Roses on Fire ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 2.
Chapter 14 ~Hiwaya

When Áedh’s wounds healed more or less, they resumed their way to Hiwaya. This time they had to stop frequently, since Áedh needed rest from time to time. Not like Ivelle wasn’t grateful. She started getting used to the long walks, but she still got tired quicker than the others. She was used to buses, metros and taxis, after all...

After two days they arrived at a cliff, which was linked with another mountain with a narrow stone bridge. One by one they stepped on the bridge. She was the last one, and before setting her foot on it she looked down. Bad decision. Under them was a kilometres deep gap.

She took a deep breath and started walking slowly after the others. She wasn’t afraid of heights, but she was certainly afraid of slipping, falling, and eventually dying...

When she made it through the bridge, she blew out her breath. She was still alive. Rhetta stood in front of the stone wall of the mountain with raised hands, murmuring a Latin spell. Slowly, circular lines appeared on the wall, forming two trees. The branches of the trees encircled a crescent moon, with a crown above it.

Rhetta walked up to the wall and touched it. Heavy stone doors opened under the trees.

“Welcome to Hiwaya, the City of Dreams.” she said and stepped in.

They followed her. On either side of the stone door, sentries were guarding the city. They looked at them, but as Rhetta nodded towards them, they eased and let them enter the city.

Ivelle was standing there dumfounded. It was the most astonishing city she’d ever seen. Hiwaya was the ensemble of infinite tunnels carved into the mountain. Stone steps were leading from one floor to the other.

On every floor, stone bridges were leading from one place to the other, just like the highways in the big American cities. On every floor thousands of people were rushing from one place to the other, not noticing them. The tunnels were lit by hundreds of floating lanterns and were decorated with carvings in the walls. As Rhetta led them higher and higher, they met elves, fairies, humans, nymphs, and many others.

As they reached, what seemed like the last floor, Rhetta led them to a heavy oaken door, and knocked in. Instead of an answer the door opened, and let them in. They arrived in a great octagonal room, with bookcases next to every wall, and a great oaken desk in its middle. Behind the desk was sitting an old lady, with grey hair, writing something on a long parchment.

They slowly walked up to her and waited in silence. Ivelle felt quite awkward from the great silence, and looked from the woman to her companions, but everyone seemed to be at ease.

As she took a closer look at the lady, she noticed her pointed years. Fairies don’t age. Then how come she looks that old? It didn’t make any sense, at least not for Ivelle.

When she finished her writing, the woman put away her quill, and with a wave of her hand made the parchment disappear in thin air. She slowly stood up and looked at them.

“Welcome to Hiwaya.” she said on a gentle tone “I’m Snaedis, first among the elders of Tilia. What brings you to our city?” she looked at them expectantly.

“We came here, to seek for your help.” said Adrastos bowing sightly.

“And why should I help the Dark Prince of Nendawin, the one who’s responsible for the misery of many people?” for a moment surprise ran through Adrastos’s face, but as always, it quickly disappeared, giving its place to his usual calmness.

“Because now we’re on the same side-”

“I’m on nobody’s side.” cut Snaedis him off.

“I don’t believe it’s true.” started Áedh.

“And tell me Áedh, Prince of Stone and Fire, why do you think it’s not true?” she looked him in the eyes “Are you calling me a liar?”

“In no way would I call you a liar.” he took a deep breath “But we have a common enemy. King Merikh of Nendawin, or as he nowadays calls himself, Emperor of the Empire of Nendawin.”

“Merikh’s not my enemy.” stated Snaedis.

“Not yet.” answered Adrastos quickly “But once he defeated the Kingdoms of Sanctuary, the Forgotten Lands will be the next ones. And then you’ll be in danger too.”

Snaedis sat behind her desk. For a few moments she just sat in silence, then spoke up.

“What do you want?”

“We are looking for the last Sister. Her name is Charis.”

“What do you want from her?” asked the woman with surprise in her voice.

“Merikh took the Dark Blade. We need her help.”

“Maybe she can’t help.” said Snaedis examining Adrastos.

“Maybe, but we have to try.” he said honestly.

“I’ll talk to the Elders and see what they think.” she said simply “Rhetta, give rooms to our guests.”

Rhetta bowed and quickly led them out.

“Well, it was better than I expected.” grinned Adrastos, as he walked next to Ivelle.

“Good to know.” smiled Ivelle “Adrastos, tell me something.”

“Hm?”

“Snaedis looked old. But she was an elf, or more like an alven.” said Ivelle, remembering, the alvens’ tanned skin.

“We can get old if we want to.” responded Adrastos “Most of us just don’t want to.”

“I didn’t know that...”

“There’s many things you don’t know yet, Elle.” he smiled.

He was right. Every day she found something new. Something simple and obvious, that she didn’t know that. Maybe that’s how her life’s going to be: every day learning something new. Maybe you must be born in the Sanctuary to get to know it completely.