Haldirs Choice Part 6 A

Haldir awoke to the sound of song birds chirping as gentle rays of sunlight warmed his face.
He opened his eyes and slowly sat up. He looked to see that he was wearing a simple green robe that was very soft to the touch. He looked about the room he was in.
It was a strange room with many curving walls that rose high above him. Large windows formed a ring high atop the room looking out in all directions. A large oak and silver door lay at one end of the room while a chair and a small table sat at the other. The walls were a strange white wood that had no seam and no paint. The floor was likewise white wood with no seam and no paint. Needless to say Haldir found this very strange. He put his hand to the floor and found it was indeed soft wood. He was about to lift his hand when he felt something, a comforting warmth seemed to be flowing through the floor. It was strange but also pleasant in a quiet way. Haldir stretched and walked around the room. On the table was his necklace and his fathers medal, it was wrapped neatly in a cloth. A pair of sandals lay next to them. Haldir retrieved them and headed for the door. It was locked and would not budge.

And so Haldir sat and watched the lights dance across the walls, he was strangely content in this strange place he had no memory of entering.
By what Haldir figured was high noon there came a knock at the door as it swiftly opened.

Two Elf guards entered followed by the strange naked woman Haldir remembered from yesterday before he blacked out. She was intoxicating.
The Elf guards, with their slender builds and frail looking leather armor stood to the side of the door, their swords held in their sheaths with one hand on the handle. She stepped forward.
“What is your name child.” She asked, her every word dripping with seduction.

“Uh, My name is Haldir.” Was all he could say.

“Welcome Haldir to Evainsae, a city of the Elves.” She said drawing her arms to encompass the room.

Haldir stared at her at a complete loss for words, his mind became foggy being so close to her, she was enchanting.
She giggled. “Close your mouth, I am here to give you a tour of our fair city. Now come along.” She said turning and exiting the room with a dancers grace.

Haldir followed her out, his mind focused only on her. He did not notice the two guards that fell into step right behind him. When he exited the room and looked about his mind snapped into focus once again. The city was incredible.
The room he had been in, he saw, was part of a huge white tree with great yellow leaves in its branches many meters above. All around him he could see nature blending in with traditional homes to form something functional and beautiful. Every home he saw was similar but very unique, the roofs seemed to curve and flow as if they were waves in a vast sea of yellow wood. Great buildings could be seen as part of a tree or in the branches high above and connected with ropes, ladders, and intricate bridges. Statues of golden Stags in various heroic poses could be seen all around the many fountains in the courtyards between homes. Neatly cobbled roadways connected every building from the smallest walkway to wide sweeping roadways with bustling villagers and carriages laden with supplies. Through the trees a great tower could be seen poking through the center of town. All along its side trees could be seen growing on special platforms near the many windows. Waterfalls cascaded down its side creating a permanent veil of rainbows as the light glinted off the water droplets. At its peak a great smokeless green flame burned inside a large circular room. The same yellow wood formed the roof of the tower.

Around the tower a dense market could be seen with people and animals going about their business in a relatively calm manor. A troop of proud Elven warriors in their golden armor marched by, they wore the same Stag helmets as the Elves he had fought before. His mind slowly slipped back to his fallen friend at the reminder of the battle.

“You look sad Haldir. You carry much sadness in you for one so young. Please let us help you child. Let us soothe your wounds.” She said in a quiet voice as she slipped a comforting arm about his shoulders.
Haldir began to cry.
She walked him over to a small house on the edge of town not too far from the room he had awoken in. Inside were three elderly looking Elves who quickly sat Haldir down on a couch as he quietly cried.
One of the Elves was a rather frail looking woman with several old scars on her face. Her blue eyes still shone with energy. Her hair was long and luscious but grey, she wore a calming blue and red robe that fell to her ankles and covered her jeweled wrists. The second Elf was an older man, He wore his grey hair short, his lean pointed face and ears stood out in stark contrast to the soft and gentle green robes he wore, their curving designs flowing into one another with every shade of green in the forest blending seamlessly with the next. His blue eyes calmed Haldir somewhat with their kindness. The final Elf was a larger woman, large for an Elf that is. She kept her long grey hair tied back behind her neck. She wore a plain gold robe with a plain yellow belt. She had only one ring on her finger, it had a small red stone in the gold band. The stone matched her wise red eyes, the same eyes she now regarded Haldir with.
“We are the Elven healers. We can see you are in great pain, your wounds are old, and deep. We do not like to see any creature in pain. Please, let us help you to heal child.” The last Elf said as she and her companions sat down in chair around Haldirs couch.
The naked woman patted Haldir on the back and left without another word. The guards took up places outside the door. The room Haldir found himself in was small but cozy, a fire burned at one end of the room and he could see a table full of baked goods and tea set behind the three plush chairs. Tinted windows let in plenty of light, but candles burned wherever there was a shadow. The room was bright and cheery but not overly so. It was just right and Haldir found himself relaxing into the chair as the Elves patiently watched him settle.

“What is your name young one.” The man asked.
“I am Haldir, Haldir of Camden. Well I used to be from there I guess. Now I am just Haldir.” He said calmly.
“I am Sylniat, the oldest healer of this house.” The one in gold said.
“They call me Ruhar, the most knowledgeable healer of this house.” The man in green said.
“I am known as Sitria, the youngest bust most traveled healer of this house.” The woman in red and blue said.
With that Haldir poured open his soul. Every secret shame, every painful moment he could recall from the slightest insult to losing his friend and everything in between. Those he once thought of as sneaky and untrustworthy he now gave his entire being to. For it is impossible for a mortal to deny the charms of three elder Elves in their own home. Their magic is just too powerful. As Haldir described each pain in his short life a little more of the blackness lifted from his heart. Slowly he began to feel better. When he was done Sitria got everyone tea and snacks and they sat quietly together in contentment. Haldir was exhausted from this ordeal. After everyone finished their tea Haldir noticed the light outside had faded considerably.
“You have done well today Haldir but I am afraid your wounds are too deep to be healed in one day. We will work together to end your sadness and cleanse the darkness that taints your spirit. You are not a dark person but we fear you could become one if this darkness is not lifted. See you tomorrow, for now you should get some sleep.” Ruhar said in a surprisingly deep voice.

And so Haldir and his guards walked back to his room. Haldir was disappointed to see the strange woman was not there to walk him back, and he didn’t even know who she was. When Haldir got back he saw that a candelabra had been lit and was sitting on the table. A mat and blanket were rolled out on the floor with a soft pillow at one end. Haldir removed his sandals and robe and crawled into bed pausing only to blow out the candles he brought down from the table and set next to his bed. Once again Haldir found himself falling quickly asleep as the Elves began to sing a hauntingly beautiful song in their strange musical language.

Haldir awoke the next morning feeling well rested and ready for the morning. The guards brought him some bread and eggs fro breakfast and then took him outside to where he could find a much needed bath and a fresh robe. They then took him over to the house of healing once again. Inside Haldir found Ruhar and Sitria in discussion together over a pot of tea. He sat at the couch and waited for them to finish. He listened closely to their conversation, he did not understand a word of their tongue but he could feel the deep emotion and the sweeping, flowing motion of their conversation, it was as much singing as it was talking.

Eventually they finished and turned to Haldir. They explained Sylniat was away for a few days but had told them to continue helping Haldir. And so they did. Haldir told them of his troubles past and present and together they carried the pain away. Slowly Haldirs soul was being healed. Long buried wounds were brought to the surface and stitched back together. Old grudges were forgiven. His hatred bled from his heart like water from a gourd. Lost dreams were made new and his tattered spirit strengthened. Several days passed this way, each day deeper wounds were healed.
Eventually the darkness that had clouded his spirit was almost gone except for three large wounds not easily healed. One was that he had never known his father, and except for the medal he wore around his neck he had nothing of the man. The second was the battle he had fought where Haldir still felt guilt for his friend and the many fair Elves he had slain. The third wound, was one for his mother and the Elves who had released the plague that had killed her.
These wounds were deep, but the Elves felt they could heal even these, given enough time and hope all wounds could heal.