Redbird Meets An Elf

{Here is the continuation of 'The Tale of Redbird'! If you haven't read the first part yet, look to the right of the screen where you will see, if you are blessed with ordinary visual capabilities, the words 'Ongoing web series', and underneath 'redbird'. Click on 'redbird' and, if the internets are functioning as per their normal standard of excellence, it should take you to the first part. Then come back here and read this. Enjoy!}

           Redbird, mounted astride her trusty steed Florence, galloped at full speed after the vanishing elf. Unfortunately, although Florence was a sweet-tempered, dependable horse, she resembled a quicker-than-average turtle more than a streak of greased lightning, and soon, Redbird realized that she was falling far behind her quarry. Desperate not to let this one chance at adventure and glory pass by her, she dug her heels into the side of her horse sharply, but Florence was just not of the right build to catch up to a monster whose every stride covered five feet, or an elfin huntress upon a mount that seemed to leap forward on wings.

          In the distance, Redbird could see that the elf had reached the river Riptide that gushed up to the dam further ahead in the woods. The midsummer monsoons had arrived at the Hock the week before, and Riptide raged along at full force, splashing greedily along its banks as though to swallow them. As Redbird watched, the elf galloped across the narrow rope bridge that swung high above the river to the other side, her horse managing the precarious ride effortlessly. 

         The monster was not stupid enough to follow her over the bridge and with a roar he set off down the river as fast as he could to find a place where Riptide flowed with less fury. Spotting her chance, Redbird galloped to the bridge and raced ahead to the clearing she knew lay beyond it, and where she guessed she had most chance of finding the elf. 

       The elf was not in the clearing, but she found there the second creature she had been chasing. All seven feet of the monster reared before her, first in puzzlement, and then rage, and with a roar that blew the hair back from her head and left Florence terrified and screaming, he lunged forward at her, all his yellow fangs bared. Then, a white flash seemed to leap into her field of vision and the elf jumped straight across Florence to beat the monster back. Florence had endured much that afternoon with patience, but at this final horror, she lost all remnants of her self-control. With a decisive leap, she threw Redbird off her back and galloped away, in the direction of the river.

       The cowardice of her horse notwithstanding, Redbird was determined to help the elfin lady, who was now gracefully parrying the monster's clumsy attacks. Pulling out her sword with what she hoped was a war-like yell, she ran forward to the monster, who was at the moment distracted by the elf, and lunged, sword-point first at the beast, with all her strength.

      Unfortunately, for it had been a good attempt, the sword drove straight into the creature's talons, and shattered into a million pieces. Before overwhelming terror consumed her, Redbird felt distinctly annoyed, for the dealer who had sold her the sword had promised that nothing less than the teeth of a dragon could shatter the blade. Then annoyance left her, and she felt only fear as the monster, with a earth-shaking bellow of fury turned towards her and swiped a great clawed paw in her direction.

        The elf leapt forward to take the blow and then, as the monster brought his other paw forward to swat her as he would a fly, she sent an arrow straight and true down his throat, and he fell forward with a heavy thud and moved no more.

        The elf turned towards Redbird and she saw with shock that crimson water was gushing down the elf's beautiful face where the monster had struck her. "You were hurt because of me-" she stammered, and it was too much. She keeled forward in a dead faint.

         When she regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was the face of the elf bending over her, her raven curls falling in soft waves around Redbird's head. The elf's wound had stopped bleeding, but there was a long curving gash across her cheek, marring the perfection of her features. Redbird blinked- looking up at the elf was a little like staring directly into the sun.

          "You are awake," the elf said, and her voice reminded Redbird of Riptide, not when he had been lashed into a fury by the summer rains, but Riptide in the spring, flowing merrily down among the flowers towards the sea.

          Redbird struggled to sit up. "Yes, I thank you-" she said.

         "It was singularly unfortunate that you chanced upon that monster," the elf said, surveying Redbird gravely through hazel eyes that shimmered slightly in the afternoon light. "Did you not hear the cries of the beast and decide that another route might be safer?"

           "I thought you might need my help-" said Redbird, and then stopped short at the look the elf gave her. Till then, she had only noticed how beautiful the elf was, now she saw the grave and serious cast of her face, and she sensed, rather than beheld, the strength that lay in her delicate frame.

           "You presumed much, you who are of such small stature, to come to the aid of one of the elves of Faelen."

         "I'm very sorry," said Redbird. "But when I saw the monster hunting you-"

          If the woman before Redbird had been less beautiful, one might have said that she swelled with indignation like a bullfrog. "I hunted by that beast?" she said. "Perhaps you are unaware, human, that today is the first summer solstice of the new millenium."

          "I wish you all the best on this summer solstice, and good wishes for the new millenium," said Redbird politely.

         "It is the day of the King's Hunt!" said the elf. "On this day, the lords and ladies of Faelen hunt the Thumping Gollumphers, and you disturbed my chase!"

         "I'm most awfully sorry," said Redbird again, thinking that elves were much snappier in person than the legends had led her to believe.

         "It is no matter," said the elf. "I am have been impressed by the display of so much courage by one so small."

         "Will you tell me your name, my lady?" said Redbird, hoping that she was not presuming.

        "My name is not one that is given freely to all who ask of it," said the elf. "But you have earned the right to use it by your daring. I am Ariel Nayinera, daughter of Celestiel, and Keeper of the Seven Diamonds."

         "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Nayinera," said Redbird, "I am Redbird, daughter of Eleanor, Keeper of the Carrot-Patch."

       "It was unfortunate that I was forced to slay the Gollumpher here," said Ariel, gazing towards the hairy mountain that was the corpse of the monster. "Nothing will grow again in this spot where the creature has fallen. I was trying to lead it to a place with fewer living things when you attacked it."

         Feeling even smaller than usual, Redbird rose to her feet and dusted off her skirt. The horns of destiny had called her, and she had failed them. Perhaps it really was for the best that she had never been given the opportunity to be a hero before, if this afternoon was any indication of her skills in that area.

          "Would your ladyship like to come to my cottage for a bowl of stew?" she said, feeling that the least she could do to atone for her crimes was to feed and water the disgruntled elven lady.

          "I thank you, no," said Ariel, rising as she did. "I must rejoin my companions. I will not thank you for attacking the monster, for it was a deed both rash and ill-judged, but I will commend you for your brave spirit and kind heart."

         Redbird, who had been feeling ready to sink into the ground, was heartened enough by this last speech to look up into the face of the elvish woman.

         "Will we meet again, my lady?" asked Redbird, feeling a small spark of hope rise in her chest.

         For the first time, the elf smiled, and Redbird felt that she had never before beheld anything so glorious. "I believe we shall, Redbird," said the elf, "Farewell, until then."

        And then, mounting her charger again, she galloped away in the direction of Riptide, her long black hair flowing behind her like a cape, leaving Redbird to pick her way back unsteadily to her house on foot.

<to be continued...>