Lost in Midstar, Part 2 - "I'm Tired And I'm Hungry"

I felt the soft embrace of the matress underneath me and the blanket covering my body as I woke up. I faintly recalled what seemed to be a distant dream as I opened my eyes, expecting to be greeted by the familiar surroundings of my small, New York bedroom. But I had a feeling I wouldn't. I knew my house doesn’t smell of fresh, forest air. I knew my bed isn’t that comfy. I opened my eyes to walls of polished stone and wooden furnishings. I sat up in bed and ran my hands through my curly hair, lettinging out a soft groan.
“No, this can’t be for real,” I said to myself.
“Nu felli remmathéne,” I heard the voice of a somewhat familiar woman say. I turned my head to see the cloaked woman with the dark hair, leaning against the wall by the entryway. She began to walk toward me.
“Oh God, people are speaking Greek or something now,” I complain. “Why did I have to follow that guy? I’m tired and hungry, and I just want to be back home.” I rested my face in my palms.
“Fret not, child. You may not be home,” the woman started, “but you are in good hands. My people here in Northwood may be able to help you find your way back to this mysterious home that you speak of.”
“Your people?,” I ask. “Do you mean, everyone here is an elf like you?”
“Elves? Heavens, no, child. Elves are small, mischievous creatures of children’s stories and folktales, like fairies. They’re very rare to come by. My people here are Míhrfaen, the People of the Forest. We are descended from the Cíthna ûn ad Ibíhrna, the Children of the Trees, and so are the Astánafaen, the People of the Stars.” I was somewhat confused, but I tried to go along with it.
“Well, my people are the Jews, who are descended from the Israelites,” I said, trying to find a way to connected with her.
“I have never heard of ‘Israelites’. Do tell, where exactly are you from,” she questioned with intrigue.
“Well, it’s definitely not this world. I don’t know how I ended up in a place that probably no one else from my world was aware even existed. I don’t know how a world like this exists.” She pulled a chair over and sat to the side of the bed.
“I see you are very confused. Your name was Aaron, if I recall correctly?”
“Yes. What was yours?”
“Tircínwen.” The sound of her soft, accented voice had began to ease my nerves, and I felt comforted looking into her dark, beautiful eyes. “Well, Aaron, before you tell of your home, I wish to tell you of mine, so that you might be acquainted with this different place.” Out of her pouch hanging from her belt, she pulled out a small, semi-worn map.
She told me the world I was in Esin Dirna, the Eastern Lands. The year was 3,056 of the Third Era. She said that Yahnírran and the Makers, who created the elements of the universe, also created the world called Midstar. The Ibíhrnacith, also called the Faen, were fair, long living people who came to this world from a distant realm long ago. They were created by the Maker Ihrmathnil, and mothered by the goddess Bothilen. Their society eventually split, heading either south into the forests or north into the plains and mountains. The Dwarfs were created by the three sons of the Maker Alnirdur, and they settled in the mountains to the west. And between them is the kingdom of men, who eventually brought the Faen and Dwarfs together after disputes and skirmishes between them long ago. There were dragons as well that lived peacefully with them in ages past, but have now aided as a hand to dark powers, and many fled west long ago.
After she was finished, I told her I am from Earth, and that I lived in the country of America. The year was 2018 A.D. to most people, but to my people, the year was 5779. I told her of how Earth was created by God in six days, and that He rest on the seventh. I told her of how He created Adam from the dust of the earth, and his wife Eve, who was made from his rib. Then I told her of how Satan appeared to Eve as a serpent in the garden of Eden, and tempted her to eat of the forbidden fruit, and it led to the Fall of men.
“Generations later, my people, the Israelites, were enslaved by the Egyptians, forced to serve them and their kings in the desert. But eventually, a man named Moses was commanded by God to lead His people out of the desert. So after bringing ten plagues to the Egyptians, their ruler, Pharaoh, let them go. But then, he sent his men and their chariots to recapture them. Moses parted the Red Sea for them to cross, and when they got to the other side, he closed it and drowned them. After that, Moses lead them through the wilderness for many years.”
“Fascinating! I should soon wish to hear more of these stories of yours,” she said. “But I suppose we’ve spent enough time sharing stories with one another. What I wanted to mention was that my cousin lives here in Northwood. He’s a scholar. This is his house, in fact. He may know something about other worlds and how you may be able to get back to yours. If you cannot return immediately, you are welcome to come with us. I would feel awful leaving you here on your own.”
“Well, I guess you guys are the only ones who could guide me through a strange world like this. Will I get to carry a sword,” I ask her.
“Only if you don’t want to get killed by a troll or a highwayman,” she says. “Nrög will teach you how to wield one. Oh, and that spell Maerith casted on you? The one that allows us to understand each other? It will be wearing off in the next few hours. When it does, he’ll have to start teaching you the common tongue. You’ll catch on, though,” Tircínwen assured me. “Maybe I’ll teach you some Faenir as well.”
“Wait, I have to learn a new language now? Why can’t he just cast the spell on me again?”
“It takes too much of his energy to cast a spell like that. I’m sure he’d rather spend that energy on other spells,” she told me.“Also, I’ll bring you more suitable attire. It would draw unwanted attention wearing strange clothes such as those,” she told me. I was still wearing my jeans and my NASA t-shirt, along with my Nike shoes I had worn to school that day, .
“I’m in for a long ride,” I say to myself as she walks out of the room.