The Root

The princess walked into the council chamber slowly. The guards at the door looked at each other in indecision. The tall guard said

Tall guard - " Would you like us to accompany you princess or would you like to be undisturbed? "

Princess - " A moment alone please. " She started to step into the empty room. Stopped a moment and asked both guards. " NO one has been in this room since the incident? "

Guards -" No one my lady. " They both answered.

She continued inside and closed the doors behind her.

She looked around the room. As Thiss had said. No bodies only small piles of dust. Immortals should not die this way. They should not die at all thought the princess. She walked slowly to the center of the chamber where her father used to stand. Looked down at the pile of dust. Her eyes moist. She looked over to where her mother used to sit. Thinking to herself. Try to be strong. She looked down again. A tear loosed it's way off her cheek and fell into the dust that was once the chief. She looked at the moisture being absorbed into the pile. A glint of something metal shone up at her. She thought for a moment and her eyes cleared of their sadness to be replaced with deep thought and purpose. She slowly backed away from the ash and turned towards the doors.

Princess - " Guards! "

The doors swung open and the guards alertly headed toward the princess looking around to be sure there was no danger.

Tall guard - " Princess?! "

She looked at them each.

Princess -" Have new guards posted. I want you two to see that the ash of the council and my family is segregated and collected. I want the ash placed in crystal bowls. Then labeled and covered. I will remain here to oversee the process. Who is the last remaining senior officer in the Silvertree? "

Yellow guard - " Sterlith. My lady. He remains at the gate planning defenses and retrieving information from the scouts as the return. "

Princess - " Have him report here at once........ Please.  I will stay and see that nothing is disturbed. "

Yellow guard - " If you want princess. "

The guards turned and set about their tasks. The princess stood in the same spot until Sterlig entered the room with the guards and a few other elves bearing crystal bowls. The guards now bearing velvet cloth and copper dustpans.

Yellow guard - " We hope this is fitting enough my lady. " She nodded at them and then started the task with a solemn respect for the dust they were collecting.

Sterlith looked at the princess but she did not look at, nor speak to him. She just watched the guards collect the dust from the room. When they had reached the pile of ash that had once been her father she motioned at Sterlig to watch more carefully. For as they swept away the ash a medallion remained. It was made of silver. A bright shining remnant of a good elf. The Crest of the Tree. The Crown for all it's symbolism.

" How could it be that we could have forgotten? " Sterlith spoke to her.

Princess - " Grief and Anger are powerful things to reckon with. At least you had the good sense to leave the room under guard. You are SURE that no one else remains of my family? "

The guard who had uncovered the amulet looked over at the both of them for instruction.

Sterlith looked at the princess and spoke out loud to the guard.

Sterlith - " Bring it to the princess. She IS the rightful heir. As she is our remaining hope for awakening the Tree. So we may all be saved. "

The tall guard stood up and brought it to her laying it in her hands. He looked at her. She seemed to stare out into space for a moment.

Then there was a noise. All in the chamber stopped and looked in the direction of the silver tree.

Sterlith moved his head as if tracking the sound up above their heads.

It was the sound of the branches up above clicking together. The vibrations shuddered down to the base where they all stood. In the chamber it sounded like someone silently crying. Exhaling sharply. The Root shuddered and stood open like flower in bloom.

The princess walked close to the root.

Sterlith seeing her move towards it quickly moved to intercept her.

Sterlith - " With all due respect my lady! You can not enter the root now? You can not leave us in our time of need! We are your people. Without you we will age and die for nothing. "

Princess - " I have heard the call. My LOYALTY is to the tree and the tree above ALL other things. That is why my blood boils now. That is what makes me a Royal. "

Sterlith - " The tree can only be entered when your days are done. You are not ready to rest forever. You must stay alive with us. Without you there is no one else to help us understand the tree. All the elders left will be buried in the ground. Instead of joining their ancestors. " ( He said that last bit in distaste. )

Princess - " This is my way. This is the way of the tree or it would not call. My life will feed it and when it is ready. It will call to one of you if it so desires to. I cannot question that I must go to it. My FATHER told me to always believe in the SilverTree, he is ash now! Yet in his name I will do so despite all I love and hate to leave. It calls to ME. I will not leave it hungry. "

She pushed Sterlith to the side and proceeded without looking back.

The wood molded itself. It was as if it was turning into an old rocking chair. She sat in that spot still cradling the amulet in her hands and the root started to close up around her. All watching on were still motionless at the tree they revere engulfed the last of the royal family. The root settled back in to it's original position, but the princess was gone.

Sterlith - " Is there not one royal left to take the scepter from my hands. "

Sterith sat down on the floor.

To chapter Four