Destination Starlight (20)
The elf gritted his teeth, grinding them together, as he gripped the blade. “Damn.” He murmured, watching the clergy walk toward the stable. The elf held the blade ready. He was prepared to kill the clergy and even the spies of the city. It would be a pleasure to do so, to avoid an annexation by the Inquisition of the north. “They would have no information and no heresy to work with, and still no reason to disrupt the peace in the south.” Rijiin said. They clergy walked toward the stable, and Joe drew his blade too. “Everyone scatter.” The elf said, as he stood in the center of the stable, his blade glimmering in the light. As the clergy rounded the corner, there was a thwack and an arrow struck him in the throat. The elf glanced at Chelle who held her bow. The clergy’s body dropped as he died instantly and the elf dragged it into the stable. The other two were nearby and had not seen their comrade drop. Rijiin motioned to the spies and she let loose with two arrows hitting them in the chest. They fell, as the other two clergy ran to their horses and drew blades from their packs. The elf appeared, standing alone, and he held his blade as they charged. “A Heretic…! Arrest him in the name of God!” The clergy shouted, as the elf stepped into the blade, and he parried, connecting the starlight. He quickly saw the motions of the battle ahead. He parried, spun, and beheaded the clergy. There was a yelp and gasp out of the crowd, the elf quickly parried and thrust, killing the other one. Guards had run toward him, seeing the action, the murder and exacting butchery of the elf. George ran toward the action and saw the elf, Terrill’s folk slaying the clergy quickly, and his companions having eliminated the spies that infiltrated his city. The elf turned, holding his blade ready as guards approached on the run. He pointed his blade toward them, his eyes flashing as he stood their poised and ready. The townsfolk peered at the elf, as he pushed back his hair, and clearly identified whom it was who stood here before them. The elf showed no fear as he turned, whistling twice. The maiden and the couple appeared a moment later. Joe and Chelle had their blades drawn as they stood close to Natil, escorting her to Rijiin. The elf turned his head, keeping himself loose and ready as he nodded to the couple. Walking toward the north entrance, he led the way quickly, and calmly down the street. Soldiers started to move toward them and Rijiin held himself ready. Two soldiers charged at him and he quickly fought with them, parrying and killing them, dropping them where they stood. More soldiers charged them, and the elf quickly dispatched them too. They fought their way to the northern gate and through it to escape into the woods. As the couple found their way on the road, they headed to the forests of Malvern, stepping among the trees. Rijiin sheathed his blade after his beloved Harper, and the couple entered the forest. A pursuit party had followed them but lost them as the party disappeared deeper into the woods of Malvern among the thick branches of undergrowth and the canopy or trees above them. The elf let out a breath as he grimaced. “By our lady, that was too easy.” Rijiin said, “The Mayor has been with our people before, knowing Terrill and Mirya well. He has influence to not attack anyone different but I guess he wants to not let on that he knows the elves or be taken himself.” “Come, we are not far, another half and hour to the clearing to the portal.” The elf said, and glanced at Chelle. “I wouldn’t advise what you plan.” He said, “I cannot come with you, and wouldn’t try. I would just go in peace and return to where you belong. But remember that you are always welcome here.” Chelle gasped, realizing he knew about her thought plan, wishing or not that it could happen. She nodded her head. “I just was wishing I could, and help you, but I suddenly realized you cannot anyway. I just realized if I did we would lose you again." Chelle murmured, "I… just cannot or want to do that." “Now you understand.” Rijiin said formally and he stepped up to Chelle, embracing her warmly. “Be at peace, it is better this way. I am not dead, so long as you remember me, and know I am here always if you want to come here.” He nodded to the couple, as he held his beloved Harper at his side. “Come, we are almost to our destination.” The elf led the party through the trees and soon came across the clearing near Hypperex. There was silence, however, and no hum or crackle that the portal radiated when it was open. When they entered, the portal was not there. Rijiin sighed, as he stood there, shaking his head. “As I feared would happen.” “We will camp here, outside the clearing and wait.” The elf said, as they made a fire, his guard up, as he watched for any signs of the presence known by the humans that were not far away. They sat around the crackling fire, as they waited and watched. Meanwhile, Cmike, Monte, Cheshire, Anna, Lithium and many others stood in the staging area in the gaming area. It is a different day in the twentieth century, and they all sat glumly at the table snacking on something from the vending machine that was complimentary to the gaming company and kept stocked. The members from the Bulletin Board System were perplexed by the absence of their friends, despite their checks of every game, and concerned every time they came here for the last few days. It had been the same for the first member of their computer board, who had disappeared after entering this place, and later found dead in the creek outside of the perimeter of the Mall area. As they sat there, they worried about Joe and Chelle. “We could have missed them in there.” Cmike said, “I think we should have a go and look again, the games and deck is large and we could have easily missed them." "They might be in a different costume.” Anna suggested and there was a glance at each other. “You know, that’s true Mike.” Lithium replied, “Let’s finish our breakfast, and get back in there. There has to be a clue to where the hell they went to.” “If we haven’t found them now, or a few days ago, we won’t find them at all.” Anna stammered, “It seems like they disappeared into thin air.” “They’ve got to be somewhere.” Monte said, “No one can just disappear.” “Well it happened. Anyone have a better idea where they went?” Mike demanded. A long silence followed. The group chatted informally among themselves, talking about the games, and the many scenarios that could possibly happen in the games. Each one had their personal doubts and fears, the possibility of them being found like Nathaniel, aka Varden, the other member killed, as a looming reality. Standing up, Lithium nodded to the group. He divided the twelve of them up, preparing to separate back into the games. Back in the fourteenth century, Rijiin stood up slowly as the hum and crackle of the portal could be heard in the clearing. The elf peeked into the clearing and he gasped. The portal was just as he remembered a long ago when he arrived. It is silver finished mirror in color and surrounded with a pulsating energy that radiated pure energy. It cycled color and the low hum drowning out the sounds of the forest. The elf motioned to the others. He pointed at the clearing. “It’s here.” The elf said, grimacing, but nodding in acceptance of what would happen next. “You’d better go, before it decides to close again.” Rijiin stood with his beloved Harper, his kinswoman, and possible lover of this century beside the couple. He stared at the couple in silence. Chelle and Joe were teary-eyed as they stood with the elves. They both embraced Natil and Rijiin warmly, not wanting to let go. “Be at peace, I will be fine.” Rijiin assured them, “I have survived this long, almost three plus months here. I will survive a long time more. As time is fluid, we might meet again. Don’t be surprised if I show up out of the blue.” Chelle sobbed as she wiped away her tears and smiled at the elves. Joe took up her hand and they disengaged and nodded to the elf who motioned to the portal. “It is time.” The elf said, “Alanae, ea yolisi Elthia, Joeai, Chelletti.” The couple gasped with the blessing and the elvish statement. Joe fought down a grin as he nodded, bowing wide and low. “Manea, Rijiini, Natili nae diola lle. Namaarie!” Rijiin laughed, not realizing that Charity had taught him a few words of Elfish. He was surprised how well he spoke it. The Elven couple laughed warmly, holding up their hands as the human couple walked toward the portal. When they approached it, they did so cautiously, and Joe was first to reach out for it. His arm disappeared into the surface of the portal, his arm showing rings of ripples in the silvery surface, like that of a stone being thrown in the water. He stepped further, his other hand holding Chelle’s hand as he pulled her toward it. Rijiin watched as Joe disappeared, and Chelle stepped toward it, pausing to wave to the elves as she put her arm out too. She turned to run back to the elves and embraced Rijiin and Natil tightly. “You must go, beloved Chelle.” Rijiin coached, “You can see me again, I promise.” “I know but one more hugs…” Chelle replied, and ran to the portal. She slowly put out her hand and touched the silvery surface as rings appeared on it. Stepping toward it, the young human woman disappeared too. A moment later, the portal crackled and vanished in a thunderclap that echoed through the woods. Rijiin glanced at Natil who was studying him. She smiled warmly as he shook his head. The maiden realized that he could have gone with them, but he chose his place and it is with her. The maiden then realized that he could not, no longer, seeing the visions in the starlight that if he attempted it, that her kinsman would not live to see the other side of the conduit of energy from once he traversed. The images had faded freely from the starlight and the twinkling patterns of what was to come moved through the gray mist. Natil smiled, knowing the reason he had stayed here, trapped but not, in a century as it was bleak and dark one to live in. It clearly was, however, not his own. “I won’t leave you, my love.” He said, “I won’t ever try, my place is here with you, always. I will always love you until time stops for the world or the elves fade into the winds of history. No matter, we have a lot of time to find that love together.” He embraced the young maiden, holding her as they peered into each other’s eyes. Rijiin leaned over and kissed her warmly on the lips for a long time. The maiden was blushing as she stood there when he did so. He smiled at her, breaking the kiss and peered at her blushing face to touch it with his hand. “Let’s get the hell out of here…” He said formally, “and get back to where WE belong.” Rijiin held her hand as they disappeared from the clearing into the forest. They stuck to the forest paths, speedily heading home to where they belonged. Back in the twentieth century, Chelle and Joe traversed the corridor of energy and a moment later, stepped into the familiar dim hallway from which they began their adventure. As they appeared, stepping through what appeared a ripple in the solid wall they both paused, disoriented, light-headed, their bodies tingling as they both sank to a knee. They felt drained, the strength taken from them, and out of breath as they gasped, leaning against the wall for a brief moment. Joe and Chelle stood in the hallway, glancing up at the security camera above them then to each other, smiling. They were glad to be home, where they belonged, but both were also disappointed too that their adventures had ended too. “We’re back!” He said, and Chelle nodded her head slowly. He embraced the young woman but looked down at the pouch that he still had hanging from his neck and shoulder. Both of them gasped. He had completely forgotten about it. “Holy shit…!” He said, “It is Rijiin’s extra satchel!” They opened it, and looked inside. It had a bit of food, twenty-four Florins made of gold and stamped with the ensigns of the free towns that twinkled in the dim light. The couple gasped as they saw them. They pulled out a scroll and they opened it, revealing the map of the realm, drawn in a strong hand, each area labeled. “We forgot to give it back to them, before we left.” Joe gasped, putting the map and coins back in the pouch. “At least we can prove we were somewhere else.” Chelle said, “And not in the games for more than a week.” She glanced at Joe. He was surprised by the coins and the map as she was. Her companion nodded slowly. “I’d rather not show them that, or the coins. They are probably worth a fortune at the cost of the gold.” Joe said, “I can bet that Rijiin arranged this somehow.” Chelle laughed, as she stared at the pouch that hung from Joe’s neck. He motioned to her and they walked toward the locker-rooms unseen. She waited for him outside as he opened his locker, grabbing the box containing the ring. He appeared back in the hall a moment later. Joe embraced her, and he knelt before her, making her gasp and yelp loudly. “Y-you were serious!” She gasped astonished when he opened the box and the ring, a very nice looking one with the shadow band there. “I love you Chelle, now more than ever, and Rijiin was right to say we should find our happiness together.” Joe said, “I want to know if you will marry me.” Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at Joe, down on one knee. Behind her, the others walked toward them. “HOLY FUCK…! HEY IT’S JOE AND CHELLE!” Mike shouted, and the others ran toward them from the other room. They stopped and gasped, staring at the couple who had been away for over five days. They saw the tender scene happening before them. Chelle smiled at him, blushing as they glanced at the others and she nodded. “I will Joe. I love you so much too and I agree with Rijiin too.” He put the ring on her finger, as the others smiled, and cheered, realizing that he was proposing to her. They clustered around the couple. Their voices and questions echoed the hallway, bombarding the couple. Joe held up his hand warmly. “I appreciate the warm greeting, so unnecessary.” Joe said, “What are you guys doing here?” “We’ve been looking for you two.” Lith said, “What the hell happened, it’s been over five days you’ve been gone. Where the hell, have you been? What happened? Where the fuck did you go?” “Jesus we’re all glad to see you!” Cmike added and the couple grinned. “Oh we’ve been in the games and must have lost track of time.” Joe said, and they all were shaking their heads. “Come on, you could not have been here for that long.” Mike said, “The shop closes down every night. We have been here every day, for a week, and you have been nowhere to be found. We found your lockers and heard your cells. The staff showed you logged in last week and every day since, but we’ve been every game and didn’t find you there.” “The authorities are also looking for you.” Monte added and the couple grimaced at each other, frowning. They knew there was no way to explain where they had been for a week, unless they came clean. However, it would sound very crazy if they tried to tell them, even though it was almost a dream for the couple. “I can’t tell you exactly where we’ve been then, it is hard to explain.” Joe said sharply, “It really has been a strange week.” “Come on, spill, where have you both been?” “I-I can’t really tell you that accurately.” Joe said timidly, “I j-just cannot say, you’d think it’s crazy.”
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