“I’m the forest, young one,” she told Lana warmly. She seemed to have decided that Lana wasn’t a threat to her. “Come child, walk with me.”
She realized suddenly that her feet were now free and breathed a sigh of relief. Having no other choice, she walked with the woman, Priestess, through the trees.
“I saw you enter,” she said to Lana. “You and your friend, the troubled one. I don’t always notice when someone enters my domain but the moment you set foot inside, I was aware. I had to see what made you special. Perhaps, if we walk for a time, I will learn more.”
“Are you going to let me go free?” Lana asked her. She was afraid but it sounded like this spirit, if that’s what it was, had a kindness about her.
“I suppose we shall see,” Priestess said cryptically. “Tell me of your story.”
Sighing, Lana tucked her staff under her arm and thought back. How much about her did this woman want to know? She supposed she would have to start at the beginning. Lana spoke of her childhood as a princess in Loral, her captivity. She spoke of her rescue by Clay and then meeting Nym on the road. She spoke of their travels and Clay’s abandonment.
“I will see him again,” she told the woman fiercely. “I will see him and he will answer my questions.” Her teeth were gritted and her knuckles white on the staff.
“You have rage but it’s tangled up with love,” Priestess told her, as if she wasn’t already aware of this. Lana nodded but looked straight ahead, still so angry that she didn’t trust herself to speak.
“I once loved as you do. I loved with all of my heart and it was the end of me…” She trailed off, a sad look in her eyes. “It was love for my people, you see. The only thing in the world that I cared for was my brethren. I would die - I did die - to keep them safe.”
Lana froze. She suddenly understood who this creature was.
“You are the high priestess,” Lana said in awe.
“Yes,” Priestess smiled warmly at her. “It was my last act, the only way I could protect my people. I plunged Ollyth into the ground and healed the land. This forest sprang up to defend the elves but it wasn’t the staff that was magical, nor the trees. It was my spirit that performed these miracles and my spirit that inhabited this forest so I could watch over my people for all time.”
She sighed and stopped walking, gazing around her. “I grow so tired, princess,” she said in a quiet voice. “I have watched them for so long, countless years. Countless…” A silver tear slipped down her cheek and Lana wanted to put a comforting arm around the woman but she was too much in awe to dare touch her.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Lana asked, unsure of what she could possibly do for this creature but she felt so sad for the woman, she had to make the offer.
“That is kind of you,” Priestess said, smiling and wiping away the single tear. It dropped from her finger and a sapling sprang up from the ground where the tear fell. “Things are changing for the elves, I can feel it in the air. I grow weak and soon may not be able to protect them any longer. You must tell the elders, they must know that my protection wanes…” She paused, looking at Lana thoughtfully.
“I will give you a word, young one. I can feel that it’s you who must know this word and the time to pass it on has come,” she told her intently, stepping towards Lana until their faces were inches apart. Looking this deeply into her eyes, Lana felt mesmerized.
“Do not speak this word of power until you feel that all hope is lost for the elven people. There will be no turning back, do you understand?”
“What is the word, Priestess? I will hold it in my heart, I promise.” Lana told her with absolute sincerity.
“It’s my name,” Priestess said, standing straight, her light shining brighter than ever. “It’s a word that was lost when I became one with nature. Speaking it will spark a series of events that you will not be able to turn back from. Use it only when you absolutely must.”
She leaned forward and put her silver mouth to Lana’s ear and breathed a single word, so softly that Lana couldn’t hear her. Panicked, she turned to the woman.
“I didn’t hear you!” she exclaimed, horrified.
Priestess was already fading from view but Lana was able to make out that she was smiling sadly.
“Yes, you did, child,” she told Lana softly. “You will know the word when it’s time…”
And just like that, she vanished and Lana was alone again.
* * *
Nym woke, feeling stiff from sleep. She stretched in her blankets and turned her head to where Lana should have been. But she wasn’t there. Suddenly panicked, Nym leapt to her feet, turning wildly, looking for the woman she had sworn to keep safe.
“Lana!” she called, “Lana!”
She heard a sound from behind her and spun, ready to attack and on high alert. Then she relaxed, seeing that it was Lana walking through the trees to meet her.
“Lana, you shouldn’t have left. This forest can twist itself and it could have kept you lost until you starved!” She rushed to her companion, wanting to throw her arms around her but holding herself back at the last second. Things had changed and she was no longer worthy of touching the woman. She stopped short and bowed her head slightly.
Lana placed her hand on Nym’s chin and lifted her face.
“Look at me, Nym,” she said softly. “You must meet my gaze again. We cannot undo the past but we must be friends. Clay told you to keep his reasons from me and I don’t
