fourteenth birthday.
The farm was built near a freshwater river, which could always be depended upon to provide fish for supper. There was one lonely dirt path which led from the farm to the nearest town. It made its way like a snake, slithering through thick forests that led past the Elven Woods. Marithia’s forests were thick and lush with greenery, with wild mushrooms and flowers painting a kaleidoscope of colours throughout the highlands that were worthy of an artist's brush strokes.
Leon felt Victoria’s warm, soft hands ease their way onto his sore shoulders as she spoke. 'You‘re tense today and the day is long. It’s strange, isn't it? Growing old? I’ll never forget the day we found each other.'
Leon placed the carving on a nearby table, leaned back to enjoy her massage, and breathed a deep sigh. 'I’m just waiting for our boys to return home.'
“Would you look at that? I never grow tired of its beauty. It’s such a wondrous jewel upon our land, shining like a diamond.” Victoria gazed out over the lush forest surrounding their farm, toward the golden city far in the distance.
It really was a majestic sight, even for those who had seen many of the great wonders of the world, and was one of the reasons their farm had been built where it was. Although they could never afford to live within Greenhaven’s protective walls, it almost felt like home ground after all these years sharing a horizon with the great city.
Leon stirred and his tension returned. “Victoria, it's getting late and the boys still haven't come home. Have the horses been fed? There’s still much to do, and I need their help to finish it all.”
“Sweetheart, they hunt in the woods. I’m sure they’ll return shortly. Vartan wanted to bring home a special meal for supper. It is his birthday after all, and he’s using the new bow you brought him from She’Ma’Ryn. Don’t worry about the horses. I shall tend to them,” Victoria said warmly. She hesitated for a moment, thinking back on the strange bow.
“I do have one question about that bow. How did you happen upon it?” she asked.
Leon thought back to his most recent trip to She’Ma’Ryn. “I won it from a traveling merchant, who told me he won it himself in a game of chance from an elven warrior, many years ago. That drunken fool sure was lucky to get his hands on such a finely crafted weapon. He did mumble some story about the bow being used to channel power, but I can’t quite recall the exact words he used. I thought Vartan would love such a gift; He’s always had a keen eye for quality.”
Suddenly, Leon did not feel so sure that the bow was the right gift for his son. He placed his head in his hands and Victoria walked around to kneel in front of him. She spoke softly. 'What’s wrong? Please tell me.'
'It worries me that we are raising them as if they aren't special. We can’t protect them when we are like this.'
Victoria brought his hands down and looked deep into his eyes. 'It is our way. We knew this when we agreed to be reborn. Only when the time is right will they find out the truth, when she deems them ready to know it. Let's focus on enjoying our life together. We never know how long our hearts will beat.'
“A bit higher, Finn, and remember to strike using your full body weight as the sword comes down. There are forces you can use to your advantage. Use the ground’s pull to your favour,” said Vartan, leaning against a nearby tree.
Finn nodded knowingly with boyish confidence, returned to his stance, and once again hacked into the old tree trunk.
“I can do this, brother! I know I can. I want to be a great knight of Greenhaven and fight glorious battles for the king. Like the old tales Mother reads to us at bedtime, that are so exciting and full of wild adventures.”
As Finn took another swing at the old tree, Vartan slid his sword out to meet him. The sound of weapons colliding echoed through the thick forest. Finn immediately lost his balance and landed with a soft thud next to the tree.
“Ow! What was that for?” asked Finn, nursing his sore backside.
Vartan chuckled softly. “Remember, little knight, in a real battle you won’t face an old tree, but someone who will fight back, and most likely send you flying onto your rear. Have patience, young brother. The time will come for you to fulfil your dreams of knighthood and glory, but this poor tree cannot take too much more of your sword. Then again,” he laughed, “you're not really damaging it.” He helped Finn to his feet and dusted off the dirt and grass from his brother’s pants. He smiled and gave his younger brother a quick, reassuring hug. “You will be fine, Finn. You can’t expect to conquer the world in one day, you know. All good things will come in time. Are you hungry? I packed some spiced meat for us. We should eat now, to regain our strength.”
They sat beside the great roots of an oak tree and began to dig into the juicy spiced deer meat.
“So, what do you dream of, big brother? Surely you don’t want to help mother and father run the farm forever, do you?” asked Finn, watching his older brother with innocent curiosity.
Vartan stopped chewing for a moment to consider the question. “I truly don’t know the answer to that, Finn. Maybe I will travel the lands in search of a young damsel in distress, discover some famous treasure for all to remember me by, or be a trader like father and travel to She’Ma’Ryn. Maybe I can save enough gold to start my own farm. We are still so young, brother-do we really need to decide now?” He grinned mischievously. “Not every boy wants to be a glorious knight, you know, but don’t let anyone sour your dreams. If it is a knight you want to be, then we sure have plenty of trees around us for you to practice on, and enough for years to come. And of course, we have plenty of ground for you to fall onto as well.”
Vartan stood suddenly and whispered, “The sun’s setting, and we have to be careful in these woods. That’s more than enough practice and fooling around for one day. In all our fun, we’ve allowed the day to pass us by with no time left to waste. Stay close to my side and don’t fall behind.'
The woods were fast slipping into the cold bosom of darkness. Vartan sighed deeply and let out a harsh breath. “Damn! Night is already falling upon us, and we have no lamps, and have found no beast for supper.'
The sounds of the forest died down and even the crickets were silenced. Only their footsteps could be heard.
“Finn, I fear we may be in danger. We have to find supper fast, then head back to the farm swiftly. Father would be displeased if we return home empty handed.”
“Vartan?” Finn began.
Vartan snapped his head to Finn and brought his index finger to his lips. “Not now! Stay quiet-I think something moved up ahead,”
“But Vartan,” whispered Finn, “your bow, it’s glowing.”
Vartan stood still, suddenly realising that his back had warmed. Crouching down on one knee, he eased the elven bow off his back and saw purple light glowing from the runes carved deeply into the wood.
“What do you think it means?” asked Finn.
“I do not know, brother. I am unable to read this. It could only be some form of magic.”
Snap!
Vartan heard ragged movements only a short distance from where they stood, and he instinctively pulled Finn behind his back for protection. He reached into his hunting sack and pulled out a shiny metal arrow. Easing it into his left hand, he gently strained the bow into position and remained as silent as the night itself. Only a soft hum could be heard from the taut string of the bow. There was a faint light moving through the trees, and the sound of steps coming closer.
He whispered through stiff lips. 'Don't… move…'
Vartan slowly lifted the bow in a smooth motion until the cold silver of the razor-sharp arrow rested on his cheek. The light became even brighter as the creature neared, easing its body through the bushes surrounding the trees. It came to a gentle halt and stared curiously at the two boys crouched on the forest floor.
“Finn, you need to see this-I can hardly believe my eyes. Come around me slowly, and try not to make too much noise,” whispered Vartan, gently lowering his weapon.
Finn's voice broke with his sharp intake of breath as he took in the sight before him. “Can that really be what I think it is? It’s so beautiful.'
Directly in front of them, an adult unicorn stood proudly. Warily, it moved towards the boys and halted a man’s length away from them. Vartan stood slowly and raised an arm towards the unicorn’s neck. It instinctively moved its head away for a moment and stared at the glowing bow with wide eyes.
“It’s okay, my friend. We shall not harm you,” Vartan said gently.
