The Fourteenth Elder

Kai eagerly trodded through the woods. These trees screamed ancient, and Sen seemed fascinated at them. Some towered above, while many grew wide, bigger than Kai, though few could compete with Elder Paradise’s size. The paths grew even more familiar as they neared Father’s place. They passed the brook he built dams in and passed the shore eddy where he was forced to bathe and keep his things clean. Bard recalled walking down each path and eventually, for old times sake, dismounted Kai and walked them himself. Sen seemed to watch him with amusement.

Kai stopped and Bard looked at his sparkling gaze as he looked to the side. This place didn’t just hold memories for Bard, it was Kai’s birthplace and home. He patted the giant wolf’s side and silently urged him to follow a little further.

They made it to the central location and Sen looked around in wonder.

A large tree, not as tall as some they had encountered, but wider, more full and with a larger canopy grew. Atop an island like center with short waterfalls filing in and exiting to one side. The bubbling river carved around the central area, adding to the mystic and presence of the Elder. With green leaves and ancient orbs of insects, heralding to an older age, Father Tree stood as if time never creeped on. A powerful aura of strength, but with the sense that there was a depth of patience and history to his figure. A perfect climbing tree, if only Bard wasn’t so afraid of heights.

Bard froze as he looked over the expanse till his eyes blurred. He wiped away the tears of relief and nostalgia. Sen climbed down and indicated to the obvious clearing at the base of the tree. Father kept it that way for guests, always waiting and ready to receive. Kai nudged him forwards, and they descended down into the depression. He guided Sen over the brooks and around some of the falls as they made it down the path. When they had arrived, they unloaded Kai.

There was a stir, a hum as they worked, before the tree seemed to stretch. Bard closed his eyes, keeping back the tears.

“Ah, Bardon. Welcome home,” Father said calmly, slowly, and with a tone of infinite patience and warmth. Bard took in a deep breath, enjoying this moment. Sen came over and grabbed his hand, and he looked down at her before his gaze cast up at the tree.

“It’s good to see you again, Father. I am home,” he said with such relief. Sen moved to Kai and continued unpacking, encouraging Bard to do so as well.

Father’s branches moved over and assisted them, surprising Sen but was almost anticipated by Bard. When Kai was unloaded, he wagged his tail and then bounded up the side. Father moved around the clearing and helped them get situated. When they were done, Sen stretched before turning and bowing to Father.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Sen,” she said, and Father’s branches patted her on the head before tilting her chin up.

“It’s a pleasure, daughter of the Ginmori family. A real pleasure.”

“How did you-” she began and then moved back towards Bard. Ginmori… that wasn’t something Bard was aware of.

“Ah Bard. How much you have grown. I see you’ve gained an air of wisdom and maturity. And your betrothed is lovely. She took good care of you on your way here,” Father said. Bard looked at Sen with a content smile before looking back at Father.

“Indeed. She is a treasure in my life that I plan to cherish, always,” he replied. Sen’s face turned a bit red as she leaned into him. “Sen?” he asked, and she shook her head, remaining quiet.

“I see. Since you two are starting a new chapter in your life, then there is much to discuss. But-” he paused and moved his leaves as if getting more comfortable. Bard knew this movement. It was the motion of Father getting ready for a long discussion. Bard smiled and guided Sen to his favorite spot, under the boughs. He found his old space was too small, so he relinquished it to her. However, Father adjusted a spot near her to accommodate him.

“Shall we begin?” Father asked. Bard reached over and grabbed Sen’s hand before confirming. Father then shifted and rose from his spot. The ground hardly moved around them. It was as if he was a floating object. The forest parted around, and they began a slow and rocking ride through the woods.

“Tell me about how you have been since we last saw each other, Bard,” Father began. Bard started to relate his adventures after learning from Honor and heading into the wider world. He shared about his first encounter with the Shades around Watcher and learning from her and the catfolk how to protect himself at night and in the cities. As he shared, Sen commented about the cities, having had only a few opportunities to walk in them. When he shared about finding a replacement violin in one, she was fascinated with it. She also flinched when he described the ceilings above collapsing under the weight of a large instrument that Father pointed out was likely a type of piano. The instruments he got to see were hardly usable, so he shared what he could with Father, and he in turn offered insight about them. It was enjoyable, though it did make Sen a bit jealous.

As the conversation wore on, Sen started to nod off. It was so comfortable and felt so safe, if not for the conversation, Bard would have joined her.

“And tell me of your dealings with War Tree, who you helped to remember his song,” Father guided and Bard paused. There were a few things in the conversation that had bothered him. Father seemed to know about the shades and his adventures as if he had observed them.

“Father… do you know what happened on my travels?” he asked. Sen shifted and stirred, but Father kept up the steady motion, and she was back asleep again. Bard looked out as the silence wore on. Animals paused and watched them, some were more respectful, while others were curious about them. Some places had changed, rock ledges had fallen since he was here last, and the ancient critters were congregating in new locations. Over all, the place still held onto its sense of timelessness.

“I do know, but I enjoy hearing it from you because you offer more than I can observe,” Father answered and Bard looked up at the branches as they rustled with a bit of wind. Bard looked at his tokens and paused.

“You said, that this is a part of you. Is that how you know?” Bard asked, and Father paused before continuing.

“You needn’t know how it works. When you are a Father, perhaps you will understand this as well. As for your travels. I know of your struggles with Defender, your unexpected pledge to Sen, the actions you did in the village and the lives you have saved and shaped into the place you call Sal Shefa. While I am only vaguely aware of how they are doing, what is more important in this moment is your ability to forge your future with Sen.”

Bard looked quietly at the changing landscape. Kai found a few old acquaintances and danced around, chasing them. It was quite the change as he was so much larger, but it pleased his heart to see him like he was before their journey began.

Sen stretched and then moved to sit. She stayed fairly out of it until she just snapped into alertness.

“Sorry for falling asleep,” she said as she looked at Bard, then her gaze moved up to Father. “Where are we heading?”

“There is an activity I want the two of you to participate in. It will reveal some things about your relationship,” Father said in Asternum. Sen smiled one of the largest smiles Bard had seen and then laughed.

“Okay!” she cheered.

Bard closed his eyes as a smile graced his lips. She could behave so much like a child sometimes that it was amusing. They moved to a rocky part of the forest and Father paused. Bard helped Sen get down from her perch, and Father indicated to Bard’s clothing.

“Take something to cover your eyes. This first activity is to see how well you trust one another and communicate,” he said calmly. Bard’s hands moved to the bandana like object around his neck. He tied it around his face, covering his eyes, and then felt Father’s branch push him gently towards Sen. He stepped and held out his hands. He was relieved as he felt her hands grab his.

“Now, Sen. Take Bard and travel along the path to the falls. Bard, you are not to peek or use your eyes.”

“Okay,” Sen said a bit less enthusiastically. Bard chuckled as she pulled him forward. It was strange being in the dark, especially since they had started to encounter the shades more frequently. This somewhat bothered him, not being able to see. As he stumbled, Sen seemed confused.

“Sen?” Bard said, and she gasped.

“Oh. Move your foot a bit higher, or you’ll-” she said hurriedly. Bard tripped and felt the ground as his palms smacked on it. Thankfully his face didn’t touch it, but the pain was a bit sharp as little pebbles imbedded themselves into his hands. He barely registered her saying the word ‘trip’. A bit late for that. “Are you alright?” she asked as she grabbed his arm. She helped him move to a sitting position, and he was about to remove the bandana but paused. That would be against the rules of this exercise.

“It kind of hurt,” he said, brushing the palms together to remove the rocks. He winced as some pebbles dug at him, and he was sure the palms were red, possibly scratched.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think… I’m sorry,” she said. He felt her grab his hands and heard the rustling as Father moved his branches. While she removed some of the pebbles, he reached out and felt her hairs. He then followed them and found her scalp and patted it tenderly.

“It’s alright. I know you won’t make that mistake again. Shall we get moving?” he asked. Sen grabbed his hand. He had no idea how she was taking this.

“Your poor hands…” she mumbled before gently tugging on them, signaling for him to rise. As he rose, he felt her gently put her hands near his stomach to steady him.

“The ground’s a bit uneven, so carefully-,” she emphasized. Bard smirked. This was going to be amusing. He felt her fingers move around as she came to his side and had him walk. Her directions were a bit off. Sometimes coming in late, other times too early, and he was left guessing while she struggled to explain what to do.

“There’s a root ahead… no… not yet. In a bit…. Bard!”

“Okay…” he chuckled. “Where do I put my foot?”

“There.” She said. He began to put his foot down, and she pulled on him.

“Not there. Over here,” she said. He heard her grumble as she realized he couldn’t see what she was potentially pointing at. She grabbed his other hand and moved in front of him. Her words were directed at him, so she had turned to face him.

“Place it over here,” she said, moving one hand to guide his foot. He felt the scraping of wood by his heel and realized she was trying to have him step over this root. “Now, over-” her little shriek alerted him that she was stumbling. He stiffened and caught her from going all the way down, and her hand clutched his, making his injuries sting. He gritted his teeth while she re-steadied herself.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yeah. Thanks,” she said, and then immediately released her grip.

“Sorry!” she shouted, and he relaxed his hands by opening them and closing them partially. The movement stung, but not as much as her clamp.

“It’s alright. You’re not injured, are you?”

“No. I said I was fine,” she said with a pout. “Didn’t you hear me?” she asked and then chuckled. “Thank you.” He felt her grab his hands again, and she proceeded to guide him down a slope, and then up again. A few times he flinched as she had him walk into a low-hanging branch. They were small so they gave, but it startled him. Being blind wasn’t exactly fun in the woods.

Finally, his ears caught a distinct sound of the water, and he pointed it to her, indicating they should head over and follow it.

“Well… it’s down a steep sort of drop off. But we could follow at the top of the edge… I think,” she said. Bard could imagine what she was seeing, but he had no reference to where they were since she had backtracked a few times.

As the trek wore on, Father Tree’s rumblings as he moved along the edge of their sight were one of the more distinct sounds beside the wildlife that Bard could track.

As they moved on, he felt the temperature drop a bit, and then the sounds of the falls grew louder and louder. The ground became wet and slick as they traveled. Sen then paused, and he waited as she huffed a sigh of relief.

“We’re almost there,” she said excitedly. In her excitement, she forgot to tell him about where his feet were, and he stumbled on a root before she returned her attention to him.

As they came close, he could feel the mist that came from the water pouring over the edge. It washed over his exposed chin and cheeks, and he looked forward to washing off his hands.

Suddenly, Sen paused and Bard stumbled to a stop beside her.

“We made it,” she said.

“Indeed,” Father’s voice said. Bard felt her grab the bandana, and he moved to help her pull it down, loosening it so it slid off his nose.

He blinked several times as the bright world came into fuzzy view. With each successive blink, it became more clear, and he looked over at Sen’s smiling face. Then his gaze moved across the falls. He remembered this place. So many memories.

Father was on the opposite side, nearly dwarfing the falls, imposing that they were. Some insects floated around as orbs of dim light, making the scene breathtaking. His stinging hands reminded him to wash, and he moved to the water and stopped to clean them. The spray of the falls made his hair feel damp, and he noticed the obvious condensation collecting on his clothes. Sen struggled to come close, shivering and muttering about how cold it was. Bard laughed. It was warmer than he recalled, even if it was a bit cold.

After cleaning off his hands, he walked over to her, making sure not to slip on the mossy rocks that surrounded them.