~The Elven-names~ the shadow of a mystery

When Matt and I told the Keeper of the Legacy that it seemed like the Mormir knew who I was, his face grew grave.

 

"Then it is time for action; now, while we still have time. Mirluin, you will commence archery lessons with Weneithel at once. Mahtan, take one of the your friends and teach Thoron sword fighting." He looked from one to the other of us. "And keep a sharp eye and ear out for anything new happening."

 

So an even stranger phase of my life began. For most of the day I was pretending to live a normal life at school. In the evening I was an elven-named maiden, in training for a confrontation that was sure to occur. During this time Dad grew a little better. His life was definitely out of danger, but he was always very melancholy. A heavy burden seemed to be on him, and it felt like he could hardly bear to stay with the Elven-named always. And I was realizing that the people who dwelt in the Forest Palace had a strange attitude toward Dad. When they talked about him or to him, there was a slight stiffness, almost like disapproval, but a little different.

 

One day after school I was practicing the bow with Weneithel, like usual. All of a sudden I noticed Wen stiffen. Then she started acting like she was engrossed in how I was aiming the bow. It was like she was deliberately ignoring someone. So after I loosed my arrow, I looked around, and saw Dad on the edge of the target field. He looked a slightly better than he had that morning at breakfast.

 

I looked at Weneithel. Her lips were pressed together and she was pointedly ignoring Dad. I drew my bow and fired another arrow, then looked back over my shoulder at Dad. I saw him sigh and then he turned and slowly walked back toward the Forest Palace. Weneithel was muttering under her breath. I couldn't help but hear as she helped me aim another arrow.

 

"What does he think he's doing here, after what he did? Rejecting his calling and people..." her words trailed away. My mind was churning once more. What had Dad done?

 

*   *   *

 

That night I finally decided to read the list of the Keepers. Maybe it would clear up some things. And my curiosity would kick in and remind me that it might have the name of the Keeper of the Legacy. So I unfolded the parchment and read. But I was disappointed, for the list ended at the Keeper of the Legacy before the one that was now. His name was Malglin Faeron. So was he related to me? My people? My reading had just made the mystery darker. 

Okay, so I guess I am just addicted to writing this story..... ~The Elven-names~ Important Meeting

I dropped Mom's journal. And stared at this person who was aiming their bow at me.

He was tall, and his face was serious...evidently intent on aiming his arrow correctly. He narrowed his eyes at me. "If you aren't who I think you are, I loose this arrow." Great. That didn't make me feel any better.

The archer tilted his head. "So who are you?"

I took a deep breath. Since I didn't know who I was supposed to be, I might as well just say who i was. "I am Mirluin Faeron. I was supposed to meet someone here."

He grinned and set down his bow. "Good. I was supposed to meet you here, and make sure no spies of the enemy were about."

"So you are going to tell me more about this note I have?" I asked.

He laughed and shook his head. "No, I am just to escort you to the one who will."

*   *   *

 

After following Archer (hey, he hadn't told me his name) through the forest for awhile, we came to a place where the trees grew really thickly. Archer went around a larger-than-normal tree and ducked under a branch. I followed him, and it was then that I realized that I was in a palace, of sorts.

 

I walked forward slowly, looking around. There was no ceiling, but the trees made walls, and there were earthen banks and tables. It was lovely and majestic. At the far end of this hall of trees there was a large, magnificently carved, wooden chair. In it sat an old man. he lifted his head and looked at me. He smiled, and beckoned me forward. "Ah, you are Mirluin," he almost whispered. "So like your mother."

 

I bowed-it seemed right, somehow. "Who are you, sir?"

 

He smiled slowly. "I am the keeper of the legacy. And I will answer some, at least, of your questions."

 

I nodded. "Sir, why am I chosen to be the keeper of the lore?"

 

He looked at me gravely. "The keeper of the lore and the keeper of the legacy together decide who will be their heirs. Your mother wished you to be her successor, and I agreed with her. But you were not old enough until this year."

 

I nodded again. "But why me?"

 

The keeper of the lore sighed. "The keeper of the lore and the keeper of the legacy have great responsibilities. If ever both of them fail to leave a successor, the people of the elven-names will cease. There is a great power working to try to make this happen. And if this power triumphs, this world will lose much." He took a deep breath. "The keeper of the legacy holds an heirloom from ages ago--he wields it in order to keep the refuges of the elven-named together. The keeper of the lore--she has the responsibility of keeping remembrance of their past in the minds of the elven-named. They must both be Eldarhin. And the number of the Eldarhin is lessening, for the evil power is working against us."

 

I took a deep breath. "I have to do this?"

 

The deep brown eyes of the keeper of the lore looked at me gravely. "You have been called to it. But you can disregard the summons. The person I chose to be my successor did so; and now I must either choose another or soon the keeper of the lore will be a memory of the past."

 

 

*   *   *

 

Archer escorted me back to the place where I had met him. I turned and thanked him for bringing me.

 

He smiled. "Farewell, keeper of the lore. We may see each other again sooner than you know." Then he turned and disappeared into the forest. I looked after him. What could he have meant by that?

 

I picked up Mom's journal and turned to walk back to the house. And that's when I saw him. Dad was standing just outside the forest. He was frowning. Evidently he had seen me saying farewell to Archer. And he was not happy.