“When I woke up again I was alone. Thick smoke engulfed the forest. Despite the pain, I stood up and ran. I did not know where I was going at first. I just ran anywhere. The Blades of Correlon were gone. I suspect the humans must have taken them from my presumably dead body. After an hour of senseless running, I stopped. I had forgotten about my pain but the moment I stopped, it came back once again. I fell on my knees but the dryads’ healing was the best in the world so moments later I began to feel relieved. My mind was clear. I knew exactly where to go – Dreamfall.

            The smoke was getting thicker. The forest was set on fire. The humans had come to wreak havoc and bring war and destruction to our peaceful grove. As I was running towards my city, I saw a human patrol. There were four of them. I was just about to jump on them when I realized I am weaponless! It is then that I remembered Maenir’s advice after the test in the chamber – “Use your elements young Erina!”

            He was right. I had never used the techniques that Legoen had taught me during my training. I was a master of the elemental magic but I only remembered it when all hope seemed lost! Guilt is still burning in me to this very day!

            The humans did not even realize how ice appeared from nowhere trapping them and how the ground suddenly erupted under their feet sending them to their Gods. I could easily master a patrol of humans but as I closed down on Dreamfall, their numbers increased. I could see what was happening. The elven city was under siege!

            I got there just in time to see something that I will never forget for the rest of my life! Dreamfall was on fire! The humans were cutting down the tress on which my beloved home stood. Arrows were pouring down on them. The city had not given up yet but they were expecting help from their Windrunners. They still had no idea that Erina’s Fist…the Vanguard of the Elves was defeated and smashed to pieces.

            As the trees fell one by one, I could see elves flying through the air hitting the ground with tremendous force. It was a gruesome sight but I held myself back…until I saw my father lying in a pool of blood under the tree that had been our home for so long. I thought of Daphne. She was also lying dead somewhere. Her tree was cut down and burning. Rage arose in me! I was determined to die if I had to but to take those wretches with me!

            Then I heard Maenir’s voice inside my head.

            “Run…run young Windrunner! Save yourself, you cannot win against such a numberless enemy. In a couple of hours, you shall be the last of our race. On your shoulders lies the greatest mission yet – to preserve our heritage and memory! Run, Erina! Remember Dreamfall and let others hear our story! The elves must not be forgotten”

            I looked up and I saw him. He was standing on the tree the humans were cutting down. I think he was smiling. The tree fell and he joined his brethren in their journey to the Shadow Realm.

            What choice did I have? I ran…

                                    *                                  *                                  *

            I escaped the burning forest and set up camp on a hill overlooking my home. I stayed there until the last trees burned down to ashes and the bloody sun shone upon the scorched land. I cast my last spell then. I summoned the spirit of the land and asked that nothing should ever grow on the spot where the elves once used to live. The place is barren to this day and stands as a testament to the humans’ greed and lust for power.

            We have always dreamed of having a home. In Dreamshore forest, we finally found what we were looking for. The humans however have always dreamed of controlling everything on their planet…and destruction and suffering always follow the collision of two dreams…

                                    *                                  *                                  *

            I wandered the hills for two days when I found this little village. I decided that I should stay here. I have been living here ever since and I think I have completed my mission in a way.”

            She opened the door to her house and inside I saw a boy and a girl, both blonde, and incredibly beautiful like their mother…

            On the next day, I went to the barren place where Dreamshore forest used to be according to Erina. I placed an entire bouquet of flowers in the middle of the wasteland. I spent the whole day there as a silent witness to what our greed and megalomania had lead to…

            I took the next boat up the river and hurried back home to let the world know what its ancestors once did. I hade made a promise to my companion that I should never let the memory of Dreamfall die like its inhabitants had – by the hand of a human…

            “It is time, my dear friend, to tell you of the grimmest day of my life. The morning did not tell in any way of the events about to unfold. We were just leave the camp we had set up the previous evening at the edge of Dreamshore forest when an elven runner arrived with a message from Dreamfall. We were to go to Dinendal immediately. We set off for we had a long way to go if we were to reach Dreamfall before nightfall.

            Night had already fallen when we arrived but the magic of high-druid Ornor kept the city bright as if it was daytime. We headed straight for Dinendal’s residence. There we were escorted to the same hall we had met two and a half years ago. Maenir started speaking.

            “Windrunners of Dreamfall…you have shown great promise in your training but today is the day of your last test before the coming battles. We have prepared a chamber for you in which you will fight an entire magically summoned human army. However, before you go let me tell you something more about your weapons. You have surely found out by now that these are not your usual instruments of death. Shadow, the dagger you hold is called Spellbreaker. It glows in blue whenever it senses the presence of a mage and it causes devastating damage to all who have mastered the art of spell casting. Tiana, your robe has the ability to absorb any spell and reflecting it back to your enemies. Bregir, you hold the mighty Bonecrusher! Its incredible might will imbue you with the strength of heroes past. Malir, your bow was crafted in the distant lands of the dwarves. It will steady your hand and ensure that every arrow is a hit. Sparx, the bracers you were will greatly increase your mental capabilities as well as your spell casting ability. And your most prized possession – the Sacred Blades of Correlon – the creator of the elves! They are easily recognizable by the moon crescent on their handles. Yes, Erina, you hold them in your hands!

            Let us not waste any more words! Let the test begin! I wish you all good luck!”

            This said, Maenir pointed to a door to his left on which the Tree of Life was carved – symbol of the elves. Behind that door lay an enormous chamber. We could not see from one end to the other!

            “Simple magic, really…you just need at least a dozen druids to complete successfully.” Tiana showed her exceptional knowledge of nature magic.

            “Shall we figure it out later? The humans are here!” Malir grabbed his bow.

            “Malir, provide covering fire! Sparx, destroy those archers! Tiana, concentrate on Bregir! Shadow kill those mages! Bregir, you and I are going hunting!”

            All orders given we charged towards the human army. Maenir had prepared a vast army to face us! It was as if the humans had really come to wage war on us. Knights in the front lines, archers and mages behind them and a commander on horseback in the middle of it all. Bregir and I charged right through them. His axe was making short work of the knights and my two blades were much too fast for their shields. After 15 minutes of intensive fighting I, all in blood, looked around to see how the others were doing.

            Sparx was bombarding the archers with fire and lightning and Malir was taking care of those who somehow survived. Tiana was doing a splendid job! We had not a scratch on us while the knights all lay dead in our feet. Shadow and Spellbreaker were reaping through the mages like a scythe through wheat. After no more than half an hour, we were standing against the human commander – all alone. Bregir charged but his attack was blocked! He fell to the ground from the might of the blow he had received. Moments later Sparx’ lightning was easily deflected back to us. He nearly killed us all! The human was proving to be a worthy adversary.

            Then I saw Shadow sneaking from behind on the human. I charged.

            “Tiana, imbue me!” I shouted and felt the power of her spell.

            As I stroke the horse’s feet, Shadow jumped on the human sinking his dagger deep into the commander’s back. He fell to the ground and tried to get up only to meet Bonecrusher with his head. His decapitated body fell on its knees and Sparx incinerated it with a might fireball. We were victorious! Erina’s Fist were invincible!

            As we left the chamber, Maenir bowed to us. Dinendal was smiling and for the first time I saw hope in his eyes. We had proven ourselves ready to defend our homeland. Our new orders were to set up camp on the borders of Dreamshore forest and watch for human scouts. Dinendal’s visions were getting more powerful and more frequent with every passing day. He feared the worst.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

            We had watched over our borders for over a week. Everything was quiet. Nothing could have warned us of the malicious act about to unfold. We were sitting around a campfire as we had done so many times before when Malir noticed that Shadow was gone.

            “He’s probably ‘raiding’ another bear for its kill. If I wasn’t so bored I would have gone with him!” Bregir was getting restless.

            “We mustn’t let ourselves lose track of what we must do! Dreamfall depends on us!” I tried to restore order.

            “We are following some guy’s visions for crying out loud!”

            “Hey, back off! We are soldiers! Soldiers follow orders no matter how ridiculous they seem!” Sparx was trying to protect me as usual. Normally by doing so, he would get himself into a whole lot of trouble and I ended up protecting him. This time was no different.

            “You wanna piece of me, small fry!?” Bregir stood up with anger burning in his eyes.

            “Sit! Sparx, shut up!” They could not dare speak against me. I suspect it was the power of Correlon that they were so afraid of. I wielded his blades after all. Silence befell the camp.

            Suddenly Malir grabbed his bow and stood up. He was staring at the bushes behind Tiana. In the blink of an eye Shadow jumped out of the bushes and stabbed Tiana in the back just before Malir’s arrow pierced his hooded head. Spellbreaker’s glow was getting weaker as Tiana lay dying until it glowed no more. I was speechless! Two of us were dead. We were still trying to figure out what had just happened when a human patrol ambushed us! Someone hit me on the back of the head so hard that I fell on the ground. Bregir charging at the enemy was the last thing I remember before I passed out.

            I woke up to see Daphne and two other dryads leaning over me. I stood up so suddenly that they all ran and hid behind a tree. I felt a sharp pain in my chest so I lay down again.

            “Daphne…” I could not recognize my own voice. “Daphne…the others?”

            “I am sorry, Erina. We were too late to save them. There were many human bodies around them. Is something wrong?”

            “Very…I must…I must reach Dreamfall! Danger…betrayal…danger…danger…” I must have passed out again for I remember only the fires…the blazing fires and the destruction…

            The Windrunners of Dreamfall were no more. Shadow had betrayed us for the hordes of gold the humans possessed. I am glad that he did not have a chance to see them!”

            “I remember my eighteenth birthday. My father told me something that changed my life forever. I had just come in and saw him sitting on my bed.

“Father?”

“Erina. Come…sit by me. I have a long story to tell you….”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

            “10 years ago I was summoned by Lord Dinendal. I had to go see him in his residence. There I saw five other elves. We were escorted to a large hall and told to sit down. A few minutes later Maenir and Dinendal himself entered the room. Our lord stood before us.

            “My servants…elves…brethren…I had a dream! It is the same for weeks now. A dragon breathing fire right at me! Until last night when I finally saw my dream completed! Usually I would wake up after the dragon but not last night. I saw the Tree-Father Sylvannus himself! “Prepare for war!” he said and then I saw something that made me wake up in sweat! I saw Dreamshore forest engulfed by fire! Our beloved forest was burning! It is obvious that invaders are on their way even now to burn and pillage our homes! We must prepare for war! There are no fighters among us! We only have our hunters to protect us! This is about to change! Maenir?”

            Maenir started speaking with his whisper-like voice.

            “It is obvious that we cannot train an army on such short notice. There is still something we can do. We have decided to search among Dreamfall’s youth for such youngsters granted with powers by the tree-father and immediately start preparing them for the role they would have to play in our survival. Six have been chosen…your six. I will give you each a weapon which your children must master. When the last of them reaches his eighteenth year they shall be taken and continue their training here.”

            For a moment there I was proud that you, my little Erina, will fight for the salvation of the elves but then fear grasped my throat. Maenir called us one by one and gave us the weapons. I received the swords which are now on your back….”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“But father today is my 18^th birthday!”

“Yes, Erina. You are the youngest…you must go to Dinendal’s residence today…”

“I will go! If Dreamfall needs me I must defend it!”

“I am so proud of you, my little Erina!”

            I went out and headed for Dinendal’s residence.

“I will not disappoint you father! And I shall return! I promise!”

            But my father didn’t answer. He just stared at me and I felt as if his eyes pierced right through me without seeing anything but his daughter going away.

            I saw two of my friends in front of our lord’s residence. Sparx and Malir were there as well as three others I was seeing for the first time. We all made acquaintance. I looked at what they were carrying. Sparx was dressed in a strange red robe with golden markings on it. Malir was carrying a bow. There was a large elf called Bregir with an enormous axe and a sneaky little character who preferred to be called Shadow with a glowing dagger. A little bit away from the others stood an elven girl called Tiana dressed in the same robe as Sparx but blue.

            After a while we were escorted to the hall my father had described earlier. Maenir and Dinendal were there. Maenir told us to sit down.

            “You have been chosen as Dreamfall’s defenders! This is a great honor! You have been chosen due to the different talents the tree-father has granted you when you were born. I’m sure you have already made acquaintance?”

            We nodded.

            “Very well. I shall call you one by one and explain your talents to you and your comrades. Culn!”

            Sparx stood up.

            “I would prefer Sparx.”

            “So be it. Sparx, you have been granted incredible magical awareness! I have chosen you for combat magic training. I shall be your mentor.

            Malir!”

            “Yes?”

            “You shall be this party’s ranger! Follow my assistant to the shooting range where you will meet your teacher.

            Tiana!”

            “Here.”

            “You shall be this party’s healer. High-druid Ornor himself has agreed to take you under his wing.

            Shadow!”

            “Yup!”

            “Your skills are most troubling but, alas, every party needs a rogue. Head for the dungeons to begin your training.

            Bregir!”

            “Rrgh!”

            “I suppose this means “yes”. Dinendal, your lord and master, will train you in the arts of battle. And finally the most magnificent pearl in this little treasure – Erina! You should all learn to respect and honor her for she will be your leader! Erina, your training shall be handled by two teachers – Legoen the druid and Galaden the weaponmaster.

            You shall be known as the Vanguard of the Elves…Erina’s fist…The Windrunners of Dreamfall…Good luck to you all! We will meet again when your training is complete!”

            With this said Maenir and Dinendal left the room and we all headed out to find our teachers and begin our training…

                                    *                                  *                                  *

            Two years later we met in that same hall. We had learned all we could from our teachers. We spent one year training individually with our teachers but the second year was something else! We had to leave Dreamfall and live in the forest and in the outside world! We learned to work as a team and use everyone’s unique powers effectively. Not once or twice were we caught in fights by humans but we won every single one of them. We were invincible when together!

            With the elven hunters taking the rear lines and the combined might of the Windrunners Dinendal thought he might save our people from the looming shadow of doom. I am the last of the Windrunners…the last of the elves…how did it come to that? You will find out in time…bit for now let’s go to dinner…”

             “Dreamshore forest was a magical place. The dryads lived there. They had no city of their own. They lived in the trees. The dryads were magical creatures – keepers of the trees. They didn’t eat or drink. They just entered their tree and, like their home, used the ground to keep healthy. I knew a dryad once. Her name was Daphne and she appeared to have lived in the tree on which my home in Dreamfall was built. It was quite rare to see a dryad. They hid themselves from others for they were shy creatures and were easily frightened.

            I found Daphne hiding in my room one day. It appeared she had come out of the tree while our hunters were gathering beside it. She had gotten so scared she climbed the tree and hid in my room.

“Why didn’t you hide in your tree again?” I asked.

“I was so scared! I just ran…”

“Don’t worry. I am the last person in the world you should be scared of” Said I while I was hanging my swords on the wall. I could see her fear when she saw me do that. “Calm down! I’m not going to hurt you. Do you want something to drink?”

“You are kind but you seem to know very little about dryads.”

“And who is to blame for that? You hide from us and when you accidentally see us you run.”

            She was staring at the floor of my room.

“I’m…sorry…We have lived this way for generations…ever since Lauria’s death.”

“Who’s Lauria? And are you sure you don’t want some water?”

            She giggled. She told me what I told you earlier. Dryads fed and drank directly from the trees’ roots. Then, seeing that I meant no harm she told me a splendid story about Lauria and the ancestors of the dryads……

                                    *                      *                      *

            “We dryads called Dreamshore forest home long before the elves came here. It was so many years ago. The forest was ours from end to end. We used to spend less time in our trees and more time in the outside world. We used to help wounded animals and take care of the sick. The forest was flourishing. Oh how I long for those days of tranquility! We would sing and dance in the forest all day long and enter our trees for the night tired but happy. Every day was full of happiness and laughter…until they came…

            The sun was in the sky. The birds were singing and we were having fun the way we had done for so long. Then Mystra fell…dead before she hit the ground! Then Sylvia…then Liana…it was horrible! You see, a dryad dies when her tree is cut down and someone was cutting down Dreamshore forest killing us in the process!

            Then Lauria came from the eastern end of the forest.

“Orcs! The orcs are cutting down our forest!”

            It appears the humans had gone on a crusade against the orcs and have destroyed them all. Now they were chasing a small group of survivors into our forest. The orcs were cutting down trees to set up their last stand.

            We were healers not fighters. It all seemed hopeless. Our deaths seemed inevitable. We decided we wanted to be together when the moment came so we all gathered on the meadow that had been witness to so many days of joy and fun.

            Our sisters fell one by one. I could see Lauria’s face. It showed great pain as she watched the dryads fall. Suddenly her expression changed. It now displayed tough determination. She stood up.

“Hear me sisters! This has been our forest for many generations! Now invaders have come. Should we just sit and wait for our deaths?! I say NO! I say we take the fight to them! I can see the fear in your eyes. I too am scared but I will not leave my forest undefended.”

            This said she rushed into the woods. We looked at each other. Our eyes – full of tears. Then Maggie stood up and ran into the forest after Lauria. Moments later Nelly followed her. We all stood up. It was time. The dryads would not go down without a fight!

            We all ran through the forest as fast as we could for more and more kept falling down dead. We found Lauria at the base of the Great Oak – the oldest tree in the forest.

“Come my sisters! Let us ask the Great Oak for assistance.”

            We dryads had the ability to commune with the trees. We all circled the enormous tree and bowed down asking for help. What we found out gave us hope but brought us sorrow as well. The Oak promised to help us but in exchange it wanted us to almost never leave our trees. No dryad had ever lived in the Great Oak so now it wanted one of us to choose it as her home but she would never be allowed to see the outside world again.

            Lauria stood up.

“I will go.”

            We were all silent. She was sacrificing her own freedom to save us. Lauria didn’t wait for an answer and walked to the Oak.

“We will always remember you my sister!” I remember shouting as she entered the tree. “The forest will always sing your song!” The last thing I remember was lying face-down on the soft leaves of the forest and crying.

            I must have passed out. When I woke up I was in my tree. I tried to speak with my sisters and found out that the orcs were dead. Killed by the trees themselves. We were saved but we paid dearly for our salvation. Lauria was no more and we would never sing and dance in the forest like we used to. But Lauria’s spirit was still alive. Her power enchanted the forest so that no one may ever threaten us again…”

“Can you hear it Erina?” Daphne was excited. “Can you hear the forests? They sing Lauria’s song!”

            I could hear the trees. It was like gusts of wind coursed through the leaves. The forest was singing…

            I’m…sorry…I just…I just can’t hold my tears…We will have to continue later…”

            “There was once a marvelous forest where the land is now barren. Dreamshore forest they called it and a magnificent place it was. We, the elves, lived there in a glorious treetop city – Dreamfall. Our leader was a wise and powerful elf called Dinendal. He had ruled us since the beginning for as you know we elves are immortal.

            Dreamfall was positioned high in the trees so that if someone would accidentally wander deep into our forest he would not find out about us for this would mean our demise. Humans have a strange method of dealing with what they don’t know. We lived there in piece with nature as the elves before us had done for thousands of years and nature was kind enough to pay us back by protecting our city. Dreamshore forest was no ordinary jungle. It possessed powers of its own. I, myself, have observed how a human scout got lost and overwhelmed by wild beasts. When looking at the forest from a distance you got the feeling the trees moved. And that they did. The trees shifted their locations to confuse and puzzle the wanderer and eventually he would found himself lost.

            Our way of life was simple. We didn’t have to worry about attacks from the outside world so there were no warriors among us. The closest thing to a warrior in our city was the hunter. You might wonder how we lived in piece with nature when we hunted animals in the forest. This was not the hunt you humans know and practice. Hunting and slaughtering are two totally different terms. I remember my father taking me on a hunt when I was still young…..

“Erina? Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, father.”

“Here.”, he gave me two swords. “You should learn to wield them in both hands.”

“Why?”

            He was silent.

“Come on. We don’t want to be late, do we?”

            We left our hose and climbed the tree down. I had never before set foot on solid ground so I curiously looked around. Two hunters and Legoen the druid were waiting for us.

“Ah, Anehdiar! I see you’ve brought little Erina with you.” The druid was smiling at me so I smiled back. Then he looked at the swords neatly secured on my back and for a second I thought I saw his face grow dark. He looked at my father but he was staring at the leaves beneath the tree.

“Let’s go then.” The hunters were getting impatient.

“Today we travel east.” Legoen lead us down a hidden path.

            It was one of the best days of my life! I had plenty of practice with the two swords and was finally mastering them. I even got to kill a severely wounded deer! You see, we elves hunted a little differently – the druid would sit in a forest opening and commune with the spirits of the animals. He would ask them to send wounded or old animals to him so that his brethren could eat. The hunters would then kill the animals with their bows. So basically I had nothing to do but swing my swords in the air and wait for the next animal to come so that I could watch. When a wounded deer came by my father decided I should get my first kill. I swung the swords and seconds later the animal was dead at my feet. After the hunt Legoen would chant a blessing for all animals in the forest and magically sprout flowers for all we had killed and we would all go back to Dreamfall.

            When the hunters returned the women would dismember the animals and make many beautiful things from their antlers, hoofs, horns and skins. Occasionally in Dreamfall we had Festivals of Nature in which the whole city would gather and watch the druids perform their Ritual of Nature. It was a marvelous thing to behold! They would use their magic to make them glow and then they would start to dance and move faster and faster until they resembled a sun down on Earth. Magnificent!

            Every house in Dreamfall had a hunter but not every house had a druid. Becoming a druid would mean leaving your home to live down in the forest until you had reached your 30^th year. Then they would return to Dreamfall and be initiated by High-Druid Ornor.

Our leader’s house was built between the treetops of two trees and was majestic as it fitted the might of Dinendal. High-Druid Ornor and a handful of servants also lived there as well as our leader’s advisor – Maenir. A shadowy figure which my father used to talk with such disdain and suspicion about. Maenir was a mind reader and that chilled my father to the bone – knowing that his thoughts are not his own.

That is what our humble city up in the trees of Dreamshore forest used to look like. But I am tired now young friend. I am not as strong as I used to be. Let me rest for a while and then I shall continue my tale…”

            In my days as a journalist I had the opportunity to travel a lot. I have been around the world not once or twice. In my travels I have collected and written down many strange legends but none as mysterious and intriguing as the one you’re about to read.

            I heard this one deep into the Amazonian jungle. I was staying in a small local village. One day my guide and I found ourselves on a barren field right in the middle of the jungle. There were no trees, not even bushes, and no animal dared set foot on this unfriendly land. My guide explained that this place was once a marvelous forest – Dreamshore Forest – and that elves used to live there. I didn’t believe him then. Now I would think twice.

            He took me to an old woman in the village. She was supposes to be over 500 years old. To me she looked in her mid sixties but here face…oh, her face…I had never seen such beauty and I haven’t seen anything like it to this day! She said her name was Erina and claimed to be the last of the elves. I was determined to get a story from this part of the world no matter how ridiculous it was so I asked her to tell me her story.

            She often interrupted her own words and started off in a totally different stream of thought but I haven’t changed a thing when I wrote it down so that you can read it and be at least half as amazed as I was when I heard it…