Prologue

The elf hurried down the white hallways, carrying a book in his arms. He hugged it tightly, as if it would slip from his grasp and run away. He seemed only young, his hair a dark brown and pulled into a fancy styled plait, with ribbons and flowers tucked into every strand of hair. He hastily ran to a large oak door, knocking loudly. 

"Come in,"

"Father, I found something that may help," the young boy entered his father's study, where he was having a meeting with his guards. 

"Gael, can it be saved for later?" His father walked over, trying to get rid of his son. 

"Father please, just this once," the young boy pleaded.

"Let him speak Hycis," one of the guards spoke up. 

"What is it Gael?" The boy's father was less than pleased at his guard's request, but he listened no less. 

"I found a book of old legends, and thought it may help," the young boy set the large book on the table, turning to a page bookmarked with a dried rose. "The legend of the Guardian of the Forest, an elf who could control all aspects of the forest, and without him the forest would die. Maybe that's why the forest is dying,"

The boy's father held back a laugh. His son could be so immature at times, always with his head stuck in the clouds. He spotted some of the guards doing it too, but some looked deadly serious. 

"Your son has a valid point Hycis," noted one. 

"You really believe that old folk tale?" One snorted. "It's just a story made to give others hope,"

"But it has to be true!" The young boy exclaimed. 

Just as the boy's father was about to shush him guards ran through the door. He turned, clearly agitated at the interruptions. 

"Our apologies for interrupting, but we found something important in the caverns," one commented. 

"What is it?" The boy's father's emotion changed immediately from annoyance to concern. 

"Strange markings depicting a story of someone," he commented. "Well, not one elf but two. They may not even be elves. Half of the markings are gone, but it tells-"

"It is our future!" One of the elders burst through the door. "The markings tell of the death of the flowers! Yet they are saved… saved by mysterious people who bring the flowers back to life!"

"The Guardian of the Forest," the young boy mumbled. 

"Precisely, you have raised a smart boy," the elder clasped the boy's father on the shoulder. 

"Idril, it's just an old folk tale," he picked the elder's hand off his shoulder. 

"It's not! You will believe it when you see it," the elder said. "We must prepare for his coming,"