly spiraled boles whence aforesaid kneed cypress roots uncoiled adown, divaricately deflowing the domed rooftops, and above through the dextrorse caracoles of bough-braced beams with braids of branches together bound, trussed??? carpeting of clover querled unto balustrades of sprays trained into treen balusters to bolster the lintels spliced of spars and shafts into long banister rails by twine of sprig and spline upon their struts staid, climbing their cypress bole newels from……………… amid the rowan tree foliage and osiers of the fern-clad hammocks of flooded forest floor to………………… ascensively breadthening minaret of treen verandas and miradors fixed high onto each bole unwound by the great chandelling gantry of brachiate cypress corbel boughs that together commingled with water elm was ceiled into the layers of interlaced canopy embracing within their interstices the ___ bowers ______ sagene / sagegreen (grayish to yellowish green), sylviculture of sprigs and of srawls, splines (strips of wood), [by twigs twined and sprawled swarls spliced], and of sprays, and of twigs, of sprouts and branches, twined and querled and braided and spliced, scaffold, bolework/bulwark, [inside the outlying latticework arcades enclosing each vaulted layer], weaved, bolsters, interweaved, trussed, trusses, multiplex, ambit/ambition, stanchion, joist, spar, beam, lintel, rafter, plank, shaft, girder, bar, strut, brace, base, bracket, stay, trestle, timbered, brachiate, joinery; lattice, trellis, of knotwork looms? latticework and platforms? Bowers/arbors/ by ___ and garlands and lichens and silken curtains of greybeard ___ into the ___ the arboreal Woodelves and ___ Auchterock / Astwood End ,” said she, deeply into her Faith’s arms curling as their Destiny then both sistren braced, “and there within the forested Elfton I’d raught long eft crossing the Mossford causeway across the Auchterwhel Fords that amidst the ___ lie girding the gilded sheen of Leifax fields ___ as in the outer-nigh wood lurked I thence spied me ’yond a ___ of Elvards ___ the winding paths paved in broad, thick and rounded-edged slabs of ruby, sapphire, adamance, emerald, amethyst, jacynthe, amber, and topaz, beset in silvern mortar and with bezels a hand from the abuttal silvern frame on either side streets of unvarying width beveled, strolling casually thereupon an Elfdam near a towering fount of marble in the form of a water-wyvern forged, intr??? With wings outstretched and tail nowed; -- O to be a Fountnymph in that city! -- near to whom fussed incessantly a pair of Elflings , and yet queerly was thence drawn my gaze to the arcaded, fern-framed ___terraced perrons//pergolas//verandas___? circling founted ponds and spanning hoary, ivy-clad flagstone ___pavilions___? whither looked I upon another Elven, herself achilding, traversing the stony path with her Elf’s arm in hers, and still another Elven spied I wandering about the hanging gardens -- motes of viridian luster amidst the hewn stone of the city nigh lush as that splendor which indwell we -- cradling within her arms her mewling infant as astride her the father-Elf ambled through the tamed herbage with a child upon his back in a pouch identic to that which hung empty from the shoulders of the mother-Elven apace him wending. Yet these spectations were nobbut the first to draw mine eyen. Blithely squalled Elflings as they larked about the motley gemstone streets, playing their childish games whilst strove vainly their parents to sonantly still them. And whensoever they ceased their importunate bellows the adult Elves amongst themselves chattered, with Elf-were adoring Elven-wife, and Elven-mother relaying rede to counsel daughter-Elven as father-Elf attended Elf-son. I ken not why, but in that moment stirred up my heart and woke it suddenly as if by fearsome sweven evilly upon me visited by some quade-beshrewing mare designed to steal me from the rapturous slumb’ring of my long and stilly sleep, and in sobriety’s cold and heartless clasp grew I woe as it happed to me that never should have I a man for unto myself betrothed, nor ever by my loins bear I forth a child of mine own.”

¶IX.

βI¶IX. [Long Version] At these words Serenity’s sistren were silently then started, harrowed inly by the stirring within their sister of desires so longly agone forsaken, lest dark desires unwont wake and roil brimming to the surface. And Destiny and Faith continued to cradle their sister there as the other Adryad kin looked to Solace for her ken.

¶X.

βI¶X. [Long Version] “But, my Serenity,” said Solace, “our Destiny is our betrothed. She is our Alpha Dryad. Of all among us solely she should fertile be , for only to lie with her have we, and serve her, and her womb should itself then seed and unto us bear then a gravid caul . And after twenteen years should hatch that caul, and from it a beautiful Nymphet then bear, who should thus the bairn of the One Love for one another all keep we be; a sister with whom to rejoice for all eterne in the splendor of Our Way . That’th been the Way of Nymphs sithence a time now far abaft even the forest’s recall.”

¶XI.

βI¶XI. [Long Version] “Of all this I know,” said Serenity, sitting herself up sharply from her sisters’ brace, her countenance palled high eft being suffered so thoughtless a word of concern, “for neither be I a dullard nor mad!”

¶XII.

βI¶XII. [Long Version] A sullen grimace then crossed Solace’s face, and she assayed assure Serenity: “I meant not....”

¶XIII.

βI¶XIII. [Long Version] “Thus must thou me regard!” charged Serenity, “else due not wouldst thou think to remind me anent such whits of which thou well knowest I agnize!”

¶XIV.

βI¶XIV. [Long Version] “Hast truly thou these whits foremind,” said Divinity, “wherefore art attended thou such discontent? Wert thou to become Alpha Dryad of thine own band, thine own offspring couldst then thou bear, just as thou listest.”

¶XV.

βI¶XV. [Long Version] “Never the same ‘twould be,” replied Serenity. “Aged fully twenteen years by a caul from my loins borne nobbut eft several sennights achilding spent, albeit possessed the nativity of mine own womb, nigh adult should that very Nymphet emerged thus be. However to truly be a mother an to bear never a child of mine own am I? Nay, meseemeth for ever shall I be made to endure this hollowness that within me so deeply delving feel I, crawling wretched and purposeless amidst these groves till cometh a day the Fates decide me an end that be fitting.”

¶XVI.

βI¶XVI. [Long Version] “How durst thou such horridness speak anent the Way of Nymphs?” asked Destiny, releasing her Faith and Serenity as she pulled aback startly from them. “Doth the Way of thy kindred so greatly disgust thee?”

¶XVII.

βI¶XVII. [Long Version] “Of the Way of Nymphs say I naught,” said Serenity, staring at her Destiny sharply. “Nobbut the way of myself say I, and I am not whole!”

¶XVIII.

βI¶XVIII. [Long Version] “I prithee our unknowing forgive us, my Serenity,” pled Harmony, “but strangely doth thy wordage alight upon our ears, for of what thou speakest know we naught. Only to ken this thy plight list we, our beloved Serenity, that better might thee aid we.”

¶XIX.

βI¶XIX. [Long Version] “An this could ye ken know I not; this unbidden longing that so indelibly and each moment so evermore verily and cruelly mine aching heart doth sorrow,” replied Serenity. “For treacherous be the wise of these desires I feel grasp me.”

¶XX.

βI¶XX. [Long Version] “An that be the case, my Serenity,” said Harmony, “How might we thee avail? What wouldst thou that we could do to quell for thee thy sorrow? Kenning or not, we all yet thy sistren be, and we thee all should fain therefore oblige.”

¶XXI.

βI¶XXI. [Long Version] “Naught ken I of what for me could ye do, as so yblent of these yearnings am I that nary a mote wist I whence or how come them myself, for naught was ever it within the vasty breadth of mine expectation to discover myself thus listing,” said Serenity, still barely weeping. “Meseemeth rent mightily my heart’th itself discovered upon the icy shoals of some foreign rime-land which shall for ever and anon be unto the dark of perpetual, wintry night accursed, by the frothing spate of yon land’s tumultuous tempests to nobbut a crimson spilth forever in those frozen verges of eternal dearth wonning forsook upon the jagged rocks of longly derelict dreams now afflicting my dolorous marrow, though wherefore ken I not.”

¶XXII.

βI¶XXII. [Long Version] Then Faith, overcome by pity for her sister, said unto her: “Fret thou not! O my Serenity, though terrible must be thy plight! for at the fullest monthly Moon Queen’s sennight , in that hour yon risen Moon doth sail aloft Her greatest height, shall upon yon sacred time I thee spell a tailored rite; a Rite of Purgation, that shall requiem bring unto the sorrow of thine heart, and will for thee quell thy woe.”

¶XXIII.

βI¶XXIII. [Long Version] And to this Serenity nodded affirm, saying there naught as she allowed herself fall aback into the warmth of her twain sistren’s arms. And there with them she lovely lay until the morrow’s end.

Chapter II
“Nepenthe”

One sennight did the woodland age
since Serenity’s sorrow incited;
since Faith, the Drayads’ trusted sage,
her sister to Esbat invited.
And Serenity waited night after night,
as the full Moon’s eve had neared,
and gathered her hopes upon the rite
as she readied to meet her wyrd.

¶I.

βII¶I. [Long Version] Swithly upon that hinterland in which both the timeless lands and ceaseless worlds of Fairy and this Middle-earth crosshatch, sprawling from the bosk-gyven illecebrous hamlets and boskets cresting the thicket-clad downs, gilded meadows and wooded heaths webbed by stilly meanders veining the moors east of the [[mountain valley]] mysty kells and ponds shaded under ferny scarps deflowed by the trickling waterfalls of inditing tarns cradled neath the vasty indomite trusses of bows that held the indescating viridity of southern Sylvany aloft its virgin gledeworks climbing northward about the arboreal Elftons of Transylvany unto the roots of the craggy and riparian mountainous terrain straddled by lustrous Elphame with its BLANK castles, bridges, and both open walkways, BLANKS (crenellated rails), cols, and vaulted gimmels of arcades slithering horizontally along the hillsides bordered by perrons and vaulted stairways ascending and descending the floral scarps littered with fountains, waterfalls, and aqueducts that lay a testament to the Inner Seely Courts and betrayed their various histories in these leys since the founding of those halidom Fairmarges wherein the Emerald Forest rooted at Fairmark Brake (((adverb))) lay was the full Moon quarter come, and ever those first starry three eves that did darksome lay afore that holiest of moonlit sennights as ever Her fullness nearer the Moon Queen waxed were rested Serenity’s thoughts always upon her burdensome plight. For as evermore nigh drew the night of the full Moon’s peak, so too had evermore deeply raught the abysm Serenity so coldly aching within her felt into the miserly hollow of her woebegone soul, till finally, whenas nigh Her height in that quarter’s fourth night sailed the Moon Goddess her barque aloft pale mysts of the clouded welkin sea, stole Serenity, Harmony, and Faith together away unto a dark corner of that very wood and therein those recessed shades of the seasonless Emerald Forest’s depths spied they a small and myrky pool by which Faith could work her seid, and quickened they thereunto in the dark blue light of the moonlit night.

¶III.

¶III. [Long Version] There under the silvern light of the Moon Goddess , Faith browsed the nearby bushes and trees, her shaman-staff in hand, gathering many a fruit and herb. And ever the while the Rhapsodess Harmony piped away on her crude reed flute, playing along to the chanting Faith sung as she quietly canted her shaman-song:

“Diana! O Evenstar! Mother of many and each Fay house!
Thou Who dost unto us bear the last waning torch of day,
to herald in thy Sacred Night, as thy flame doth douse!
Thou Who art the Mother Moon, lighting dark as thou may,
to alight upon us sallow boon; for wicked be Thy way.

“Lucifer! O Morrowstar! Father of men and their kings!
Thou Who dost with Thy glory bear forth the light of day,
as Thou Who art above all enthroned, coiled in Thy rings!
Thou Who art the Father Sun, burning the night away,
mate of Venus: our Mother Moon, King forever of the day!

“Arady! O Pilgrimess! Daughter of the Sun and Moon,
Egress, Phoenix, beacon of Night and shade of the Day
Thou Who doth grant unto us every Earthen boon!
Thou Who becometh the Spirit of Earth, Goddess of the Lay
as Thy sacred pilgrimage, journey of all endure!
by we dubbed Gaya and Arda when mature!

“To Ye Gods; Holy Sun, Moon, and Earth, in Triunity,
pray we might avail’st Thou us what this rite ask,
if not wrong or offensive of it doth be
to put ourselves unto this task,
an Thou God Triune should with our goal agree.”

¶IV.

¶IV. [Long Version] As Faith rowned her heart upborne was come upon waft of moonlit air, and from the depths of her breast these lyrics she sang her shamanic song as if by the eldest of eldritch wights had ever it been sung, and accompanied by the stirring weep of Harmony’s crude reed flute her whispered words sailed softly aloft breaths of such deft and topless feat, that nary the finest mortal voice could ever hope compare -- and would do naught but in their beauty pale. And thus were riven the night’s mysts by the refulgence of the Rhapsodist’s play, and the wake of them filled with a magiology by the very magique of Faith inspired. And ’cross her chest wore Faith a strap sewn of braided hemp, whence a hemp purse at her dexter hip hung. And ever the while as she sang dropped Faith into the purse each new fitting herb she’d found from among the ever-new foliage of that forest seasonless and seidful : apple blows and cherry fruits, strawberries and redcurrants, petals of rose and rose-hip, trefoils and blossoms of clover, red berries of elder and bramble and rowan, young seed pods of red poppy , and a single grenade tree’s pome . In the warmth of the dark blue night stood Serenity, listing unto her sisters’ whispered song as the evermore quietly reverbing rune grew muffled by the rustling maple leaves that nightly gilded shone, as fireflies flitted about the eventide wyld to a quiring of crickets and toads. Faith used her long shaman-staff with its manate crook to aid her. Yet stilled not could Serenity be; her throat knotted and heart quaked, kneeving hard against her quivery breast as her shoulders slightly trembled, for never before had she to the work of a shaman’s Craft been subject, nor to a rite’s first spelling witness, and kenned not precisely enough for her liking of what doom would soon betide her. Erelong and returned the Dryad Ladies twain unto the pool whereat its eastward end stood Faith opposite Serenity, as in silence stayed Harmony just behind her. And into the purse that at her right hip hung raught Faith, and upon the moonlit water cast a handful of her herbs. And as the herbs fell upon the pool the water’s subtle motion obscured the white moonglade, and by the full Moon’s brightness cast upon the dark and unstill pool were the Dryads bathed in dancing veins of brightly sallow moonlight. Then holding affirm the treen shaft in her right hand, carved of alder propertied with the crisply edged white of flagstone reminiscing great fin glaciers marred with the black of unfathomably deep crevices in the ice, or of marble nigh opalescent in its alban luster and veined sable in the sparkling feature of charcoal, clad in the motley greens of the ivies and mosses growing upon its isen-marbled, ivorine ruel-wood shaft with clusters of white, red, and blue grapes, black and red currants, ___, ___, and many an other varied sort of vine fruit draped like strewn pearls from the unciform crook of the staff, all about the (entwined braiding???] of vines bound fast / ferruled unto the ruel-wood shaft by metallic black rings/ferrules wrought of bloodstone by the Clovenbeard Clan of the Reddwarrows, uplifting it by the swart leathern-girt handle carved of the treen rod, raised Faith her staff above her, with her face then skyward-turned, and with her eyen shut she rowned:

“Hail Aldebaran of the Grigori ,
Watcher of the Eastern Gate,
Guardian of the Air and Springtide,
and of this Sacred Circle’s fate;
to thy Watchtower I thee call
to keep this Circle’s verge,
from all malice protect it,
and from it, all evil purge!”

¶IV.

As Faith spake these words crept a breeze through all the nearby wood and ’tween the trees around them, and all about the leaves and branches swayed in the night air’s currents. And Faith’s whispers were carried throughout the shades on back of the eve’s idyllic winds, as the toads and crickets ceased their song, for those prayers whispered purged the darks themselves of all the wyld about them, and rebellowed quietly everywhere, inspiring the eventide ether. And a few steps ’round the Moon-sprent pool went Faith deosil unto its southward end. And there cast Faith over the unstill water another handful of her herbs, and turned her face unto the sky above as with her staff held high she closed her eyen and rowned:

“Hail Regulus of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Southern Gate,
Guardian of the Fire and Summer,
and of this Sacred Circle’s fate;
unto thy Watchtower I thee call
to keep this Circle’s verge,
from all malice protect it,
and from it, all evil purge!”

¶XIV.

¶XIV. As these words spake Faith the clouds above the southern Silvern Hills, hid partly by the treetops, lit up in violent fulgor, as from ’yond the distant mountain peaks roared a crashing thunder [thunder = earthquake, Levin = fire]. And the sky above them darkled as in the distance came rain-fraught clouds rolling slowly over. Then deosil went Faith ’round whither stood Serenity, and there at the pool’s westward end she cast another handful of her herbs upon the water, and with her eyen closed and face up-vised she held high her staff and rowned:

“Hail Antares of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Western Gate,
Guardian of the Water and Autumn,
and of this Sacred Circle’s fate;
unto thy Watchtower I thee call
to keep this Circle’s verge,
from all malice protect it,
and from it, all evil purge!”

¶XXVII.

¶XVII. And a myst began to fill again that dark corner of the wood, and a soft and tepid rain alit lightly adown on them. And Faith walked deosil ’round unto the circle’s northward end, whereat she stood and cast her herbs upon the hissing water. And unto the sky she faced with eyen held closed as the heavy dew deflowed her pate; and with her staff held high above her she began again to rown:

“Hail Formalhaut of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Northern Gate,
Guardian of Earth and Winter,
and of this Sacred Circle’s fate;
unto thy Watchtower I thee call
to keep this Circle’s verge,
from all malice protect it,
and from it, all evil purge!”

¶XX.

¶XX. Under the Dryads’ feet the earth began to slowly warm with a gentle, silent hum. And smiling to each of her sistren, Faith stepped deosil back unto the circle’s eastward end, ere she kirked once more her lidded eyen up to the darkling sky, and held high again her staff above as she began once more to rown:

“Hail Eosphoros of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Inner Gate,
Guardian of the Ether and Ever,
and of this Sacred Circle’s fate;
unto thy Watchtower I thee call
to keep this Circle’s verge,
from all malice protect it,
and from it, all evil purge!”

¶XXII.

¶XXII. A sudden and the rains had ceased as the earth and air were calmed. And the last remaining thunders from the clouds above waned away into nihility, as the clouds themselves receded, and with them took the rain. And all within that corner of the Emerald Forest was silent and still, save for those enduring whispers of Faith’s reverbing rune above the quiet hum of the fireflies flying abound. Thus was laved all the woodland near in unseen magics descending from the Moon and stars and sky above, and uprising also from the earth below; and thus also were the Dryads warmly rapt in those viewless ethers unto them becked by sacred hest of Faith. Eft a few moments’ silence, Faith glanced and smiled at her sistren twain, and raised up again her staff, and with her eyen wide open looked up unto the sky and galed:

“In the name of the Light-bearer ,
Apollo , of the All-seeing Eye;
in the name of the Great Mother,
Diana , of the midnight sky;
and in the name of Their proud Daughter,
Arady , Traveler On High ;
that properly cast be this Circle,
do now proclaim I!”

¶XL.

¶XL. And as Faith outcried these last few words, they rebellowed throughout the wood and began to fade slowly away, taking with them unto silent end fading the evermore quietly repeating runes that had proceeded from her. And all in that corner of the forestland was even quieter than it ere had been; for naught but the gentle hum of the fireflies’ flight could be heard in all the nearby woods, and naught but those swarming creatures seemed to in that moment move. Thus remained though only briefly, and eft a mere moment more had passed the crickets and toads resumed their quire as all the wood returned to life. Faith then laid her staff and satchel on the ground beside her feet, and lowered herself adown into the myrky pool wherein its limous dreg she sat with her legs folded each into the other. Once comfortable there she stretched her hand out to Serenity, who then took the out-raught hand of Faith in hers and in the shallow water with her sister sat, nobbut about one hand deep. And over the twain stood Harmony, preparing to pipe on her flute. Sitting there together in that dark and myrky pool, Serenity and Faith were like Harmony bathed in the soft lutescence on them from every angle cast, by the fireflies hoving about and by starry glow of the pomes that spangled the fire-fruit trees, as the shimmering light of the white moonglade upon the water in which they sat brindled their skin in sparkling threads of paly, bright moonlight. Without word then raught Faith over unto her purse that on the dry ground beside her lay,and laid it widely open for all its contents to be seen. And there upon the open hemp-weaved bag sat all the fruits she’d gathered, and what remained of all her herbs. “What now?” asked Serenity, staring quizzically at her Faith, who with her head adown-turned busily sorted she each fruit and herb she’d kept. And whenas Faith’s gaze arose to meet Serenity’s she at first said naught in reply, instead only smiling at her sister as she took up six cherries from upon the open bag. Then, as Harmony began to play with her flute a new tune, Faith fed the cherries one by one to Serenity, all the while saying: “By six cherries these do I thee bless, so what against thee doth now transgress, shall nary an eve more thee distress!” Faith then took up into her hands the three strawberries that lay upon her bag, and fed unto Serenity each after the other, saying, to the rhythm of Harmony’s playing:

“With strawberries these do I thee bless.
Let what woe, that doth thee so depress,
no longer thine heart, in woe possess!”

As Harmony continued to pipe on her flute and Serenity finished her strawberries, Faith gathered from amidst her heap of berries and herbs [[[two dozens of]]] redcurrants. And she fed them twain-meal unto Serenity, saying:

“With redcurrants these do I thee bless.
The pain that doth so thine heart impress --
that athwart thy sprite doth dare aggress,
and assaith thy joy to dispossess --
shall be here allow’d no more progress,
nor more thy spirit shall it oppress!
For the woe to us thou didst confess
should na’y ’ave plagued thee, O trewardess,
so greatly that thou ’ast need repress this woe within thee;
such dolefulness !
An this rite’s spelling be a success,
freely ’gain thine heart couldst thou express --
for reborn should be thy sereneness!”

Then the Shamaness gathered in her hands nine red brambleberries, and with the Rhapsodist’s flute still playing, Faith began feeding them unto Serenity, saying:

“With raspberries these do I thee bless, Vto purge of thee all thy forlornness; Vfor this night, this hour, do I profess Vthat aught which plague thee shall evanesce, Vand restore unto thee thy blissfulness!”

Serenity smiled brightly as she mashed the raspberries between her tongue and her cheek, and still chewing them, told her Faith:

“Thou’st written a very delicious rite!”

“My Serenity,” said Harmony, having ceased for the moment her play.

“Yes, my Harmony?” answered Serenity, the lids of her awesome, jazel eyen fluttering as she turned to Harmony her unwitting, innocent vise.

“Thou art not supposed to speak,” replied Harmony.

“I prithee pardon,” simpered the Dryad Serenity in agnition, blushing ere she glutted adown swith her bramble-fruit.

A wide grin overtook Faith’s face betraying her silent laughter, and as Harmony resumed piping upon her crude reed flute Faith just slightly shook her head and gathered up from the heap upon her bag twenteen elderberries. She then waited a moment for the appropriate point in Harmony’s play to chime in, and beginning to feed the berries unto her sister, two-by-two, she said:

“With elderberries do I thee bless.
And henceforth shall wane thy soul’s illness,
an’ this eve swithly start to regress!
Na’y another day be thou actless,
nor mired in thine aggrievedness!
For this do pray I: Thy woe’s redress!”

Faith waited as Serenity finished her elderberries, and then picked out from amidst her herbs some red rowanberries, and at first opportune moment of Harmony’s piping set to feeding them twain-meal unto Serenity. And as before with each pair of berries she sang to her sister a verse:

“With rowanberries do I thee bless.
What doom for thy soul the Fates assess:
in facing it be thou not pithless;
in courage shalt thou thy doom address
without any mote of abjectness,
and from this path not shalt thou digress,
lest thy malady shall reviresce!

Next the Shamaness searched through her pile of herbs to find amongst them the young seedpods of red poppy, and gathered them up into one hand. She then began feeding unto Serenity the opia, and as she did she sang, to the tune of Harmony’s playing:

“With red poppies these do I thee bless,
and pray thee swithly do convalesce!
Thy youth eternal, thy form ageless,
and thy beauty, to all, opposeless;
this night yet shall thy splendidness cresce!”

Serenity could not but brightly smile as these kindly words alit her ears, nor could her heart but merry at the prospect of being herself once more, and to boot, greater than ever in measure of what benefit her beautiful, loving sister saw within her being! But in that moment Serenity bade herself not show her Faith the affection she was wont, lest she disrupt her sister’s rite. And then as Harmony continued piping, Faith began to separate her remaining herbs into piles: one mostly of trefoils and flowers of clover, another of blossoms of apple, another of petals of rose; and from them the grenade pome and rose hips removed, as Serenity did patiently there Faith await. Faith gathered then into her hands most of the pile of clover, and tossed in turn three small handfuls up into the air above Serenity, and with them thus besprent her. And as she did she sang along to the tune of the piper’s play:

“With leaf and blossom do I thee bless,
so in purgation shalt thou concresce,
and excise thy sor- -row from thy cess!

And as Harmony kept playing her flute, Faith took up the grenade fruit into her hands and began unraveling it, collecting into her left hand the pome’s small rubescent grains as she did. And having collected a handful of them, set adown the fruit and began feeding her sister the seeds, saying, to the rhythm of the Rhapsodist’s playing:

“With grenade pome grain do I thee bless;
to free of thee thy spirit’s tristness,
whilst laying to rest thy hopelessness!
Awake now thine heart from listlessness!”

Faith then took up the rose-hips from upon her open hemp bag, and she fed them each unto Serenity in turn with Harmony’s play, singing:

“With these four rose-hips do I thee bless,
for this spell to thee is my largess:
to mend of thee thy sorrowfulness!
I pray this for thee, O trewardess!”

And the Shamaness drew up into her hands the heap of apple blooms, and cast them over her sister; and as she did, she spake,

Of petals of rose do I thee bless,
to free thee of these longings, kindless!
Arise thou above thy brokenness!”

Chapter III
“Embrocation”

Amidst the woodland’s nighted glades
of radiantly gild-spangled shades,
were three fair, tith, yet sonsie maids
to test this, Faith’s new rite.
An’ this new rite, the Shamaness spell’d
for sake of her sister, so inly fell’d,
that Serenity’s sorrow might be quell’d
before the end of night.

¶I.

The Shamaness Faith raught beside her as she there sat with her sister Serenity in the shallow small pool unto her purse that lay on the dry ground nigh her, then took up the hemp bag atween herself and her sister and forth from it poured what remained of the herbs she had ere in that even gathered -- fruit and foil, seed and stem -- into the sparkling water between them. And Faith set her hemp bag once more aside and began to knead in the pool’s dreg her unction, roiling her adown into the myrk her magic provender to craft for her sister salvation. Faith then took up some of the dreg with crushed herb and seed into her hands and rolled it, working it finally into a salve. Faith began then to inunct her Serenity, starting with the pap nearest her forlorn heart, and sang, to the tune of Harmony’s playing:

“With this liniment do I thee bless,
that imbonity shan’t thee repress
hence in thy doom as thou dost incess;
I pray thee now from thy pain egress!”

Slowly wrought Faith in circular motion to slather Serenity with the emollient lotion, ever in rhythm to the tinnient ring of the Rhapsodist’s play, covering first each of her sphery mammets, then the incurve and the flat of her belly, then atween her sleek legs with Faith’s one hand and her lower back with the other, then her legs themselves from toes to calves to inner thighs followed by what abaft Serenity could be raught of her roundly muscled hind, and then the sides of her waspish waist. And having then raught aback and above to Serenity’s shoulders Faith embrocated Serenity still with her left hand as her same arm wreathed ’round Serenity’s mud-clad form, the two maids’ mouths breathing each into the other’s, each feeling the warmth of the other Nymph’s breath upon her lips as each Nymph’s breast pressed warmly against the other’s; and Faith’s dexter hand stroked the aft of Serenity’s neck in so demulcent a soporiferous tendering, that Serenity was drowsed nigh to sweven. And Faith took then Serenity’s cheek in that very hand ere Serenity raised her own hand to clasp it, and she guided Serenity’s face nigher her own; their foreheads leant now together as they each one stared into the sam-lidded eyen of the other Nymph fondly, each nearly losing herself in the starry abyss of the other Nymph’s gaze with the aid of their Harmony’s musique. Serenity breathed more heavily now, and with the unwholeness she’d felt thereunto that sennight the sadness in her eyen oping so welled she could no longer hide it as thither she had all even. And Faith herself had begun nigh to weep when she smiled, and unto her beloved sister sultrily rowned as she held softly Serenity’s face in that moment, continuing abaft Serenity’s back to anoint as the twain there writhed, together entwined:

“With this mud balm, I thee caress.
Though I know not what ’ath caused this mess,
nor why it did so ingravesce --
this rite should mend thee, natheless.”

Serenity then lidded her eyen a slight more and assayed to turn her head and laugh, though with tears trickling adown now to her chin; but Faith, holding gently Serenity’s face, brought Serenity’s vise aback up to meet hers and with her lips she caught to Serenity’s surprise her smile, bussing her sweetly at the crease of her mouth. So meekly Serenity then grinned as Faith smiled aback at her truly, still cradling Serenity’s face in her hand, her thumb brushing tenderly across Serenity’s cheek, accoying her, ere Faith continued lenitively to cover her sister in the unguentary mire by Faith’s very hands concocted. Harmony then ceased her play and placed her reed flute carefully adown on the ground beside her, and went shortly to join her sisters in the lew of the shallow small pool. There Harmony colled and kissed her sistren as they reacted together in kind, ere Harmony herself behind her sister Serenity then posed. And abaft Serenity she there sat, aiding Faith in their sister’s salvation, as mote by mote Serenity’s joy was unto her then returned -- and in this moment, manifold. Once swathed wholly in the ointment of Faith’s craft, Serenity lay aback as contently a wight could dream in the rapture of her Harmony’s arms, who held Serenity there lievely as Faith returned to her feet, bowned to finish her new rite. Faith then gathered up her shaman-staff whence by her it was laid, and holding it in both her hands with her arms raught high, turned up her vise unto the starlit sky, and with her eyen closed she rowned:

“Hail Eosphoros of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Inner Gate,
Guardian of the Seasons and Ether,
and the Sacred Circle’s fate;
from this Circle do I loose thee,
to return unto thy realm,
till another should call thee
to an other Circle helm!”

And once this rune escaped Faith’s lips it reverbed throughout that corner of the wood and ’twixt the trees around them. And all within that moment the ethers seemed to clear, waving about in the midnight’s mysts, throughout the woodland near. An thence it be ever a mote effable, the Dryads three were suffered yet greater a peace than ere that eventide, and therein were also inly slain; for tremulous had been their hearts which now in quietude were lain, and began soon again to quake: for as the Horn of the Sun God was poured adown on them so did the store of the Gods course through them. Then widdershins went Faith around unto the circle’s northward end, and in both her hands she held high her staff above her up-turned vise, and she closed then both her eyen and rowned unto the northern guards:

“Hail Formalhaut of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Northern Gate,
Guardian of the Winter and Earth,
and the Sacred Circle’s fate;
from this Circle do I loose thee,
to return unto thy realm,
till another should call thee
to an other Circle helm!”

¶X.

¶X. And Gaya stirred.

¶XI.

¶XI. Neath the Dryads three the earth began to tremble, and the Dryad Faith adown knelt humbly, and submitted herself unto her Mother Gaya as the new rune rebellowed with the other about them, yet as quickly and quiet as the ground had woke, so too did its growling wane.

¶XII.

¶XII. A gnostic grin then creased Faith’s cheek as she raised up her vise unto her sistren twain, and overawed at first, the twain were calmed as into the emerald eyen of Faith they peered. Then Faith regained fast her stance as she widdershins walked ’round the circle unto its western end, and there held high again her treen staff above her. And looking first unto Serenity, and then Harmony, she closed her eyen and up-turned her vise, and unto the sky she rowned: “Hail Antares of the Grigori, Watcher of the Western Gate, Guardian of the Autumn and Water, and the Sacred Circle’s fate; from this Circle do I loose thee, to return unto thy realm, till another should call thee to an other Circle helm!”

¶XIII.

¶XIII. Slowly the mysts that filled the wood crept aback in toward them, carrying in them Faith’s three reverbing runes, girding both tree and brush in the rimy, alban haze that upon the Dryads gained from darksome myrks without. Erelong another rain descended lightly adown on them, washing away the nepenthean salve that thereunto covered the Adryads’ now skyclad forms as the water deflowed upon their forms, cascading gently over their every curve as the clouds above began to thicken, occulting again the eventide welkin.

¶XIV.

¶XIV. Widdershins went Faith then ’round unto the circle’s southern end, whereupon she stood and with her eyen closed and face up-vised she held high her staff in both up-raught hands and rowned:

“Hail Regulus of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Southern Gate,
Guardian of the Summer and Fire,
and the Sacred Circle’s fate;
from this Circle do I loose thee,
to return unto thy realm,
till another should call thee
to an other Circle helm!”

¶XV.

¶XV. A thunderclap cracked [levin flashed] beyond the most distal of hills visible, silencing for a moment Faith’s rune, as Harmony tightly held Serenity, who cowered deeply into her Harmony’s grasp. And the runes began again to reverb throughout the wyld as Serenity and Harmony somewhat loosed their mutual enclasping.

¶XVI.

¶XVI. Widdershins went then Faith ’round unto the circle’s easternmost end, whereat she once more upturned her vise with her eyen closed, and holding firmly her treen staff in both her hands as high as she could above her, rowned:

“Hail Aldebaran of the Grigori,
Watcher of the Eastern Gate,
Guardian of the Springtide and Air,
and the Sacred Circle’s fate;
from this Circle do I loose thee,
to return unto thy realm,
till another should call thee
to an other Circle helm!”

¶XVII.

¶XVII. A warm breeze swept that instant throughout all the woodland nigh, as each of Faith’s five runes rebellowed in rounds about the glade, and faded slowly away. And all in that moment did a heavy calm descend unseen upon the Dryads from the starry deeps without their Mother Gaya, and rise up also from Her womb below. And together these magics mingled within the hearts of the Dryads three, that by this shamanry were allayed.

¶XVIII.

¶XVIII. Faith cast then aside her staff and rejoined her sistren in the shallow small pool, that she might after so long a night embrace them once again, outside the rite, and with them thank the Gods. So she lowered herself into the pool and there took her Serenity into an arm and enclasped there her Harmony with her other, and drew them as tightly to her as ever the three were wont. And Faith stood to her feet, bringing each sister up with her, and looked to the stars with upborne heart and arms upraught, with her each sister’s hands in hers entangled, and sang:

“We thank Thee,
O Father of Splendor and Light,
Lord of the Sun and the Moon,
for lending to me upon this night,
to my sister Serenity’s boon,
the power needed to wreak this rite,
and the gift of Harmony’s tune!
I pray Thee keep us in Thy sight
and let not what is spun be unsewn!”

¶XIX.

¶XIX. Harmony then upbore her vise, with arms upraught and let chime her voice, as she sang unto the Moon:

“We thank Thee,
O Mother of Darkness and Night,
Who indwellest the heart of the Moon,
on this the eve of Thy fullest height,
when the time be our most opportune
for this night’s spelling; Faith’s newly wrought rite,
and for granting us such fortune
that we avail Serenity in her fight
against that which doth her impugn;
for aiding us in what us doth fray
and cause us to thusly croon!”

¶XX.

¶XX. Harmony then gently wrung her sister Serenity’s hand, and as Harmony’s verse had added two lines, so Serenity was to add three. And Serenity breathed deeply, and let escape from her breast a sigh, and then bore up her vise above unto the starlit sky, and sang:

“We thank Thee,
O Daughter of Day and of Night,
Begott’n of the Sun and the Moon,
Life of the Earth, in all whits forthright,
for all of Thy help in this eve’s rite;
for imparting to me so soon,
from Thine heavenly quarter, now alight,
an’ upon this even, strewn,
this needed strength to end my plight,
and for wreaking it verily hewn
whilst my Faith did so excite
as she lovely rowned her rune;
whilst my Harmony did fain delight
as we with Thee did commune!”

¶XXI.

¶XXI. And in wake of the Beta Dryad’s magical work the Dryads found themselves abstersed, basking nigh aglow in ethers of night beneath the effulgent stells and brighted Moon, and were in this swept of heart unto the starry welkin high, for naught of their laden souls could endure so great a burden as the love more than wont upon them in this moment of their Gods. So together the Dryads sat once more adown into the shallow small pool, whence cupped Faith her hands into the clearest of the water and bore forth of it this handful with which to pour upon Serenity, and lave her in this manner. Thus the other sistren twain did likewise begin each one the other to lave, and whenas they had rinsed away the silt upon their tender skin, arose, that they might then lave those parts that in the pool’s dreg had sat.

¶XXII.

¶XXII. Now clean, the Dryads lovely kissed and colled as they went thence away, in their merriment laughing and playing in the wise that Dryads will.

¶XXIII.

¶XXIII. And thus the work of Faith was wrought.

¶I.

¶I. Many a yeartide swithly did pass, and again through the shade-dappled hurst Serenity rollicked delightedly with her sistren, and playfully she wrestled with them in the green brush, and through the underwood gamboled. Again she giggled and sang and skipped about the forestlands; again she was and seemed content in the Way of Nymphs. And the seasons did pass, and the Dryad band had great merriment frisking about the woodlands, entertaining Satyrs and Fauns who would for days with them travel, and idly then part ways.

¶II.

¶II. After many a year Destiny had become gravid, and in the span of a mere six sennights she birthed unto her band a caul. The band placed this caul in an apple tree, and daily cared for and watched it as it nourished its roots off the tree’s sap. Each day the caul swelled larger as the child-Nymph grew within it, until after twenteen years was hatched the Nymphet named Prosperity.

¶III.

¶III. Thus the Band of Destiny and had grown too large, and so split into two bands of seven: Destiny remained the Alpha Dryad of the first band, as Faith became the Alpha Dryad of the second. And so Destiny, Harmony, Trust, Divinity, Grace, Solace, and Glory remained in the Elder Band of Destiny, which also was the Whilom Band of Faith, whilst Faith, Charity, Eternity, Felicity, Ecstasy, Serenity, and Prosperity became a Younger Band of Destiny known as the Band of Faith.

¶IV.

¶IV. Faith’s new band was a joyous one, whose days were filled with laughing, singing, romping, and playing, and whose nights were graced by visits from the Pixies. Always they pranced and reveled throughout the Emerald Forest, ceasing only to nap or make love. And each many years Faith bore for her band another caul, and each caul was placed in a fruit tree where it would grow until it was bowned to hatch. In the next [INSERT NUMBER OF YEARS] six more Nymphets were from Destiny borne, whose names were Charisma(?), Radiance, Affinity, Letity, Essence, and Surreptity.

¶V.

¶V. Yet even with her twelve sistren, Serenity was still lonesome.

¶VI.

¶VI. Then one day as she sported ’round the forest Serenity went her unto a clearing whence beyond a nearby brake in the underbrush she saw curtained in kelly sunbeams besprent so densely in dustmotes and bespangled in pollen and lion’s tooth ___ aglow as to appear nigh opaque amid the swart green shades neath its thick-pleached ogive bolework vaulting the old fern-fettered Treen Hall straught from Fairgate of Dryopoly in the east near the more easterly, ancient twin cities of Samelphame and Dryopolis herself west unto the untrod bridge through Wraymoss, myst-veiled maniholm strewn about the marshes and meres upon eighlets, eights, hummocks, eyots and hags by hoary causeys and age-eaten archways of bowed bridges and arcaded viaducts by abutments braced and by treen roads aloft borne or afloat upon mere-waters bridged, through Weremark unto Atham, obscure settlement amid miasmic brume of the mere-mysts on hummock beset, and heard her there erstwhile a stridor well up rebellowing afar easterly from her and erelong whelm the viridescence-strewn shades of the Stywood in wake of the strepent cacophony that bore it through that very Covered Highway forth from the Fairlands hither unto their fringes the Worldmarch nigh. And so therefore hastened Serenity to cast her upon herself a glamor, lest the dread source of so noisome a threat as to wreak such clamor espy her thence in that clearing(?) adjacent the Treen Hall and mayhap sunder Serenity there utterly or rape her into bondage wither she knew not, yet wherefore unto what doom recked all those of her kind according, whether bound still her captors unto or having been sold or traded to an other, she be strupated in wise she durst not ponder. And so Serenity there waited under cloak of her glamor stilly, that she might first espy her foes -- an foes they be -- and act in accord to the threat.

¶VII.

¶VII. At first Serenity saw her a pair of grey horses. fair and adorn with armor of silvern sheen, bearing riders of paley mantle belike a star that shone clear and bright out of yon distant shades whence came the clamor, swart as pitch howbeit by glimmer of glowing green sunbeams pierced, a sight assuring her they be not fell men, for mankind knew naught in those days yet of the least equestrian ways, nor could any man living yet ken the most easily mastered of equestrian skills.

¶VIII.

¶VIII. A great white pair of war-armored pack elephants crinite in coats of short ivorine fur as brilliantly bright as their great paired ruel-bones begat fro their upper incisors before them borne bowed laterally convex yet vertically concave, deeply sloping into anterior descent adown before gradually unto ventral crescent spiroid crooks tapering each athwart its other into scorpioid spires aharply turned medial at their gedded argent (caps) tips to wrap around the straighter horizontal ruel-bones jutting in pairs forth whence the aforesaid nigh-spiroid tusks curved about afore these thick opalescent boles of [[[dental bone???]]] about atop the twain tusks emergent from

¶IX.

¶IX. With a crinet-like coat of laminate plates protecting the proboscean appendage to which the articulate armor had been tightly by mail thongs tethered nigh entirely the length of the thick, serpentine nose-lip rooted under their eyen and between their great ruel-bone tusks

¶X.

¶X. stellate with a tower of wicker and sindon...

¶XI.

¶XI. ledged wagon with roofed porches skirting the wagon from the entry brighted between square-housed lanthorn sidelights beneath the anterior arch of the roof and enclosed by the supporting arcade of tortile latten brackets under arching brachiations of brown-bright sprigs and leaves returning the exterior walls to a smaller anterior doorway letting out each side of the cottage compartment overhanging the rear wheels by a short stair adown either flanking side of the return-roofed porch upon the (crest?) which

¶XII.

¶XII. blows bespangling the

¶XIII.

¶XIII. ...and there she happed upon...

¶XIV.

¶XIV. The Darkelfish man then spoke, yet in a tongue far younger than that of Serenity’s. Though a being as ancient and wise as Serenity, having9 heard as many tongues, could detect easily the differences between his tongue and her own, and apprehend the meaning of every word he spoke.

¶XV.

¶XV. “Are you alright?” called out the man, and Serenity was taken aback, for these were not the words of a dreaded Darkelf; these were not at all the words of a creature from the baneful shaded deeps, insofar as Serenity was wont to believe. And so Serenity cast away her glamor and approached on cautious feet, minding of whatsoever danger might there have been, yet far too curious of him to withdraw.

¶XVI.

¶XVI. When into the open she came Serenity saw this Darkelf was escorted by two Lightelves, mounted each upon a white mare. Escorted perhaps as a prisoner, yet in no way bound or restrained was he. More likely it seemed he was being guarded; in fact protected by the Lightelves, in such a wise as to befit a man of great import. And although Serenity understood very little of the concept of clothing, she could discern by the way the Darkelf’s ebon robes draped from him that he had been so as to convey nobility adorned.

¶XVII.

¶XVII. As Serenity continued her approach she studied the Darkelf’s affectations.

¶XVIII.

¶XVIII. The Lightelves readied their spears, but already had fallen enchanted, victim to Serenity’s fairness; for naught but the greatest-willed of wights, be it male or female, could endure the thralling lure of a Dryad’s lustrous beauty. Then under helotry of Serenity’s fascination the Lightelves let slip their weapons from their hands, as the Darkelf was staid motionless, entranced by her and enthralled.

¶XIX.

¶XIX. “Lo!” said Serenity, “for I am a Trewardess of the Emerald Forest and Nymph of the Cherry Tree. Ye have strayed far too nigh the homewood of my band, and endanger the sanctity of all within its bounds. Therefore I must know your purpose here ere I permit you pass beyond this point.”

¶XX.

¶XX. “These men are taking me to Atham,” stuttered the Darkelf, mustering the needed composure to speak, “for protection against the Unseely Court , from which I have defected, and now must hide away.”

¶XXI.

¶XXI. Serenity smiled, and yet she then narrowed her eyen, and upon the three Elves she cast a look most dire, and said unto them: “Harken ye intently unto my bid: ye Lightelves may pass of your own accord, an ye do so light of hoof, but no Darkelf may be permitted to tread upon yon hallowed ground. Unless, Darkelf, thou wouldst be willing to submit thyself unto me, and allow me, as a protectress of the Elder Whits, to lead thee through the wylds of Sylvany myself.”

¶XXII.

¶XXII. The Darkelf nodded affirmation, and gestured for the Lightelves to wend ahead ere he dismounted his black mare. And there in that clearing along the Treen Hall he and Serenity remained as the Lightelves awayward rode. Serenity and the Darkelf then tarried there till the Lightelves had fully left their sight, and began leisurely after them.

¶XXIII.

¶XXIII. “What be thy name?” asked Serenity of the Darkelf.

¶XXIV.

¶XXIV. “Lyrian ,” answered the Darkelven man.

¶XXV.

¶XXV. “Welcome, Lyrian,” said the Adryad.

¶XXVI.

¶XXVI. “Well met, Serenity,” replied the Lyrian.

¶XXVII.

¶XXVII.

¶XXVIII.

¶XXVIII. “So, Lyrian,” began Serenity, the Darkelf beside and just abaft her walking his mare as he and Serenity strode ever down the covered highway toward the untrod bridge, “tell me more of this Unseely Court, whence thou hast defected. It must be very troublesome.”

¶XXIX.

¶XXIX. “How is it that a Fairykin, even a Nymph, could know nothing of the Unseely Court?” asked the Darkelf.

¶XXX.

¶XXX. “I know many a whit,” said Serenity, with all the erudite temerity of a being as ancient and wise as she. And she turned to face the Darkelf, still walking astride just afore him, and gazed deeply into his ruby eyen, and said coyly: “But an thou wouldst speak unto me pretending I knew naught of it at all, I should verily thus be pleased.”

¶XXXI.

¶XXXI. This somewhat confused the Darkelf, though he humored her natheless. “Well,” said he, “the Unseely Court is the highest host of the Daoi-Sith , formed thousands of years ago, after Ephraim the Father had founded the city of Darkelphame and wedded the White Queen of Umbry, Malkalivna the Livian , daughter of Flavian Maor , to beget six children: Rivekka the Valerian , Sarah the Rufine , Liora the Florentine , Adina the Cyrian , Avigayil the Treacher , and Jedan the Illyrian , the first King of Darkelphame , who married with Kalila the Augustine to found Dom Illyrium , the first house of the Unseely Court, uniting the Sidhe of the Spider God Uttu with the Sidhe of the Demoniac Mother Lilith . The Cloan ny Moyrn , the Couril , even the Nigheag na Hath must answer to its authority.”

¶XXXIII.

¶XXXIII.

¶XXXIV.

¶XXXIV. Serenity shook her head. “Yet still little or naught doth that explain of wherefore thou hast defected. Art thou not of the Darkelven?”

¶XXXV.

¶XXXV. “Not if you were to ask my clansmen,” said Lyrian, “or former clansmen I should say. Dom Illyrium came to include Illyrian Jedan and Illyrian-Augustine Kalila as well as their six children, the second generation of the White Queen, of which the sixth-borne child and heir to the throne of Darkelphame, Illyrian Melekuzzi , married to Felician Atarah , to bear the second generation of Dom Illyrium. This third generation of Livian Malkalivna numbered six as well, of which the sixth child, Illyrian Saul-Melek , went on to wed Guardian Siphra , also known as Avitan Samira , and ascend to the throne of Darkelphame in his father’s wake, and had six children of his own. The sixth-borne of these, Illyrian Gideon , was wedded to Livian Navanoa before taking his own place at the throne, and had six children himself; the sixth of which was Illyrian Jered-Melek [ ], the next and fifth King of the City of Darkelphame. After ascending to the throne, King Jered-Melek, also known as King Illyrian V, was married to Cyriacan Adara , and had six children, the sixth of these being my grandmother, Illyrian Lilithena, born Illyrian Adi-Aliyah ; who, having been born with blonde hair and yellow eyes, among other traits, fulfilled the prophecy of the Beowelven being born the sixth child of the sixth child through to the sixth generation of the White Queen.”

¶XXXVII.

¶XXXVII. “I don’t often follow the ways of my people,” explained the Lyrian, “not that it bothers me as such. What they desire is control and oppression, but what I wish for is freedom, equality for all peoples. That’s why I’m trying to reach Anarchy.”

¶XXXVIII.

¶XXXVIII. “What seekest thou in Anarchy?” inquired Serenity, her gaze in question tautened.

¶XXXIX.

¶XXXIX. “Liberation,” replied the Lyrian. “There’s a group, based in Atham. A small group at present, yet ever growing. While the Seely Court prepares for war against my grandmother’s armies, this group prepares for the contingency of her success.”

¶XL.

¶XL. “Success wherein?”

¶XLI.

¶XLI. “In the war,” said Lyrian.

¶XLII.

¶XLII.

¶XLIII.

¶XLIII. It’s imperative therefore that I reach them.”

¶XLIV.

¶XLIV.

¶XLV.

¶XLV. “ ‘Tis imperative, is it? And wherefore is that, O heroic and brave Darkelf?” scoffed the Dryad, grinning upon the Darkelf haughtly, in wait of his reply.

¶XLVI.

¶XLVI.

¶XLVII.

¶XLVII. The High Empress of the Unseelie Court, Lilithena: she’s begun a campaign to overtake our nation, to set the Unseelie Court as the commanding Sith of Transylvany, to appoint herself Transylvany’s supreme ruler, and to transform Transylvany itself into the seat of the Unseelie Court for all of Borea.”

¶XLVIII.

¶XLVIII.

¶XLIX.

¶XLIX. “And just how dost thou think thou wilt be able to aid them?”

¶L.

¶L. “Information,” replied the Elf. “I can give them information, as I once held a seat on the Unseelie Court’s Legislative Directorate.”

¶LI.

¶LI. Serenity’s eyes then grew that instant very wide as she pored at the Darkelf. “Wow,” she expired, smiling brightly, and she asked him: “However couldst thou have accomplished such a feat?”

¶LII.

¶LII. “Legitimately, as much as I hate to admit it. Well, as legitimately as anywhit else in the Unseelie Court. I’m of Dom Illyrium myself. The High Empress is actually my grandmother, and so it was by her endorsement that, in addition to being an heir to the highest throne of the Unseelie Court, I was appointed the Cloan ny Moyrn Sith’s representative Director of Legislature once Jaakov the Agripetan (father of Barak) supplanted the High Priestess of the Unseely Court, Navaatarah the Valentine.”

¶LIII.

¶LIII. “Well,” laughed Serenity, “an thou art not Mister Highborn....”

¶XXXVI.

¶XXXVI. Serenity raised her eyebrow at the Darkelf, and she asked him: “Thy grandmother being the Beowelven, thou shouldst have wealth and power and infamy! Doth not every wight of the Clan Darkelven for such whits aspire?”

¶LIV.

¶LIV. And together Serenity and Lyrian strode through the wealds, and in wonderment Serenity listened to him speak of the world outside of the Emerald Forest. And Lyrian told her many tales.

¶LV.

¶LV. And when at day’s end they had raught the road to Atham, Serenity asked the Darkelf: “Wouldst thou give unto me thy troth that thou wilt return here unto me in a sennight?” Longly the Wood Nymph stared at him as she spake this, her eyes yearning.

¶LVI.

¶LVI. “To this very spot?” asked Lyrian.

¶LVII.

¶LVII. “Nay, not here of course,” quoth Serenity, laughing slightly. “We be far too nigh the city of Atham for my liking. The clearing wherein we just met, where we can be alone together, far from the city and its noises.”

¶LVIII.

¶LVIII. “I would love to meet with you again,” said the Darkelf. “Though I can’t help but wonder what a creature as beautiful as a Nymph could want from as comparatively lowly a wight as an Elf.”

¶LIX.

¶LIX. “That would be mine own concern, wouldn’t it?” replied Serenity. “Yet an thou givest unto me thy troth thou shalt return whither ere we first met, mayhap thou wilt discover to thy behoof just what it is that I desire of thee. And in return, mayhap thou wilt receive what thou desirest of me.”

¶LX.

¶LX. For a moment Lyrian’s jaw hung slack, until somehow he mustered from within himself the wit to reply unto her: “How could I possibly refuse you, talking like that?”

¶LXI.

¶LXI. “Thou knowest as well as I that thou canst refuse me not, no matter how I speak,” answered Serenity. “I am a Nymph, after all....”

¶LXII.

¶LXII. “You’re right,” said Lyrian. “Of course you have my word. I’ll meet you back at the clearing this time two sennights from today.”

¶I.

¶I. Whenas transpired a sennight Serenity went again unto the clearing wherein she had first met her Darkelf, and there she tarried his return. As she waited there resided in her no doubt whatever he’d come, for nary a Mannish creature, be it an Elf, a Human, a Dwarf, a Gnome, a Hobling , or an Ogre, be the creature male or female, could Nymphan hest withstand.

¶II.

¶II. And so Serenity walked about the edges of the clearing, browsing there litherly aside the ivy- and moss-clad cherries, that in their knar-shotten limbs draped in beard moss cradled tufts of broad-leafed fern, fruit-bearing mistletoe, and orchids of every shape and color. And near the hemp-canes, amongst the tall grasses of the clearing, were grazing there three perytons; a single white stag joined by two doe of fallow, white-spotted coat, all three stopping by turns to preen the white and black-barred pinions of their wings as they slowly through the clearing went.

¶III.

¶III. Little time had passed until Serenity heard from within the bushes the coming of her Darkelf; and as the perytons fled she hastened unto the edge of the clearing to greet him with impassioned halse.

¶IV.

¶IV. There from the hemp-canes appeared Lyrian, and when Serenity went to him he lovely colled and kissed her. Then the Darkelf pulled aback, and smiling joyfully he said to Serenity: “So, when do I find out what it is you desire of me?”

¶V.

¶V. “Firstly I shall wish thee to arride me,” said the Wood Nymph, beaming as brightly as ever before she had, “with more of thy tales.”

¶VI.

¶VI. Lyrian looked then into Serenity’s eyes of jazel, and was captive then by her wonder as much as her beauty. And he found him a dry nurse log upon which to sit, so that he might more comfortably treat Serenity to yet more of his stories.

¶VII.

¶VII. No sooner was he seated than Serenity straddled the Darkelf’s lap and wrapped her arms behind his neck, and round him wreathed her legs; and into his eyes she deeply stared, and begged him hasten to weave his first tale.

¶VIII.

¶VIII. And so again Serenity heard of the vast world that beyond the Emerald forest lay, and of whits that in her evoked awe of both marvel and terror. Stories of monsters the likes of raven Orks, boorish Dwarves, bloodthirsty Ogres, and deadly Humans. Yet also he told stories of Humans, Ogres, and Dwarves that alongside the Elves, Hobs, Faeries, and Gnomes fought bravely for the good of all Gaya . Throughout his stories she would marry and tighten her arms and legs around him whilstever affeared, and youthfully would she beam anent any the parts that enjoyed her -- and always their eyes stayed fasted. As their passion grew together, no feeling was left unshared. As their hearts together pounded no beat was left unfelt. As into each other they heavily spired no breath was left untaken. And by the tale’s end, no heart was left unshaken.

¶IX.

¶IX. Eft the end of the Lyrian’s sixth tale, Serenity abode there nearly breathless in his lap, her eyes as wide as shales as her breasts immensely hove. “Thy tales are very beautiful,” she said. “I wish I could hear more.”

¶X.

¶X. “I’ve told a lot of stories to a lot of folk,” said Lyrian, “but I’ve never experienced anywhit like -- Why can’t you hear more?”

¶XI.

¶XI. “Because,” replied Serenity, “ ‘tis time for thy reward.” And the Dryad clomb from the Darkelf’s lap and before him stood to her feet. So pleased was she with Lyrian’s tales that she had decided she would requite her Darkelf with blessing of dance and song.

¶XII.

¶XII. With a sweetness that Lyrian had never before imagined she sang unto him a soothing and wordless song, passing by far even the most gifted of Elven women as she galed with ease in notes that no other wight could approach. And as she sang she lithely danced, her naked form by the setting Sun brindled as His light through the canopy’s leaves enshone her. Her limbs bent about so featly, with such celerity she proved her body nimble beyond all of reason’s bounds, as her hips swiveled and thrust and afloat her bollen breasts swayed. And over her shoulder she enticingly leered each time she spun away; and so full were her eyes with a thousand carnal hungers whensoever they met his, that whetted then was the Darkelf’s fervor to heights hitherto untried. Yet by the stilling bliss the Dryad’s song bestowed upon him Lyrian swith was rapt to tear, and thus whilst he tholed the seething passions stirred within him by her tombestry, so too by her song he felt his very soul in splendor rent, and his heart slain duly of the Dryad’s charm. And whenas the dance and song had ended, the Darkelf was left there sitting, broken inly of what sundry pleasures nary a man could endure.

¶XIII.

¶XIII. When at last Lyrian’s breath had come back to him, he said unto Serenity: “Was that my reward, or just the proem?”

¶XIV.

¶XIV. Again Serenity smiled upon Lyrian as she then knelt before him, and placed her elbows upon his knees as she rested her chin within her hands. Still as brightly at him grinning she let her eyes drift down to his lap. And her face changed; her smile gave way to simper, and quiverly she gulped, and for a brief moment at him she glanced and coyly bit her nether lip, and unto him she then timidly said:

¶XV.

¶XV. “I’m afraid I’ve grown too weary to give thee thy reward, and I’ve become quite thirsty.” Serenity then returned her pore to his lap, and began to trace with her fingers the small bulge that had by then appeared. And she looked once more upon the Darkelf’s face as upon his lap her fingers danced; her eyes again with his locked for her to cast her most riggish leer. “Thou wouldst not know of anywhit that could quench for me my parched throat, wouldst thou? If so I lief shall quaff it down, till my belly doth overbrim.”

¶XVI.

¶XVI. And Lyrian let out an odd squeak. Serenity burst then into laughter as she returned again to her feet. “I shall see thee next sennight, then?”

¶XVII.

¶XVII. “Huh?”

¶XVIII.

¶XVIII. “I expect thou wilt be looking forward to our next meeting,” said Serenity, “wilt thou not?”

¶XIX.

¶XIX. “Yes, yes I will,” answered Lyrian, “but, weren’t you about to give me, y’know....”

¶XX.

¶XX. “Verily,” said Serenity, giggling yet at the Darkelf, “and I shall fain give it to thee, or rather take it from thee.” Her grin then widened as she peered into Lyrian’s longing eyes. “Gladly I shall take anywhit thou wishest to give me, right here, at midday, a sennight from this morrow.”

¶XXI.

¶XXI. “Alright,” sighed Lyrian, standing up from his seat upon the log. “I suppose you should escort me back.”

¶XXII.

¶XXII. “Dost thou need me to escort thee?” asked Serenity.

¶XXIII.

¶XXIII. “Don’t you have to escort me?” queried Lyrian. “I thought no Darkelf could be permitted through these woods without escort.”

¶XXIV.

¶XXIV. “Nay,” replied Serenity, shaking her head. “I only said that so I might get close to thee. Why else would it have been alright for thee to come all this way on thine own?”

¶XXV.

¶XXV. With a humbled smirk Lyrian nodded his head. “I would have figured that out, if I’d thought about it.”

¶XXVI.

¶XXVI. “Of course thou wouldst have.” And Serenity took Lyrian by his hand, and began leading him toward the road to Arlianor.

¶I.

¶I. And so Charity bid Serenity wait there for her, arose and strode adown the bole of the pine, and once on the ground began to search the forest for whatever ingredients she might make use of. Serenity meanwhile lay on the side of the tree, awaiting Charity’s return.

¶II.

¶II. Not yet an hour passed before Charity had come back whither by the tree whereupon her sister rested, holding in her right hand a tall staff whilst from her left shoulder hung a purse woven from hemp stalks, bracken fronds, and vines of ivy. Charity thence hailed Serenity adown from the tree, and they together that instant departed for the hot kells that beyond the Emerald Forest’s outest boundaries spumed.

¶III.

¶III. Together the Dryads walked for many an hour through that homewood splendorous of the Elder and Younger Tribes of Faith, through wylderness wrought in all manner of sylvan luster, that in emerald riches fraught the viridian-chaste lands of Faerya. And nigh the Witching Hour’s stirring did Serenity and Charity find themselves at the borderland of the Emerald Forest.

¶IV.

¶IV. Upon having raught the vapory shroud circling the kells, the Dryads both beheld there a wall of brume so great it was as a pillar that upbore the sky, of a depth wherethrough it seemed no wight could possibly have seen. Yet natheless pressed the twain on into the murk, in search of a riving in the eventide fog whereat Charity might under the pallor glow of Moon and stars have worked her midnight seid. Thus whenas the Nymphs through the mists of the Hallowkells had passed they found for themselves a deep small pool, one that neither was too hotly bubbling nor cold as the chilled night air that lingered ever without the warmth of the kells, and in that very spot stood Charity and Serenity amid the burbling springs whose steam on all sides enclaved them.

¶V.

¶V. Charity raught into her satchel as she and Serenity stood there just off the pool’s east, and from within it she pulled a handful of lion’s tooth pappi. Charity opened her palm then as she lidded her eyes, and softly she whispered:
i. “A Vallilæ ith llæ Æthin, sythandyæ llin Ilia’th nythin.
ii. “Ny lle vall’nœnil ith Zeus-llu-Thoryn’Llænutin’,
iii. “atuti Ilia nythandeni llin ith Ninæ A Nilæ-ith-llæ-Æthin,
iv. “mbyrutyæ llil ssurin’th ætseth tyrnin.”
b. And once having spake these words the Shamaness blew upon the downy knitch that in her palm she bore, and opened her eyes and watched each pappus waft away into the mists of the Hallowkells.

¶VI.

¶VI. Charity then walked a few steps deosil, produced from her satchel a handful of mayweed leaves, and holding them to her breasts with her eyes closed she quietly said:
i. “A Vallilæ ith llæ Ramin, sythandyæ llin Ilia’th nythin.
ii. “Ny lle vall’nœnil ith Aries-llu-Mboth’Sherin’,
iii. “atuti Ilia nythandeni llin ith Ninæ A Nilæ-ith-llæ-Ramin,
iv. “mbyrutyæ llil ssurin’th randeth tyrnin.”

¶VII.

¶VII. Having said this Charity opened her eyes and cast over the pool her mayweed, and deosil went round to the pool’s western side. There she raught into her satchel and outward bore heaped upon her hand many pedals of pink day’s eye. And holding the day’s eye pedals she closed her eyes and softly spake:
i. “A Vallilæ ith llæ Quethin, sythandyæ llin Ilia’th nythin.
ii. “Ny lle vall’nœnil ith Aphrodite-lla-Mboth’Llollutin’,
iii. “atuti Ilia nythandeni llin ith Ninæ A Nilæ-ith-llæ-Quethin,
iv. “mbyrutyæ llil ssurin’th quetseth tyrnin.”
b. And Charity opened up her eyes, and over the pool cast her flower pedals, ere she went round unto the pool’s northern side.

¶VIII.

¶VIII. There in the sable stills of midnight’s darkly blued depths stood Charity at the north of the pool, and there she took up from inside her satchel many a frond of bracken that loosely within her hand were clenched, and as she closed her eyes she cast forth the green fronds over the pool, and gently she thus said:
i. “A Vallilæ ith llæ Therdin, sythandyæ llin Ilia’th nythin.
ii. “Ny lle vall’nœnil ith Hermies-llu-Vall’Narutin’,
iii. “atuti Ilia nythandeni llin ith Ninæ A Nilæ-ith-llæ-Therdin,
iv. “mbyrutyæ llil ssurin’th therteth tyrnin.”

¶IX.

¶IX. And Charity held her staff in both hands before her, and she put its end into the water that she then stirred, ever canting in the ancient Old Naryn tongue:
i. “Tsi llæ nœnilæ ith lle Vallilæ ith llæ Æthin,
ii. “ea ny lle vall’nœnil ith llu Thoryn’Llænutinu;
iii. “tsi llæ nœnilæ ith lle Vallilæ ith llæ Ramin,
iv. “ea ny lle vall’nœnil ith llu Mboth’Sherinu;
v. “tsi llæ nœnilæ ith lle Vallilæ ith llæ Quethin,
vi. “ea ny lle vall’nœnil ith lla Mboth’Llolutina;
vii. “tsi llæ nœnilæ ith lle Vallilæ ith llæ Therdin,
viii. “ea ny lle vall’nœnil ith llu Vall’Narutinu;
ix. “Ila endeth sythuten thil ssurin værum harutonlyæ!”

¶X.

¶X. These verses she sang as only a shaman could, canting words it seemed were meant by their very construction to be sung as her soul outstretched upon words onloft her lips softly blown. The Shamaness then laid down her staff and satchel and clomb into the pool, and offered unto Serenity her hand. And Serenity took her sister’s hand, and joined Charity in the frothing waters, and there together they began to bathe.

¶XI.

¶XI. Charity raught then into her satchel that beside the pool lay, and from it she took a small cluster of mistletoe berries, and she fed the berries to Serenity one after another, and while doing so she sang:
i. “Tsi llæl dindilæ ith vin’tindil Ila Nina vallut;
ii. “ornil-ith-sslynil thy Nina ly taland ea Ina ly entalut,
iii. “llet tsi Apollo llænutunlyæ Nina lle mbænil Nila llornandy,
iv. “ly rythut llil phythil llet Nila’th alluthin mbe phythutly.”

¶XII.

¶XII. Serenity winced as she swallowed the bitter fruits, and Charity took Serenity’s hands in her own, and cupping them guided her sister’s hands filled with the waters in which they bathed up to Serenity’s mouth. And Serenity drank down the broth as Charity then took up some of the water in her own hands and poured it over her sister’s head.

¶XIII.

¶XIII. Charity took then from her satchel a handful of rowanberries, and began feeding them unto Serenity one before another, and did so whilst singing:
i. “Tsi llæl dindilæ ith rœwanil Ila Nina vallut,
ii. “rœwan’dindilae thy Nina ly taland ea Ina ly entalut,
iii. “llet tsi Helios llænutunlyæ Nina lle mbænil Nila llornandy,
iv. “ly rythut llil phythil llet Nila’th alluthin mbe phythutly.”

¶XIV.

¶XIV. Eft Serenity was fed the last of the rowanberries Charity again took her sister’s hands into her own, and again unto her sister’s mouth guided them cupped to take up the treacle in which they bathed and imbibe it, and again she took up the water within her hands and upon Serenity poured it.

¶XV.

¶XV. And Charity removed from her satchel a small lot of red grapes, and fed them also unto Serenity one by one, and as she did this sang:
i. “Tsi llæl dindilæ ith vinil Ila Nina vallut,
ii. “vin’dindilae thy Nina ly taland ea Ina ly entalut,
iii. “llet tsi Selene llænutunlya Nina lle mbænil Nila llornandy,
iv. “ly rythut llil phythil llet Nila’th alluthin mbe phythutly.”
b. Kindly, appeased and warmly Serenity smiled with each grape fed to her, and beneath the waters Charity showered upon her she contently there in the warm kell weltered.

¶XVI.

¶XVI. A last time raught Charity into her satchel, and from it took a handful of raspberries, and severally began feeding them to Serenity, singing:
i. “Tsi llæl dindilæ ith thryn’vinil Ila Nina vallut,
ii. “thryn’dindilae thy Nina ly taland ea Ina ly entalut,
iii. “llet tsi Aphrodite llænutunlya Nina lle mbænil Nila llornandy,
iv. “ly rythut llil phythil llet Nila’th alluthin mbe phythutly.”

¶XVII.

¶XVII. And Serenity swallowed down each of the raspberries ere Charity took up once more her sister’s hands, cupping in them the waters of the pool in which they stood; and Serenity sipped the water. Charity continued to lave her sister in the treacle, as ever she thusly rowned: “A Vallilæ ith llæ Æthin, ith llæ Ramin, ith llæ Quethin, ith llæ Therdin, ea ith llæ Alluvin -- Ila nythand ith Ninæ A Vallinæ, adandyæ Nilæ adin endeth, adandyæ ut Inia ea sythandyæ Ilia’th nythin. Llænutyæ llil llornin A Vallinæ, llil llornin ith Serenity’th, ea ut Thina llænutyæ Nilæ’th mbænin, lle mbænil Thila mbe llœndum llornandly, ill ssil atly Nilæ’th vœrin A Vallilæ. Llil Ila llynum nythanden ith Ninæ ny lle nœnil ith Phosporus-llu-Vall’Erilu, ny lle nœnil ith Artemis-lla-Vall’Erila, ny lle vall’nœnil ith Heradea-lla-Vall’Nyrila, ea tsi llæ mbænin ith Gaya: mbe quytum ssil atly!”

¶XVIII.

¶XVIII. Upon finishing her rune Charity ceased bathing her sister, and unto her she enquired: “How now, my Serenity?”

¶XIX.

¶XIX. With a smile Serenity let out a deep sigh, and unto Charity replied: “I feel wonderful! I thank thee so very much!” And Serenity threw her arms around her sister, embracing her as tightly as she could.

¶XX.

¶XX. Charity held Serenity there snugly, and then pushed her back, saying: “And I’m so very glad I could help thee, Serenity. I love thee!”

¶XXI.

¶XXI. “And I thee!” laughed Serenity, as she began splashing at her sister. And Charity splashed back at Serenity, and gaily the two cried out laughing, sporting there playfully together in the frothing waters of the pool. And all was for Serenity in that moment again well, for there once again indwelt her a joy in the way of Nymphs.

¶XXII.

¶XXII. And thus the work of Charity was wrought.

¶XXIII.

¶XXIII. Enveloped by the steam of spuming springs they sat, as Charity dropped herbs that Serenity didn’t recognize into the small pool between them. And with her staff Charity stirred the water, ever singing:
“A vallilae tu llae aethin,
“Sythad’ya lles ilia’n ngythin!
“A vallilae tu llae ramin,
“Sythad’ya lles ilia’n ngythin!
“A vallilae tu llae quethin,
“Sythad’ya lles ilia’n ngythin!
“A vallilae tu llae theardin,
“Sythad’ya lles ilia’n ngythin!
“A vallilae tu llae alluvin,
“Sythad’ya lles ilia’n ngythin!”

Charity sang the invocation as only a shaman could, singing words that it seemed were meant by their very construction to be sung as her soul outstretched, and trilled softly the song aloft her lips. Charity then laid down her staff and climbed down into the pool, and outstretched her hand unto Serenity, who joined her in the brewing potion. There together they bathed, and Charity washed her sister, ever rowning unto the elemental spirits in the ancient Faenarin tongue: “A vallilae tu aethin, tu ramin, tu quethin, tu theardin, ea tu alluvin -- ila ngythad tu ninae A vallinae, athad’ya nilae athil enthen, athad’ya lai inia, ea sythad’ya ilia’n ngythin. Llaenad’ya lles llornil A vallinae, lles llornil tu Serenity’n, ea lai thina llaenad’ya nilae’n mbaenin, lle mbaenil thila mbe lloanden llornad’ty, ynd llet an’ty nilae’n vorin. Ila ngythad tu ninae.”

Charity continued to rown as she and Serenity bathed for nearly an hour together, and in this time Serenity had taken up some of the potion within her cupped hands and imbibed it. And when having finished her rune Charity began to splash at Serenity, and the two laughed, playing happily in the frothing pool. For once again Serenity felt a joy within her. And thus the work of Charity was done.

¶I.

¶I. Renewed in Serenity at last then and for many days after was her contentedness, as she reveled with her sisters about the wyldwoods of the Emerald Forest, and in the sun-swathed glades she unstrained, and joined her sisters several times in tribadic orgy each day. Pacified by the way of Nymphs in those many days was she, and enraptured utterly therein.

¶I.

¶I. But on the seventh day Serenity natheless returned unto that clearing wherein she and her Darkelf had first met, and there as she had promised she lay in wait for him to come to their sennightly tryst.

¶II.

¶II. Upon the Darkelf’s arrival he and Serenity caroused through the climbers, hemp-canes, and creepers, laughing and capering with one another as ever the gloam approached by day’s wane. Again the Darkelf shared his stories of the world beyond the Emerald Forest, and again Serenity rewarded the Darkelf with dance and song. Yet whenas the day had ended and her Darkelf had finally left her, Serenity was once more by her loneliness mired.

¶II.

¶II. Then unto Serenity came more burdensome a thought than all the thoughts that ever had beforetime unto her come: she suffered not an ailment to be cured by runecraft or lyblake, for these desires of hers were such that for them her heart would always and in despair cry out -- yet attain them nevermore. And so Serenity would seek her sister Charity whilst she wandered off alone that eve, and beg of her a remedy that might quell for her, her woe.

¶III.

¶III. For many days Serenity was once again content as she capered with her sisters about the wyldwoods, foraging amidst the wealds and prancing through the underbrush. Again Serenity unstrained in sun-swathed glades, and again joined her sisters several times each day in their tribadic orgies. Again was she pacified by the way of Nymphs, and enraptured utterly therein.

¶IV.

¶IV. On the seventh day Serenity returned to the clearing where she and the Dark Elf had first met, and waited there for him to come to their quarterly tryst.

¶V.

¶V. Upon the Dark Elf’s arrival he and Serenity cavorted through the creepers and hemp trees, laughing and playing with each other as aye the day waned toward dusk. Yet again the Dark Elf shared stories of the world beyond the Emerald Forest, and yet again Serenity thanked him with dance and song.

¶I.

I. Together the Dryad and Darkelf flirted about through the woodlands, dallying with one another amongst the ferns and horsetails of the forest floor as betwixt the ivy-clad oaks they trifled the day’s light. But when the twain had raught the road to Arlianor and Serenity parted with the Darkelf, she found herself again forlorn.

¶II.

II. And so Serenity went anon unto Charity that eventide, the Beta Dryad and Shamaness of her tribe. Serenity came across the shaman slumbering above the ground on the side of a tall pine, and walked up the tree to lie with her. Once having lain herself there beside her sister, Serenity shook Charity gently awake, and said unto her:

¶III.

III. “My Charity? I need to talk, I prithee wilt help me.”

¶IV.

IV. “What is it?” asked Charity, yawning as she woke. “Art thou unwell?”

¶V.

V. Serenity shook her head. “Nay, I’m as hale as ever I was, though I fear I shan’t be an I stay this course. ‘Tis my very soul that acheth. This sorrow that plagueth mine heart: I feel I can endure it no longer.”

¶VI.

VI. “Thou knowest I love thee,” answered Charity. “Of course I’ll help thee, in any way I’m able. Now, tell me of whatever troubleth thee, and I’ll do my best to make it all right.”

¶VII.

VII. Serenity thought there silently for a moment, breathing through her nose with her lips held straight and tight as she reasoned how to tell Charity of her tryst with the Darkelf, and of what she believed she felt toward him. And Serenity nestled closer to Charity, and each held the other fondly as into each other’s eyes they both stared, and with a sigh Serenity spake unto her:

¶VIII.

VIII. “Methinketh, I mean, I believe I’m in love. Not our sort of love; not the One Love of Nymphs, but one of the many sorts of love of the mortal wights. I’m not sure of how to say it precisely, but I believe I’ve ‘fallen in love’.”

¶IX.

IX. And Charity’s eyes shot widely open as she sprang herself up. Sitting there she looked upon Serenity blankly, and astonished she asked: “With what?”

¶X.

X. “With a man,” said Serenity. “That is how ‘tis done, isn’t it?”

¶XI.

XI. “Not among Nymphs,” replied Charity. “That is how ‘tis done amongst the mortal wights; amongst Humans, Ogres, Dwarves, Hobs, Elves -- but nary among us Nymphs.”

¶XII.

XII. “And why not?” asked Serenity. “All our days we spend in the company of perytons, foxes, urchins, Crows, deer, rauracks, minks, pond bats, hares, and every other sort of creature that maketh its children by pairing together as man and woman. Why should we Nymphs lonely be different? Why han’t we the right to live as the other creatures do? Even the hemp-cane hath its male and female.”

¶XIII.

XIII. “Serenity, we’ve discussed all of this before. For over a half-century thou hast dreamt of one day mating thyself unto a man, and having by him a child of thine own.”

¶XIV.

XIV. “But now ‘tis to this very man of which I spake that in my mind I am mated, ‘tis him by whom I bear the child I dream of. Always doth he dwell in my thoughts and mine heart, and yet whensoever apart from him I find myself woe, and in sadness fraught. I can think of naught else but being always in his presence.”

¶XV.

XV. Charity gazed upon Serenity’s face, as innocent and unsure in that moment as when she was but a Nymphet. And Charity laid herself back with her sister, her eyes encroaching deeply into Serenity’s. “O Serenity, dost thou even know whereof thou speakest?”

¶XVI.

XVI. “Yea,” replied Serenity. “I honestly, truly do.”

¶XVII.

XVII. Charity held her sister’s face gently in her hand and with her thumb she softly coyed Serenity’s cheek, and tenderly she kissed her sister upon the lips, and with a smile said unto her: “Tell me more of this mortal thou hast found. What sort of man is he?”

¶XVIII.

XVIII. “He is a most beautiful man,” said Serenity. “An Elven man. His skin is as the snow atop the tallest mountain, his hair as the dark of night that lieth betwixt the brightest stars, his eyes as the most flawless ruby....”

¶XIX.

XIX. “Meseemeth thou art speaking of a Darkelf,” said Charity.

¶XX.

XX. “But he’s like no Darkelf of fable,” said Serenity, rolling onto her back. “I was afraid of him when at first I came upon him in the clearing near the cherries, and I tried to hide away from him by casting a glamour. Then he called out, ‘art thou alright?’, and I ... I was too curious. I couldn’t help myself. Somewhit within me said he was good. So I cast away my glamour and went unto him, and the two Lightelves that guarded him.”

¶XXI.

XXI. “Lightelves?” asked Charity. “How could that be?”

¶XXII.

XXII. “I told thee, he is a good Darkelf,” answered Serenity, turning her face back to her sister. “He saith the Unseelie Court is preparing to overtake all of Faerya, and that he’s defected from the Unseelie Court unto a resistance cell. ‘Tis why the Lightelves were guarding him. They were escorting him unto Arlianor, where resideth the resistance. He saith he is the grandson of Lilithena .”

¶XXIII

XXIII. “Who’s Lilithena ?”

¶XXIV.

XXIV. “The High Empress of the Unseelie Court,” said Serenity.

¶XXV.

XXV. “What happened to the High Emperor?” asked Charity.

¶XXVI.

XXVI. “Emperor Lilithena? He was assassinated. ‘Twas only a short time agone, about seventy years, if I rightly recall. Some time last century, anyway.”

¶XXVII.

XXVII. “Well,” said Charity, “I certainly hope the Unseelie Court doth not succeed this time. But, how dost thou know this Darkelf isn’t lying to thee?”

¶XXVIII.

XXVIII. Serenity smiled amusedly upon her sister, and unto her she said: “Thou knowest as well as I that no wight can lie to a Nymph, not whilst under her thrall.”

¶XXIX.

XXIX. “Serenity, Darkelves cannot be enthralled by Nymphs. If he seemed enchanted by thee, then he must’ve been glamouring, and thou hast been made victim of his device.”

¶XXX.

XXX. “That, else he truly felt somewhit for me,” said Serenity. “He told me the most wondrous tales as I led him through the forest, and he agreed to rejoin me the very place we met in a sennight, which was this morrow.”

¶XXXI.

XXXI. “And did he come?” inquired Charity.

¶XXXII.

XXXII. “Yea!” quoth Serenity, “and ‘twas the most splendorous time I had with him! He told me tales of yet more unwonted deeds and awesome creatures, and in requital I did favor him with tombestry and chanson.”

¶XXXIII.

XXXIII. And Charity asked: “Didst thou engage him in coition?”

¶XXXIV.

XXXIV. “There was no need of it,” replied Serenity. “Simply being in each other’s presence was enough. O Charity, I han’t the slightest idea of what I should do. I fear that I might nary again be merry without him.”

¶XXXVI.

XXXVI. “Alright,” nodded Serenity.

¶XXXVII.

XXXVII. And so Charity bid Serenity wait there for her, arose and strode adown the bole of the pine, and once on the ground began to search the forest for whatever ingredients she might make use of. Serenity meanwhile lay on the side of the tree, awaiting Charity’s return.

¶XXXVIII.

XXXVIII. Not yet an hour passed before Charity had come back whither by the tree whereupon her sister rested, holding in her right hand a tall staff whilst from her left shoulder hung a purse woven from hemp stalks, bracken fronds, and vines of ivy. Charity thence hailed Serenity adown from the tree, and they together that instant departed for the hot kells that beyond the Emerald Forest’s outest boundaries spumed.

¶XXXIX.

XXXIX. And so that very eventide, eft the sisters of the tribe had dispersed from orgy and began to browse the forest, Serenity followed Charity, and went unto her, saying: “My Charity, please, I require of thee a favor.”

¶XL.

XL. “What troublest thou over now, my Serenity?” sighed Charity, her countenance worrisome. “Hath not my spellcraft worked for thee properly?”

¶XLI.

XLI. Serenity shook her head. “I met with Lyrian this morrow. I’d felt so wonderful these last days -- I thought I might bid him well-faring, and thank him for our time together. But when I saw him, I couldn’t. I’m due to meet him again in a sennight. Please, my Charity, no longer can I stay this course of mine: of being forever and evermore suffered to endure this solitude of mine heart. By spelled rite, by sung rune, by liniment and by treacle hath my woes been for a stound ebb’d; yet always am I left still as discontent when such time hath passed. Surely there must be somewhit thou canst do for me, someway I might attain that which I desire.”

¶XLII.

XLII. “Serenity, I can work for thee my seid and shall fain do so to help thee be more content,” said Charity, “but attaining that which thou desirest is impossible, for it is not the way of Nymphs.”

¶XLIII.

XLIII. “Then I shall have to break the way of Nymphs,” replied Serenity. And greatly did this disturb Charity, who never had heard a Nymph speak of such whits theretofore.

¶XLIV.

XLIV. Charity’s brow kirked as she looked upon her sister, and she considered the sadness she saw bridled within Serenity’s tear-sparkled eyes of jazel. And her heart quailed for her sister, for in that moment she knew she could not fend Serenity to stay such throe; and if damned must be the way of Nymphs to help her, then so mote it be.

¶XLV.

XLV. “I shall take thee to Faith,” offered Charity, “who shall find a way to give thee thy desire.” Serenity wiped from her eye a tear and nodded unto Charity, who then wrapped her right arm round her sister, and with her went to implore of Faith a mend for Serenity’s dolent heart.

¶XLVI.

XLVI. But when the day had ended, and the Dark Elf had left, Serenity was again by her loneliness mired. Then a thought came unto her, more burdensome than all the thoughts that ever had come unto her before: she suffered not from an ailment to be cured by runecraft or lyblake, for always and anon would her heart cry out in despair for the desires it sought, yet never would attain. And so Serenity went unto Charity once more, and said unto her:

¶XLVII.

XLVII. “I cannot stay this course of mine, of being forever suffered to endure this solitude of mine heart. By spelled rite, by sung rune, by salve and by potion hath my woes been for a time quelled. Yet always am I left discontent when this time hath passed. Surely there must be somewhit thou can do for me, someway that I might attain that which I desire.”

¶XLVIII.

XLVIII. “I shall take thee to Faith,” offered Charity, “who shall find a way to make thee more content.” And to this Serenity agreed.

Chapter XII
“Departing Paradise”

¶V.

¶I. For many days Serenity was once again content as she capered with her sisters about the wildwoods, foraging amidst the wealds and prancing through the underbrush. Again Serenity unstrained in sun-swathed glades, and again joined her sisters several times each day in their tribadic orgies. Again was she pacified by the way of Nymphs, and enraptured utterly therein.

¶V.

¶II. On the seventh day Serenity returned to the clearing where she and the Dark Elf had first met, and waited there for him to come to their quarterly tryst.

¶V.

¶III. Upon the Dark Elf’s arrival he and Serenity cavorted through the creepers and hemp trees, laughing and playing with each other as aye the day waned toward dusk. Yet again the Dark Elf shared stories of the world beyond the Emerald Forest, and yet again Serenity thanked him with dance and song.

¶V.

¶IV. But when the day had ended, and the Dark Elf had left, Serenity was again by her loneliness mired. Then a thought came unto her, more burdensome than all the thoughts that ever had come unto her before: she suffered not from an ailment to be cured by runecraft or lyblake, for always and anon would her heart cry out in despair for the desires it sought, yet never would attain. And so Serenity went unto Charity once more, and said unto her:

¶V.

¶V. “I cannot stay this course of mine, of being forever suffered to endure this solitude of mine heart. By spelled rite, by sung rune, by salve and by potion hath my woes been for a time quelled. Yet always am I left discontent when this time hath passed. Surely there must be something thou can do for me, someway that I might attain that which I desire.”

¶V.

¶VI. “I shall take thee to Faith,” offered Charity, “who shall find a way to make thee more content.” And to this Serenity agreed.

¶V.

¶VII. Charity brought Serenity unto Faith accordingly, and there Serenity explained to Faith the cause of her sadness: that she had fallen in love with a Dark Elf. This greatly disturbed Faith, for such a thing was not the way of Nymphs. Faith nonetheless took pity on Serenity, knowing of her sadness, and attempted to forge for her a solution.

¶V.

¶VIII. “I shall take thee to Daphne,” said Faith, “the Alpha Dryad of the Eldest Tribe, who will make thee more content.” And to this Serenity agreed.

¶I.

¶I. Erelong they found Faith foraging about the Emerald Forest’s innermost wealds, and Charity approached her with Serenity trailing just abaft, and said unto her: “My Faith, we must do somewhit to help our Serenity. I fear she hath fallen in love with a mortal.”

¶II.

¶II. Visibly and greatly this unsettled Faith, who answered them merely: “Dost thou need me for some spellcraft?”

¶III.

¶III. “Thou knowest as well as I no spellcraft can heal that which is not a sickness,” replied Charity. “We must find a way for Serenity to be with her mortal.”

¶IV.

¶IV. “Fie,” said Faith, “I shan’t have any part in it, and neither shalt thou. ‘Tis not the way of Nymphs.”

¶V.

¶V. “I see,” said Charity. “Then ‘tis the way of Nymphs to turn thy back on a sister in need, to dismiss her pain because thou canst not understand it? Is it also the way of Nymphs that I should explain to our Serenity why her Faith hath abandoned her, or wilt thou be doing that thyself?”

¶VI.

¶VI. Faith then coldly stared at Charity. “How durst thou to speak unto me in such a manner....”

¶VII.

¶VII. “How durst thou to call thyself Serenity’s Alpha Dryad? I bid thee, go unto her and look into her eyes. See her sorrow as thou did once before and tell her thou wilt help her not. I dare thee Faith!”

¶VIII.

¶VIII. “ ‘Tis not my place to extend sympathy unto she who would abandon the way of Nymphs. No matter the circumstance must the way of Nymphs be upheld.”

¶IX.

¶IX. “Upheld as law?” said Charity. “Is that it? Shall the way of Nymphs be thrust upon us as the law is upon the mortal races? Thy word saith much more anent this matter than thou hast intended, my Faith. How Glorious be the Way of Nymphs! that it must rather be forced upon us than followed by choice.”

¶X.

¶X. “My Serenity!” beckoned Faith, “come hither, I wish to see thee.” And Serenity came unto Faith, who in defeat grew then solemnly avised as she saw the tears that welled within her sister’s eyes. And Faith asked her: “How didst thou come to meet this mortal of thine?”

¶XI

¶XI. “I met him in the clearing by the cherries,” said Serenity. “ ‘Twas a fortnight agone this eve. I saw there in the clearing a Darkelf, and I tried to hide away from him, but he saw me, and asked if I was alright. So I stepped forth, cautiously, and I saw he was escorted by two Lightelves. That’s when the Darkelf -- his name is Lyrian -- he told me he was a betrayer of the Unseelie Court, being taken to Arlianor so that he might aid in a resistance intending to thwart the Unseelie Court’s latest attempt to seize the throne of Faerya.”

¶XII.

¶XII. “That’s quite a tale,” said Faith. “May I ask: how many times hast thou seen this Lyrian fellow?”

¶XIII.

¶XIII. “Twice,” answered Serenity, “not counting the day I met him. Once the sennight after our first meeting, and again at midday this morrow. Each time we’ve met he ’ath told me the most amazing tales, and I’ve rewarded him with song and tombestry these last twain meetings. In fact I am due to meet with him again, at midday, a sennight from this eve.”

¶XIV.

¶XIV. “Why didst thou not bring him to us,” asked Faith, “so that we all might play with him?”

¶XV.

¶XV. “I know it must seem wretched of me,” said Serenity, “but I did not wish to share him.”

¶XVI.

¶XVI. “And doth our Charity speak the truth? Hast thou truly fallen in love with him?”

¶XVII

¶XVII. “Ay,” spake Serenity, nodding her head, “I have. With every thought I dream of him, with every thewe I long for him. I fear I shan’t be again be but woe till I’ve kenned a way that I might be with him.”

¶XVIII.

¶XVIII. Faith raught her hand out unto her sister Serenity, and cradled her cheek therein as Serenity began to weep. And Faith brought Serenity tightly into her arms and kissed her softly as she stroked her golden hair, and said unto her: “We will find thee a way to be with thy mortal.”

¶XIX.

¶XIX. “I thought that ‘is not the way of Nymphs’,” said Charity, crossing her arms before her as she stared accusingly at Faith.

¶XX.

¶XX. Faith released Serenity, and held Serenity’s hands in hers, and unto Charity replied: “If a choice must be made between the way and the Nymph, then we must always choose the Nymph. And I thank you both deeply for reminding me this.”

¶XXI.

¶XXI. Then Faith returned her gaze upon Serenity, and she said unto her: “I shall take thee to Daphne. If there be a single Nymph in all of Gaya that can help thee, ‘tis she.”

¶XXII.

¶XXII. “Where shall we find Daphne?” asked Serenity. “How may we get to her?”

¶XXIII.

¶XXIII. “We must first traverse the Somberwood,” explained Faith, “a dark and deadly murkwood whereunto shall we face many a danger. Beyond this darksome land lieth the Elderwood, homewood of the Eldest Tribe. Therein shall we seek Daphne.”

¶XXIV.

¶XXIV. “Wait,” quoth Charity, “am I to go with you?”

¶XXV.

¶XXV. “Nay,” replied Faith. “Thou shalt remain here in wait for us. Thou art the Alpha Dryad till I’ve returned.”

¶XXVI.

¶XXVI. “But the Somberwood is far too perilous for you to go by yourselves,” said Charity. “Ye could be badly hurt, or even killed!”

¶XXVII.

¶XXVII. “That’s precisely why thou must remain here,” said Faith. “The tribe needeth an Alpha Dryad, should we nary return.”

¶XXVIII.

¶XXVIII. “Nary return?” queried Serenity. “Why would we nary return? Are we to imperil ourselves so greatly?”

¶XXIX.

¶XXIX. “Verily,” stated Faith. “The Somberwood holdeth in store great jeopardy for whosoever be foolish or daring enough to brave it. We may encounter there such horrid whits as Goblins, Firbolgs, Basilisks, Wyverns, Jabberwocks, Trolls, Batlings, Wargs, Bandersnatches, Hydrae or even Cyclopes. ‘Tis no place for the timid, nor for the unwary.”

¶XXX.

¶XXX. Serenity’s eyes grew very wide, and in her worry did her brow arch as her nether lip hung. “Couldn’t we just go around the Somberwood?”

¶XXXI.

¶XXXI. “Surely thou hastn’t begun to reconsider?” asked Faith

¶XXXII.

¶XXXII. Serenity shook her head, and her eyes narrowed. “Not at all,” she replied. “Forthwith shall I travel into the Somberwood and face there all it hath to wield against me, if it be there wherethrough lieth that which can give me him whom I desire.” Strangely then her right cheek was by earnest smirk creased. “And fain shall I be to do it.”

¶XXXIII.

¶XXXIII. “I would not deign to put myself in such danger if I were thee,” said Charity. “Ponder carefully this course before thee, if only for the sake of thy sisters. And as well thou, Faith: art thou certain there can be no other way to attain for Serenity that which shall appease her longing?”

¶XXXIV.

¶XXXIV. “I know of no way whatever,” said Faith. “That’s why we must seek out Daphne in the Elderwood. She may know of somewhit that can be done for Serenity.”

¶XXXV.

¶XXXV. Charity began looking about the wood, biting her lower lip as she held her shoulders stiff. She then looked back to Faith and Serenity, and she asked them: “How long do ye expect this journey to take? When should we expect your return unto the Emerald Forest?”

¶XXXVI.

¶XXXVI. “We’ll return,” replied Faith, “if at all, within six day’s time.” And with that said, Serenity and her Faith, Faith and her Serenity disembarked from there together with hands joined, venturing ever nigh the dreaded dark of the Somberwood.

¶XXXVII.

¶XXXVII. Charity brought Serenity unto Faith accordingly, and there Serenity explained to Faith the cause of her sadness: that she had fallen in love with a Dark Elf. This greatly disturbed Faith, for such a whit was not the way of Nymphs. Faith nonetheless took pity on Serenity, knowing of her sadness, and attempted to forge for her a solution.

¶XXXVIII.

¶XXXVIII. “I shall take thee to Daphne,” said Faith, “the Alpha Dryad of the Eldest Tribe, who will make thee more content.” And to this Serenity agreed.

¶XXXIX.

¶XXXIX. Faith and Serenity left their tribe that very day, and by Faith’s guidance

¶XL.

¶XL. Serenity traveled to the southernmost ends of the Emerald Forest, beyond which lay the darksome dead of the Somberwood.