Roses and Thorns ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 1.
Chapter 18 ~Baradhyl

IIvelle woke up in a room. She didn’t know where she was. At first, she thought she was in the Heavens, but she soon realised that it wasn’t the case. Her whole body hurt and she was sure that if she had been in the Heavens she wouldn’t felt pain. She forced herself to look around. It was a small room, with white walls and wooden furniture. The room was lit by candles and didn’t have windows. On the other end of the room, a woman stood there with her back to her. Ivelle tried to sit up, but failed and fall back.

“You’re awake!” turned the woman around. No, she wasn’t a woman, she was a girl, not older than Ivelle. Maybe younger. She came closer and gave her a glass filled with strange, blue liquid. Ivelle stared at it suspiciously. “It’s medicine. Helps to clear out the poison from your body.” explained the girl.

Ivelle sniffed it and quickly drank it. It wasn’t that bad. It was a bit bitter and salty.

“Thank you.” she gave back the glass to the girl. She smiled and took it without a word. “I’m Ivelle.”

“I know. I was told.” she said, “I’m Poloma.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” said Ivelle.

There was a loud knock on the door. Poloma hurried there and opened it. A tall man with pale skin, white hair and sky blue eyes came in. His long hair was in a low pigtail. He smiled at Ivelle and walked to her bed.

“Hello, Ivelle.” he said in a kind voice.

“Who are you? Where am I? How did I get there? What happened?” asked Ivelle at once.

“Easy, easy!” he said with a kind smile “Poloma brought you clean clothes and food. Get dressed and eat something. After, we can speak.” he smiled, turned around and walked out of the room with Poloma.

Ivelle stood up and walked to the table. There was a plate on its top with bread, honey, cream and fruits, and a jug filled with water and peppermint leaves, and a glass. Next to it on the wardrobe, there were clean clothes. She ate her food, then got dressed. She’d got a long light blue dress with long sleeves and decorated with small blue butterflies. She made a low bun too. She opened the door and left the room. She found herself in a long hallway. Different doors were opening from the hall, but no windows. There were flowers, plants and paintings everywhere. At the one end of the hall, there was a door, somewhat larger than the others. The other end of the hall departed in two different directions. Ivelle decided to walk up to the huge door. She knocked in but didn’t get an answer. She slowly opened the door and looked in. It looked like a library.

She stepped in. It was a huge square-shaped room. The walls were covered by shelves, which were full of books. The ceiling was beautifully painted. The painting was showing the sky, with clouds, and a flying phoenix. In the middle of the room, there was a huge table with chairs. There was also another door opening from that room. She opened that door, once again slowly, first just looking in.

This room was very different. It was a round room and much smaller. There were shelves again, but there was only a small table with a book on its top in the middle. The ceiling was painted like the night sky, with stars, moons, planets everywhere and, of course, constellations. There were also lines like the lines of longitude and latitude on the earth maps, all meeting at one point.

“See, you’ve found the Astronomy room.” said a voice behind her. Ivelle quickly turned around and faced the man. It was the same man who had come into her room earlier.

“I was just-”

“No need to explain yourself.” said the man “On the contrary, I believe, I owe you with some.” he smiled. “Now you can ask your questions?”

“What is this room?” she asked surprisingly not just the man, but herself too.

“Is this really the most important question?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

“No, but I’m curious.”

“Very well.” he said looking away “Many moons ago Seers used this room to tell the future. Now I can barely use it to anything. ” he turned back to her “Next question?”

“Who are you?”

“Yes, yes.” he said laughing ” Fair question. My name is Baradhyl.” Ivelle dropped her jaw.

“Wait,” she began” that Baradhyl? The oldest elf?”

“Yes.” he gave her a warm smile.

"Wow. And what is this place?”

“Well, during the war I brought here refugees. Mostly half-bloods, and Other Species. Before this was the home of the Seers.”

“Seers? You mean they saw the future? ” A small hope appeared in her heart.

“Future, past, present. With enough practice they could see whichever they wanted. ” he looked into her eyes, but for Ivelle it felt like he could see into her soul.

“And do these seers still here? ” She asked hopefully.

“No.” He said simply not letting Ivelle’s eyes go “Most of them were killed by the dark elves. Not long before the first war. The others ran away, no one knows where. ”

“Oh.” the hope disappeared, and disappointment took its place.

“Why are you so curious? ” He looked into Ivelle’s eyes seriously. For a moment she hesitated, but he was the first person, who was willing to actually answer her questions.

“I keep having these strange dreams, and everybody says they are about the future. ” she admitted and averted her gaze.

“Hm... ” he let Ivelle’s eyes go and paced up and down in the room. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can help. All I can do is letting you read the books here. ”

“That’s enough for me. ” She gave him a weak smile “I love reading, anyway. ” The old man smiled back and motioned Ivelle to follow him.

He showed her around the place. It turned out that this whole place was underground. It even had a botanical garden and a stable. Ivelle was astonished and for the first time in a long-long time, she felt safe. Baradhyl proved himself to be a good company, and willing to answer all of her questions.

Baradhyl showed her around the place, and by the time they finished their tour, it was already late. Baradhyl took Ivelle back to her room and said good night. He turned to leave, but Ivelle made him stop.

“Can I have one last question?”

“I believe you’ll have plenty of questions later too. But sure, go on.” he smiled.

“What happened to me?” for a moment she saw a shadow go through Baradhyl’s face, but as quickly as it came, it disappeared.

“One of my friends saved you.” he said and then left.

A few weeks later, Ivelle was going to the library. She knew the route to the library from every part of this place by heart now, since she spent most of her time there. But today, as she turned in a corner she bumped into someone. At first, she thought it was Baradhyl, but as she looked up she was lost for words. In front of her, there stood, a high, light-skinned, black-haired elf. He looked young, but Ivelle assumed that he was around the age that Cirillo was.

“Excuse me, I didn’t hear you coming.” he said in a deep voice.

“No, no it’s okay.” she said, still looking at him “I was just deep in thoughts, and didn’t pay attention.”

He gave her a weak smile and looked behind Ivelle.

“Coming from the botanical garden?”

“Yes.” she smiled back “I’m going to the library.”

“How lucky, me too. Maybe I could accompany you.”

“Sure, that would be nice.”

“After you.” he stepped aside and motioned Ivelle, to go ahead.

“So, who are you? I thought only Poloma and Baradhyl lived here.”

“My name is Delroy, and I don’t live here.” he looked at Ivelle with a sad smile “I live in Nendawin, in the Dark City.” Ivelle stopped and stared at him with a horrified expression on her face. As she examined him it was too obvious. He wore all-black clothes, and there was a crowned raven on the grip of his sword. She took a few steps backwards. Delroy started grinning and then laughing.

“Oh, I wish you could see your face.” he laughed but Ivelle just stared at him “I promise I won’t kill you. Not everyone in Nendawin is evil, you know.”

“You work for the Dark King.” she motioned to his sword. He took a deep breath, but when he wanted to answer, Baradhyl appeared behind them.

“Oh good, you two got to know each other. You’ll have to get on well.”

“What do you mean ′we’ll have to get on well’?" she asked looking into Baradhyl serious eyes.

" Delroy is going to take you back to the Other World. ”

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