#ardri

The song continued after that, chasing after the three powerful crowns as they made their way through countless lives and eventually were hidden away after the wars to prevent their misuse. But Ardri had gotten lost in thought, trying to piece together the fragments he knew about the different crowns and their long history. He was still thinking about it when they returned to the home of the Elf they were staying with late that night; when the very first rays of dawn were just beginning to show themselves on the distant horizon beyond the mountains.

In no way had he been expecting them to end up arguing with Giants about the best course of action. They’d come to the place where the colossal Faerie creatures met whenever they woke, because Rienna had said that if any were not sleeping, they might be called upon for aid. Instead of simply one Giant, they found all of them. Faerie was vast, perhaps even eternal, and yet there were only 17 Giants in existence. To call them giant was not enough to truly describe them. Big enough to sit among mountains and still have their heads rise above the peaks. Yet they were not like many human stories that concerned giants. They were not ugly or foolish, they did not keep gold laying geese nor mystic harps that played music of their own accord, they did not waylay travelers or eat unsuspecting children. No, the giants were as beautiful as any Lord or Lady of Faerie. Elegant and dreamlike, as if the very land had claimed them as its own, as part of the horizon’s beauty, not to be questioned by mortal conceptions of appearance. And their thoughts were strange to most Folk, they were concerned with only that which was as all encompassing and great as they, and could hardly conceive of anything lesser or more mundane. Some spent eons calculating numbers of inconceivable sizes, reaching for ever higher infinities. Others thought of eternity and immortality, or of Love and even Death. To them the world was merely history, a sweeping array of great deeds and cruelties, of rulers and crowns, of triumphs and defeats. The place where they met was a sea of blood red waters that glowed softly from below, and surrounding the sea were a chain of mountains that had been carved to make them a ring of thrones they could rest upon as they spoke. In the center of the sea, floating high in the air above the waves, there was an island of stone. Those who wished to speak to the Giants could stand upon the windswept grass of that lonely isle and say what what they wished. It was not certain that the Giants would ever truly understand what even other Faeries spoke of, but they would listen carefully just the same, and ponder it with the very same seriousness as they did all things. For four days they’d been here and Rienna had discovered that while the Giants agreed that the events happening were important enough for their attention, they did not necessarily agree on what must be done. Rienna wanted to drive the armies that ravaged Faerie’s wonders back into their prisons, or better yet into another world entirely. If they could not be saved, and could not be killed, then they should be cast out so that no others were hurt by them. Surprisingly, the Giants disagreed. They spoke long and often of cycles that repeated, wounds that did not heal for millennia. How to end the destruction without causing it to come again in the future? They weren’t the only ones who had come to speak with the Giants. A small group was there as well. Three humans and an old, powerful Fae who Bran learned was the King of Summer. When he spoke with the humans he discovered that they knew Ardri, and two had come from the Human world with him. The other human was the one he’d traveled with for a time, who had taken the form of a heron, and had given him the lantern. He learned her name was Ellie, and that she bore the Crown of Summer. The other two humans were Oliver and Andy. In truth they had come to ask the Giant’s aid in getting quickly to where Ardri was sure to be waiting for them, but they too had found that the Giants were unwilling to simply bear them forth without discussing at length whether it was for the good of all if they were to rejoin Ardri or if their path to save Faerie lay elsewhere.

“We’re wasting time! Where can they be?” Nod the Satyr and the Lord of Autumn watched impassively as Ardri paced back and forth in the nearly empty meeting hall. There were still one or two minor city officials who remained in their seats, but most of those who hadn’t been captured in the initial attack on the city were out seeing to its ongoing survival and defense. Sam had claimed one of the seats reserved for the city lords as his own and no one dared to tell him no after catching sight of Ardri’s warning look. It had been several days and still the others hadn’t arrived. Oliver, Andy, Ellie, and the King hadn’t been seen anywhere, nor the ship they were supposed to have come on. The Lord of Autumn had suggested they send a message to the giants to inquire to their whereabouts, while attempting to dissuade Ardri from heading back himself. “The very reason you came this way was due to the need for haste. You must go forward, not back.” Ardri agreed reluctantly, though he still didn’t like the idea of leaving until the others arrived and he knew they were safe.The wilds of Faerie weren’t safe, but they hadn’t been going far, and they had the King and Ellie with them, they should have been well protected. In the end it was decided that Ardri and Sam would stay for a few more days, attend a feast the citizens were putting on in honor of their “savior”, and then begin the journey to find the Winter Court. In the meantime, someone would be sent to find what had become of Ardri’s human friends, the King of Summer, and the bearer of the Crown of Summer. As he was leaving, Ardri remembered Sam’s questions about the crowns and stopped to speak quietly with Nod. “Do you know the origin of the first three crown in the cycle? Star, Moon, and Sun? Or can anything be found of their history?” The Satyr paused, thinking. “There is a ballad, or so I’ve heard. Sadly, I do not know the tale myself, but I will see if any can be found that does know it.”

After eating they were led to a room with stone pools filled with steaming water warmed from some natural spring. The pools were decorated with tiles that formed images of trees and flowers and wandering deer. Noticing Sam’s slightly red face, Ardri smiled and turned away to give him privacy. Humans were very odd with their concepts of modesty. Once the dust had been washed away they found that new clothing had been set out for them and that their other clothing had been taken away, possibly to be washed. Or burned, Ardri thought to himself. He hoped the Autumn Court wouldn’t go that far, the human clothing had been comfortable. But some Faeries simply refused to have anything to do with any humans or their things. Instead Ardri donned the loose fitting grey trousers and the slate blue tunic that was incredibly soft. At his waist he was given a leather belt with a brass buckle that was ornately designed to be in the shape of an inward spiral. They had also left him a cloak of some black material. When he lifted it he gasped softly. It was woven entirely of shadows, a rare gift. It would allow him to walk in darkness and shade where the eyes of most could not catch sight of him if he didn’t wish them to. He would assume it was a gift and not a trade, because he had nothing such as this to offer in exchange, though he would have to find some token to give to their host in thanks. Vaguely he wondered if the fae of the Autumn Court had seen the cloak he’d worn before and decided that he must be given one to replace its loss. When Sam coughed slightly to indicate that he was finished dressing, Ardri turned around. Sam was wearing a tunic as well. Soft reds and golds were mixed in with various shades of brown and the occasional hint of green as patterns followed the hem and sleeves of the tunic. The belt round his waist boasted of a brass oak leaf, and his trousers were a soft earthy brown. He looked, good. Handsome even. Like a prince of the Folk. A smile on his lips and his hands spread out in a “what do you think?” gesture. Ardri turned towards the door to hide the blush that had begun creeping up his cheeks while admiring Sam. “You look well. We should hurry. The Lord of Autumn is waiting and we do not wish to be rude.” Sam fell into step beside him, and it astounded Ardri how easily he seemed to adapt to Faerie. How comfortably he seemed to fit in to Ardri’s life, as if they had always traveled this way. “Why does everyone do that?” Sam asked curiously. “Call them by the titles. Don’t they have names?” Ardri shook his head. “The rulers of the four seasons don’t have names. Nobody can remember why, but my mothers always thought it must be because of how powerful they are. As for everyone else, names are dangerous to give out. Not as dangerous for us, but still important. I give my name freely, but that’s because I was given gifts of magic by a creature in a well to ensure it can’t be used against me. I didn’t give your name to Nod or our host because then they would have power over you, it’s best if you think of a suitable name to go by while you’re among other Folk here. Some, like Nod, are under the protection of powerful people and don’t mind if we know their names. It’s... a very complicated part of our culture.” Their host promised to have places for them to sleep upon their return, and Ardri thought again about what token he might give to this Elf. Nod had come again to lead them on. Past the city to where the forest closed in on the high ornately carved stone walls decorated with their repeated image of seven entwined blossoms, for the Empire that had fallen. Sam stopped short once, his mouth agape at the sight of the enormous turtle which bore the city of the Autumn Court on its back. But he ducked his head in embarrassment and hurried after when Nod made a noise of impatience. Ardri gave him a smile, and thought to himself that they ought to wander and see the sights once the others had joined them, so that the humans could safely see some of Faerie’s loveliest sights. It wasn’t to the turtle which Nod was leading them, but down a path, and not a great road either. A half overgrown and forgotten pathway that had once wound about the woods was where he took them. The Empire had been known for its roadways, connecting all of its great cities and richest towns. But this trail must have been older, long forgotten once easier ways were made. Ducking beneath a branch that hung out over the path, Ardri spotted a low stone building hidden between the trees. Another shrine. It was overgrown and had probably been abandoned by whatever Fae had once made it, or claimed it as their own. But there was someone there. Someone kneeling upon their right knee at the little shrine. As Ardri held the branch aside for Sam, he got a better glimpse of the human, for it was a human. A middle aged man wearing a black cassock and a little white cotton band that showed at the front but was mainly tucked beneath his collar. The shrine itself had been filled with candles, all flickering softly in the growing twilight. And the man appeared to be speaking softly to himself as he fingered a kind of chain with little knots and wooden beads. A brief snatch of what he was murmuring made its way to them as they were approaching. “Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.” Was it a cry for help? Who was he asking? This man wasn’t dressed at all like any of the humans Ardri had met in his brief time to the human world, and he certainly didn’t seem to be suffering in any way that they could see. And where was the queen he was speaking to? Ardri looked to Sam, hoping for some kind of clue as to what to do. Sam was looking surprised. “That’s a priest,” he whispered to Ardri, clearly not wanting to interrupt. The priest’s voice lowered, obviously having noted their presence, and Ardri could no longer hear his words. A priest, that made sense. This must be a prayer of some kind or a ritual for this man’s deity. He had called the Queen an advocate as well as holy, so some figure who petitioned their deity? From the stories he’d always heard, humans had all manner of strange customs concerning their gods, rites and rituals, prayers and sacrifices. Some even tried to worship the Folk, though that never lasted. After a moment the man appeared to have finished praying because he stood up and turned to face them. It was then that Ardri saw the item he held very gently in his other hand. It was the Crown of Autumn. Silver entwined with hawthorn twigs, leaves of aspen and blackthorn, and rubies as deep and red as blood. “They told me you would be coming,” said the man with a calm smile. “I’m glad you arrived safely.”

“Ardri?” “Hmm?” They were out at the city’s edge again, wandering among the trees while still in sight of the towering city walls. Nod had told them that the Lord of Autumn had requested that they refrain from wandering too far from the city without some kind of guard or someone powerful enough to protect them if they were attacked by some fell monstrous Fae under the dominion of the Dark Fire. But though their host’s home was beautiful, and the parts of the city that hadn’t been touched by the invasion were pleasant and grand, it was like suffocating after a while. Ardri had lived in the forests and hills all his life and never seen cities nor even buildings until late into his journey. While Sam  had lived in the Midwestern U.S. in a very small town surrounded on all sides by endless fields , low rolling hills, deep streams, and the occasional copse or even a mostly untouched woodland in the distance. Neither felt comfortable being told they couldn’t leave the confines of the high walls and opulent, decorated, buildings. Though, as Nod thoughtfully pointed out, the Lord of Autumn had only said that they not wander too far. Not that they actually couldn’t leave. And of course, their accompaniment only had to be someone powerful enough to protect them, but not necessarily some official officer from the guard or a bodyguard. So now the pair was comfortably strolling through the trees, accompanied by the Phoenix, who had happily come along with them when Sam asked it to. Though it did not, or perhaps could not speak, it seemed to understand what they said to it and make its thoughts known through expression. And it seemed to like Sam, which was a good thing, especially since the rest of the Folk in the city seemed to be a bit afraid of it. The fire from the great bird’s feathers did not burn or even set alight any of the trees, grass, or ferns they brushed against, instead sending little dancing wisps of golden flame into the air behind it, only to have them vanish away after a moment. “What are the crowns exactly? Where did they come from?” It was a fair question, thought Ardri. Most Faeries had some idea of the crowns or had heard of them at least. Though even then they were hardly ever explained. Once the old Faerie who had told him stories under the tree at the top of the hill had told him a bit about the four crowns of the Courts of Season. “Well,” he said, trying to remember the details as best he could. “The crowns of Summer, Winter, Autumn, and Spring are newer, but still very old. They were made just before the great wars, long before humankind was born or your world came to be, during the Golden Age of Faerie. Then they were lost and not found for a long time. And the ones who found them made new courts, the Courts of Season. It’s their power that lets the courts control the seasons, lets us dictate the turning of the the cycle, our courts extending our territory into your world so that you might share in the gifts of winter and spring and summer and autumn.” From the expression Sam was making, this was a very strange, though fascinating, idea. Ardri couldn’t help a small smile from inching onto his face as he continued. “They were made to house some of our strongest magic of the Golden Age, to bring prosperity and wonder to our people. But they were also a source of devastation in the wars. I suppose it depends on who uses them, and why. “As for the other crowns. Well the Crowns of Light are ancient, incredibly old. I don’t know their story, but maybe some other Faerie knows or has heard of it. The Crown of Shadow is from the time right after the Imprisoning War, when we were trying to rebuild our world. I don’t know why it was made, but its just as powerful as any of the three crowns of light, and is equal to all four of the crowns of seasons at once.” Sam thought about this. “Alright,” he said with a nod. “What about the one you’re seeking then? The First Crown?” With a shrug, Ardri glanced ahead of them to where the direction of their travels would lead them right back to the main path and out of the woods. “I know its the oldest. The first. It’s supposed to go all the way back to the very beginning of Faerie, maybe even before. But what it is, who made it, or even why they made it... has been forgotten. All we know is that it’s powerful enough to make whoever has it the King over all Faerie. Powerful enough to stop everything from being destroyed or consumed by the dark fire. At least, that’s what we hope. Its really our only hope.” They walked in silence for a while, Sam’s thoughts racing as he thought about the magical crowns of Faerie, and Ardri wondering what life might have been had he never needed to know or hear about the crowns or the great courts at all. If he’d just lingered forever in the forests of his home, dancing beneath the trees, swimming in the rivers, playing under the stars. But then... if he hadn’t gone on his journey to better Faerie in some way, if he hadn’t gotten caught up in the old and terrible consequences of days and deeds from before his time, he might never have ventured into the Human world... and never met Sam.

It was beyond the sea with black waves that they found the Autumn Court waiting for them. In the ruins of a massive city still smoking and crumbling. The Phoenix landed and faeries scrambled out of their way, staring with unabashed curiosity as Ardi slid from the bird’s back and turned to help Sam climb down. They were met by Nod the Saytr, who greeted Ardri with much joy and embraced him. Though really it had been only a short time since they’d parted, Ardri felt that Nod was somehow much older, his eyes sad, his shoulders drooped beneath a greater weight. “And who is this?” asked Nod, turning to Sam with interest. “A servant? Perhaps a toy?” Ardri felt himself stiffen. Perhaps once before he might have found such a question ordinary, normal even. But now... he’d seen how the humans lived. Their wonders, their questions, their hopes, their fears. He’d met Oliver, Andy, and of course, Sam. And there had been others too, others with lives that they deserved to live, lives that didn’t touch upon Faerie. “No, he is my friend, my companion, and is very dear to me though I have only known him a short while. I have sworn an oath that I will do what I can to protect him and those others who came with him to our world.” He met Nod’s eyes and the Satyr looked stunned for a moment before he was bowing and smiling, both to Ardri and to Sam. “My apologies, I meant no offense to you or your friend. If you are hungry we might offer food and drink, as well as baths to wash away the dust of your travels. Then, the Lord wishes to meet with you again. He wishes to bring you to the one who bears the Crown of Autumn,” he paused to glance at Sam. “Another human.” Ardri nodded, there was no point in getting angry. Many of the Folk viewed humans as lesser, as merely toys or insects. It was a common enough view. “Both, I think, would be welcome. And set someone to watch for sky ships, we have more friends that are some ways behind us.” This was accomplished in a very short time as Nod called over a guard, a Dryad who smiled kindly down at Ardri and Sam through the tangled weave of her dark green hair. Once she’d heard what they wanted, she agreed pleasantly and ordered two more guards, clearly she was a captain of some kind, to fulfill the duty. This finished, Nod led Sam and Ardri off through the city till they reached areas which were largely untouched. Clearly the dark armies simply hadn’t cared enough to raze everything to the ground, only targeting the palace and the richest public areas. Residents had opened their doors to the refugees and offered them food and clothing and shelter, despite the state of their city and the disappearance of their Emperor and Empress. Sam and Ardri found themselves being bustled into the home of an incredibly fat and grandfatherly elf, who immediately took to Sam and began chatting amiably with him about the Human world and people and places he’d met there. Food was provided, safe enough for Sam to eat even here in Faerie, and Ardri forced himself to relax. He’d hoped to feel safer, more at ease. He once had felt that way among the Autumn Court. But it was as if seeing how dangerous the Faerie world could be for humans had opened his eyes to how dangerous and cruel it could be even to the Folk. Smiling and nodding along to the conversation, he couldn’t stop his eyes from darting every so often to the slowly darkening sky outside the windows.