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Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 46

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 suite; 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.  He crawled into his bed repeating over and over to himself, it will be OK, I am a politician.

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