The Guardian

Thora's heart raced as she gently laid Maraja's body on the soft grass. "She's not breathing!" she cried out, panic rising in her chest. "Ria, get the guardian! Quick!"

As if in response to Thora's words, the large double doors to the guardian's mansion flew open, revealing the regal figure of Galadriel. She moved with a graceful elegance, her long pointy ears revealing her otherworldly nature.

The Naltanierans attempted to greet the revered guardian, but she raised a hand, her eyes scanning the scene before her. "No need for that my children," she said softly, her gown and hair forming a pool around her as she knelt beside the Nawi. "There are more pressing matters at hand."

"What happened to her?" Galadriel asked, her eyes glowing a beautiful green as she took in Maraja's bloodied body.

"She was kidnapped." Mason's voice was low, his eyes void of emotion as he stared at his sister's lifeless body.

"Kidnapped?" Galadriel looked up at Ria and the rest, disapproval coating her luminous green eyes. "You were meant to protect the Nawi! What is this I'm hearing? Kidnapped? By whom?"

Thora felt a flush of embarrassment rising to her cheeks as she lowered her head, her hair falling around her face like a curtain. The mid-day breeze carried the strands of her hair and Galadriel's hair in a playful dance, revealing their somewhat similar ears.

For a moment, Thora forgot her worries as she gazed at the guardian beside her. Despite the urgency of the situation, Galadriel exuded a calm and peaceful energy that seemed to soothe Thora's frayed nerves.

"We were taken by surprise, guardian. The being that took her concealed their presence from Thora and covered their tracks spotlessly. We spent all night searching for her until this afternoon, we were nearly sliced into half by an energy wave that we believe to have been hers." Ria voiced, fiddling with her fragile fingers as she struggled to stand upright before the guardian.

The clouds overhead seemed to grow tense as Galadriel leaned in closer to examine the fresh wounds on Maraja's body. Thora held her breath as the guardian's glowing eyes narrowed, taking in the sight before her.

"These markings..." Galadriel trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper as she placed a single finger on one of the wounds. Thora watched in awe as the guardian's touch seemed to bring a faint glow to the wound, as if it were responding to her power.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as Galadriel closed her eyes, her hand still resting on Maraja's wound. Thora could feel the tension in the air, as if the very sky was waiting with bated breath for the guardian's next move.

Maraja's eyes flew open, a strange glow in them as her face twisted in agonizing pain. "AAHHHHHHH!" She screamed in pain, golden tears trickling from her strange looking eyes once more.

"Mavis!" Mason pushed passed everyone, skidding to his knees at Maraja's side. "Mavis, can you hear me?" He scrambled in panic, taking his sister's shaking hand into his.

A look of recognition appeared, disappearing just as quickly, leaving her yelling in torment as she squeezed a little to hard on Mason's hand.

The urgency in Galadriel's voice was palpable as she called out to the restless chosen one, her thin brows furrowed in concentration, her eyes fixed on Maraja's still form.

"Maraja!" Galadriel's voice was commanding now, her tone brooking no argument. "Take control! Now!"

For a moment, there was nothing but silence and the sound of the wind rustling through the trees.

The Nawi shut her eyes, in obedience, opening them almost immediately, fear festering in them.

Wisteria knelt at Maraja's head, her eyes glowing as she placed her water glazed palms against the Nawi's temple, whispering incoherent words.

Maraja closed her eyes once more.

~~~

Maraja's senses were filled with the sound of a single droplet of water as she opened her eyes to a strange, otherworldly space. She stood upon the wallowing darkness, her eyes wide as she took in the gold-painted sky and bluish-black tendrils that floated amidst the beauty.

As she reached up to touch the sky, a golden spec dissipated at her touch. Suddenly, her legs lost feeling beneath them, and she began to float in the thick of the gold, in the blue, in the never-ending beauty.

But then, unexpectedly, she began to fall into the darkness, and time seemed to slow as everything turned white, with only a single body of gold. The golden sphere brushed her palm, enveloping her, shortly before she laid eyes on what she thought to be a person, standing so far away it was hard to tell for sure.

"Hello-" Maraja began, but as if something were listening all along, she was unexpectedly dragged out of the beautiful space and away from the mysterious woman.

~~~

"Mavis!" Maraja sat up, rubbing her forehead slightly, Mason staring wide eyed at his sister as the glow in her eyes recessed.

He opened his arms to hug her, yet the guardian raised a hand to stop him, accessing the disoriented female.

"Look!" Wisterio called out, pointing at a spot behind Maraja's neck which had an unusual glow.

Every pair of eyes remained glued to Maraja's body as the markings began to emit a golden glow, disappearing a few seconds later, along with the wounds that had formerly housed them.

"Ah…" Maraja raised both hands to her aching head once more, looking around curiously.

"Nawi." Galadriel spoke.

"Yes. Who are you?" Maraja rubbed her forehead, surveying the serene environment.

Galadriel bristled at the uncommon question as she stood up, tucking a luscious lock of hair behind her ear. "I am Galadriel, the guardian of the taiacan, the ancient gateway."

Maraja's eyes fell on the guardian's ears. "You're an elf?"

"Yes child, I am an elf." Sarcasm coated Galadriel's words, as she stretched out a flawless palm toward a tree in the distance, her eyes gaining a low glow.

The land began to move, the immense tree getting closer, until they were before it.

Galadriel smiled proudly at the incomparable tree, the feeling of the well-aged magic filling the air around them. "The ancient tree. Isn't it breathtaking?"

Maraja looked upon the green leaves that blessed the almost golden branches, the thick bark which bore not a single unnatural scratch, the beautiful shape it took, and the pure air it produced. "It's beautiful." She whispered, a dark glint lashing across her oblivious eyes.

"We thank you, guardian." Thora greeted Galadriel before stepping toward the tree, the others following suit.

Galadriel noded, her eyes moving across the royals. "Human." She narrowed her eyes at Mason. "Who are you?"

"He's my brother." Maraja said, looking up at a nervous Mason.

"Are you quite sure?" Galadriel moved closer to him, studying his eyes. "I'm sensing something ami-"

"Did you forget about our little deal?" The rich, condescending voice of the supposed stray filled the air.

"Rajani! What are you doing here?" Thora frowned in annoyance. "I though I made it clear you stay away from us?"

"Did you now?" A smirk tugged at his lips as he moved passed us, standing before the tree. "Well…" he looked back, an eyebrow raised in question. "…shall we be on our way?"

"Absolutely not! Guardian, is this really allowed?" Thora struggled to keep her cool.

"Yes, child." Galadriel's eyes pierced Rajani's briefly before returning to the rest of us. "You must get going…now." She said, tipping her poised head toward the tree.

As the group of travelers gathered around the taiacan, the scent of damp earth and lush foliage filled the air. They formed a circle, the more experienced members taking the lead as they each placed a palm against the rough bark of the gateway. Suddenly, a trail of light emerged from each of their hands, snaking up the tree in a dazzling display of colors.

Maraja watched in awe as the golden trail above her hand plucked a single green leaf from the tree, coating it in her essence. She felt a surge of energy as the leaf absorbed her power, and she had a gnawing feeling that her time here was coming to an end.

Maraja whispered Angelo's name to herself as she looked back in the distance, tears forming in her sad eyes.

"I will search for him, Maraja." Galadriel calmly informed, causing Maraja to smile somewhat contentedly.

The Nawi looked down at the gold-ridden leaf before her, taking it in her unsure hands along with the others. As the sight of the veil slowly eroded, and the memories of the world she grew up in played in her minds-eye, Maraja offered a silent prayer, unsure of what was to come.