A Whispering Hope

Her tears soaked the glittering flowers. Her child's screams could not be forgotten. This magical forest was supposed to be a safe place for them to live.

The very wisdom of the trees has been no comfort at all. Loss to her elvan kind has been seen in the mourning of many wars and losses of those who have given up. The Vroguls were so sneakily to take her child only when being tracked down to take his life.

Her heart could hardly bear to be in the community as she laid her child to rest. The forest was the perfect place, as peaceful as she could find. The whispering of loss floated messages throughout the forest. The trees dropped leaves over the grave, and the flower petals gave off a sweet smell.

Her child was everything, and yet so small lost its existence for hatred. Rivena could only lie on the ground and remember her child's laughter.

The song of sadness flowed through the woods as all nature wept.

Her tears flowed as she heard some giggles. A small child appeared in the distance. It had to be a dream of her little son, who was happy and healthy. His delightful manner of prancing around the flowers with his curious eyes. Blinking, the boy had no points in his ears. He was human, and those had not been seen for at least hundreds of years. The treaty with man was that they would never enter the forest again. Here is a little boy who was never supposed to enter, but how would he know. Rivena could only fear for the child's life. She could not let the others find such a being.

The boy was looking at the shiny flowers. He was amazed by the many colors, and his tiny feet ran around the area. Rivena could only watch the child, wishing it would turn into her own. He was too young to understand the treaty and potentially start another war.

His curiosity was innocent with idle play. Somewhere outside the woods, his mother was missing him dearly. She would never have imagined he was here. Despite a broken heart, she approached the kid as he played in the woods.

Rivena sang a song that all Elvan children would know, but the little boy was mesmerized by the tune.

He smiled and just stared at the funny-looking creature of an elf. Both just stood there as he could not determine if this new person meant him harm. Rivena took a flower and made the colors fly like a perfect rainbow. The little one went to chase the colors, and she let him run.

He returned to play the silly game again. Fear slowly left his face as he hugged her, stating, "I want my Mama." She could only hold him and comfort his tiny tears.

"Your Mama must be missing you, little boy," stated Rivena.

"Mama is angry," stated the boy.

"She loves you very much," Rivena spoke.

"What is your name?" "My name is Rivena," Rivena said.

"Mama calls me Thad," the little boy answered.

"Well, Thad, do you like it here?" Rivena asked.

"Pretty like Mama's flowers," the boy answered.

She smiled at him, and he hugged her. Both had a delicate interaction, but his presence was still a problem. Her heart wanted to take him back to the village and raise him as her own. Everything seemed perfect, and a human child loved her as much as her own. His little head lay on her shoulder. Such love cannot be found anywhere. Holding the child, she wandered through the woods, looking for something for his growling stomach. Some jasper berries would do as she placed him down. He ate away, making a mess of himself, but he was less hungry. His smile was now a tired grin as he fell asleep from the activity. Rivena laid him in some soft leaves as he slept. Only if the community would not take this as an act of war but of acceptance of a child. It was forbidden to bring him home, and no way to turn him into the elvan kind. She was keeping guard over her own child, finding him along with the Vroguls taking him. The darkness was coming, and the safety of the child was paramount. Her grief partially subsided, and the boy was never threatening her kind. His soft hair was becoming more disarray and curly. His slight frame was relaxed as he rested in such a wonderful place. The decision had to be made to try to change the leaders' minds or just return him to his family.

In the distance, she could hear the evil Vroguls in the forest looking for children for corruption. Rivena covered up the lad while he slept and kept a watchful eye. The forest will protect him as she uses her influence to hide his scent. More were filling the woods after their last defeat, and their anger was rife. Any Vrogel who found Thad would have killed him, and survivors would be forgotten this time. The darkness gave them the advantage, but the trees did not favor such creatures. In secret, so many things are both good and bad. Their stank had become closer, and Rivena was armed as all elves were in the woods. The knife came out of nowhere, slicing Vrogul's throat. His squeal could be heard from miles around. Suddenly, Rivena, realizing the boy would be discovered, struck her own kill, and the battle had begun. Many elves came out to fight, and the slaughter was massive. Darkness was a good cover, and Rivena defended the area with quick strikes and motherly instinct. The remaining creatures limped off into the night as their number dwindled. The raid was over with this new group, but it would not be the last of them either.

Their numbers would increase from the ones they had stolen from the previous raid, but the defenses were improving. The corruption of elves and men could be seen in their many groups. Only if they could find the inner sanctum of the operations would this constant threat be stopped.

Rivena could see the lights of the other elves as they walked among the dead in the forest. She was relieved to find her husband Aderrin amongst the live ones. His face told another story as he saw her with her knives out.

"Why are you still out here?" Aderrin questioned his wife.

"Still grieving our son without you," Rivena replied.

"You know it is not safe out here, and yet you stayed anyway," stated Aderrin.

The leaves started to ruffle and move. Aderrin turned around to see a tiny hand come out of the space. His face was livid as he turned back to his wife. The moving of leaves was only the beginning of it.

He noticed the boy was human. He started to raise the alarm, but looking at her made him stop.

"He is only a child and knows not of the rules," Rivena retorted.

"Humans were never supposed to enter again, and no wonder why you stayed," yelled Aderrin.

"I wanted to protect him from being taken and tortured," Rivena replied.

"You think you can bring him back and replace our son," Aderrin retorted.

"I know he will never be accepted, but at least he will be released outside of the woods to his parents," Rivena replied.

"That is a plan I can live with to avoid an unnecessary war with mankind," Aderrin had spoken.

Rivena picked up the sleeping boy and headed to the end of the forest. She looked out at the beauty of the forest and wished she could raise the little one. It would bring a war to an end, and she could only imagine the deaths suffered by only one child.

She walked through the glimmering bark and colorful creatures. The woods were the barrier of worlds, but the Vroguls never did care. The silence of the baby sleeping in her arms gave her some help. She could hear the men outside the forest gathering and arguing. A woman is calling out the little boy's name. Rivena's heart could only ache for his mother's loss. Thad started to wake up, and Rivena placed him on the ground.

"I think your mama misses you, and she is ready for you, Thad," Rivena told him.

"Mama," Thad responded.

He started to come out to the woods, and the woman grabbed the child. She carried him, and Rivena could hear him call her mama. Rivena was observing as the humans left the forest front. The war had been avoided. When Thad hugged her, Rivena was about to go, and his mother mouthed thank you. They both left as the woods were becoming silent again. Aderrin took Rivena's hand and led her back into the forest.

"I love you, and this is not the end," Aderrin replied.

"I know, but that little boy gave me some hope," Rivera responded.

Both looked at each other and returned to their village as the day ended. It was a day to experience grief and fear. Rivena just could remember the little boy's laugh but was glad not to be going to war. The forest was healing but also so dangerous. Aderrin was happy to see his wife and say his final goodbye to his son. The couple just wanted to go home to the guarded village. The Mystic Forest was beautiful, yet it will be at peace tonight.

*********

Rivena and Aderrin were invited to the first meeting of men elves, the first meeting in a peace treaty. Their son had come with them and was now grown. Sadly, the older son died too early. They left the forest to see the humans. A young man with the eyes of the little boy was at the celebration. He was a man now and still had the same smile when he was just a toddler. Rivena went to the young man when he smiled.

"I remember you singing to me," replied the man.

"I cannot believe you have grown up so much," Rivena answered.

Rivena hugged Thad, and he started to cry. They had always remembered each other. The whispering hope came back just as it had so long ago.