Chapter One-hundred-and-five: The four Elders

I chuckle at Elijah’s reaction as Elder Liandor turns to face me.

“Aliana. I’m glad you’ve come.” He says wearily, obviously still tired. I walk over to him and kneel before him.

“I’m so sorry, Elder. I never wished for any of this to happen….I…I..” he puts a hand up, stopping me.

“Dear child, no one could have ever known what was going to happen in the future. Elijah has told me everything already. I knew you were a special child, and I am glad you found your destiny. Your mate also told me a lot about you. You have changed so much since I saw you last.”

He smiles, looking at me fondly. I reciprocate, my sadness starting to fade.

“Thank you, Elder. It is nice to see you again. I always appreciated what you and the community taught me.” I pause, looking around at the room. “Is there anything I can do to make your stay here more comfortable?”

He shakes his head, waving his hand. “No, thank you, Aliana, Elijah here has carried out all my needs and has looked after me, even though I wouldn’t have minded using the packs hospital.” He looks to Elijah then back at me. “I would like to have a good conversation with the packs Elders though, if that can be arranged?”

I see Elijah look over to him for a second, then he looks to me with a worried expression on his face. Elder Liandor is looking at me expectantly.

“I would be more than happy to accommodate that. Let me mind-link them.” I say, and he responds by nodding his head.

I reach out to Elder Irish.

“Hello Elder. Is there any chance you and the other Elders can allow me a favour?” I request, hoping he’s not too busy to respond.

“Hi Luna. We can. We would also like a word with you, if you’re up for it?” He asks, and I assume the elders want a private audience without the ranked memebers. I sigh, knowing they’ll want to pick my brain about the realm of the Gods.

“Of course, Elder Irish. I’ve only been back a few hours. I can pop by in an hour or so, if this is convenient for you three?”

“Yes Luna, that’s fine. What was the request?” He asks, getting straight to the point.

“The Elven Elder who Nuria brought here from Fedori’s darkness realm, Elder Liandor, requests a meeting with the pack’s Elders to…discuss some things. He didn’t say what specifically, but this Elder is one of the wisest elves I know. I would ask that you three meet with him and hear him out.”

There’s a few seconds pause before he responds. “We’d be more than happy to meet with him.” He says, before then giving me a time he can heads over to their house so they can speak privately.

I cut the mind-link and look to Elder Liandor who’s waiting for their response patiently.

“They’ll be more than happy to meet with you. They suggested tomorrow morning at noon at the Elders house.” I say, then giving him directions to get there. He looks to Elijah.

“Are you able to get me there please, Elijah? I don’t think I’m quite yet ready to walk that far on my own just yet.”

Elijah gives him a sad smile. “Of course, Elder. I can use the wheelchair Doctor Lowe provided us for when you wanted to go out.”

Elder Liandor nods his head, satisfied. He then turns to me once again.

“Thank you Aliana. I suspect I’ll see more of you around here.” He says as a statement rather than a question and I smile over at him.

“You sure will.” I respond. I then stand and Nuria stands a moment after, signalling that we’re leaving.

“I must go now, Elder. It was good seeing you again. I will pop by when I have a chance to see how you’re getting on.”

He nods his head and then turns to the fire, staring at it intensely. Elijah walks us to the door.

I turn to him as I step out. “Is he ok?” I ask, feeling like there’s something wrong.

He grimaces. “I think a part of him was lost when he went to the darkness realm. He told me the many things they did to both him and Lukas, and none of them nice. They were tortured brutally, Aliana. I’ve been trying to meditate with him, keeping him only around me, or things he recognises. He seemed fine in there but sometimes he wakes up as if he’s in terrible pain. I don’t know what to do.”

I feel his fear, and I understand. I try to think of what Elder Liandor was like back in Druida.

“I think it’s a good idea to get him stuck in with the pack Elders and the pack itself.” I say, thinking out loud.

He looks at me like I’m insane. “Did you not just hear what I said?” He exclaims.

“Yes, but think about what he was like in Druida. He was busy, all of the time. He had lots of things on his mind and he’s a very smart elf. If you keep him busy with something, it’ll take his mind off of things. If you leave him like…like that, he’ll go insane much quicker.” I answer.

He pulls a face but I can tell the cogs in his head are turning. He takes a deep breath and breathes a long sigh.

“You’re right, no doubt. I just didn’t know what to do.” He bobs his head about, going with my suggestion. “Ok, I’ll try and make him busier. I’ll keep you updated.”

I smile at him and wave. “I’ve no doubt. Oh, make sure you’re not neglecting Loretta also! See you later Elijah!” I say with a wink as we leave the cottage garden, laughing as we see his reaction.

Nuria nudges me as we walk. “So, where to next?” She asks.

“Next, we go to see the pack’s Elders.”

We make haste to their house, travelling on foot for half-an-hour before I see the circular building I was used to entering with Lukas. We make our way up the slight ascent until we reach the doors which I chap on with my hand.

A few moments go by before we are met with Elder Wright.

“Good afternoon Luna. We’re expecting you.” He says with a slight smile. He sees Nuria behind me.

“Is she to accompany you?” He asks.

I nod my head, and he opens the door fully to allow us both entry. We enter and I see the usual candles lit, even though it’s the middle of the day. It still astounds me how they don’t use electricity here, and are happier using candles and what not. I smile to myself, knowing that Elder Liandor would enjoy it here.

We pull up to the table with the five little stools around it, Elder Wyatt and Elder Irish already sitting at the table, waiting for us. Nuria and I sit down, causing all three of them to turn and face us.

“Hello to you both.” Elder Irish says. He then looks to me, not worrying himself with further pleasantries.

“Luna. We want to know everything that’s happened since you returned from your journey. We each have so many questions.” He says, quizzically. I hadn’t expected anything less.

I look to Nuria who shrugs at me, so I dive right into why we decided to look for Allies, then from each meeting to when the Geodra’s found me and how they helped Nuria. They seemed to take an interest into Nuria’s gifts, even more than before. Shes delves into her gifts and how they’ve intensified with the gift of obsidian. Once she had finished explaining, I then went into the details of the battle as they were sent to the bunker.

“So, a lot of the pack said that you had helped them….how?” Elder Wright asks curiously.

“It was more Athena, than I.” I admit. I feel Athena nudge me, knowing she is saying it was us, but I ignore her.

“The Moon Goddess bestowed some knowledge onto her on how to help everyone get on level footing with the dark creatures. We found out that they were weak against water, so we sent everyone an animate cut of water to assist them whilst they were fighting. It turned out rather well if you ask me.” I say, knowing that it was why more of us hadn’t died.

The Elders then listen on to my summoning by the Gods, and what happened up there. I made sure to keep out all the information about bringing Lukas back, as I wanted to keep it a secret till he woke up….and in all honesty, I wanted to be greedy and see him first. I keep my eyes on Elder Wyatt during our conversation, knowing he’s be interested in what I had to say. He strokes his beard as I continue with what happened whilst I was there, the encounters I had and the discussion that had taken place. Not once did he change his expression or actions, as he continuously just kept stroking his beard. I then went through my conversation with Selene and Solaris, before ending with coming back here.

“If all your telling us is true, then it means you’re a Goddess, Luna. What are you plans now?” Elder Wyatt asks after a few moments of silence once I finished.

“Now….now I just want to settle down. With Lukas.” I say, causing all three of them to look surprised.

Elder Wyatt raises an eyebrow, but before he gets a chance to ask anything, I receive a mind-link.

“Luna. The Alpha is waking up.”

I smile and cut off the link, standing up as I do.

“I apologise Elders, but it’s time for me to go and see Lukas.”