Wish For The Most Loyal Friend . . .
Suddenly, in a blaze of golden light blinds your eyes. You cover them
with your hands. The light fades, and you uncover your face.
Before you stands an elf girl, of that you have made no mistake. She
dons a dark green dress. On her shoulder swing two quivers full of
arrows, and in her long, slender hands she holds two bows. Attached to
the belt around her waist hang two swords. She grasps the hilt of one
and tosses it to you, then a bow, then a quiver. "There,"
she says, with a tilt of her head. Her gray-green eyes smile and
twinkle at you, whatever her fair-haired head does. In this case, her
blonde hair sweeps about as she shakes her head.
You notice a full backpack slung over one shoulder, and you nod to it
and ask, "What's in it?"
"Food and drink, of course." She swings the backpack off her
shoulder, down to the ground, and opens it with deft fingers.
"Here, have some lembas bread." She pulls out two things
from her bag and hands one to you. It is something wrapped in a large
green leaf. Warily, you unwrap it. It looks like a piece of hard
bread, cake-like, but one can't be too sure . . . you smell it to be
sure. It smells sweet, honey-like. You gingerly nibble on a corner.
MMMM! Tastes wonderful, and you are sooo hungry. You eat it all
quickly. "Do you have anything to drink?" you ask, licking
your fingers.
"Yes, of course," says the elf girl, licking her fingers as
well, and pulls out a flask of leather. She pops the top, drinks, and
hands it to you. "Here, miruvor."
Miruvor? You look still warily into the silvery water. You take a
small sip. The liquid is neither warm nor cold, with no distinct
flavor, and it clears your mind incredibly, and you feel strength
coming back into your weak limbs. "Thank you." You hand the
flask over to the girl, after putting the lid back on.
She puts the bag of miruvor back into her backpack, and closes it.
"Well, are we ready to begin?"
"Begin?" you ask confusedly. Your mind races at the speed of
light, and you suddenly feel weak again. You suddenly feel incredibly
light-headed, and your face hits the ground.
"Ai!" You can faintly feel hands lifting your face from the
ground and lying you on your back. "I forgot all about your
wounds," you hear a dim melodic voice say. You open your heavy
lids partily to see the elf girl bending over you.
"I'm sorry," you try to say, but your tongue feels thick and
your mouth won't move, so it comes out more like a grunt than real
words.
"Shh," tsks the elf, and you can feel her hands moving
slightly over your face and arms. Healing powers, good thing I asked
for them, you think happily. Your eyes open all the way, and you can
see the girl. Her face is twisted in heavy concentration, and she is
biting her lip so hard that you can see a little blood drip from it.
Soon you feel a strong strength return to you, and a sense of peace
and renewal. The elf girl stands up and shakes her head. "I am
sorry," she apologizes, wringing her hands, "that I didn't
tend to you before."
"It's all right," you say, lightly, and stand. You feel very
good now, and you know that you can begin . . . whatever that means.
You look curiously at the elf girl. "Whatever is your name?"
"My name is Vorondanildo. But you may call me Voronda," says
she. "And I suppose you do not know your name?" You shake
your head regretfully, no. "It is Melimawen." You tilt your
head. "Yes, that is it," insists Voronda. "Your name is
Melimawen."
"You can call me Melima," you say, grinning. Melimawen. It
sounds very familiar.
Suddenly Voronda puts her fingers to her lips and whistles, piercing
and sharp. "Ainuruve! Rokkohanu!" Soon two brown horses
appear. "This beautiful female," says Voronda fondly,
"is Ainuruve, and this handsome male is Rokkohanu."
"I am very pleased to meet you," you say happily, stroking
their soft noses and their warm, silky necks.
Holding the mirror tightly in your hands, you say aloud, "I wish
for the most loyal friend." You pause. "And it would be nice
if she had some food and drink on her. And can it be an everlasting
supply? Thanks." Pause. "And weapons." Pause. "It
would be really nice if she were elvish like me, and had supernatural
healing powers." Pause. "Can she be skilled in bow and arrow
and using the sword?" Pause. "And a really good teacher, so
she can teach me?" Pause. "Can you send two brown horses
too? I've always wanted a horse."
