Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 77

“Who...what are you?” His gaze moved from Joulupukki to Lumi. Lumi offered, “I am an elf of the Village Clan, and this is my companion Joulupukki.” “You seem human, how can the two of you be companions? I thought elves hated humans. What am I saying. I thought elves were only in stories. If you weren't standing in front of me,” he looked at Lumi, “I would not believe you even existed, just as I would not believe that dragons exist if I had not seen one.” He hesitated a moment before asking, “What now? Are you going to kill us?” Joulupukki spoke up, “We have no interest in killing anyone. To answer your questions, Lumi is more than just a companion, he is a friend. If you remember the story the old woman told in the village, it is true, mostly anyway. The elf she referred to as pointy ears was my father. My mother was human. I am here to retrieve my fathers remains from beneath that tree behind you. The three humans glanced back at the tree. Joulupukki heard the distinct sound of tinkling deer bells. It took the humans several seconds to notice it. The sleigh seemed to come from no where as the first couple of rows of deer began to appear in the light of the beam. “This is your dragon,” Joulupukki said to Remy as he waved his hand above him and the one in the sky disappeared. “They are deer, how can they fly,” Remy asked. “Magic,” Lumi replied. Joulupukki strode past the humans and using his magic began retrieving Erlenkönig's remains. Lumi turned back to the sleigh and pulled the death box from it and with Remy's assistance carried it over to Joulupukki. They carefully and with great reverence placed the remains into the box and returned the box to the sleigh. He patted the old tree and with his magic thanked it for protecting his father. He could feel his magic being accepted by the tree but had no idea if it knew what he was saying to it. The man and his wife sat quietly on the grass nearby as Remy and Lumi continued to talk, Lumi, almost as fascinated by the man as the man was by him. “So the tales we hear from the story tellers are true then,” Remy asked the elf. “I can't speak to the truth of them, according to Joulupukki many of the stories are based in fact but are skewed to make the humans in them look like the heroes. For instance, Erlenkönig, Joulupukki's father, was the most powerful elf of his time and could easily have escaped the humans here, but they were guided by a Dark Elf who was sworn to end our beloved king. He couldn't do it on his own so he coerced the humans of your hamlet to help him, knowing that Erlenkönig would not raise arms against them. “So this was a king!” “Indeed.” “And, he is the son of this king?” “Yes, he is the son of the most exceptional king in elfin history. He was the most powerful and the most kind.” “Not to cast dispersion on your great king, but he was still undone by another of his kind. I would think that makes you no better than we are.” Lumi's first thought was that of anger then as he allowed the words to sink in for a moment, he realized how true they were. They were no better than the human that stood in front of him. “You are right my friend,” he said, “perhaps our new king will help us become better. Perhaps, he may even join the elves and humans once more.” “Elves and humans, together? Now that would be something.” “Humans and elves once lived freely without fear of each other.” “I must admit, I find that difficult to believe, but wouldn't the world be a wondrous place if we did. I hope you are right, Lumi, but I don't see that happening, at least not in the near future. How can we of two kinds become one, when we can't even get along with our own. War after war, power struggles between the kings and the rich. Too many games and the ones who struggle all of their lives are always the losers” He shook his head and walked away. Lumi watched as he saw the sadness on the other's face. These humans are not as simple as he thought. He knew Joulupukki to be a very intelligent and complicated being, but he had always assumed it came from his elfin heritage. He was beginning to realize, the stories that Dyndoeth enjoyed listening to Aisling retell, were but a hint of the imagination and determination that the humans held deep within them. What did Joulupukki call it, ...ingenuity. For the first time he really began to understand what that word meant. “It is time for us to leave,” Joulupukki said to Remy. “Thank you for your help with my father." He nodded to Remy. "I hope we have not made things too difficult for you back in the village, any of you, he encompassed the two who were now rising from the soft earth.” “So, we are free to go,” the woman asked? “We were not keeping you, my Lady. You could have left at any time.” The worried look that had hidden her intelligent eyes all night slipped away as she saw the two strangers in a new light. Her husband looked warily into the forest that surrounded them. “Don't worry, there is nothing out there to be concerned about. Even the bears have been scared away by the beam.” Joulupukki assured them. “I'll make sure you get back to the village safely,” Remy promised. Lumi and Joulupukki climbed into the sleigh once more and waved to the humans as the King yelled, “Up!” to the the deer and called each one by name. They lifted from the ground and as they did the beam of light went out like a snuffed candle flame, and the sleigh disappeared from sight, leaving only the bright light very slowly traversing the darkness of the cloud filled night.