Chapter 12: Grief For a Friend/Elf Master

When I found out about my friend jay's mom had already moved back home. I was trying to beat up trees in anger. Climbing trees and trying to tear them apart but it wasn't working. Then I tried throwing rocks in the river. That's when I decided to jump in. I knew it was cold but I didn't care if I felt numb I was hoping I didn't have to think about her. I swam for awhile then my foot got caught on something and I couldn't' move. I was yelling for help then remembered I told no one to follow and I thought I was a goner. Then I prepared myself for death. She was passed out under water. Then someone noticed the water making a strange movement then dove down and saw someone there. They saved her and brought her up to the surface. They realized it was the princess and was shocked. "Princess! Princess!" They laid her down and see if she was breathing but she wasn't. "Sorry about this princess I have to do this." The man did CPR on her a few times and that wasn't working then he did mouth to mouth and CPR a few times and she coughed up water. "COUGH COUGH" "Princess are you ok?" "Who are you?" "Oh right your still not fully there. Let me know when your vision clears." My vision finally cleared. "Hey aren't you?" "Yeah I'm Jay and his siblings uncle. How are you feeling?" "My throat hurts. I just found out after I got home from spending time with my friend she died. It seems like everyone around me is dying. Is it because I have the gift of seeing spirits that they are dying?" Then she was about to pass out. "Hey princess hang in there. Lets take you to the Evan's house. You'll die if we try to make it back to the palace." I nodded then passed right out.

Uncle carried her to the Evan's house and took her to her old room. "Oh Talia! Is she ok?" "Yeah I just saved her from the river. Her friend died. I'm not sure which one." "Yeah we got a letter saying her friend Fawn died." "Oh that little Elf. She was a real nice girl. Too bad. She really has the gift to see spirits?" "Yeah she does." Then she started waking up. "Hmm. Ow." "Talia are you ok?" "Oh Mrs. Evans. I'm fine thanks to your brother." "I know what happened I got a letter from Jay." "Yeah Its true. She's gone. She's really gone mom." Then I started balling like a baby. Then she held me and then I noticed Yahiko and Keyon come by. "Oh hey you two. Sorry for you to see me like this." "Its ok princess we are here for you too. We know what its like to loose someone." "I know kids. I'm sorry." Then they came to see me too and hugged me. "Ok we better get her out of her cold clothes so she doesn't get any sicker. Brother and Yahiko go do something so we can change her." "Yes mom." Said Yahiko. Then they left and the girls helped me change into some clothes she had handy for me. "Thanks." Then she gave me medicine for my sore throat. "Can you send a letter to my father and the others to let them know where I am?" "Of course. I'll have uncle do that." "Thank you."

The next day the king got a letter. "Oh its from the Evans." He read the letter and was relieved she was ok. The king went to go look for Jay and the others to tell them she is safe an there is nothing to worry about. That she may not come back for awhile. Everyone was worried. Here is what the letter said:

Your Majesty,

Your daughter is fine. I saved her from almost drowning. She is at the Evans house at the moment. She said she probably won't be coming back for awhile. She doesn't know when she will but that she will eventually come back. She said if Jay wants to come its ok. He is the only one she would want to see at the moment since its his moms house anyway. She wanted me to tell you this also to let you know she is safe I wrote this letter. Well that's all.

Uncle Evans

Jay got word right away and took a horse and headed over. He put the horse in one of the public stables when he got there.

"Mom! Where is Talia?!" "Woah there." Said Uncle. "First you need to take a deep breath and calm down." After he was calm he said. "Sorry she was gone for a whole day I was worried. Now where is she?" "She is asleep right now in her room from before. She has a fever so let her sleep. You can go in but be quiet ok?" "Thanks uncle." So he went in and saw her face was all red from fever. He changed the water for her and put a fresh one on her head.

"Talia. You worried us sick. I know you take grief hard but you shouldn't try to hurt yourself. Sigh." He stayed there for a few hours then she started waking up. "Hmm. Jay?" "Talia? How are you feeling?" "A little better. You came after all." "Of course I did. Aren't I always here when you wake up?" I smiled. "Hehe Yeah I guess so." "Well you still feel like you have a slight fever but you will be fine." "So why did uncle have to save you?" "Well I was trying to destroy things in the forest like always then I started throwing rocks. That's when I though to jump into the river to try to numb my mind so I didn't have to think about it. When I tried to swim back my foot got caught on something and I couldn't swim back up." "Oh so that's what happened. I though you were trying to kill yourself." "No I never will do that in my life." "That's good to know." "Hey Jay? I know you wi8ll say its not but I don't know what to do? People around me are dying. I'm afraid to stay anywhere there are people. First Ten Ten now Fawn. Is it because I have this gift and god wants to put it to use? I Mean there are plenty of spirits out there that can use my help. Why do they have to use my family and friends. I just can't do it Jay. I'm so afraid." Then I started crying in his arms and he embraced me. "Well I don't know why. But you are right. I am going to say its not because of your gift. I don't think its because of you at all." "They why? Why are people around me dying?" "I said I don't know. Everything will be fine." "Its weird though. Ten-Ten died 1 year ago. If she died on a certain day…Hang on I have to check something. Hey mom do you have a calender from a year ago?" "Yes I do hold on." "Thanks." "What is it?" said Jay. "I don't know something is really strange about the day Ten-Ten died and I came back. Then Fawn died. I don't think it's a coincidence." "Here you go." "Oh and can you get me the one for this year too?" "Sure here you go." "Thanks mom." "Ok so Ten-Ten died this month on this day. I returned on this month and this day and Fawn was found dead yesterday on this day and month. Hmm. Do you see a pattern here?" "Well I noticed they were on different months and days but look at the days of the week they were all on." Said Jay. "So I looked and noticed on the second Thursday of every month someone died. "I knew it. I knew it was not a coincidence! I have to go see someone! I have to go back to the castle fast! Before the next Thursday of the next month." "Woah now hold on. Your still sick." "I'll be fine. I promise." "Ok well I did bring your horse. Your father told me too." "Oh shimmer. Thank you Jay. Luckily I am dressed. Mom I'm leaving I have some urgent business to attend to. I'll come visit again. Thank you. Oh and uncle thanks for saving me too. By kids see you later." Then we went to the stables and I saw Shimmer and he was happy to see me too. "Hello princess glad to see you ok." "Yeah thanks. We need to go to the elf village and fast." "Ok hang on both of you." "He said to hold on since I told him it was urgent. "Ok then." So we held on tight and we got home then went straight to my forest to the elf village.

I went to see Fawn's parents first. I knocked on the door. Fawns mom opened it. she looked like she had been crying. Jay and I went in and I hugged her tight. "I'm so sorry mom." She told me I can call her mom since I knew her daughter fawn when this place was built. "Its ok sweetie its not your fault." After we calmed down a bit I said, "Mom is the village magician in today?" "Yes he is. If you want to see him better do it today he is leaving tomorrow." "Oh good thank you." "By the way when did Fawn make you that?" "Oh after I found out about Fawn I put it on. She made it for me a year ago the Yeah that Ten-Ten died. OH….I hope it doesn't have to do with why she died. I better hurry." "Ok hurry now. Stop by on your way home if your not in a hurry ok?" "Ok thanks mom." "Come on Jay lets hurry." So we ran to find the village Magician.

"I found him. Over here Jay." Jay came running over too me. "That's him right there." "That's him? He looks so young?" "Yeah well they age differently then us. He may look like a teenager but he is really in his 20's. Master! Master!" "Oh Talia. There you are. I was expecting you. Follow me. You too Jay." WE both looked stunned to how he knew Jay.

He took us to a place I have never seen before. It was a place that was dark and flowers were sparkling and blooming. He made a light so he can see us and we can see each other. "I'm guessing your wondering how I knew Jay and I was expecting you right?" "Well yes." "Well first of all Fawn told me about Jay. Fawn also told me if she ever died to expect you and jay to come here. She must have known something we didn't." "Wait she knew? Why didn't she tell me?" "Probably to protect you." "She is such an idiot. Of course I would worry about her." "That is why she didn't say anything. Now lets get to why you are here. You want to know why people around you are dying right?" "Yes I do. Is it about this necklace? Its weird because the year that my childhood friend died is the year I got this necklace. Does it have to do with anything?" "Its true that she gave you the necklace that Tax's adopted daughter died the year that the necklace was given to you but that is not the whole story. Those that have died already on those certain days I'm sure you noticed the pattern?" "Yes every second Thursday of the month someone around me dies." "Well that's not true. Was Tax's daughter around you when she died?" "No." "Well then there you go. Now let me explain. Those who have died on the second Thursday of every month had ties with the elves. Most likely the type of necklace you are wearing. Tax's daughter was a coincidence. She had nothing to do with it. As for Fawn well I'll wait. For awhile. I want to see if you are able to see her spirit soon. If you don't by 1 year I will tell you ok?" "Yes sir. But is there anyone else around me that had been tied to the necklace besides me and Fawn?" Then I noticed the magician looking at Jay. He nodded reluctantly.

"Yes its true princess. I was involved. I can tell you who all was involved but I can't tell you anything else. So when I was teenager about 16 or 17 I was hurt really bad. I was pretty much dead. Then when I was about to pass out I saw someone looking at me then I did pass out. When I woke up I was in a strange place. There was and elf and I was shocked. I thought they were just fairy tales. You know who that elf was?" "Was it Master?" "No but he was there. It was his Master and him. They took me in and explained what happened. Then they said as long as I was here recuperating when I was done I had to help them with something for awhile. Then when that was done I could go home. I didn't realize that something would come back to us." "Wait does that mean Jay will die soon? Is he the next one?" "Woah relax princess. No one dies without reason for this ok?" "Then what reason did Fawn have huh? Did she have a reason?" "Yes she did. Like I said I can't tell you yet." Then Jay said, "Let me finish Talia. I can only tell you that my time hasn't come yet. I will be fine as long as I stay in line or don't make deals. Right Master?" "Yes that's right." "Ok wait a minute. What about me? I don't remember making any deals or pledging allegiance to anyone." "No you haven't so you don't have to worry. That necklace is just a necklace so don't worry." "Then is anyone else going to die soon? If they are please tell me its nothing to do with my family or friends." "As much as I am allowed no one else in your family or friends was involved. As of right now no one is in danger of dying that was involved." I sighed in relief. "So are you sure Tax's daughter was a coincidence?" "Yes I am sure. I don't remember her ever being involved." "Good. Thank you Master. By the way Is your Master around somewhere?" "Oh no I'm sorry. He died just last month. He was killed. He passed on his books to me to study more as a magician." "Oh I'm sorry. He was a nice man." "Its ok. I knew one day he would probably die and he kept warning me he may died before old age and if he did he would leave his books to me. Then before he passed he gave me a key. I still haven't figured out what it goes to yet?" "Hang on I have an idea. If we can't figure it out I know someone who is good with knowing what keys are too and I will send a carrier pigeon to let you know." "Ok thank you that would be helpful." So he took the key out from under his clothes and showed it to us. I recognized that key right away because Fawn had one just like it. "Master. I know what that key is to. Fawn had one just like it. She told me that if she died you were the only one I should tell. Now Jay knows but I know he won't tell. Since it's a secret follow me. Only certain people with the key know where to go. I know since I have her key. Her mom gave it to me when I saw her. We have to go to the palace and into my room. There is a secret passage then you will know what to do with the key."

I went inside and my father and siblings surrounded me. Oh and mom too. "I'm ok everyone. I have some business I'll talk to you when I am done." So they left me alone and let me to my thing. "Ok here is my room. Lets see where is that switch oh here it is." Before I pushed it I locked my window and closed my curtains and locked my door so know one knows what's going on.