The Beginning of the End

We were in the main hall waiting for the Elders to come out. Goodness it is so silent in here, it feels like the world is mocking us. But it has been a while since someone in our village died.

“Here he comes. Oh, I feel so sorry for him. I mean his best friend just died and now he has to announce who will replace him,” my best friend, Aerilaya, whispered to me.

I agreed with Aerilaya on that point. I do feel sorry for Nerien, I mean Cyrus got tired of living and committed suicide. Of course no one blamed him. Life is way too stressful.

“Shush,” whispered Caranthir, the blacksmith’s apprentice. “I want to hear the announcement, but I cannot hear with you adolescent brats whispering to each other. And don’t you dare talk back to me young ladies or you will be so sorry when they ask me to be the new Elder.”

“Oh, shut up, unless you want to be the laughing stock of the village ifyour name is called. If that is what you want though, please keep on scolding us, we won’t interrupt you,” I told him indifferently. He only wishes. I doubt he could last a week being in charge. Me on the other hand… well I don’t want any position of authority.

“When they call me you mean, Enelya,” Caranthir retorted me quietly. “I am clearly suited for the job…”

We were not listening to him ramble on though. Nerien reached the end of the mount, and he cleared his voice.

“Thank you all for coming here today for this solemn occasion. You all now know that Cyrus died to days ago, and now the Council must replace him. We all are facing hard times nowadays, and more refugees are pouring into our small village. We are moving further inland.

“You might be wondering why I am telling you this, so I will explain. The Council is here to serve and protect this community and our way of life. The new member will not live in glamour, or have fame. If our kind is to survive this war we must have strong, smart, brave leaders. So to get on with this we, The Council of Immortals, ask Farnian Tagers to be the new member of the Council. Farnian, what do you say, will you take up the role?”

On of Farnian’s friends pushed him so hard that he stood up. “I d-d-don’t w-want to be in the C-C-C-Council. I’m s-so s-sorry.” Farnian sputtered as quickly as he could before sitting down. I couldn’t help but smirk. Farnian was a good boy, he would serve wonderfully as a Council member. But there were times that he was timid.

“That is all right, I’m going to be the next to be called on and I will say yes,” Caranthir quickly muttered to us.

“I hope you are,” Aerilaya muttered to him earnestly. “I would hate to see some of these nincompoops be chosen.” What is that girl smoking? Someone please tell me so I could get her off of it.

“Aerilaya shut up,” Lynda demanded, “no one will hear the second person if you keep on talking . Anyways, Caranthir is one of those nincompoops who we do not want to be chosen.” “All of you better shut your traps now unless you want to be very sorry,” I said a little crossly. Just to make a long story short, they were quiet immediately. They know by now not to agitate me at least.

“Well if you are sure Farnian, then we would like it if Lynda Elendil would join us. What do you say?”

After we closed her gapping mouth, Lynda quickly jumped up. “I will take the job of a Council Member if that is what everyone wants.” I was shocked. How dare they think to separate us. Of course we would want Lynda to take the position, but it would mean we wouldn’t see her as often.

“Of course dear. What does everyone say, should Lynda be the new member?” He paused for a moment to hear the people say yes or no. It was pretty much unanimous. Everyone thinks she is the leader of our trio of troublemakers because she is the oldest of the three of us, and we encourage that belief. Actually, I was the mastermind and leader behind our group. But because we caused so much trouble, I have no doubt that the village is happy that we are separated a bit. “I think we found our new member. Thank you everyone for being here.”

three days later

Around three days later, no one could find Aerilaya or me. This was mainly because we were on the hill on the other side of the island, away from our growing village, picking berries for dinner that day. The only problem was that the berries kept finding their way into various mouths, including the creatures of the forest.

“You know something, Enelya,” Aerilaya told me, “I fell so sorry for Lynda. She loved coming here with is, but now she has to stay in the village.”

“With a bunch of grumpy, old men and women in a stuffy, old room.” I replied with a grim smile. “I know what you mean. She told such hilarious jokes, and now she is stuck talking about how to make the village better. Should we expand further inland, blah, blah, blah. Poor Lyn-”

“What is the matter?”

“Quiet! Someone’s coming.”

“But how-”

I put my finger to my lips to silence Aerilaya. She understood and stopped taking.

We stood there awhile not making a sound, just to make sure that the person who was passing by was gone.

That was a close one. I had heard voices, and they seemed so familiar. But I couldn’t put my finger on the owner’s name. Damn my memory, failing me at a time of need. At least they were gone now and no one knows where we are.

We turned around to look ate the ocean, and a silence fell upon us once more. This time it was not because we didn’t want to be found, but because we were frightened, shocked, sad, scared, worried, confused and so much more, neither of us could have or would have explain.

Out in the water was a boat with blood-red flags that we were taught to fear. The Namreg were entreating on our peaceful hide-away.

“Aerilaya,” I barely managed to whisper, “ please tell me that I am seeing things right now. Please tell me that I am crazy and there are no ships out here. If they are, tell me that they are not waving Namreg flags, but Elfin ones.”

“If they are not real, than I am crazy too, Enelya.” Aerilaya whispered back.

And, as if some bizarre force was controlling our very movements, we crumpled like roses in the cold. Not moving, not caring what would happen, we wept.