Chapter Seven: Alessa's Views
Tranith Argan: Book 2
Everyone has told their stories, and Felanar wants to find out from Alessa why elves feel the way they do.
Felanar rose early the next morning and descended to the forest floor to take a stroll. Though it was early winter, the trees showed no sign of change. Back in Brindledown the trees were mostly barren but here it was as if the seasons had no effect. The leaves were the same deep green he remembered. He wondered if the elves had some power over nature, or if nature merely cooperated with the elves as if it recognized kindred spirits. It was, in fact, a beautiful day, full of warm sunshine and promise.
The forest floor muffled Felanar’s steps as he wandered north. Soon he came to a brook and he followed its meandering, bubbling path for a while as he thought of the events of the past few days. It was strange enough to be told that you are king and that someone wishes you dead. It is entirely a different matter to be kidnapped and threatened with that death. Despite the beautiful surroundings, he felt the weight of his responsibilities as he walked along. Finding a comfortable spot, he sat down by a bend in the brook. Picking up a stick, he began to poke at the ground aimlessly. Several minutes passed and then, suddenly, he realized Alessa was standing beside him.
“Welcome to the day, Alessa,” he said with a smile.
Alessa smiled back. “You have been with the Erenár for a certainty, for that is a favorite expression of theirs. Good morning, I say back.” She sat down beside Felanar. “Am I interrupting your thoughts? Shall I leave you to think?”
“No, no, you are more than welcome,” he quickly replied. “I enjoy your company and besides, my thoughts are too muddled right now. It would do me good to talk to someone.”
“Then I will speak with you,” said Alessa quietly.
“About the Erenár,” Felanar continued, “I did notice their way of speaking is different. Their talk is archaic, full of ‘thees’ and ‘thous’. Why is that?”
Alessa nodded. “There is much about the Erenár that differs from the Findára. Speech is only what is seen on the surface, and is the least of it. I’m afraid our peoples draw ever farther apart with time. What you hear from their mouths is a stubborn adherence to the past, as well as a subtle reproof to the Findára. Felanar, it is as if they are telling us that we have changed too much!”
“Why would that matter?” asked Felanar. “Is change bad?”
“To elves it is. Not all elves look to the future,” she sighed. “Most, in fact, would rather live in the past. Our people have a long, rich history, with much accomplishment that brought us glory. We brought learning to the world, and settled all the lands. We brought gardens to life and cultivated them from Khrea through Shakaart. Though they were called other names then.”
Alessa’s voice trailed off and Felanar saw the same sadness he had seen in the other, older elves. She is lost in thought, he said to himself. Or rather, he corrected himself, lost in time, feeling the regret of a race of beings whose days of supremacy were behind them. Not even the forward-looking Alessa could escape the melancholy of the elves. Then the moment passed and she looked up and continued, “All elves look to this past with pride and joy, but some seem to think they can bring the past back somehow.”
“It seemed to me that Narón did not always speak in an archaic manner,” he said. “I heard him use ‘you’ instead of ‘thou’ on occasion.”
“Not every Erenár adheres so closely to the past, Felanar. It may be that Narón finds himself caught between the past and the future even as do I.”
“You do not speak as do the Erenár.”
“The Findára long ago left such speech behind. It is part of what makes the Erenár look down upon us. No, our adherence to the past takes other forms, not in such trivial matters as speech, but in serious matters such as action. We hesitate to take action, to stand up for what we know to be right even as we once did long ago. In that, we are no different than the Erenár.”
“You talk about men and dwarves taking over much of the land,” said Felanar, “but I thought it was with the cooperation of the elves.”
Alessa looked at Felanar sadly. “In some cases, yes, there was cooperation. In particular, the dwarves proved to be honorable neighbors. What they loved, elves disliked. What elves rejoiced in, dwarves disdained. Rare was the day when elves and dwarves conflicted over matters, great or small, other than to assume their respective ways were best. In recent times, though, even here there have been words against the dwarves from my people, but it is but an attitude of stubbornness, not based on real conflicts. If the world held only elves and dwarves, there would be peace. Ah, but men, Felanar, with men it has been different.”
“But Argan always cooperated with the elves,” objected Felanar. “Or so I’ve read in books.”
“Yes, Felanar, Argan proved to be as honorable as the dwarves. You need not feel defensive about your ancestors. Their actions bring you honor, not shame. I daresay that having a king at Argan again will be a good thing for elves as well as men. At least some elves will see it this way. Yet not all men live under Argan, and that is where the conflict really lies. The western lands have not been so kind to us and that is what weighs heavily upon our hearts.”
“I can bring about an end to this as king, Alessa. I can subdue the western lands.”
Alessa stared at Felanar for a moment before responding, as if trying to measure his heart.
“I know you mean to do well, Felanar, and I think you will make an admirable king. However, things may not be as simple as you think. After all, no king of Argan ever could completely defeat the forces of the autarch, not even Al-Dulomir the Powerful. Moreover, no king also had to grapple with the Evil One. Such will not be the case for you. Your reach may not extend past Argan and Talenar, despite your intentions.”
Her words reminded Felanar that he had very little idea what lay ahead. For a moment he felt inadequate to be king, which is what had brought him to this spot that morning in the first place. To hear his fears realized in even one as supporting as Alessa made his task seem all the more daunting.
“Is that why the Erenár acted so coldly toward Kara and me?”
“Yes,” answered Alessa, “they do not even approve of us, their fellow elves, let alone men. It matters not to them that you represent Argan. Even a friendly man is still a man. To the Erenár, all they know of men is trouble. Even Argan has not been a solid ally to the elves in recent times. The beloved sea of the Erenár is no longer theirs alone. There are other men who would do them harm if they could, such as the Hiríkk Jakkír. So the Erenár see you as a man, and no more. That is sufficient for them to dislike you and what you represent. Yet more, you represent the throne of Argan, and all the intrigue and threat that will result from your appearance. I do not suppose they look forward to the conflicts that are sure to follow.”
“Yet Narón was nothing but kind to Kara and me. Your family has been supportive and loving. Clearly not all elves feel this way.”
“No, not all elves do, and especially Findára. You will have many allies here, and friends.” She smiled warmly.
Felanar felt good to see her smile, but a troubling feeling overcame him again. “Ravesfel hints that the Regent may not want me, and I have been threatened by the Evil One and by the autarch. The Erenár want nothing to do with me. Even my home views me as odd, and it will only be worse after that dragon attack! It seems the only place I am liked is here, by your family.”
“You exaggerate, Felanar. There will be many people who will rejoice in your ascension to power.”
“Maybe so, but I have to survive that ascension first, and on a day such as this it is the last thing in the world I wish to do.” He leaned back, closed his eyes, enjoying the rays of sunshine through the leaves.
Alessa stared at him with displeasure. “You remind me of my people! Why fight to achieve something, they think, when you can just go for a walk in the woods? Where is the bold young man who was ready to take on the world?”
Startled by her tone, Felanar sat up and objected. “That young man is still here, Alessa. I will accept my place, do not fear. But look at what foes line up against me already! The world doesn’t want me. They want me dead! How am I supposed to overcome that?”
Alessa stood up and stared angrily down at Felanar.
“With force!” she cried. “You overcome the world with force to take what is rightfully yours. Would you lightly give up what so many have fought to preserve? Did the sacrifices of Narón’s crew mean nothing to you?”
Felanar stared up, his face flushed.
“I know, Alessa, I know. There will be much that needs to be forced before the issue is resolved. I just feel very much alone today, and very small in the wide scheme of the world. I may be king, but I feel a pawn in this grand game being carried out.”
“You may be many things,” cried a new voice, “but alone is not one of them.” Kara appeared from behind a tree and stepped forward into their midst. “You will never be alone as long as I live, Felanar. I will fight by your side to the end.”
Her brother looked at her with gratitude. Her blonde hair fluttering in the breeze, she looked every inch the warrior he had seen the day before, and not like his little sister at all.
“I believe you, Kara, for I have now seen you fight. You make a worthy companion, and I am glad for it. With two fighting together, we can accomplish much. You make my heart glad and my determination strong.”
“Then be determined even more,” said Alessa, “for you are not two but three. I too will stand by your side and fight for what is right until the end. And I am not alone in feeling this way. You may be surprised at the size of your force when all is set in motion.”
Felanar rejoiced as he heard Alessa’s and Kara’s words. He knew he could trust them. “Thank you, both of you, for your help. I am so new to this that I feel inadequate at times. But I trust both of you completely, and I would go to battle with you both and feel confident.” He paused. “Actually, Alessa, I have never seen you in battle. Do elven women fight?”
“This elven princess does,” said Alessa with a smile, “though it is not my father’s wish. Yes, elven women do fight and make up some of the knights. It is not the way among the Erenár, however. Among them it is considered distasteful to allow females to fight on behalf of males. Even some of the older Findára feel this way, I’m afraid. It is an idea that is considered a bit too modern in their eyes.”
“How were you trained then?” asked Kara.
“By my brother, and by Aren and his band of knights. I am not a knight, but I have been taught all the skills of a knight, and I have excelled, if I may say so. Father and mother think it not proper, of course, but I have done it anyway.”
“Why don’t they think it proper?” asked Kara. “Are they of that old-fashioned idea?”
“No, no, father approves of females learning combat skills, but in my case he objected because, he said, I am a princess, and have no need of such skills. Well,” she paused, “in my case it is also my age. I am considered far too young to learn such things.”
“Bren didn’t want to teach me either,” said Kara, “and I was very young when I began. But I insisted, and see how it has proven useful.” She smiled at Felanar.
“Indeed it did, Kara,” he said. “You proved quite a surprise to the Jakkír. And to me,” he added quietly.
“I’ll warrant Alessa is even more skilled,” Kara said, looking at the elf.
“We shall have to try each other’s skills, Kara, in practice sessions. I’d like to see the skills of a warrior.”
“We shall do it,” cried Kara in delight.
“Perhaps not now, however,” said Felanar. “I think we should return and speak with Ravesfel. There is much to talk about.”