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Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 26

“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 there 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 back 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 to 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 God Father,
who presided with the Council of Six over my childhood naming
ceremony.  He is the the one who named me Il.”
The elfs smiled at this.
     “Happier days,” Ceridfen remembered.

Copyright © James Inman | Year Posted 2021

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