The Sacred Woods of Silvernarion (Book 1)

The Storm

“What a horrible day to voyage by ship,” says Billibon sitting on a soft chair twitching his hairy toes in front of a cozy fireplace and sipping on some hot cocoa.

“I seen nothing wrong with this day,” Glenadale replies inbetween lightning and a loud thunder that wakes Gloriana out of her deep slumber.

She stretches herself out of bed and joins Glenadale looking out of the window.

“I don’t think the captian will set sail today,” says Rocacresct slurping loudly on his cocoa joining the now annoyed halfling.

Cherryblossom smiles enjoying the wonders nature offers before footsteps are heard in front of the door. She jumps quickly off of Glenadale’s shoulder and into the wood elf’s pocket. A loud banging on the door occurs before a tall burly man dripping of water enters.

“I bring you message. Vetrian is waiting at the docks and is ready to set sail,” he says in a burly voice.

“Perhaps the day isn’t so bad after all,” says Rocacrescst as he throws the rest of the cocoa into the fire and grabs his belongings to follow the messenger who is already walking down the tavern’s steps.

Everyone shortly after joins the dwarf as Billibon leaves the room last disturbed to exchange coziness for a thunderstorm. They leave the tavern into howling winds and rain to walk down many cobblestone roads surrounded by tall and dark buildings. Most of the buildings struggle to escape smoke from their chimneys as others are covered by thick wooden shutters keeping the inhabitants warm. Glenadale walks undisturbed in the rain ahead of the grumbling dwarf who tries to cover his hardened and bearded face against harsh winds. The messenger leads them further past the empty market and into an alleyway that widens abruptly to reveal the docks. A husky red bearded man stands near a rowboat.

“Well it is about time you join me on this wonderful day. Don’t let the weather dampen your spirits young mates,” he finishes laughing.

No one laughs except for Glenadale who stops shortly after when Gloriana frowns trying to get her wet hair out of her face.

“Are you seriously going to set sail in this weather?” Billibon asks trying to walk around a puddle to only fall into a bigger one.

“I rather challenge a storm then hungry pirates,” the captain replies as he helps Gloriana onto the rowboat.

Everyone follows as Vetrian unties the rope and hops into the large rowboat last. Two strong men row against the waves with great effort towards the ship.

“Have I told you of my last encounter with pirates?” Vetrian asks.

“This era I have been robbed twice from them. I tried everything to help prevent from being attacked by this nasty loot of men. I even invested my last gold to equip my ship with cannons for the first time. Nothing helps I tell you,” he shouts in anger as he almost falls off the boat waving his fist.

“Of all off the cyclones I have worked as a sea merchant, I learned that sailing in storms is the best way to avoid being plundered by pirates,” he explains.

“A little water will not stop the Dancing Mermaid I tell ya!” he says as they draw closer to the ship.

“You call that a ship!” says Billibon bewildered as everyone looks at ripped sails and uneven boards covering damaged hulls of its body.

They then turn to look at the burly red head who only grins unevenly.

“You expect us to survive the ordeals of the seas with that piece of junk,” Gloriana says harshly holding her stomach trying to get use to the uneasy sea motion sickeness she suddenly has.

“Actually you gave me and my crew another chance in life. With the gold you gave us we can reemerge into the market and revive the Dancing Mermaid. No fear, I will get you across the sea towards the town of Kort.

“It is not the ship, its how you get us across is what I fear,” replies Rocacresct who is joining Glenadale’s sea sickness.

“Ha, ha. I see we have some first timers on board,” Vetrian replies as they approach the creaking ship. A roped ladder falls over board. With much effort everyone makes it onboard the damaged ship.

“Nice to see you again captain,” says a blonde burly man unaffected by the storm.

“Set sail Samson and head north for now,” Vetrian commands as Samson screams for the men to set sail.

He runs up the deck towards the steering wheel as others draw in the heavy anchors.

“Follow me,” Vetrian orders as he walks to a door. He opens it as the group enters a murky room of cots.

“I apologize that it is not of royal quality you land dwellers,” Vetrian says sarcastically allowing everyone to enter. He then closes the door and disappears to the deck.

“I think I am going to throw up says Gloriana as she walks at the corner of the room.

“I think I am going to join you,” whines Glenadale as he looks at Rocacresct burping and holding his stomach.

Billibon only rolls his eyes as he had traveled many times in his younger days by sea. He hops onto a cot as Fierce jumps onto a ledge looking oddly at everyone. Cherryblossom gives a sigh as she jumps out of Glenadales pocket and flies onto Billibon’s round belly.

“This will be a long voyage,” Billibon says as he looks at both the falcon and pixie.

Vetrian walks up the stairs towards Samson who turns the steering wheel. Waves of water hit the deck as men struggle to get the sails up and going. Samson smiles at his captain as he stands tall looking at the black clouds ahead.

“We are back in business partner,” as he shows the leather pouch attached to his belt.

“Are my sons and wife safely on board,” he asks.

“Aye captain and it wasn’t easy to get her on board either,” Samson mentions.

“Rather you then me with her temper,” Vetrian says laughing.

“We need to go to the town of Kort,” he says.

“Kort captain.” Samson says questioningly.

“It draws us nearer to find a cure for my sons,” he explains after a long silence.

“Aye captain,” Samson replies before turning the steering wheel once more.

“I don’t think the Dancing Mermaid can withstand such harsh weather?” Samson mentions.

“We have to try. Take over the steering wheel for now. At first night rise wake me and I will take over unless we are pursued by pirates,” Vetrian orders before walking across towards his cabin.

Closing the door with much effort he looks at his two sons wrapped up in covers lying on his bunk side by side. His wife face turns into frown when she sees him.

“Do you have any idea what dangers you put us through Vet?” she says angrily.

“I know Maggie but I may know of how to reverse the spell our sons have,” he replies.

“That doesn’t mean we have to risk our lives on this ship does it and how do you know they have a spell on them?” she asks now standing up.

“I will not harm you or my sons. Just lie down and relax and I will explain more later. This storm will be over before you know it,” he tries to reason by grabbing her hands and urging her to sit back down.

With a big sigh she looks into her husband’s green eyes and sits down near her sons. He sits down with her.

“I will rest now love. I am to take next shift and will need the rest.

Maggie nods her head as she knows her husband has not slept last night or perhaps even the night before. He lies down on the other bunk before slowly falling into a deep slumber. She looks at her sons who lie motionless. She can barely hear their faint breathing worrying consistently if they will survive. She grabs wet rags and places them onto their heads. She begins to weep quietly looking at the dripping ceiling and the bucket underneath it beginning to fill with rain water.

“May our luck change one day,” she manages to whisper before laying her head on one of her sons to close her teary eyes.

***

A huge crash occurs making Billibon fall out of his cot onto his shoulder. Cherryblossom floats in the air waving her fist at Billibon for almost smashing her into the ground. Glenadale and Gloriana are holding each other trying to recover from the huge bang.

“I can’t take it anymore!” roars Rocacresct as he opens the door with much effort and walks onto the bottom deck of the ship.

Samson is holding onto the steering wheel for dear life as Vetrian storms out of his cabin.

“What the hell is going on!” he screams taking charge of the steering wheel.

“The storm has increased!” shouts Samson as he lets the captain take control.

A burly sailor appears. He is panting in front of Samson.

“The storage room is flooding with water sire!” he screams.

Glenadale, Gloriana, and Billibon manage to join Rocacresct. They look at the captian struggling to take control of the ship. He then looks down at Gloriana with bewildered eyes.

“Empty the storage room of water or we will die!” he screams.
Samson runs down the deck and grabs buckets. He throws them at the group and urges them to follow.

“Never will I go on a ship again!” screams Glenadale as he tries to keep balance.

Fierce flies high into the air encircling the ship. Cherryblossom suddenly jumps out of Billibon’s pocket and flies quickly into the sky.

“Did you see that?” screams Samson pointing in the air.

“What are you talking about it?” Vetrian asks as another wave of water hits him.

He almost falls to the ground but manages to cling tight onto the steering wheel. Samson doesn’t manage to keep his balance as a wave of water throws him overboard. Rocacresct falls against a rallying as Glenadale and Gloriana manage to grab a pole. Billibon runs back into the cabin and fights to close the door to it.

“Oh no we lost Samson,” says Rocacresct as he holds for dear life onto the rallying.

The ship balances itself again allowing everyone to stand again.

“We must get down to the storage room and join the sailors!” screams Gloriana as she grabs a bucket and runs down some stairs into the bottom hulls of the ship.

Glenadale runs after her as Rocacresct follows. They enter a room full of broken crates with water knee high to Gloriana and waist high to Rocacresct. A sailor screams to help out.

A long line of sailors gather water and hand the buckets to the top of the deck to throw back into the sea. The group joins quickly the drenched wet sailors. After hard work the storm subsides and the sailors cheer.

They manage to get most of the water out of the storage room before scrambling back to their stations. Gloriana and crew watch shocked at Cherryblossom who is floating in front of the captain. Other sailors watch intently at the small spark in the sky.

“This is truly amazing!” Vetrian says as he watches the small pixie smile.

“Do not worry she will not harm us,” he says unaware that she is friends with Gloriana.

Cherryblossom giggles before flying to Glenadale and lands on his shoulder.

“Why she kind of likes you there fair elf,” Vetrian says a bit surprised.

“Cherryblossom is our friend and we don’t like to expose her too much because we are afraid of how people react.

After all she is rare and to some only myth to most of this world.

“You are not lying about that,” replies Vetrian.

“She also managed to somehow cast a spell and eliminate this brutal storm we just experienced. She mentions that someone planted this storm on us,” Glenadale explains.

“Who could have such powers to do such an act?” Billibon asks as he gets on deck after hiding in the room throughout the whole storm.

“Who would want us not to succeed?” Gloriana intervenes.

Cherryblossom shrugs her shoulders and looks at how Fierce lands on a rallying screeching at Glenadale. The wood elf walks to Fierce and pets him lightly.

“Well if it wasn’t for your help in getting that water out of the storage room and your precious pixie we would have died,” Vetrian says now turning the steering wheel lightly.

The sailors continue to stare at the small pixie in fascination. One of them comes closer to Glenadale and sticks out his hand.

Cherryblossom jumps up and flies away.

“I wouldn’t try that anymore. She only lets some of us to hold her,” Glenadale explains.

The large sailor nods before taking a step back.

“Besides what are you sailors standing around here anyway? We need to patch up our ship and get it back in order!” screams Vetrian.

“Where is Samson anyway?” he asks looking at each sailor who only gives dumbfounded expressions back.

“Samson didn’t make it Vetrian,” says Rocacresct as he puts a hand onto captain’s arm.

“What do you mean he didn’t make it?” the captain asks looking down at the dwarf.

Gloriana steps up and looks into the weary eyes of the captain.
His wife Maggie suddenly comes out looking at everyone with narrow eyes.

“You better have a good explanation for this entire adventure Vet!” she screams waving her fist.

Vetrian only looks down before turning around to face his wife.

“Everyone this is my wife Maggie and unfortunately I cannot introduce my sons,” as he slumps down disappointed of how his son’s conditions are.

After formally introducing everyone to his wife he walks to Gloriana and puts a hand on her shoulder.

“I am afraid we will have to make a stop at the high elvin island of Swienalden to make repairs,” Vetrian says.

“The Dancing Mermaid cannot continue sailing before extensive repairs are made. I will have to get my sailors to keep scooping water out of the lowest deck so we can stay afloat. We should make it to Swienalden by tonight,” Vetrian explains glumly.

Gloriana nods as she puts her hand onto the captain’s shoulder.

“I am sorry for the loss of your first mate,” she says.

“I am a bit weary. If you would excuse me,” he finishes guiding his wife back into his cabin.

Chapter 18 The Council - http://mingle2.com/topic/show/229598

After facing so many obstacles and dangers since the beginning of their journey one would expect that things would get better for Gloriana and her friends. But alas! the forces of evil seems to be against them.

These evil forces will go through any length to stop them.

Thanks to Cherryblossom once more they are safe if only for a little while.

Who would think that someone so small can stop something so big?