Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 84

“Look,” Lumi shouted over the wind, and pointing off to their right. Jutting above the clouds was the peak of a large mountain. He shifted the team in that direction. As the sleigh grew close he dipped it beneath the clouds and at the base of the mountain was a fjord flowing to the distant sea. The reflection of the mountain and the clouds in the deep blue water looked just like the sky. Lumi pulled the sleigh back through the mist until the peak was clear again. As they passed it they saw a towering peak that looked like a tree growing to heaven. Then, not long after, the third mountain peak came into view. Raðulfr said the cave was at the base of the mountain. Lumi guided the deer below the cloud cover which was beginning to clear. “This must be it,” Joulupukki called over the wind to both of them. “Keep an eye out for a cave opening.” Lumi traversed the mountain, skimming the ground but they saw nothing, no opening not even a crevice in the rock. “He has likely hidden the cave with magic,” Lumi offered. Joulupukki nodded in agreement and started scanning behind them as Lumi reached out before them. “Wait, wait,” Joulupukki grabbed Lumi's arm. “I feel something behind us, back in that direction.” he pointed and Lumi turned the team. “There is something strange about it. I have never felt energy like this. There is definitely elfin magic, although it is much weaker than the magic that surrounds it, and that is not from elves. Do you feel it?” “I feel the elf magic but I do not feel any other.” “Perhaps I'm going crazy but it is quite strong, and we will have to pass through it to reach the cave. You will need to ground the sleigh as close to the opening as possible. I will head for the entrance as swiftly as I can and if there is the slightest of threats to the sleigh, you will head for the sky immediately. I need for you to make sure that Jessica and the deer are safe.” Lumi did not miss the veiled compliment that his King had given him. He had not mentioned the safety of the elf because of his confidence in Lumi's ability to handle the situation, and he knew that he was strong and quick. “Look,” Jessica called over the wind, pointing toward a large bolder. Both Lumi and Joulupukki turned their attention to the object of Jessica's indication. “Oh, wow, it moved.” Lumi was taken by surprise. “I see, and there, there's another.” “I thought my mind was playing tricks on me,” Jessica said with a sigh. “It appears they are drawing closer to the cave entrance. We must get down there as quickly as possible.” Joulupukki assisted Lumi in finding a usable path to the cave entrance. Just as they were getting close, the magic protecting the cave opened with a portal that was large enough for the entire sleigh to fit through and Lumi guided the deer to land inside of the cave. Standing to one side was an old elf with a gray beard that reached almost to his knees. He watched the sleigh as it grounded and Joulupukki as he quickly stepped from it. There was confusion in the old elf's eyes. Joulupukki reached out his hand and extended it toward the elf. “Bréagán,” he asked? The old elf just stood there looking at him. “I am Joulupukki,” he continued, letting his hand drop. He glanced back at his two companions and motioned for them to join him. As they grew closer he introduced them. “Please, allow me to introduce to you Lumi, my very close friend, and this is Jessica.” There was a moments hesitation then he started again, “You know her and her father, Raðulfr. You saved his life many years ago when he was lost in a storm not far from here. He has missed your visits since you stopped coming to see him in Nordgrend. You gave Jessica her first toy after she was born, that was the last they saw of you.” The elf's brow furrowed in concentration, his eyes unfocusing, as he tried to remember. Jessica slowly moved over to him and reached out a hand. He pulled away instinctively. “I still have that little stuffed toy. Thank you.” Her manner was calm and voice gentle, he let her take his arm and move him closer to the sleigh. A moment of clarity finally shone through his blue eyes as he looked at each one of them in turn. “What, ahhh,” he cleared his throat as if his voice was foreign to him. Joulupukki wondered how long it had been since the elf had heard himself speak .“What a curious band the three of you have gathered,” he said in his high pitched voice, quivering with age and disuse. “An elf, a human and a,” he looked for a instant at Joulupukki, “half-ling, all being guided through the sky by a team of flying hreinin deer. What a curious sight in deed. At your first pass around the mountain I was almost inclined to believe that the humans had somehow willed there flying dragon beasts from out of there tales of faeries and into existence. Then I saw the deer and was mystified. I ...I ...I” His eyes glazed over again, as if deep in thought and abruptly started to speak once more. “I felt a familiar magic probing the entrance and I created a door for you to come in.” “Thank you,” Joulupukki responded. “The magic you felt was my father's, Erlenkönig.” The old elf's demeanor changed immediately. “Erlenkönig! Your father? And your mother is A, ah, Aisling.” “Yes,” Joulupukki replied. The old elf became quite excited. “Where are they? I haven't seen the King and Queen for,” he thought for a second, “by frigg, I can't remember how long it has been. How are they?” Joulupukki had no desire to destroy the Elf's misconception of his parents state, but he didn't want to mislead him.