Go Check On The Princess

“I should go check on the princess.”

“Okay. I will head down to the village and see if your clothes are done.” Elena smiled and opened the door for me. I almost ran into he head priestess when I stepped out.

“See you found everything.” She smiled.

“Yes. I am sorry if my presence has caused you any problems.”

“Only slightly but not completely unwelcome. When one lives a peaceful life here in the sanctuary a little distraction can be a welcome change of pace.” She smiled. Her mannerisms and movements reminded me of the queen. Slow and elegant. Almost like a dance as she moved.

“Don't suppose you can point me toward the Arcanaeum?”

“Gladly.” She smiled and turned holding out an arm and began to walk. I followed her along a winding hallway and down some steps then out to an open area were there were more gardens. The architecture was marvelous and so open compared to human construction. She led me over a bridge that crossed a small stream till we passed through an archway and a barrier spell of some kind. As I looked back I saw only wilderness. Least I knew the princess was safe inside when she was their. As I glanced up I saw the elder tree. It rose higher then any tree or building I had ever seen. It's branches reaching out in every direction.

“I had that same look the first day I saw it.” The head priestess smiled.

“Indeed.”

“Here we are.” She said as she held up her hand. I saw another archway with vines growing around it. A slight ripple in the air that hinted it was a passage way as well. “You are aware you will be tested before you can enter.”

“Yes. Not that I am very good with magic but I can give it a try.” I nodded. “Thank you high priestess for everything. Mostly the not letting me die part.”

“We live but to serve. I wish you luck.” She smiled and touched my arm before letting her fingers slid away. I gave her a look over thinking about how she looked naked. I took a deep breath and walked through the archway.

There was a small garden and a fountain. I saw four people. One was a human male, much to my surprise, who sat on a stone bench. Another elven male paced back and forth as he looked at a second archway with two statues on either side. Both statues looked to be nude elven women who held swords over the archway. An elven female sat on the ground throwing rocks at the second barrier that the statues guarded. Another golden blonde haired woman with gold wings folded on her back stood over a stone tablet in front of the barrier as she ran her fingers over the words written over it. A valkyrie. I had only ever seen one other valkyrie and she was the queens personal guard. The two of us had never even spoken.

“Seems we have another one.” The human on the bench gave me a smirk.

“Hello.” The valkyrie smiled and gave me a smile. I walked forward to touch the barrier.

“I wouldn't do that if I was you.” The elven woman on the ground shook her head.

“Why is that?”

“You can only get in if you solve the riddle. Only one person can get in per week. It's a test. ” The pacing elf said as he shook his head.

“And let me guess. It's in elvish.” I walked over to the tablet.

“Of course.” The pacing elf smirked at me.

“Only he can pass that shows wisdom in mind and purity of heart least the guardians will not yield. The way in is not always clear and not always were you would look. The guardians stand judge over all who seek to enter here and answer all efforts to those who try to enter in kind. Only then shall their vigil be unbroken.” The Valkyrie read it to me and smiled.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

“I am Ava by the way.” She offered her hand and I shook it.

“The last part means don't try using any attack magic isn't that right Ladron?” The female elf on the ground said as she looked at the guy on the bench. He held up a hand wrapped in bandages and gave her the middle finger. Burns from what I could see.

“I take it you all have went around...”

“To see if there is another way in.” The pacing elf cut me off. “Nothing. I checked every inch. The door is the only part of the barrier that responded to my magic.”

“I tried flying over but its a perfect dome.” I could see that it wasn't just a puzzle or a test. The mage's were learning from one another. Even if they didn't see it themselves.

“And she has just been sitting there throwing rocks at it.” The pacing elf said as he looked at the girl on the ground but she just went back to trowing rocks. I could see what she was doing. Each rock created a ripple as it passed through. She was looking for any kind of change in the field.

“Keep at it. You might wear the barrier down in a century or two.” The man on the bench shook his head. “Fuck it. I'm done for today. Always tomorrow. You guys have fun.”

“Sounds good to me I am starving.” The pacing elf followed suit.

“Wisdom in mind. May not mean power in magic but mental reasoning.” I said running the words over and over in my head.

“Thought of that. The statues are our judges. How they judge us is what we don't know. Hell at this point I would fuck both statues if I though it get me inside but I think that wouldn't get me far with the whole purity of heart bit but it said they answer in kind.” The elven girl replied.

“Why didn't you tell those two?” I looked down at her.

“They have been at it longer. If I figured it out they would have tried to stop me and enter themselves. I have seen them try it just last week with some new elf girl who thankfully had a body guard. They have been at it over a month now and she figured it out in under a minute. Even if they knew something they wouldn't share it.” Suddenly I hated them as much as she did since I knew she was talking about the princess.

“You will have to forgive her. Jinx isn't the trusting type.” Ava smiled.

“Yes. But once you get to know me you will see deep down I am a real bitch at heart.” She smiled.

“We both agreed Jinx could go ahead of me.” Ava shook her head.

“You mean you decided and only because Valkyrie live hundreds of years. You have all the time in the world but I still rather get in on my own abilities thank you and not someones charity.”

“You might be on the right path.”

“About the fucking part? If you think the stone girls are into that sort of thing me and you can have a go of it right here. Ava can watch or even join in if she like.” The elf smiled up at me.

“Pass.” Ava shook her head and blushed. “I think you have the wrong archway. The sanctuary is that way.”

"No thanks. I would fuck a troll before I set foot on sanctuary grounds."

“They answer all in kind. Maybe you have to do something for them.” I looked at the statues. The detail was incredible.

“Their statues what could they possibly need?” She said and I saw her jump up.

“Fuck.” She ran over to the statue filling it up as she ran her hands over it's body.

“What?”

““Statues break.” I smiled. “Only then shall their vigil be unbroken. They can only rest when they are whole again.”

“Found it.” The elf smiled as she held up a piece of stone and found the place were it went in the back.

“Well put it where it goes.” Ava said.

“I don't know the spell.” She frowned.

“Sarcio.” I shrugged. She had figured it out before I had even if it was by seconds. I only wanted to get in to see the princess so I could wait a few hours but she wanted to be a student.

“Sarcio.” She said and the cracks around the missing piece mended. She ran towards me and gave me a kiss. “It worked.” She said and she vanished. I turned to see Ava was gone as well.

“Indeed.” An older elven woman said as she came forward through the archway. I noticed she walked with a staff and wore a blindfold over her eyes.

“Where did they go?” I looked around.

“The test is different for everyone. The two of them completed the challenge over a year ago though the echo of their magic lingers here just as does the magic of those two who walked away after trying for so long but were unable to see pass themselves. They all were mealy fragments of the past brought together to test you to see if you were worthy to enter. It takes more then an ability to cast a few spells to master magic. You had not only the knowledge to pass the test, but wisdom to seek aid in others, reasoning to find the answer without the use of magic and the heart to let another go before yourself. Truthfully you are the first to ever enter without using a lick of magic even though you are here to see the princess.”

“You were expecting me?”

“I am an oracle as well as head maven here at the Arcanaeum. Though I am also the only maven so its not that great of an accomplishment.” She nodded.

“You can foresee the future?” I had heard of oracles but never thought they were real.

“Some.” She said and motioned for me to follow as she walked. I smiled and followed her through the second archway. The Arcanaeum grounds were just as beautiful as the sanctuary though smaller. I saw a few student in group who were watching as one was preforming magic.

“Time is like a river. I can see the path ahead of me but not past the next bend. I catch glimpses of possible futures in my dreams but they can change before they become reality. When I am awake I only see things that will not change for certain. You coming here was certain the moment you saved the princess. What you will wear tomorrow I have no idea since you may pick something different just because I have mentioned it but I know it will rain tomorrow because neither of us have the power to change it so I would suggest you dress accordingly. The farthest I can see is that I know that next winter thankfully will not be as long as the last.”

“Good to know.” I smiled. She talked as if I had asked her all of this already but to her I probably had. If she really could see the future she might be able to foresee someone attack the princess.

“This is for you.” She held out a book.

“I haven't even decided if I want to be a student.” I smiled and took it all the same.

“Nor will you but a little defensive magic is what you will ask me to teach you after you get hurt. It's in lowlander ruin so you can read it” She smiled. "You have a habit of it from what I have seen which is why I gave you the book.” She smiled.

“Sounds about right.” I nodded and opened it up giving it a look over. A little defensive magic could come in handy.

“Speaking of which. Watch the root.” She put her staff out to stop me. I looked down to see I had almost tripped over it. “You will want to hand me the book now.”

“Why?” I said as I handed it to her. Before she could answer I saw the princess running at me at full speed. She ran into me and held me tightly as she squeezed me.

“Your okay. I was so worried you wouldn't be.” Princess Rosalyn said not letting go as she clutched my jacket tightly.

“Thanks to your mother.” I rubbed her back.

“So did you pass the test?” The princess said as she finally let go and wiped a few tears from her eyes.

“Yes. No where near as fast as you had but he seems quit resourceful and patient. A quality you still have yet to learn I hear.” The head maven said as she handed me back the book.

“Right, sorry I got ahead of myself. I promise not to try it again.” The princess blushed.

“Please do. Magic is a tool that can be just as dangerous as it is useful if not handled with caution.”

“What did you do?” I asked as the maven walked away.

“She tried teleportation magic. Sadly her clothes didn't come with her. I thought it was hilarious myself.” The auburn haired wood elf named Artemis came over. I was surprised to find her in a dress instead of the typical hunting outfits she wore.

“Thankfully I was in my room and only moved a foot.” The princess blushed brightly.

“Artemis. What are you doing here. Are you taking classes too?”

“Just telepathy. I will probably never be as good as mom being half human but they say I have potential. Me and Rose's come here and I act as Rose's handmaiden while at the sanctuary.”

“And this is Kara my new body guard.” The princess said looking at the tall blonde woman with wings. She was as beautiful but also intimidating. A valkyrie like the illusion I had meet at the gate.

“Thanks for keeping vigil over me as well when I was out.”

“It was the least I could do for what you had done for my lady. You have many virtues of a great warrior.” She smiled and glanced down and then back up. She was messing with me as a she gave a sly smile. Despite the fierceness she displayed without effort I saw a kindness in her deep blue eyes.

The princess introduced me to every one and I even saw the real Jinx and Ava. The ghost I saw seemed to reflect them as Ava was surrounded by others while Jinx practiced alone as she diligently poured over a book only acknowledging me long enough to give me a look over and a smile before she went back to her book.