Chapter 4 Queen Gilda

The next morning Alaric awoke from a wonderful dream of being a war hero. He woke up with a magical bow from the Holly King, a knife from his parents, a shell bead belt from Lixi, and a pine needle basket from Gilda. He dressed in his finest clothes and walked downstairs. He was met Ryan with a polite greeting. He notified Alaric his kin are outside in the courtyard tossing snowballs at each other. The godly guests are in the sitting room. Ryan softly questioned Alaric’s relationship with Iris and why he changed into a bear at Iris’s pregnancy announcement. Alaric explained Rurik’s spell to determine the father unmarried Iris’s child. He was changed into a bear when she was pregnant with Kalulah.

“May I inquire the purpose of this interrogation into Iris’s friendships when you have no cause to intrude,” Alaric defends.

“She is quite the goddess, Alaric. Loving and deceitful at the same time.” observes Ryan changing subjects.

“Just like your father, Ryan.” replies Alaric.

“I am warning you of her true nature she is clever to hide,” barks Ryan.

“And what grounds do you hold the entitlement to judge Iris when your father broke her heart with his betrayal. He deserved his dive into that volcano. Now Ryan, are you finished criticizing my friend?” ends Alaric with a swift turn towards the courtyard.

Lanie is delighted to see her family again and Alani is happy to see Uncle Alaric. All the guests have arrived for the wedding ceremony in the afternoon. Alaric meets The Holly King Idun and thanks him for the bow. The morning meal is soon announced. After the meal, Alaric stands in awe of Alano. He carried himself with such confidence and prestige that Alaric wishes he possessed.

“You are staring, Alaric. Something troubling your mind?” asks Alano.

“Yes, your holiness. When you made me immortal, what was your plan for me?” begs Alaric.

“I saw that someday you would become a great hero for many generations. I try to guide you in that dream you have of being a great warrior. I remind you that lessons learned are not always pleasant experiences, but are worth learning. Do not worry young elf, you have much to learn and will gain wisdom as time goes by. Even old wise elves do not know everything and neither will you.” responds the great god.

“What about an occupation as I learn to be a wise elf?” questions Alaric.

“Do what you know, young elf. You have gained experience on trading with humans in Brightsburg, I believe. Have you considered that?” answers Alano.

Alaric pondered the advice and thought of building a trading post like his great-grandfather Euric did long ago. He can obtain his lust for adventure and Nix’s love of objects at the same time. Alaric finished his morning meal of fruit and porridge to spend the morning with the creatures of the forest. Gilda amazed her subjects with her archery skills. Once she cut a stone in half with her sword and water gushed out. The mermaids cheer Gilda’s magic tricks. Iris and Alaric sneak away and walk down the river. They notice a weasel following them. Iris objects to Ryan’s snooping.

“You may tell your arrogant father and jealous mother that my friendships are none of their concern. Now be gone weasel!”

Ryan remained in the shadows the rest of their walk. When Iris and Alaric part ways, Ryan asks Alaric what he thought on Ryan marrying an elf. He is madly in love, but is unsure how well she will be adjust well with the gods and goddesses. His grandmother Diana desires that he marry a goddess like Lanie. Alaric gave the advice that he longed to hear himself.

“You must choose with your heart and your head. If she is not accepted, could you handle living without her love?” Alaric decides he would regret not marrying Nix.

He returned to the palace to dress for the ceremony to find the walls covered with floral and ivy garlands, torches, candles, and benches in the great hall. Tables were set up all over the hallways. Covered food trays sent pleasing smells throughout the fortress. The rest of the morning was spent in the bed chambers preparing for the ceremony. The elves were primped and pampered. Alaric had assistance getting into his polished bronze armor Iris gave him. The wedding guests remain in the drawing room. When the elves are ready, the ceremony begins. Daxus stands frozen at the end of the staircase looking down at the guests seated in the great hall. He turns to Alaric and whispered he thought this day would never come to him. Alaric grins and Eridu calms the nervous groom. .

Alaric leads his family down the steps to the altar set in the great hall. Gilda comes last with their father. She wears a red gown and holds a bouquet of refreshing red roses. A headband holds streaming lace falling down to her shoulders. The Sorceress stands beside the altar and blesses the couple. Next, Callisto sings a hymn of praise. Candles are lit during fertility prayers to Alano. Flowers are offered to Ishtar and Pisos. The vows are spoken next.

“I Daxus, god of agriculture and King of the Black Forest, take in marriage Gilda Starlin of Leesville. I shall provide comfort, hope, love, security, and happiness for Gilda forever.”

“I Gilda, daughter of Starn Marslin, take in marriage Daxus of the Black Forest. I shall provide comfort, hope, love, security, and happiness for Daxus forever.”

The marriage contract read and blessed, a dowry is paid. The god Pisos recalls Lixi’s dowry addition and provides twenty sacks of coins and twenty sacks of jewelry to add to the elf parents’ gift of two sacks of coins, an array of weapons, and three spell books. Gilda thanks the money god for his kindness. She decided to keep her own name as queen. The Sorceress announces the wedding bond sealed and presents the groom Daxus, god of agriculture, and bride Gilda, goddess queen of the harvest. The wedded couple pace to the other end of the great hall to begin the reception. Servants play stringed instruments, pipes, drums, horns, rattles, and wooden sticks to the fancy of the holy guests. A large banquet fills their desires and dancing encourages the joy of the occasion. His sister Lixi still was reluctant to agree to any betrothal to any being asking for it. Lanie danced well with the many gods in the room. In fact, she seemed quite delighted with Nabu. Iris said he was nothing like his father nor half-brother. He is young and naive. She explained her father Andos landed in Seline’s chariot after an argument with her mother and Andos gave Seline a dove for disturbing her. Soon a bright star shined in the night sky and it was believed Andos showered her with comet dust to impregnate her. The son came to live with his father. But then, Petrie was furious at the betrayal so Iris volunteered to raise the baby. Rurik took the role of tutor as he got older. Andos has been trying to get him a betrothal, but Lixi will not allow it. Perhaps now Lanie has met Nabu, she will consider it. They celebrated until dawn when they held a banquet where the Black Forest subjects brought gifts for the wedded couple.

Their majesties sit on thrones at one end of the hall to receive the guests. Many of the creatures gaze at the gods and goddesses sitting at the large tables. Alaric thought the creatures’ humbleness overwhelmingly charming. The guards of the palace pass out various highly decorated weapons to the creatures to honor Idun’s festival day. The faun who attended Alaric is overjoyed at the knife with an opal handle that the elf had the pleasure of presenting. He later gave the faun a wood shield painted with elf symbols in his bed chamber. He told the attendant that he rubbed a mushroom potion that will shine a strong light into an enemy’s eyes, if need to escape, when he speaks “Petrious lucin”. Elves usually can tolerate bright lighting, but this spell would temporarily blind any elf or god. The faun thanks Alaric for the gift and tests it at once. Alaric flinches to the faun’s joy. Then Alaric searches for Alexis.

“I would appreciate going through my adult vision ceremony with you, Alexis.”

“Of course I shall join your adult ceremony. I would never allow you to experience peril or fear without me.” replies his best friend.

A week later after the wedding, elves left and bid farewell to Alexis, Gilda, Lanie, and Daxus. The attendant faun gives Alaric an herb only found in the Black Forest. Not only does it smell sweet, it is a great pain reliever and strength energizer during battle.

“Farewell, Alaric,” said the faun.

Alexis vows to correspond before he leaves for their rite of passage. Alaric’s return trip seems longer than the first, even with Iris sleeping next to him every night. Alaric did make a decision on his future. He will set up a trading post near Aurora Falls to take advantage of ships along the beach down the river. Mermaids love to swim in the mist of the waterfall and are eager to trade with elves. Humans love mermaids, but are not very sociable. Suddenly, he had so much to do. The giants welcome their former guests. The humans are cooler in emotion arriving without the little goddess, but invite the elves to celebrate the coming of spring. Holy woods are burned in a bonfire and the high priest blesses the town with ashes. The elves eagerly welcome back the traveling party with open arms. They rarely see other distant elves. The last stop before home was in Brightsburg. Alaric presented Nix with the ash from the bonfires and related his plan to her. It met her approval. At home, Alaric prepares for his rite of passage into adulthood. He packs clothes, a wool blanket, water, and food. Even though the adolescent fasts of food and drink, they still need some nourishment to stay alive. He sends a messenger pigeon to Alexis before the priest arrives. The high priest performs a ritual of prayers and burning incense in the temple. At the shrine of his great-grandfather Euric, he sleeps the night alone. He thought the ghost of his great-grandfather appeared during a storm, or he could have been just dreaming. In the morning the elves are busy picking up fallen tree branches. Alaric is glad for once at his fasting rite. He shall not move away from the shrine until a vision occurs to him. He believes seeing a ghost was not considered a vision the elder elves spoke of.

His mother visits with tea. She says the ghost means only that his great-grandfather was happy to be chosen for this rite of passage. She doubts that he will see the ghost again. She questions Alaric’s choice of bride and demands to know why he can’t marry someone more worthy of him, there is a lovely elf girl in a nearby village needing a betrothal. Insulted, Alaric bluntly explains he will marry whomever he wishes and refuses to live a miserable existence to make everyone else happy. He loves Nix. The girl can marry Alexis. The Sorceress relents in changing her son’s mind. Upon receiving Alaric’s note, Alexis leaves to join his friend. As he relays his farewells to the household, he notices Gilda wearing the golden belt he gave her as a wedding present. The unexpected silent gesture fills his heart with joy. The belt had embedded black stones in the shape of blackbirds to symbolize Alexis’s heroics when he saved Lanie and Gilda from the blackbird attack. She must have forgiven his past bad behavior toward Gilda in their youth. He arrives in Leesville a few days later on a winged horse called a Pegasus. His father and brothers embrace him. He then meets Alaric at the temple. With blankets, water, and food, Alexis greets Alaric.

“So you started without me.”

The best friends played frogs on the floor until the high priest was ready to perform Alexis’s ritual. The wooden blocks called frogs are thrown and the markings determine the points given or taken. Alexis swears Alaric has a magical way of tossing the frogs to get what markings he wants. The high priest came in the evening to perform the ceremony. Prayers are spoken at the grave of Alexis’s mother. The wife of the chief is buried in the floor of the temple. Alexis laid flowers for the mother he hardly knew. She died when he was a wee lad of fever no sorceress could cure. More incense is burned during the prayers. The night was cold, but the fire warmed the elves enough. The friends discuss Alaric’s plan for housekeeping with Nix. Alexis sees a flaw in his friend’s logic, what is Alaric going to trade? They decide on mountain herbs and mushrooms. When Alaric spoke of his plan to his mother, he decided to keep future plans to himself. All she wanted to discuss were wedding plans and her daughters. A few days later, as Alaric grew tired of praying, his vision struck him.

He envisioned himself an old elf talking to his son as they cut firewood. The son inquired about his mother and father getting together. Alaric spoke gladly of meeting her as an apprentice, developing a friendship before asking for courtship, and making plans for their marriage. They dreamed of a large family and optimistic future. He traded herbs with mermaids and sailors, as well as found the Cup of Hades for Nix so she would return to life. He woke up suddenly to Alexis shaking him. He learns that he was talking in his sleep. They chew on biscuits and sip water as Alaric remains silent of his vision. After fully waking up, he confides his dream to Alexis. Alaric stays with Alexis until his vision comes. It was a bit more frightening than Alaric’s. He saw himself surrounded by a wall of fire that singed him every time he tried to move away. The flames soon engulfed him and vanished instantly. He viewed his hands black with soot. Next, the soot and ash blew away to reveal a glowing new body. He was now alone in darkness. He observed next a beautiful young sprite with long feathered wings shining in the darkness. She grasped his hands with a smile to lead him through streaks of light now surrounding him. He floated with her to a campfire. On the other side the fire was Gilda. The sprite disappeared and Alexis focused on Gilda. She seemed glad to see him, but sad too. He gazed into her eyes reflecting the flames separating the couple and reached out to her. The fire rose and scorched his hand. He pulled back and clutched her hand to be burned again. Several times he reached for her and pulled back his grip. Finally, his emotions grew desperate and he held her hand engulfed in the campfire. Sharp pains flowed up his arm, but he refused to release her. He held her hand with all his strength to tolerate the insatiable pain. When he could no longer handle the flickering fire, he released her hand. Gilda looked down frowning and then disappeared. Alexis suddenly woke up covered in sweat to realize he was in the dark temple with Alaric sound asleep. He let Alaric rest and confided the vision in the morning.

Neither one knew what to make of it. The Sorceress said it meant that he was in love with Gilda and separation means pain for him. On her end, she does not care for him much. She said the sprite will guide him on his journeys of emotional transformation. This interpretation was a bit confusing, but did not debate what the vision meant. Alaric and Alexis are celebrated as young adults full of promise in the future. Music fills the air and many forest creatures join the party. The black fox of Alexis bounces on its hind legs as if to dance. The elf men give much advice from children to money. The chief gives his son a new bow and magical arrows. Alaric’s father gave him a magic helmet. The chief also announces the betrothal he secured with a sprite family up the mountain while Alexis was away. The family often come to Leesville to trade pottery and bricks. Later in the day, the sprites come bearing gifts for Alexis. The sprite in his dream revealed her face and he asked if she wanted to ride on the Pegasus with him. They spent the rest of the day together. Alexis stay for a few more days getting to know this sprite. She is learning to be a healer and asked if she could be apprenticed to Gilda. Her parents approved.

“And that was the world before The Elf War,” concluded The Hermit.

The rest of the day was spent fishing with spears and searching for herbs to put into potions. The next day it was Homer’s turn with The Oracle of Nix. His future was simple:

“I see you marrying my daughter, but do not become a god. Your dream of becoming a hero will come in time with the help of your followers. The sea is your future and your destiny. Much like Alaric the Great, you are loved and feared. Do not fear his fate, a great warrior you shall be, dear Homer.”

They returned to the surface eager to hear about this Queen Gilda’s judgment that started The Elf War, according to the elders.

“Months go by with Alexis marrying Althalia after her adult ceremony and had a son named Athar. The wedding date with Nix was set for the Midsummer after her adult ceremony. Laeos got married to a girl named Marianna. Modred and Myra had a son named Treynor who possessed an elf chin and nose. Then, a new people arrive on the shores of Lotan from an island called Ithaca in the South Sea. They set up a colony on the beach with a wood fortress called Laurel. The elves notice first that they wore armor of plates sewed on a leather lining. The armor North Sea made were large solid pieces of bronze. The Ithacans also brought ash iron. Iron had been around since they learned about bronze from the South Sea Kadacians being used as molds and jewelry. I made iron beads and bracelets for my Nix as an apprentice. At first, Lotans and Blythans were quite pleased at a new trading partner who brought knowledge of ash iron. Usually they broke the iron from the ore by heating it in a bed of charcoal and removed it when it cooled. The Ithacans poured water over the fresh iron to cool it and made it harder than bronze. Then it can be folded, hammered, and melted into cast molds. The Ithacans made daggers, beads, armor plates, arrow heads, spear points, and tools including a plow out of this ash iron. Alaric’s father was the first elf to use a plow instead of a digging stick. The humans, elves, and centaurs also wanted to make money from these expensive tools and weapons. They crossed the mountains to reach swamp lands in valleys and hills to find bog iron ores. Captured slaves were brought to places where iron ore was found. One such place was Adar where elf village Whitefield was established. The Red Canyon in the Olin Mountains and Rosewood Ravine to the south of Dragon’s Pass were others. People walked around with lodestones trying to find iron ore. Many trees were cut down and peat bogs dug up to heat the hard metal. The metal was easier to sharpen than bronze tools to improve its popularity. Also, the plates of armor tied to a jacket changed from bronze to iron. I painted my plates black to blend in with the night. Quite intimidating to a werewolf attacking my master’s chickens. Soon, elves prayed to gods to help establish boundaries with these humans trespassing on their lands. Prayers of the elves were answered when Gilda decided to settle the disputes over land boundaries of these various groups. Flocks of humans and elves swarmed to the Temple of Eris on Glacier Mountain to see Goddess Gilda sit in judgment. Gilda did not disappoint anyone. She flew on the dragon Medusa to the temple to hear the case. Alaric and Alexis stand as guards in front of her throne. The session begins with King Andros and Queen Isis of Lotan pleading their cause that a border must be recognized to stop intruding colonists trespassing on Lotan land. Emperor Protos and Empress Cherilyn of Blythe demand access to Laurel. Chief of Laurel wished for the privilege of remaining in Lotan. From there, the excitement had begun. Goddess Gilda holds court in the Temple of Eris for many days to hear all the testimony. Lanie sits on a reed mat to record the witnesses. King Andros of Lotan presents his witnesses first of the Blythe raids.

The god Andos is summoned to testify on watching Blythans attacking villages in the Olin Mountains and Hills of Damon. The god Eris is called to speak on hearing prayers from Blythans to cause war against the Lotans. Queen Isis of Lotan pleads on behalf of mothers in the grasslands whose children were taken into slavery into Blythe. Many have come begging for protection from raids by nomads, colonists, and Blythans. Emperor Protos of Blythe argues against these claims. He presents his witnesses to testify on Blythe’s behalf. The god Elmo is summoned to testify on offerings made to him to protect the Blythan sailors trading all over the islands and far lands. They get much of their iron ore along the coastal marshes of Blythe. The goddess Iris, to Alaric’s delight, is called to speak on Lotans being equally guilty of raids crossing the mountains and denying access to Laurel of people south of the mountains. Goddess Gilda summons the god Eridu. He explains iron being removed all over and raids by warlords expanding their boundaries.

During a rest for the midday meal, Alaric spots a familiar face. Grand Princess Athena a little older in the face, but still a ravishing beauty, sat beside her husband with graying hair and a few wrinkles. He stepped up and greeted the couple. He explained he may be taller and a little scruffier than when he last met the lady and hoped their son had stopped having fits. Relieved to meet the elf who cured his son of fits, the Grand Prince Olic invited the elf to sit with them during their meal of deer meat and vegetables. Alaric delighted the couple with tales of setting up shop in Laurel with his friend Alexis. Between them, they have five ships and plenty of trade partners. Ships from the South Seas come in and trade with their shop. He hoped to bring his betrothal along one of his excursions to Kara. Athena invited him to set up a shop in Illium and dine at the palace. He introduced Nix to the couple and Athena promised a golden circlet for her wedding dress when she arrived in Illium. The court session continued on and everyone returned to their positions in the temple. Cossus, the Dragonslayer, is next to be summoned by her holiness as newly elected Chief of Brightsburg. The Chief of Brightsburg testifies his village’s opinion of the feud over iron.

“My people of Brightsburg have long endured soldiers near and far raiding our food supplies, stealing our children, and demanding tribute. We cannot afford to pay tribute to two kings. My people, my children, have cried many years from sorrow of watching our homes burned and animals taken. Countless villagers have been taken prisoner to lands unknown to us. Goddess Queen Gilda, I implore you to no longer accept our suffering as duty of devotion to worship the gods and goddesses. We beseech you to keep our culture our own, our laws our own, our language our own, and our taxes our own. We have great faith to remain separate from these despicable, feuding warlords. Please forbid us to endure cruelty from these raiders indefinitely. We remain on the Borderlands because we are too poor to move to a safer place, wherever that may be. We thank you for listening to us, Your Holiness.” His villagers applaud their chief’s testimony.

Next to be summoned was the Chief of Medea near the Rosewood Ravine. His testimony is brief. He speaks how he could easily repeat the Chief of Brightsburg’s speech as the opinion of his town. He begs for Gilda to end his villagers’ plight to separate power from the feuding kings. His villagers applaud his testimony. Finally, the Chief of Laurel is summoned to speak on starting this whole trade war with their ash iron tools. The Chief declares that iron was known before their arrival and their colonists just introduced ash iron that is harder than ordinary iron. Their King of Ithaca does not wish any war over their iron. They simply wish to trade with anyone arriving to their gates. Alexis and Alaric in their impressive iron armor and weapons tied to them follow Gilda retreating to the sacred place of the temple. There Lanie, Alaric, and Alexis tried to comfort Gilda’s troubled mind. A border needs to be established and a judgment rendered on this unruly behavior. She debates with her companions of how to be fair and just, but set rules of government. After two days of careful consideration, Gilda declares her decision.

“On the matter of borders. The treaty from the Great War splitting Lotan in two determined the Olin Mountains as a border. The non-humans rule the mountains and humans must pay any toll demanded from the landowners. The human Cliff Dwellers of Dragon’s Pass need not leave for they are Kadacian in origin and therefore may remain where they are. The colony Laurel will pay tribute to the Lotan king and the border shall be Otter Creek to the north, the grassland to the west, and the mountains to the south. A new colony of Ithaca shall be put in place along the Litsy river delta and pay tribute to the Blythan king. Neither empire shall demand tribute from people they do not protect, provide services, and appoint high priests to. No tax will be paid by non-humans. Kings may set up colonies anywhere they can protect the colonists. All warlords must protect their villagers, servants, and slaves. The respective rulers will determine the borders of their subjects. A written treaty in clay shall be signed. Any army crossing the Temple of Eris will lose my favor and void this peace treaty. That is my decision. The treaty is here to sign.”