The Ranger and the Tree Spirit
Sitting looking at the ring his brother had gifted him Tharivol Eldan asked his brother Syrravel Eldan if he knew anything about it...
Father Athalon Eldan told me a story once. While walking through the sacred grove as a youngling he came across an injured Dryad. Few had been seen for hundreds of years, and indeed, it was thought their existence to be myth. The wood spirit was scared and tried to escape the hunter's trap left there to prevent scavengers from seeing off with the gifts to the forest. He calmly walked up to her and tried to reassure it that all would be well, that he was there to help.
Seemingly Unable to understand him the Dryad pulled and screamed, panicked and tried to escape.
Looking at her and with a reasuring smile he slowly released the trap. The Dryad sprang away but was lame and soon fell prone. Slowly again father moved forward hands up, showing no malice, then knelt beside the injured spirit and proceeded to add a salve to her wound. The Dryad slowly realised that he was trying to help her and soon let him tend to her wound. He spoke of many things to keep her calm, despite the fact he wasn't sure if she understood him but his voice, his tone, his tenderness seemed to relax her. He spoke of meeting our mother of having twins who he hoped would grow up to be rangers just like him, how he had never felt love for anything as much as he had when we were born and that he would do anything to make sure we were safe. The Dryad listened intently and even seemed to shed a tear, something father was unsure was because of the pain or because of his words. Either way, when he had finished he smiled and told the spirit that she had no reason to be afraid and that his people were guardians of these groves. The trap was not intended to snare ones as they and that he would make sure his people removed the rest. "No need Athalon, son of Elden, I just needed to know you were pure of heart and spirit." A voice whispered in the trees around him. Shocked father looked around him but then looking back saw nothing, nothing except a green gem, glinting in the midday sun. Never again did he see the wood spirit again, or hear her words but he kept the gem with him and placed it within his signet ring The Forest's Promise
Father Athalon Eldan told me a story once. While walking through the sacred grove as a youngling he came across an injured Dryad. Few had been seen for hundreds of years, and indeed, it was thought their existence to be myth. The wood spirit was scared and tried to escape the hunter's trap left there to prevent scavengers from seeing off with the gifts to the forest. He calmly walked up to her and tried to reassure it that all would be well, that he was there to help.
Seemingly Unable to understand him the Dryad pulled and screamed, panicked and tried to escape.
Looking at her and with a reasuring smile he slowly released the trap. The Dryad sprang away but was lame and soon fell prone. Slowly again father moved forward hands up, showing no malice, then knelt beside the injured spirit and proceeded to add a salve to her wound. The Dryad slowly realised that he was trying to help her and soon let him tend to her wound. He spoke of many things to keep her calm, despite the fact he wasn't sure if she understood him but his voice, his tone, his tenderness seemed to relax her. He spoke of meeting our mother of having twins who he hoped would grow up to be rangers just like him, how he had never felt love for anything as much as he had when we were born and that he would do anything to make sure we were safe. The Dryad listened intently and even seemed to shed a tear, something father was unsure was because of the pain or because of his words. Either way, when he had finished he smiled and told the spirit that she had no reason to be afraid and that his people were guardians of these groves. The trap was not intended to snare ones as they and that he would make sure his people removed the rest. "No need Athalon, son of Elden, I just needed to know you were pure of heart and spirit." A voice whispered in the trees around him. Shocked father looked around him but then looking back saw nothing, nothing except a green gem, glinting in the midday sun. Never again did he see the wood spirit again, or hear her words but he kept the gem with him and placed it within his signet ring The Forest's Promise
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