“With all due respect, Your Grace, your people are dying. I can see that by the ashen color of your skin. You were not meant to be confined to a life of darkness. And if Morgaine gets what she wants, I fear your forest will be completely destroyed and you will be condemned to live in the caves forever.”
“You assume these things, Myrddin, but you have no proof of this future of which you speak,” the Queen replied.
“Your Grace, please,” Trystan said. “I am truly sorry for what my father did, but what I fear most right now is the terrible fate that Morgaine will deliver to all of us. If she takes Camelot, she will rule all of Loegria, and she will extend her reign of terror to the ends of the earth. My father made a grave mistake, but he became king because the people chose him, not because they feared him. I can only hope to be the king the people deserve, and to earn your respect as well. If we can forge an alliance between our two peoples, I believe we can defeat Morgaine, and restore what has been lost to both of us.”
Without turning his glance, Emrys smiled slightly.
Queen Mysel thought for a moment. As she did, a pale blue butterfly fluttered down into the room. The elves’ eyes fixated on it as if one had never been seen before. It landed on Trystan’s shoulder for a brief moment then fluttered off.
“Your heart is true, young king, and I do believe you,” the Queen said. “However, we have long vowed to avoid involvement with humans, even at the risk of our own condemnation. You are not the only ones to have asked for our aid of late. Morgaine was also here mere days ago. Having denied her assistance, she left in anger. I do not envy you for the battle you will soon face. I have seen the darkness in her heart and the deep hatred she has for you.
“All that aside, I must consult with my advisors before making any decision to offer aid. I understand the urgency of your situation. I will have an answer for you tomorrow at dawn.”
“Your Grace,” Emrys said. “We appreciate your urgent consideration on the matter. Thank you.”
The Queen nodded and turned to Aisling.
“Aisling, show our visitors to a guest chamber and then call a session of my council immediately.”
Marc, Trystan, and Emrys bowed before the Queen and followed Aisling out of the throne room. After they had gone, Queen Mysel asked her daughter and Teleri to join her in her private chamber.
“Teleri, do your visions offer us any guidance on this?”
“My visions remain unclear and unchanged, Your Grace,” Teleri answered. “However, there is something I must show you. We must go to the surface.”
The three of them ascended a spiral wooden staircase carved within the wall of the great tree. It led to a door that opened onto the forest floor outside. They climbed out and looked around, eyes widening.
A few delicate blades of new grass had sprouted from the ground in all directions. Tiny white flowers clung to the trunks of the towering trees. The ashen stone trunks had faded to a golden brown as their bases. A butterfly rested on a nearby flower.
“The forest is healing again,” Teleri said.
“How is this possible?” Princess Saiorse asked.
“King Trystan,” Teleri answered. “He is the one. I sense it. His presence alone has brought life back to our beloved forest. He has unknowingly brought us hope and the promise of freedom from the darkness to which we have long been confined. Wemustcome to his aid, Your Grace. For I fear if he dies before our forest is healed and Morgaine claims the throne, then our fate is sealed and we shall remain forever in darkness.”
“So the prophecy is true,” Queen Mysel whispered.
“Yes,” Teleri said.
“Of what prophecy do you speak, Mother?” Saiorse asked.
“One passed on to me by my mother, but I never believed in it, which is why I never told you. The prophecy states that the blood of Arthur will one day heal our land, but with Arthur’s death, I found it impossible to believe. Come,” Mysel continued. “We must address the Council. I have already made my decision.”
***
In the guest chamber, Marc, Trystan, and Emrys sat patiently, sipping rosewood tea that had been provided to them. The sparsely decorated room provided adequate comfort. The only light radiated from a glowing orb of white light hovering above them.
“Emrys, I am curious,” Trystan said. “Is there something special about butterflies to the elves here?”
“Indeed there is. The butterfly is a symbol of life to the elves and considered sacred.” He paused a moment and furrowed his brow. “Why do you ask?”
“I have seen two since arriving in the forest. It seemed strange that the one we saw in the Queen’s chamber looked exactly the same as the one I had seen in the forest.”
“You saw one in the forest?” Emrys asked.
Trystan nodded, taking another sip of the refreshing tea. A welcome change from the last few days.
“Does that mean something?” Marc asked.
