Chapter VI

As Garvåre entered the temple Fionnuala followed her. “Do not stop here Garvåre, continue” she said. Garvåre continued to walk inside to a place lit up by the moon. As he arrived in the moonlit space he saw that he was not alone. He could see the Elder from the Gammal Varg, the Elder from the Cervidae and the Elder from the Ursidae. Never had he seen the Elders before. Their presence was something he never felt before. He had spent a lot of times with the Gammal Varg, but the Elder was much larger then his kin. The Elder Gammal Varg was 22 feet in length and 12 feet in shoulder-height. His fur was grey and his stature gave him an imposing presence. The Elder Cervidae was 14 feet in length and 9 feet and 6 inches in shoulder height. His fur had a brown-greyish colour and his antlers were 4 feet 9 inches long. The Elder Ursidae was 38 feet and 6 inches in length with a shoulder-height of 21 feet. His fur was dark brown and his claws shone brightly in the light of the moon. From all the Elders the Elder Cervidae was the youngest with two hundred and sixty-seven years.

Fionnuala walked towards the Elders and joined them. “Welcome young man” greeted the Elder Cervidae as he bowed to Garvåre. “So this is the one you talked about, I can see what you mean.” said the Elder Ursidae. “Garvåre, I have seen you a lot with my kin. Though I can smell you are not accustomed to having spent time with animals, before you were brought here.” said the Elder Gammal Varg. “You are not from these parts of the world, your body is not build for the woods.” said the Elder Cervidae. “We are the protectors of these woods.” said High Priestess Fionnuala. “The Elders represent their kin and I represent the Följde Måne, though there were times we did not live together, we have come to an understanding many years ago. Now our tribes stand together whenever there is a threat from the Darkness. Lie down on the altar, and things shall become clear to you.”

Garvåre looked to the altar and a chill ran down his spine. Slowly he walked to the altar and something within him became afraid. As he could touch the altar he swallowed. “Step on it young one or I will help you.” said the Elder Ursidae. Garvåre looked to his claws and realised that he was not helped softly by the Elder. He looked to Fionnuala. She remained silent but gave him a comforting nod as to step on the altar. Garvåre stepped onto the altar and lay down.

A flash of light entered his body, driving the darkness out of his body. His eyes became white again just as his hair. The Elder Gammal Varg and Ursidae roared loudly as the darkness took shape. The Elder Cervidae scraped the ground as a sign he was ready to charge. High Priestess Fionnuala took her staff that shone brightly with silver light. A dark sinister voice rose from the Darkness. “Well well, it has been a long time since I have seen bears, wolves, deer and men together. Ah High Priestess.” the voice spoke, as the commander of the ship rose from the Darkness. “You must have heard the news of Priestess Larhally?” Fionnuala remained silent but looked him in the eye. “No? That is a shame, she was a powerful priestess and she fended off some of my best troops. Yet she was killed by her own ship when we blew up the stern.” A smile appeared on the commander’s face. “It is too bad the Darkness is only strong enough to talk, otherwise I would test out your strength High Priestess.” “Hold your tongue foul one” said the Elder Cervidae.

The commander turned from the High Priestess to the deer. “I am surprised you are protecting the human, do they not kill your kin all over this forest? You are standing next to the wolf and bear, both have hunted your kin down as well. I am surprised you even dare to come here surrounded by enemies.” The Elder Cervidae scraped the ground and charged with his antlers pointed towards the commander. He was stopped however by the Elder Ursidae. “Fool! You are supposed to be the wise one. We cannot attack him nor can he attack us, physically. You off all should know that words are a powerful weapon.”

The Elder Gammal Varg walked towards the darkness showing his teeth as he growled. “What is it that you seek Dark One, what makes this man important for you.” he spoke with a rasping voice. “He is of no importance to me, it is what he shall do for me that is important. But I will not give that away, for the time is not ready yet. I shall give you a warning, heed it or perish. We from the Shadow People have honour as well. Join us, and you will live. Fight us and you shall perish.”

As he was finished, the darkness in the room resided and Garvåre fell on the ground. It was only after a few minutes he opened his eyes. “I now believe all you have said, about me hailing from different lands. I have seen it. Seen what happened to me. I cannot stay here.” he said when Fionnuala helped him up. As Garvåre was back on his feet Fionnuala saw a difference in stature. “Who were you?” she asked. Garvåre looked at the High Priestess, and then his gaze passed the Elders. “You have named me Garvåre. I was named Feärgon by my mother. I am the son of High King Furan Asalion of Saldena.” When he said this the light of the moon withdrew and it appeared as if the sun started to break through. “I will need access to a smithy. I will leave once my weapon and armour are finished. Are there maps of this area and further south?” he asked. Fionnuala heard what he said, yet she could not answer.

“What is your plan, prince.” the Elder Cervidae asked. “To leave this place. I have seen the creation of darkness, and it was placed within me. If I stay here Asyl Måne will become a battlefield. I do not want that to happen. The Darkness grows every day within me. I can feel that.” “You speak with wisdom prince, if that is your wish so be it. I shall ask if there are wolves that want to escort you to the end of the forest. We will know when you are ready to leave. They shall await you at the eastern gate.” the Elder Gammal Varg said. When he was finished speaking he walked away into the darkness back to his den. The Elder Ursidae did not speak. He only nodded with agreement before following the Elder Gammal Varg. “I shall ask my kin to look after and aid you if that is needed.” the Elder Cervidae said before leaving.

High Priestess Fionnuala did not speak but could only stand there. After the Elders left, the light of the moon returned. “Can I have access to a smithy High Priestess?” Feärgon asked. “You shall, but first we will have to get back to the city.” she answered, though it sounded as if she was not fully aware of what happened. “She saved my life, Priestess Larhally. I was on the island of Starhjan. She helped me to get off the island. On our passage to the northern islands we were attacked. They had boarded the ship but we fought back. When we thought it was safe to talk the stern blew up. I did not see her until they pulled her body out of the water.” Feärgon said. “I wish to leave soon High Priestess. We must act quickly.” “I know” she answered. “The darkness would return one day, I hoped that I would not live to see its return. Yet I will see it return.” “Some things are inevitable, like victory and defeat in war. The thing is how to deal with those things. I had many victories and I thought I would not be defeated. Yet I was defeated, instead of retreating to safe lines, I thought we could handle the Thraians. That was my biggest mistake I have ever made. Leaving many men dead and many families torn apart. That is why I do not want Asyl Måne to become a battlefield.” Feärgon said. “Let us leave this place High Priestess and prepare with the knowledge we have gained.”

They left the Temple and walked back to the boat. They were silent as they made their way through the forest. They stepped on the boat and waded through the water. Feärgon knew he had to tell Andraste and Arawn that he was going to leave Asyl Måne. When they arrived Feärgon could see tears running down High Priestess Fionnuala’s face. “I will ask Arawn to take you to a smithy tomorrow. I shall also ask the weavers to provide you with clothing. Prepare in your way and let me know when you are ready to leave.” Fionnuala said looking to the water in the lake. Feärgon bowed his head to the High Priestess and continued to prepare for his journey.