Landsbyen (Into the North)

---

Please note that Artistic and Historical License has been used in producing this work.

Characters:

Aisling (ash-ling)- Irish, meaning dream or vision, derived from Gaelic, also, a form of Irish poetry

Andghul- Invented name

Bréagán- Irish meaning Toy

Ceridfen- Created name from “cerdd fenyw” - Welsh meaning poet woman

Chroí- Irish meaning heart

DynDoeth- Created name from “dyn doeth” - Welsh meaning wise man

Erlenkönig- Elf King, from the poem “Erlkönig” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Gwaldon- Invented name

Jessica- This spelling first used by William Shakespeare in 'The Merchant of Venus” but likely taken from the Hebrew Jesca, Isca or Yiska which was named in the Book of Genesis 11:29, meaning foresight (as in knowing what is to come)

Joulupukki- Finnish, Yule Goat or Oden's Goats- a pagan tradition celebrated as a human turning into a goat during the Yule Festival. “The goats of Oden” pulled Oden's sleigh across the sky during Yuletide

Litenalf- Created name from “liten alf”- Swedish meaning little elf

Lumi- Finnish meaning Snow

NydeligEn- Created name from “nydelig en”- Norwegian meaning beautiful one

Osviklig- Swedish meaning unfailing

Rådyrvokter- Norwegian meaning deer herder

Raðulfr- Old Norse meaning Counsel Wolf, Counsel of the Wolf, Wise Wolf (from rað - counsel and ulfr - wolf)

Reginn- Old Norse meaning King's advisor; a character, possibly a Dwarf, in Norse Mythology

Rian (ree-an)- Irish, meaning little king

Seileach- Scottish-Gaelic meaning Willow

Other References:

Dia Athair- Irish meaning God the Father (Godfather)

Lullaby for a Son of the King- authors variant writing inspired by “Lullaby for a Son of Shulgi,” Sumerian, one of the first known lullabies, written for the son of Shulgi, King of Ur, circa 2100-2000 BC, who also claimed the title of King of Sumer and Akkad

Nordgrend- North Hamlet

Sprinteren- a hreinin deer, protector of Aisling

Village- The floating island where the Elfin Kingdom known as the 'Village Clan' reside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Into the dark he stepped, the frozen flakes falling 'round him

The last vestige of humanity, now, lost in the storm's wailing din

The only light to guide him, the glow of the snow, soft and dim

All of his pain and the curse he lived, hidden away deep within

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He pulled his mittens tight against chilled fingers. The cold, like the breath of a long deceased specter, seeping slowly beneath his layered capes and clothing, stealing from him the warmth of his weary body. He did not fear the cold, he might even welcome the gentle embrace of the Reaper as it carried his lifeless body into the nether world; nor, did he fear the trolls and elves and dwarfs that were rumored to roam this desolate, frozen wasteland, far beyond where the trees refused to grow. He cursed the wind as it blew full in his face, freezing a small dribble of spittle that dripped through his numbed lips. Bending his head against the blow, he felt pain when a small patch of skin tore from his lower lip as he gasped, open mouthed, trying to breathe. Through the gray of the night he looked for shelter but saw none. The winter sky on December days offered no sunlight this far north. Even so, the winter storm would surely have swallowed the silvery beams long before they reached the earth. His bright auburn hair, not quite brown but not quite red, was cut short beneath the hood that he wore upon his head. His face full of weeks old red stubble ached from the biting cold. As he slowly trudged along he made a solemn promise to himself,

“This will never happen again. My beard shall grow long and my hair to my shoulders, from now until the day that I am gone.”

Thoughts of the creatures that existed in this world entered his mind as he sought solace from the never ending night. As a child he heard all of the tales of man eating trolls hunting the twilight. The dwarfs, so devious, as to steal your last morsel, while you lie dying, half covered in ice, and worst of all, the elves. Creatures of magic that could conjure great feats. Magic that could heal the sick and make the crops grow, magic that could create wonder and laughter, and it was said, could even stop the wind and dry the morning dew. They never used their power to help any one he knew. He learned as a child that none of this was true, just creatures of legend used to frighten young children when their mischievous nature led them astray and caused them to do things they shouldn't do. There were other fairy creatures made legend in these tales, but none so infamous as these, yet he found them hard to believe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alas, until that fateful day when strange events arose around him

The uncontrolled powers he felt within

Growing stronger as his fight to hide them grew ever more dim

At last bursting forth to be revealed once again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For so many years it had been just him and his mother, singing lullabies to him when he was a young child always soothing him and telling him how great he would be some day, but between these beautiful peaceful moments came the bad times and all of the running away. Each time the tiniest fragment of his gift, as his mother called it, was discovered, they would pack their things and leave that piece of life behind. Since before he could remember they had run, at times, even being chased from village to town to hamlet. He never dared to make friends for he knew they would soon part, and his loneliness at times overwhelmed him. As time passed, he watched his mother grow from middle age to elderly woman, her beautiful brown hair growing ever grayer. On his fifty third birthday they entered a small Hamlet and were met by a kindly Shopkeep who was drawn to them by his mother's slow gate, and the trinkets he heard jingle in the sack that was strapped to a pack animal that accompanied them everywhere. Sprinteren, they called him, a hreinin deer, as they were named locally. Strong and stately, he always remained by his mother's side, watching with intelligent eyes to keep her safe, and scurry her away when time to leave came nigh. As the gentleman approached the deer, he noticed beneath the din of its clattering satchel, the most subtle yet beautiful sound of the tinkling of a tiny bell.

“How beautiful,” he exclaimed, reaching for the deer's collar.

The woman quickly but gently reached forth and grabbed his hand,

“He is very protective of his bell. I wouldn't want our friendship to start

with my deer biting your finger.”

“Oh,” he exclaimed, withdrawing his hand, “my apology Mr. Deer.”

His comment, only slightly facetious, he offered to Spinteren, which led to surprise when the deer bowed. its head in what seemed acknowledgment. The Shopkeep, Raðulfr, turned from the deer with a smile and guided them to his home, offering them drink and food, and inquiring of their name. Offering his own in return, he asked why they traveled alone in such treacherous weather. The lady spoke quickly before her son could offer a word.

“We are on a pilgrimage to see the great northern lights,” she spoke “and we sell our goods as we travel.” She glanced at her son, “This is my grandson,” she hesitated but a moment, Joulupukki. He was used to his mother's humor especially in naming him to the outsiders they met along their travels, it was a game they played, but with this surprisingly playful new one he chuckled, Raðulfr glancing at him, as he turned to hide his face. This was the first time his mother referred to him as her grandson. His youthful appearance belied the fact of her maternity toward him. With reluctance he accepted this new facet of their relationship for at fifty three he still retained the youth of twenty with his reddish hair and deep, brilliant cerulean eyes, one of his ‘gifts’.

His reverie ended as he was brought back to reality when he stepped into a patch of deep fresh snow and promptly fell face down in a hollow on the leeward side of a boulder. He was not angry. In truth he was quite relieved as he started digging a tunnel in the snow. At length when he neared the stone he found a rather roomy cavity where he proceeded to seal the snow like cauterizing a vein. He removed his gloves and rubbed his hands slowly together feeling the power within him rise from his chest, through his arms causing his hands to warm and begin to glow with a bright white light. He moved his palms along the snow on the inside of his makeshift igloo and the snow turned to hard ice, melting and refreezing as he went. After he was satisfied that the walls and roof would not collapse on him, he went about setting aside his shoulder pack and laid out food and a cup. Without the constant wind cutting through his clothing his body soon began to warm itself to the point where he had to remove his outer capes and overcoat. His two capes he laid atop a flat rock from which he carefully brushed the snow to create a bed where he could sleep. He then took the cup, and warming it in his hands, melted clean snow into water to drink with his meal of dried fruits and vegetables. He thought of making a soup but was tired and wanted to rest before having to continue his journey north as his mother had instructed. After quickly eating he bundled his coat under his head and rested on the rock atop the thick, comfortable capes he had laid there. He dreamed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In his arms he carried a child, small and gaunt and oh so slim

This child he did not know with wistful hair and near frozen skin

His weary arms warm around him, though the child's chance at life seemed grim

But he would not leave the boy, as before him, he saw a vast expanse of ocean begin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was not sure how long he had slept but awakened with the tune of an old lullaby stuck in his head, sleep, come sleep, come sleep my son, sleep do hasten to my child's... he couldn't remember the rest but he did remember his mother, and perhaps his father as well, sing it to him when he was quite young. It made him smile. He was surprised to find how truly rested he felt for the first time in as long as he could remember. He considered staying in his safe if not comfortable abode a bit longer but ate a quick meal and decided to continue on his journey.He gathered his belongings and donned his coat and capes crawling his way down the narrow tunnel that he had dug. At the entrance, the storm had completely covered the opening, making him dig through two feet of fresh snow to get out. To his relief he found the storm had passed and wind was gone with only an occasional large snowflake falling from the dark gray expanse of the sky above him. Continuing to travel north he walked for many hours before stopping to rest. He rested as he grew weary and ate when hungry, sleeping out in the open under the northern lights as the need arose. Days turned to weeks and he saw nothing but snow until, after a restless sleep, having dreamed his incessant dream once more, he awoke to find a polar bear standing above him. He moved slowly, gently whispering to the bear while not looking into its eyes. The bear snarled lowly baring teeth and rearing on its hind legs. When suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a shape darted past him hurling itself at the mid section of the polar bear. The bear was so startled it turned and ran at full gallop until it had passed completely from sight. Warily he turned to face this new threat and realized it was Sprinteren.

He hugged the animal's neck for a long moment and brushed back its hair where soon his majestic antlers would grow long and proud once again. He spoke soft words of thanks to the creature and the animal seemed to understand bowing its head and lowering his eyes with each praise it was given. Sprinteren waited beside him for a moment to accept the pack he carried, but looking thoughtfully at the deer he said,

“You carried mother's burdens for so long my friend, you need not carry mine as well, but thank you,” and he started off once more, but this time happy he was not alone.

The appearance of his old friend brought new thoughts of his mother and, Nordgrend, the town in which they spent the last few years. Raðulfr, was a truly kind man and he was delighted with the toys and weaving that his mother and he made by hand. He first bought their goods to sell in his shop but soon they became so popular that he gave a small space to them where they could sell their creations on their own. Her deft hands aged, but still as agile as when she was a girl, weaved delicate fabrics with elaborate patterns from fine threads of silk and linen, turning burlap into filaments of gold, and he creating toys and clocks and magical animated objects that entranced the children and adults alike throughout the village. To his delight a few weeks after arriving he found that the merchant had a very beautiful daughter who had been away with a caravan that was sent to purchase supplies and merchandise for sale during the long upcoming winter. They would not be able to get another sleigh out until the sun lengthened the warming days and the spring thaw arrived. He was shy around her and she was his opposite. He, quiet and reserved and she, like her fiery red hair, bubbly and effervescent, dancing to music of her own making, singing and laughing with joyful enthusiasm for life, even, while having to live in this desolate land. He felt feelings for her that were new to him. She was his first true friend but she was more. She amazed him and confused him and he loved being with her, and, what's more, she returned his enthusiasm to be near him. His mother would smile each time she saw them together, as would her father. They were happy here.

Then change blew cold and the happiness faded. One morning he found his mother lying on the floor of their cottage. He ran to her and gently lifted her, placing her head in his lap. Worriedly he asked her if she was well. She simply said,

“I am old, Litenalf.”

He had not heard that nickname for many years and it touched him. He had to turn his head to hide his tears.

“I will make you well, Mother,” he said as the power rose inside of him.

She took his hand and whispered faintly,

“No, my beautiful son. There is nothing you can do. Not even your gift can stop the world from turning.It is time for me, but you must remain. Listen closely, if you leave this village travel north, always north.” They had been traveling in a roundabout northerly direction for as long as he could remember.

“But why,” he asked.

“You will find your answers in the north,” was her halting reply.

“Aisling, mother, I can't let you go,” returning the kindness of a familiar name. One of his few memories of his father was the smile on his face when he called his mother by this pet name,

“My Dream, my Vision, my Love, my Aisling,” he would say to her, as her beautiful smile spread wide across her face.

“Aisling,” she whispered, “A loving sobriquet I haven't heard since your father...,” she choked and could not finish her reverie.

“Father, what happened to him?” he asked.

His mother simply looked up at him and smiled.

“North, my Love,” she whispered.

She died in his arms.

Soon after her passing, Sprinteren disappeared. He searched for him for several days, and even listened for his bell, but the only sign he found was a single set of hoof tracks leading from the village. He followed them until they merged with a great herd of deer. He could easily have followed the herd but he had work to do and thought it best to let the deer grieve with its own kind; so, he set about carving a head stone of granite for his mother, he thought for a long time for just the right words to engrave into it. A poem perhaps or wise saying, but he was unsure. He did not know the actual date of her birth, for she would laughingly brush his question aside when he asked,

“When is your birthday, mother?”

“Oh, silly sweet boy, some time in December, just like your father's,” she would say, “Or is it January?”

“What year were you born?” he would push.

“How rude young man, you don't ask that of a young lady,” and under her breath, “Or an old one like me,” and she would chuckle. He chose to leave off the date on which she died. He was unsure of whether she and her father had actually married as she never referred to him as her husband, only as his father. She seldom spoke of him at all but he knew she loved him by the reverent yet joyful tone she used on the occasions when she did mention him. So many secrets she kept. The places they traveled were so numerous and they changed their names so often he could not even remember his own true name. Names such as Julenissen, Klaus, Weihnachtsman, Sinterklaas and so many, many more including his latest Joulupukki. A sad smile briefly brightened his face, she had called him a Mid Winter Festival Goat. In each village they found a need to learn the local customs and language, at least enough to get by until their next move. Their game began as a way to keep their conversation away from curious ears so as not to reveal too much of themselves. Looking down at the headstone, Aisling was all he had carved.

It seemed enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Northward! He frowned into the storm

The wind ever stirring, the snow swirling 'round

Ahead lay destiny, a lone dying form

He felt a stirring, as if homeward bound

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trudging carefully through the heavy snow he watched as Sprinteren stopped, intently looking at a snow bank.

“What is it boy?” he offered as he slowly pushed the snow aside. Beneath it he found the near lifeless form of a child. Hurriedly but carefully he pulled him from the mound, wrapping his capes around him. He gently held the boy in his arms closely examining his body for any sign of injury to his head, limbs and torso. He found none and checked for breath. It was shallow but constant and he sighed with relief. He pressed the boy firmly against his body for warmth and resumed his constant stride northward. Before long his vision started to play tricks on him. In the distance he thought he saw water. He listened intently but heard only the wind. As the day progressed the wind and snow gave way to only wind and the wind died to a calm breeze. The mounds of snow lessened to occasional drifts and then to ice until, to his bewilderment, what seemed to be a vast lake or perhaps even an ocean lay before him, tasting the water and finding it salty he thought, yes, an ocean. He had never heard of an ocean this far north but little surprised him now.

Growing weary from his travels while carrying the child, he knew he must soon rest. Sprinteren seemed more than happy when he finally stopped and he offered the deer a meager meal of dried fruit. With a slight bow his friend pranced away from the water to dig lichen from beneath the snow and the frozen ground where he grazed while a bed was fashioned for the child. Upon his return he lay close to the fire burning in the middle of the camp. The boy was placed against him to keep the child warm. Sprinteren carefully curled his legs around him and they slept.

Jessica's tear filled eyes begged him not to leave but he turned away before she could see the glisten growing in his own eyes. He didn't want to leave. He wanted more than anything to be comforted by her. Both she and her father, Raðulfr, asked him to stay. They would make room in their cottage for him and he could work with them in the store, perhaps someday even taking over the mercantile. He sat listening to them speak and saw the glimmer in Raðulfr's eyes as he glanced at his daughter and winked slyly at him. Such a beautiful future he could envision with such a life.

“No,” he said softly.

He could not explain it to them, but he felt compelled to leave, his mind always on his mother's final words. North, she had said, always north. As Jessica followed him out of the house she called to him,

“Wait, please, just for a moment.” She held in her arms a large overcoat made from the finest woven wool, dyed in the most beautiful forest green and lined with a fur of brilliant white. “Your mother taught me to weave this.” She stroked the fur lovingly. “The lining will keep you warm and stop the wool from itching.” She handed it to him. She also handed him two full length cloaks made of the same material, fully lined in white fur but this time dyed in a crimson red with hook and eye fastenings at the neck. Thanking her for her gifts he tenderly touched her face and leaned down giving her a sweet gentle kiss, when he tasted the salt of her tears on his lips he turned, unable to face her. As he walked away he heard her say,

“I love you. Journey safely.”

At this he turned, for just a moment, and stared directly into her eyes. A smile from his cold rosy lips spread from cheek to cheek as he slid his finger aside his nose then pointed directly at her. A twinkling of his gift sparkled at his finger tip and burst into beautiful colors before her bewildered eyes and she smiled.

“We will be together again my love,” then a deep chuckle resounded from his throat as he turned to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A new day begins and new promises made

The child guiding his way

Finally warmed he seemed less afraid

As through the snow they slowly made headway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Who is this child?” he whispered to himself, and, “how did he get out in the middle of nowhere?” As the warmth of his body slowly warmed the boy he began to stir and mumble words he did not understand. At their next rest stop he laid the child atop the cloaks bundling him tightly against the cold. He then turned to build a fire and started preparing dinner. When the vegetable soup was cooked to his satisfaction he drew a cup, threw back his hood so as not to spill the broth on it and sat down to rest by the fire, the deer laying down beside him. The boy's eyes opened and he jumped to his feet frightened and ready to flee. The bright sapphire of his eyes gleamed in the dusky light. He looked at the man calmly sitting by the fire in front of him. The man made no move to stop him. He just watched. They looked at each other for long moments. Then he noticed the deer and his fear somewhat subsided. The man held out a cup and spoke calmly to him. “Drink, it is warm. Not much taste but it does offer sustenance.” Hunger evident on his face, the boy cautiously stepped around the fire and took the soup. He gulped it down, choking softly on the dried vegetables. “There is plenty more,” the man said, “Help yourself,” gesturing, with his pipe, to the pot beside the fire. He seldomly smoked the pipe but in his youth he found it to be a source of comfort holding it between his teeth.

His mother, always after him to throw it away, finally acquiesced; when, after she admonished him one day, he chuckled and said, “It's more manly than sucking my thumb, don't you think?” Sticking his thumb in his mouth. His mother laughed and playfully slapped him on his shoulder, exclaiming loudly,

“Men! You're just like your father!”

He smiled at that but did not inquire any further about him. The boy dipped the cup into the small pot but this time slowly nursed the hot soup, periodically blowing on it as it cooled.

He sat beside the fire as the man slowly stood lifting one of his cloaks and gently wrapping it around the still cautious boy.

“No need for you to freeze to death, now, young man.” The child giggled, young man he thought.

Looking up at the person in front of him he noticed the shape of his face, the color of his cheeks, the intense deep blue eyes. He reached up and followed the edge of his ear. It was round with just the hint of a point at the very top. He touched his own. A smile spread across his face as he rose and walked over to the hreinin deer. The deer's eyes grew wide as the boy whispered into his ear, all the while staring at the man he had known for so long as if he were seeing him in a new light. Sprinteren leapt to his feet giving the man a deep bow, then, turning away to the north he galloped at full speed into the misty darkness.

“Wait, Sprinteren...!” the man yelled but he was gone. “What did you say to him?” he demanded of the boy.

The boy smiled,

“I simply told him to tell them, we are coming home.”

The boy lay down in the warmth of the cloak.

He slept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prophecy, prophecy who knows the prophecy

It is written of old, he will come so bold

To enlighten the world of its fallacy

In songs extolled his legend grows with each story told

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The eeriness of the boy's words left him feeling unsettled but peaked his curiosity all the same.

'We are coming home.'

He knew nothing of this land. In fact he was unaware of any people who inhabited areas this far north, only the old tales that he listened to as a boy. They continued traveling, following the edge of the water. Two circles of the moon around the top of the earth came and passed, the child reluctant to speak but happy to guide him through hidden paths past boulders and cliffs, across ice bridges that seemed too weak to hold his weight, but the boy assured him each time that they were safe. He knew somehow deep inside that he spoke the truth. The progress was much quicker now with no storm and following the path the boy laid out for them. He was surprised at how bright and intelligent this young boy was. Looking no more than in his early teens, he had the intellect of a wise old man. Thinking of his own situation, appearances can sometimes be very misleading.

As they walked along, memories of his young life flashed into his mind, the boy reinforcing all but forgotten images of his father. His father, the man he barely knew, was rather small in stature but was slim making him seem much taller when viewed without reference. His height was perhaps only 172 alen, if that; whereas, his own was around 188 or more. He was a bit above average when compared to other men. His mother told him he took after her northern relatives when it came to this aspect of his appearance, but he was slim like his father and had many of his facial features, including his light skin and always rosy cheeks. He also had the same slightly curly hair, although his father's was much darker, and similar ears; but of all of his features, she never let him forget his eyes. She said they were exactly like his father's, deep blue with an eternal glint and sparkle, always bright and gleaming especially when he laughed. Those eyes were what initially attracted her to him. When she spoke of them, her mind seemed to wander away and the most endearing, beautiful smile would gently caress her lovely cheeks. No one he ever knew spoke of his father except her, and she only reluctantly. When she did, she would tell him he was good. She would tell him he was beautiful and kind and that he loved every living creature. She would never say an unkind word about him.

He awoke to the sound of lightly crunching ice. As he opened his eyes the boy stood looking at him, then with one fluid motion he stepped forward and stretched out his hand,

“I am Lumi, formerly Il, of the Clan Of The Village. Forgive me but I have only a rudimentary familiarity with your customs. Am I correct in extending my hand to you?”

The man sat up and looked at the boy.

“Yes, that is appropriate,” he returned, extending his own hand and shaking the other's. “Please call me...,” he thought for a moment considering what name he chose to give the boy. “Joulupukki.”

The boy giggled before catching himself in his disrespectful act. You find my name funny,” the man inquired seriously.

“Oh no!” The boy replied with an apologetic tone. "I meant no disrespect."

“Do you know what it means?” probed the man.

“It likely means something different in your mother tongue, but in many northern languages it refers to the goats of Odin especially during the winter Yule festival.” Lumi attempted to give as much respect to the name as possible. The man smiled then let out a gut wrenching laugh,

“Yes, I am but a mid-winter goat, or so my mother told me.” He saw the confusion in the young man's eyes. “It is a long story that perhaps I will tell you someday, but for now Joulupukki will suit me just fine. In fact it is rather,” he thought for a moment, “endearing to me.”

They gathered their belongings and set off again. The older man, liking a good story, inquired of Lumi why he referred to himself as, formerly, Il. They traveled at a pace that was much more relaxed and at ease on this day. A beautiful midnight blue sky lay before them with little wind and seemingly warmer temperatures. The boy explained,

“Il was the name given to me by the council of six. Each child born in my society is named by the council, but at maturity they are given the right to change that name for one that better suits who they have and will become. Il means Mist. I always thought that I would retain it for life. It is a proud name,” he said. Then a cloud seemed to cover his eyes as his speech became more deliberate and his tone lowered. “After what has occurred I have been reborn,” he looked at the man, “thanks to you.” His look was sincere. “So now, I choose to be called Lumi, Snow, for now and in the future.”

The man looked at him thoughtfully,

“I understand,” was all he said.

Looking back at him, Lumi replied,

“I believe you do. I'm sure Joulupukki is but one of many names you've known.”

They walked along in relative silence for several hours. The breeze gently pushing them forward. Joulupukki, observing his surroundings, found this place to be peaceful and very beautiful. The snow of the purest white and ice like crystal, clear and smooth, set against a cloudless indigo sky. The sound of the waves gently lapping against the shore was hypnotic as the never ending swirl of reds and greens dancing across the sky brought life to this austere world. He was almost beneath the lights now and they swirled patterns across the entirety of his vision.

“How much farther?” He inquired of Lumi.

The boy chuckled,

“We are here. Can't you see it?”

The man followed the boy's gaze and beneath the northern lights, seemingly from out of a mist, across from a blue infused glacial wall, he saw a bridge stretching over the water. The bridge arched high above them and was almost invisible. It appeared to be made of the most transparent of ice, clearer than the clearest of glass. It extended to a large island that also appeared to be made of ice. He could see buildings in the distance and fountains spraying water high into the air, the spray falling back to earth as sparkling ice jewels. There was movement of animals and locals traversing the streets. He was amazed that he had not noticed it before. It was so plain to him now. He looked down at Lumi,

“You do see it,” the boy whispered as his grin widened into a delighted smile. “You are the one.”

“The what?” The man inquired, but Lumi had already grabbed his arm and was hurriedly pulling him forward. Several steps from the end of the bridge they met a relative of Lumi's. He was short and gently heavy set with a long gray beard and cherubic cheeks. He greeted them eagerly and to his nephew he spoke for a moment in a language that the man did not understand. His expression was that of joy.

“Il, I am grateful for your return.”

“Lumi,” the boy corrected, and the bearded man's eyes grew large as a look of pride spread across his face. He patted Lumi on the shoulder and reverently whispered his name. “I am happy the deer made his way to you, Uncle.”

“Yes, very wise of you to send him. He is enjoying the company of his friends in the stable. They have much to catch up on.” Turning to the man he expressed his gratitude for the life of his nephew. He offered his name, DynDoeth. The man spoke his in return and the old gentleman stifled a giggle until Joulupukki began to laugh as well and all three found themselves giggling and laughing all of the way across the bridge. When they reached the other side, Lumi excused himself and said he would make things ready for the arrival of their visitor.

As Lumi left the two, they strolled slowly along the cobbled streets and the mood changed from jovial to serious. DynDoeth's voice lowered to just above a whisper,

“Joulupukki, I know you have many questions, and I will happily answer all of them in time, but for now I must ask you to keep a low profile, here in, until I have a chance to explain.” They spoke of general topics and DynDoeth thanked him, again, for saving his nephew's life. He began, “Il, uh, I mean Lumi,” an embarrassed look lightened his face, “is young and impetuous and sometimes speaks without thinking. He was exiled from the city by the council, because he openly spoke out about inappropriate ideas set forth by the leader of the council of six, Rian. Watch what words you speak about Rian and the council. Their ears run long and deep.

“But why would such an apparently powerful group be so concerned by the rantings of a young boy?” Joulupukki inquired. DynDoeth turned to face him with an inquisitive look upon his face.

From what seemed out of nowhere DynDoeth asked,

“What is your age,” his bearded face, now full and hair long, after long months of walking? Without thought of what he was doing, his hand raised to a tuft of long hair pulling it straight and he glanced at it.

It was still ruddy auburn with many streaks of red and strawberry blond highlights. His beard a deep and almost complete red.

“I am older than I look,” he finally offered.

“Indeed,” said the man facing him, almost a third shorter than he. Shorter, even, than Lumi. “Perhaps, our perceptions do not always allow for the truth to be seen. For instance, Lumi is more than what you seem to see in him.”

“I see him as a very bright, quick and intelligent young man,” Joulupukki offered.

“As he is,” replied DynDoeth, “in our world, but in your world he is much more. He spoke to you of the right of name change that our clan observes for the child that enters adulthood, did he not?”

“Briefly, yes.”

“Did he mention to you that the child must have at least sixteen of our years of maturity to claim this right?”

“No, but he seems young for sixteen.”

“Sixteen in our years. His sixteenth year passed some time ago. He chose to wait for his fate to guide him to his new name. You are apparently the fate for which he awaited.” They began to walk again. “Just ahead,” DynDoeth gestured, “in the multi-hued stone building, is where my family resides. You are welcome, as a friend, to take shelter with us for as long as you wish. You will have food and jovial company and we can talk more seriously inside.” DynDoeth glanced quickly around before increasing his pace and with a twist of his head glanced at Joulupukki, “Your mothers friend, the deer that accompanied you is in the stable behind the cottage, and sixteen years in Elvish is equivalent to around seventy-six human years.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Through bitter cold

So it began

His tale is told

Is he Legend or man

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the middle of the street he stood as his new friend entered the door. Friend, is that what he is? The word swirling in his brain. Elvish? Elvish! Are there really such creatures? Less important, but still of interest, over seventy-six years. Lumi was nearly twice his own age and even suspecting the boy- The boy? The man- to be older than his appearance suggested, over seventy-six he would never have guessed.

His thoughts turned to things his mother had offhandedly muttered, small things that he did not notice when she spoke them.

“You are your father,” she had said. “You are slight of build as was he, but much taller, your eyes, oh, your eyes, when I look into them I see him.” He would watch her intently as she closed her own

and a tear would roll down her cheek. He remembered only once hearing her speak his name “Erlenkönig,” she had said, the reverence in her voice deep and powerful. Then softly, “NydeligEn, my nydelig en.” He remembered the pet name. She used it often. She would also mention his hair as she gently stroked it, telling him it was like his father's but lighter, more red,

“I guess my part in you,” as she pushed it behind his ear. She would always be the one to cut it, not allowing anyone else to touch it, keeping it long over his ears until he at last cut it short after her passing. He would listen intently to her stories of the elves. They fascinated him as a child and she told many of the same ones told by the storytellers in the villages. Her's were different, though. They were about the goodness of the elves, and the beauty they possessed. About how cruel humans had been to them, and of course, how the human storytellers had changed the tales to make the elves seem cruel and unkind instead. At the end of one of these tales he remembered her saying,

“But who is hiding from whom?”

It was stated so sincerely he had to ask,

“Mother, is that true? Do the elves hide from humans?”

She was caught off guard by his question and she stared at him for a moment before she hesitantly offered,

“It is just a tale, a story, Litenalf.”

Then it dawned on him. The pet name she had given him before he was born. The name that meant no more to him than a mother's affection. Litenalf, meant little elf. Was he reading too much into this?

Only a moment had passed as he stood in the street before a familiar head appeared through the doorway, Lumi, called softly to him,

“Come inside, quickly,” he said.

The Man’s stone figure started to move toward the light before him. Could he trust these people, these elves. Did he have a choice? He stepped through the entrance and was glad of the warmth that the burning hearth provided. There were numerous elves of every age and size laughing and playing games in a brightly lit great room that seemed much larger inside than it appeared from the outside. The room opened into what seemed to be a large dining area and beyond that came the fragrant odors of herbs and spices cooking in meats and vegetables in a room where the food was prepared. He smelled sweets, and breads with cinnamon and sugar, and a great seasoned roast cooking somewhere out of his view.

“Come, come in and join us came a voice from around

the corner in the dining area.”

“One moment,Uncle,” said Lumi standing beside him and taking his arm. He turned his companion to face the room they had just walked through. “Your attention please,” he raised his voice to overcome the din in the large room, “I would like to present to you the person that I told you about earlier.” The crowd went deathly silent making the surrounding air seem abnormally uncomfortable. The faces seemed wary of this intruder. Many of the youngest withdrew behind their older siblings and parents. “Please help me welcome my newest and perhaps best friend.” The crowd waited for a very long few seconds, when sitting near Lumi, two youngsters started to giggle. Lumi smiled, gently and playfully slapped one on top of his head, “I present to you, Joulupukki!” The crowd burst into uproarious laughter. The perceived tension dissipated and Joulupukki knew he had been made the butt of a joke because of his name. He looked at Lumi and burst into laughter himself. Feeling his arm being tugged he glanced down to see a lovely young girl grabbing his hand with three of her friends standing in awe around her. Her hair pulled back in a pony tale revealed distinctly pointed ears. She smiled up at him and he smiled back with a smile that encompassed all four of the children. She let his hand go without a word and they ran off to play in another room after having proven herself to her friends in a game of dare. It struck him how alike these elfin children were to the numerous human children he had known and cared for over his many years.

Lumi's hand pressed upon his shoulder in a surprisingly firm grip guiding him into the dining area and to the second of two long slender tables where sat five older elves including DynDoeth.

“Come, sit, join us. You must be starving for some good food,” the elf said.

“Please, help yourself, what is ours is yours.”

Lumi pulled out two chairs pointing at one for the man to sit, but, before Lumi could take his own, another of the older elves cleared his throat and looked sternly at him. This elf made DynDoeth look the age of a teenager, his wrinkled skin like that of a dried piece of fruit. Again he cleared his throat leaving no room for others to speak and asked,

“So you think you can join us at our table now?”

The question took Joulupukki by surprise and he looked at Lumi who explained,

“This is the elders' table with the chairs,” Lumi said as he motioned to the other table surrounded by benches and said, “this is where the young ones sit.”

Joulupukki leaned forward keeping his aggression in check and spoke directly

to Lumi's uncle.

“I sincerely thank you for your kindness and your offer. I would also like to consider you friend as I do Lumi,” he realized the truth of his statement as he spoke it, “but,” turning to the older elf, “I will sit where Lumi sits.” Lumi looked aghast at this obvious insult to the Elder Elf, as Joulupukki turned to sit at the other table. He stopped only when the Elder spoke again.

“Perhaps, you should sit there Joulupuuuukkkkiiii,” pointing at the bench in front of the children's table, and drawing out the name as if to emphasize pukki, goat, “until you learn some manners.” Turning, facing the elf, he considered his words carefully,

“I have laughed sincerely with all of the jokes about my name. I willingly laugh along with you and deprecate myself before you, knowing I am no more than are you. I am in your house and do not wish to offend any who live here, but I will not laugh at the expense of my friend.”

DynDoeth smiled gently at his words before butting in,

“Friend you are, Joulupukki. To Lumi, to me and to all of my kin. Do not let this old,” he hesitated for a moment and continued chuckling, “Pukki, upset you. He was just miffed at Lumi's decision to perform his naming ceremony without his elders. I think you will find his sense of humor to be quite funny, if a bit irreverent when you get to know him and perhaps you may even be able to call him friend in time. So please, join us.” He stood and motioned to the chair. As he and Lumi sat, the older elf chuckled and said in a soft tone,

“I hope you're happy, I will likely be known as Pukki from this day forward.” They all laughed.

Through the doorway where the food was being prepared stepped a short, lightly rounded, moderately aged woman holding a large terrine filled with the most wonderful smelling stew. She placed it on the table by DynDoeth who playfully and tenderly slapped her on her hip. She gasped and glared at him.

“In the company of our guest?” She asked.

“You will not find women like this anymore,” DynDoeth stated. “Sound and strong and as fair as a butterfly on a warm summer's day.”

“and as round in hip as a real woman should be.” came from the other side of the table.

Her glare intensified as she leaned across the table. The elf who had spoke raised his hand in supplication as she started to reach for him but slid into DynDoeth's lap instead.

“As for you my love,” she reached up and gently tugged his ear, “if you do that

again I will have your ear.” They all laughed as Joulupukki dug into the stew, handing it to Lumi and noticing that for perhaps the first time in his life he felt truly content. If only his mother could have lived to see this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun sets hobbledehoy

the colors askew, twisted and knurled

at this moment of joy

in this sad, evil world

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nine days passed quickly as Joulupukki sat carving a toy bear for one of the elfin children who sat before him. He loved bringing joy to the life of all children but now he began to grow restless. His hosts, he found to be the kindest of people and made him want for nothing. In just nine days he felt his slim body gaining weight. Whenever he tried to help in any way, including menial tasks such as cleaning the dishes

or sweeping the floor, DynDoeth or his wife would admonish him and tell him to rest.

“You've spent many months traversing the desolate winter desert of the north-land. Your body needs to recuperate and regain its strength. There will be more than enough for you to do much sooner than you think,” they would insist.

“If your legs get restless go visit the stables,” Dyndoeth would tell him.

Spinteren was always a pleasure to visit, snuggling up next to him and nuzzling his muzzle into Joulupukki's hand, listening to the gentle tinkle of his sweet sounding bell. He would always take him a carrot or some sweet beets as a treat. So, here he was pulling down on the tail of a small toy bear making the legs move as if it were running and, to their delight, chasing the laughing children around the room. He had not seen Lumi for several days and when asked, no one would provide him with an answer as to the where-abouts of the elf. He would get only cursory responses like making arrangements or taking care of business. What business was he up to? DynDoeth said he had to be careful because of Rian, who-ever he was, if he was caught in the city again, they would not leave him in a snow drift. This time he would likely be stripped of his magic which for an elf would be worse than death. Joulupukki asked DynDoeth if he could help in any way, perhaps he could help Lumi, but was met with the same,

“Just relax for now, preparations are underway and you will need all of your strength for the coming events.”

DynDoeth with a serious face and determined stride entered the room and advanced directly toward Joulupukki. Standing to face the elf, Joulupukki, was intent on getting some answers, but before he could utter a sound the Elder Elf raised a hand and said,

“It is time. We must speak.”

He grabbed the taller man's arm and led him toward the back of the house down a hall he had not noticed, and into a small alcove off of the main corridor. DynDoeth motioned for him to sit in one of two chairs facing each other only a small space apart. He took the other. Joulupukki started to speak and was silenced by a gesture from the elf. After a few whispered words by the Elder, he visibly seemed to relax somewhat and said,

“Now you may speak. This space has been protected from prying ears.” The auburn haired man looked around him and saw nothing different. DynDoeth said, “You will not notice any visible difference here. The only way to detect the enchantment is by using your inner senses.” Joulupukki closed his eyes as if he had been instructed to do so. At first there was nothing, then, as he allowed his senses to stretch to the outer limits of the space, he could feel his probing being reflected back upon him like his reflection in a mirror.

“I feel it he said,” as he opened his eyes and looked at his companion. The elf's own eyes widened noticeably.

“Lumi said you were strong but I feel perhaps I have underestimated the limits of your gift. I told you I would answer your questions. I think it is time to answer at least some of them, but first, let me ask you a question, if I may.” Joulupukki nodded for him to continue. “When you were a child did you know your father?”

“No, not really,” was Joulupukki's response. “I was very young when he died. I remember the name he called my mother. It is carved in her headstone in the last village we lived in.”

A sad, almost reverent expression spread across the elder's face upon hearing about Joulupukki's mother.

“We suspected that Aisling had passed when you arrived here alone and only two hundred and sixty two years old, so young. Such a sad day for the world when one so good and gentle should leave it.”

“You knew my mother?” was Joulupukki's response.

“Indeed, I knew her quite well. Such a beautiful soul. I hope she did not suffer.”

“No, she died quietly in my arms,” he remembered as his voice trailed off to a whisper. Two hundred and sixty two years, alighted in his thoughts.

The elf reached out and grasped the man's shoulder,

“I feel the sorrow that bleeds from you my son. My ears shall listen long for the sound of your mother's songs, until we all meet again in the next world.” He looked into the elder's kind eyes as a sad smile stretched his rosy cheeks. “I'm afraid now we must get back to the business of this world.

Did your mother ever speak of your father?” DynDoeth asked. “Only briefly and never in detail,” was his answer. The elf's response came without hesitation,

“Ever the wise woman was Aisling. A child's slip of the tongue could have shortened his life before he grew to be a man.”

“How do you know my mother as Aisling?” questioned Joulupukki.

“That was the name that Erlenkönig gave to the love of his life. A sad union some believed, but one that made them both very happy. Also, one that destroyed their lives, but before the worst came to pass,

you were on your way and by then there was nothing they could do. We all knew her as Aisling.”

“I'm confused, DynDoeth, where did you meet my mother?”

“Your father brought her to our village many years ago. At that time the village floated off of an island much south of here. It's name, Erin. It was so lush and green. Many of our fairy kin chose to stay behind in that beautiful, enchanted land when our village had to move to a safer location.” He breathed a heavy sigh and continued, “humans breed like rabbits, and it is not safe to live around them, so, once every several hundred human years, we must move our village to a place where we have little contact with man.

This is becoming more and more difficult as time passes and humans spread across the face of this world; although, we have managed better here than we had expected, nearly two hundred and fifty years now.

Such a strange creature, curious and intelligent, but closed minded and rigid. Many, like your mother, are the kindest and most gentle beings ever to live, but many are willing to take advantage of the gentle ones for love of power and greed.” He shook his head sadly. “Humans are the most wondrous creatures in our world, but they are also the most feared and dangerous.”

“Are there many Fairy Folk other than the elves?” Joulupukki queried.

“Not so many as before the humans took control of the world. The ones left behind in Erin included the Green Ones, as we called them. I believe they call themselves Leprechauns now. Once elves themselves, they are now a cousin to the elf. Their magic has changed, the source coming from the ancient land of their island, the scattered misshapen trees and copses that now are covered with fungi and mushrooms that feed on the lingering magic surrounding the long dead forests like the rings of misty bogs that they have been pushed deeper and deeper into by the humans in their endless need for land to cultivate. The magic, twisted and darkened, is no longer pure like that in the Village.”

“What of dwarfs and trolls and ogres?”

The Elder Elf took a moment to ponder this question, sweeping his hand down his long gray beard.

“The dwarfs hide in their caves in the dark northern mountains, always searching for the riches the earth holds, obsessed with building great underground fortresses to guard against the onslaught of the humans as they believe will someday come. They are,” his voice trailed off for a moment, “a crotchety,

unpleasant sort. They are short but heavily built, and very strong for their size with long beards and very hairy bodies, hair that has adapted for living in the cold underground. Their eyes are large and support thick brows. The trolls are quite similar to the dwarfs but much slower in wit and larger in stature with bulbous bellies.” He slowly rubbed his own round midsection and smiled. “Luckily, there are few trolls left in the north-land. They are very bad tempered and are easy to anger but are also very easy to distract with a few magic tricks.”

“And the ogres?” Joulupukki prodded.

“Ogres,” DynDoeth chuckled, “are a human invention, as if there are not enough strange creatures that already exist in this world. They are not real, nor are the sea serpents or fire breathing dragons or mermaids; although,” he glanced quickly around to be sure no one listened, “I wouldn't mind meeting one of those.” He smiled. “They were made up by your story tellers, but I must admit, I have to admire their creativity. I listened to Aisling, many years past, as she told great tales to the children of the Village and I was enthralled by her heroes and their feats, feeling as if I were there with them. The human imagination is unfathomable and I could listen long to their stories.” Joulupukki had many more questions for the elf but they had been talking for hours and he could see the weariness in his companion's eyes, and hear the roar of his stomach. He also noticed how hungry he had become as well. When DynDoeth suggested that they take up where they left off in the morning, he did not object, looking forward to a nice meal and a good night's sleep.

As he slept, the questions of his father kept plaguing his dreams. Erlenkönig, his mother had called him. He wondered about the name as his father's deep blue eyes stared into his. His mother, standing to one side, cooed and spoke gibberish to him, then breaking into a lullaby,

“sleep, come sleep, come

sleep my son,

sleep do hasten to my child's weary eyes,

in morning you'll awake

to a bright sunrise

rock my child, rock him

rock him to sleep

in a manger of gold

let Mani keep him

safe in his hold

sleep come sleep my son”

then wrapping her arms around his father,

she said,

“The spitting image of your own, methinks, my nydelig en.” Strange the way she spoke in his memory. He had forgotten the unique pattern of her words when he was young, how she corrected him when he spoke like her and how over time her own speech became generic, yet her voice still beautiful in its lulling tone. He remembered his father shushing his mother whenever she let her brogue develop in its full richness as she playfully bantered with him.

“Please, Aisling, someone will hear you, and they will find you and take our child.”

She would always become quiet and hug him tightly, then promise to be good. He remembered the smile that would crawl across his fathers face as they hugged, his face pressed tight against her cheek and shoulder and his hand stroking her hair. This memory was new and seemed to come from a different place inside of him, a much older place. A place in a room behind a door that had been locked away from him. A door who's key had been lost for so many years. Now, found again, the door, now opened, and these memories flooding into the light to live once more.

Joulupukki awoke early the next morning and hurriedly dressed. His intention was to catch DynDoeth before the crowds started gathering in the eating hall. He had but one question for him that he thought would answer all of the others and he could not wait for the ceremony in the veiled alcove in which they had met the day before. As he entered the cooking room, DynDoeth's wife, Ceridfen, was already busy at work cooking the morning meal.

“Do they ever give you a break?” He questioned.

“Oh, Joulupukki, you are up early this morning.”

“Yes, I need to speak with your husband,” he stepped aside as she quickly brushed past him.

“He should be sitting at the dining table in the eating room shortly.” She looked at him in a way that suggested that he was in her way and she was about to throw him out when her face softened, “Would you be so kind as to help me with the place settings,” she asked? He knew she was just being nice and assumed he would just be in the way if he remained in the cooking area,

“Of course I will,” he replied. “Are these the dishes you wish for me to use?” He pointed at a stack of well worn glazed dishes placed on the end of a counter. Metal knives and large two pronged forks sat beside them and a second, much taller, stack of wooden plates towered behind them with wooden spoons

placed in the middle of the upper plate.

“Yes, I need eight settings laid out on the main table and

and all of the wooden plates and spoons arranged on the children's table. And to answer your question from before, no. There is no time for breaks when serving the meals. It makes my heart happy to see their satisfied faces as I fill their plates.” He looked deeply into her unfocused eyes as her thoughts drifted off and he could tell she was speaking the truth. DynDoeth was right, they broke the mold when they made such good hearted women as his wife. Joulupukki carefully removed eight place settings with plates, bowls and cups from the table, stacking eight forks and knives on the top plate. As he walked into the eating room he placed the dishes on the end of the main table. He found cloth napkins folded into squares on a small serving cart near the door that he had just passed through. Removing eight napkins he further folded each one into triangles and placed them on top of each plate. The fork was placed to the left of the plate tines upward and the knife placed to the right of the plate with the blade facing the plate. The bowl he arranged in the upper left corner of the place setting and the cup to the right of it. When this was completed he went back into the cooking room and retrieved the wooden plates. As he began arranging each plate with a spoon to its right, DynDoeth strolled slowly into the dining area, speaking to another of the family elders. Joulupukki could not at the moment remember his name so he nodded to each in turn as they entered. Stopping what he was doing and turning to face the elves, he was taken aback when he saw them stop, staring at the table he had set. He heard Ceridfen call out from the adjoining room,

“Is that you DynDoeth?”

DynDoeth hesitantly replied,

“yes, Ceridfen, it is me,” as she stepped through the doorway. She stopped when she saw the table, a gleaming smile stretching her lips.

“Are we expecting the council for breakfast this morning,” asked the other elder. She glanced at Joulupukki and strode over to the tall man. She hugged him and as she pulled away he saw a glistening in her eyes.

“Did I do something wrong,” he asked worriedly, “I hope I haven't offended you.”

Quickly Ceridfen turned to him,

“No, no, Joulupukki, you have not offended anyone,” she said, while wiping a tear from her eye. “If there was but a tiny drop of doubt that you were the son of Aisling of Erin, it is gone forever, now.” She stepped back into the cooking room, wiping her eyes.

DynDoeth, saw the confusion in his face and explained,

“Your mother used to help her with the morning meals when she and Erlenkönig yet lived in the village. They became very close, cooking and laughing together. Each morning she would insist on setting the morning table in the same manner in which you have.”

“It is lovely, Joulupukki,” she said from the doorway. She walked over to him once more and hugged him again. “Thank you,” she said as she turned her attention back to cooking.

Joulupukki also turned back to his own duty, quickly finishing the placement of the remaining plates and spoons on the table.

“Do you have more napkins, there are not enough for each place setting,” he inquired of DynDoeth? DynDoeth removed the remaining napkins from the serving cart and handed them to Joulupukki.

“Put them in the center of the table. There will be enough. Most of the young ones can not, as yet, tell the difference between a napkin and a sleeve or pair of trousers.” He chuckled.

After positioning the napkins in several piles in the center of the table, he turned to the two elves and gestured for them to sit.

“There is something I must ask you, DynDoeth,” he said, as the three of them slid into their chairs. Hearing the serious tone of his friends voice DynDoeth suggested they wait until after the morning meal

and pursue it in the secured room, but Joulupukki insisted, “I am sorry DynDoeth but I can wait no longer for the answer to this question. It is a simple question that may answer many others that I have. Please, allow me this one indiscretion.” The elf looked at him and gently nodded his head. Slowly, Joulupukki, carefully choosing each word, articulated them as if they held inside of them the meaning of life, of his life. Depending on the answer he was given, his life might never be the same.

“What is the meaning of my father's name, Erlenkönig?”

The elf stared into his eyes for a very long moment, pondering his answer. He knew this would change everything in the life of the human who sat before him. He knew what the man suspected and that his answer would confirm Joulupukki's greatest fear and yet perhaps it would set his mind at ease as well. It would explain his life of secrecy and running. His only fear was that he might decide to run once more and the prophecy would be broken, leaving the village to remain under the heartless and heavy handed control of the power hungry Rian and his minions, the current council of six. DynDoeth decided it best to tell Joulupukki everything; thus, began the great tale of his father.

It had been many, many human years since Erlenkönig had ruled the Elfin People, not just the Village, but all of the elves of the six different clans spread across the different continents of the world. Peace with the

humans was one of his most important goals, even to the point of being Joined to one. Not that he did not love Aisling, for he did with all he had within him. They loved each other more than most, be it elf or human, could ever imagine. Which made his decision to join with her all the easier with hope of bringing

the elves and humans closer together. On the eve of their ceremony Erlenkönig announced that the elfin race was too great to be ruled by one leader and that he would create a council with a representative from each clan who would be equal to the king and each other and would make the decisions for all elves in the future. This confused the elves at first, for virtually all of them in all six clans felt very highly of Erlenkönig. They considered him a very good and wise king and all was well until the time of the king's Joining. Rian saw this as a chance of opportunity for himself and his close associates. At the time he was a minor advisor to the king on matters concerning humans. His clan was small and resided in the southwestern most portion of the largest land mass in the world. They were known as the Ibero Clan, a name that remained with the humans being adopted by the ancient inhabitants of the area. The Athenians used the name to refer to both the people and the second largest river in the region. Rian, who at the time was called Reginn, saw the discontent in many elfin families who did not believe in the mixing of human and elfin blood. He secretly fomented discontent among the elves that wished to have nothing to do with the humans. All the while, Erlenkönig went about forming his council, asking the elders of each of the clans to secure a vote from their members to elect a Council Elf to send to the Village as advisors to the king. Reginn (Rian) managed, through political maneuvering and manipulative persuasion, to circumvent the election and be assigned to the council directly, none of which was known by Erlenkönig. During the first few months of the council a strange illness began to overcome each member and one by one they all died. Of course Reginn was the first to contract the illness and in a few weeks was completely cured. As each councilman in turn passed from the Earth more and more suspicion mounted against the king, many saying it was a magical curse brought on by the union of the Elf King and the human commoner. Reginn subtly weighed in on his view point, never accusing the king, but always siding with the radical fringe, helping to put questions in the mind of the average elf. On the day of their union, Erlenkönig gave a great and moving speech to the elves of the Village with his new bride standing beside him. He asked them to be patient with his new ideas and to allow them a chance to come to fruition. They cheered him on and chanted, 'long live Erlenkönig, long live Aisling,' which was repeated over and over, but this did not stop the followers of Reginn from attacking the king and his wife the following day. Many of the attackers were minor elders from various clans that had been brought to the village in secret with the sole purpose of taking control of the elfin capitol, each of them quite powerful in their own magic.

The day, following their nuptials, was like most days. The humans that had come to witness the Joining had all left early, thanking the elves for their hospitality and packing their carts with the gifts the elves bestowed upon them in return for the Gifts of Joining that they had brought for the King and his new wife. In this place, at this time the elves and humans intermingled as they pleased. There was no need for magic mists to hide the Village and the view of Erin from the bridge was breathtaking. Tall cliffs lined the coast with many small cart paths zigzagging from side to side up the stone mountain, and, sometimes, through the mountain where natural caves were used to create tunnels. Atop the cliff the forest crowded along the edge to the point where many trees, hundreds of years old, had toppled over the rim, seemingly pushed by the ones behind them, where they lay dead or dying among the boulders strewn across the wind swept expanse of the rocky shoreline. The morning sky was blue with rain clouds threatening in the distance. First meal was served as usual. As Erlenkönig roused from his bed, he immediately felt the presence of strong magic building in the air. A dark magic filled with malice and danger. He was ill at ease with this feeling but did not mention it to his new bride as they went down to the eating hall. DynDoeth was waiting in the foyer as Erlenkönig reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Erlenkönig, may we have words,” DynDoeth asked of the king.

“Not even a good morning or congratulations, DynDoeth,” Erlenkönig replied.

“I'm sorry,” he said, bowing deeply to both of them.

Snickering, Aisling looked at the middle aged elf, hair just touching at gray on the sides, shorter than most but with trim waist and and strong physique,

“He jests with you, DynDoeth.” They had not known each other for long but she had grown fond of the elf and his wife, she, headstrong and willful, reminded her of herself, but she was also kind and caring, one of the few elves in the village that had accepted her from the very beginning, without hesitation. “Any maiden that can steal the love of our king will always be welcome in my house and in my heart,” she would say, and he, doting over his wife with a surprising playfulness, always trying to be helpful in all the right ways, but usually just bumbling through in such an endearing manner. Aisling was offered a room in their home for the weeks preceding the wedding and later, during the dark ,days spent more time with DynDoeth and Ceridfen than in her own home. DynDoeth looked up and saw the big smiles on both of their faces,

“Do you feel it,” he proceeded? Erlenkönig leaned forward and kissed his bride and gently requested she proceed to the eating room and he would meet her there. A slight look of worry crossed her face but she turned and continued toward the wonderful smells of the early meal with an off-handed, “don't be too long,” called back over her shoulder.

“Do you know where the magic originates,” Erlenkönig asked.

“It seems to come from all around us,” was his response.

“A plot,” the king suggested.

“I believe that to be the case, with more than one participant. When first I felt it, it was surrounding the keep. As I proceeded into the keep it was all around me. I count at least 8 streams of magic, of very powerful magic, not that of the average elf.”

“A coupe to take power it would seem,” responded the king. “Find the elders and gather them quietly in the courtyard as quickly as possible.”

“What's left of the counsel as well?” inquired DynDoeth.

“No!” was the king's quick but stern response. “Only those who we can be certain of their trust. do not do anything until I get there, DynDoeth my friend, we do not want to give our hand away until the last moment.”

“As you wish, where will you be?”

“Having morning meal with my wife of course.” They both smiled at this, and DynDoeth was quickly away.

Erlenkönig pulled the chair out beside Aisling's and sat on the side of the table. A large, luxuriant and ornate chair headed the end of the table, several places down from where he sat its back set against the triad of long plain windows that let the light stream through. A second, only, slightly smaller one was arranged beside it. He paid no attention to where he sat at the dining table. Past Elfin Kings chose to be treated as the rulers that they were, including his father the former king, but Erlenkönig was much less formal about the title bestowed upon him. He saw being king as a job only with no more right to entitlement than the child that was now playing on the smaller of the two thrones. He hated his name, he much preferred the name his wife called him, NydeligEn, Beautiful One, but, out of respect for his father, chose not to change it. His father once told him,

“The strength of a king is not always whether he is a good king or a bad king. The strength of a king comes from his subjects' ability to believe in him. In times of stress, be it famine, floods or war, when the king's personal strength is waning, sometimes, all that is needed is a strong name for the average elf to rally around.”

Aisling picked up Erlenkönig's plate and started placing fruits and sweet breads on it.

“What was that about,” she inquired?

“With DynDoeth?”

“Of course with DynDoeth,” was her curt response. Erlenkönig hesitated for just a moment before replying. He didn't want to lie to her, but he also worried for her safety and did not want to upset her.

“Nothing of concern.”

She looked directly in to his eyes and very calmly said to him,

“NydeligEn, I'm your wife. 'Cause you are King, I know there'll be times when you're feelin it unwise to share what you're think'in with t'others, but I'm here as your lover, as your confidant, and I will never,”

she hesitated for a moment to let this sink in as she drew her face closer to his, “never be betray'in your trust,” her sweet soprano brogue sang in his ears. As he gazed into her beautiful iridescent green eyes he did not see anger or hurt, only concern and strength.

“You are right, my love,” he started, “I have not been totally open with you. I was concerned about upsetting you so soon after our joining, but my concern was misguided. I know how strong you are.” She took his hand and whispered to him,

“We will be strong together.” He proceeded to tell her about his conversation with DynDoeth and about the magic that surrounded them. She listened intently only interrupting once, “So that's what caused the strange feel'ins I had this morn'in, I knew someth'in was wrong.” Erlenkönig, looked at the unreadable expression on her face.

“You could feel the magic,” he questioned.

“I'm sure, not like you, my love, but I certainly felt a strangeness in the air and it felt all wrong. We humans may not have your elfin magic, but we do have our senses about us.”

They both smiled.

“Please do not argue with me about this, but, after we finish the morning meal, you will return to our rooms where someone will be waiting to escort you from the keep. I think it will be safest for you if you stay at DynDoeth's cottage until this is over.” She saw the concern in his eyes and simply nodded. As the morning waned and the dishes from the meal were gathered, Aisling and Erlenkönig rose from their seats and made their way out of the dining hall. Moving casually and speaking with intentionally light and airy conversation, and occasional moments of giggling. They separated in the main hall, Aisling heading up the stairs, and Erlenkönig meandering, as if lost, in the general direction of the courtyard.

“That elf,” Erlenkönig said in mock anger, “where is he?” He spoke loud enough so all in the hall could hear him. He glanced at the inscription scrawled on either side of the door they had just passed through. He had read it so many times before, as a child, his father making him read it out loud each time they passed through it.

'To All That Pass Through, Be Judged With Reasoned Head, Generous Heart and Objective Impartiality'. He could not bear to remove it when he turned the room into the Great Eating Hall. His thoughts aroused from reverie as he heard,

“I'll be waiting in our chambers,” Aisling, calling back, looked down the stairs, “I'll be waiting,” she said again, this time more playfully. The Elf King felt all eyes upon him as he glanced up with a smile and his wife turned and continued up the staircase. An actual blush reddened his face as he saw each elf turn their gaze from his, many of them chuckling.

When he reached the courtyard DynDoeth stepped from the shadows and greeted him. One by one each of the Elders also stepped forward. Erlenkönig greeted each in turn. There were only six of them when the greetings were completed.

“Erlenkönig, I regret that I could convince no more to join us.

Some I'm afraid still have doubts about the joining of elves and humans. Some have felt the power of the magic and are simply scared. I have also discovered the presence of humans massing on the far side of the bridge. I presume they are cohorts of the elves that wish to do you and your new bride harm, and it was not difficult to tie Reginn to this event. His ears were long for the unruly crowd of humans at the wedding yesterday.”

Looking at DynDoeth, Erlenkönig smiled confidently and said,

“You have done well my friend. They intentionally did not hide their strength with the hope of scaring away as many of us as they could. I thought I felt Reginn's magic mixed in this.”

He looked at each elf in front of him.

“If any of you wish to bow out of our little escapade I will understand and it will not be held against you. What we are facing at this moment is my doing, and I must accept the consequences of my actions, but you do not; however, I must insist that you leave now if you wish to go.”

He awaited comments or at least the quiet departure of some of the elders, but they all stood quietly unmoving. Only a few moments passed before he gathered his band together and started to relay to them the plans he had made during the morning meal. Luckily for him, the elves that answered his call were some of the strongest of their craft in the Village, and perhaps in all six of the Kingdoms. He had to adjust his strategy on the fly to account for the news about the humans. He would not wait for the attack. He intended to go on the offensive. First they had to nullify the threat posed by the humans. He gave the destruction of the bridge to Andghul and DynDoeth. Andghul was the eldest of the Elders and perhaps the strongest of the elemental elves to ever live. DynDoeth would watch over him and keep him safe as he eliminated the humans' access to the Village. This would be dangerous because they would have to stay inside of the Keep so Reginn's group would be unaware of what the remaining Elders were up to. The three Elders left, Obrynith, Gwaldon and Bréagán, would quietly make their way out into the Village where they would attempt to counteract the magic flowing into the Keep. All three of them were well known for their ability to counter other's elfin magic. Erlenkönig would wait inside for any conspirator elf to enter and would deal with each in turn. Of all of the Elves in the Village Erlenkönig's magic was undisputedly the most powerful. He was reluctant to use it because of its, sometimes, unpredictable nature so no elf truly knew the power he controlled. He hoped that Reginn was one of these because he also knew that he would likely have to confront him and possibly others before the day was through. A light whistle interrupted Erlenkönig as he finalized the plans. He looked up to the second story corridor that passed along the edge of the courtyard. Reaching between the balustrades he saw Aisling with Ceridfen peeking from behind.

“I thought you might need this,” she said, tossing down a tightly wrapped bundle. He knew immediately what it was as he caught it in his right hand. It was his staff. He thought he would have to do battle without it, and he was happy to see it. It did not strengthen his magic but it did help him to focus it through the shaft and crystal which gave it more impact when using it offensively.

“NydeligEn, my love, we've been joined for but a moment.

Please, take care to not make me a widow in the near bouts.” She smiled trying to alleviate some of his tension. Then pulling Ceridfen up beside her she looked at DynDoeth.

“Think of the business at hand DynDoeth and don't ya be worrin'. We'll be taken good care of each t'other and waitin' for both of ya when this nastiness is done.” They hurried off before anymore could be said. Erlenkönig looked at DynDoeth and whispered to him,

“If I don't make it...,” when DynDoeth cut him off.

“If you will do the same for me, my King.”

Erlenkönig nodded. He knew the love that DynDoeth shared with the petite but fiery elf, Ceridfen. He could not imagine anyone who could share deeper feelings for each other than he and Aisling, but his friends' certainly rivaled it.

“It is time,” he said as he turned back to the others. “Andghul, you and DynDoeth, make your way as closely and quietly as you can toward the bridge. When you feel you are close enough, find a defensible area that you can remain in until I can get to you. Your strength will be drained by the time you finish your work. I know your magic is great but it is unheard of for one elf to destroy a bridge by himself.”

“Yes,” started Andghul, “well, It normally takes three strong elves four days to complete a bridge, but I believe if I concentrate a strong wave of energy along the center arch, it will cause a weak spot that can be broken with an opposite pulse. If then, DynDoeth can push the island away from the shore when he feels it weakening, the bridge should break.”

“Very good Andghul. DynDoeth, when you push the island, do so with enough power to move the island out of reach of the human boats.”

“Yes, my King. We will be on our way.” As they moved toward the doorway, Erlenkönig added, “We will wait to feel your magic before attacking Reginn. I will get to you as soon as I can if Oden wills it.” DynDoeth turned back for just a moment, giving a slight bow to the king before he and his companion disappeared into a dark corridor.

“As for you three, I think it best if you separate and make your way to different positions around the outside of the Keep. As soon as you feel Andghul's magic, concentrate everything you have to nullify the dark one's as it moves to stop the breaking of the bridge. I will draw as many as I can to deal with me inside of the Keep. Thank you all for your help.” Obrynith and Gwaldon headed out in opposite directions, but Bréagán did not move.

“Are you having doubts Bréagán?” Erlenkönig looked at him. “It is OK if you wish to leave. No one will know but you and I.”

“Oh no, my King, I do not wish to abandon you or the others.” He hesitated before continuing, “I just don't see how my magic can help. It is not like yours and theirs.”

“I have seen your magic Bréagán.” He could not help but to smile when he thought of it. “I believe it to be equal to any of ours, perhaps, even greater.” Although he was in middle age, he was the youngest of the Elders. He was surprised when Andghul recommended him to Erlenkönig's father to be part of the Elders. There had never been an Elder that was as young as he. He had heard that Erlenkönig had agreed with Andghul when his father had consulted him, stating to the older King,

“He has many good qualities, father. I know he is not like the others, but I feel that, not to be a negative when choosing him. His magic is very strong and may help to someday create a new, more enlightened world for the elves.” He had always respected the progressive ideas of the Young King, even more so than his father. They did not share the same social circles but had grown up together. As much of a loner as he was, whenever he found himself in Erlenkönig's presence, he was always treated with respect and with dignity, in fact, as an equal. The King spoke again. “Your magic is much the same as Gwaldon's. You can take another elf's magic and manipulate it, change it into something harmless. I cannot do that. I envy your ability.”

“Thank you my King, but when Gwaldon uses his magic, he deflects the other's into the sky creating rain and thunderstorms. He deflects it into the trees and plants which make them grow. I can only...,” his voice trailed off as he looked down and shook his head. He knew the magic he controlled was actually very weak in itself. It was totally dependent on the strength of other elfin magic.

“I believe in you,” the King said as he reached out and squeezed the other's shoulder. Bréagán looked into the King's eyes and felt his strength. This was, perhaps, the strongest of the King's magic, his ability to see into the hearts other's and to bring out the best in them, his never ending optimism and unfaltering charisma. With a hesitant smile and slight bow of his head, Bréagán turned and made his way out of the Keep.

A few minutes later he found himself looking down from the highest point in the village. Careful to skirt past the areas where the dark magic emanated. From his vantage point he could see most of the Erin side of the village including the top of the keep and a small portion of the bridge. This was a place he knew well. A refuge of sorts where he could come to think when life had become too cruel to face and the other elves were unkind. There was a small cave on the top of the hill where he thought he might have some protection from the magic that emanated toward the Keep. He knew that as soon as his magic was felt by the others, they would turn theirs against him. He just hoped that he had the strength to do what needed to be done.

He was scared!

Beyond anything he had felt before. The Elfin Mages that confronted his small band had obvious power that was greater than anything he had ever known. He looked at the streets of the Village and saw no one moving across its cobbles. Not a single elf was visible. They all felt what was coming. He understood why no more would come to the King's aid. They were terrified as well. With the power that continuously grew surrounding the Keep, they all saw the same outcome. The Keep would be destroyed and the King would be deposed if not killed. Heaven only knew what would become of his young wife. Reginn was so sure of himself and his cohorts that he made no attempt to hide the magic, but Bréagán knew the truth of what the King had said, Reginn wanted the other elves to feel his power. He wanted them to be scared, not just to curtail their helping the King, but to let them know that they would fear him when he took over the throne. Bréagán moved into the mouth of the cave to await Andghul's magic.

After Bréagán left the courtyard Erlenkönig began his own preparations for the upcoming fight. He did not have time to think of the elf's self apprehension. He knew that because of the chiding from the the other elves about his magic when he was young, that Bréagán had little reason to feel confident in his abilities, but he also knew that his difficult early life had instilled upon him a great strength of conviction

and if he set his mind to a task he would give all he had to follow it through. He hoped that the younger Elder knew that he was his friend, not just his king. He felt confident that Bréagán would not let him down. More than any of the others, Bréagán's peculiar magic was vital to his plan. Erlenkönig carefully reached out with his magic to touch each of the eight streams that were present above him weaving a powerful net across the Keep, tightening it as the magic strengthened. Each elf's magic was distinct to that elf and he searched to remember who was the source of each. Several lines of power he knew, two were strong elders from the Ibero Clan, the same clan from which Reginn hailed. One more was an elder and member of his new Council Of Six and another from Erin. They, also, were very strong. The others, with the exception of Reginn, he did not know. He decided when the time came he would cut the magic streams of Reginn and the other four which should draw them into the keep where he hoped to keep them off balance so they could not mount a unified attack against him. He was not concerned about their individual strength. His own magic was easily a match for any two of them, but if they could manage to combine their strength, he would not stand a chance against them, but if he could draw them into the Keep they would not be able to destroy it. The Keep itself was guarded by its own ancient magic which is why they had to build so much power before attacking it. He was also concerned about any hidden conspirators of which they were unaware. If he were in Reginn's position, he would surely keep at least two or three elves in reserve if things became more difficult than they expected. According to the streams of magic he had read, Reginn was the second from the left of the five elves he was attempting to draw into the Keep. He positioned his staff in the middle of the courtyard and withdrew to a corridor opposite the one he expected Reginn to use when he entered. Using a small amount of magic that he thought would be lost in the expanse being used above him, he collapsed a small portion of the entrance in front of him.

He did not want to stop Reginn from getting through, only to slow him down a bit. His staff being left in the middle of the yard was of no concern. His magic was the only one that could be used with his staff,

and if he was lucky it might even help to confuse the other elves.

He waited. Finally he felt the initially subtle magic being forced into the center of the bridge. He knew in an instant it was Andghul. He could also feel the streams above him shift noticeably toward the bridge as the conspirators realized what was happening. Immediately, Erlenkönig, using all of his strength, reached out with his own magic cutting five streams in half like cutting the head from a viper's body, the trailing magic squirmed and died slowly. Reginn reacted swiftly trying to re-establish his separated line, but Erlenkönig was too swift and cut it again before he could firmly regain control of it. Each elf in turn attempted to rebuild their magical streams only to be thwarted by the King, until finally their magic disappeared. He knew at this moment they were coming for him. In short order the sound of light footsteps were audible in the dim hallways in front of him. They were cautious but determined. He could still sense the battle that raged over the bridge. If they did not get the island from Erin's shore and moved into the ocean the humans would overrun the Village and all would be lost.

In his cave Bréagán felt when Andghul's magic created ripples along the center of the bridge. His fear was overwhelming when the power of the dark magic was shifted to stop Andghul and he feared for the Elder's life. Then as quickly the streams were cut to a fraction of their power when five of them disappeared sputtering out like a candle flame. Almost immediately Gwaldon and Obrynith entered the fray as they found the targets for their magic, weaving it in and out of the remaining streams, changing it, manipulating it into something other than what it was supposed to be. The rain began immediately and came down in torrents flooding the streets of the Village, lightning flashed and thunder shook the buildings as Gwaldon changed the dark magic into something less harmful. Obrynith was tiring when Bréagán's mind touched his, offering his magic to bolster Obrynith's. He accepted it and used it to regain

his strength, then let it go, and Bréagán did the same for Gwaldon. This was one of the gifts of Bréagán. He was only one of a handful of elves throughout history known to be able to share his magic with others. Neither Obrynith nor Gwaldon could destroy the magic of other elves, all they could do was change their magic and they both hoped the dark elves would run out of strength before them. They, luckily, had Bréagán to help sustain them.

Before them lay the bridge. It was a beautiful arch spanning a small estuary that was bordered on one side by the rock and boulder strewn beach dotted here in there with mostly dying trees that had fallen from the cliff face above. A few had managed to root into the rocky soil and created strange shapes from twisted limbs. On the Village side was a narrow, long barrier island that the island had come to rest against. As DynDoeth looked to the cliffs he saw that the humans were gathered about half way down in a large alcove much closer than he had hoped with a much larger band. There had to be at least several hundred stretching up three different cart paths. He tapped Andghul on his shoulder and was greeted with a terse,

“I can see them.”

He watched as Andghul closed his eyes, reaching out timidly with his magic at first feeling for weak spots in the bridge then attacking that spot with a burst of magic that he wondered if Erlenkönig, himself, could withstand. The response was immediate from the Dark Elves. He could feel their power shifting toward the bridge. DynDoeth wrapped himself and Andghul in a strong cocoon of defensive magic but knew it could not last long if their full force was countered against it. The humans seeing the bridge quivering hesitated but a moment before realizing what was happening and started a massive ascent toward the beach in their effort to reach the bridge before it was destroyed. Many of the humans either fell or were pushed off of the paths to fall to their death hundreds of feet below. DynDoeth seeing the human carnage reached out to the cliff bringing the lower portion down onto the beach causing the humans to stop in their tracks and hopefully saving at least some of them from the fate of their fellows.

“Now DynDoeth,” he heard his companion yell. He lowered his focus to the very bottom of the cliff and with all of his strength he used his magic to push the Village further into the ocean. As the bridge snapped the Village jolted and many of the builds creaked and swayed. A few of the humans managed to make it to the beach, some even grabbed their boats and pushed them into the water, but none followed as the Village drifted further and further away. DynDoeth looked down at the Elder Elf. He had passed out from his exertion, but he was breathing. The defensive spell that surrounded them had weakened and was of little good. He was exhausted and let the spell drop. He noticed as the dark magic had moved in their direction that multiple streams had suddenly disappeared. He didn't know how many at the time but he knew it had to be Erlenkönig's doing. He thought to himself, thank you my King. It was only now that he realized that there were only three streams left. Erlenkönig had taken on at least five strong Elfin Mages all on his own. He knew the King was strong but no elf had ever defeated five strong elves at once. He quickly tested the remaining streams. They were strong, yet, but Obrynith and Gwaldon had their magic so intricately entwined within their darkness that it was difficult to tell which magic belonged to which elf. He reached down to check on Andghul and the elf opened his eyes.

“Rest old one, you have done well and completed your part in this. I must go to help Erlenkönig if I can. Do not use your magic, do not give away your location. I will return as soon as possible if I may.”

The elder elf nodded slightly and closed his eyes. DynDoeth did not know how he might help Erlenkönig, his magic was spent. He only knew that he had to try. He straightened his legs and pulled himself to his feet, his right knee almost buckling beneath him. Then slowly, step by step, he tottered in the direction of the courtyard.

Erlenkönig waited to see the owner of the footsteps he heard from the corridor across the hall and to his left. Very cautiously one of the Iberians peeked into the courtyard. It took but an instant for Erlenkönig to wrap him in a magical net and attach him to the stone wall. One down, four to go he thought to himself. He heard a rustling in the corridor straight in front of him and a voice in no uncertain terms yell,

“Wait!”

It was Reginn's voice. He yelled loud enough for his group of elves to hear him in the other hallways. “Erlenkönig, there is no reason for us to carry this any farther. The elves and the humans you so love have decided that it is wrong to mix our blood. All you must do to stop this is to give up. Your little band can go no farther. Even you cannot stand against four of us. I promise no harm will come to your bride. She will be released back to her clan in Erin. I promise this now, but if you do not give up I can not assure you of her safety.”

The King's senses were alert to everything going on around him. He caught sight of movement from the same hall as before and he reached out with his magic, ensnaring another of Reginn's cohorts, again, pasting him to the wall in a magical net. He felt Reginn unsuccessfully try to free them. Then the magic of the three remaining elves let loose at Erlenkönig with the full force of their power. He was pushed back deeper into his corridor and with only moments to spare he realized that Reginn had been stalling while three more of his elves had positioned themselves in the hall behind him. In an instant he threw up a barrier between himself and the dark elves, but his strength was waning with each attack they made. He managed to break through their defenses long enough to throw one of them against a wall and put him out of commission. Down to five again he chuckled to himself. Reginn now became so bold as to enter the yard. Erlenkönig could have easily destroyed him at that instant but was unsure if this would put an end to the battle. Some of the elves with which Reginn had surrounded himself were as ambitious as he and might continue to fight with the intent of becoming King themselves. He had but one more chance at ending this in their favor and it would take every ounce of strength that he had left.

Bréagán continued to share his magic with Obrynith and Gwaldon and it seemed to be helping. He could feel the three dark wizards' power draining. He didn't think they could last much longer if only he could help sustain Obrynith and Gwaldon and he wouldn't even have to embarrass himself by actually using his own magic. Then somewhere in his mind he felt the King's touch gentle but urgent.

“I need you.”

Erlenkönig knelt to the ground, his urge to destroy Reginn was strong but he knew it was one or the other. Rid yourself of Reginn or stop this coup. He chose to stop the take over and reached out with his mind. His power, almost spent, he found Bréagán.

“I need you,” he said. “Use your magic on mine before it's too late.” With the last remaining strength he had, Erlenkönig let loose a tremendous burst of power. From his mind a pure blue-white light beamed into the crystal of his shaft which directed it straight up into the sky.

When Bréagán saw the light pierce through the top of the Keep he did not hesitate. He knew what he must do and cast his meager magic to combine with the Kings. Erlenkönig's power was so great that he thought he might lose himself within it. He had never experienced this kind of power, so strong and yet so pure, without anger, without animosity. He quickly wove an intricate stream through the length of Erlenkönig's magic, so careful as to be indistinguishable from his own. As the magics fused they became one and began to change in nature. The power of the King's magic started to expand until it became a mist that covered the entire island that the Village was built upon, slowly dissipating and settling gently to the ground.

Erlenkönig sensed when the magics met and felt instant relief. What happened next was out of his hands. He could do no more. His magic was spent. He found himself lying on the ground and he rolled over to look into the sky, watching as if in a dream as the magic twisted and turned and engorged itself on itself as if it were a caterpillar just before it emerged into a butterfly. He felt the droplets of mist as they fell upon him and he smiled. He glanced in the direction of Reginn and saw him intermittently giggling then cursing and shooting bursts of dark magic into the air. His two companions had come out of hiding and were laughing and stroking what appeared to be miniature horses that they held in their hands. Instinctively looking down the corridor he saw his two last adversaries being engulfed by the mist. They disappeared from his view but their laughter was loud and clear. Looking into the sky he could swear that the misty droplets were morphing. When the tiny particles of magical mist gathered tightly enough together they began to create, what appeared to be, children's toys, fluffy animals, bears and deer and rabbits, that floated softly to the ground, little dolls with bright button eyes and wide grinning lips. Toy boats made of soft balsa wood that he instinctively knew would really float, fell gently from the sky and so many other types of toys. He thought he was hallucinating. Then he heard someone yell,

“My King, Erlenkönig. Are you injured?” How strange it seemed with the uncharacteristic giggling that accompanied the question. He knew this voice and before he could respond he heard another familiar sound,

“NydeligEn, my love,” Aisling.

His life, nearly drained from him, began to come back. He felt Aisling lift his head and lay it in her lap. He glanced about to see Ceridfen wrapping magical nets around the laughing Dark Elves including Reginn, whose fight had finally been drained from him.

“Let's move him to one of the corridors,” he heard DynDoeth say to Aisling. She giggled, as they brushed the soft toys off of him and half carried and half dragged him to the nearest hallway, the three remaining Dark Elves being apprehended a bit later, laughing and giggling so hard that they gave no resistance when Gwaldon and Obrynith rounded them up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remains the pain within the dark

A song so soft of love and heart

Yet, holes this deep leave their mark

Like life's sorrowed canvas art

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Elf King,” said DynDoeth, “Erlenkönig means Elf King.” Joulupukki listened carefully as DynDoeth told the tale of his father. His emotions overwhelmed him. He could feel the tears dripping from his eyes and he let them flow, unashamed. DynDoeth was the quiet one now, assessing the state of the half human, half elf that sat across from him. Ceridfen guided the morning diners, including the adults, to the children's table as her husband spoke with Joulupukki. The meal had been served and mostly eaten and many of the diners had already left before DynDoeth's tale had finished.

“You leave me with more questions,” Joulupukki finally offered, brushing a napkin across his rosy cheeks, a slight smile spread across his face as his mind wandered deep in thought.

“Joulupukki?” Ceridfen spoke his name.

“I'm fine,” he looked at her and smiled. “So if my father and you and the others defeated Rian / Reginn why is he in charge of the Village now?”

“Other forces were at play during this time and I'm sorry to say that we were unaware of them. If Erlenkönig had known at the time he would have destroyed Rian for sure rather than saving his kingdom”

He shook his head and added, “I should have done it for him.” Joulupukki saw the anger in his eyes. Ceridfen reached out to him and squeezed his hand. “Your father was not well after the battle. It took everything out of him. He was delusional for several weeks. During his lucid moments he directed the Village to be moved as far north along the coast as possible. When he finally recovered he had each of the conspirators banished from the Village, and all of those who helped him were given citations of merit with a three day celebration to thank them and show his appreciation.” DynDoeth hesitated for a moment before continuing. “He only told a few of those closest to him, but when Bréagán joined magics with him, it changed him, his magic was never the same. What was left was used mostly for Aisling, she was human and would have died quite young if not for his magic, and Bréagán...,” he shook his head again, “poor Bréagán lost almost all of his magic. When joining magic with other elves he knew their magic would express itself as toys, which embarrassed him greatly, but he had never felt power like Erlenkönig's. It was so pure that his turned into uncontrollable joy. The whole Village smiled for days afterward. He said he didn't regret the loss of his magic and he would not hesitate to do it again just to be able to feel the beauty that was Erlenkönig, but before Erlenkönig recovered he left the village and headed into the northern wasteland, having regained some of his magic, but he said it was different. I tried to stop him but he said he had nothing left to give to the Village or to his King.”

“We were all sad to see him leave,” Ceridfen added.

DynDoeth continued,

“Your father was a great king. The following two hundred or so years were the most peaceful and prosperous that our little kingdom has ever seen. In the early years he did his best to keep the six clans together and to communicate with the humans, but the Ibero Clan did everything they could to foster hate for the humans, even to the extent of going to war with them. Your father was right about humans. They have the greatest capacity for caring and kindness, but when wronged their anger is incalculable and their hate can last for generations. Eventually after many years of being harassed by the Ibero Elves, the humans found a way to find and destroy their kingdom. Their small number of refugees split into two groups, the large group joined the Erin Clan which had close ties to the Ibero and the rest made their way

to the village where your forgiving father gave them refuge. He went so far as to set aside part of the island for their elders to gather and keep their Clan alive. No one knew what became of Rian at that time. Many speculated that he had been killed by the humans; although, there were any number of rumored sightings of the elf. Erlenkönig pushed forward with many of his progressive ideas, but the humans wanted nothing more to do with the elves to the point of becoming openly hostile and fearful of us.” Joulupukki's expression became very thoughtful at the words that

DynDoeth uttered.

“Erlenkönig also pushed forward the idea of the Council of Six. Which was a wonderful idea in theory. The council eventually became the most powerful force in the Elfin Clans, one representative from each of the Clans to make decisions for all of the elves. It was decided that moving the council between the different Clan Kingdoms would be the fairest way to govern the elves. When the Council reached Erin about two hundred years after the Village was moved north from the green isle, the elves had already begun changing and the island was in chaos. The humans destroying everything they could find of elfin origin and the changeling elves harassing the humans wherever possible with their twisted magic, always encouraging them to war among themselves. Like an omen, on the thirteenth day of the Council's convening Reginn appeared, demanding access to the counsel. He stated that he was once the head of the Council of Six and he demanded a seat at the council table. There was great debate over this with the Ibero Clan siding with Rian as well as the Erin clan. Both the Northern and Southern Clans, who had always kept excellent relations with the Village, backed Erlenkönig and the Village Clan, voting no, the Village Councilman even threatening to have Reginn stripped of his magic for his attempted coup. With a wave of his hand,

“That is ancient history,”

Reginn said dismissively in his squeaky grating voice. If you had never met him you could easily pick him from a crowd. His body looked just as his voice sounded, tall for an elf and as slim as a stalk of wheat. With a fading wisp of golden hair crowning his head. As with most elves his eyes were blue, but with a dull gray tinge, but unlike his cultural cousins, his body seemed all angles, where as, most elves had a subtle roundness about them, when young almost always slim with rounded cheeks and with a noticeably heavier girth as they aged. The final vote was that of the sixth Clan. A mysterious group of elves whose kingdom was spread across every corner of the earth. Very intelligent and thoughtful in all of their decisions, known as the Forest Elves, they seemed more interested in understanding and caring for the energy of the earth and the living things that inhabited it, than they were about the humans, or even other elves, perhaps, even themselves. They were precise and believed in following the letter of the laws set forth by the council. They were indifferent to the authority of kings and their own political hierarchy seemed to mostly follow general consensus. Upon the unexpected arrival of Reginn, they requested a recess to more completely review the facts of the issue. When they resumed, the Forest Elves councilman began,

“The presence of Reginn on the Council of six is of no concern to the Forest Elves. What is of importance is his claim. As he has stated, he was a Councilman one hundred and ninety-eight turns of the Earth around the sun. A member of the first council, he was the only surviving member of what has been referred to as the Councilman's Plague. Some elves, such as the Councilman from the Village Clan, have suggested that Reginn himself was the author of the plague; however, we respectfully remind the Councilman that no evidence has ever been produced to validate this accusation. Upon the creation of the Council of Six by the Elf King, Erlenkönig, then and still, King to all elves, chose to relinquish much of his royal power to form a counsel to rule the elfin kingdoms for which we, the Forest Elves, applaud and deeply respect him. Having said this, no mention has ever been stated, whether, due to turmoil of the time, or other reason, the terminal time for each Councilman's length of service to the Council. Some have been allowed to discontinue their service in short order but at least one has sat on this council since its second incarnation, namely me. If we agree to the claim of Reginn this would pose a second issue.

King Erlenkönig stated in the creation of the Council of Six that one representative from each clan would sit on the Council. Although the common name of the Council includes the number six, there is nothing written or spoken that specifically limits the number of Councilman to six, in fact the name of the council given by Erlenkönig himself is 'The Elfin King's Council', and in addition we would argue that since the destruction of the Ibero Kingdom and the dividing of the Ibero Clan that they have in fact developed two separate governmental hierarchies, hence the infighting between the Erin/Ibero Clan and Northern/Ibero Clan, and have socially become, in essence, two separate Clans. If this is, in fact, the case, we would need seven Council Members which would effectively eliminate this conflict. We believe that Reginn does have the right to sit upon the council and we also believe that the Ibero Clan be included as two separate Clans, their names to be chosen by each at a future time.” There were immediate protests from the Village Councilman and his North and South counterparts, but the Forest Elf calmed them before pointing out, “Yes, I am aware that at this moment there are only six sitting Councilman, and that the final vote would ordinarily lie with the King; however, as per his instruction, if he is not present, the final vote will be that of the Elder Councilman, which would be me. The vote is for the reinstatement of Reginn as Councilman.”

“From that point forward Reginn, of the Ibero Clan, along with the Erin Clan and the Second Ibero Clan slowly stripped more and more control away from the King. Reversing much of his progressive policies. I suggested he disband the Council but he said that the idea behind the council was to limit the meddling of the King into the affairs of the common elf. We both knew it would mean another period of violent conflict if he went back on his word to the good elves who supported him, and he refused to put them through that again, regardless of the consequences to himself. Meanwhile, through the urging of Rian, the remnants of the elders of the Ibero Clan in the Village quietly started creating descension against the King. Months before they left I suggested to Erlenkönig that he and Aisling move into our cottage. He refused at first but after seeing the mood of the elves, especially against his human wife he agreed, for her safety.”

“And I thought it was the humans who were cruel.” Joulupukki whispered to himself. “I guess Father was right, humans and elves have more in common than either wants to admit.” Joulupukki sat quietly for several minutes, allowing his mind to process all of the information he had been told, then asked, “I assume his reason for leaving this beautiful place was to eliminate the tension between the elves and the possibility for violence between the Villagers and the Ibero Clan?”

“More than that,” Ceridfen interjected, “There had already been acts of civil defiance by some of the Ibero clan and civil war had been rumored for months. Even with this Erlenkönig refused to leave during his Clan's time of need. Then he found out that Aisling was with child.” She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “He spoke with the Elders and they all agreed that it was time for the King and Aisling to leave. I thought it best as well, if for no other reason than your safety.”

“I agreed,” said DynDoeth. “If the average elf found out that the human Queen was with child, half of the Village Elves would likely have turned against him.” They quietly relocated to the Southern Clan who opened their arms to them, but shortly after arriving an elf from Erin attempted to take Aisling's life and the King chose to hide his family amongst the humans there after, thinking that she would be safer with her own kind, at least until you were born. His plan was to slowly make his way from the south to the Village in the north giving you a chance to grow into your power along the way, but Rian was relentless and took every opportunity he could to end your father's life. Finally after six human years he succeeded. When he and Aisling left the Village he was concerned that she would be too weak to make the journey to the Southern Kingdom so just before they left he used what magic that remained to him

and transferred it to Aisling and you, their unborn child.”

“So, that is how she lived for more than two hundred and fifty years.” Joulupukki commented.

“Yes,” was DynDoeth's response, “and the reason for your strong magic; although, that may have come naturally, considering who your father was. As soon as the King left the Village, in fact on the same day, Reginn arrived here and declared a five day naming ceremony where he changed his name from Reginn, King's Advisor, to Rian, Little King.” The disgust was evident in DynDoeth's tone as he said the name. “Now it is nothing more than a symbol of derision that the good elves spit from their mouths when they say it.”

To Joulupukki's surprise, he heard Lumi start speaking and he turned to face him,

“According to my understanding Rian was so hungry for power that he took no chances with having additional Councilman on the council and declared the northern band of the Ibero Clan dissolved, and nullified their right to representation on the Council; then, shipped those members who wished to remain in the Clan down to Erin. When the violence and fighting stopped, he, of course, took credit for solving the problem. Then one of Rian's elves happened upon Aisling while camping in the forest. He went directly to the nearest village and, posing as a human, he said he saw a group of elfin monsters casting dark spells to kill their crops. The elf helped the humans set a trap and with Erlenkönig's diminished magic, it was all he could do to get Aisling and you on Sprinterin's back and get you away safely, before the humans captured him and beat him to death.”

“What a deplorable end for such a great elf,” interjected DynDoeth. “I still find it difficult to believe a few humans could take his life even in his weakened state. He was a powerful elf.” There was a silence in the room until Joulupukki asked,

“Did you know him?”

Lumi looked at DynDoeth and then at Ceridfen.

“No, I did not know him personally. I was too young to remember much before he left. He was my Dia Athair, much like a human Godfather, who presided with the Council of Six over my childhood naming ceremony. He is the one who named me Il.” The elf smiled at this.

“Happier days,” Ceridfen remembered.

DynDoeth took over the conversation,

“Now you know the story of your father. I am sorry for putting this off for so long. I simply did not know how to tell you and I must say, I feared it would scare you away. You do need to know that Rian is likely already aware of this little conversation we have been having. If you intend to leave, you should do so immediately.”

“Leave?” was Joulupukki's response. “Why would I leave? You and your family have been kinder to me than anyone I have ever met.” The thought of Jessica and her father flashed through his mind, before looking each elf directly in their eyes. They could see Erlenkönig's glint of determination flicker for the hint of a moment in his beautiful blue eyes. They also saw anger and pain. “I would like to think that I am my father's son, at least that is what my mother led me to believe, but I am also a part of the human that was my mother, and if you knew her, you know that she was kind and caring and loving and gentle, but she was also strong and determined and she was stubborn and knew how to hold a grudge. In that I take after her. They don't call me the Yule Goat for nothing.” They all laughed. “I will need your help,'' he said to all of them. “I do not know the extent of my magic. It has been repressed inside of me all of my life.”

“From what I have sensed, the elfin magic is very strong in you,” was DynDoeth's response, “but it is like nothing I have seen in magic and we must hurry.” As they rose from the table DynDoeth took Joulupukki by the upper arms. “Regardless of what happens, know that you will not be alone. I will be by

your side just as I was with your father,” he bowed and uttered sincerely, “My King.” They all bowed before him. Joulupukki did not know how to respond to this. He had no desire to be a king and had not considered it before now but technically he was the King. In his mind the wheels started turning. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage. Perhaps it might buy him some time as he learned more about his magic.

“Stop that he said gruffly.”

Ceridfen watched as DynDoeth stood tall. He looked strong, and still handsome in her eyes. She saw in him, at that moment, a spark that she had not seen for a very long time. He seemed a hundred years younger when he wrapped his arms around Joulupukki. The scene was almost comical, Joulupukki, tall and slim towering over DynDoeth. It made her smile, but more, it gave her hope.

The elves left separately and reconvened in the safe room. If Rian was aware of Joulupukki's presence in the Village, they did not want to give away what magic he had. When Joulupukki entered the room he immediately realized how much larger it was than before. It was almost the size of a longhouse with strange symbols covering its lengthy walls and a large circle placed in the center with runes scribed in the lines of the circle. DynDoeth had changed into what he thought to be a warrior's cloak and was standing in the circle holding two staffs in his hand, one he knew was his father's staff, the other that looked equally impressive was DynDoeth's own.

“Come,” said DynDoeth with urgency in his voice. “Step into the circle. Notice the runes written into the outer bands. You must at all times stay within these runes while practicing your magic. They will contain your magic and keep you safe. They will also keep those of us outside of the circle safe in case you lose control. Last, they will keep your magic from being felt outside of these walls.” Joulupukki, stepped into the circle. When he did so the crystal on his father's staff began to glow which took all of the other elves present by surprise, several gasping at the sight. Joulupukki looked at them. Seeing the confusion in his face one of the Elders, the one he knew only as Pukki explained.

“Most elves of power, upon their becoming an adult, are tasked with a journey that they must take alone. They are accompanied to the mountains in Jotunheimen where each is left to traverse the peaks until he has discovered his Livets Perle, his life's gem. Most with powerful magic find what they seek in a manner of days but some never find it. Some die in their quest. The crystals glow when the magic they are attuned to is present. Each elf's magic is different. That means that only one crystal will react to one elf. It is unheard of for two elves to be attuned to the same crystal, not even father and child. Do you feel the pull of the crystal as it starts to glow?”

“Yes,” Joulupukki said, “it pulls at me very strongly.”

“Hold out your hand.” Joulupukki did as he was asked. “Let go of the staff, DynDoeth,” the old elf said. As soon as he did, the staff flew directly into Joulupukki's outstretched hand, and all of the startled elves gasped again.

“What does this mean?” The half elf asked.

“This should not happen.” DynDoeth responded. “Even the strongest elves take months to learn how to summon their staff and this is not even your staff. Concentrate a tiny amount of energy into the crystal.” He did as he was asked. The staff's crystal began to glow brightly.

Lumi yelled,

“DynDoeth,” and pointed at his staff. The deep amethyst crystal was glowing as well and so did all of the other crystals in the room.

“Stop, Joulupukki, Stop!” DynDoeth's tone was urgent and Joulupukki let his magic dissipate quickly.

“Have I done something wrong?” he asked.

“No, no,'' the Elder Elf said, “Let's try something different.” He called over one of the other elves, “let me have your staff.” Joulupukki gave it to the elf and DynDoeth instructed him to take it to the outer extreme of the cottage and create a wall of protection around it. The elf hurried out to do as he was told. “Stay clear of the staff he called after the elf. Now, Joulupukki, take my staff.” He handed it to the half elf. Erlenkönig's staff will be placed in a safe area where your magic should not be able to influence it. All of you,” he instructed the other elves present, “place your staves inside of the circle and stand well clear of it. I think we should be ready now. Joulupukki, what I want you to do is concentrate on the amethyst crystal in my staff and using a very small amount of your energy create the northern lights on the ceiling. You must concentrate on the crystal but draw the northern lights in your mind. Be careful, if you feel the magic getting away from you, let it go immediately.” Joulupukki looked at the crystal and imagined the northern lights in the sky. He let his eyes shut as he recreated the beautiful swirls of green and red and purple in his mind, as he did so he heard the sounds of the other elves breathing heavily and making exclamations of awe. Opening his eyes he saw the crystal glowing brightly. As he looked up he could see the northern lights swirling above against the ceiling. He thought to himself, how strange they looked against the inside of the cottage ceiling, and he made the ceiling slowly fade away. Then his mind took another turn. This is so easy he thought to himself. He had never used his gift like this before. DynDoeth stood baffled for only a moment as he saw the display put forth by his new king. What was happening was impossible and had never been done before in the history of the elves. He gently reached forth with his own magic and touched the glowing crystal in his staff. The crystal welcomed him as its owner but did not lessen the flow of Joulupukki's power. He carefully touched the stream and tried to diminish it but to no avail. It was like a flowing stone, unstoppable and completely impenetrable. He let his magic drop. Joulupukki was enjoying the moment and reached out to each of the other staff that lay stacked in the circle, each crystal he touched sprung to life, glowing bright in their respective colors. He sent through each one a burst of light that exploded in beautiful colors against the ceilingless sky above them and he listened as he heard more ohhs and ahhs coming from the elves around him.

DynDoeth managed to blurt out,

“Well done Joulupukki, that is enough,” over the growing din that surrounded him. “Put your magic away.” Joulupukki was reluctant to stop. It felt so natural and made him feel so alive, but he respected the elf's request and let his energy drain. The ceiling slowly faded back into view as the sparkling lights snuffed out and all of the crystals lost their glow. There were so many more elves in the room than had been there before he started, crowding in to witness the spectacle. DynDoeth stood looking at him, a mixture of awe and concern on his face. He stepped into the circle and reached for is staff. Joulupukki handed it to him without hesitation and asked,

“Is that what you wanted?” He nodded his head. Then from a distance they heard what sounded

like a battering ram hitting a stone wall, over and over and getting closer.

“Rian?” said the oldest Elder to DynDoeth.

“I don't know. The magic is not his, but be prepared.” Most of the elves left the room with only a few

remaining to face the threat. They waited as the sound grew louder, until they knew it was on the other side of the wall. All at once it broke through and left a long narrow hole in the wall.

The sound of the elves was furious.

“Where is it,” asked Lumi?

“What is it,” was Pukki's response?”

Then in a week voice, Joulupukki uttered,

“I am so very, very sorry DynDoeth. I just thought of it for an instant.” DynDoeth's confused look quickly disappeared when he saw Erlenkönig's staff in Joulupukki's hand. Stunned for a moment he just looked. Then with relief and disbelief he let out a resounding laugh.

“It is OK.” With a wave of his hand the holes all disappeared. He turned to Lumi, “Make sure no one was hurt, please, Lumi.”

“No one was,” Joulupukki offered.

“How do you know,” inquired DynDoeth?

“I would have felt it through the staff,” was his response.

“Well, I am completely dumbfounded,” started DynDoeth as he, Joulupukki, Pukki, Lumi and several other elves sat at the table in the safe room. “I have never seen the like of it.”

“Nor I,” said the Elder sitting beside him.

“What does that mean,” inquired Joulupukki, turning to the elf he knew as Pukki? “Oh, forgive me, but may I inquire as to your actual name,” he asked the elder sitting across the table. The old elf chuckled.

“Do you not see me as a goat anymore? Have I become more than Pukki to you?”

Joulupukki lowered his head,

“Forgive me, in defense of a friend, I sometimes let my anger get the best of me. If you are a goat let us be goats together.”

The Elder looked at Joulupukki with a smile on his face,

“Call me Gwaldon.”

“The Gwaldon, who stood with my father?”

“One in the same,” DynDoeth responded. “As for your question, I have never seen magic like yours. Much of what I saw you do today should not be possible. Manipulating another elf's staff is unheard of, but you not only controlled my staff but you used, how many, six, seven additional staves at the same time. None of which were yours with crystals that have already been imprinted on other elves, and all with the tiniest trace of magic. I reached out and touched my own crystal while you were casting your energy through it. It did not try to reject me like it would if another elf tried to use it. It was as if the crystal was unaware of your magic coursing through it. I touched that force and it was like granite, completely impenetrable. My power had no effect on it at all. Then when Erlenkönig's, ah, er, your staff came crashing through the wall, well, I...,” He was at a loss for words. “I think because of time constraints we need to concentrate on teaching you some basic offensive and defensive magic for now, and explore your unique powers later. I'm sure you will have no problem learning these.”

“I'm ready when you are,” Joulupukki said.

The elf entered the Master Assembly Court of the Keep where the Council of six held permanent assembly. After the departure of Erlenkönig fifty four human years before, Rian disbanded the Northern Ibero clan and made the Keep in the Village, the permanent home of the council. For the ensuing peace in the Village he took complete credit as the remaining Elders of the Ibero clan were moved down to Erin. They had become too powerful and he was finding it difficult to control them. With the remaining Councilman he tried to pepper his own loyal Elders into the council, but the Forest Clan was always there to thwart his efforts with their confounding logic and attention to detail. He spotted the elf and motioned for him to wait outside of the chamber.

“My liege,” the elf began, “there has been a disturbance of magic around the cottage of the DynDoeth family.”

“Indeed,” was Rian's reaction. Finally, he had been waiting for this moment for many years. This was his chance to rid himself of the meddling thorn in his side. Ever since the king had left, DynDoeth had spoken out against him. He and his minion Gwaldon. Both powerful elves, powerful elves that caused a delay in his plans for over two hundred years. He hated both of them. “Allow me to recess the Council for the morning, and we will give our old friend,” he spat as he said it, “DynDoeth a visit.” As the Council's morning session came to an end the Forest Councilman pulled Rian to the side,

“It has come to our attention that unauthorized use of what appears to be experimental magic has been felt emanating from DynDoeth's home. I think we should talk about this immediately.”

“I am on my way to DynDoeth's cottage now. I will return with him shortly.”

Seileach would have none of it.

“Please send several powerful elves in case there is trouble but remain here so we can discuss this.”

Rian wanted desperately to see the expression on DynDoeth's face when he demanded the elf accompany him to the Keep, but he knew that he may still have use of the Forest Elf so he assigned four powerful elves to bring DynDoeth to him. In doing so he allowed himself the luxury of knowing that DynDoeth's first sight of him would be sitting in Erlenkönig's throne in Erlenkönig's home. His mind was not on the conversation with the Forest Elf. He couldn't wait for his elves to bring DynDoeth to him. He also hoped that Gwaldon was with him. All he could do is picture the two of them as the Counsel stripped them of their magic. He felt like a child.

They had only been practicing for a few days but DynDoeth was not surprised when he was made aware that elves were on their way to escort him to Rian. He had his spies as well. In fact, he figured that Rian would want to come for him, himself, so he had his elf speak with the Forest Elf and let him know that there were strange things going on in his cottage. The Forest Elf would insist on Rian remaining in the Keep. He and Joulupukki had been laying out plans. While they practiced, he taught him several offensive magics including one of Erlenkönig's favorites. He called it the Web Snare. It was not meant to kill just to incapacitate. The magic it released was self contained and would hold another elf in a spider like web against a wall indefinitely. Joulupukki was more than a fast learner, it only took one time showing him how to perform a conjuring and he could do it as well as any elf. DynDoeth was amazed by this and also by his intelligence. It was his plan that they were using. When the elves arrived they were prepared. A magical chime resounded throughout the cottage.

“Are you ready,” DynDoeth asked Joulupukki?

“Always,” was his response.

They moved to the front door. Ceridfen was also busy during the time when they were training, rummaging through the closet where Aisling had stored most of their clothing when Erlenkönig and she lived there. She found some of his britches and a cloak and hurriedly let out the sleeves and pant legs, Joulupukki was much taller than his father. When Joulupukki donned the clothes Ceridfen had to look twice to be certain it was not Erlenkönig. DynDoeth, taking the lead opened the door to his cottage, the four elves waited there defensively.

“What may I ask is this,” DynDoeth asked, feigning surprise.

“DynDoeth, as per the Council of six and Rian, lord liege of the council, we demand that you accompany us to the Keep to answer allegations of experimental use of magic without consulting the council first.

“Oh, my,” DynDoeth began. “Those are serious allegations. He knew this elf and was rather fond of him. He was just doing his job and he held no ill will against him or any of the other three, even with their aggressive stances. Joulupukki, thought it best to make his entrance, walking up behind DynDoeth he called out,

“DynDoeth, do we have guests?”

The Elder elf stepped aside as Joulupukki filled the doorway. The four elves took a step back as they saw who stood there, two of them even bowing slightly.

“I'm sorry my King, playing up the King part, he bowed, but it seems someone has been practicing some strange magic in my cottage and these kind elves have come to fetch me to answer to the council.” Joulupukki, with the most self-deprecating look on his face, announced,

“My whole hearted apologies, DynDoeth, it was I who was practicing my magic. Yes, let us go see the Council and I will explain.”

Joulupukki stepped out onto the cobbles with DynDoeth a half step behind him.

“Tell Ceridfen that we shall return shortly,” he called to one of the elf children playing behind him. He jumped up and ran to the back of the house. Walking beside the lead elf DynDoeth started a casual conversation with him,

“So when did this new title come about,” he asked.

“Um, I'm sorry,” he asked, his attention completely focused on the creature in front of him. Surely this could not be Erlenkönig. He looked so similar of course he had not seen the king for over two hundred and fifty years, but DynDoeth bowed and called him King. DynDoeth chuckled,

“Lord Liege of the Council, when did this title come about?”

Now having his attention the elf picked up on DynDoeth's chuckle and cautiously looked around. The other three elves were so taken aback by Joulupukki's appearance they kept a distance between themselves and he; while, keeping up appearances, Joulupukki strode very regally down the middle of the street. The council guard huffed,

“You know Rian. He always wants to be more than he is.”

“Indeed,” was his response and they both laughed.

“May I ask you a question,” the guard queried.

“Of course my friend.”

“I do not mean to be offensive, but we were told Erlenkönig died many, many years ago.”

“Forgive me for the confusion,” started DynDoeth. “Yes, Erlenkönig sadly passed away over forty five years past defending himself from a mob of humans.” The guard looked at him with surprise

“Erlenkönig was the most powerful elf of his day. How could a few humans stand against him?”

“You are correct, my friend. He had exceptional power inside of him but after the Battle of the Keep, his magic had been diminished when Bréagán mixed their magics together. Because you are a friend, and, so, Erlenkönig was friend to me too, I will tell you that an elf lead the attack on the king while he protected his wife and child.”

“No!” was the other elf's response. “Why would any elf want to hurt our King,” his voice trailed off as the realization struck him.

“A very good question you pose.”

“Rian,” the guard asked?

“I make no accusation against the Lord Liege of the Council.” DynDoeth assured him.

“But, who is...Oh, he was protecting his wife and child. His son,” he asked?

“Yes, this is Joulupukki who walks before you.”

The guard gave him a strange look. “I know, I know, he is going to have to do something about that name. It just doesn't suit a king.” They walked in silence for a while, DynDoeth occasionally offering directions to Joulupukki, when he saw a rather curious expression move across the guard's face.

“What concerns you,” he asked?

“This one looks much like his kin, has he inherited other aspects of his father as well?”

“Do you mean magic?” The guard just looked at him, knowing he knew what he meant. “Yes,” was his answer, “but don't concern yourself. “He is also very kind like his father. Speaking of magic, I've heard that Rian has been doing some practicing as well.”

“You've heard correctly, He was always quite strong but he has honed his skills over the last hundred years. I would not like to face him. As for this Joulupukki, is his magic strong?”

“If you remember Erlenkönig's magic, he would be as a child's to his son's.”

“Whew,” exclaimed the guard.”

“If you ever find yourself confronted by him, walk away. He will allow that. If you don't, he will snuff you out like a candle flame, I tell you this because you are a friend.” Putting a bit of fear into the mind of the elf would serve them both good. He knew that the guard was just doing his job and had no great allegiance to Rian. He was truly not sure of the extent of Joulupukki's power. What he did know was that the half elf was strong and could do things that he had never seen before. Joulupukki took the last turn, and standing in front of him was the entrance to the Keep. He stopped. It was not what he expected. A simple double door, large but unadorned. Two elves stood to either side. The guard stepped forward and spoke with one of them and they opened the door. Inside was a different manner, they stepped into a grand hallway, with two long, wide staircases running up either side. The floors were made out of a smooth white stone, the walls were a matching larger stone and stair treads the same. They rose up five stories. The hand rails were of a dark wood and seemed to have been grown in place with beautiful purple flowers budding from the wood. Under each staircase were several sets of open doorways.

“This way please,” the guard said. He guided them to the right hand set of stairs. “All the way to the top.”

DynDoeth knew the way to the Councilman's chambers, but felt it was a kindness given for Joulupukki. He also noticed, as Joulupukki walked by the guard, he bowed his head slightly. They made their way to the top floor. As they did, Joulupukki allowed DynDoeth to take the lead. Upon arriving in the chamber DynDoeth spied Rian casually seated in Erlenkönig's throne, one leg draped across the arm rest with a big smile on his face.

“Ah, finally, the Council has been waiting for you DynDoeth. We have a very serious matter to discuss with you. If you are judged to have been using experimental magic without the Council's permission it could mean the expulsion of your magic for good.”

“Yes, a serious charge, My Liege,” his use of the honorific an obvious slap in Rian's

face. Slipping from the chair, Rian's anger almost got the best of him. He started to verbally attack DynDoeth when the Forest Elf spoke up.

“If we could get to the matter at hand.” Rian returned to his seat as the elf inquired of DynDoeth. “Have you been practicing or using any magic that is unusual by elf standards?”

“Well, Seileach, it is good to see you.” The Forest Elf nodded but as he started to answer,

Joulupukki made his presence known.

“Please allow me to answer that question,” he offered. When Rian saw him his face went white. Is this a ghost? He questioned himself. Could it be? It looked like Erlenkönig but he was sure he was dead. In fact, when his spy had arrived back in the Village to let him know the deed had been completed, he immediately turned him over to the council and he was put to death as well. He always remembered a saying that he heard from one of the humans back in Erin. ‘Dead men don't speak.’ Yet this elf was different, with as much human in his features as elfin. He was much taller than anyone present with only the Forest Elf even approaching his height. “It was I who used the magic in DynDoeth's house. I was unaware that elfin magic would need the Council's permission. My friend DynDoeth was unaware of my misdeed and I would like to apologize right now for causing him such grief.” Always stoic, Seileach, stood looking up at him, no expression apparent on his face. After a few moments of silence Rian jumped from the throne and demanded,

“Who is this!”

“Let me introduce you,” DynDoeth said with a mordant look on his face. “This is our new King, Joulupukki, son of Erlenkönig and Aisling.”

As he said his name a small snicker could be heard from around the room.

“Joulupukki!” Rian started, “isn't that the name of a Goat?”

Joulupukki twirled with astonishing speed to face Rian who took a step back,

“Yes! It is ...Little King.” As he spat the last two words from his mouth, he left no doubt as to the feelings he felt for Rian and made clear that it was both warning and promise rolled in one. Since he met Joulupukki, DynDoeth had not seen the human side of him so boldly displayed. He started to fear that he might attack Rian right then. He did not fear for Joulupukki. He had seen the strength in him. He worried more about their plan and saving the kingdom. The Lead Council Guard hesitated before calling for reinforcements. He glanced at DynDoeth with a sheepish look upon his face. As the additional guards arrived Joulupukki turned from Rian facing the lead guard, he laid a large hand slowly on his shoulder and gave him the most warming smile he could muster. “Please forgive my impudence, do not worry, I have no intention of starting trouble here” he said, “I'm afraid I was unaware of the strength of my own reaction when I finally met my father's killer face to face.” A loud murmur started around the chamber.

“Who do you think you are,” yelled Rian!

The Forest Councilman started to speak, but simply by raising his index finger in a non-threatening way Joulupukki quieted the assemblage.

“Alleged murderer, that will await another day. Again, to the Councilman, please accept my humble apology. He could feel the defensive magic being deployed by the guards standing around him. His own, he weaved in and out of theirs and found it very simple to strip it from them if he had need. “I would like to declare to the Council that I intend to pursue my right as son to the powerful and great King of all Elves, Erlenkönig, to regain the throne in his name and to defend it against all others.” He paused for a moment looking at Rian, then leaned forward and whispered in the ear of the Northern Clan Councilman, “including Little Kings.” The Councilman could not help but to allow a slight snicker to slip from his lips

while hiding his face in his hand.

“In the light of this new turn of events, I will call a recess to further explore the the evidence and ramifications of the petitioner, Joulupukki, for verification of his claim as to be the heir to the King of all Elves, Erlenkönig, and if proven correct, whether he himself has the right to become King. As for the reason for DynDoeth's presence here. It has been explained as to have been perpetrated on his property but not by him. I must admonish you to be more careful in controlling the actions of your guests in the future.”

“Indeed I will,” DynDoeth supplicated to the Forest Elf

“I am satisfied that there has been no intentional harm done. How say each of you?”

Rian, full of anger, began to scream of the injustice, but the Northern Clan Councilman cut him off, “I agree with Seileach, this is nothing more than a simple misunderstanding.” The Southern Clan also weighed in on the side of Seileach and went further,

“Please accept our apology for interrupting your day for such a trivial matter.”

DynDoeth nodded. Rian broke in calmly, his emotions back in check,

“Apologizing,” he asked the Councilman? “Now we are apologizing to those who are brought forth before this council?” He looked at each of the Councilman. “It is of my opinion that this,” he waved his hands in the air before returning to the throne, “this farce be treated as such. How do we know this is even the son of Erlenkönig, and if he is, what gives him the right to claim the throne?

He is half human, an abomination.”

“Yes, well, we will determine that at another time,” was the Lead Councilman's response, “Now we must decide on DynDoeth's charges.”

Cutting him off Rian said,

“I vote to have DynDoeth placed in the custody of the Council guards, awaiting the removal of his magic.”

The other council members gasp, but gathering his wits about him the representative from Erin shouted out,

“I second that.”

“And you,” Rian inquired of the Village Councilman.

While coming up with this plan, DynDoeth told Joulupukki about each of the Councilman and who they would likely be able to count on and who they knew could not be trusted. The Village representative was the wild card. He was very young for his position and moderately ambitious. He was from the Village but he was mentored by Rian and almost always voted with him on the Council. DynDoeth knew this young elf. He played with Lumi growing up, although he was a bit older. He listened to the tales of the great King, Erlenkönig, and was in awe when he found out that he was Lumi's Dia Athair. He constantly pretended to be Erlenkönig when he played in his youth.

“Yes,” Joulupukki inquired? “Where do you stand?” His question was not one of how he would vote, but deeper. Are you with us or with them? The elf looked deep into Joulupukki's eyes. He did not know if this was the son of Erlenkönig or not, but he knew he could not take the chance and no matter how much Rian had done for him, he refused to stand against the son of his childhood hero. Without looking at Rian he chose his own words carefully,

“I stand at the side of Seileach.”

Rian blew up. He jumped to his feet but did not utter a word, the anger apparent in his reddened face was so intense the veins popped from his forehead, his eyes bulged. Paying no attention to Rian, the Forest Elf turned to DynDoeth,

“The vote is four in your favor and two against. You are welcome to go, DynDoeth.” Upon hearing these words uttered from the Elder Councilman, Rian raised his staff and brought it down hard against the floor.

He whispered to himself,

“This will be the last time you stand in my way old elf,” as a burst of pure energy went from his mind through his body and into the shaft of his staff, its destination Seileach. A silent untraceable attack was something Rian had been working on and perfecting for many years. No one in the chamber was aware of his purpose, no one except Joulupukki. He had been paying especially close attention to Rian from the beginning of the count. He saw his intention in every movement of his body. As soon as the staff struck the floor Joulupukki reached out with his magic and entered the crystal. He met the energy of Rian's magic with his own impregnable force. He realized at that moment that Rian was not one to be trifled with. The force of both magics was so intense that the crystal broke into four pieces. Rian's magic was thrust back into his head and he had to stifle a scream as he collapsed in his chair. DynDoeth thanked the Council who in turn promised to send what information would be needed for Joulupukki to prove his claim and let him know when they would reconvene to discuss his position. The extra guards filed out of the chamber first, followed by the Northern and Southern Councilman, then DynDoeth and Joulupukki. As they walked past Rian, Joulupukki touched DynDoeth on the shoulder to get his attention and commented in a sincere tone,

“Oh my, Rian, you must be more careful with your temper. Look what you've done, when you slammed your staff to the floor you broke your crystal.” DynDoeth's eyes widened with the implication of Joulupukki's words and Rian, who was drained, gazed at the crystal on the end of his staff in amazement.

As they left the Keep, DynDoeth questioned Joulupukki,

“What did I miss back there?” Joulupukki explained everything that happened and how no one would have been able to tell where the attack originated. “Which means he could have blamed any one of us,” stated DynDoeth. Joulupukki simply nodded. “How did you know that it was coming?”

“Nothing special DynDoeth, no magic there. Living in the human world all of my life, you learn how to read body language, especially when people are constantly chasing you from one village to another. Something I've noticed about elves, subtlety in reading emotions is not your forte. Rian's intentions were written all over his face. I simply watched until the inevitable happened. He was trying to attack the Forest Elf.”

“And he never even knew it, thanks to you. But the crystal?”

“Rian is not one to play with. His magic is strong and he is as ruthless as any human I have seen. The breaking of the crystal was not my intent, but he sent such a strong pulse of magic into it that my response had to match it. It would surely have destroyed Seileach if it had not been contained. Come to think of it, did that destroy his crystal?”

“Good question.” answered the Elder, “I have never seen it happen before.”

He looked earnestly at Joulupukki. “You are an amazing elf, Joulupukki. Erlenkönig would be very proud of you.” He smiled and began to laugh as they drew closer to the cottage. “What a tale this will be. Children will learn of Joulupukki confronting the demon Rian in the middle of the Council Chamber and no one even knew. Are you a good storyteller like your mother? Wait, did Rian know who thwarted his magic,” he asked, suddenly aware that he had not asked this before?

“I don't think he could trace it to me but it was very different from what he is used to. I'm sure it won't take long for him to suspect me. We must keep our guard up until we see this to the end.”

“You have bought us time my young friend,” slapping Joulupukki on the back. “Now, I think it's time to discuss your name,” as they walked through the doorway to the cottage.

They were joined by Ceridfen, Lumi, Gwaldon and several others a bit later in the day for a late mid-day meal. Seileach, the efficient elf that he was, had already forwarded a letter containing specific ways that Joulupukki could prove his heritage to the Council. The issue was that he had no lineal documentation. His mother had destroyed every trace that could link him to the elves in an attempt to keep him safe from the humans. DynDoeth, seeing her reasoning and always an admirer of the human woman, regretted her actions in this one instance. Erlenkönig and Aisling, he saw as a part of his family and they rummaged through everything they could find that had been a part of their lives when they lived together in the cottage, but, other than a few clothes and some written references to court proceedings signed by Erlenkönig they found nothing of use. There was only one letter referencing the unborn child that had been sent to Aisling from her youngest grand niece in Erin, now an old woman herself, offering to travel to the northlands to help her when the time came for the baby to be born. By then Erlenkönig and his family were already on the run.

“Ceridfen, Joulupukki, I am at a loss, I do not know where else to look,” began DynDoeth. “I thought this would be the easy part. Usually a link between a parent and child can be made through their magic, but yours is so different to his..., there is no commonality in it. There are no documents pertaining to your birth and only a few of us knew she was with child. The letter we found can verify that well enough, so for that at least we have proof. But how do we prove you are that child?”

“I wish I could help with that DynDoeth, but I am not even certain of the fact myself, and I am him. I have changed my name so many times since my youth that I don't even know with which name I was born,” Joulupukki had a look of dismayed concentration on his face. Through the doorway a young elven girl approached Ceridfen holding an obviously distressed much younger boy. Without thinking she cradled him in her arms and began gently rocking him. “I feel like I'm missing something,” Joulupukki said, half to the elves surrounding him and half to himself.

“Perhaps we can inquire of the Southern Clan as to whether they may have

some information that could help,” offered Dyndoeth.

“Sleep, come sleep, come sleep my child...,” Ceridfen's soft mezzo-soprano voice whispered to the child as she rocked him.

“But, you told me that they were only there for a very short period, right?”

“Yes,” responded the Elder.

“They likely would have not had time to to leave any documents in the south, plus, I had not even been born yet.” Joulupukki sounded more and more distracted as he spoke.

“...sleep do hasten to your weary eyes, in morning you'll awake to a bright sunrise...,” Ceridfen's whisper continued.

“What's wrong with my name, anyway?” Everyone around the table laughed except Dyndoeth's wife who was too busy with the child to pay attention to the conversation around her.

“...rock my child, rock him, rock him to sleep in a manger of gold let Mani keep him safe in his hold, sleep come sleep my child.”

Lumi said something, then there was faint laughter again.

Touching his arm Gwaldon inquired,

“Joulupukki, hey, Joulupukki?”

Roused from his reverie, Joulupukki's glazed eyes cleared and focused on Gwaldon's smiling face.

“Are you alright,” asked Lumi?

“Yes, yes,” was Joulupukki's hesitant response. “I was just distracted.”

“You certainly were,” Gwaldon added.

Joulupukki turned to Ceridfen and asked her about the song that she was singing.

“It is an old lullaby, Joulupukki,” she answered.

“My mother used to sing that to me as a child.”

“That does not surprise me,” was her response, “Mothers have been singing

it to their children for a very long time.”

“But yours is different,” he said. All eyes were on the half elf. His thoughts seemed to be drawn inward, thinking to himself.

Ceridfen slowly continued,

“It was originally meant for a son, Joulupukki. It is called 'Lullaby for the Son of a King' but I believe it is taken from a much older text. I simply changed son to child because I often find myself singing to both a little girl and a little boy at the same time. It is so old that no one knows whether a human or elf wrote it.”

“What about the third verse,” he enquired?

“To my knowledge there are only two verses, I sang them both,” she replied, the child lying quietly in her arms.

“It's strange but I don't recall my mother ever singing the third verse either, but my father, who sang it to me often, most definitely sang a third verse. That is one of my few distinct memories of him, as clear as spring water.” His head was spinning thinking about this. Why is this so important, he asked himself? It's just a silly child's lullaby. Seeing the stress in Joulupukki's face, Dyndoeth suggested that they take a break.

“Take a walk, clear your head, perhaps it will help.”

Joulupukki sat back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment. Ceridfen carried the now sleeping child back to his room and placed him in his bed. Most of the other elves excused themselves and left the table. Without a word, Joulupukki lifted himself from his chair and made his way outside for some fresh air. Ceridfen returned to the dining hall and with Lumi's help removed the dishes.

The cold air seemed to help clear his head but the lullaby was persistent and he could not get it out of his mind. He walked for just a few moments before passing the entrance to the stable. He thought about going in and visiting Sprinteren but was so distracted he felt he would not be good company for the deer. Then he realized if he kept walking he would eventually wind his way to the Keep and who knows what traps Rian might have laid for him throughout the town, so he turned back toward the cottage. Without a thought he turned into the stable door. The building always had the wonderful smell of fresh hay. The Stable Elf was efficient and intelligent and kept the stalls clean for the fifteen or so deer that resided there. There were no doors on the stalls and the deer could roam around the stable freely. The elves believed that the animals had the right to come and go as they pleased and they, in turn, seemed happy to remain here. They seemed to have formed a tight if tiny herd of their own with the elf that looked after them. Joulupukki realized that he had no treat for any of the deer as he found a comfortable corner and piled up the hay to sit on. Relaxing in his makeshift bed he looked at the stalls and the ceiling as the large beams extended much farther than they should. Like the inside of the cottage, the barn seemed quite disproportionate on the inside compared to its outside dimensions. Sprinteren strode up to Joulupukki and laid down beside him carefully laying his head in Joulupukki's lap, his new antlers only short nubs breaking through the skin. They seemed to be growing in early this year. He wondered how old the deer was. He had been with him and his mother as long as he could remember. That would make him at least fifty. That was five times what you would expect a deer to live in the wild, the wonders of elfin magic seemed boundless.

“What am I supposed to do,” he whispered to the deer. “I have no way to prove to the Council that I am the son of Erlenkönig. I do not want to start a war with Rian, too many good elves would be hurt, but I can't let him continue to become more and more powerful until no one can stand against him. What can I do?” He blurted out loud! Then the lullaby came back at full force and he began to hum it to himself. Sprinteren's eyes glanced up at the half elf and he shook his head gently. Joulupukki smiled as he listened to the bell gently tinkle. The deer turned his head in what seemed to be an awkward position and Joulupukki scratched his neck. “Hmmm hmm, come sleep my child, no, 'sleep my son',” that is what his mother sang. “Hmmm hmm, rock my child, rock him, rock him to sleep.” Sprinteren stirred once more ringing his bell more insistently this time, laying his head sideways again. “What is it, Sprinteren,” Joulupukki asked? “ Do you wish to make music to hide my horrible singing?” He glanced down at the deer's collar and saw his tag sticking out from under it. “Is this bothering you?” He dug his finger under the collar and pulled out the tag. It fell off in his hand. “Oh, I'm sorry, Sprinteren, I will have Rådyrvokter re-attach this as soon as I see him. He briefly considered the tag and noticed three words embossed on it but the lullaby did not give him time to read them as it once again overtook his thoughts. It was a common practice for a herdsman like Rådyrvokter to attach a mark of identification to a domestic deer with the deer's caretaker's name and its own name embossed on it, especially if the deer was the leader of a herd. “Hm, in a manger of gold, in a manger of gold?” he sang to himself. “In a 'throne' made of gold, that's it. That is what father sang, “in a throne made of gold, let Mani keep him safe in his hold.” He scratched Sprinteren behind his ear, careful not to touch his sensitive antlers, and happy that he felt he was making progress; although, he still had no clue as to what it meant. “In the morning when day breaks,” the mysterious final verse came slowly to him, “let Sol guide your way, through the window, beams, your song, no it's 'your tale', yes, your tale, to awaken all your dreams. But what does it mean?” He was so engrossed in the song that he had stopped rubbing the deer. Sprinteren, feeling neglected, nuzzled his nose into Joulupukki's hand which slowly scratched his chin then the deer stood and started grazing the sweet hay that surrounded them. Joulupukki sat thinking for a while, whispering the lullaby to himself over and over, when out of the blue it came to him. Finally, he thought he knew what it meant. He sat for a few minutes longer to be sure of what he had discovered. Jumping to his feet he yelled, “That's it! That's it! I know what it means now!” At that moment Rådyrvokter stepped through the doorway. It was a funny sight to the elf, seeing the tall rather gangling half human excitedly jumping around the stable. When Joulupukki saw Rådyrvokter he reached over and grabbed his shoulders, “I've figured it out he said excitedly,” looking directly into the elf's eyes, his face only a few inches from his own! “I know what it means! At least I think I know what it means,” his eyes unfocussing as his thoughts turned inward for a brief moment, “Yes, I know what it means.” He refocused his eyes on Rådyrvokter's. “You see he changed the words. It was an old song but he changed the words to hide the meaning. What an intelligent elf he was.” Joulupukki's words came out so quickly that they were impossible to follow yet the herdsman just smiled and let him babble until Joulupukki realized the blank look that stared back at him. “Oh, ahh, I'll tell you later,” giggling he turned away from the elf, who was chuckling lightly himself. Then turning back to the elf he handed him the tag and asked him to re-attach it to Sprinteren's collar. The elf, still smiling, handed it back to Joulupukki.

“It is not the deer's tag. We do not use tags. These deer are free to come and go as they wish.”

“Oh, alright then!” He turned quickly, hugging the deer's neck, “what a dear deer you are, ah, good deer!” He yelled and ran out of the door.

“I wonder if all humans are so strange,” Rådyrvokter asked, no one in particular, and still chuckling? Sprinteren glanced up then went back to his grazing.

When Joulupukki entered the door Ceridfen thought a group of children were running through the cottage and started to scold them.

“Ceridfen!” He called, wrapping his big arms around her and hugging her tightly. “I've figured it out! I know what it means! Where is Dyndoeth? Why is that elf never around when you need him.” He laughed out loud.

“He is in the protected room, Joulupukki,” she said.

He quickly grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway.

“Come with me, we must find Dyndoeth.” Ceridfen followed quickly behind him, his enthusiasm and joyfulness infectious, making it impossible for her not to smile. The Elder Elf jumped as they burst into the room. He was sitting at a table with some papers in front of him.

“Well, this is proving useless,” he said as he pushed the papers aside.”

“I've got it, I've got it,” Joulupukki reiterated as he and Ceridfen slipped into chairs at the table. Dyndoeth looked at his wife. She just shrugged, shaking her head but smiling profusely.

“What do you have,” asked the elf calmly.

“It's a hidden code!” Joulupukki started quickly, tap, tap, tap. “ Erlenkönig was such a clever elf.” tap, tap, tap. Dyndoeth reached out his hand and placed it on Joulupukki, taking away the tag that he was nervously tapping on the table. “I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was doing that,” he said.

“It's OK, Joulupukki. Take a deep breath and calm down, then tell us what you have discovered,” prompted Dyndoeth. Doing as he was instructed, he breathed in deeply and calmed himself down.

“The lullaby,” he started, “was a code that my father created for me.

There is a compartment hidden in the throne room in the Keep, perhaps even in the throne itself.” Dyndoeth's face visually dropped as did the expression on Ceridfen's.

“Why did I not think of that,” Ceridfen said.

“Why did none of us think of it,” agreed her husband.

“What,” asked Joulupukki?

“Erlenkönig used a simple learning trick that is meant to help young elves remember important information such as cleaning behind themselves, or their numbers, or to be careful around humans. It is worded into a song or lullaby or when they get older into a story or saga that they listen to over and over. He put the instruction in your lullaby.”

Dyndoeth looked down at the table glancing at the inscription on the tag.

“Tell me more about the lullaby,” he said to Joulupukki. Flipping the coin between his fingers.

“He changed one word in the original text, where it is supposed to say 'in a manger of gold', he changed it to 'in a throne of gold', then he added the entire third verse.” Ceridfen, quickly retrieving a quill and paper, began writing the words that Joulupukki was relaying to them.

“'In the morning when day breaks

let Sol guide your way

through the window, beams,

your tale, to awaken

all your dreams.'

I'm certain it means:

'In the morning when day breaks'- When I have matured.

'let Sol guide your way'- I believe this is literal.

'through the window, beams,'- Follow the Sun's rays.

'your tale, to awaken, all your dreams.'- The beams will guide you to that for which you search.

The one thing that eludes me is if the throne is the one in the Council Chamber there are no windows for which the sun to shine through.”

“I agree with you Joulupukki, what a clever elf was your father. The throne room was not the Council Chamber where the throne is now. After his father passed away, Erlenkönig turned the throne room into

the main eating hall in the Keep. The last place he saw the throne was where it had always been, on the dais where it had been for hundreds of years. Rian was the one who had it moved. During the battle in the Keep, the long plain windows behind the throne were destroyed, as were many others. The King had a large stained glass mural installed behind the throne. Depicting a time when all creatures on Earth would stand together in the light of the sun. I teased him incessantly about that window, but his only response when I asked him about it was, 'I hope you will never have to know'.” He glanced down at the tag again, only now, realizing what he had read. “Where did you get this,” he asked Joulupukki, an edge of excitement in his voice.

“It was attached to Sprinteren's collar. I thought it was an identification tag but Rådyrvokter said no.”

“Did you read what was written here?”

“I only glanced at it.”

“It seems you may have stumbled on to even more than you've realized,” the old elf slid the coin shaped object back over to the half elf. Joulupukki read the embossing out loud. “ 'Erlenkönig' was written in the upper left, 'Aisling' slightly below that to the right and on the bottom was written the name 'Klaus'. “That my friend is a Family Wish Amulet.” He reached into his shirt and pulled out

a chain with an amulet very similar to it. Joulupukki leaned over and read 'Dyndoeth' in the upper left, 'Ceridfen' just below and to the right, but nothing was written below it.

“Why do you keep that silly thing, Dyndoeth?” Ceridfen asked her husband with a quiver in her voice.

“You never know,” replied Dyndoeth. Her welling tears burst forth like a broken dam and he pulled her against him as she whispered,

“You old fool.”

Gwaldon entered the safe room.

“The only way a child's name can be added to the amulet is after the Council of Six has been consulted by the parents and an appropriate name has been issued to the child.” It passed through Joulupukki's mind how cold it all seemed. “Erlenkönig must have somehow returned to the council in secret after you were born. It is the responsibility of the Council to magically emboss the child's name on the amulet. What's more, is that the residual magic can be traced back to the elves that performed the original magic.”

He touched his hand to Ceridfen's neck. She looked up and smiled at him. “Did you know anything about him returning,” he asked Dyndoeth as he took the seat on the far side of the table.

“No,” was the only word he could say.

“So, your name is actually Klaus,” prodded Gwaldon?

“I, I guess?” Joulupukki returned. “I have had so many over the years. They have become near meaningless to me.” He whispered the name, “Klaus.”

“An appropriate name if ever there was one,” stated Ceridfen. He looked at her as Lumi entered the room.

“Here you all are, I've been looking for...,” his voice trailed off as he assessed the mood in the room. Ceridfen continued,

“It is a short version of Nikolaus, which means 'Victory of the People'.” They all sat quietly for a moment contemplating her words.

Lumi saw the amulet sitting on the table and he looked at Joulupukki.

“That is yours,” he questioned the man? Joulupukki nodded.

“Klaus, it is nice to meet you.” He awkwardly extended his hand.

The half elf took it,

“Please, Lumi and all of you, I am confused enough, please, continue to call me Joulupukki until events necessitate changing it.”

“Ahhhh, but King Klaus has such a nice ring to it,” Dyndoeth teased.

Joulupukki blushed and rolled his eyes.

“This is mine,” said Lumi, freeing his amulet from his shirt. “Yours has no chain. I will make one for you,” he added.

Joulupukki carefully looked at the amulet and asked,

“Where are your parents Lumi?”

Lumi looked down at the table and smiled gently. Dyndoeth looked at him and said,

“They are no longer with us. I have such sorrow in my heart to say that they left our world when Lumi was yet a child. No kinder elves have I ever known.” Both Ceridfen and Gwaldon nodded their heads in agreement, making affirming sounds as Dyndoeth continued. “They were together at the end and passed away in a natural disaster traversing the northern ice fields. His father was my brother and his mother was from the Northern Clan. They were on their way back to the Village when it happened.” Ceridfen added,

“We insisted that Il,” she looked at him, “Lumi, come live with us. Many of the elves you see in our house are ones that we have taken in for one reason or another. We have not been able to have children of our own, so, we make all of the children of the world ours.” Dyndoeth squeezed her tightly and Lumi

leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Joulupukki had no words of comfort for Lumi so he gave him an understanding smile and the elf smiled back. Taking the lead, Dyndoeth began,

“We will first test the magic on the amulet

and find out which elves on the council embossed your name there, I will then go to Seileach and explain the situation to him and him alone. He is a reasonable elf and will see the need to move the throne back to its original location, and as a Forest Elf he will make certain it is positioned precisely. Their attention to detail is uncanny. Then we will request a morning meeting.” DynDoeth continued to lay out his plan to the others, with their opinions being considered which changed it as needed.

After the meeting, Lumi and Joulupukki walked slowly through the cottage talking,

“I am sorry for bringing up sad memories of your parents,” Joulupukki expressed

his condolences.

“It is fine,” said Lumi. “I was young when it happened and what few memories I have of them are beautiful ones. I was told they died while holding a defensive field against a wall of ice that unexpectedly collapsed on them and their travel companions. There were seventy eight elves in the caravan and they saved most of them. I was there too, but I have no memory of it. Anyway, I could not have asked for better parents than Ceridfen and DynDoeth. They are truly remarkable.”

“They think highly of you as well.” Joulupukki commented. Lumi smiled. The day shortly turned to night and continued uneventfully save for a visit from the Council Guard who had escorted them to the Keep hours before. In late evening Dyndoeth answered the door warily. The guard did not bother to come in. He made a display of handing the Elder a stack of papers while loudly exclaiming,

“These are from the council. Read through them thoroughly,” and hastened away. In the center of the stack Dyndoeth found a small hand written piece of paper that said, “As a friend, be forewarned Rian is furious and will stop at nothing to insure your demise and that of the King.” Dyndoeth chuckled, thinking,

I believe that to be quite obvious, then he read more as he flipped the sheet over, “He has sent for a large number of Dark Elves from Erin.” That, he did not know and thanked the Guard under his breath.

The next morning DynDoeth and several other elves set their minds to the task of deciphering the amulets' magic. Comparing Lumi's to the one from Joulupukki, they found the latter's magic to be a bit unusual. Whereas, Lumi's name, at the time Il, was cast as a single embossing spell by nine different magics from nine different elves, six Councilman, both parents and, in this case, the King's magic which was a special honor granted at the request of Dyndoeth, Joulupukki's, on the other hand, was cast with five separate magics with each letter being embossed by a different elf. This was very unusual. Erlenkönig's was obvious, forming the first letter, as well, Seileach's magic was strong creating the letter S at the end of the name. It seemed as if the amulet's etching had taken place over a period of time with each letter being embossed by a different Councilman. The fact that there were only five elves to create the name was not unusual. Aisling had no elfin magic so could not participate in the amulet ritual. Quite often there were disputes among the Councilman over a name and one or two of them would decline to participate. With the events taking place at the time, Erlenkönig likely refused to allow the representatives from the Erin and Ibero Clans to attach any type of magic to his son's amulet, fearing it might be harmful dark magic.

The additional magic used on the amulet they found to be from the Southern, Northern and Village Clans' Councilman. Because of the turnover of Councilman during this tumultuous time, it appeared to have taken several years to complete the 'Klaus' embossing.

Several days passed as DynDoeth awaited a response from Seileach concerning his request for a private audience. He checked and rechecked the argument that he would make to have the throne replaced back into its original location and was certain if he could just lay it out before the Elder Councilman he would see the logic in it, but he could not let Rian become aware of his plan. With the information that he had gained from the guard, he knew time was not on their side. There could already be enumerable dark elves hiding in plain sight throughout the Village. If that was the reality of the situation then Rian would not hesitate to attack his cottage and his family if he smelled something amiss. He already requested Gwaldon to create a strong barrier around the cottage. When Lumi found out about this, he offered to help the older elf. They found that their magic separately was strong, but together, it was formidable. They created traps and areas that would slow down any elf that tried to enter the cottage without permission. Gwaldon created places in long corridors where the family could retreat if necessary. If an elf attempted to throw spells through the corridor Gwaldon's static spell would turn the dark magic into harmless flowers. Lumi thought it was ingenious. They did all of this quietly, leaving as little traceable magic as possible. Outside of the cottage the power could not be felt, inside only a small trace was perceivable. As the day grew long and the dark of night settled, a knock on the door could be heard throughout the cottage.

“What now,” Dyndoeth said as he walked past Joulupukki, who stood from his chair and fell into step with the elf?

“It would seem to be a visitor,” Joulupukki said snarkily.

DynDoeth rolled his eyes and returned his snarky smile.

“You are so like your father,” the elf said and they both smiled, shaking their heads. When DynDoeth opened the door he was surprised to find the Elder Councilman waiting on the other side. “Come in, come in,” he hastened him to enter, “I was not expecting you, Seileach.” The Forest Elf quickly entered the cottage.

“Thank you DynDoeth,” he started. “Please forgive my tardiness in getting back to you concerning your request. You made it clear that you did not wish for Rian to know of our meeting. He has been unduly attentive with me as of late. I feel as if there is something that he is hiding. I hope that I am not intruding on your home, but I had to make excuses to be able to speak to you alone. I spread,” here he hesitated, “a falsehood.” His tone lowered and his voice began to crack as he said it. Lying went against everything that the Forest Clan stood for but he was also a politician and knew that to fulfill his duty to the elfin people, he had, at times, to do things that left the taste of bile in his mouth. “I made it clear to everyone at the Keep how much I was looking forward to accepting your invitation for Evening Meal tonight. Of course no one with a clear head would ever believe my story, most especially Rian, but I made it clear enough so that he would not be able to question my coming here.” As he entered the main room he gave a long look to Joulupukki, before nodding his head slightly. A gesture that was meant to convey respect, but also to remind him that his quest to gain the throne had not been settled as yet.

“Well then, Seileach, let us not make your reason for coming a lie. You are always welcome in our home, please, accept my invitation for Evening Meal. I only hope you like it. We can discuss our business while we eat.” He took Seileach by the arm and led him into the dining hall with Joulupukki closely in tow. They killed the time with small talk as they waited for Ceridfen and several additional young elves to serve the meal.

“Did you notice how long the sun was in the sky today, Dyndoeth,” Seileach asked? It was out for at least five hours, and there was actual rain this afternoon, not snow or even sleet, but rain. The temperature must have soared well above freezing before the sun went down again. How unusual for this time of year; however, it may be a good sign for sowing crops. Although, I must admit I know nothing about farming this far north. I could have sworn I even heard the giant willow in the courtyard at the Keep beginning to awaken earlier today. It is a long process of revival for a willow and can take several weeks before it is fully roused.

“Indeed,” said DynDoeth, “how fascinating. I was unaware that willows were so slow in awakening. I thought the Oaks and Elms were the slow ones.”

“No, no, the magic in the Willows is durable and out lasts most tree magics, but once it goes dormant it is difficult for the tree to call it forth again. That strain is what causes the deformities in the Willow's limbs as it grows older.

“I bow to the expertise of the Forest Elves,” said Dyndoeth. He raised his glass in toast.

Rian sat puzzling in his suite in the Keep. His thoughts in disarray, jumping from one concern to another without any logical order. He sat before a desk that once was used by the Elven Kings. Beautifully maintained with natural varnishes and wax, it created a warm welcoming glow as the light kissed its surface. The drawer fronts and legs were carved with the most intricate and ornate story etchings, telling the tale of Kings for eons past. The wood was of various varieties being added on to by each King that had reigned since the original desk was created. No one was really sure what section of the desk was constructed first or which king had commissioned it to be built. After so many years and so many changes by so many powerful Elven Kings, the Desk seemed to take on a life of its own and at times if you watched closely you could see small portions of the carvings change right before your eyes.

Rian hated it!

It represented his failure over the years to take the Elfin Throne and become King of the Elves himself. He had worked so hard for many years now, and made slow but steady progress toward his goal. He would not let some young half human take this away from him. He knew that Erlenkönig could easily have destroyed him during The Battle of the Keep, almost did, but the fool was too soft and chose to save his kingdom instead. That was his mistake. One that Rian took full advantage of, fomenting unrest in the Village and starting wars with the humans. When he finally was strong enough to approach the Council again, his plan had already been created. A plan that took years to prepare, but that did not bother him for it took years to recuperate from the pain and damage done to his magic by Erlenkönig. He regained his strength and followed each detail with the precision of a Forest Elf and with each spin of the wheel the cogs fell neatly into place. His only regret was that the attempt on Aislings life in the Southern Clan had failed. It would have been so helpful if the Village went to war with the Southern Clan over a human female. You could never count on an Erin Elf anyway. They had their uses but were the least reliable of all of the elves. In fact, just as he was being re-sworn into the Council of Six, or at that time the Council of Seven, he ran into a very old Erin Elf who supposedly had the gift of seeing. Most elves who claimed this as an ability were ridiculed and scoffed at. Who could possibly see into the future. It was ridiculous in his mind but he listened to the old elf anyway. The prediction was:

'An elf of old will arise as the son of the true king

and re-unite the elves under his own son who will never be king.'

At least that is how he perceived it. What did it mean anyway? A son of a son of a king is going to unite

all of the elves but he will never be a king. How can someone who is not a king possibly unite a people. What of this half human, half elf, half goat thing. He wants to be king so that voids the prediction. Unless, he thought for a moment, it means he will attempt to take the throne but will fail and the elves will all unite under me. Yes, that sounds reasonable. Now, his mind turned to other things, what is with Seileach, always precise, always fair, always consistent, always predictable. He had never gone to DynDoeth's cottage for evening meal or any other elf's for that matter. He preferred the company of his small entourage of Forest Elves; but, he made it annoyingly clear for several days in a row how much he was going to enjoy accepting DynDoeth's invitation. Rian wondered if DynDoeth himself knew about the invitation. On the other hand maybe the reason Seileach never accepted an invitation to someone's home was simply that no one ever invited him. He was an exceptionally dull elf after all. His conversations being as intellectually stimulating as talking to a head of lettuce. He would not make the same mistake that he had made with Erlenkönig. He terribly underestimated the King's abilities and cleverness. For that reason he sent out a call to Erin to recruit as many Dark-ling Elves as he could get to come to the Village and help him in his quest. Many of them had already and they were scattered throughout the Village to deter any of those elves who wished to come to the aid of DynDoeth. He also needed those who were loyal to him to squash the desire for an uprising after he took power and declared himself King. This made him smile. He looked at the four pieces of crystal laying before him. Someone in the Council Room had thwarted his attempt to destroy the Forest Elf. He was too weakened to try to trace the magic that was used and was unsure as to where it had originated. It could have been an exceptionally astute guard but he almost immediately dismissed this possibility, astute guard, what an oxymoron. Dyndoeth possibly had the power, but how did he know the attack was coming. For years he had worked on his magic making it almost imperceptible to detect before an attack was emanate, and in an instant it was over and too late to stop. He did not know whether the goat had magic or not, but as powerful as his father had been, he could not rule out the possibility that he was the one who came to the rescue of the Elder Councilman. The magic seemed strange and he was the strangest goat he had ever seen, an unsettling smirk slowly stretched across his face. He sent a small amount of magic through his broken crystal and found as he manipulated it through each of the four pieces it grew in strength and intensity, an interesting and unexpected discovery that he might find useful. He let the energy of his magic intensify ten fold and directed it against the desk, but to no avail. The desk was unyielding. With a frustrated sigh he sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Ceridfen had little trouble adjusting her menu to accommodate the new arrival. She brought out a terrine of pumpkin soup, savory with a hint of spice and honey. A casserole of squash and zucchini followed with a light green salad mixed with three different types of tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and multi-colored sweet peppers. The main course was stuffed giant mushroom whose cap covered the entire plate. It was stuffed with smaller mushrooms that were diced into a spiced bread stuffing, crushed pine nuts and walnuts were added to create a paste to hold the stuffing together a hint of horse radish was folded in to tingle the tongue, a bit of spaghetti squash was added with slivered purple carrot and radish and parsnip. This mixture was braised to bring out the sweetness and Rosemary Deer Butter was melted and drizzled over the dish. Finally, a light mushroom gravy was poured over the mushroom and a bit of deer cheese was melted, golden brown on top.

“My, oh my,” Seileach exclaimed as each dish was presented. “What a feast. I have not eaten like this for,” he thought for a moment, “I don't remember the last time, maybe seventy or eighty years. Certainly not since the grand banquets that Erlenkönig threw after settling in the north region.” He glanced at Joulupukki but saw no reaction. He meant no offense to the young half elf. “Everything tastes excellent, the soup, creamy with just the right spiced seasoning, and where did you get the fresh vegetables and apples for the salad.?”

DynDoeth was smiling, “ We have a small garden on the side of the barn.” He replied then softly whispered, “Don't tell anyone,” he placed his finger on his lips, “but we have a Garden Elf who helps us.”

Seileach's eyes grew large and he gasped in surprise,

“Noooo,” he said.”

“Yes,” DynDoeth exclaimed. Ceridfen slapped him on the shoulder and gave him a look, warning him not to say anything else but DynDoeth ignored her. “He was abandoned, I guess, six hundred and eighty human years ago, as the Village floated off of the Southern Continent when Erlenkönig's father was King.” He looked at his hands, “A time when I was much younger. It seemed that he was the only one left in his hamlet after a human raiding party came through. He was very young but was already strong in the magic of the earth. We invited him to join our little hodgepodge of a family. There were only three young ones with us when he agreed. He has been with us ever since. As he has grown older he has become very much of a recluse, spending his entire day buried in the soil, infusing it with his magic. With few exceptions he does not like being around other elves so we seldom talk about him to others. During times of strife, on several occasions we have suggested to him that he might be better off finding other Earth Elves to live with, but he just shakes his head and gives us a smile and goes back to work.

“I have never met a Garden Elf before,” responded Seileach, “I understand that they may be an offshoot of the Southern Forest Elves; although, I can't be certain of that. They keep to themselves and hide when other elves are present, coming out mostly at night. Is that true?”

“I think our elf is a bit more sociable than the average Garden Elf. Although moving to the north has taken its toll on him. He created magic suns to help regulate the plant growth and that seemed to help him. He loves the company of Gwaldon. He presents his magic to the Elder in various ways and Gwaldon uses his to transform the Garden Elf's into strange and unusual plants. It is quite interesting to watch. He is an amazing creature. The apple that you ate? He grew the tree from a seed in a single day. The next day it flowered and we were picking apples before Evening Meal. It must be three hundred years old by now and still grows strong, producing the sweetest fruit. Do apple trees usually live that long,” he pondered?

Seileach turned to Ceridfen and offered a heartfelt thanks to her for the meal as he finished the wonderfully tasty main course and helped himself to another apple.

“Your mastery of cooking magic is unquestionable dear lady,” he complimented her.

“Cooking magic,” was her response! “I made all of this without a hint of magic.”

She corrected him.

“Indeed!?” He responded.

“Indeed!” she insisted as she grabbed his plate and took it to the kitchen.

“I apologize for any offense I have given to your wife,” DynDoeth. DynDoeth just smiled.

Joulupukki, after listening quietly since the meal began, spoke up.

“Seileach, Ceridfen has a wicked sense of humor. She was just pulling your leg.”

“Pulling my leg,” he said confused?

“A human expression, it means good humored ribbing ...joking with you. She is an exceptional cook but not even she could create a meal like tonight's without a little magical help.”

“Oh, I'm relieved she was not hurt by my remark.” An awkward half laugh slipped from his lips.

DynDoeth added,

“No, she is not upset.”

“Did you know,” Seileach started again, “in the Western Continents I worked for a while with native humans. They have hybridized a grain that was once nothing more than grass and has now been transformed into a large core surrounded by fingernail sized kernels. It is sweet when it is fresh but it can also be dried and turned into dough and bread.” Excitedly, DynDoeth cut him off,

“Yes, I know this grain. A relative from the Northern Clan brought some of the dried seeds to me some time ago. I gave them to the Garden Elf and he grew them into short trees. Each one had seven or eight edible fruits filled with seeds. He dried most of it and manipulated it with his earth magic. He was working with the Stable Elf who was looking for a new source of food for the deer, but when he fed it to one of them, the deer left the floor and started floating near the ceiling of the stable. It was a devil of a time getting him down and they had to tie a heavy pack on his back to keep him on the ground. There was no harm done to the deer, in fact, he seemed to enjoy it, and the effects wore off in a few days.”

“I would have liked to have seen that,”

“Me too,” said Joulupukki.

“I have enjoyed this very much, Seileach, and you must come back again, but now we must discuss the reason for your being here.” Dyndoeth started with the lullaby and explained its meaning with occasional interjections by Joulupukki, mostly when Seileach asked him a question. “We believe that Erlenkönig had a secret vault hidden in the old throne room, but the only way to find it is by relocating the throne to its original location. By allowing the morning rays of the sun to pass through the mural and then through the carved sun on the back of the throne, the light should point to the location of the vault. We believe that the only magic that will be able to open the vault is his son's, Joulupukki's. Inside I am certain you will find additional documents that will help to clarify who the real King is.”

“A compelling argument you have offered me,” said the Elder Councilman. “If I agree to this, it will not be easy to convince Rian to move the throne. It will also be difficult to position it exactly where it stood the last time Erlenkönig saw it.”

“We thought it best if the throne is moved on the next full day recess of the council. I understand that Rian remains in his suite during these days. With a little luck he will not even know until the Council reconvenes to hear my evidence.” Joulupukki humbled himself before the elf.

“I will have to think about this.” Seileach pushed back his chair and stood. Dyndoeth stood beside the tall elf and with a sincere tone he offered a warning to the other,

“Rian will stop at nothing to gain control of the elves. He intends to be king. I know there are doubts in your mind about this and I know you are fair and give all elves the benefit of the doubt. I also know that you will find it difficult to believe what I am about to tell you. At our first meeting in the Council room Rian sent forth a strong stream of magic into his staff, its destination, you. He attempted to see to your demise.”

Seileach looked confused and a bit troubled.

“I felt no magic that day, except the guard's protective magic against this young gentleman here,” gesturing to Joulupukki with a nod. “You must be mistaken, DynDoeth. Why would he want me eliminated? I have backed all of the reasonable requests he has made.”

“Neither did I feel his magic,” conceded DynDoeth, “but you did not agree with him when he wanted to strip my magic from me which infuriated him. Anger is reason enough for creatures like Rian.”

“That was not reasonable.” The Elder Council Elf agreed.

“But did you not notice how he fell back onto the throne clutching his head at the end of the meeting? Luckily Joulupukki was watching Rian during the entire proceeding and realized he was getting very angry and he might use his magic. I won't try to explain how he did it, but trust me when I say Joulupukki has magic that the elves have never seen before. He managed to reverse the attack and send Rian's energy streaming back against him.”

“Are you the match of your father, I mean, Erlenkönig?” Seileach asked.

Joulupukki began,

“I don't...,”

DynDoeth interrupted,

“Far beyond his father.” As stoic and emotionless as the Forest Elf was,

DynDoeth caught a glimpse of fear in his eyes.

“Even if I believe what you tell me there is no proof. I can not act on hearsay,” was the Councilman's response.

“Please, for your safety, do not confront Rian. That was not the purpose of my telling you this. I tell you only to warn you to be very careful around him. I feel that he may be getting a sense that his plans are beginning to unravel which will make him a very dangerous elf. If you need proof of what I've said, look to the crystal in his staff, it was broken in the exchange of power.” Seileach's eyes grew wide at the thought of power that could break a crystal. “He has also reinforced his position by bringing Dark Elves from Erin. Be careful walking the streets tonight.” He escorted Seileach to the door. As he reached to open it, he hesitated. “One more question for you. About fifty human years ago did Erlenkönig return to the Village for a naming ceremony for his son?”

“Why do you ask,” he defensively returned a question with a question.

“We have located Joulupukki's Wish Amulet and your magic was a distinct part

of it.” Dyndoeth prodded.

The Councilman stood there unmoving and quiet until the minutes ticked by and the silence became uncomfortable. Then he seemed to come to a decision.

“I do not intend to offer undo help in connecting you to Erlenkönig, I made a promise to him to not discuss this with anyone else, but sadly he is gone now,” he said looking at Joulupukki. That amulet had a different name embossed on it.

“Klaus,” the half elf offered.

“Yes, it was Klaus. Where did you find it?”

“It was attached to Sprinteren's collar.” Joulupukki stared at the elf.

Dyndoeth offered,

“He is the deer that protected Aisling and her son after Erlenkönig was gone.”

With a slight hesitation Seileach began,

“It was the strangest naming ceremony I have ever taken part in and initially I refused. Erlenkönig contacted me by sending a note attached to a deer's collar. Along with the note was a Wish Amulet that was embossed with Erlenkönig's name, Aisling's name and the first letter K which was strong in his magic. He requested I take a private vote of the Council excluding Rian and the Erin Councilman because he knew they would not agree to the name he had chosen, “Klaus”, people of victory. I voted along with the remaining Councilman and we all agreed the name to be acceptable. The Amulet was first given to the Village Councilman and he embossed the second letter. With all of the turmoil in the Village at the time we decided to send a letter back to Erlenkönig with the amulet attached. Over the next three years the deer came and went until all but one of the letters found their way onto the tag. I was reluctant to emboss the last one, but finally decided that a child should not have to suffer for the misgivings of one old elf and I added the S. Keep in mind, this proves that Erlenkönig had a son. It does not prove that you are he.” He opened the door. On his way back to the Keep he greeted several elves that he did not recognize. He thought it might be wise to heed DynDoeth's advice.

Over the next two evenings after the Council had recessed, Seileach visited each of the Councilman who had voted to release Dyndoeth in an effort to assess their feelings about whether they were inclined to think that Joulupukki was in fact the son of Erlenkönig. The Southern and Northern Clan Councilman seemed inclined to believe him, but both stated quite emphatically that if he could not come up with reasonable proof it made no difference. The Councilman from the North pointedly said to the Elder,

“I am very much inclined to believe this half-ling, as to his lineage. It is not difficult to come up with numerous reasons that lead to that fact. I would be very surprised if he was not the son of our late King.”

“Would you lay out your reasoning for me,” Seileach asked?

“First, look at him. He is like an overly large copy of Erlenkönig. He looks just like him. Plus, we know that the King's child was a half-ling, there are so few of those in the world that in my seven hundred and twenty seven years, he is only the third that I have seen. How likely is it that one would just stumble upon the Village and decide he wants to be king. Then there is DynDoeth, the great elf who stood by Erlenkönig in the Battle of the Keep, one of the most upstanding elves in our community does not question his identity. Shall I continue?”

“No, no that's enough,” Seileach sat back in his chair thinking, “but what of that ridiculous name?”

His companion chuckled,

“What is embossed on your Wish Amulet,” he asked the Elder?

A flush came over Seileach's face before he reluctantly whispered,

“Twig, I was a very small child.”

“It is often impossible to understand the reasoning of our parents. Who knows what Erlenkönig and Aisling were thinking when they named him or even if it is his actual name. Remember, although by human standards, he would be considered a somewhat elderly man, in elf terms he is still on the young side of a re-naming ceremony. He is not even ten elfin years old”

Seileach knew that if they did find proof that he was in the lineage of the great kings that his name in fact was not Joulupukki but rather Klaus. None of the current Councilman had participated in the naming ritual for the King's son. Only he and Rian were members of the Council back then and Rian knew nothing of that event. As the Elder Councilman sat thinking, the Northern Elf added to his feelings about the matter at hand, saying, “Although I believe him to be who he says he is, without indisputable proof he shall never take the Throne.” The Forest Elf was satisfied and proceeded to his last destination. He found the Village Councilman to be so enthralled by the thought of a new King who was the son of Erlenkönig that the only words he would speak were, I will not vote against the son of Erlenkönig. Even when Seileach pointed out that he might not be the King's son, the Village Elf just repeated himself. After gathering as much information as he could from the other Councilman, he decided to make one additional stop to visit Rian.

“Good evening Seileach,” was Rian's cordial greeting. He stopped him at the door and did not invite him in. “What brings you out at such a late hour?” Seileach, thought to himself, that is a very good question. He was not sure what he expected to gain from visiting the Ibero Councilman, he simply felt a need to see him. He still had his reservations as to whether the half elf was the son of Erlenkönig, but after all of the conversations he had with DynDoeth and the other Councilman he was beginning to question himself. DynDoeth had given him compelling reasons to have the throne moved back to its original location in the eating hall but he had no intention of doing this without informing Rian first. He would not deceive the other Councilman as Joulupukki had suggested, but he was beginning to believe that DynDoeth was right about Rian and his insatiable need for power. So, here he was, standing in front of the elf of whom he should be most wary. He was not sure how Rian had managed to take control of the

King's old suit; for that matter, why he had the right to sit in his throne. It seems that no one on the Council had protested when Rian suggested he do these things. Magical manipulation or just suggestion, he did not know, but if Rian had gained the ability to use powerful magic without it being detected, than he could do just about anything.

“I just wanted a word, Rian.” Seileach waited expectantly.

“I would invite you in but I'm afraid I am tired and I wish to go to sleep. I hope you will understand, and perhaps we can discuss what's on your mind in the morning.”

“Of course, please accept my apology. We can speak in the morning.” As he started to turn away, a glint inside of the room caught his attention. Without thinking about it, he slid his foot between the door and the door frame to keep it from closing.

“Um.” Rian prompted looking down at Seileach's foot.

“Oh, I'm sorry, I can be so clumsy.” Seileach said while looking past the other elf at the four pieces of crystal laying on the Desk. He walked back to his own suit where he contemplated the meaning of what he had just seen. The magical energy needed to break a crystal was tremendous. Before seeing the pieces on the desk he was not sure that he would believe it possible. It seems that everything DynDoeth had told him was true.

Does that mean that, this, Joulupukki had actually saved his life. This changed things. He thought about the throne again. He needed to know the truth of the half elf's lineage and the only way was to have the throne relocated back to the old throne room. The thought of lying made his skin crawl, but he had no choice. He could not tell Rian, and found himself glad that he was the rude and unwelcoming elf that he was, sending him away before he could mention moving the throne to him. He crawled into his bed repeating over and over to himself, it will be OK, I am a politician.

“Well, Joulupukki, how do you feel about the conversation we had with Seileach, at Evening Meal, the other night?” They had not spoken much for the last few days, Dyndoeth concerned with the safety of his cottage and family, and Joulupukki practicing his magic.

“I must admit, when I brought up the idea of deceiving Rian about moving the throne, I thought the veins on his forehead might burst.” Dyndoeth laughed. They were standing in the protected room while they spoke, but there was really no reason, the Elder had seen to it that the entire cottage, including the stable were by now well protected from spying eyes. “My first thought was that, with the best of intentions, he would immediately take the information back to the Council for their opinion. As it stands now, I am not so sure.”

“I feel the same,'' said the elf. “If Rian had been informed of the moving of the throne there would surely have been some kind of backlash from him by now.”

“That would also suggest that, as yet, the throne has not been moved,” added the half elf. “Do you know when the next full day recess will be?”

“No,” responded DynDoeth. “They set their own schedules so that the days they meet allow for all members to attend, usually five or six out of seven days.”

Later that evening Ceridfen heard the chime that announced that someone was waiting at the door. When she answered it she saw an elf she did not know standing there with some papers in his hand. Looking past her scanning the room, she could feel his magic's gentle touch probing the inside of the cottage.

“May I help you,” she asked?

“Um,” he started, “I have been sent by the council to deliver these papers to Joulupukki, I understand he lives with you.”

“That is correct, I will be happy to take them to him,” but the Elf, still probing the gathering room of the cottage said,

“I am sorry, but I must deliver them to the hands of Joulupukki and no one else. I will be happy to wait inside while you get him.” The elf took a step forward and Ceridfen blocked his way.

“No you will not!” she exclaimed, undaunted. “You will wait outside and I will return with him shortly.” To several of the older children sitting in the great room she said in a soft but urgent tone, “go find DynDoeth, Joulupukki, Gwaldon and Lumi. Quickly!” she said. “The rest of you go to your rooms.”

Through the clamor of little feet and the complaints of a couple of the children, Gwaldon appeared almost immediately.

“What is it Ceridfen?” He asked quickly, concern visible on his face.

“There is an elf that I have not seen at the door with papers that he claimed were from the Council. He insisted on giving them to Joulupukki. He was probing the Cottage with his magic and attempted to enter the room. I think there may be more of them hiding in the shadows, but I'm not sure. When he tried to step through the threshold, I told him he would wait outside and slammed the door in his face.”

“That's my girl,” he said with a smile, speaking to her as if she were sixteen again. Joulupukki and DynDoeth hurried into the room and joined the others, Lumi arriving just before them. Ceridfen explained what the urgency was about to all of them, once again. Joulupukki reached out with his magic, as well as did the other elves, searching through the door and probing the surrounding area. They all found traces of

residual magic but the elves that had been there had already departed, all except the one just outside of the door.

“Lumi,” Dyndoeth pulled him aside, “with all of your stealth, find the Lead Council Guard, give this note to him.” He grabbed a quill from the side table and scribbled a short note on a scrap of paper, handing it to Lumi and urging him to be careful but swift. The young elf sprinted to the back of the cottage.

“What was that,” Gwaldon asked?

Joulupukki was the one who answered,

“If the elf outside has actual papers from the council and he is not from the council then there is a guard, somewhere out there, from whom the documents were taken.”

“Exactly,” said Dyndoeth, “hopefully the guards can find him before it is too late.”

“Now, let's see about the elf at the door.” Pulling himself up to his full height and stretching his shoulders to make himself look as large and fierce as possible, Joulupukki grabbed the door handle and with one smooth movement jerked the door open and stepped through it to within inches of the elf. The elf shrank before this horrible sight and instinctively threw up a defensive barrier between him and Joulupukki. Joulupukki's eyes grew wide and even more frightening as his magic twisted the elf's and wrapped him in his own energy. “How dare you come to this house and try to use magic against those who live here.” The elf could not move, but his fear was evident in his face. “Why have you come here! You are either a very, very brave elf or the most stupid elf I have met, thinking you can summon me like calling a dog. Quickly,” Joulupukki raised his voice, “stop whimpering, why are you here?”

“I...I...I...I..., brought these,” looking down at the papers in his hand. DynDoeth took them from the elf and looked at them. They were official documents. The elf, still scared to the point of barely being able to speak, confessed that he had taken them from a Council Guard, but he did not hurt him, just put him to sleep and told them where he left him. As for why, he was sent to appraise the defenses of the cottage, but was not informed as to the reason why or who wanted to know. He said there were two others with him when they stole the documents, but they ran off when Ceridfen slammed the door in his face.

“If I ever see you again I will have you sent to the dungeon in the Keep and I will take personal pleasure in stripping you of your magic.” Joulupukki released the magic holding the elf and he quickly turned away and scurried off. Gwaldon took a very long look at the half elf.

“I hope to never get on your bad side,” he said to Joulupukki.

“What? Oh that,” he said, closing the door.

“Yes, that,” the old elf said. “You were frighteningly angry at that Elf.”

“Angry, no actually I was not angry at all, but we needed to find out what he knew so I put a bit of a fright into him.”

“If that wasn't anger how will I know when you are angry,” he asked? Joulupukki turned to face him, his expression suddenly turning to stone. His eyes burrowing deeply into Gwaldon's. Slowly and with deliberate words he said,

“Do you remember when we met, I was angry then.” He let this sink in and suddenly let out a loud belly laugh. “You see I can have a rye sense of humor too.” Gwaldon let out a breath that he had not realized he was holding and smiled. “Come now my friend, you are like a brother to me, albeit, a much, much, much, ....much, ...much older brother, or perhaps a great great grandfather, yeah that would be more like it.” Everyone laughed at this including Gwaldon. Dyndoeth sent out a second elf to let Lumi know where they should look for the guard. After the display at the front door he felt safe that no one would start trouble this night.

“By the way,” Dyndoeth speaking to Joulupukki, “you do realize that there is no dungeon in the Keep.” They all laughed again and continued the joviality, until each of them grew tired and one by one excused themselves leaving only Joulupukki and Dyndoeth sitting at the eating table.

“What are the papers,” Joulupukki asked?

“They are official documents from Seileach and the Council,” Dyndoeth said, “They specify that your appointment to prove your assertion as son to Erlenkönig and your desire to gain his crown will be at sun rise two days hence, as tomorrow they will be observing a full day's recess.” Both of them smiled,

“That little deceiver,” Joulupukki said, “I didn't know he had it in him.”

“Nor did I,” Dyndoeth agreed.

The following day Seileach made quiet arrangements to have the throne moved back to the old throne room, now the meal hall, in readiness for the events taking place in the morning. In the late afternoon while the Keep was at its quietest The Council Elder with the aid of three guards used their magic to lift the ornate chair over the fourth floor railing and slowly lowered it onto a cart in the middle of the Vestibule, then went down to the cart and rolled it in to the Grand Eating Hall. The Throne was repositioned back into the exact location where Erlenkönig had last seen it, directly in front of the stained glass window that he had commissioned so long ago. Seileach used the faint outline of its original location to position it correctly and measured it against the elevation of the smaller Queen's throne to be sure its height was correct. When he was finally satisfied he released the guards who wheeled the cart out. He sat down in one of the chairs near the throne and contemplated tomorrow's events. He hoped all would be civil but he had his questions. Rian would surely take this as a betrayal, and if he tried to end his life once before, then it is only reasonable to think that he would try again. He had to be on his guard tomorrow and decided it would be safest for him to discreetly employ his own Forest Elves around the hall when the Council convened at dawn. He also thought of something he had not until now. If the half elf proved himself son of Erlenkönig and was voted to be the next king by the Council, what would become of the Council? He had always respected Erlenkönig but when he created the Council he had not only gained their respect, but had also gained favor in the eyes of the Forest Elves. His Clan paid little notice of the Elf Kings. There had been debate amongst them for centuries as to whether the Dark Elves were dark by nature or whether they were made to be that way by the total control that the Elf King claimed as his birthright. If all elves were equal, what need do they have of a king? He felt that the Council was a small step toward true equality for all elves and Erlenkönig was the first king to be brave enough to embrace that vision. Now, a new king was claiming his heritage. Perhaps if he does become the ruler of the Elfin Kingdoms, he will share some of his father's wisdom and insight and keep the Council intact. The old elf stood and made his way back to his suite. The morning would come soon and he would need all of his strength if the worst happened. He felt his stomach growl as he ascended the stairs. I wonder if DynDoeth and Ceridfen might invite me for Evening Meal for real when this is all over, he thought to himself. That was an exceptional stuffed mushroom that she prepared for him. He smiled at the thought of it.

Morning came quickly and Joulupukki, Dyndoeth, Lumi and Gwaldon met with Ceridfen as she fed them a light morning meal. None of the young ones were out of bed yet. As the sun started peaking above the horizon everyone's internal clock had to re-adjust which meant most people slept just a bit longer waiting for the new light to shine through their windows. On this day the sun would not rise until nearly mid-morning and the Councilman would be in the new Council Chamber before the sun made its appearance. The group of elves spoke briefly about what was expected from Rian and his band of Dark Elves and decided that it would be best for Ceridfen, Lumi and Gwaldon to stay in the cottage in case the dark ones started trouble here. DynDoeth and Joulupukki would go to the Council meeting. As soon as they proved Joulupukki was indeed the son of Erlenkönig, he would start using his real name, Klaus. They gathered together what evidence they had found in the cottage, the amulet had already been sent to Seileach so he could examine it for identifying magic to prove it was real. A quick kiss for Ceridfen, and

Dyndoeth and Joulupukki were off.

“Have you figured out what magic would be needed to open the vault, Joulupukki,” questioned Dyndoeth.

“No,” was his simple answer. The worry in the Elf's eyes evident,

“If you can't open it you can not claim the right to Erlenkönig's legacy.”

“I know my friend. I have puzzled and puzzled over this for several days and I can't figure it out. I must have sang that lullaby a thousand times or more, an acerbic snigger slipped past his lips, but I find nothing else helpful in it. I was so young when he departed us. I assume he knew there was magic within me, but how could he know how it would assert itself as I grew older. How could he know about the strength I now have? I don't think the answer is in the greatness of power or magic. I just don't know what it is.” Joulupukki was perplexed as his thoughts concentrated on the problem.

“Perhaps, you should release it from your mind for a while. You must trust that Erlenkönig has left the answer you need and it will reveal itself when you need it. It was difficult to push from his mind but he thought DynDoeth was right and tried to follow his advice. When his thoughts relaxed he noticed how he and his friend were being watched as they walked the village cobblestones.

“Do you recognize any of the elves we've passed,” he asked DynDoeth in a hushed voice?

“No, they started appearing out of the side streets as soon as we left the cottage. Do you think their intent is to intimidate us?”

Joulupukki laughed out loud and took a long look around the lane. He pointed at the one nearest to him and nodded. The elf nodded back and smiled insincerely.

“I counted at least twenty three standing on the street around

us. I would guess they are here to intimidate the elves of the Village.”

“You are likely right.” DynDoeth looked down the street. “I do not see anyone I recognize and a good deal of the shops have not opened yet.” They proceeded to the Keep. As they approached he saw the Lead Council Guard standing with two other guards at the entrance. Dyndoeth stopped briefly as the doors were opened. Apprehension was apparent on all three of their faces.

“So you've noticed the Erin Elves gathering on the street,” he asked the guard?

“Yes,” was his return. “They have surrounded the Keep, but we have detected no use of magic, as yet.”

“Stay alert, my friend. There is bad ether in the air on this morn. I would bring all of the Council Guard into the keep as soon as you can and secure the doors. When this morning's meeting is complete, I suspect violence the like of which you have never seen will erupt and Seileach and

the other Councilmen will be in need of you and the guard.”

“Why is this happening,” the Lead Guard asked?

“We believe that Rian will make a play to overthrow the King and Council once again as soon as Joulupukki, here, is pronounced son of Erlenkönig and heir to the throne.”

“This will be the last time.” The guard looked up into Joulupukki's eyes. He remembered what DynDoeth told him about steering clear of this half human when he was angry. What he saw in his eyes at that moment made him want to run away from the keep as fast as he could. Instead he said,

“We will be here to protect the Councilmen regardless of who attacks them,” his implication toward Joulupukki apparent, as his defiance rose in his voice and his gaze passed back to DynDoeth. Joulupukki patted the guard's back,

“You are a good elf...,” he did not know the guard's name.

“Osviklig,” Dyndoeth offered. The guard looked at him surprised that DynDoeth knew his name.

“I will remember you, Osviklig,” Joulupukki said.

“Are you ready, DynDoeth,” the half elf asked?

“As ready as I can be,” was his response. “It is in your hands now.” They walked across the vestibule and started to enter the Great Eating Hall, when Joulupukki saw the writing around the entrance. He recognized it as Elvish. He was always quick minded and learned languages easily. With a bit of magical help he had managed to learn rudimentary Elvish in the short time that he had been in the Village. 'To All That Pass Through, Be Judged With Reasoned Head, Generous Heart and Objective Impartiality' he read.

“What beautiful aspirations are those,” he said to DynDoeth.

“I agree.” DynDoeth responded. They proceeded through the doorway. Joulupukki had not been in this room before and found it quite impressive. He took a moment to get the lay of the space, the tables, the chairs, the entrances of which there were three. He also noticed the Councilman sitting around a table, all but Rian. Around the peripheral of the room stood five Council Guards and five tall elves. He assumed they were Forest Elves by their size and clothing. Good for you Seileach, he thought to himself.

“Aah, DynDoeth, Joulupukki,” the Councilman from the Northern Clan greeted them.

Seileach turned and recognized them with a slight nod.

“We will be getting underway with the proceedings as soon as Rian joins us. It seems someone forgot to inform him of the early meeting and the change of location. I will accept blame for the oversight if there are any repercussions.” Joulupukki turned toward the throne, behind it the stained glass window. The throne was beautifully hand chiseled, appearing to be hewn from a single tree. Large ornamental jewels of varying color were encrusted into the wood and spread along its surface. In the head rest was carved a sun, with the center a faceted crystal. Behind and slightly above it was a sun incorporated into

the stained glass. He followed the line of the glass and throne to a place where the beams should strike the floor but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The same stone tiles covered the entire floor, all of them showing equal wear and hundreds of years of use.

“What is this all about, Seileach,” demanded Rian as he burst into the room? “Why have you changed the meeting location to the eating hall of all places?” The Erin Councilman stood up and parroted Rian,

“Yes, why?”

“Before you know it we'll be meeting in the latrine,” he snidely chuckled. “Who gave you permission to move my, ah, the throne back down here,” Rian demanded as the throne caught his attention. “I am the Elder Councilman here Rian. I do not need your permission. Dyndoeth requested council with me and convinced me that if we wish to get to the bottom of Joulupukki's lineage it would be necessary to have the King's,” he emphasized the word King's, “throne moved back to its original location. I agreed and consulted three additional Councilman who also agreed. With a vote of four out of six in favor of the move, the vote was carried and no further debate was required. I apologize for the mix up in informing you and the Erin Councilman but this occurred late afternoon yesterday, when fewer elves were walking the halls of the Keep and there was less chance of anyone getting hurt during the move.” Joulupukki listened in rapt silence, amazed at the fluidity of the Forest Elve's eloquent speech. The only word that could describe what he heard was 'Art.' Seileach was a verbal artist. No wonder Brian regained his seat on the Council if this elf argued in his favor. Seileach saw the tension building in Rian as he spoke to him and with a single subtle gesture Joulupukki noticed a slight change in the attentiveness of the five Forest Elves. No magic being displayed but an evident readiness to use it if it became necessary. The Council Guards seemed to notice this as well. Seileach had informed the lead guard about the presence of his own elves as a backup to the Council guard. Osviklig was happy to have the added support and welcomed the Forest Elves.

“Now, if we can get these proceedings under way,” began Seileach.

“No,” exhorted Rian! “I demand to have more information about what is occurring here before we proceed. It seems the young half human has put you all under a spell.”

“You have that right,” agreed the Council Elder. “Dyndoeth forwarded a Wish Amulet to me that was found by Joulupukki around the neck of the deer that had served his mother since he was a child.” He reached into his satchel and removed the amulet. I will pass the amulet around for you to examine. You will notice Erlenkönig's and Aisling's names embossed on the amulet; as well, there is a third name, Klaus.”

Rian interrupted him,

“I was unaware that the Human woman carried a child when she left the Village.”

Joulupukki started to say something to him but stopped when DynDoeth placed a hand on his arm.

“If I may, Seileach,” Dyndoeth spoke up. “It was not common knowledge that Aisling was with child while still in the Village. She only informed a select group of elves for fear of her unborn child's life. If you, and the rest of the Council will remember, the Village was a place of turmoil at that time and many of the elves made it clear that they would not tolerate a human as Queen.” The Councilman murmured amongst themselves. “Please accept these documents which should clear up any questions about Aisling being with child. Included you will find letters from myself, Ceridfen and Gwaldon stating everything we knew of her gravidity; as well, there is included a letter from her Great Niece offering to come help her until the baby was born. She and our King chose to leave before that event could materialize.” He handed the papers to Seileach who passed them around along with the amulet. Seileach began again,

“I and several independent elves have examined the Wish Amulet and determined the origins of the magic used to emboss the name Klaus into it.”

“Wait,” shouted Rian ! I was never a party to the embossing of a Family Wish Amulet for Erlenkönig and his human wife! This has to be a fake!”

“As I was saying,'' continued Seileach, “We determined that each letter was embossed solely by a single Elf. Although it was a bit unusual, it still followed Council guidelines. The K was completed by Erlenkönig himself. The L, A and U were added by the respective elves that were on the Council for the

Village, Northern and Southern Clans at that time, none of which are here today. The final letter S was embossed by me.”

“Was the former Erin Councilman consulted about this issue,” asked the current Erin

Elf?

“No, nor was Rian. We had enough votes of agreement to perform the naming ceremony and the animosity was so high between the King and Rian that we chose not to involve anyone who was not necessary.”

“Not necessary,” was Rian's response! “If not for me the Village would have ended in civil war!”

“I think that each of you will agree that the evidence presented satisfactorily resolves the question of the existence of the son of Erlenkönig and his wife Aisling of Erin.”

“I do not,” screamed the Erin Councilman, but each of the others did agree until they came to Rian. The Ibero Elf calmly and deliberately met the gaze of the Elder.

“You will put an end to this right now,” he threatened in a low voice.

Joulupukki readied himself for the inevitable.

“It is agreed then,” stated Seileach, ignoring Rian. “This, however, does not prove that Joulupukki is in fact Klaus the son of the King, which is why we have relocated the throne to its original location. This great hall was once the throne room where many past kings chose to sit in judgment over their fellow elves. Erlenkönig in his wisdom eliminated the need for a throne room by sharing power with a council of elves who had equal say in the running of the Elfin Kingdoms. When the Second Council was elected Erlenkönig welcomed me warmly and kindly told me that he was happy that it was I who had been chosen by the Forest Clan. He said.

“It is elves like you who will strengthen and lead the kingdoms into a more tolerant future. Remember, we are all equal inside.”

Joulupukki noticed the light move across the ceiling casting colored images, like paintings in motion, one image slowly over-running another as the sun shone through the stained glass window. It was mesmerizing. A glint suddenly caught his eye from a corner of the room. As he looked he realized that it appeared to be the crystal from one of the elfin staff. It's Rian's, he realized. Looking discreetly around he saw three other crystals in each of the other corners placed at ceiling height. Evidently Rian's spies had informed him when the throne had been moved. There was nothing he could do about it now except keep an eye on the Dark Elf.

“Having said that, I will allow Joulupukki to present to you why the change was made.”

“Good Councilman, I believe that my father created a vault somewhere in this room at the same time that he commissioned the stained glass window to be installed. I believe that as the sun rises it will beam a light through the sun in the window and then through the crystal in the sun on the top of the throne and show us where the secret vault is located.” He touched on the lullaby only briefly to make it clear that he was the only one who could have known about the vault. Dyndoeth, meanwhile, interjected comments here and there, “and furthermore only the true son of Erlenkönig will be able to open the vault.” That in itself will prove that I am his son and heir to his throne, but I also think that there will be additional evidence in the vault.”

“Who is to say that you are the only one who can open this, so called, secret vault?”

Demanded Rian, “If in fact you are Erlenkönig's son.”

“That is an excellent question, Rian, I encourage you to try opening it before I do. If you would like, Seileach, please allow each of the Councilman to try to open it prior to me.” A worried look spread across DynDoeth's face as he caught the eye of Joulupukki. The half elf turned toward DynDoeth at an angle that hid him from the Council, “I have to extend the time, I have yet to figure it out. I don't believe any of them will be able to open it anyway.” His voice he kept low so no one else could hear. He suddenly saw the expression change on Dyndoeth face and turned to look at the throne. The sun's beams pierced the image on the stained glass window and cast a light directly into the crystal on the top of the throne creating a rainbow prism effect on the floor in front of the chair. They all watched as the rainbow slowly disappeared leaving an intense white light that burned a spot on the floor about ten feet farther in front of the throne than he had expected. Two of the Council Guards gasped as the light blinked out and smoke rose from the floor tile. Immediately Rian jumped to his feet and swiftly moved to the burnt tile. Without a word he sent blast after blast of his magic into the tile. Bits of stone shattered and flew in all directions. The Councilmen had to create shields of magic to protect themselves. Seileach screamed at Rian,

“Stop this craziness!”

Rian hesitated but a moment to reply,

“I am only doing what the half-ling suggested,” Before attacking the floor again. He used his power in every way he could, to try to not only open, but destroy the vault . If there was information proving the claims of the half elf, he wanted it gone. They all watched and even drew closer to the vault but as Rian blasted it with his power it glowed with a cool blue white glow. The more fiercely he attacked it the brighter it glowed. His anger grew with each failed attack. “I will not be undone by you and your charnel again.” He screamed to no one! Finally Rian fell to the floor as his energy was completely depleted. His effort left only a large hole on one side of the Vault. Joulupukki turned to the Erin Elf.

“Would you like to try?” The elf gave him a nasty look and began his own attack. This lasted for only a short period before he gave up, wearing himself out quickly. The Northern elf took a different approach. He tried to probe the magic and the box itself thinking he might be able to nudge the lid open, to no avail. The Village elf took a more direct approach as did Rian, only he did his best to melt the lid of the box, only to be met with Erlenkönig's glowing magic.

“Erlenkönig's magic is yet strong even after being gone for so long. I will admit even your magic may not be able to open this box,” Dyndoeth admitted to his doubts, as he whispered to his friend. The Southern Councilman tried pressing the floor around the vault and not attacking the box directly, but this did not work any better than any of the others. Joulupukki thought about what Dyndoeth had said and an idea began to form in his mind. He looked more closely at the lid of the vault. It had numerous letters seemingly haphazardly placed on tiles that looked like they could be moved. There was one empty space that allowed for the repositioning of each of the other tiles. He recognized this.

“Seileach, if you would please, I would have no doubts about the outcome when I open

the vault . Seileach's effort was strong but half hearted with no better result.

“Dyndoeth, you knew Erlenkönig, perhaps you will have better luck.”

“You are right, Joulupukki, I think perhaps I did know him best and for that reason I will decline. Erlenkönig's magic is far beyond me.”

“If I may then,” Joulupukki looked for permission from Seileach who simply nodded his head.

He turned to the Erin Elf and asked him,

“If you were attacked by another elf what would you do?”

In a contempt filled tone he responded,

“I would attack him back.”

“With magic,” he continued?

“Of course with magic,” the elf responded again.

“Dyndoeth, you and Ceridfen seem to be good parents and you have many children who live in your house. When you run out of rooms for them to sleep in, what do you do?” Wondering at what Joulupukki was leading to he answered,

“We create more, Joulupukki.”

“Oh, you take hammer and nails and wood and construct new rooms onto your cottage.”

“No,” there was a bit of an edge developing in his voice. “I use magic to expand the

rooms.”

Turning to Seileach he inquired,

“If someone drops by for dinner uninvited,” the Elder elf blushed lightly as he listened, “but you have already finished cooking the meal, what would you do.”

“I would make a sufficient amount more with my magic, Joulupukki. Where are you

going with this?”

“I'm glad you asked. How could my father know what kind of magic I would have as I grew older. Would it be like his or maybe a hybrid. Aisling had no magic but how would that mix with his. Would it make me weak? He had no way of knowing. What he did know and admired about humans was their ability to overcome obstacles. They have no magic, but they are clever and imaginative. He believed that

no matter what the elves did to the humans, they would find a way to overcome it. A good example was the destruction of the Ibero Kingdom. When elves require a solution to a problem, they always reach for their magic. Humans have no need for magic, they have ingenuity. I believe he used that when creating this vault.” Joulupukki stepped over the hole that Rian had created and knelt down beside the vault. “He assumed that any elf that tried to open the vault would naturally use magic to open it, but I am only half elf. I am also half human.”

“A Freak,” every one heard Rian say.

“You may be right, Rian.” Joulupukki started again, “If you look at the door you will see letters that are inscribed into movable tiles.” They all stepped closer to get a better look. Even Rian was curious enough to lift himself from the floor and move within view of the vault. “When I was a child I used to play games with my mother and father. I didn't know it at the time but each one of these games were learning games that were meant to teach me something.”

“For Oden's sake just get on with it,” Rian blurted out. Joulupukki ignored him. Reaching down he started to manipulate the tiles until he finally said. “Seileach, do you know what this game was meant to teach me?” The question was rhetorical and he did not wait for an answer from Seileach. “How to spell my name,” he said as he moved out of the way so everyone could see. On the top of the vault was written 'Klaus'. There were several gasps from the Councilman. “If you would, Seileach, I respectfully give you the honor of opening it.”

Seileach stepped over to the vault and, bending down, he tugged gently and the door opened. They found a thick satchel of documents inside it, on top of which were two letters. One was addressed to Seileach or the current Elder Councilman. The other to Klaus and under that was written Joulupukki. Seileach opened the letter addressed to the Elder Council Member and looked at the first few lines.

“Seileach, if this is you, I hope you are well. First, please check the magic in this note and verify that it is King Erlenkönig's magic that has been infused into the ink of it.” The Elder did as he was instructed and did indeed recognize the former King's magic. He read further. “If the last fifty years or so have progressed the way I have foreseen them, Rian is still a member of the council. If so be very careful of him, he is devious. I would guess that he is very upset at the events that have recently unfurled. I am not concerned about Klaus. He should have come into his power by the time he reaches the Village and should be more than a match for Rian. In truth, I expect him to have magic that is second to no elf that has ever lived. I regret that I am not there to see it. I only hope that Dyndoeth is there to guide him. If he arrived under the name of Joulupukki, be aware, that is a name that Aisling and I agreed upon as the last one that she would give him in their travels back to the Village. It would also mean that she is no longer with him. We intentionally kept his real name from him for his safety. In the vault you will find a satchel of papers verifying his identity as well as copies of court documents from my time as King. There is also a personal letter to my son, please make sure he gets it.”

“There is no reason to delay further.” Seileach raised his voice through the din of the Eating Hall. “I have been convinced that Joulupukki is indeed, Klaus, son of the King of all elves, Erlenkönig and his Queen Aisling, and therefore will receive all of the rights heretofore given that of the son of a king and specifically the son of Erlenkönig not to exclude that of the succession to his father's throne. How does the Council vote?

“A resounding yes from the Southern Kingdom Councilman.”

“The Village Councilman agrees, Yes.”

“Stop, stop, stop this farce. We have not even debated this issue. Look before you, a half human, a half-ling, an abomination, a monster, and you are willing to give him the kingdom? You are willing to let him decide the fate of your fellow elves? You gravely disappoint me!”

“It is your right to stop these proceedings if you have a second vote from any Councilman. Do I hear anyone who wishes to vote with Rian? The Erin elf slowly made his way to the back of the group trying to keep as much distance as possible between him and Rian. Even he knew it was over and that nothing could stop this half elf from becoming King.

“It seems you are alone in this Rian,” the Elder said, “please continue.”

“The Northern Clan would be proud to call the son of Erlenkönig, King, yes.”

“And you,” Seileach asked the Erin Elf?

He looked at Rian and added a simple, yes, to the count.

“Rian?” Seileach asked the defiant Councilman.

“This will come to an end now,” Rian demanded! Joulupukki nudged Dyndoeth and glanced at the crystals in each corner of the ceiling. He saw the elf begin to tense. He also noticed the difference in the stance of the Forest Elves caused by some unseen signal from Seileach. Without warning the Ibero elf let forth a powerful stream of magic that hit each crystal causing them to glow. Instantly the energy shot forth and struck three of the Forest Elves and one of the Council Guards. They all collapsed. Only a fraction of a moment behind, Joulupukki's magic struck the crystals, turning them to dust. Immediately he struck out at Rian and threw him across several tables and slammed him into the wall. At the same time all three doors burst open and Dark Elves began streaming into the Hall. Rian, injured, but still strong, made his escape through the side door. Joulupukki saw this and grabbed Dyndoeth.

“Get to your cottage as quickly as possible, Rian has escaped. I'll take care of this and join you as soon as I can.” Remembering the fight in the Keep so many years before and Erlenkönig’s assurance of coming for him and Andghul made Dyndoeth hesitate. There were far more Dark Eves here than the old King had faced. “Go,” Joulupukki erged.

“Yes, my King,” was Dyndoeth's response, Joulupukki hated it when he addressed him that way. Like a man half his age Dyndoeth opened a path through the Dark Elves, running out of the Great Eating Hall. Magic was flying everywhere in the room with more and more Dark Elves pushing their way toward the Councilman. Seileach and three of the Councilmen were holding their own, the fourth one, from Erin, had slipped away and was nowhere to be seen. Joulupukki was entangling elf after elf in his webs and plastering the walls with them, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they would overrun him. Osviklig appeared by his side and Joulupukki called.

“Protect the Council,” to the elf. Osviklig and three other elves with him moved to join Seileach. “To the Council,” he yelled to the remaining Council Elves and Forest Elves! They all complied as quickly as they could. When they gathered they formed a tight ring around the group, the Dark Elves doing their best to break through their defenses. Joulupukki standing to one side cast a powerful dome of magic over them and yelled! “Sit down,” they stared at him but no one moved, “on the floor!” There were looks of confusion from the group of elves. “Sit!” He Demanded! As they sat on the floor protected by Joulupukki's dome they watched at least sixty or seventy Dark Elves furiously attack the dome and attack Joulupukki. The half elf raised his staff in the air and slammed it to the floor. A beam of energy cast through the crystal and struck each of the standing elves in the Hall raising them off of the ground where they hovered for a few seconds and then were hurled to the floor, much more forcefully then gravity could ever have dropped them. Most were knocked unconscious, but a few could be heard moaning from injuries that they sustained, mostly broken bones. Joulupukki immediately released the dome and walked over to Seileach, helping him from the floor. “I must get to Dyndoeth's cottage, I believe Rian is headed there. See to it that each of these elves are bound and imprisoned in some place where they can not use their magic. Also, Seileach, please check on the elves that have fallen here.”

“I will see to it, my King,” Seileach replied, bowing his head slightly.

“I will join you,” the Lead Council Elf declared.

Joulupukki looked at him,

“You are bound to the Council my friend, not to me. If you wish to help me, then make certain the Councilmen are kept safe.”

“Yes, my King.” Again with the 'my King', he thanked the elf and ran as fast as he could from the Keep and through the cobbled streets. He expected to find resistance from Dark Elves along his way but was pleasantly surprised to see that they were being harassed and harried all along the route by the common bakers and shop keepers. Each elf had very different magics, the baker could use his to make the fluffiest breads and sweetest pastries, the cobbler could make the most comfortable shoes that could make you run so fast that it felt as if you were flying, the Glass Elves could create glass that was so pure that you would bump into it without even knowing it was there or so filled with color that you could not help but stare in awe at the stories they told. None of them had magic that was expected to fight off the Dark Elves, but Joulupukki watched as a cobbler magically lengthened a Dark Elves shoe laces and tied them together making him fall to the ground and he saw a baker wrap another elf in a layer of dough and bake it so hard around him that the elf couldn't move. Many of the elves waved to him as he ran past and he helped them where he could, incapacitating some of the more persistent and dangerous of the evil ones. As he grew closer to the Dyndoeth's cottage he came across several elves that were obviously sent to keep anyone from entering it.

“My, my, aren't you in a hurry,” one of them said with confidence. He reached out a hand for Joulupukki to stop, but the King dispatched all of them without a word and without breaking stride. He came upon the cottage from the rear and found another group standing outside of the stable keeping well clear of the cottage door. Joulupukki casually walked up to the one who seemed the loudest assuming

that he was the leader of the group.

“What's this then,” he asked him as Sprinteren poked his head through the stable door.

“Umm, we're guarding the back door to make sure no one tries to get in or come out

“I see, said the half elf. Why are you over here rather than at the door?” He inquired.

“There is a group of elves just past the door who have strong powers. As long as they stay, umm, we keep them in there, they can't do anything. We'll just wait them out. Joulupukki noticed three of their group unconscious on the ground and one stuck to a nearby wall with a magical web. If he guessed, he would say Ceridfen was the group of elves of which they spoke. “By the way, who are you,” the Dark Elf inquired as he stood as tall as he could.

“Me,” Joulupukki asked?

Sprinteren, meanwhile stretched his neck out and bit one of the elves hard on his hip

“I'll kill that deer,” the elf yelled!

“No one special,” the Joulupukki continued, “I'm the new King,” he finished. The Dark Elves around him were stunned for a moment. He could see fear building on their faces and felt their magic begin to grow, but before they could attack him he used his own power to remove the magic from each one of them. They began to babble as he corralled them into the barn. Keep an eye on them he said to Sprinteren

and all of the deer surrounded the elves.

Joulupukki turned to the door, calling out lightly,

“Ceridfen, it is I, Joulupukki.” He released his magic completely so she would know that he was no threat to her. “Ceridfen?” He said when out of the dark a strong blast of magic flew down the hallway. There was nothing he could do but allow it to strike him. Rather than fighting the magic he drew it into himself. Every cell in his body gathered the energy in, then expelled it through his skin and he began to glow like a firefly.

“My King,” Ceridfen screamed. “What have I done?” She ran to Joulupukki who just stood looking at her with a frown on face, the glow slowly fading.

“Ceridfen, this is no time for games, stop trying to tickle me,” a wide grin spreading across his face. She grinned back and placed her arm around his,

“I am so sorry, my King.”

Joulupukki sighed and said,

“Let's go find your husband. Is Lumi with him?” She felt him wobble slightly as they started to walk.

“Yes, they are together.” Her magic was powerful, almost as powerful as Dyndoeth's, and she knew that if it had been any other elf he would not be standing there. She was amazed at how he managed to absorb the attack and was thankful she had done him no permanent harm, but she also knew that her attack had hurt him. They quickly but carefully traversed the corridors with Ceridfen leading the way,

Joulupukki, casting his magic across the cottage to touch his two friends. He could feel the strength of Dyndoeth and his attacks on the Dark Ones. He also sensed how weak Lumi had become.

“Dyndoeth, I'm sorry but I can't hold out much longer. I have let you down.” Lumi said, exhausted.

“What,” Dyndoeth returned? “You have proven yourself a hundred times over. I am proud of you and I could not have chosen a better elf to have by my side. Now rest for a moment and with any luck we will have some relief shortly.” Dyndoeth redoubled his efforts sending everything he had down the corridor. He thought he saw Rian arrive a few minutes earlier. If he could just get a clear shot at him he might be able to end this.

Rian knew better than to allow Dyndoeth to get too near him. He did not have the power of Erlenkönig but he was equal to himself, so he remained in the back of the pack. He could only win if he allowed his minions to wear the elf down no matter how many fell before him. Then he could do whatever he wanted with him and that pesky young ward of his. Hadn't he already killed that young elf once. Oh, that's right, another plan that Seileach had spoiled, sending him into the northern desert instead of stripping his magic. When he finished with Dyndoeth, he swore to take revenge on anyone who had stood in his way, and the first one would be the Elder Councilman.

Almost as if in a dream Lumi could feel the king's presence.

“Let me strengthen you my friend,” he could feel Joulupukki speaking to him in his mind, and he opened himself up to the half elf's magic. He felt the king’s power flow through him strengthening him, filling him, but also feeling the king regulating his magic to keep it from overwhelming him, what power he sensed! Lumi felt rejuvenated and whispered,

“Thank you,” to Joulupukki.

The young elf rejoined the fight at full force. Dyndoeth looked at him with surprise in his eyes,

“What...” he started to ask.

“Our King is near,” was Lumi's only response.

When they came to a side hall Joulupukki stopped.

“Do you feel the magic?” He said to her, she nodded. He stepped around the corner, on the far end stood Gwaldon in the middle of the hallway. About a third of the way down were a small group of Dark Elves. One expelled a small amount of energy and it immediately turned into flowers. Another chose to use a bit more power directed at Gwaldon. The Elder stretched out his staff, and as the magic turned into a vine, he turned it back on its user and the vine wrapped itself around him, immobilizing him. As he looked down the hall, he saw numerous Dark Elves wrapped in the vines and covered in flowers. Joulupukki called out, “Gwaldon, are you in need of assistance?” The group of elves turned to face him.

“If I were a few years younger I would decline your offer, my King, but as things stand, your assistance would be most appreciated.” Immediately Ceridfen started throwing energy balls down the corridor, each one turning into a posy of daffodils. She turned to Joulupukki and shrugged.

“So what now,” called the Dark Elf, “are you going to turn us all into peonies?” Joulupukki smiled at the elf as his cohorts all laughed..

“You see there is something I know that you don't.”

“What is that? You saw how magic works here . As long as we don't use ours you can't turn it back on us.”

“That's just it, I don't need magic,” Joulupukki took several steps closer to the group of elves. “I have something that is much more powerful, ...ingenuity.” He closed the distance and towered over the shorter being. They tightened their stance to create a more intimidating and unified group.

“Ingenuity?” The elf questioned. Ceridfen and Gwaldon, both curious, moved closer to see what the King would do next.

“Ingenuity.” Joulupukki responded as he reached out and punched the elf in the nose. The Elf's nose began bleeding immediately and he yelped as he fell to the ground. The others behind him were stunned and did not know how to respond to such a physical attack. Joulupukki raised his staff and reached out with his magic, picking only the peonies he weaved them together into chains that he used as manacles to tie the Dark Ones together.

“You said you couldn't...,” one of the elves started.

Joulupukki cut him off,

“I said I did not need magic. I didn't say I couldn't use it.”

He passed his staff over the group and put them to sleep.

“Now that the fun is over, let's see to Dyndoeth and Lumi.”

“I am old and fatigued, and I would only slow you down. I will stay and keep watch over the children.” Gwaldon offered. Then as an afterthought he added, “It was fun, wasn't it?” The King and Gwaldon smiled at each other and Ceridfen and Joulupukki were again on their way as Gwaldon wove a magical cage around the Dark Ones.

“Why did Gwaldon's magic affect mine but not yours?” She questioned the half elf.

“I don't know. I still know very little about the magic inside of me. It has been surprising me ever since I arrived here. It could be the human influence given by my mother, or the combining of Bréagán's magic with my father's giving me the strength of both, strong but subtle like Erlenkönig's, but also allowing me to share it with others and to be able to manipulate other elves' magics like Bréagán. Then she brought up another question.

“What did you say to that elf back there, ingenuity?”

He chuckled gently,

“It was something I said to the Council.” She looked at him, a puzzled look on her face. “It was about the difference between humans and elves.” He hesitated a moment. “You know, the way they see the world.” Ceridfen just looked at him. “You had to be there,” he ended it.

They remained mostly quiet for the rest of the way, feeling the magical attacks growing stronger with each step. When they finally reached the hall where the fight was continuing, Joulupukki pushed Ceridfen behind him, then proceeded around the corner to confront the Dark Elves. As soon as he turned the corner he saw Rian and Rian saw him. Anger grew quickly within Joulupukki. Anger for trying to destroy his friends, anger for causing such fear in the elves that lived in the Village, but mostly the thought of what he had done to his family enraged him. Rather than confront the half-ling, Rian moved quickly to the center of his group of elves, most of whom turned to face the new threat. They began attacking instantly. This group was much larger and more aggressive than the one they confronted earlier. Joulupukki glanced around and saw the havoc that Dyndoeth and Lumi had left of the group of Dark Elves. One by one he entangled each elf in webs or simply threw them against the walls. He usually tried his best to not permanently injure those he fought against, but, now, he had stopped caring. Dyndoeth and Lumi continued to whittle away at the elves that were facing them and Ceridfen did not just idly stand by,

eliminating several herself. At last there were only three Dark Elves left standing, Rian and two others

cowering behind him.

“I must say, Rian,” Joulupukki addressed the Dark Elf. “I find you a bit disappointing. From all of the stories I've heard, I expected so much more from you.”

“I killed your father, didn't I?” Rian quipped. The crystal on Joulupukki's staff began to glow, although his face gave away no emotions. The glow subsided as he responded to Rian's challenge.

“Yes, you had him killed, if I remember correctly, out of fear, it was the humans who did it for you. You had no direct hand in it. You coward.” He was prepared for an attack

from the Dark One. “All of this after my father let you live.”

“He was the weak one!” Rian lashed out.

“Was he?” Joulupukki questioned. “He seemed to know everything that would unfold in the Village. He knew about you still being here. He knew about your attempt to become king again, he knew that you had not yet succeeded in that quest. I think, perhaps, after intermingling his magic with Bréagán's, he became a Seer and he knew how everything would unfold. Then again, he knew how arrogant you are, he likely could have guessed most of this.”

“A Seer, hah, everyone knows that's just a parlor trick. There is no such thing.” Dyndoeth and Lumi remained in their place of safety, ready to back up the king if he needed it. Lumi spoke up,

“Have you heard the true version of the prophecy about your return, my King.

Joulupukki raised his voice a bit louder than he intended.

“Don't call me that,” he said to Lumi, hearing Dyndoeth's quick laugh, then, “please, go on.”

“'An elf of old will arise as the son of the true King and re-unite the elves under his own son who will never be King.' Is how most elves know it, but according to the writings that were left by Erlenkönig, at the time of Rian's return he was approached by an Elder Erin Seer who's prophecy actually went as follows: 'Vernal Elf and Harvest Human will arise as the son of the true King and re-unite the elves under his own son who will never be King.' You are the Vernal Elf (young elf) and Harvest Human (wise older human) son of Erlenkönig who will unite the elves under your own son.”

“What complete foolishness,” Rian burst out laughing.

Joulupukki, surprisingly, laughed along with him.

“That does seem to be a bit of a stretch.” He looked at Rian. “I think it is time to end this.

Rian, I will be my father's son for just a moment. He was a much kinder man than I. If you surrender I will allow the Council to determine your fate.”

“Yes, I think you are right. It is time to end this.” He stretched his arms out in supplication, then without a hint of warning blast a ball of energy directly at Ceridfen. Then immediately followed it with the same at Joulupukki. The King reached out without hesitation and plucked the magic destined for Ceridfen from the air and dropping his staff he did the same with the second one. As the Dark Elves stood amazed at this feat he played with Rian's magic, stretching it and squeezing it until he finally combined the two balls into one. Even Rian stood watching with slack jaw and mouth hanging open.

“So, you have made your decision.” He looked at Rian and gently tossed the magic ball back to its creator. Seeing it coming, Rian grabbed both of the confused elves beside him by their sleeves and pulled them in front of him. As the energy touched each of them they dissolved into nothingness, as if they had never existed at all. Joulupukki bent down and retrieved his staff, tipping the crystal in Rian's direction. Out of desperation Rian started to cast magic in all directions trying to find a way to escape. Dyndoeth and Lumi rushed to Ceridfen creating a protective screen between them and Rian. Joulupukki gathered his magic and guided it carefully through the crystal creating a bubble around Rian effectively containing the Dark Elf's power. Letting go of the barrier the three elves watched as Rian struggled and screamed as the bubble grew smaller and smaller until he stopped moving and it was drawn into the crystal. The dark magic, causing the crystal to become opaque, a muddy reddish-orange, garnet color with a faint view of Rian's image frozen in the center of the crystal.

“Is it over,” asked Ceridfen?

“We must still be careful,” Joulupukki replied, “There are, yet, many Dark Ones fighting in the streets. Lumi, how do you feel?”

“I am well thanks to you.”

“Do you think you can make it to the Council and inform them as to what has happened here?”

“Without question, my, uhh, Joulupukki.” He responded.

“Be very careful. Tell them we will gather those who have been captured and bring them to the Keep until they decide what to do with them. Along your way, inform as many Elves as you can that Rian is no more. Hopefully it will spread and perhaps help to end the fighting.”

Several days passed when Joulupukki finally had a chance to meet with the council.

“Seileach,” Joulupukki nodded to the Elder as he entered the council chamber convening once again on the fifth floor, but without the throne. “How fares the Council,” he asked?

“We are short of the Councilman from Erin, otherwise we are all well. I do not mean to offend and I know that the King has the right to dissolve this organization. If I may ask, what are your intentions toward the Council of Six.” The King looked at each of them.

“I believe that the single greatest decision that Erlenkönig made as King was the creation of this Council. I have several suggestions that I wish for you to hear and consider for improvements. First, I would like to create a permanent position for an elf to sit in on all Council meetings to record a verbatim

record of the proceedings and to post them in various areas around the clans to be determined by the Council, so that each individual elf will know what its council is up to. Second, I believe that time limits must be created for the length of time an elf can sit on this council as well as a limit to the number of times a single elf is allowed to be a Councilman. Third, I think that the revolving of the Council between clans should be re-established so the Councilman can have first hand knowledge of the condition of each clan. Lastly, I believe that the Councilman for all of the clans should be elected by each individual elf that makes up that clan.” He paused to catch his breath. “Has the council made a decision on the fate of the Dark Elves we hold as prisoners?”

“We would like to hear your opinion.”

“Well, Unless there is an elf who wishes to point out egregious crimes that an individual Dark One has committed, I would say any Dark elf who denounces his leaders, agrees to no longer use dark magic and swears allegiance to the Council should be sent home under probation. All others who are found guilty of severe crimes, I regret to say, should have their magic removed. Gwaldon has, at my bequest, already arranged for a group of elves to attempt to reduce magic in elves under certain circumstances. This may be an option for those types of elves, making their magic harmless but not stripping it completely. We need to find a new homeland for the Ibero Elves but not until the current Elders are removed from power and a new Elder Council can be created. They must be closely monitored and agree to certain conditions such as not going to war with humans. As for the Erin Elves, I suggest we send a delegation to Erin to assess how we can best help our brothers there. I have a soft spot for Erin as my mother, Queen Aisling, was from the Green Isles. I have no more for now. I will let the Council debate these issues.” The King turned to leave. The Northern Clan Councilman addressed him before he could.

“My King,” he began. “I do not wish to keep you but we have decided your coronation will be held within the next forty turns of the earth at which point you will be declared King of the Village Kingdom. The other Clans will have to make that decision on their own. I will be requesting recognition from the Northern Elder Council that you be declared king of the Northern Kingdom as well.”

“Thank you,” Joulupukki replied, “I will respect your wishes. One last thing, I have already arranged to have the Village moved to the top of the world where we will no longer be in conflict with the humans. Most humans believe that elves are nothing more than fantasies, tales of fairies if you wish. There may come a time when we may again be able to live together but that time is not now. We will have to create a lot of good will toward our human neighbors before we dare try to approach them again.” Joulupukki left the Council to debate on the proposals that he had suggested. He knew that, as King, he could have demanded the changes and they would have been accepted and put into force at once, but because of his future plans, he needed the Council behind him one hundred percent. To do that he would have to allow them the ability to come to their own conclusions. In the end, all of his recommendations were, with minor changes, adopted by the Council.

In the cottage Dyndoeth spoke with Joulupukki.

“I simply do not see any way that you can accomplish the goals you have set in the amount of time that has been given. As noble as your desire is, to return your father and your mother to the Village would take far longer than forty days. I would suggest you wait until after the coronation. No one could desire to have Erlenkönig and Aisling returned to the Village more than I, but what choice do we have. Even with good weather it would take months for a good team of deer pulling a light sleigh to reach the area where your father now rests.”

“You are not helping Dyndoeth. I understand what you are saying but Gwaldon can not guarantee how long his marker will last and it will be beyond his ability to set it long before the forty turns of the earth are up. Walk with me.” They both rose from the table and headed out of the back door. Lumi and Gwaldon met them by the stable. The four of them stepped into the door where Rådyrvokter was feeding and watering the deer.

“Can I help you,” Joulupukki asked Rådyrvokter.

“This is no work for a King,” the Stable Elf replied.

“Would you like some help or not,” Joulupukki's question had a bit of an edge to it.

“Certainly, my...”

“Don't say it.” Joulupukki stopped the Stable Elf before he could continue.

“As I was saying, Joulupukki, my... stable friends enjoy a bit of grain with their hay. If you would, grab a bucket and fill it from the bin and pour it in the trough, I'll get water from outside and fill the other one.” Joulupukki looked a bit embarrassed as he opened the bin and started to scoop out the grain. “Not that one, five grains of that will have the deer floating all around the ceiling for the next few days.” Floating around the ceiling, he had wondered what it was like to watch the deer as their feet lifted from the ground. Joulupukki moved to the other bin and filled his bucket, pouring it into the trough. He scooped another bucket and added it to the first. The deer gathered around the trough and started eating it. Sprinteren took a bite and stood there for a few minutes seemingly waiting for something. The Stable Elf made his way back through the door and poured the two buckets of clean water into the second trough. “Sprinteren,” he said. “You won't be lifting off of the ground with this food. Eat up before it's all gone. Pour thing, I've brought you some fresh water.” He ruffled the deer's hair as he walked over to join the group. “Ever since the first time he ate that food he has wanted to walk along the rafters. I've never seen anything like it.”

“Walk along the rafters?” The half elf questioned. Can they actually change directions while they float in the air?”

“I have only seen Sprinteren do it, but, yes, it's as if he is swimming through the air, such a strange sight.”

“Is it harmful to the deer?” Joulupukki continued. The Stable elf turned to him and gave him a look that was difficult to read, somewhere between offense and incredulity. “I'm sorry I asked, Rådyrvokter. I know you would never do anything to hurt the deer. I have a nugget of an idea, and if it works it may solve the problem I have. Gather around everyone.” He requested of all the elves present. Most were already seated on clumps of hay or on a couple of bales that had been placed along the wall. “Dyndoeth has been kind enough to be my pragmatic conscious in my quest to retrieve my parents and return them to the Village. He has on several occasions made me aware that a team of deer pulling a sleigh could never make the trip in the time allotted to me. Gwaldon, on the other hand, has made it clear that I have only a limited window for his beacon to be able to guide me to my father's current resting place. I have just thought of a way that maybe I will be able to accomplish this. Please keep an open mind to my suggestion and give me feedback so we can decide the feasibility of what I am about to propose. It is a long shot and may not even be possible.”

“Go on,” Lumi prodded him.

Joulupukki hesitated for a few seconds,

“I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but what if we feed the magic corn to a team of deer and they pull a small sleigh across the sky rather than through the snow.” He quickly continued. “The distance would be shorter, no traversing mountains or forging rivers. The air, I would think, should be less resistant to travel than snow drifts and mud. I believe you might be able to travel in hours, the distance that would take days, maybe even weeks with conventional travel.” The half elf stopped to let this sink in. He heard Gwaldon let out a chuckle, but not of derision, more of taking the idea as a challenge. They were all silent for several minutes while they mulled over the issues that this might cause. “What do you think,” Joulupukki finally asked.

Gwaldon was the first to respond, “I believe you would be right about it being much quicker than a traditional team, but what of storms? Could they fly through a storm or would they have to go to ground?

How would you guide them? Would reins work with flying deer? What about the sleigh, you can't feed magic grain to the sleigh, what would keep it in the air.”

“All very good questions.” Dyndoeth inserted. “I believe we should start with the obvious, let's feed a bit of grain to several of the deer and see how they react. “If you would, please, Rådyrvokter.” The Stable elf grabbed a handful of the magic grain from the bin and fed it to five of the deer, including Sprinteren who gobbled it down eagerly. Joulupukki stepped over to Sprinteren and mounted the deer, feet touching the ground and holding tightly to the deer's fur. The hreinin deer with his now developed antlers, the velvet recently scrapped clean by the Stable Elf, turned his head and looked at the man on his back. There was only indifference in the deer's eyes as Joulupukki's feet started to rise from the earthen floor. He clung to the deer's neck as he rose into the air, glancing around him he saw the other four floating in the air as well. Sprinteren suddenly started moving his legs, almost throwing Joulupukki to the ground, and swam more than walked his way the length of the barn. Several times the King bumped his head on beams and joists before he learned to keep an eye out for them. It was a comedy of vast proportion to the elves that remained on the ground and they laughed raucously each time he hit his head. The other four deer were packed against each other in a corner near the ceiling when Sprinteren made a wide turn and started back across the stable.

“Show them how it's done,” Joulupukki whispered into the deer's ear. The deer looked at Joulupukki and he repeated himself, then Sprinteren looked at the other deer and let out a deep but high pitched whistle, stretching his legs out in front of them. One of the deer was against the wall and he pushed against it with his hind legs. He went darting across the stable with his legs stretched out in front of him trying to stop himself which happened very abruptly when he reached the far wall. A doe cautiously started moving her front legs and slowly began to crawl through the air. The last two were too timid and just floated where they were. Sprinteren changed course very quickly and Joulupukki found himself falling through the air. Luckily for him the Stable Elf kept deep piles of fresh hay throughout the stable

Dyndoeth gasped as he saw the half elf falling, Lumi giggled and Gwaldon and Rådyrvokter hid their eyes with their hands, cringing. “Oof,” came from Joulupukki as his body hit the ground, but he was up in an instant, all smiles. “What a sensation!” He exclaimed excitedly, as they all watched the deer skimming from one end of the stable to the other, as they slowly learned how to maneuver through the air. Even the two timid ones began to try when Sprinteren started nudging them away from the wall. They watched them for a long time as each deer grew in confidence and in ability.

Then from Dyndoeth came another question,

“Now that we know the animals are capable of moving through the sky, what

about the sleigh.”

“Have you ever watched a hawk fly,” the King asked everyone? He did not wait for an answer, “when a hawk flies he flaps his wings to gain speed and to fly higher in the air, but he does not need to flap when he is just gliding along. He simply extends his wings and rides the air. I think if we make a sleigh with a flat bottom that extends out past the side of the sleigh it will glide through the air once the deer get it off of the ground.” They all murmured agreement. “That leads us to the second problem, it should be a small sleigh for the deer to be able to get it off the ground, correct?” Dyndoeth asked.

“I would think as light as possible,” Rådyrvokter agreed.

“Where will we put the funeral boxes for Aisling and Erlenkönig?”

“I have been thinking about that,” Joulupukki looked at each one of them with a question in his eyes, “Why can't we build a small cubicle on the back of the sleigh just big enough for me to sleep in.” He was interrupted by Lumi,

“And me!” He was intent on going, too.

“Just big enough for me and Lumi to sleep in and then we can use Dyndoeth's room expansion magic to make it the size of a larger room.” He looked at Dyndoeth, “Does it create more weight when you use magic to expand a room,” he asked. Dyndoeth's eyes seemed to sink into their sockets as his mind instantly processed the question and was quick to admit that he had no clue. “Let's find out, shall we?” Over the next few days they put a plan together and started working on a two man sleigh. In the rear they added a small box made from the lightest wood but strongest they could find. Just large enough for Lumi and Joulupukki to squeeze in to sleep. They had no real idea how long they would be gone so they filled the little space left with food. The next morning Joulupukki and Lumi readied themselves for the first test flight. They met with Rådyrvokter who administered the five grains to each of the four deer.

“Remember, head toward the mountains and when they start to tire, come back.”

“Thank you for everything,” he said to Stable Elf. Joulupukki requested to exclude Sprinteren from this test, but as he saw the other deer eating the special grain the deer became very agitated; so, he exchanged Sprinteren with one of the other deer. He was concerned that the grain might not be good for the deer if he ate it too often. He checked with the Rådyrvokter and was reassured by him that the

Garden Elf said the magic grain would not harm him no matter how much he ate.

The elf and his king seated themselves in the sleigh. After they had discussed it for a while that morning, Rådyrvokter and he decided to try four deer for the sleigh. They could adjust it later if needed. Joulupukki took the reins and called out to the deer, naming each one in turn.

“Up,” he said firmly and the deer started to run, rising off of the ground immediately, before even clearing the stable. The sleigh slid back and forth and hung at awkward angles behind the deer as they all ran at different speeds. The deer ran and ran, adjusting their speed with small movements of the reins by Joulupukki. He mostly just let them run and soon enough they found their rhythm and the ride became much smoother, the sled tracking behind the deer as if it were part of them. They flew to the mountains, skimming their peaks and gliding through the valleys. Joulupukki watched the deer closely for any signs that they were growing weary, but they seemed as fresh as when they started. They also seemed to be enjoying themselves with Sprinteren leading the way. Lumi was all smiles and giggling as well. First, amazed by the deer and then staring at the beauty that surrounded them. Joulupukki found ways to let the deer know when he wanted to go up or down by movements of his hands, in addition to their knowledge of turning right and left. They flew for hours when he started to feel that they had been gone long enough. “Lumi,” he called out to the elf over the wind. “I think it's time to head back.”

“But the deer do not seem tired,” Lumi yelled to Joulupukki, then acquiesced, “You're right, let's not overdo it this first time.”

Joulupukki made a wide turn and headed back to the stable reaching out with his magic to guide their way. When they arrived above the Village he saw the Stable Elf standing outside of the building drawing water. He decided to try to take the deer all the way to ground and used his new found skills to fly downward. As they began slowing and lowering their height in the sky, Rådyrvokter looked up and saw them. He made certain that the double doors on the stable were completely open and the deer flew right through them making a smooth stop inside of the barn. He entered the stable and examined the deer closely. They did not seem any more tired than they would if they had just been grazing.

“They look good,” he said to Joulupukki as he stepped out of the sleigh. “Flying in, they looked like a totally different team, but I thought you were going to run them, test their endurance.”

Lumi looked at him,

“We did,” he said.

“You just left, Lumi.”

Joulupukki touched the elf's shoulder to get his attention.

“How long were we gone,” he asked the elf?

“Long enough for me to follow you out of the stable, then go back in for my bucket and come back out to get water for the trough. Just a few minutes I would say.”

Lumi sounded a bit confused and a little angry,

“We flew to the mountains and across several peaks then headed back. It must have been several hours. You are just playing a game with us, Rådyrvokter.” He turned and walked toward the house. “I'm hungry, Joulupukki, can I bring you something?”

“Not for me, but I'm sure the deer would appreciate a treat.”

Lumi walked into the back door where Ceridfen was busy cooking. He made his way to a table where he grabbed a piece of toast and smeared lingonberry jam on it before stuffing it in his mouth. He looked around and saw the same food he had eaten for breakfast earlier that morning.

“Ceridfen, are you making leftovers for Midday Meal?” he was confused.

“No, I am not making Morning Meal for Midday Meal. This is the same food I fed you just a short while ago and now you are back eating the toast I made for the young ones, as if I have bread growing from my ears. Young elf, why are you back in my house, anyway? I thought you and Joulupukki were going to take those crazy deer for a run, or did he change his mind and not want you to come after all?” She looked at him and smiled, then seeing the confused look on his face, asked, “Are you alright?”

“He was right,” he said to himself. “Yes, I'm fine.” He called back to Ceridfen as he grabbed four carrots and ran back to the stable. “He was right, Joulupukki,” he said hurriedly as he entered the stable. “Ceridfen is still serving breakfast to the young ones.” He didn't notice Dyndoeth standing there as he came in.

“This is an interesting turn of events,” Dyndoeth uttered, half to himself. “You both say that you flew all the way to the mountains, but you appear to have only been gone for a short length of time.”

“Only for as long as it took me to walk in and out of the stable twice,”

chimed in the Stable Elf.

“I once heard of an elf who was supposed to be able to bend time, but I thought it was just a myth. When Joulupukki left in the sleigh, where did you last see him?”

“That's the strange thing,” Rådyrvokter replied, “they started disappearing as they reached the mainland, like they were going behind the clouds, blinking in and out of sight, but there weren't any clouds. When they came back, I didn't see them until they were coming to ground well over the Village.”

Joulupukki took two of the carrots and gave one to Sprinteren and the other to the deer behind him. The deer ate them as if they were starving. Ceridfen appeared through the door along with Gwaldon and two other Elders.

“Is everything alright,” asked one of the Elders to the group already gathered in the stable?” Rådyrvokter was unharnessing the deer to let them rest but each one seemed famished looking in the trough for food and eating hay like they couldn't get enough. Dyndoeth looked up at the Elder, taken a bit by surprise,

“Oh, well, yes,” he said.

Ceridfen saw the confusion in his eyes and explained,

“Lumi was acting very strangely when I spoke with him earlier, I told Gwaldon and he asked the others to come with us to see if we could help.” Dyndoeth smiled and reassured her that everything was fine.

“We are simply discussing a rather confounding issue that Joulupukki and Lumi have discovered when flying with the deer. Please, come join us and perhaps one of you can help shed light on this dilemma.” He proceeded to explain the situation to the others as they made themselves comfortable. They discussed the missing time, or gaining of time depending on your point of view, until early afternoon, at which point they took a break. Ceridfen went inside the cottage and made arrangements for the older children to make a simple lunch for the young ones and returned with a large tray filled with bread, meats and cheeses and a couple of pitchers of water and cups brought out by two of the children. She set them on a bale of hay and both Lumi and Joulupukki helped themselves immediately.

“Lumi!” she admonished. “Leave some for someone else.”

Joulupukki, realizing he had overly filled his own lap with several sandwiches, blushed at Ceridfen.

“Please accept my apology, Ceridfen, we are making pigs of ourselves.” Lumi interjected in a sheepish tone. “It has been quite some time since Joulupukki and I have eaten Morning Meal. It's really time for Evening Meal for us. We completely missed Midday Meal.” They all laughed, and began their discussion once more.

Joulupukki began,

“I have been thinking about the causality and the circumstances surrounding the events that occurred this morning.” Gwaldon made a display of searching around with his head turning it in all directions.

“Seileach? Did anyone hear Seileach come in?” Several of the elves laughed and Joulupukki reached over and shoved Gwaldon's shoulder, then continued with feigned indignation.

“As I was saying,” he offered a moment's pause for further comment by Gwaldon, who simply gestured for him to continue. “It seems to me that the relationship between the flying deer and the time discrepancy may have something to do with how fast they were flying but I believe it to be more than that. If you please bear with me, I asked myself several questions. First, what makes the deer fly?”

“The magic grain,” said Lumi as if it were obvious.

“Exactly, and where does that magic come from?”

“The Garden Elf,” again, the response was from Lumi.

“I remember Dyndoeth telling a story at Evening Meal one night about how the Garden Elf had grown an apple tree from seed in a single day and how it bore edible fruit the very next evening. It leads me to wonder if those very special elves may have the ability to alter time, slow it down when needed and speed it up for different reasons.” The group let out a gasp, almost in unison.

“Do you think that is possible,” said one of the Elders?

“It would certainly explain the discrepancy in what Lumi and Joulupukki experienced, at least as compared to the rest of us,” explained Gwaldon. “What do you think Dyndoeth?”

“This is so far beyond my knowledge, I'm not sure what to think.” He responded.

“There is another issue that we have not addressed,” Joulupukki started again. “Look at the deer.”

Everyone looked in the direction of the four deer interspersed within the small herd before Rådyrvokter offered,

“What's so special about grazing deer...,” then realizing, “why aren't they floating?” The elves began murmuring amongst themselves.

“I started wondering about that while we were flying, how they could at will change their elevation in the sky going up and down, over the mountains and deep into the valleys. I think that the deer themselves have a small amount of magic and I believe they, like Gwaldon, can use their magic to manipulate the magic in the grain.”

“Of course they have magic,” pronounced Dyndoeth. “All living things possess magic. Even humans have magic.” All of the elves looked at him incredulously. “They simply do not know how to use it.”

“What this seems to indicate to me,” the half elf continued, “is that the deer, unknowingly, change time by manipulating the magic that comes from the grain that they eat which is filled with the magic of the Garden Elf.” As they all became quiet and pondered the implications of this, a young female elf stepped into the stable. She glanced at Lumi, then looked directly at Joulupukki.

“My..., ah, Joulupukki, please forgive my interruption but Gwaldon asked me to inform him as soon as preparations were completed for setting the beacon.” He responded politely as he watched her gaze drift back to Lumi for just an instant.

“Not at all, Chroí,” he had seen her around the cottage as they prepared for the Dark Elf onslaught. She had helped Ceridfen and Lumi lay traps. Now he knew why she was so eager to help. He watched as her eyes again flashed a look at Lumi and how his gaze lowered as their eyes met, a blush reddening his face. “I don't think we have formally been introduced, I am Joulupukki,” he reached out his hand.

“I know who you are,” she said and bowed. As she stood back up, she saw his outstretched hand and accepted it with her own.

She was happy to deliver the news if only to get a glimpse of Lumi. They had met some years back, before he had been exiled to the northern desert. She thought she would never see him again and was excited when she heard he was back in the Village. They were friends but more and she knew Lumi felt the same. With all of the crazy days that followed his return they had little time together until she volunteered to help Gwaldon cast protection spells around the cottage. Each evening they would sit and talk for hours when they had finished. She had no reason to return to her little hovel where she lived alone, her parents having been killed during one of Rian's insurrections many years before. When Ceridfen heard what happened she offered to take her in, but she chose to live with a Great Grandmother until she passed away. Then staying in that small house afterward. Lumi was always there for her as they grew older, and when he returned from his exile he had such grand tales to tell her about the mysterious half elf who had saved him. He explained to her about Sprinteren and how Joulupukki was kind but intense and unbelievably strong in his magic. He also told her to never call him King. 'He hates to be called King, always call him Joulupukki,' but he never explained why.

“It has been a pleasure meeting you, King Joulupukki.” Her eyes grew wide as she slapped her hand over her mouth, “I am very sorry, ah, ah...”

“Joulupukki, my friends call me Joulupukki, everyone else calls me King Klaus. I would like to consider you a friend.”

“I would be honored,” she replied.

“Your friendship honors me, as well. We are all equal in my eyes. I need no honorific from you or anyone, Chroí. Just be my friend.” She smiled at the big man. How kind he seemed after she had just called him Goat King. “Chroí, what an interesting name. I once told Lumi I would explain mine to him someday. “Perhaps, sometime in the not too distant future you and I can sit down and discuss our names.” He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I might even invite Lumi, I love him to death but he can be quite dense at times, if you know what I mean.” She blushed and looked at Lumi.

She never tried to hide her feelings for him.

“I would enjoy that,” she said to the king. Then addressing Lumi, “will you be coming to the ceremony later, Lumi?” He looked at her for a moment, then glanced around quickly as everyone turned away, smiles on each of their faces. Then bowing his head again, he said,

“Yes, we will all be there, I imagine.”

Gwaldon thanked her and after she left they let the matter of the two of them drop. They all stood and made their way through the open stable doors, out past the garden to an open area of dried grass. There were ten elves that created a circle as Gwaldon joined them.

“May I be of service to you, Gwaldon,” the King asked?

“Thank you, but I think it best to leave it to the elves that have been practicing for this.”

Joulupukki understood and was not at all offended. He took several steps back to join Dyndoeth and Ceridfen, all the while watching Lumi as he inched his way around the circle until he finally stood beside Chroí. “I'm certain that you have all witnessed the movement of the Sun and Moon as they cross the sky above us.” Gwaldon spoke loud and clear for everyone to hear. “You have, also likely, watched as the seasons change and the tiny lights change their position in the sky. The beacon that we will attempt to create will be placed on one of those tiny lights, but it will outshine the moon when we are finished. In fact you should even be able to see it after the sun rises above the horizon.”

“Wow,” Joulupukki exclaimed to himself.

“If you watch the sky long enough you will see there are other lights that move at different speeds than the ones around them. After much debate we have decided that they are not among the stjarna that cover most of the sky. We are not certain of what they are, but some of our scholars have speculated that they could be other Earths. What we do know is that there are objects in the sky that appear from nowhere and disappear just as quickly. If you turn to look in that direction,” Gwaldon gestured with his hand then raised it like the gnomon on a sundial, “following your arm to the tip of your fingers you will see a light that is much brighter than the ones around it. That is one of those strange objects and is much closer to us. With the help of our friend, the Garden Elf, and a little luck, we will place our beacon there.”

“So, are there many of these objects in the sky?” Joulupukki asked sincerely, interested.

“Yes, there are.” Gwaldon responded with a bit of a scowl on his face. “We can discuss that at another time.”

The half elf watched as Lumi spoke with Chroí; then, in the center of the circle the soil began to move and from it appeared the Garden Elf. He said nothing, he never spoke. The elf turned to Gwaldon and Gwaldon gestured for the circle to touch hands. Lumi took a step back from Chroí, as the circle began to chant. The Garden Elf stretched his arms toward the bright light in the sky. A beam of energy emanated from his fingertips and expanded toward the light. The elves in the circle began to glow as their energy grew to join the Garden Elf's. Joulupukki watched, amazed, at the extreme power exerted by the Garden Elf as he reached for the light. As they worked their magic their demeanor began to change. He watched as tears began to flow down each elf's face. He caught Dyndoeth's gaze who gave him a questioning look. They watched as even Gwaldon began to show signs of distress, moving slowly around to join him. The glow of the Garden Elf's magic began to wane as he slumped in the center of the circle, tears freely flooding his face. Across the grass he saw Chroí call out as she turned and fell into Lumi's arms. Dyndoeth saw this as well as he reached for Gwaldon's arm to help support him.

“Gwaldon?” Joulupukki questioned, “What is happening? Are you well?”

“The Garden Elf?” He responded. They looked to the middle of the circle and caught only a glimpse of the dirt moving as the elf burrowed his way back into earth.

With a sigh of relief, Gwaldon said,

“I will be fine, please, Joulupukki, check on the others and, Ceridfen if you and Dyndoeth would, please help me into the cottage.”

Glancing around Joulupukki saw all of the elves with tears in their eyes but otherwise seeming uninjured, except for Chroí who lay in Lumi's arms unmoving. He sprinted across the circle and leaned down to check on the young elf.

“Joulupukki, help her, please help her,” the tears on Lumi's face did not come from the same place as those of the other elves. Joulupukki checked her carefully. She had a strong breath and her skin was warm. He pinched her lightly on her palm and her fingers curled inward. He rubbed his thumb nail across the inside of her calf and felt her muscle respond. He turned to Lumi and said, “I believe her magic has just been drained and she fainted. Where does she live? We need to get her home where someone can take care of her for the next few days until she can regain her strength. I think she will be fine. He started to lift her but Lumi hefted her in his own arms and said,

“I will take her. She lives alone in a small house on the edge of the village. There is no one to take care of her.”

“Take her in the cottage and find Ceridfen. She will find a place for her. She does not need to be alone for now.”

Lumi did as he was told as Joulupukki checked each remaining elf to be sure they were well enough to make their way back home. When he had finished he went in side and found Dyndoeth and Gwaldon sitting in the Eating Room.

“I can't explain the feeling,” Gwaldon was saying to Dyndoeth as he sat down in front of them. Ceridfen stepped into the room behind him and laid a warm cup of broth in front of the two elves and asked Joulupukki if he would like some.

“Do not go to any trouble for me, Ceridfen. How is Chroí?”

“She will be fine after a few days of rest. It is no trouble. I need to take some upstairs anyway, in case she wakes.”

She went back to the other room for the broth. Gwaldon Continued.

“I have never experienced such complete desolation. The object we touched seemed nothing more than an enormous rock covered in ice. No life what-so-ever. The Garden elf simply could not bear the desolation. A world that was completely devoid of life. No magic to be found anywhere. That is why we all became so distressed. The object was not the cause, it was the pain that we found in the Garden Elf.” A tear ran down the old elf's face and he wiped it away. “I will check on him as soon as I regain my strength.”

“He will not be poking his head out of the soil for days or even a week as drained as he must be.” Dyndoeth told him. “You have time to rest.”

Ceridfen made her way back to the table and laid a mug in front of Joulupukki, who

promptly stood in front of her and said,

“Sit here. I will take the broth to Lumi. You are tired, so sit and enjoy this broth,”

pushing his own mug in front of her. When I return I will put together a small smorgasbord and we can have dinner.” She smiled at him and handed him the two mugs for Lumi and his friend. Laying a hand on his arm she sat in the vacated chair and directed him to the room they were in at the top of the stairs.

Joulupukki knocked on the door before entering the room. In the center of one wall was a bed that was large enough for two elves to fit comfortably in and long enough for a small human. The young elf lying there looked like a doll in the middle of over-sized doll house furniture. Lumi sat in a chair that was also too big, the soft cushions looked to be swallowing him. Beside the bed was a beautifully carved bed table. The rest of the room was sparsely decorated with only a dresser on one wall and a wardrobe slid up against another, both carved to match the bed table. Lumi stood as the big man entered the doorway.

“How is she,” Joulupukki asked?

“She is resting,” was Lumi's response.

“Ceridfen asked me to bring some broth for the two of you in case she awakens.” He arranged the two mugs on doilies that Lumi quickly placed on the bedside table. “She will be fine, Lumi.” He reassured the fidgeting elf. The worry on his face gave a new dimension to Lumi's personality. Usually so confident, Joulupukki had never seen him so vulnerable, so ‘Human’. He smiled at the thought of this as he laid his hand on the other's shoulder. “We are here, Lumi. If you need anything you have but to ask.”

Lumi smiled back at him and mouthed, thank you. The half elf turned after a moment and started toward the door.

“Ah, Joulupukki?” Lumi stopped him. “Forgive me, but I don't think I will be able to accompany you on your journey tomorrow.”

Joulupukki turned and replied,

“If circumstances allow, you are welcome to come, but I understand if you can't.” As he was speaking his eyes fell upon a locket that was laying on the dresser. He stepped over and looked closely at it.

“This was the room that Aisling used before she and Erlenkönig were wed and where they stayed before they left the Village during the Dark Times. The furniture was hers but it was too large and heavy to move when they fled to the Southern Clan. Ceridfen has left it the way they had it.”

Joulupukki rubbed the locket slowly between his finger and thumb, feeling the etching on the top and the smoothness of the back. He opened it and found two very young images of his father and mother facing each other inside. He looked at them for several moments before closing it. “That was Erlenkönig's engagement gift to your mother,” Lumi explained.

“She thought she had lost it. She spoke about it on several occasions and wanted me to have it.” He placed it back on the dresser top and whispered the words lightly engraved on the back of it, “Forever, My Aisling, My Love.” As he turned to leave, his eyes looking down, he added, “I miss her so much.” Opening the door he turned back to Lumi. I'm going to make a simple small smorgasbord, if you get hungry, please, come join us.”

“Thank you,” Lumi replied.

Joulupukki was tired and went straight to the pantry when he arrived downstairs. He lightly touched Ceridfen's shoulder as he walked past her. Gathering several plates he arranged an assortment of cheeses on one and dried fish on another as well as various meats and fruits, mostly dried, except the figs. On a third, he placed small cups of condiments of jellied berries with bread. The Garden Elf made certain to always have fresh figs growing in the garden. He wondered how the elf was fairing after such a stressful ordeal. On a side table he found a pitcher, both lovely and functional in it's design. He filled it with hot broth and carried all he had made into the Eating Hall. He refreshed everyone's mugs before sitting down and filling one for himself. The broth was hot, the food cold and the conversation and emotions were warm and inviting. Each elf commented on the food, saying it was the perfect combination for an evening snack. They talked and joked and listened to the tranquility of the quiet house, but mostly they just enjoyed each other.

Chroí awoke early the next morning, disoriented and a bit frightened. This was not her bed. It was so big. She was tired and felt drained. Closing her eyes, thoughts of the prior day began to flow back into her mind. She remembered speaking to the King and afterward the circle. Then the sadness hit her. She could feel the Garden Elf's desolation, his emptiness. She remembered reaching out to Gwaldon to help bolster the Garden Elf as his power began to wane. She gave all of her energy to support the elf and when it was done she was spent. Falling into Lumi's arms entered her mind as she fainted. This made her smile. She could see the worry in his face. Opening her eyes again she glanced around her. The room was sparsely decorated with just a few pieces of furniture, an armoire, a dresser and next to the bed an oversized chair with a certain elf that she knew fitfully sleeping in it. She smiled thinking that Lumi had sat up all night with her. This must be Gwaldon and Ceridfen's cottage. She was honored beyond belief as she thought of having awakened in the house of such a prestigious elf and his friend the Elf King. Her eyes were on Lumi. She watched him breath, his lips quivering gently. His chest rising and falling. She had never before felt such an intimate connection with him. She noticed how his hair hung straight to his shoulders like a shining dark waterfall. How the tiniest bit of dark beard pushed passed the peach fuzz lining his chin. The beautiful point of his ear peaking through his hair and the soft turn of his small nose, his dark thick brows and long lashes. She could see the curve of his well muscled shoulders and roundness of his well defined calves and tight fit of his thighs beneath his half length britches.

“Uhm,” said Lumi.

A blush reddened Chroí's checks. He had caught her looking at him. She also noticed the big smile that crossed his face. “You're awake!” It dawned on Lumi as he jumped from the chair and awkwardly hugged her. He straightened himself almost immediately as he realized what he was doing. “I'm sorry, did I hurt you?” He fumbled with his words, “I was just concerned. Are you hungry? Ceridfen said you would probably need something to help you get your strength back if you woke up. I mean when you woke up. I meant if you woke up during the night. That is, I knew you would be OK. I was just… concerned.” He looked away from her, not able to meet her eyes. He felt like such a fool babbling like this. Why did he always do this? He had no problem speaking to her about the weather or magic or meaningless small talk. He could tell her tales for hours and she truly seemed to enjoy listening to his stores. He could be silly and joke with her but when his emotions for her started bubbling up his lips turned to rubber and his tongue felt like it turned into jelly. “Here, I have some broth,” he began again, reaching for the mug on the table. “Oh, I'm sorry it's cold.” There was a moment's pause as he stared at the mug, “I'll go get some more. You must be hungry.” She reached her hand out to him as he started to rise from the chair. Touching his hand she moved her legs from the bed and calmed him. She spoke softly and he leaned closer to hear her.

“Yes, Lumi, I could eat something, but don't worry about the broth. If you will help me I will accompany you to the Eating Room.”

“Are you sure,” he asked? “You seem so weak.”

“I am a bit weak, but with a strong elf like you to lean on, I will be fine.”

Lumi blushed then helped her to her feet. She was a bit wobbly and wrapped her arm around his waist, leaning heavily against him. She looked up at him and whispered, “Thank you sweet Lumi.” Carefully stretching herself onto her toes she gave the elf a long gentle kiss on his cheek. He did not blush this time. He simply squeezed her more tightly against him and they held each other for what seemed like much too long, before making their way down for Morning Meal.

Joulupukki was hastily making preparations for his morning departure when Lumi and Chroí entered the room. When he saw them he hurried over to help Chroí find a suitable chair in which to sit. The cheer in his voice was audible as he spoke.

“How wonderful, Chroí. How do you feel?”

“I am still weak but I am also very hungry.”

“We would have gladly brought up food for you and Lumi if you would have preferred to stay in bed.”

“Thank you,” she said, “but I think it's better if I stretch my legs. A little exercise will be good for me.” Ceridfen entered the room with a bowl of hot porridge drizzled with honey and some bread and jam.

“Let's just not overdo it young lady. You have been completely drained of your magic and it will take several days to regain your strength. You will stay right here until you are well, do you understand me?”

Chroí thanked her as she placed the bowl in front of her.

“Thank you, all of you,” she said as she looked at each one in turn.

She reached down and picked up the spoon with one hand and slid the other into Lumi's. Ceridfen noticed he did not pull away this time and she smiled.

“I am very happy to see you feeling better, Chroí, but I'm afraid that I have to finish preparing for my trip. I will be leaving shortly.” Chroí noticed as he glanced at Lumi and saw the longing look that developed on Lumi's face.

“Weren't you supposed to go with Joulupukki?” She asked Lumi.

“It doesn't matter,” Lumi responded. “Taking care of you is the most important thing for me to do right now.”

She leaned against him and said,

“You are so sweet, but I am just tired now and need more sleep. I think you would be of much more help by accompanying Joulupukki.”

“Yes, I think she is right,” chimed in Ceridfen, “She needs to rest now and you will just be a distraction for her.”

A look of pained indignation appeared in his eyes.

“A very, very pleasant distraction,” Chroí said, “but a distraction nonetheless. Besides, if the deer have the ability Joulupukki said they do, you will be back before I even wake up.”

“Joulupukki stopped what he was doing for a minute and added, “Your company

would certainly be appreciated.”

Chroí felt much stronger as she finished her meal. Her muscles were no longer shaking.

“Now, Lumi, if you will help me back to my room, then he will be all yours Joulupukki.” She stood and thanked Ceridfen once again for the food. Ceridfen looked up at her and watched as she leaned heavily against Lumi. This brought back memories of her own courting days with Dyndoeth and she couldn't help but to giggle. Chroí smiled back at her but with a hush look on her face; then, looked at Joulupukki who was also smiling and shaking his head. They made their way back to the room and he helped her to bed. She motioned for him to come closer and lifted her seemingly weighty head and again kissed him on the cheek. He stood looking into her beautiful golden eyes, very rare for an Elf, before leaning down and kissing her gently on her lips. She watched as he turned and left the room. Her trip up the stairs had exhausted her and she immediately fell asleep.

The preparations were almost complete when Lumi reappeared down stairs. He seemed preoccupied and burnished an all encompassing smile across his face.

“Lumi... Lumi,” Joulupukki had to repeat himself to gain the Elf's attention. He looked at Joulupukki. “Would you please grab those two skins of water,” pointing at them. “I already have some but better safe than sorry.” Lumi grabbed the water that was already prepared and sat on the table by the rear door. Joulupukki had blankets in his hand as he walked out of the cottage toward the stable. Entering the building he saw the team ready to go. They decided to make it as easy on the deer as possible and chose to double the number that they used in the trial run. They tested the sleigh and found that expanding the room magically did, in fact, not add weight to the sleigh; however, they did have to take into account the death boxes and the bodies themselves. Although his mother was buried in the winter a bit more than a year before and would likely be almost fully intact, his father was fifty years gone and they expected little more than bones. They also had the dried food that they carried, additional grain for the deer and a good amount of water. Gwaldon approached him as he tossed the blankets into the front seat of the sleigh.

“We added a second door to the box on the inside of the sled,” he explained pointing at it. “It will allow you access to the room in case one of you needs to rest without having to ground the sleigh.”

“Excellent work, Gwaldon! What of the other changes I see?

Gwaldon continued.

“The foot rest has been angled for better comfort. We extended the mud guard above its original height and curved it back to cut the wind so you will be warmer and to make it easier for you to talk to each other. One of the master glass makers fitted two small pieces of glass to either side of the mud guard so you can see in front of you and keep an eye on the deer. It is infused with his magic and is very strong. You should not have to worry about it breaking. The mud guard can also fold down out of the way if you choose not to use it. The sides have been fitted with doors to keep any sleepy careless elves from falling out.” He glanced in Lumi's direction, but Lumi was too preoccupied to hear him. The Elf King chuckled.

“You have outdone yourself,” Joulupukki said to Gwaldon as he slipped his arm around his shoulder. Ceridfen walked over to him after speaking with the Stable Elf.

“Here,” she said to Joulupukki, “These may come in handy.” She extended her arm and handed him two large, soft pillows. “They should help keep your bum from getting sore.” He thanked her with a hug and a laugh and tossed the pillows beside the blankets on the front seat.

“Joulupukki,” Lumi yelled. “Come look at what Dyndoeth has done.”

He moved to the back of the carriage but no one was there. As he opened the small hatch the cubicle expanded into a moderate sized room with two beds fitted to one wall and a covered chamber made for holding the death boxes. It was large enough for Lumi and Dyndoeth to stand in without hitting their heads.

“Wow, Dyndoeth, will the sleigh be able to fly,” he asked?

“I believe it should. As large as it seems, I have only added a small amount of weight with the bedding, and food and water. I have added glow bugs in the little cages for light. It won't be much but should provide enough to make meals.” He helped Dyndoeth crawl through the opening and then Lumi. Gathering the elves around him and motioning for Rådyrvokter to join them he could not keep his emotions from creeping into his voice.

“I do not know any words that I could say that would express the feelings I have for each of you. Thank you seems so lacking. Lumi, I have felt the greatest kinship with you, since first we met, and Dyndoeth, you have been a mentor and guide to me since my arrival. Knowing that you and Gwaldon stood with my father when he needed you, and again with me when I needed you, fills me with the greatest of respect for both of you. Ceridfen, I understand why Aisling was your friend. The two of you are very much alike, headstrong and capable, yet loving to a fault. It's a good thing you are married to a man that I could easily see as my father, otherwise I might sweep you up for myself.” Cerifden slapped his shoulder and mutter,

“Silly boy,” as her cheeks reddened.

“Rådyrvokter, my friend. You have shown me kindness and looked past both my ignorance and foolishness. You have been invaluable in helping me to reach this goal of mine, so, as inadequate as it is, thank you all.” Each elf wiped the moisture from their eyes as they all shook Joulupukki's hand, a human custom they were quickly becoming used to. “Are you ready, Lumi?” Joulupukki asked the young Elf. His response was to leap over the door into the passenger seat of the sleigh. “If you would,” he motioned to the Stable Elf, who promptly fed the required amount of magic grain to each deer, while advising Joulupukki not to overwork them and make sure they have plenty of grass to graze and water to drink at each stop. Before he stepped into the sleigh, using his magic he embossed 'NydeligEn' on the driver's front corner.

Ceridfen looked at him and asked,

“May I?” He nodded.

Using her magic she wrote 'Aisling' on the opposite side of the sleigh.

He smiled and said,

“Thank you,” as he slid into the driver's seat. Without another word to the elves, he snapped the reins and yelled, “up,” as he called each hreinin deer by name. They smoothly slipped through the open doorway of the stable and flew off into the still dark sky, the marker in the distance, clearly visible, guiding them to their destination.

Each of the new deer adjusted quickly to the pace of the ones they had been paired with, and the sleigh tracked smooth and true. The effects of the extra four deer were easily felt by both Lumi and Joulupukki as they pulled the sleigh through the sky with ease. The beauty of the sunrise as they flew higher in the sky was breathtaking and they folded the mud guard to get a better view. Instantly the cold wind slapped their faces and they adjusted the comfortable pillows beneath them and wrapped themselves in the blankets. As they flew over the shoreline they watched the birds below them and felt the mist of the clouds as they passed through the growing billows of sun fed puffs. They found it difficult to talk through the wind blowing in their faces but did not want to spoil the view with the mud guard, so they chose not to talk for the better part of the morning. Joulupukki was concerned that he might lose track of the beacon when the sun rose higher in the sky, but true to his word Gwaldon was right about it being bright enough to see even during the day. He told Joulupukki that when they approached the spot where Erlenkönig slept a beam of bright light would shine down directly on the spot where he lay. They traveled swiftly throughout the day and found themselves traversing another large body of water as the sun lingered in the sky longer than they were used to. They both grew tired and hungry as the sun finally began to set with extraordinary beauty; within their world, they watched as the burning colors passed from right to left until every corner of the sky had been lit by their wonder. As Joulupukki spotted land he decided to set the sleigh down to rest the deer and prepare a meal for him and his companion. They saw no lights from villages nor from camp fires as the sleigh began to slow and the deer started down. Just as before the deer glided the sleigh gently onto a flat area of earth. The temperatures were reasonably warm

compared to what they were used to in their northern home. There was a smattering of snow here and there but the deer grounded the sleigh in a field where they found plenty of dried grass to graze. Joulupukki tended to the deer first, removing their harnesses and laying out feed for them to eat. There was a small pond on one side of the field and he led his team over next to it. They did not seem at all tired but they were very hungry, as was he and Lumi. After they made sure the deer were taken care of, Joulupukki said,

“I will see what I can make for Evening Meal with what we have, if you will keep an eye on the deer.”

“Sounds good to me,” Lumi replied. “It doesn't have to be particularly good, as long as you make a lot of it,” he chuckled.

“I know. I'm famished too,” added the King. He crawled through the hatch in the back of the sleigh and stood up. His head brushed against the ceiling and he reminded himself to look before he moved. The glow bugs lit the cabin more than he expected and made his search for food quite easy. He gathered

a few things together, some dried vegetables and barley and a small piece of dried meat. Some bread and jam and a skin of water. Taking them outside he asked Lumi to gather some wood for a fire. In less than 45 minutes they had a very hearty and tasty soup. As they sat in the field eating Lumi couldn't help but to reminisce about their first meal together. “Ah, but this one tastes so much better,” Joulupukki observed.

“I don't know,” Lumi started, “I remember that one being quite full of flavor.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, it was very hot and I burned my lip when I first started eating it but it was much better than you suggested it was.”

“You know what I think,” said Joulupukki, “I think you burned your tongue with that first sip and you couldn't taste anything afterward.” They both laughed at this and Lumi suggested he might be right. They continued to talk until the meal was over and the skin was almost dry. Then Joulupukki offered, “Go crawl into the cabin and I will watch the deer while you get some sleep.” At the mention of sleep Lumi's lips parted and stretched wide in a yawn. “I'll wake you well before the sun comes up and trade places. We should leave here before the locals awaken and before the sun brightens the sky.” Lumi nodded and made his way to the cabin. It wasn't long before he could hear the heavy breathing that let him know that Lumi was asleep. He gathered the cooking utensils and carried them to the pond. He had to break through a thin layer of ice to be able to wash the pots. Walking through the deer he noticed that some were now dozing while others kept watch. He tousled Sprinteren's hair and patted his back as he passed by. Sprinteren kept watch. It was a wondrous night with more lights than he could count in the sky. There was no moon but the bright beacon smiled bright white light down upon him. He sat looking at the lights for a long time, wondering what they were. It seemed such a waste if not one of them contained life. Perhaps we are alone in this vastness, he thought. What a pity. All the more reason for the creatures of this world to get along. When it was time he woke Lumi and they changed places, and before the sun breached the horizon the deer had been harnessed and the sleigh was back in the sky.

This became their routine for the next four days, until on the fourth night they were looking for a clearing in which to ground the deer, when the marker became so bright in front of them they could hardly see, passing right through it, Joulupukki could see a small clearing beneath them.

Lumi yelled out,

“There, we can ground there.”

“Yes, Lumi, guide the deer out and make a slow turn back into the clearing.” Lumi had been handling the reins that evening and was enjoying being guide to the team of deer. As they turned around he let the deer slow and skimmed just above the top of the trees. Joulupukki watched below them with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. If the beacon can cast such a light to guide us, why can't the humans see it? Below them they heard rustling in the forest and Joulupukki grabbed the reins and yelled, “up!” The deer responded immediately pulling the sleigh higher into the sky. Lumi heard very distinctly a human woman scream what's that. Then shouts of all types cut through the darkness. Several flaming arrows passed close to the sleigh. The two companions flew around in circles for what seemed like hours before Joulupukki found another suitable grounding place and set the deer down. They had noticed the night before that the number of villages they were seeing were becoming increasingly more substantial, some quite large. When they finally grounded they were very cautious and left the deer tethered to the sled. The deer looked nervous but they fed them with feed bags until they were full and gave them all water. All the while Joulupukki and Lumi discussed what they should do to retrieve Erlenkönig's remains. Lumi was of the thought of using magic to blast their way through the humans and while he held the humans at bay Joulupukki could dig his father's remains from the ground.

“Are you joking?” Joulupukki asked the young Elf. “How many people would we injure or maybe even kill if we tried that? No, absolutely not. It goes against everything that Erlenkönig stood for.”

“But they killed him, right there,” Lumi said, pointing at the beacon's beam.

“Yes, they ended his life, Lumi. No one knows that better than I, but they did not kill him.”

“What,” Lumi questioned?

“Do you not think that Erlenkönig knew what was going to happen here? The Great Elf who knew I would return to the Village, who knew that Rian would still be trying to overthrow the council and become king. The King who gave to me the answer as to how to become a king myself, fifty years after he was gone? He was a strong Elf, Lumi, even with his limited power at the time he could have escaped the humans that attacked him with ease. He knew the only way to put an end to the turmoil amongst the elves was to give his life, for the elves and here was the perfect place and time because he knew there was a traitor nearby. I believe Aisling knew as well and promised to keep it to herself. She, like him, knew that one little slip might change the future and destroy what he gave his life for. No, we will do our best to not hurt any humans. I think I have a more appropriate way to get what we want.” Lumi looked at him as if to say 'go on'. “Humans are very superstitious creatures. They developed this as a way of protecting themselves. If you don't understand it, it must be bad...,” Joulupukki continued to explain his plan with Lumi, the young elf listening intently.

Just before leaving the deer in the clearing Joulupukki spoke with Sprinteren, whispering in his ear,

“If you see or hear humans leave the ground and fly quickly. Do not let them see you. Do you understand?” The deer nodded. “When you see the dragon in the sky, on this eve, I will need you. Come to me then.” With that, Lumi and he were off. They traveled on foot through the woods in the direction of the beacon's beam. They kept an eye out for humans and for human habitation. They could not have been more than a day's walk from the place they sought. Daylight came early this far south and they had no trouble finding their way. As they walked they felt the breeze and listened to the bare tree limbs rustle softly. Remembering what Seileach had said about the Willow in the courtyard outside of the Keep. He looked around him, sending his magic out to touch several of the trees. Most slept soundly, only hints of magic stirring in their roots, but the evergreens never truly went dormant and he found that he could communicate with them on a very rudimentary level. He wondered if this is what a Garden Elf felt when he buried himself in the soil. Such a strange, strange sensation it was. They walked through the morning eventually coming across a cart path leading in the direction in which they traveled. The path made for easier travel but they had to be careful to watch for humans.

“There,” Lumi said suddenly and Joulupukki looked through trees, seeing a small house.

“Wait here,'' said Joulupukki, “I'll be right back.” He made his way to the house and called out to anyone who might live there. “Is there anyone home? Hello? I'm in need of service if there is anyone here.” No one answered him and he walked around to the back of the house. There he saw several lines filled with clothing. He checked the sizes and grabbed two old worn outer coats with hoods. He grabbed a couple of gold coins from his pocket and hung them on the line where the coats had been. He would have preferred to purchase them outright from their owners but the two gold coins were worth more than ten of the coats. “Here,” he said to Lumi as he reached the path again. “Keep the hood up and bundle it around your face. It will be big on you but if anyone asks we will just say you are sick. That should keep them from getting too close to you.” They had left their outer coats back on the sleigh earlier knowing that they would pick up some along the way. They needed to blend in with the humans if their plan was to work. As they made their way down the cart path it began to widen and cottages and houses began to dot both sides of the lane. They began to see humans walking in all directions and other lanes began to intersect their own. Many of the humans would walk a few paces then stop and stare at the bright beam that was still quite visible even in the bright sunlight, then, again be on their way. The two travelers watched carefully for a chance to speak with one of the humans. There was a small group gathered at the side of one of the buildings.

“Yes, it was a horrifying sight,” Joulupukki recognized the language the man spoke.

“We went into the Demon Forest and watched as the light came from heaven. We thought it was Oden come to take us to Valhalla, but all of a sudden we saw a demon dragon fly around the light, like a moth to a candle, as if he owned it. Remy said he saw it breathing fire. I don't know about that but it was definitely a dragon.” Joulupukki quietly translated for the elf and Lumi laughed under his breath when he heard about the dragon.

Another of the group started speaking,

“You know, I heard two of the Roman guards who came through the village talking about some strange event that was told by a profit some years ago. They said it has come true.”

“What strange event?” The other man asked.

“He said something about a baby being born and a bright light that would guide someone to him. Some king or wise man or something.”

“Where was this supposed to happen,” the first man inquired?

“I don't know. A small village halfway across the world, I think.”

Joulupukki walked up to the first man and nodded to the beam.

“Strange thing, don't you think,” he said.

The man looked at him warily. You didn't see strangers passing through villages. Either he was a thief, a murderer, or a trader, none of whom were welcome in their village.

“You have a poor accent mister. Where are you from,” he asked.

“My brother and I are from a tiny hamlet three days from here. When we saw the bright light in the sky it scared us at first. We even asked ourselves, is this the breaking of the world? Has Ragnarøkkr begun? Then I got to thinking, maybe it's a sign from Baldr, son of Odin, Aurvandill or Freyr. Maybe the Gods have given us a gift and blessed your beautiful village as the sight of this gift.” The man smiled as Joulupukki complimented his home. “You see, my brother is ill and can't speak. He hasn't said a word since he was born,” he leaned close to the man, “only nonsense and babbling, and he never seems to be well as of late,” he whispered as he glanced over his shoulder at Lumi. The entire crowd seemed to take a step farther from the Elf. “Perhaps if we stand near the light it would heal him. You never know.” His rambling came to an end as the man's pupils began to contract again. From the back of the gathering an old woman pushed her way past the men.

“Don't be goin in those woods, boy,” she cackled. “Thims be demon woods. Ain't no good can come from 'em. I'm the eldest person in this village and I remember, nigh on, fifty years ago when the demon took that forest for hiself. I was a younger lass then but I still remembers.” Her slumped shoulders, she straightened as much as possible in front of the bulk of the king. Noticing his face she combed her hair back with her fingers, only to get stuck in her ratted tangles. Her attempt at a smile appeared as a snaggletoothed grimace as her few remaining rotted teeth became visible through the creased leather of her narrow lips.

“Oh, my,” Joulupukki feigned surprise. As a murmur came up from the crowd, some comments agreeing with the old woman and some calling her an old fool. To one of the commenters, she turned and scowled. “You weren't there now was ya, Guiot? I was. I remember there was a ruckus about a fairy or an elf or sometin like that out in those woods. Then we all went to take a look ourselves. I was a curious thing back then without the sense to know better 'an to go lookin for somethin I shouldn't to oughta be lookin fer.” She glanced up at Joulupukki, “I was a pritty one, back then.”

“Back then and yet still,” he complimented her. She giggled and blushed as her eyes focused on her worn out shoes. “Please continue my lady,” Joulupukki prodded her as several sarcastic shouts were tossed her way.

“We all had noticed that bright light in the sky for several days when all a sudden it burst into the strongest candle beam I has ever seen and it pointed straight down into the forest. We thought it'd set the place a fire. When it didn't, it started bringin back memories of what happened fifty year ago.”

A stranger came a runnin through the village shoutin bout something in the forest that was killin the crops. He was all excited and needed help gettin rid of the creature. A big crowd gathered and some of the men started their usual manly talk bout how nothin was gonna kill their crops and git away with it but when they started toward the woods, they was all walkin real slow like. Me on the other hand, I walked through the woods all cocky like a rooster until I gets to the clearin. There in the clearin was a thin small man with these pointy ears. I was sceared and jumped behind a tree as soon as I seen 'im. One of the ones followin further back burst into the holler and started yellin, there he is, git him. The people was sceared too, and didn't move at first. Then this man who wasn't a man, the one that looked like a human started throwen light from his fingers and the villagers started fallen like leaves from a tree. Tother man with the pointy ears started throwen light from his fingers at the other demon, like he was tryin to stop him or somthin, but bout that time the villagers finally found their gumption and attacked old pointy ears. Strange thing, he didn't even try to stop them even though he could'a burnt 'em all up with the fire from his fingers. They beat him with sticks and hoes until he didn't move anymore. Then that other demon threw his light at everyone of them, until they was gone. I was the only one to get away.

“When I left that forest I swore I'd never go back and ain't never done it since. I tell ya it's a cursed place.” She took Joulupukki's hand with her grimy fingers and with surprising tenderness and sincerity she lowered her voice and said, “Don't be goin out in those woods son. It won't do ya no good.” The King thanked the woman for her kindness and stepped back to Lumi.

“Did anyone bury him,” the half elf asked, as he looked back at the woman.

“The next day they gathered a few men and women together and went to the woods to get the bodies. They used sledges to drag the men back and buried them in the fence over thar. As for pointy ears, one of the women said no one wanted to touch him so they covered him with a few spades of dirt, said a prayer and left him where he lay.”

He turned back to the group and asked,

“Did someone actually see a dragon, as I heard?”

“Sure did,” shouted one of the men in the back. “I saw it and so did my wife, and Remy there. He said it was breathing fire. I didn't see that, but I do know I hit it with a couple of arrows. We're going back out tonight and see if we can finish it off before the Roman Guards get here. They make jokes about us. They say we're not hunters. We intend to have a beast to show them when they return.”

“Would you mind if we come with you?” Joulupukki asked.

The man who was speaking hesitated for several seconds before answering.

“You can come, but I think it best you leave your brother behind.” The man finally said.

“But he is the one who needs the light.” Joulupukki sounded almost condescending. “If, in fact, it was sent from one of the Gods.”

“Oh, yeah.” The man spoke to someone beside him, “You two stay at least ten paces behind us and I guess it'll be OK.”

“Thank you,” Joulupukki tried to sound as sincere as he could. The old lady looked at him for a moment and shook her head as she disappeared back into the crowd.

The night sky was dark but for the beam of light that glared through the trees before them as they walked into the woods. Joulupukki and Lumi were careful not to get too close to the humans in front of them, all of whom kept casting wary glances over their shoulders at the two strangers. As they grew closer to the light they could hear the rustling of their boots and the murmurs of their whispers. Lumi felt uneasy and kept a keen eye set for any possible trouble. The group was not large, they could only convince six others to go with them. This made for the two leaders, the man and his wife, Remy, Guiot, a man who appeared to be related to Guiot and two brothers and their sister who refused to be left behind while her brothers had all of the excitement. With Lumi and his King, that made for a group of ten. As they approached the clearing the leader spoke clearly, it had taken Lumi just a short while, with the help of his magic, to learn the basic speech of these humans.

“Now Lads, we're gettin close. Keep your eyes open. When we get to the clearin we will relieve the three guards who spent the day here and we will quietly prepare for the Dragon. The net needs to be set at the far end of the field. Those of you with bows stay with me, everyone else gather near the trees on this side and when you see the Dragon make as much noise as you can to drive him into the net. You two,” he addressed Lumi and Joulupukki, “stay out of our way.” Joulupukki nodded and followed them to the clearing. As they entered the open field the lead human walked over to one of the men who was already there and had a short conversation with him. It was difficult to make out what they said but the guard eventually began to nod at the man and motioned to the two to follow him and they left the field, heading back through the woods. As the elf and his companion surveyed the surroundings, they both noticed that the light beamed down on the only tree that grew within the bounds of the clearing. It was a

gnarled Willow tree, much like the one that grew in the courtyard of the Keep. It seemed the immense power that Erlenkönig still possessed upon his demise was transferred into the growth of this tree which stood above him, protecting what, yet, remained.

Joulupukki took Lumi by the arm and slowly made his way back into the forest.

“The game now begins,” Lumi whispered.

“Yes,” said Joulupukki, “but a dangerous game it is. Be careful and do not let your guard down.” The two waited for several hours until the humans set their traps and settled into a haphazard routine, most of them already tired of being out on a cool dark night with clouds covering all of the lights in the sky including the moon. The only thing visible was the eerie glow of the beam casting moving shadows as the wind blew through the limbs of the Willow. The bowmen huddled in a tight group about halfway to the light, while the others kept a short distance from the trees, seemingly almost in fear of something reaching for them and dragging them into the shadows of the forest. This was what they waited for. “It's time,” Joulupukki said to Lumi, “there.” He pointed at the sister of the two brothers who had wandered a little too close to the woods. Lumi with incredible speed ran through the darkness, stripping the ragged human clothing from his Elfin undergarments and stopped just behind the girl. He pulled his hair back behind his ears and reached and grabbed her shoulder. She spun around and entered a defensive crouch, her scythe held before her ready for an attack. This stunned Lumi for just a moment. He had not realized that some human women were as fearless as their male counterparts. What he did know was that the girl in front of him was similar in stature to him and seemed to not fear him, so he took a different approach. Turning slightly sideways to be sure she saw his ears, he began to laugh. Using magic, the laugh came out loud and deep and, from his limited knowledge of humans, what he thought humans would think as being how a demon would sound. The determination in the young woman's eyes quickly changed to fear as she dropped her weapon and started backing away, looking side to side for the support of her brothers. When she found they were not there, she screamed at the top of her lungs and Lumi vanished. During the confusion of the moment, Joulupukki cast into the sky the image of a large ferocious Dragon, glowing with flames spewing from its mouth. All of the humans in the clearing screamed at the sight of it at first. Then several of the bowmen gathered their courage and began to shoot arrows into the creature. Unlike the night before when the image they saw startled them, on this night they were prepared and the arrows flew true. Despite some of the humans standing their ground, nearly half of the group closest to the trees almost instantly turned and ran as fast as they could back through the forest to their village, about a quarter of the bowmen doing the same. They were down to three as they gathered together, the person in charge, his wife and Remy, even the big talking, Guiot, fled in fear. Lumi and Joulupukki left the edge of the forest and entered the field at different angles. The small group saw Joulupukki first as he stripped the

old outer coat away. Bewildered, Remy stepped toward him until he caught Lumi out of the corner of his eye. He quickly let forth several arrows at Lumi, his aim on target. He was good with a bow, but Lumi easily danced away from each arrow he sent, still moving closer to him. Joulupukki magically broke his bow in half as well as the other bowmen's. As they drew nearer Remy was the one to become leader.

“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 nowhere 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. 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 beautiful 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 he yelled,

“Up!” to the deer and called each one by name. They lifted from the ground and as they did the beam of light went out as if it had never existed, and the sleigh disappeared from sight, leaving only the bright light very slowly traversing the darkness of the cloud filled night.

“One completed, two to go,” Lumi said to Joulupukki as he lifted the mud guard in front of them. He wanted to give Joulupukki the chance to talk if wanted to. His weary eyes sagged gently as he drove the hreinin deer through the darkness. They spoke for a while about nothing and tried to determine how long they had been gone from the real world, deciding it had been less than four days. They had plenty of time to complete the goals that they had set. When they left they still had twenty seven days before the coronation and the next part of the journey would be the easiest. They flew through the night, the sleigh handling beautifully. As they rose above the clouds their familiar friends shone bright and clear and the moon's smile glistened with a comforting glow. It was so calm that several of the deer dozed as the rest kept the sleigh aloft. The conversation waned and Joulupukki suggested that Lumi slid into the cabin and get some rest, but when he looked over at him, he found him wrapped in his blanket, already fast asleep.

“You do not know how much I appreciate your joining me on my silly adventure, my friend,” he whispered to the sleeping elf.

They flew straight through, only stopping once to let the deer rest and eat, refreshing their magic grain and making sure they were all well. Reaching Nordgrend should not be difficult. It was only a turn of the earth or so away, now. His mind was focused on the reason for returning as he guided the team, finally to be able to reunite his mother and father, but another thought kept encroaching upon his contemplation, Jessica. He found it very difficult to keep her from his mind. Should he find her when he arrived? Nordgrend was a small hamlet and it would not be difficult to do if he wanted. Every cell in his body burned to see her, but it was simple selfishness on his part. It had been well over a year since they had spoken. She would surely be married by now, when he lived there, every eligible man in the hamlet wanted her and many had already proposed marriage to her. He thought of the time of year and realized, with disappointment, that she was likely away on the caravan. Why was he so distressed? In his mind he had already decided it would be best not to see her. Why would she want a half human / half elf freak? That was one thing that Rian was right about. If he explained all that had happened in the last year she would surely be repelled by him, perhaps even disgusted. He could not bear the thought of the fear that he would see in her eyes. Why did his mother bring them to this place? He had learned to live with his loneliness before Jessica. Now all he could think of was her.

Lumi crawled through the door in the cabin ready to take over the reins shortly before Dawn.

“Here, I've brought you some dried fruit and biscuits.” Lumi handed the food to Joulupukki as he slid into the seat beside him. “I'll take over now and you can get some rest,” he offered, but the half elf did not move.

“There is no need,” he replied to Lumi. “We are almost there, across those mountains,

halfway up the valley.”

“This is a beautiful place,” Lumi looked around him. “I understand why you chose to

live here.”

“Wait until you see the little village. It is more than beautiful. It is...,” he hesitated for a moment then said what he felt in his heart, “...magical. The people who live there are the kindest I have ever met and the children, oh, the children remind me of Ceridfen's cottage, happy and playful and strong and always with a smile that will melt the ice in anyone's heart.” Lumi watched as a warm smile encompassed Joulupukki's face, and he watched as he wiped the moisture from his eyes, then he watched as something much more serious took over his expression. Being with Joulupukki had made him aware of the intricacies of reading other's moods but he could not at this moment read Joulupukki's.

“Are you OK my friend?” He asked sincerely.

“Yes,” he replied, “These past days on our trip have been cause for an emotional upheaval inside of me. I have been flooded with thoughts and emotions more deeply than I had anticipated. Thank you for accompanying me.” Lumi smiled and reached out to grab his shoulder. They passed over the ridge where, as Joulupukki had said, a small hamlet clung to the side of the mountain about equal distance to the valley below. The half elf guided the sleigh close to the treetops and angled it toward a small plateau that jutted from the side of the mountain just above Nordgrend. He led the team of deer straight down the mountain between the hamlet and the plateau, keeping the sleigh from the town's view. The sled glided to a smooth stop. “We will not be here long,” he said to Lumi as he opened the door and stepped to the ground. He walked to the back of the sled and removed the death box from the cabin and started dragging it toward his mother's grave.

“Wait, let me help,” Lumi offered, “what's the hurry.” The half elf stopped and let his friend lift the other end of the box. As they carried it to the grave, Lumi could feel his King's discomfort. “Talk to me, Joulupukki, what is bothering you? Have you started hiding things from me now?”

“No my friend, it is something from my past, before I met you. There is nothing that can be done about it and I didn't wish to cause discomfort for you.”

“What is it,” Lumi continued?” They laid the box down and Joulupukki stared at the headstone, 'Aisling' was all he could think to carve on it so long ago. It still seemed right. Tears filled his eyes as he stood there, then wiping them away, he noticed flowers arranged in a vase beside the stone. They were fresh. Someone had placed them there recently. Unlike any place that they had lived before, his mother was well loved here. Many people came to show their respect for her when she first departed, but it had been over a year now. Perhaps it was Raðulfr. He knew the Shopkeep had special feelings for his mother and may very well have loved her in his limited way. More than likely it was Jessica. Her bond with his mother had become very strong as well. He glanced at Lumi and started to explain.

“When I lived here some time ago, I met the most beautiful, caring and free spirited woman I have ever known. I fell deeply in love with her, but I have thought about this for a long time, and I think it would be best, with all that has happened, to leave her with her peaceful life here. She may have already married, or this time of year she may be off in a caravan bartering for winter goods. I wish her happiness, but regardless, what would she want with a half-ling like me. Let's just leave it like that.”

Lumi's eyes grew wide and he started to cover his ears but stopped in mid motion as the human woman stood looking straight at him. There was neither fear nor antipathy in her expression. Joulupukki saw the look on his face but before he could turn he heard the woman speak.

“No, I am not away on the caravan. I decided not to go because I was waiting for you, ...for you to fulfill your promise. You said that we would be together again, but I guess it is not yet time. It seems you will leave without even coming to see me. You must have a good reason, so I will wait. And, no, I am not married. There is only one for me and I will stay as long as it takes, even if he never returns for me, because I love him. So,” with what sounded like half chuckling and half crying, she reached out her hand and laid it on his back, “leave with your elf and your flying deer. I will remain here until you are ready for me, and I will wait.” There was no anger in her voice, only pain and disappointment. Tears obscured his view as he listened to her. He did not want her to see him cry but finally turned to face her. She was walking away.

“Stop,” he said gently, “please, don't leave.” She turned to look back at him. “I have never been happier than the time I spent here. The time I spent with my mother, ...grandmother, and with your father, but mostly with you. I wish I could turn back time to those beautiful days, but that is not possible. I have learned much about myself, Jessica, and I have found out who I am. I am not that simple toy maker you knew when I lived here. I am half elf and half human. Does that not bother you?”

“Is that what created those beautiful blue eyes?” she asked.

He laughed to himself,

“I guess.”

“Then I don't care what you are. At least you're not a goat,” she teased.

At that moment he saw her for the woman she was, the woman he knew, the woman he loved. He reached for her and kissed her, listening to Lumi laughing in the background.

“I am sorry my love. I do love you.”

“I know,” she said, “I have always known, plus I heard what you said to your elf friend.”

They laughed together as she turned and reached out her hand to Lumi,

“I am Jessica,” he took it in his.

“Lumi,” he said.

“Very nice to meet you, Lumi.”

Quickly Joulupukki explained to Jessica about their adventure to retrieve both his father and mother's remains to re-inter them together in the Village where they belonged.

“You have been to this elf village,” she asked him?

“Yes, but it is a very long story that I will tell you at a different time.”

They talked as they worked, eventually placing Aisling's box in the cabin next to Erlenkönig's.

“Will you be joining us for the next leg of our journey,” Lumi inquired of Jessica.

“Where are you going,” she asked?

“We have to find an elf that we need back in the Village. No one knows where he lives. We only know that he moved north and was thought to be living in a cave.” After hearing this she insisted,

“Joulupukki, you must speak to my father before you leave.” She started down the path to the hamlet, dragging Joulupukki alongside her. “He has a tale I think you should hear. He will be so happy to see you.” She sounded almost giddy as she spoke with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How simple are the circles in which life turns

How strange are its tangled fingers

Through intricate woven tapestry burns

The wonder that yet lingers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They made their way to the mercantile using the paths less traveled, Lumi hiding his ears with his hair as best as he could, the deer having been left on the plateau unharnessed and grazing the fresh new grass. Indeed, Raðulfr was happy to see him, giving the big half man a hearty hug and stepping aside for him to enter. Joulupukki hesitated a moment before entering.

“What, I have to invite you in now? You know you are always welcome here my son. Are you back for good? Who is your friend?” He turned to Lumi as he asked, suddenly placing a hand on his mouth. “Oh, my,” he exclaimed, no judgment, only surprise.

“I will wait outside,” Lumi offered.

“Nonsense, any friend of Joulupukki will always be a friend to this family and will be welcomed as such. You will come sit with us and we will talk and laugh over food and drink.”

“Father, I am sad to say that Joulupukki and his friend, Lumi, can not stay long. He is in search of an elf who he said was living alone in a cave in the northern mountains. I told him you had a story that might be able to help him.”

Raðulfr's expression changed from mild confusion to outright curiosity. He looked at Lumi again.

“You are not the first elf I have encountered, Lumi, was it?” Lumi nodded.

“Many years ago before I was married, and many years before my beautiful daughter came along,” he reached out and took her hand, “I was traveling through the far north as a simple trader. I had this silly idea that I could make my fortune by visiting the small hamlets that dotted the top of the world. I was young then, and I guess a bit foolish. I spent many moons traversing the land along the northern sea, stopping for short periods in each hamlet, selling my goods and making a decent living. They were always happy to see me with my trinkets and baubles. That was one of the reasons I was so taken by you and your mother when I met you. I left a very small village along the coast on my way to resupply my goods, when I was caught in a snowstorm. I wandered unable to see more than a few feet in front of me for who can say how long. At least for several days but it's hard to say, not that it matters now. There was no shelter to be found, so I dug into the snow as best I could and there I would have perished if not for the benevolent appearance of a kind old man. At least I first thought of him as a man. I have no memory of this, but I understand he dragged me on a sledge to his home in the side of a mountain. Over the next few weeks through his generosity my health strengthened and my confinement became difficult. He saw that I was well enough to leave and offered to guide me to a small village where he, on occasion, traded. He said it was not the closest but it was the most open to strangers. That village was of course Nordgrend where I chose to settle and build a life for myself, all because of the kindness of that stranger. He never tried to hide from me and the significance of his uniquely shaped ears did not dawn on me until later when I realized he was an elf. I saw him several times afterward, the last time shortly after Jessica was born. He seemed happy that my life had turned out so well.”

“I do not know if he still lives in that cave or if he is even alive, but I can tell you where it is. I have never shared this with anyone but Jessica, after her mother passed.”

“Do you know his name,” Lumi asked?

“Bréagán.” He stood and walked toward the room where the meals were prepared. “May I offer you something to drink?” He asked as he walked away. “I'm afraid my selection is limited this time of year. Most of the fruit is gone but I may have a jar of cloudberry wine left.” Jessica followed him with concerned eyes.

“Since your mother left us, his mind seems to have become more and more absent. I fear for him.” Joulupukki put his arm around her. “He seems so happy to see you. I haven't seen him smile so much since you left. Thank you for coming with me.”

“You never answered the question that Lumi asked you.” Joulupukki knew her answer.

“No, I didn't.” She looked deeply into his eyes, then snuggled as deeply into his embrace as she could.” Please, just hold me for now.” Raðulfr returned with an earthen jug and four goblets made from goat horns. A bundled piece of cloth dangled from the waist of his britches. Lumi stood and relieved him of the wine and goblets.

“I'm sorry it's so sparse,” Raðulfr apologized. “It has been a cold growing season and the crops have yielded little to preserve.” He removed the satchel from his waist and spread it on the table before them. Several small pieces of dried meat, a handful of dried berries and a small piece of cheese was presented as a feast before them. “Please, help yourselves.” He grabbed the wine and a cup and poured some for himself. Joulupukki helped himself to a few dried berries and a small portion of the cheese, Before pouring a cup for he and Jessica, and as an afterthought poured another and handed it to Lumi. Lumi looked at him not wanting to take from them the obviously needed food. Joulupukki gestured for him to take some, and he reluctantly picked up a few berries and ate them slowly.

“Raðulfr, thank you so much for your generosity. This is wonderful.” The old man's face beamed at the kind words.

“Although you have never asked for it, Joulupukki. Something that has bothered me for some time,” he pointed out. “I know that you care deeply for my daughter. I am very glad to see you haven't forgotten her. Please, accept my blessing as an offer for her hand in joining. Take her away from this place.” Jessica began to protest, but he quieted her and continued. “I once hoped that you would someday take over my store. I'm afraid there is no longer a store to take over,” he chuckled sarcastically. “With this bad failure of our crops I'm afraid that our small hamlet has lost nearly half of its families. It was difficult to see them leave but impossible to blame them. I am getting old, Joulupukki, and I know Jessica will wish to watch over me in my senility, but I can't bear the thought of her giving up her life to take care of me. I have lived a good life, I was blessed with a beautiful wife, dare I say, as beautiful as her daughter and a sweet and gentle child, both of whom I love with all of my heart. Then there was your mother, a wonderful woman if ever there was one, if things had been different..., well, who knows. I have no wedding price to give to you; however, I will, with witnesses, turn my mercantile over to you. I know it is not much and I would gladly have given it to you anyway, but perhaps you can find someone who will offer you something of value for it.”

Joulupukki took Raðulfr's hand and shook it.

“Thank you,” he said. “You need not worry about Jessica, Raðulfr, regardless of whether she chooses me, as I hope she will, or someone better than I, I promise you she will never need worry for her future.”

Lumi excused himself, feigning need for some water.

“Your wine is tasty, Sir, but I think it may be playing with my head.”

“There is a jug of water on the table, young elf. Please, help yourself.”

As Lumi glanced around the cooking room at the very limited stores of food, he felt an urge to help this kind old man and with the wave of his hand the larders were over flowing, meat and cheeses and dried fruits of almost every kind. Enough to feed the entire village through the remainder of the winter if need be. It is not possible for even a powerful elf to create food from nothing, but if there is a crust of bread or the skin of a dried fruit or even the smallest bit of cheese left in a mouse trap, it can be multiplied to great effect, and create the most exceptional of feasts. He did not wish to offend the human by offering to him unwanted assistance, but, from what he had observed, both he and Jessica had been starving themselves for weeks trying to make their rations last. Now they had plenty even if she decided to stay with him. He heard Joulupukki's voice as he passed back through the skins that served to separate the two rooms of their longhouse.

“Thank you again for your hospitality, Raðulfr.” Joulupukki stood and lifted Jessica to her feet.

“Do not argue with me child,” Raðulfr knew he was starting a battle when his mouth first opened. “You must go with Joulupukki. You have been given to him.”

“Father, I will not leave you alone. You know you need me...” she started when she realized what his last words were. “Given to him!” she demanded. “I am not a bauble from your store, father!” The flash of red from her long tresses seemed to burn like fire raging in a tree top, hot and intense. As she whipped it from her face to glare into his eyes a single thin braid slashed across Joulupukki's face. He took her arm and turned her toward him. “I am no man's beast. I will not supply you with wool from my hair nor will I be the goat that you chase through the fields.” She glared in his eyes, her anger reddening the alabaster of her cheeks.

“But I will be your goat if you will have me,” Joulupukki returned. She thought of her words and her face turned an even deeper crimson.

“I did not mean...”

“Shhh,” he said. “Walk with me and Lumi back to the sleigh,” he requested. I will not force you to leave, but we need to speak.”

She glanced back at her father.

“Lumi,” Joulupukki nodded to him and he nodded back.

Lumi took Raðulfr's hand and shook it.

“It has been a pleasure, Raðulfr. I hope I have the honor of spending more time with you in the future.”

“I also, Lumi, you have lightened my heart with your presence.”

Joulupukki leaned over and hugged his friend. Using his magic he sent a healing spell into him,

“I will return with Jessica as soon as I can,” he whispered to his host, and slipped a piece of parchment into his belt as Raðulfr collapsed in his arms. He lifted the man and carefully carried him to his bed. Then turning to leave he saw the alarmed expression on Jessica's face. “Do not be alarmed my love, he is only sleeping. When he awakes in a day or two he will be a new man.” The three of them left through the fire pit end of the house, passing through the dried skins. “Lumi took the liberty of restocking your fathers food stores,” the half elf said. Jessica looked around her and saw the pantry bulging with nuts and bread and honey. A smile spread across her face as she thanked the elf. They left the house and made their way back to the plateau where they found the deer lying around, having stuffed themselves on the supple tender shoots of the new grass that had sprouted on this warm, late harvest day. They spoke throughout their walk and when they finally reached the plateau, Lumi busied himself harnessing the deer to give his friend some privacy. “I wish for us to be together for the rest of our lives, Jessica, but if you feel you need to be with your father, I understand.”

“What did you do to him,” she asked?

“I gave to him a tiny bit of my magic. A part of me. It will extend his life, but more, it will make him whole again.”

“I do not know what to say, what a generous gift.”

“No, he was the generous one my love. He offered to me the most precious of all gifts,” he hesitated before continuing, “you.” She blushed and wrapped her arms around him.

“You know I am yours, but I worry about him.” She explained to Joulupukki.

“I know. He will sleep for a day or two and awaken very hungry and his mind will be clear and alert like in his early days.”

“I didn't even say goodbye.”

“I left a note. I told him we would return as soon as possible.”

“You knew I would come with you, didn't you?”

“No, I just hoped.”

“Well, I guess this will be an adventure.” Jessica concluded as she mounted the sleigh.

The experience of leaving the ground was a sensation that she could never have imagined. Her stomach felt strange and at first she felt light headed, but that subsided in a short while. Then she noticed the view of the world around her. It was beyond anything she had ever experienced. Joulupukki wrapped one of his blankets around her when he saw her shiver as the wind blew directly in their faces. She would stand when she noticed something interesting and then squeeze back down between Joulupukki and Lumi when the chill of the wind became too much for her. Lumi raised the mud guard and showed her the small windows. It wasn't the same for her and she asked him if he could lower it again, and he did. Using the directions that Raðulfr provided, they guided the deer due north. He said there would be three peaks that towered above the surrounding mountains. These peaks with crowns of stone push past their blanket of white, beneath the first, a fjord painted to mirror the sky, the second, a monolith stretching to Valhalla and at the base of the third is where you will find the cave of Bréagán the Elf. They flew for days, stopping to rest and to feed the deer when needed. All of the time Jessica was filled with questions and Lumi gladly filled in the missing details that Joulupukki preferred not to provide. He told her of how the King and he met and how Joulupukki saved his life. He told her of Rian and how they defeated him and his Dark Elves . He told her of the flying hreinin deer with their special grain they fed them. He told her of the beacon and Chroí. Joulupukki assured him that they would be back at the Village as soon as he could get them there. He had not forgotten the concern that Lumi still had for his friend and knew he wanted to be there for her. Lumi continued to tell the tale of King Klaus and the prophecy of the Erin Elf as the deer flew and the wind blew and the sky slowly faded to dark.

“So, you are a king,” Jessica asked Joulupukki with an impressed sound in her voice.

“If that is your reason for being with me, you will be very, very disappointed.” His

plan for the elfin people sharp in his mind.

“I am here for Joulupukki,” she said, “whomever he is. The man I grew to know and love.”

Joulupukki smiled at this, his cheeks flushing red.

“I think we will overnight on the ground. We must be getting close and I don't want to pass it during the night. Lumi, what do you think?”

“I agree, better to be safe. We can fly until the light is gone and then go to ground.” They followed Lumi's suggestion and landed the team as soon as the last of the light faded from the sky. Only the twinkling pin holes beyond the clouds made attempt to brighten the velvet blackness. They could still see the beacon shining far to the southeast, but the moon was nowhere to be seen, the days again growing shorter as they headed toward the top of the world. The trio rested well that night, waking earlier than the sun. They checked the deer and harnessed them as a dim glow brightened the new day. Lumi, taking the reins, guided Sprinteren and his companions into the sky, again, heading north. They all sat quiet for the first part of the morning, sipping on warm broth and nibbling dried fruit and crusted bread. The sleigh flew above the low lying clouds creating the illusion that the world was, somehow, upside down. It was a bit disorienting to Jessica at first. They flew around the great storms that appeared with lightning flashing and distant rolls of thunder, billowing clouds that stretched high into the sky, towering far above them. Her mind was only half occupied by the sights before her, she was also lost in thoughts of her father, beginning to wonder if she should have left him alone. After Joulupukki explained about Raðulfr, her sense of adventure pushed her to accompany him on his journey. Now, she was having second thoughts, but she trusted Joulupukki, more than anyone else in the world and she would not ask him to turn around when he was this close to his goal.

“Look,” Lumi shouted over the wind, 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 monolith 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 boulder. 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 moment's 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 an instant at Joulupukki, “half-ling, all being guided through the sky by a team of flying hreinin deer. What a curious sight indeed. At your first pass around the mountain I was almost inclined to believe that the humans had somehow willed their flying dragon beasts from out of their 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 he 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.

“I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Erlenkönig passed from our world nearly fifty years ago.”

“Fifty years?” He could see the sadness envelope his face as the elf moved between his world and reality. “And Aisling?”

“Sadly, she left us as well, last year.” Joulupukki saw a teardrop from the old one's eye disappearing into his beard.

“That is one of the reasons why we are here. We have retrieved both my mother and my fathers remains so we can re-inter them at the Keep in the Village. The other reason was for you.”

“I have no reason to leave here.”

“You were my father's friend. You stood by him in his time of need. Your magic became a part of him, and his a part of you. I believe your magic will be needed in the years to come and the people of the Village will, once again, require your gift.

“Gift? What gift? My magic is all but depleted. I couldn't even help Erlenkönig when he needed me most.”

“That is not my understanding of what happened. Do you not think that my father knew your strength, knew you as a capable elf, able to bring forth the magic that he needed to defeat Rian, an elf who was loyal to the kingdom? He knew who you are, Bréagán.” The elf gazed at him until he heard his name spoken again. Joulupukki saw his look glaze to a stare and knew he had reverted back into his hidden place, deep in his own mind. A place of safety where his reality was touched only slightly by the reality of the rest of the world that surrounded him.

“Bréagán,” he whispered to himself, as if it was a name he once knew. A name that remained hidden in his past, in the deep recesses of his memory. “Bréagán,” he said again, someone he once knew, but, like his King, passed from this world and no more remained. “I can not help you, young one,” Bréagán stated and turned away. “I am beyond saddened to hear of your loss,” he stated to Joulupukki over his shoulder. “It hurts me more deeply than I could ever express to you. He was a great king,” and after a moment's hesitation added, “and more importantly, he had a special soul.” The elf covered his face with his hands before stumbling and falling heavily onto a small boulder. Jessica was first to reach him, grabbing his arm and steadying him on the rock. They all saw the tears dripping through his

fingers as he finished what he was saying, “and he was my friend.”

“And you his,” Joulupukki returned.

The elf looked up at him.

“I should say,” Lumi joined the conversation . “After he recovered from The Battle of The Keep, one of the first things he did was to set aside the cave that overlooked the Village, the cave that you used during the battle. He had the stone carved with the words,

'Be It Known By Order Of The King, Erlenkönig, King Of All Elves, That Upon This Spot, Bréagán The Wise, Bréagán The Gentle Saved The Village From The Notorious Evil Darkness. It Is Hoped By This King And Special Friend To Bréagán The Elf, That He One Day Return To His Home In The Village. For This Purpose, This Sight And The Land And Buildings Surrounding It Are Set Aside In Perpetuity'

He had a beautiful cottage built for you in case you decided to return.” Bréagán's gaze lifted toward Lumi as he spoke; while, a few more tears fell from his eyes, but this time with a smile on his face.

“May I say, it is an honor to finally meet the Great Bréagán who stood with Erlenkönig, who was friend to Dyndoeth and brother to Gwaldon, as well as, apprentice to Andghul, one of the greatest Elementals to ever live.

“Andghul, does he yet live?”

“I am sorry, Bréagán, he lived very happily for many years after The Battle of The Keep but he was among the eldest of the Elders and passed away, peacefully, a few years before Erlenkönig, but Dyndoeth and Gwaldon would love to see their old friend.”

“It would be nice to see them,” Bréagán admitted. “Young lady, what is your father's

name again?”

“Raðulfr, it is OK if you do not remember him. You have had so many important elfin friends and we are but common humans, nothing special, and it was so long ago. “Nothing special? Everyone is special, be they elves or humans, tell me more about him and give me a moment to think and I'm sure I will remember.” He stood, placing his arm around her for support as they strolled to the back of the cave. Joulupukki listened as Jessica told Bréagán about her father and that he was still living in Nordgrend, until their voices faded. As they did, he saw in the direction they walked, a glow coming from the back of the cave.

“Have you noticed the pounding against the opening of the cavern,” Lumi asked him?

“I have,” Joulupukki responded. “Whatever it is seems to be trying to force their way in. I would say they are throwing large rocks or small boulders.”

“I tried to see what is out there, but I only see stones that occasionally move. Bréagán seems

oblivious to them.”

A very loud crash sounded against the side of the cave, shaking the walls and ceiling. A muffled scream echoed from the back of the cave and they turned to see Jessica leading Bréagán toward them.

“Are you well,” Joulupukki asked Jessica and she nodded.

“Sorry for the scream,” she said blushing. He smiled.

“Bréagán, what makes that noise?”

“Uh, noise?”

“Yes, the pounding against your walls. Is it a beast trying to destroy you? Can we help you?”

Bréagán cocked his head slightly and listened.

“Oh, the pounding. That is nothing. Do not worry, they come every five or ten years.”

“Who are they, what do they want?” Lumi inquired of the Elf.

“They want to eat me,'' he said casually . “I guess it has been a difficult season. I think it has only been three years since last they came. They must be hungry.”

“Eat you!” Jessica said in surprise.

“What are they?” Joulupukki rephrased the question.

“Rock Trolls, Stone Trolls, Snow Trolls, North Trolls, call them what you will. It was the human tales that named them. They do not look past their own families and know nothing of what makes them different from others of their kind. They only know that they are hungry and I am the only food around. Don't make the mistake of thinking that I have an affinity for these creatures. They are nasty, violent beings who are so intellectually dense that their stone hides are more pliable than their brains. However,

I do sometimes feel sorrow for their plight. There are few of their kind left in the world, if I had to guess, they will all be gone in the next few generations. They do not have the capacity to adapt to our changing world. In fact, look at the back of the cave.” He pointed at the glow. “Just beyond the mound of ice that you see is a second entrance. From the outside there is an overhang of rock. For any of us a large opening can be seen laying just below it, but the taller Trolls have to bend over to see it. They brush at their hairy legs when they feel the warm breeze that comes from within the passage, but in two hundred years or more not one troll has ever bent down to look. I stopped blocking that entrance after their first few visits even though the trail they use takes them past it every time.” Bréagán laughed, “they are certainly not very bright.”

“Are they the ones who create the magic I feel outside,” Joulupukki asked?

This question seemed to take Bréagán by surprise.

“You can sense their magic?” His expression changed to excitement. “I have tried for many, many years to catch a glimmer of their magic and a glimmer is all that I have felt. Can you truly feel the energy that they produce?” Joulupukki gestured that he could.

“It is very different than anything I have ever felt. They do not seem, so much, able to use it, as it simply seems to be a part of them.”

“I would agree. They are probably not aware of it at all. I don't think their minds are capable of wielding it, as such, but it is a dormant magic that springs to life when they need it. It is how they camouflage themselves as boulders or mounds of snow during the winter. It is what gives them unusual strength. I have never known anyone who could feel their magic.”

“Joulupukki is not an ordinary elf,” Lumi was quick to point out.

“No, it seems not,” Bréagán took a long studied look at Joulupukki. “You said you are son to Erlenkönig and he is gone, does that make you the King?”

“For now,” Joulupukki responded. He noticed the strange look that Lumi gave him. He would have to tell him soon.

“What happened to Rian,” Bréagán asked? Lumi responded first, as he usually did when someone asked Joulupukki personal questions.

“He trapped him in the crystal in Erlenkönig's staff.”

An impressed look slowly moved across Bréagán's often clouded vision.

“That, somehow, seems appropriate. You must be powerful.”

“I don't know anything about that. I just do what I must.” Bréagán's smile was sad, but understanding. He knew what it was like to be pushed to do what seemed impossible. He also knew how the kinship he felt for those around him made him a better elf. To think that Erlenkönig had sat aside a home for him if he chose to return to the Village, and Dyndoeth, still there to greet him when he arrived. Then there was Gwaldon, a truer friend there never was . He, so longed to see them again. He thought of Rian. If Bréagán was capable of hate, he reserved it all for Rian. The one who destroyed what little life he had. The one who killed his friends. The one who caused years of havoc throughout the Kingdom. He often thought that Erlenkönig somehow knew the events that would unfold and sacrificed himself for the good of the elves; and now, his son had fought and defeated Rian. He wondered if it was fate. “You asked me what the magic of the Trolls feels like. Take my arm,” he instructed the elf.

Bréagán was reluctant to do as he was asked,

“I don't wish to corrupt your magic.”

“Corrupt my magic?” Joulupukki wondered what he meant by that, then, it was clear. “You think you will harm other elves if you return to the Village. You think you damaged Erlenkönig's magic when your magics were combined. He left a parchment for me hidden in the Keep. It was locked away in a vault. One of the things that was written on that parchment was, 'I wish that it had been possible for me to explain to Bréagán what the combining of our magic has done to me. It opened my eyes in a way that is difficult to understand. I have felt the goodness inside of him and it has allowed me to see more clearly, the events that are to come, but he was gone before I came back to myself. If ever you see him, tell him I and the elfin people will be forever in his dept. I hope that my magic did not harm him.' You did nothing to hurt my father, Bréagán, but you did change him. Has his magic changed you?”

“It has, for the better.” I could never have created that,” he gestured to the magic wall in front of the cave opening, “before I left the Village.”

“Take my arm, Bréagán, I am not my father.”

Bréagán slowly took his arm and Joulupukki reached out with his mind and touched the flow of magic that pulsed around the Trolls just outside of the cave entrance. He felt the aimlessness of the energy. The strength of it, but also the inability of the creatures that emitted it to control it. He also felt the strength of Joulupukki's power. The only magic that he had ever known that could come close to this was Erlenkönig's and even his was nothing compared to Joulupukki's. It wasn't just the immense power but the unusual diversity it had. If he chose to, he could be the greatest fisherman who ever lived. He could know more than the wisest scholar. He could be the most powerful king. His magical power would allow him to do anything he wished, become the most advanced ship designer, create the most beautiful art, build the tallest buildings, it would not surprise him if Joulupukki could calm the seas and raze the mountains if he so chose to.

“I thought when my magic touched yours we would be covered in toys falling from the

sky, as it was with Erlenkönig.”

“When your magic combined with his, did you also notice how those around you reacted?”

“Yes, they all started laughing,” Bréagán hesitated, “at me.”

“Erlenkönig was counting on that laughter. That is what ended the battle. They were not laughing at you my friend. They were laughing because of the overwhelming joy that combining your special magic and the purity of Erlenkönig's brought to each one of them. They laughed simply because they could not, not laugh. I understand that the goodness in their hearts lasted for several days. That was because of you.” Was that true, how could he know what the magic would morph into? He was an amazing elf but even Erlenkönig had his limits. Even this powerful halfling in front of him could not know everything.

“By the way, you saw no toys fall from the sky because part of my magic comes from you.” This took Bréagán by surprise, but, as he thought about it, he realized that it was likely true. The halfling wasn't born until after Erlenkönig's and his magic had been joined. Joulupukki stood up and walked to the entrance of the cavern, looking through the transparent barrier that separated the Trolls from him and his friends. They no longer tried to hide their appearance, but it was difficult to define what he saw. In general, at first glance, they all seemed to have skin made of stone, but at closer examination it was really more like poorly tanned goat hides, flexible but with weathered cracks evident throughout it. He could even see areas where the cracks were bleeding. The small ones that he assumed were children were all the same. When you looked at their faces they seemed to constantly be changing, the noses elongating then becoming bulbous and shorter, lips fat and filled with blood then almost disappearing. There was nothing physically appealing about these creatures to any human or elf. Abnormally small ears adorned the sides of their heads, one of the adults having lost the one on his left side. They were nearly twice the height of Joulupukki and three times his girth, and their stomachs were distended like that of a starving child. The others walked over to join him.

“I heard the tales of the Northern Trolls as a child, but this is the first time I have seen

them. They are more frightening than even the worst of the stories.” Lumi stood staring

at them.

“Lumi, what food do we have left in the sleigh,” Joulupukki asked the elf.

“A good deal of it, dried meat, bread, jam, nuts and most of the dried fruit. Why?” Then it dawned on him, “we do not have enough to fill these Trolls.”

“What if we multiplied it?”

“Multiplied it,” Jessica asked?

“Yes, elfin magic cannot create something that does not exist, but, as long as there is something to work with it can multiply that item almost without limits, just as he did for your father.”

“That's amazing,” she said.

“Joulupukki, to create enough food to satisfy those Trolls will take me days, with what we have.”

“I believe I can help with that,” Bréagán offered. “It's kind of my specialty. I also have some food that they can have.” The two elves moved back toward the sleigh. Jessica yelling,

“I'll help.” They looked back at her with questioning expressions.

“I can help carry the food,” and under her breath she said, “I can probably carry more than either one of you two can.”

Joulupukki heard this and snickered, knowing it to be true. He then reached out with his mind again touching the Trolls' magic following it to its source deep within the Trolls' mind's. He did this with each one of them until he found the one that was most feared in the group. This must be the leader he thought. There were eight of them, five adults, two children and one very old one. They stood and watched Joulupukki for a while before they went back to hammering their fists against the barrier. One of the smaller ones found himself too close to what appeared to be a female when she kicked him so hard he flew through the air landing next to the old one. The old Troll stayed well clear of the rest of the group. Without warning the young Troll grabbed the old one's right leg and bit it off just below the knee. The old one made no sound, but the two young ones began fighting over the leg until they were noticed by the leader. He bellowed something incomprehensible and ran after the two who dropped the leg and ran as if they were running for their lives. The leader picked up the leg and moved over to the old Troll. He grabbed his bleeding stump and tried to figure out how to reattach his leg. He puzzled over it and turned it first in one direction then in another, looking at his own leg trying to figure out how it should fit. After spending several hours at his task his interest began to wane and he left the old Troll lying unconscious on

the ground. He stepped back to the cave entrance and realized he still had the leg in his hand and started banging it against the magic wall as if it were a club. The more he beat it against the barrier the more blood spewed from the leg. Then as if a new thought developed in his simple mind he started using his fist to pound the wall while licking the leg clean. The pile of food had been gathered and with Joulupukki and especially Bréagán's help they had amassed a considerable amount for the Trolls to eat and not too few toys to go with it.

“You should take what you need, Bréagán,” Joulupukki suggested.

“I have reconsidered your offer,” Bréagán told him. “I will join you on your journey back to the Village. I will need none of this, but thank you, my King.”

“That is wonderful news,” Lumi said and Joulupukki smiled and nodded his agreement.

“In a moment if you will release your magic I will invite these creatures in to enjoy a meal. We must be on our toes. They do not seem very bright but they are still dangerous. Be ready with the sleigh Lumi and Jessica stay close to him.” Lumi and Jessica moved back to the hreinin deer and mounted the sleigh. “If you will,” Joulupukki gestured to the old elf.

The magic disappeared. The lead Troll's hand fell through the air where the magic was released and he lost his balance almost falling to the ground. He hesitated feeling the emptiness in front of him, then stepped into the opening, his group cautiously following behind him.

“I hungry,” he bellowed.

“How can we understand him,” Joulupukki quickly asked Bréagán.

“Their magic likely makes it so. I don't think that they even realize that we are speaking a different language.”

“I understand. Now I eat you.” The Troll stepped forward.

“I don't think any of us would be very filling,” Joulupukki said to the Trolls.

“I eat you, you most filling. And maybe two animal.” He turned to the female ,beside him. “You eat old one and one animal.”

Joulupukki noticed the bleeding sores that the Troll continually rubbed and scratched.

“Two animal she screamed! You get two animal, I get two animal!”

The lead Troll slapped her on her chest, pushing her backward, “One animal,” he yelled! She cowed against his onslaught,

“One, one animal.” Her voice, low and filled with fear.

Turning back to Joulupukki he said,

“Where other? Come out, I smell you. The rest, fight over left over. Leave one animal for old one.”

“Old one no more,” one of the Trolls at the edge of the cave spoke up.

“Old one still good!” The leader screamed back at him, shaking the old Trolls

leg that he had been gnawing on. When he realized what he was doing he looked at the leg, “I put back, if good. If no more,” he hesitated before continuing, “I eat old one.” He finished with an emphatic flourish and grimaced smile. “I hungry,” he repeated and moved forward.

“Just a moment, big guy,” Joulupukki began. “We have created a feast for you and your family. Please come in and enjoy yourself.” He pointed to the pile of food to the Troll's left, near the cave entrance. The Troll looked and then scoffed,

“You fresh, I eat you,” he did not seem impressed by the food as he continued to scratch at the sores making them bleed even more.

“I can heal your sores if you agree not to eat us.” The Troll looked down at the blood dripping from his hip.

“This nothing, I hungry.” The troll moved a step closer. Joulupukki waved his hand and the large sore on his side disappeared.

“That better,” the Troll looked at his side but continued to reach for Joulupukki.

“Wait,” Bréagán stepped in. “Look at what I have.” He created a ball of colored light in front of the Troll. The large creature reached out his hand and touched the lights pulling his hand back quickly.

“Feel funny,” he said. All of the Trolls seemed mesmerized by the light. Bréagán slowly moved the light outside of the cave entrance and replaced his magic wall before letting the light disappear. The Trolls were first confused then angry, their food having been so close.

“I guess there is little use in trying to help them, thank you, Bréagán. I didn't want to hurt them. Lumi,” Joulupukki called. Both Lumi's and Jessica's faces appeared.

“Would you check the rear entrance and see if the deer and sleigh can fly through it?” Turning back to Bréagán, “I think it best to be on our way and leave the cave to the Trolls.”

“I agree,” said Bréagán.

He watched Joulupukki turn back to the Trolls.

“There should be no problem getting through the back opening,” Lumi informed them as he approached.

Joulupukki looked out past the angry Trolls concentrating on the old one lying on the ground. He probed the Troll. He was still alive but had lost a large amount of blood. Using his magic he stopped the flow of blood then began the regrowth of the Troll's lower leg. Bréagán was impressed. He watched as the Halfling went to each one and healed their skin and sores. When satisfied he simply said,

“Let's go,” disappointment clearly etched on his face.

They all mounted the sled, Lumi again taking the reins. Joulupukki and Jessica crawled through the door in the cabin as Bréagán released his magic and Lumi guided the deer through the cave and into the sky as the Trolls ran after them with no chance of catching their fleeing meal.

“How can this room be so large when it is so small on the outside?” Jessica had seen so many things in the last few days, she felt they might push her imagination to the brink of madness; yet, she remained calm and offered solace to the men she traveled with. She saw in Joulupukki what seemed to be defeat. This confused her. He had accomplished what he had traveled to the mountains to do. Bréagán sat not three feet away from them. “What is the matter, my love,” using a gentle tone, she inquired of him.

He opened the door of the cabin and called out to Lumi.

“We must return to Nordgrend before heading back to the Village. Please guide the deer in that direction.”

Lumi assumed that Joulupukki would want to either pick up Raðulfr, though where they would put him was a big question. You can't have a joining without the bride's family; or, he would be dropping Jessica off with her father to return later for their ceremony. Lumi felt the second option to be unlikely.

“OK,” Lumi responded.

“Jessica, you already know the answer to your first question, magic . As for the second, it is difficult when you have the best intent in your heart, trying to make someone's life better, and their single mindedness makes it impossible to understand or appreciate what you offer them. I did not expect thanks from the Trolls, but it would have been nice if they had at least acknowledged my offer. Now, I just feel foolish for trying to help a creature that had absolutely no interest in my help. I feel like I'm the selfish one.”

Jessica grabbed a pillow and placed it beneath his head then wrapping her arms about him as she sat on the floor, she hummed a lullaby to him with her sweet voice, putting him to sleep.

“I am sorry I slept for so long, Lumi. I should have relieved you a couple of hours ago,”Joulupukki apologized as his head appeared through the door. “Can I get anything for you?

“No thank you,” was Lumi's response. “Jessica has been taking quite good care of us while you slept.” He saw her sitting on the bench between the two elves. He extracted himself from the small opening and leaned forward giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

“Thank you, my love,'' he whispered to her. Have all of you been awake this whole time.”

“I fell asleep beside you almost as soon as you did,” Jessica replied.

“We have been awake,” Bréagán answered through a deep yawn followed shortly by Lumi's wide open gape.

“Here, let me take the reins and you two crawl into the cabin. Bréagán, let me apologize for the size of the entrance.”

“Apologize? Joulupukki, if it is suitable for a king then I can assure you, I will make due.” Joulupukki could tell that Lumi had been updating their new companion with tales of his short lived fame. He appreciated the fact that he did not call him king by name using Joulupukki instead, obviously Lumi's doing. He traded places with them and watched as they disappeared into the cabin.

“I guess it's just you and me for a while,” he said to Jessica placing his arm around her

and drawing her close. She pressed her body against his and they snuggled.

“No reason to be cold, don't you think,” Jessica offered. The half elf removed his cloak and wrapped it around her.

“You look so good in green,” She stroked the soft white collar of his coat.

“You know you saved my life by giving me these.”

“How so,” she asked.

“If it weren't for the overcoat and cloaks I would surely have frozen to death on my trek northward. I was caught in storm after winter storm just after leaving Nordgrend. Your coat kept me warm and the cloaks provided a soft warm bed to rest my head on. Each night as I lay down I would breathe deeply your flowery scent and dream of nights with you.”

Jessica blushed,

“A bit of my own magic, I didn't want you to forget me.”

“Never,” he assured her. They talked for most of the night, laughing and singing together as if he had never left her. He even let her guide the sleigh for a time, telling her each of the hreinin deer's names. She called out to Sprinteren when she realized he was the same deer that had accompanied Joulupukki and his mother to Nordgrend. He turned his head to look at her and through the darkness she could have sworn he winked. Eventually the young human woman grew tired and fell asleep snuggled against him.

This was pretty much the way the next several days went, two teams, Lumi and Bréagán, Joulupukki and Jessica, as on the way north, stopping only once. They brought the sleigh in the same way as before taking care not to let the humans in the hamlet see them. As the team landed they quickly released the deer for grazing on the now dead grass and headed for Raðulfr's longhouse. The two elves wrapping themselves in scarves drew no attention from the humans walking the streets. It was a much colder morning than during their earlier visit. It had been sixteen days, their time, since they last walked the streets of Nordgrend. Jessica was eager to see her father but Joulupukki thought it best to make them aware of the time difference when flying in the sleigh.

“Before we go in to see your father, you need to know that flying with the deer creates a strange disturbance in how time flows.” He was speaking to both Jessica and Bréagán.

“I'm sorry,” Jessica questioned Joulupukki, “I don't understand.”

“I can't explain it now. It is something that we don't understand yet. I am just asking you not to bring up how much time has passed since we have been gone. You have felt it as sixteen days but for your father it has only been about four.”

“That is interesting,” Bréagán said, completely engrossed.

“I promise we will discuss it later.” Joulupukki opened the door for Jessica who entered first.

“Father, father, where are you?” She called to him and began to worry when he did not respond. “Are you here father?” She pushed aside the hides that separated the main room from the fire pit. As she walked through she noticed that the overflowing shelves that Lumi had left for her father were nearly empty. She ran outside with Joulupukki close behind her and stopped the first person they saw on the cobblestone lane. The lady greeted Jessica before she had a chance to speak, herself.

“Jessica!” The woman hugged her. “I heard that you had left us for a while. It is nice to see you.” She glanced at Joulupukki and smiled, “Joulupukki? I haven't seen you since..., the woman's voice trailed off.” He recognized her but could not remember her name,

“Since mother, it's OK.”

“Wow, it is so nice to see both of you, especially together.”

Jessica tempered the worry in her voice and asked,

“It is wonderful to see you as well, have you seen my father?”

“Your father, your father,” the smile on her face disappeared as she looked down at the cobbles and became serious, “How can I say this to you, Jessica. Thank Odin for your father. He was surely sent from the Gods.” From under her heavy shawl she removed a basket nearly filled with a variety of food. “He is at the store and is giving away food to anyone who needs it. This will feed my family until the turn of the next moon. I don't know where he got it from, he says an elf gave it to him, what a sense of humor, but he says he will give it away for as long as it lasts. We offered him a small amount of goat's milk for it, but he said to give it to someone else who needs it.”

“Thank you,” Jessica said to the woman with a smile of relief on her face. They hurried their way several buildings down to the store where they heard laughter ringing through the morning chill. When she saw her father she ran to him wrapping her arms around his neck. He almost had to pry her off of him.

“My girl, what are you doing here,” Raðulfr asked her? She looked at him. His eyes were bright, his speech quick and his arms strong. He looked much younger than he had before they left. He noticed Joulupukki. “I thought you were going to take her away and plan your joining.”

“We could not do that without you,” Joulupukki replied. “We have come to take you with us.”

“How are you feeling,” Jessica asked him.

“I am fine child. When you left I slept through the sunrise and the next moon and I feel better than I have felt for years,” he giggled, “I feel almost young again. Joulupukki, I do wish to be there for my only child's joining, but I have so much to do here. Somehow, when I awoke yesterday morning, I found my larder filled with food. I know how difficult this season has been for the people of our little hamlet and immediately opened the store to allow them to share my good fortune. I can't let them down now. He looked more closely at their two companions.

“Is that you Lumi,” he asked.

“Yes, my friend, it is I.”

“I believe I owe you my gratitude. I don't know how, but I suspect it was you who did this for me and my village. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Tears wet Raðulfr's cheek as he leaned over and gave the elf a tight hug, almost knocking the air from him. Raðulfr was not an overly large human but was still a third larger than Lumi, “and who is your companion. Could it be the illusive elf that you went in search of. Bréagán, is that you my old friend?” Raðulfr extended his hand to show he had no hidden weapons and no ill intent toward the elf. Bréagán followed suit and they briefly touched hands.

“You are correct, this elf who stands before you is Bréagán.” He combed his fingers through his long unkempt beard, nervously. There were still a few people browsing through the leftover food that had been set out, each holding a woven basket and occasionally picking something up and placing the item in it. None were close enough to over hear what the small group was saying.

“How did they find you so quickly,” Raðulfr asked. They all ignored the question.

“So, you do not wish to present your daughter to me in joining,” Joulupukki looked directly at Raðulfr and spoke in a serious tone. “Well, this may change things. I thought she was of good quality, but if her father will not present her himself then maybe I'm mistaken.” He could barely contain his laughter as he said this. Jessica's eyes were bulging and she struck him hard on his arm.

“Who do you think you are, Elf King,” she said a bit too loudly. The people closest to them looked up and stared at them for a moment before returning to their browsing.

“Shhh,” came from all of them but her father.

“Elf King,” Raðulfr questioned? Embarrassed and a little taken by surprise Joulupukki thought it best to be honest with Jessica's father.

“I am temporary King of the Elves in the Village Clan,” Joulupukki told him, “The official ceremony is yet to come.” He would have to tell him if he came with them. He thought now was as good a time as ever.

“Elf King? That makes no sense.”

“I wanted you to know what I am, before Jessica and I are joined.”

“But it makes no sense, Joulupukki, your mother was not an elf.”

“No, my father was. He was King of all Elves.”

“Then you are a half elf to a king?”

“That's correct,” Joulupukki said with a bit of vacillation in his voice. Jessica's father grew quiet for a moment and seemed to be internalizing this new bit of information.

“I understand if this is a problem for you.”

“It is,” was Raðulfr's response. “We are but simple people Joulupukki, or should I call you Your Royal Highness or Your Majesty. How could we expect you to allow our blood to taint yours. I will not hold you to your promise.”

“And the fact that I am half elf,” asked Joulupukki?

“Half Elf? I suspected that you had elfin blood from the first time I saw you. I mean look at those ears and the blue of your eyes, and only someone who had magic could make those exceptional toys that you made. Your mother and I grew quite close before she left us and I am proud to say she sometimes had need of a confidant and allowed me to serve her as such. She spoke of your father on occasion and made it quite clear how much they loved each other. His eyes grew a bit sad as he remembered her words. She also told me that he was an elf which confirmed my suspicion about you. What she didn't tell me was that he was of royal blood and that she was a queen. It is of no concern to me that you are half elf. What matters to me is your character and that is exemplary.”

“Thank you my friend,” Joulupukki smiled at him. “Now as to your beautiful daughter, you may release me from my promise; however, I do not release you from yours. I intend to join with her, when she is ready, hopefully very soon, and,” he hesitated before continuing, not sure if they would see the humor in it, “as King I command you to accompany us to our celebration,” everyone started laughing, drawing the attention of the others still browsing the bins and shelves, as Joulupukki leaned next to Raðulfr's ear, “and if that doesn't work I will beg you to come.”

“No need, Your Majesty,” he bowed deeply, “I will come.”

The half elf rolled his eyes and chuckled.

“Please, it's still just Joulupukki, if you don't mind.”

They readied themselves for the journey to the village. Raðulfr closing his shop with a sign saying 'I will be gone for several weeks, please help yourselves to what remains of my food stock', leaving it sitting in an open storage room covered in skins in the cool of the open air. As soon as he was ready and Jessica had gathered fresh clothing they made their way back to the plateau where the deer awaited them. They hitched the animals to the sleigh and lifted from the ground. Jessica tried to explain about the deer and the fact that they would be flying through the sky to her father, but the concept of flying was too foreign for him to be able to grasp it. All five of them crammed into the small space in the sleigh, Joulupukki driving, Jessica next to him, her father to her right and Lumi and Bréagán standing behind the bench. As the team lifted the sled from the ground, Raðulfr immediately started showing the stress from this new experience. His blood drained from his face and his normally pale complexion became ghostly. His grip on the side of the door turned his knuckles white. Bréagán noticed his friend's distress and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“It may help if you focus your vision on a spot on the distant horizon, and, if need be, lean your head over the door and empty your stomach, but try not to move too much until you get used to this. He tried to do as the elf suggested but it took just a few minutes before he was emptying what little he had in his stomach. After drinking a sip of water, his queasiness settled and he was good for the rest of the trip. They set a course that took them in the direction of the Northern Sea and by the time they reached the coast Lumi had taken over guiding the sleigh. Lumi, Jessica and Joulupukki were again sharing the bench and Bréagán and Raðulfr had retreated to the cabin. As they approached the coast Joulupukki reminded Lumi,

“Remember, the Village has left the shore and should be well out to sea by now. We will continue heading on our current course and we should see it in a day or so.”

Their sighting of the Village came more quickly than they anticipated, only a few hours after Joulupukki had mentioned it to Lumi.

“Well, sooner than expected,” Joulupukki said aloud., “almost straight ahead, Lumi,

do you see it.”

“Ahhh, ahhh, oh, yes, there it is. By Oden, as good as your vision and hearing are Joulupukki, I would think you a full elf, not just half.”

“Where,” asked Jessica, looking in the direction of Lumi's gaze. “I do not see anything. Is your vision so much better than mine?”

“I will be home soon.” They both heard Lumi speaking to the wind.

“Yes you will,” Joulupukki encouraged him, slapping him gently on his back. “She is fine. Ceridfen has been watching over her.” Lumi smiled. Then to Jessica he said. “Elfin senses are very acute and the island is far from us still, but I'm afraid, even as we get closer, you will still not be able to see it because of the magic around it. It keeps the island safe from humans. Until you are inside of the sphere of magic, you will only see what appears to be a smug in the corner of your vision.”

“Oh,” she said, her unveiled disappointment clear on her face.

“That is how I knew for sure that this guy was the one spoken of in the prophecy, he could see the Village through the magic.” Lumi told her.

“We should reach it in an hour or so, let me tell the others.” Joulupukki stood but Jessica said,

“It will be easier for me, my love, please allow me.” She pushed past the big man and in a single motion slid through the cabin doorway.

“Joulupukki,” he turned to the Elf. “I do not wish to overstep our friendship.”

“Say what you feel my friend.” Joulupukki responded curiously.

“I just want you to know, I understand your attraction to Jessica. She is smart and witty, she has genuine affection for the people who are important to her and is truly empathetic toward the emotions of those around her, whether she knows them or not. Not to mention,” and he blushed as he said it, “she is quite beautiful.”

“You may want to be careful of what you say,” Joulupukki replied. “I wouldn't

want to have to tell Chroí that you have a crush on Jessica.”

“Stop it,” Lumi demanded. “I'm being serious. I think the Gods could not have found a more suitable mate for you and I wish a lifetime of happiness for the two of you.”

Joulupukki's smile softened,

“I thank you my friend, and I feel the same about you and Chroí. She is a very special elf and the only way I can see living a lifetime filled with happiness is if it is alongside you and Chroí.” Lumi gleamed at this, then added,

“Besides, Jessica is a bit too tall for my taste.”

They both almost rolled on the seat laughing. They hovered over the Village for several minutes still outside of the magic enveloping it. Jessica saw nothing but a blur below her.

“Where is it,” asked Raðulfr as he tried to wipe the blurriness from his eyes.

It is just below us,” answered Bréagán, “You will see it as soon as we pass through the magic that hides it.” His voice was that of excitement. He felt like a child again, anticipating his arrival back at his old school where his friends awaited him, but he also felt that lingering pang of feeling alone when he was growing up. As he grew into adulthood there were only a few elves that he felt truly close to, his mentor Andghul, who was now gone, Dyndoeth, who he considered a friend but had few shared interests with, Gwaldon, perhaps the only elf he had much in common with and maybe his best friend, and Erlenkönig, the elf with whom he felt he could have had a very close relationship, but who's position in life made that impossible. He wondered if it would be different for him this time around. Joulupukki took the reins from Lumi for the final descent.

“Down,” he shouted to the deer and , as usual, called each one by name. The sight was breathtaking for Raðulfr as the sleigh broke through the magic barrier. He could see the tops of cottages and fountains spewing water into the air to return to earth as sparkling ice crystals. Hills dotted the area outside of the village and farms created plaid patterns along the hills. The most prominent feature though was the Keep. It was not a full castle, just a single tower that reached five levels into the sky.

They made a smooth grounding outside of the stable behind Dyndoeth's cottage. As they did, Rådyrvokter heard them and came out of the stable to greet them.

“It is good to see you, Rådyrvokter.” Joulupukki said as the group stepped one by one from the sleigh.

“Lumi,” the Stable Elf nodded, acknowledging the young elf. Lumi smiled and nodded back.

“I do not know if the two of you have met, this is Bréagán,” Joulupukki introduced him to Rådyrvokter, “Bréagán, Rådyrvokter.”

“The Great Bréagán, I'm sure you do not remember me but we did meet once a very long time ago, just before you left.”

“Indeed I do remember you. Dyndoeth tried his best to keep me from leaving, but when he saw my determination he asked you to arrange for a couple of deer to guide me on my way. Thank you for that. I don't know if they returned to you but I released them as soon as I found a suitable place to live in the mountains.”

“They did, and Gwaldon and Dyndoeth were happy to receive your note and to know that you were well.”

“Oh my, I had forgotten about that note.”

Lumi stood by, only half listening, not wanting to be rude but fidgeting the whole time.

“Lumi,” Joulupukki tried to get his attention, when the elf finally looked, he said, “don't you have more important matters to attend to then wasting your time waiting for us.”

With a quick smile, Lumi sprinted through the back door of the cottage shouting,

“Ceridfen, Ceridfen as he made his way past the pantry, “is she still here, how is she?” As he entered the eating hall he heard Dyndoeth call back,

“Quiet down boy.”

“Is she OK...?” His voice trailed off as he entered the room. Sitting across the table from Ceridfen and Dyndoeth was Chroí, her back toward him. She turned and with her soft, sweet voice answered him.

“Yes, Lumi she is here, and, yes, she is quite well, almost back to normal.” He stepped over to her and gave her a long hug. Dyndoeth stood from the table and started toward the back door.

“I will make some broth for them to drink,” Ceridfen rose, following her husband.

“I will help you,” Chroí said, but Ceridfen waved her back into her chair insisting that she keep Lumi company.

As the two humans exited the sleigh, Joulupukki introduced both of them to the Stable Elf, who was a bit surprised to see two humans standing in front of him. He had met Aisling, even become somewhat of a friend to her when she and Erlenkönig lived in the cottage, but he was not expecting Joulupukki to bring two back with him. Dyndoeth shouted out upon seeing his old friend.

“Bréagán, my friend! It has been so long since last I saw you.” He gave him a hug. “And who are these two,” he was taken off guard by the presence of humans but plowed through his hesitation, “friends of yours Joulupukki?”

Joulupukki introduced them.

“This is the man who took us in when first we arrived at the hamlet of Nordgrend. He helped us and fed and was most kind to us, much like you were with me when I first arrived here. If ever there was a truly compassionate human, he stands before you now. Dyndoeth it is my honor to present to you Raðulfr.”

“And this lovely young lady,” Dyndoeth prompted him as he took her hand in his.

“This is Jessica, daughter of Raðulfr, and, I hope, soon to be my mate.”

“Your mate! What a wondrous day my son. You have returned home to us safely, and reunited me with a friend I thought I would never see again, and perhaps, brought with you the mother to a future king.” Dyndoeth leaned close to Joulupukki, “What of Aisling and Erlenkönig?”

“They are in the cabin of the Sleigh.”

The Elder Elf motioned to Rådyrvokter to join them. He stopped unharnessing the deer and stepped over to Dyndoeth. In a whispered tone he requested that the Stable Elf find some help and very respectfully remove the death boxes from the sled and store them temporarily in the stable until they had a chance to consult the counsel.

“Of course,” he replied, then to Joulupukki, “My sincere condolences.”

“Thank you, Rådyrvokter.”

“Now, let's go inside,” Dyndoeth prodded his guests, while still holding Jessica's hand, “Ceridfen has some broth heating for you.”

“That sounds wonderful. I don't know why but I get so hungry when I'm flying in the sleigh. Don't you Bréagán?” She asked the elf as she glanced over her shoulder.

“Yes, indeed I do,” he responded. “Something to look into I should say.”

Jessica found it quite stimulating speaking to Dyndoeth as they entered the cottage, and their conversation continued long after the additional introductions to DynDoeth's wife and Lumi's female friend, only to be interrupted by Jessica's intense scrutiny of the young female Elf.

“Forgive me, Chroí, but I can't seem to take my eyes from you. Please do not be offended.”

“No, I seem to be in the same situation. I have never seen a human female before. If all humans look like you and Joulupukki than you are part of an extraordinary race, tall, physically strong and, so, beautiful.”

“Thank you. I sit here admiring you and Lumi, slim and graceful, with those incredible eyes, and your delicate features. If you sat completely still I would think you were a beautiful doll that some master toy maker created. It took some effort to pull her eyes from the elf, “forgive me.” She said again.

“Wait until you get to know her,” the half elf began. “You may find she is not as delicate as you think.” Chroi smiled. “She is currently recovering from some very intense magic that she helped Gwaldon and his novices conjure that made it possible to find my father.”

Jessica looked impressed.

“And this guy,” Chroi indicated Lumi by leaning against him and looking into his eyes with a smile, “he often amazes, as well as humors, me with his 'grace'.”

Lumi blushed. Jessica leaned toward Ceridfen and spoke to her in a subdued voice,

“Wow, I don't think I have ever seen a couple who were more suited for one another.”

With a huge grin on her face Ceridfen agreed with her,

“I agree. I would say perfect, except maybe you and Joulupukki?” Jessica blushed. “I have known you for less than the rising of one moon, but I see the way you look at each other, your gentle touches, the stolen kisses when you think no one is watching. You are obviously in love with him and what's more, he loves you just as much. I haven't seen such, since Aisling and Erlenkönig, now that was a couple.”

A tear came to her eye at the memory. She wiped it away.

“Speaking of Gwaldon, is he here,” Bréagán asked completely out of the blue?

“I'm sorry, Bréagán, but when Joulupukki mentioned bringing you back to the Village, Gwaldon wanted your cottage to be perfect, so he asked a few elves from the town if they would help him clean and repair it. There was no shortage of volunteers there yesterday. He stopped by before the sun went down and said it would be another day before they were finished. You can spend the night here and, after the counsel agrees to it, you will be sleeping in your own bed tomorrow. It was, by now, getting late in the day, the sun having set long before, when Jessica and Chroi accompanied Ceridfen into the food preparation area to start the evening meal. After eating they sat and talked until the moon was resting on Oden's shoulder and the tiny night lights began to blink out. Jessica was especially impressed by the number of young elves that lived in their cottage. She told Ceridfen that she would like children one day, getting a clearing of Joulupukki's throat. Everyone eventually retired to their rooms to sleep except Joulupukki and Jessica. They took a walk in the cool air and looked at the stars, discussing their future. They were surprised by Lumi when he appeared from the Stable.

“I thought you were asleep,” Jessica questioned?

“I forgot the presents that I brought for Chroi. I left them in the sled.”

“Do you have a moment,” Joulupukki asked Lumi, “There is a very important bit of information I would have my best friend and my betrothed know before it is made public.”

“Please, go ahead, Chroi is asleep now and I can't give her the presents until later.” Joulupukki let them both know about his plans. Lumi was a bit surprised but not really, and a tiny bit disappointed. Jessica listened closely, not interrupting.

“That is a very difficult decision to make, my Love, and I wish that I could, in some way, help you make it, but I'm afraid it is yours alone to decide. I will be with you no matter what you choose.” She clasped his face with both hands and kissed him. Lumi turned his head looking embarrassed by this show of affection.

“What's wrong, Lumi?” He looked at Jessica trying to find the words to express his feelings.

“I have dreamed so many times of kissing Chroi as you just kissed him, but I am too shy to do it.”

“Have you not kissed her?” Jessica asked with surprise.

“Yes, yes, we have kissed, but not publicly.”

“Oh,” she said with understanding, then “Oh,” she repeated, this time with concern. “You have shared your feelings for each other, have you not,” she inquired.

“Yes, we have and we both love each other.” He felt strange saying this to someone he had known for such a short while. He also awaited a sarcastic comment from Joulupukki, but when he looked at the King, his expression was of concern.

“I know this may be difficult for you my friend, but I would strongly suggest that the next time you are with Chroi and there is company around, give her a kiss, not on the cheek like she's your sister but on her lips. If it is a natural kiss that seems to belong to the moment, all the better, but if not find a reason. A woman needs to know that the man she loves loves her, and he is willing to share that knowledge with the world.” She patted his arm as they headed back to the cottage. “You may be surprised with her reaction.” She reminded herself to very discreetly share this little conversation with Chroi when she got the chance.

When they were back in the house, Lumi excused himself, saying he would like a couple of hours of sleep before they visited the council the next day. Joulupukki escorted Jessica to her room and kissed her good night before returning to the eating hall. He poured himself a glass of wine and sat down to go over what he would say to the council the next day. There would be no sleep for him.

Joulupukki sat at the table for several hours changing from wine to water. He had thought through just what he wanted to convey to the Clans Counsel. Now he simply awaited the group that would accompany him. He wanted Lumi there to start learning the ways of the chamber. He hoped one day that Lumi might wish to be a part of it. Dyndoeth was essential, he was one of the most respected elves in the Village. Bréagán had to be there to make claim to his cottage and he hoped Gwaldon would show as well to support Bréagán's claim if there were any questions about it. He knew, as acting king, he did not have to go through all of this trouble, but wanted the backing of the council so that they would share the responsibility of these decisions with him. As always, Ceridfen was the first to show.

“Morning beautiful lady,” Joulupukki greeted her.

“Beautiful? Maybe a couple hundred years ago,” she replied as Joulupukki stood and kissed her on top of the head.

“You will always be beautiful to me. Would you like to join us at the council meeting today. I can always use your support.”

“Why do you bother with that silly council? You are the King, Joulupukki. You command and it is done.”

“Ceridfen, no one lives in their own little world. We can not allow a single elf to rule our lives. Even the best of tyrants is still a tyrant.”

“You are not a tyrant.”

“Thank you for saying that, and I hope that you are right, but what if you're wrong? What if I am dethroned and the next king is someone like Rian? I don't think we can afford to take that chance. We must rely on all of the elves, not just one to rule us. In a place called Polis over five hundred human years ago they experimented with a form of rule called demokratia. It is located at the head of the sea that separates the two great land masses near the middle of the world. There were various attempts at making this type of rule work there. They all failed for one reason or another including meekness and greed from their rulers. They were eventually overthrown by a much larger empire which ended their experiment, but they continued to try which leads me to believe that the idea was sound. We can not rely on 'The Righteous King' to deliver us from the troubles that we bring upon ourselves. Look at Erlenkönig, there was no more righteous king than he, and his goodness saw the Village through two hundred years of peaceful prosperity, but in the end, after his demise the Kingdom returned to its spiteful, back stabbing ways with Rian undermining many of the council's decisions.”

“What of the son you will eventually have. Do you think he will relinquish his right to the elfin throne so easily?”

Dyndoeth and Bréagán entered the hall together, followed closely by Lumi and Chroi and not long after by the two humans. Joulupukki greeted each with a smile and a heartfelt,

“Good morning. I hope you slept well.”

When he asked Bréagán, his response was,

“It has been so long since I've slept in a proper bed, I'd forgotten what it felt like. I slept very well.”

Jessica responded,

“Father and I slept quite nicely, thank you.” Her gaze fixed on her husband, to be, and asked him, “You look tired my love, did you sleep at all?”

“Thank you for your concern but I am fine,” he said as he squeezed her hand. “I just want to get this day under way. There is so much to be done in the next few weeks.” He looked back at Ceridfen and rejoined their earlier conversation, “In answer to your question regarding a potential heir to the elfin throne that we might produce,” he slipped his arm around Jessica and she blushed, laying here head against his chest, “if we raise the child correctly, he, or perhaps she, will have neither need nor desire to be king. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt of his eventual greatness, greater than any of the Kings before him including me and even Erlenkönig. I believe that Erlenkönig saw deeper into the future than just us. I believe what he really fought for was the next of his line, the one who will bring at least a semblance of peace to the world, if for but one moon in the cycle of the seasons.” He bowed his head and whispered, “if only for one moon.” He was very tired.

“I will accompany you Joulupukki.” Ceridfen stepped from the hall calling two of the older elfin children to ask them to watch the cottage and make sure the younger ones were fed. She grabbed a shawl and followed her husband as they left the cottage. Joulupukki turned to Jessica.

“I think for now, it would be best for you and Raðulfr to stay at the cottage. It is not everyday that the council sees a human and I would not want them to be distracted from the issues at hand.”

Jessica smiled and nodded her head, giving him a kiss.

“For luck,” she said, as Raðulfr assured him,

“I understand,” shaking his hand.

“Don't worry,” Chroi said to Joulupukki. “We will keep each other company.” She took Jessica's arm before noticing the sour look on Lumi's face. “Sweet Lumi, I would like to join you but I am still less than fully recovered. I think it best if I stay here. Besides, we have many 'female' things to talk about.” Joulupukki and Lumi turned and left the cottage as Chroi guided Jessica to a more private room. One of the older elfin children entered the eating hall and saw Raðulfr's confused face and asked him if he would like some morning meal. His expression brightened at this and he politely acquiesced to the offer, starting

a conversation and following her from the hall.

The Council room, back on the fifth floor of the Keep, was quite busy upon their arrival. They stood just outside of the door waiting for the councilman to complete the business at hand not wanting to interrupt. The process was efficient with Seileach leading the proceedings and they did not have to wait for long. Noticing the group waiting outside of the doorway, the Elder councilman addressed them.

“Your Highness, please come in, you have no need to wait,” he bowed as Joulupukki entered and the rest of the counsel stood and bowed as well. “I was informed that you would be visiting the council for official business today, but I was not enlightened as to the nature of this business?” He said this in such a way as to turn the statement into a question for Joulupukki to answer.

“Thank you, Seileach. We have several requests for the council to consider, but first may I acknowledge the respect I have for each of you who agree to sit on this esteemed assembly.” He looked into the eyes of every counselor as each nodded to accept his adulation, spending an extra moment when he reached the Erin councilman.

“First, may I introduce to those of you who do not already know him,” the king stepped aside and motioned for the elf to move forward, “one of the legends of the Battle of the Keep, and friend to King Erlenkönig, Bréagán.” The council stood and clapped in recognition of the great elf. “He would like to petition the council for his rightful claim to the cave and cottage set aside for him by Erlenkönig located on the top of the hill overlooking our village.” Just as Joulupukki's words left his mouth, a strong but aged hand squeezed Bréagán's shoulder. He turned to see Gwaldon standing behind him. They embraced with strong arms as tears began to flow freely down each of their cheeks.

“My friend,” Gwaldon began, “it has been so long. By Oden's breath, it is good to see you.” They mostly ignored the proceedings surrounding them and talked in hushed voices, catching only the occasional word.

“This should not take long,” Seileach was saying to the group. “As per the known wishes of Erlenkönig when the cave and land were set aside, if any councilman wishes to debate the validity of Bréagán's claim to this land please let it be known now.” There was silence from the council. “All that wish to deny his claim?” Again silence. “All who uphold the claim?” Every councilman raised his hand and yelled out with his most enthusiastic yes,

“Aye!”

“The proposal has been carried.” Seileach said with enthusiasm. “Bréagán, Bréagán?

Please accept my apology for interrupting your reunion,” Seileach drew Bréagán's attention from

his friend with a few words and a smile.

“Forgive me,” Bréagán said meekly.

“No need to apologize to me, as per Erlenkönig's wishes, the land and cave specified by the stone wall atop the hill is yours to do with what you wish from this moment forward, and we all wish to welcome you home after such a long absence.”

Joulupukki stood back as the councilmen offered personal greetings and invitations to the long bearded elf. He glanced at Joulupukki once and smiled in his direction before Gwaldon whisk him away from the crowd.

“As for other business,” Joulupukki continued. “Lumi and I have been away from the village for some time now.” There was a rustling in the room as he finished his words. “Before you make comment about this, please, allow me to finish explaining what purpose caused this departure. One reason was to convince Bréagán he was needed in the Village. As you can see, we were successful in that venture.” All of the councilmen nodded their heads in agreement. I, also, wanted to bring the remains of my mother, Aisling, and my father, Erlenkönig, back to the Village to be re-interred here.” The council's attention was directed solely at Joulupukki at the mention of his father's name.

“And did you succeed in this as well,” came from the Erin Elf's lips.

“Indeed we did,” was Joulupukki's response. “The death boxes for both my mother and father are being stored, for now, in DynDoeth's stable. I would like to request that the council make arrangements for them to be interred in the courtyard of the Keep by the old Willow Tree against the wall beneath the window of the King's Suite with full regal adornment and honors.”

“Would you not prefer King Erlenkönig to rest with his father and grandfather in the Royal Plaza at the head of the Court of Kings?” Seileach's question was understandable. The ascension of the regal line of kings of the Village could be traced along the pathway that led through the Court of Kings. For Seileach to offer Erlenkönig to be placed at its head was a great honor, but Joulupukki felt that his father would more likely prefer to be laid to rest in the shade of an old friend alongside his truly beloved wife.

“Thank you for your kindness, Seileach,” Joulupukki responded, “but I believe my father would prefer the eternal company of my mother over that of his father, if the counsel is so inclined to grant this request.”

The counsel laughed at Joulupukki's joke.

“Yes, Joulupukki, if that is what you wish, your request will be granted. Any need for further discussion?” He asked the council. No one responded. “Then those in favor?” Everyone raised their hands.” Seileach looked at Joulupukki. “Consider it done.” He smiled at Joulupukki and continued. “I will see to the arrangements myself.”

“Thank you,” Joulupukki sincerely expressed his gratitude. “Now, I would like to make you aware of my guests.”

“Your guests? Are they here?” Seileach seemed very curious.

“I'm sorry, but no. I was not certain how the good elves of the Village would react to seeing humans walking along the cobbles of our kingdom.” The councilman looked at each other, not sure how to react. It had been a very long time since there had been a human on the island. Aisling was the last, over fifty years ago. “I do not wish to create more controversy after the difficulties Erlenkönig had upon marrying Aisling, but I believe in the goodness of the Village Elves and we no longer have dark magic to deal with. The two humans of whom I speak took my mother and I in when we arrived at the hamlet of Nordgrend. Raðulfr is one of the kindest humans I have ever known and his daughter is the woman who will become my partner in Joining shortly after the coronation ceremony.” The elves of the Council were surprised and struck silent for but a moment before a cacophony of questions were hurled in the King's direction.

“Silence, Silence!” Seileach demanded. “It is the right of the King to determine who he wishes to spend his life with. There is nothing in our history that suggests that he can not choose a human woman. Look at him. He is a half elf himself, but we have embraced him as our King.” No insult was intended by Seileach's words. He simply stated the facts.

“Thank you Seileach,” Joulupukki said, “but please, allow them their questions.” He answered each Councilman's questions as sincerely as he could and reassured each of them that the elfin people would in no way be compromised by his choice of mate.

“Is there any additional business that you wish to share with the council?” Seileach

asked Joulupukki.

“Yes, but I would like to be updated on the progress of the council first, if you would please Seileach.”

“Of course, since last you were here, we have sent an emissary to the Erin Clan with three fast ships to deliver needed aid, including food, clothing and other necessities. The Clan is in such chaos we have begun searching for new Elders to fill the Elder's Council along with the few trusted ones that remain. We have decided that at least for now those elves who call themselves Leprechauns must be studied to determine whether they have truly been fundamentally changed into a new group of magical beings, if so then we have no jurisdiction over them. The Elders of the Ibero Clan have been stripped of their magic and we have created a new Elder Council. We have been in discussions with them as to where they may be happy to build a new kingdom but nothing has been finalized yet. Both Clans have agreed to form a Ruling Council, to be voted for by their elves, that will govern their clan with the assistance of their new Elder Councils. We have decided in our own council that to safeguard our decisions we will create a document that will be, potentially, ever changing to allow for this council to not stagnate and to be able to grow in such a way that circumstances and time demands. We have also decided that to add to this document there will need to be a minimum number of votes and in some cases a vote by the general populace of the elves themselves. Our esteemed colleagues from the Northern and Village Clans have been assigned to complete this important task to be voted on by the council upon its completion. We have reached out to the Northern Clan, the Southern Clan, the Earth Clan and also here in the Village to set up Councils of their own that will represent the needs of each clan who will bring concerns of their member elves to this council in matters of Clan disputes or matters of issues with humans or other creatures that may cross Clan boundaries. They will also be the governing body of each of their respective Clans.”

“You have been busy, Seileach. Again, please allow me to offer my deepest respect for this council and its members. As for my last piece of business I wish to share with this council, as of the day of my coronation, I will formally renounce the throne for myself and all of my progeny.” A hush fell over the room as DynDoeth wrapped his hand around Joulupukki's arm. He whispered,

“Are you sure about this?” He turned to DynDoeth and simply nodded. Dyndoeth nodded back, reassuringly. Joulupukki knew his friend would support him in whatever choice he made.

“I will wait until after being crowned King before I formally declare that the Clans' Council will be the new governing body of the elfin people, answerable only to the elves who vote them into their positions and that I am declining the most honorable right of being the new Elf King. I do not in any way wish to denigrate the proud tradition of the descendants of royalty through the family of monarchs that precede me, nor do I wish to insult any of the older elves who have fought for the continuation of the Village Kingdom such as my wonderful friend Ceridfen.” She stepped forward.

“I believe in the right of the King,” she said, “but after a rather lengthy discussion that the King and I had this morning, I believe he is correct in this decision. I know him to be a good man and he would make an exceptional King. Perhaps, even better than his father, who I respect and love with all of my heart, but what comes next. In the words of a very wise man, can we take that chance?” She looked at him and he smiled.

“Thank you,” he said, as she stepped back to join DynDoeth, “I have decided to help in this transition by creating a new position which will have no power over the decisions of the council but that will offer insight into the council's debates. This position, much like that of king, will be hereditary in nature but will act only as a consult to the council with a single vote at times when tied votes are unbreakable. I, for now, will call it Regal Consult. If anyone can think of a better name, please inform me. If you would, Seileach, please have the scribe put this to paper so I can sign it at the coronation. That is all I have, Seileach. I thank you and the Council for your time.”

“This is unexpected,” Seileach stated. “After your fight to become King I was under the impression that being king was your goal.” He stopped as he thought about what this meant in the long term. This king, this half human was not after power as he had thought. He did not care about ruling a nation, perhaps, he did not even want to have that much control. He thought about the actions that the King had taken since he first arrived in the Village. He thought about the arrogance he had shown to the Council,

equaling that of Rian himself, and realized that he did that because of Rian. He had declared himself son of Erlenkönig. He had not declared himself king. Seileach could not remember Joulupukki ever referring to himself as king. He had been cold to Joulupukki, even after he had come to realize that the young halfling would make a very strong king, and maybe even a good king. He felt a bit of loss thinking that he would no longer be their king and realized that he had misunderstood Joulupukki's intentions from the beginning. Now he had brought back one of their most beloved heroes to the Village and retrieved the remains of their most beloved King and Queen to be re-interred at the Keep. “I think I speak for all of us here, you will be welcome as our King if you wish to change your mind before the coronation.” There was silent consent from all of the Councilmen as Joulupukki turned and started out of the chamber.

“Joulupukki.” The half elf turned to see the entire council standing, “My King,” Seileach said as he and each of the other members bowed deeply before him. He returned their bow with a nod of his head.

“Seileach,” he heard Dyndoeth call out, “Late Meal tonight?”

“We're having stuffed mushrooms,” Ceridfen added.

The Elder Councilman was caught off guard,

“Um, yes, thank you.” he hesitantly but happily responded.

Later that evening Seileach enjoyed a giant mushroom dinner with Joulupukki, Ceridfen, DynDoeth, Gwaldon, Bréagán, Chroí, Lumi and the two humans. It was a large gathering with many other friends and family and the event went on until a few hours before sunrise. They discussed many topics but most importantly Seilach discussed the arrangements he had made for Erlenkönig and Aisling. In two days they would have the ceremony and re-inter his mother and father.

“I hope you will like the new death boxes that I have arranged for with the Carpenter Elf. He said it was very short notice but has requested help from two other master carpenters. He said it will be ready for the ceremony. He stopped all of his other work to concentrate on this.”

“We will have to thank him and his associates appropriately for their help.”

“Yes, I think it appropriate but I'm not sure they will take anything you offer. They were so proud to be asked to take part in this great honor. I don't know if they will accept any compensation for the job.”

“I'll think of something,” Joulupukki intended to recognize everyone who had helped bring his parents back to the Village. Seileach found Jessica and her father to be delightful. Both, intelligent and quick witted, and unlike most of the elves he dealt with, able to see his own wit and humor. It had been a very long time but the Elder Councilman was familiar with humans. He had worked with them in the western land masses for several years, trying to help them slow their inevitable decline. They had so much potential but also so much hate for their fellow man. They had great prowess with numbers and exceptional night gazers. They had nearly mapped the entire sky, but they were constantly at war with one tribe or another dwindling the strongest and most capable of their young people. If that was not enough they were very superstitious, killing each other at will to appease their gods. He predicted the end of their civilization within just a few hundred years, and perhaps their culture as well; such a shame for such a rich heritage. He spoke at length with Raðulfr about his travels along the northern sea when he was younger, being particularly interested in the plants and animals that he had seen. He listened carefully as the 'Tale of the Northern Trolls' was begun by Bréagán who soon turned over the telling of it to Jessica. Her whispered voice drew the attention of all of the elves from the youngest to the most elderly.

“We traveled north, always north,” her profound whisper giving an air of importance and perilous intensity to the tale. The group had moved from the eating hall to the great room before she had taken over from Bréagán and every eye and ear was on her as she began. She recounted the events of their encounter with the trolls just as it happened but with a flare that entranced her audience. Even Gwaldon, Bréagán, and Dyndoeth were drawn into the story like a stream is drawn into a river and the river is drawn into the sea. Ceridfen sat enthralled, and Seileach could not take his eyes from the human. The young ones laughed and jumped as the tale cycled through intense emotions, ending with more than a few tears shed for the trolls and Joulupukki's attempt to help them.

“... and it is up to you whether you believe me or not, but that is the truth of the

'Tale of the Northern Trolls'. I know, for I was there.”

The room remained silent and Jessica glanced at Joulupukki. He chuckled with a huge smile stretching from ear to ear. He leaned over toward her.

“I haven't heard a tale told so well since my mother.” The whole room roared into comments and wonderful remarks.

“My dear, I was beside you through the whole ordeal, but I don't recall anything so grand as that which you said about me.” Bréagán admitted to her. “Please, I enjoyed your tale very much. It was so much better than if I had continued it.

“I'm glad you enjoyed it, Bréagán. As for what I expressed of you, I told only the truth.” Bréagán gave her a dubious smile. The young ones gathered around her filled with questions, some asking for another story, many of the adults showed their own curiosity and she answered as many inquiries as she could; until, Joulupukki saw how tired she was and unceremoniously whisked her away to her sleeping chamber.

“Thank you,” he said as he looked deep into her tired eyes. She laid back on her bed and Joulupukki spread a cover over her. I think you will do well here in the Village. She smiled up at him, then closed her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her good night. When he reappeared down stairs there was nothing but wonderful comments about his soon to be partner. Several of the elves went so far as to get annoyed at him for taking her away. Her father was still in the middle of the crowd laughing and joking

with a group that surrounded him. Joulupukki saw a small group of elders exiting the back of the cottage and he followed them out.

“Joulupukki, she is wonderful,” Ceridfen said as soon as she saw him.

“I think so too,” he replied.

“Where is the young lady,” asked Gwaldon?

“She was tired. I put her to bed,” was his response.

“She has a right to be,” Gwaldon continued. “I have not enjoyed a tale so much since, ahh, since Aisling.”

“Yes, she is very good.” His mind half on Jessica and half on his mother as they rounded the corner of the stable. They all stopped for a moment, their attention turned to the bright object in the sky.

“Is that your beacon,” Dyndoeth questioned Gwaldon?

“No, mine died when Joulupukki lifted from the ground after retrieving Erlenkönig, but it does seem to be the same bright object where our beacon was located and is certainly illuminating an object on the ground.”

“One of the humans we encountered on our trip mentioned something about a special child being born.” Lumi shared with them.

“Yes, there are many religions amongst the humans. Several of them speak of a child being born as their Messiah to guide them and teach them so the world will be a better place. I don't really know that much about it.”

“I hope it is him,” Ceridfen added. “We could certainly use a bit more caring in our lives.”

They all agreed and headed back into the cottage where each one went their own way, to a sleeping room or left to return to their own homes.

Two days passed without event before the ceremony to reinter Joulupukki's parents began. Because of where it was being held, the number of elves to participate had to be limited. With the last minute nature of the event the Village was unaware of the rite and, mostly, only close family and friends, and, of course the Council of Six attended. As they entered the courtyard the first thing Joulupukki and Jessica noticed were the new death boxes that Seileach had prepared for Erlenkönig and the Queen. They were superb yet understated with beautiful hand carvings of many of each of his parents' life events embedded in the wood, including images of them, and Joulupukki as well, carved in both boxes. Glass covered the top of each box and lifelike images were painted on the cerements in which the bodies were wrapped. The headstone that Joulupukki had carved, with the simple inscription 'Aisling', was embedded into the wall above her. An identical stone was placed above Erlenkönig with the inscription 'NydeligEn'. Starting above these stones was a beautifully carved remembrance of the two of them leading down to the ground between them and creating a path that ended at the base of the willow. Both his and Aislings date of birth and death were written in the text. He looked at it. December. “I see why you are so handsome,” Jessica said as she turned away from the boxes. “Your mother was beautiful, Joulupukki. Whomever created the painting is very skilled. It looks just as I remember her but younger. Is your father's accurate?”

“From what I remember of him, yes it is,” Joulupukki replied.

“He is as beautiful as your mother.”

“Yes, I guess he is. I don't think I would ever have thought to refer to him as beautiful, but you are right he was beautiful.” Joulupukki followed his betrothed over to the chairs on the dais. The ceremony began shortly after and there were many speakers who told of the honor and goodness of Erlenkönig and the strength and determination of his human wife. As the ceremony came to a close he noticed a small amount of magic being used close by . It was nothing that felt to be threatening and would probably not even have noticed it if not for it's unusual nature. He reached out with his own magic and found it difficult to pinpoint the origins of the energy being emitted.

“Is everything OK?” Jessica touched Joulupukki's hand.

He looked at her.

“Yes,” he said as he continued his search for the origins of the magic. “I feel something strange.” He relayed to her. He saw the look of concern slowly take over her expressive face and calmed her by saying, “It is nothing to be concerned about, my Love.” Then he realized where the energy was coming from. It was the old willow tree. He reached out to it and followed the líne of magic as it flowed up the tree, through the boughs and into a small branch that had grown through the window in the Royal Suite. Joulupukki was intrigued by what he felt. The tree struggled to supply enough energy to complete the task that it had set forth for itself, but continued with single minded determination anyway, even to the point of damage to itself. He felt for the old tree and allowed it to tap into his own magic until it had revived itself. There was no thanks offered by the willow. There was not even an acknowledgement of the existence of another living presence. The tree simply accepted the magic and used it toward its own end. Seileach turned from the burial and noticed Joulupukki staring up at the window. He wondered what was going through his thoughts. He was rather surprised at his answer when he asked what he was thinking.

“Have you noticed the willow branch growing through the window of the Royal Suite,” Joulupukki asked Seileach?

“What,” was Seileach's response, expecting Joulupukki to say something about the ceremony.

“Seileach, that was a beautiful ceremony and the new death boxes are exquisite. Thank you so much for your hard work in making this day as dignified and respectful as you have. I'm sure that Joulupukki feels the same way. Please forgive his absent minded rudeness.” She nudged Joulupukki which revived him from his intense wonderment affixing him to the branch of the willow tree.

“Uhh, I'm sorry Seileach, the ceremony could not have been more reverent. I know Erlenkönig would be pleased at such an exceptional tribute to him and his wife. Thank you for your help, especially with such short notice.”

“You are very kind, both of you. Now what were you saying about the window?”

“The window to the Royal Suite has a willow branch growing into it and the willow is sending magic through the branch. I see no reason to think that the magic is dangerous but I am awfully curious as to what it is being used for. Would you care to join Jessica and I in exploring our little mystery?”

As Joulupukki was talking, Seileach used his own magic to probe the tree,

“Ah, very interesting,” was his response. “Yes, by all means lead the way.” The three of them made their way into the vestibule. And proceeded to the second floor where the Royal Chambers were located, where Rian once held sway over many aspects of the operation of the kingdom, where Erlenkönig once lived with his Queen. They entered the suite. They immediately saw the limb of the willow snaking its way through the open door of the bedchamber where a large window was located behind ornate railing, surrounding a balcony. To their surprise it seemed to delicately grow around tables and chairs through the handle of one water jug and across the floor to the large desk located not far from the door. Upon examining the desktop, the branch seemed to have attached itself to the side of it. As they looked more closely they found a large portion of wood had been added to that section of the desk. “Fascinating,” Seileach's attention was solely on the limb and desk. As they watched they could see images developing on the desk. One appeared to be a scene of Erlenkönig fighting Rian in the courtyard with toys laying all around them. Another was his death with the stately willow tree growing from his remaining magic, but this one seemed unfinished. The intricacy of what appeared to be carvings was beyond description and the three of them stood watching the wood morph and change into recognizable patterns. After the initial shock began to lessen they explored the bas-relief images which told the entire life of Erlenkönig from when he was born to his untimely demise. The Erlenkönig section of the desk was completely out of proportion to the rest of the table. Only the great deeds of the ancestral elves were depicted, but Erlenkönig's seemed to show everything from beginning to end: his birth, his childhood, his marriage, where there began an offshoot to show Aisling's heritage, many aspects of the beautiful years before the return of Rian. Then there was the birth of Klaus which began a new extension to the desk, following Joulupukki's exploits including finding Lumi, his life with his mother and their travels and the beautiful life they shared in Nordgrend. The willow continued its work showing Jessica and all of the elves and even a few humans who played roles in Erlenkönig's and Joulupukki's lives. “Noone knew how the desk was created. This is truly a sight to behold Joulupukki.” Seileach's words trailed off as he saw the glisten in Joulupukki's eyes. Jessica was speechless and simply stood watching with her arms wrapped tightly around the king's. Joulupukki reached out to touch it then withdrew his hand as if he was scared of damaging it. The last image they watched before leaving was the ceremony that just ended. The image was still being created as they walked out of the room. “Joulupukki, you do realize that this is the Royal Suite and it is yours to use as you wish. I know you and DynDoeth have become very close over the last year, but you will be Joined soon,” he looked at Jessica, “to a very beautiful and intelligent woman. You may find you will have more privacy here in the Keep.”

Joulupukki and Jessica looked at each other and he responded.

“We will keep that in mind. Thank you.”

The next event to be held for Joulupukki was the coronation, which followed closely behind his parent's burial. He was very wary of what he would say at this event. Virtually every elf on the island was present. It was the most joyous of days and a happy party atmosphere prevailed. He did not want to destroy the frivolity of the moment, but, more, he did not want to create a fissure between the progressive younger elves and the more conservative older elves, especially the Village Elders. Of course he did have Gwaldon, Bréagán and most of all DynDoeth on his side. They had agreed to back his decision to eliminate the throne and the líne of ascension throughout the elfin kingdoms except as an advisor to the Elfin Council with the power of an equal vote if at some point a decision was met with a tie at council. With Seileach's backing and blessing the document that Joulupukki had requested of the council had been prepared to make his intentions official and binding. He began his long speech with a heartfelt greeting to the elves of the Village and with a thank you for their support during the unpleasant events that had unfolded surrounding the association with the former council member Brian and his band of Dark Elves. He almost broke down when relaying his feelings about what he saw as he ran through the cobbled streets from the Keep to DynDoeth's cottage during the battle. How his elfin brothers stood by him and helped him all along the way. The coronation began as usual and he was indeed crowned as King of the Village Kingdom. As they placed the crown on his head Seileach introduced him to the gathering as King Klaus the First. He stood and stopped the ceremony.

“Greetings my brothers and citizens of the Village Kingdom,” he began. “You may have heard a rumor that the Great King of All Elves, King Erlenkönig has been returned to the Village. That is true. I am sorry that we could not fit you all in the Keep's courtyard for the ceremony but he and his beloved Queen, Aisling, were re-interred there just a few short days ago. Our council scribe has written a beautiful account of the events and will be posting them throughout all of the elfin kingdoms as the copies are available. We encourage you to visit them in the courtyard of the Keep when you have a chance, for they both loved each and every one of you.” He continued with recollections of the deeds of the great king and of the importance of his many progressive policies, many of which have been reinstated since the demise of Brian. His focus slowly narrowing to the advantages of being governed by an elected council as opposed to being ruled by a sovereign whose only claim to govern was his right to rule by succession. “Erlenkönig was indeed a great king, but who am I to say that I will be able to follow so closely in his footsteps.” The crowd who had been up beat and screaming with joyous affirmations for the new king all day, suddenly became quiet, their attention fully focused on the king's speech. “I believe the elfin people should have their own views considered when important decisions are made that have a direct effect on their lives. For this reason I must allow the Council of Six as we all know them to be the governing body of all of the citizens of the Village. I have already made arrangements to have councils created by their citizens to rule locally in each of the six kingdoms with the final word to be given by vote of the Council of Six if there are disputes within or between councils. I will become permanent counselor to the Council of Six, and will hold equal voting power as each councilman but only if a tie in votes are cast. The order of succession will remain for this position for the foreseeable future. So, with this having been said, I renounce my right to be king and the right of royalty for all of my progeny and hereby dissolve the monarchy of the Village Kingdom.” He removed the crown that so many before him had worn and laid it beside the formal document that, upon signing, would bring forth a new era for the elves. Seileach handed him the inked quill and whispered,

“Are you sure of this, My King?”

Joulupukki looked him in the eye and then to Lumi and DynDoeth. Ceridfen sat on the stage as well, as one of the elders. She smiled at him. His roving eyes finally returning to Seileach's. He bent over the table and he signed the document. Touching the crown for a moment, he scanned the crowd which had become deathly silent. He saw elves that he recognized and elves that he didn't. He looked at their faces, filled with hope but also with apprehension. He straightened himself to his full height and yelled out.”

“Long live the Village!” There was an almost immediate response from the crowd.

“Long live the Village!” They chanted

“Long live the elves!” He responded.

“Long live the elves!” They repeated. Then Joulupukki called to the crowd to quiet them, seeing smiles touching each of their faces.

“I wish each of you long lives and prosperity, but mostly I wish you happiness and peace, and, please, from this day forward I will be known as Joulupukki.”

A roar of laughter enveloped the crowd as Joulupukki laughed along with them.

The Joining was one of subdued elegance. Seileach insisted on the ceremony being held in the Keep. Jessica was beautiful, beyond beautiful, she was exquisite. Her long red hair infused with sky blue Blåveis and white bell shaped Liljekonvall mingling in a beautiful waterfall along the right side of her head. Rødsildre weaved through the intricate braids that Chroí sculpted through her tresses, the pinkish flowers softened against the brilliance of the natural highlights in her hair with a crown of fragrant red Vivendel circling the top of her head. When Joulupukki saw her slowly walking down the winding staircase in the vestibule, her long azureus gown flowing like a stream down the stone of each tread, he was struck dumb. As she passed from step to step, the living hand rail bloomed deep violaceous coveys of wisteria flowers, a gift from Seileach's Forest Elves working in coordination with the Garden Elf. The whole ceremony felt like a dream. He listened as her bare feet tapped gently against the stone of the foyer tiles and crunched as she moved into the sand path of the courtyard where she joined, arm in arm, with her father who guided her from sun to shade and without any reticence placed her hand in Joulupukki's and stepped away. They stood beneath the willow tree and pledged their love and loyalty to one another, and, at length, were greeted by the numerous elves that lined the path winding through the Keep from the

vestibule to the courtyard and back into the Great Eating Hall, where a feast was laid out for all of the village elves to join in the festivities.

Many years peacefully passed as the Elfin Clans' Council refined their guidance of the elves of all six clans, each clan developing their own council that took deference to the lead of the Council of Six. On occasion Joulupukki was asked to offer his opinion and vote on a difficult issue on which the council was split. There were elves that were elected to the council who were hungry for power but none could muster the votes to gain control before their term came to an end. Eventually Seileach was relieved of his position as Elder Councilman and Ceridfen took over. Lumi, at the request of his friend Joulupukki became a member of the Village Council and eventually the Council of Six.

Jessica, in time, became ripe with child, the only child that she would bear.

“I know who that baby was,” a sweet young voice interrupted the story. This is my favorite part.

“Shhh,” came from the Storyteller, quieting the child.

Joulupukki knew his child to be special, a gentle child growing up, a happy child. He could feel the magic inside of him but knew, as different as his magic was from his fathers, so, his son's was from his. The boy seemed nearly oblivious to the evil in the world around them. Not so much naive as unwilling to allow the petty squabbling of the human, and elves alike, to alter his vision of the world around him. At his naming ceremony a few days after his birth, Seileach, although no longer a member of the council, was asked by Joulupukki to officiate. He gladly added his magic to that of the presiding council members. It was an unusually cold beginning to the winter with heavy snow already falling on the ground. Joulupukki and Jessica had moved from DynDoeth's cottage into the Royal Suite in the Keep many years before but they chose to have the naming ceremony at their friends home. Joulupukki wrapped the baby in one of his two red cloaks to keep the child warm as they strolled the frozen cobbles to DynDoeth's cottage, his magic keeping Joulupukki's coat and cloaks as fresh and clean as the day they were made. During the ceremony, Lumi and his wife, Chroí, were asked by Jessica to be Dia Athair to their new baby. Of course they were honored and agreed. Chroi and Jessica had become as close as sisters over the years and Ceridfen was like a mother to them. Many of his friends attended the naming

ceremony with one notable exception. It had been twenty seven years since Gwaldon had given up his magic and peacefully passed from this world. A sad day for all, especially for his good friend Bréagán. Bréagán, at the naming, joined his magic with Lumi's and created hundreds of toys, far too many to fit in the Royal Suite. They were stored in DynDoeth's stable until they could decide what to do with them. The date of the naming ceremony was seven turns of the earth after his birth, at midnight on December, thirty first. Jessica was amused but not surprised by the date. Both Joulupukki and Erlenkönig were born at precisely the same time, of course many years apart. The naming was a joyous occasion.

“Have you decided on a name for this beautiful child,” Seileach asked?

Jessica was the first to speak.

“We have discussed this at length and have decided to name the child after his father.” There was a silence that fell over the room. Each elf and several human guests looked at each other. Seileach had a concerned look on his face.

“Are you certain,” he questioned? A deep intake of breath was heard throughout the room, before Dyndoeth chuckled and offered the name that Jessica and Joulupukki had chosen.

Shortly after the naming they made arrangements to visit Jessica's home in Nordgrend. Her father, Raðulfr, sadly, had also succumbed to the last ringing of life's chimes as time's pendulum could no longer be wound and ceased its swing as they stood by to comfort him. The entire Hamlet turned out for his interment with many tears shed. All of the magic Joulupukki still retained was shared with Jessica which allowed her to live an exceptionally long life. They grew into a rhythm where they spent half of the year in the Village building toys and gadgets alongside Bréagán. Then they would take these toys and give them to the elves in each of the clans, or at least what was left of the clans. As they arrived in Nordgren they would give what remained of them to the children of the hamlet. The child grew up strong and healthy with the stature of his father's human side, and the blue eyes and rosy cheeks of his elfin side, his mother always present inside of him as the gentleness in his soul. He accompanied his parents throughout their travels, occasionally stopping to visit some of the secluded elfin outposts. Joulupukki taught him well, how to guide the hreinin deer, reindeer, as he grew to know them, through the sky, calling each one by name. He always wore the red coat and breeches his mother had made for him to keep him warm, and Joulupukki, his green overcoat. What a sight they were flying through the sky led by a team of deer. The elves had long accepted their declining role in controlling their world, so quickly being overrun by the humans, their magic slowly fading. Both the Northern Clan and Village Clan agreeing to join as a single clan, they doubled the size of the Village Council and agreed to retain six councilmen in the Elfin Clans' Council. The Village and Northern Clans met at the north pole where they joined as one. Being more remote, the Southern Clan decided to remain independent as much as possible, moving their Clan into the mountains of the most southern continent, near the southern pole, the poles being a great source of power, where, eventually, they lost communication with the other clans. No one knew what happened to them. With the assistance of the council the Ibero Clan found a new home for their kingdom on a remote island near their original home. With their new group of Elders, they managed to befriend some of the local inhabitants but eventually fell back into their old habits and the kingdom was again destroyed, this time by internal strife. The Erin Elves and many of their leprechaun brothers were strengthened with the aid of the Village, but decided to seek out the Forest Elves and join with their clan, being mostly of nature and having more in common with them than with the Village Elves. They were welcomed by the Forest Kingdom who guided them with the care of all living things, both plants and animals, and were taught that if the magic truly died neither the humans nor elves would matter, because without the magic nothing could survive. The Erin Elves and leprechauns, in turn, taught the Forest Elves that even if they were alive, life was not worth living if you didn't learn to enjoy it, at least on occasion, and brought laughter into the trees. There was also a great but secretive mingling of elves and humans, which helped to preserve the elfin race within the human society, but also weakened the magic even more.

This time in the world's history was a time of great change. The human population was growing exponentially. Exploration was becoming the new norm and it wouldn't be long before humans occupied every corner of the world. The elves always hiding in the shadows had become nothing more than legends mixed in the dark tales of human society, pulling farther and farther from the good elves that surrounded them. This hurt Joulupukki, watching the magic slowly disappear, and watching the elves fade into history as humans searched for an identity of their own, some clinging to their old ways and beliefs while others turning to the numerous new religions that were popping up everywhere. He watched as these groups pushed and pulled at themselves, with both internal and external struggles still suffering from the same old problems that always faced humans, greed, corruption, immorality to name a few, but he also saw many who wanted to be better and strove to help others which was something he had never know of humans before. Many of these holy groups left horrible stains on those they were supposed to help, but within these religions there were individuals who would stand up and not let their leaders abuse their power and in this Joulupukki saw hope. He discovered a new human word in his observance of this phenomenon, helgen. Almost every human language had a translation for it, heilige, sant, naomh and each seemed to hold it in great esteem. These people of their society were seen as the greatest and best of who they were.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A babe born, in darkness braved

Bring love to the world if only for a day

No questions asked, nor answered, nor saved

Let peace abide in every child, we pray

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they stood watching their son, enthralled in his helplessness, lost in his beautiful blue eyes, he thought of Seileach's question. Yes I'm certain he thought to himself as he whispered,

“Claus, “Claus.” He smiled at the baby lying there.

Jesssica looked at him as she wiped the tears from her face, then gently reached up and wiped one from his cheek as well. He leaned down and kissed her.

“Klaus,” Dyndoeth said loud enough for everyone to hear, “but spelled with a C-Claus.” The sighs that followed were loudly audible. “With all of the world going through such great changes, Joulupukki's one concession to naming their child was that he did not want his child's name to be confused with his own. He feels that Claus will be remembered long after he and Erlenkönig have been forgotten.”

“Claus,” the former king whispered again. My beautiful child. My beautiful little helgen. Claus, Saint Claus.”

“Santa Claus,” Jessica smiled at Joulupukki with a knowing look on her face. From that day forward, Santa was the nickname that Joulupukki endowed upon his child.

“Santa Claus!” The young elf cried out.

“Yes young one, Santa Claus,” the red cloaked figure said as he smiled at all of them.

“I knew it was you, I knew it,” she said as many of the other children chimed in, interrupting the tale that Santa had been telling them all evening. Mixed among them were children and adults of all ages, elves and humans of all clans and colors. It was late evening, December twenty fifth and Santa Claus was growing tired after his long trip and many deliveries the night before, and spending the day recounting the tale of his family. He thought he would let Mrs. Claus tell the tale next Christmas. He had been telling it since it was turned over to him by his mother many, many years before. There was no getting out of it. It seemed to be the highlight of the year for many of the people in Village both elf and human. Mrs. Claus poured him a cup of hot chocolate and settled down beside him with a plate of freshly baked cookies. He glanced around the Great Eating Hall in the Keep where the after Christmas banquet was held each year. So many smiling faces looked up at him. He stopped on one he knew well. Lumi, was shaking his head and rubbing his tummy. He leaned toward him,

“You know how hungry you get when you fly with the deer, if it wasn't for all of the milk and cookies the children leave, I would starve.”

Both he and Chroí laughed as she nudged the elf and defensively but playfully warned him,

“Leave him alone.”

“How is your mother and father?” Lumi asked the big man.

Santa let out a deep breath and replied,

“They are well. They chose to spend the season in Nordgrend this year. Mother was feeling her age and did not want to make the trip. I stopped to see them last night. They seemed content. Mother is getting older and father dotes over her like an old maid.” He smiled as he said this, “the once great King.”

“Perhaps we will go see them when the seasons change,” Lumi offered.

“They would like that,” Santa replied.

“Then it is settled.” Chroí added.

“I think it is time for me to retire. I have had a long couple of days.” Santa stood, “If you will excuse me.” They both nodded to him. “Everyone, if I may have your attention.” He spoke with an authoritative voice. “I'm afraid it is time for me to get some rest. Please, do not leave on my account. The food will be out for as long as you are eating it and the music will play until the musician's fingers grow tired.” One of the musicians played a few notes from a Jig letting them know they were ready for dancing.

“Good night all.” As he made his way across the floor he heard from one of the elfin children.

“I liked last year’s better. There were more polar bears in it and not so much mushy stuff.”

A second child, this time a human, chimed in,

“Yeah, and there was actual magic.”

Santa laughed at this, ruffling the human child's hair.

“Ha ha ha, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho,” his deep voice resounded. “Now James, don't be naughty and next year I'll try to leave out some of the mushy parts.” The boy looked up at him smiling, as he stroked his long white beard and wiggled his finger then slowly laid it aside his nose. His body dissolved into a sparkle of lights that swirled around the two children, out of the open door and rose up the circular staircase in the vestibule, quickly disappearing from sight.

“I wish Joulupukki would show me how to do that.” Lumi stood and reached for his wife's hand as she stood giggling. “What,” he said?

She put her arm around him and replied,

“I hope you never grow up.”

He leaned over and gave her a long full kiss on her lips with hundreds of eyes watching them.

Lullaby For the Son of the King

sleep, come sleep, come

sleep my son,

sleep do hasten to my child's weary eyes,

in morning you'll awake

to a bright sunrise

rock my child, rock him

rock him to sleep

in a throne made of gold

Let Mani keep him

safe in his hold

In the morning when day breaks

let Sol guide your way

through the window, beams,

your tale, to awaken

all your dreams.

Sleep come sleep my son.

Comments