The Silver Flower: Chapter 9

Another Chapter from my book: only three more to go! Enjoy it while it lasts. :P
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! :D

Chapter Nine: The Legend of the Silver Flower

“The legend of the Silver Flower is a story well worth listening to, and many believe it to be as true as you or I.” Valkin started, his eyes closed and he had a gentle smile on his face as he remembered how he was told the legend by an old elf. Finally Justin broke the silence.

“Ye still havnae told us o’ the legend!” he exclaimed impatiently. Valkin laughed quietly and opened his eyes.

“Alright, I shall tell you the legend. It’s long, be prepared.” The children merely sat closer and let the story sink into their minds. Valkin began:

“Yes, a long and complicated legend is the legend of the Silver Flower.” He paused. The children exchanged looks, and he continued.

“The legend started as a simple story, a story easily believed, for we are a magical people. It is said that a long, long time ago, when elves were more plentiful than men in this country, there lived an old, wise elf. His name is not known, but back then he was an important person.

“One day, while working as usual on some odd concoction or another, the elf discovered a magical metal substance deep within his cave where he did all his work. He excitedly dug all of the metal out of the rock, but was somewhat disappointed how little there was. Only enough,” Valkin paused and ran his finger over the delicate flower pendant, “To make one silver pendant. The elf went right to work, melting the metal, cleaning it, crafting it. When he finished the pendant, he was pleased. The pendant, as I have said, was crafted out of a magical metal found only deep within certain caves, and it is extremely rare, even for magical folk like elves, to find it. The substance’s magical power is this: It can create anything you ask, it opens all locked doors, and it acts as an invisible shield to the one who wears it, however, it only works if the ones using it can come up with believable reasons to do it for others.”

Valkin took another deep breath, and looked at the children sitting in front of him. He smiled, took a drink of water, and proceeded.

“Because the Silver Flower is so rare and powerful, there were many who wanted to take the pendant from the wise elf and use it for their own gain. The elf knew this, and thought long on how he could protect it from the ones who would use it wrongly. At last, he came up with a plan. He took the Silver Flower out of its resting place. Donning on a disguise, he travelled the world for a time, getting to know men and their ways. After many years of this, he found at last a trustworthy family. They lived in a small Scottish village at the edge of a thick forest. Though poor, they were honest and hardworking. The elf liked what he saw, and as a parting gift bestowed the Silver Flower to the father, Flannigan Elliot. The man did not know what a powerful thing he had, and life went on as usual for the Elliot family.

“However, after a few generations, when men prospered in the land and the elves retreated to the forest for safety, their came another man, He was the great-great-great grandson of Flannigan Elliot. His name was Grant Elliot, and he was a fine hunter. He stumbled across a stone circle one day, and stepped inside it for a moment for there was a deer he had been following for some time just ahead of him through some bushes. Imagine his surprise when an elf stepped out from behind a bush and asked his business. Elliot told him the truth, being honest, but still he was brought before the king. Elliot was soon loved by all the elfish people and many gifts were exchanged. He had heard stories from his father and grandfather about the Magical Folk and had interest in their lives. He learned their language, made many good friends, including the mother and wife of the king. His name was spoken over the entire elfish kingdom of Dunnion, which is the kingdom we are in right now.” Valkin turned to Mary with a smile, and took another drink of water, stopping the legend long enough for a passing guard to leave.

“As a quick side note, though Mary and we elves already know this, our kingdom’s name means ‘Strength’. We are very proud of our defensive abilities.” He cleared his throat. The three children leaned forward again, eager for him to continue the story.

“Grant Elliot decided to look into his past, feeling that he must have been linked with the elves somehow, and found that a certain elf had given a gift to his great-great-great grandfather. He searched over his house for it and at last found it in a secluded closet in a little used room. He took out the Silver Flower, and decided to find out what exactly it was.”

“During a long conversation with the king’s mother, she mentioned a mysterious legend about a silver pendent. He casually prodded for more about it, and she told him the legend, he realized that when the elf seemingly ‘disappeared from the elfish kingdom’ he really was travelling throughout the world and at last came to Scotland on his way back, he thought from a failed mission. He then met Flannigan, Grant’s great-great-great grandfather, and found him to be an honest, hardworking man. He gave the priceless pendant to him, and then promptly left. Flannigan didn’t know how precious a possession he had, and the Silver Flower was soon forgotten. That is, it was forgotten until now. Grant now knew how precious the pendant was, and he kept it safe for a long time.”

“But he grew to be an old man, and had no children to hand the pendant down to, he had to find someone who was honest and kind, and wouldn’t try to use the pendant for their own gain. After a few years, he at last found three people, siblings, who he knew would use the pendant wisely. So when the time came for the kingdom to be saved, he sent those certain humans to help our kingdom.” Valkin stopped and looked into the siblings eyes. He smiled.

“Yes, you three are those certain people. He gave you that pendant for such a time as this, using it you can get out.” His eyes scanned over the three humans, and he nodded his head as if agreeing to some unspoken thought of his. “He made a wise decision I think, there is no evil in any of you.” Justin frowned slightly.

“How can we use the pendant to get us oot!” he said. Valkin smiled.

“You are always thinking ahead, Justin, this is good.” He sighed. “Now, to answer your question, the pendent can help you in many ways. It can blind the guards’ eyes as we escape under their very noses, it can be used as a file to get through the bars of out window, it can be used as a key and unlock our door. Any of these things it will do, but only if it is for others that you do it.”

The three children exchanged glances, and Duncan chewed his lip thoughtfully. There was a moment of silence before Duncan spoke.

“We need to get oot so ye can be crowned king.” He said. Mary’s head shot up, and she smiled.

“Aye and we need to get oot so Shetta can marry Glevanne!” she said. Justin grinned, and he slapped his knee.

“An’ let’s not forget our own parents. If we be stuck in here forever or be-headed, then they’d niver get over it.” The elves laughed as the three humans came up with their reasons and the siblings were now full of vigor and ready to leave, but the elves had to think of who they needed to get out for. There was another silence, and the siblings waited, somewhat impatiently until the elves came up with an answer. Dusak spoke first.

“I need to be free so I can help Valkin rule.” He said, stealing a mischievous glance at Valkin out of the corner of his eye. “He’ll need lots of advice.” Valkin gave his brother in law a playful punch in his shoulder, but then sobered as he said his reason.

“I need to be free for the kingdom.” He said. “If I don’t become king, our land will perish under the evil counselor’s lust for power.” The children and elves both nodded their heads; this was the best reason yet. Vinea said her reason as Duncan pulled the pendant off his neck.

“My reason seems so small compared to all of yours.” She said softly. “But I need to escape for my child.” Dusak, who was sitting on the very edge of the prison’s cot, jumped so high that he would have fallen onto the floor if Valkin hadn’t caught hold of the hood of his cape.

“W-what did you say?” he asked breathlessly. Vinea smiled.

“We’re going to have a child, Dusak.” He nearly fell off again.

“That’s what I thought you said! But I didn’t believe my ears.” He replied. He enveloped his wife in a hug, and tears of joy ran down both their faces. The children and Valkin discreetly remained silent, and Duncan clapped a hand over his mouth to suppress a laugh. The children and Valkin exchanged smiles of happy surprise. Duncan held the pendant to the lock, and the door opened as if it had never been closed and locked.