Illarion.org

Deep in the woods of Tol Vanima, in a place where only a few days ago the forest grew in undisturbed peace, two dull lights can be seen moving over a now completely barren part of the Island. The outlines of a dark haired Human man and a slender Elfess can be recognize in the dim light, her white hair seems to glow in the light of her oil lamp and the moonlight from above. The two seem to be working at a fevered pace, carrying buckets of water and watering tree sprouts, trying to replant the now bare spots of forest on Tol Vanima. They barely speak a word due to the deep sadness over the loss of the old trees that fills them. When they do speak it’s to give each other encouraging words or to ask for more seedlings and water. As they finish replanting the forest in the South East corner of the island, they move to add some fir trees to the empty spot that was left near the garden path. After replanting this part of the forest as well, their tired, sore bodies make their way back to the main hall. Here they enjoy a quick meal and a brief talk before turning in after a night of hard work. Drakon and Lhosseth bow and wish each other pleasant dreams before parting ways, hoping and praying that the Five will protect the new and old parts of the forest. Before climbing in his bed, Drakon bows his head and begins to pray to the Five to protect the trees, the animals and most of all the people who live on Tol Vanima: his family and all his friends.


____________________________________________________________________________



Tief in den Wäldern von Tol Vanima, in einem Ort, an dem nur wenige Tage vor der Wald wuchs in ungestörter Ruhe, können zwei dumpfe Licht gesehen werden bewegt über einen nun völlig unfruchtbar Teil der Insel. Die Konturen einer dunkelhaarigen Human Mann und eine schlanke Elfess kann in der Dämmerung zu erkennen, scheint ihr weißes Haar zu leuchten im Lichte ihres Öllampe und das Mondlicht von oben. Die beiden zu funktionieren scheint an einem fieberhaften Tempo, Durchführung Eimer Wasser und Tränken Baum Rosenkohl, versucht, den jetzt kahlen Stellen des Waldes auf Tol Vanima bepflanzen. Sie kaum ein Wort durch die tiefe Trauer über den Verlust der alten Bäume, die sie ausfüllt. Wenn sie reden es ist, einander ermutigende Worte zu geben oder für mehr Keimlingen und Wasser zu fragen. Als sie Wiederaufforstung des Waldes in der Südost-Ecke der Insel zu beenden, bewegen sie sich auf einige Tannen an die leere Stelle in der Nähe des Gartenweg übrig war hinzuzufügen. Nach Wiederbepflanzungsrechte diesem Teil des Waldes als auch, ihre müden, wunde Stellen ihren Weg zurück in die Haupthalle. Hier genießen sie eine schnelle Mahlzeit und ein kurzes Gespräch, bevor er nach einer Nacht in harter Arbeit. Drakon und Lhosseth Bogen und wünschen einander angenehme Träume vor der Scheidung Wege, hoffen und beten, dass die Fünf wird die neue und alte Teile des Waldes zu schützen. Vor dem Klettern in seinem Bett, Bogen Drakon den Kopf und beginnt, auf die fünf auf die Bäume, die Tiere zu schützen und zu beten vor allem die Menschen, die auf Tol Vanima live: seiner Familie und allen seinen Freunden.

After wishing Drakon a good rest and dreams of trees, Lhosseth climbs the stairs of Vanima and walks to the altar to make her prayers to the Five in peace. She kneels down and bows her head before she asks the Five in soft Elven words to grant Drakon’s prayer for the return of their forest. She reaches inside of her bag and takes out a candle, which she lights and sets before the altar. Bowing her head once more, now before the altar and the candle, she prays softly for the safety of her friends and family and for the sunlight that would help grow the freshly planted fir trees. After letting her prayers hang in the air for a few moments, she stands up slowly and shoulders her bag. Going downstairs she leaves Vanima quietly and wanders down the garden path.

On her way she slows her step when she nears the fir tree seedlings and turns right into the forest. Carefully making her way through the new trees she looks with sad eyes at the dark green colours and reminds herself of the reassuring thought that it will bring shelter to the animals of the island. She turns her feet in the south-east direction, to the outer corner of the Tol Vanima. As she comes out of the old part of the forest she bends her head to the rising sun that is now shining on the new fir trees in this area. She walks on, to the most south-eastern bit of forest ground and there she sinks to her knees next to an empty spot. She touches the empty place, which is clearly marked by beds of flowers and ferns, where only days before stood a large old Eldan oak. No matter how hard she and Drakon had tried, nothing would grow in this place, every sprout withered here. Fitting it seemed, as nothing could replace the beautiful Eldan oak that had stood there. An oak that throughout its many years had grown into a majestic tree. Her mind wanders to the many times that she had climbed that oak...

High up in its branches one used to have a unobstructed view of the sea to the south and to the east. There amongst the green leaves of the tree, the first rays of the sun could be greeted in the early morning. When the rest of Tol Vanima was still covered in a shadowy dusk, there, high up in the Eldan oak, she would be basking in the first rays of Brágon’s light.
At other times of the day, or during the night, she would often sit on one of the oak’s highest branches. Her feet dangling in the air, she would turn to the north-west, toward Vanima and quietly observe the island for hours with Elven patience. A few gaps in the tree tops indicated the populated places of Tol Vanima, to the west was the large house by the docks, to the north-west the great hall of Vanima itself and farther away, a little more to the north, often small wisps of smoke could be seen coming from the smithy. Enjoying the peace and quiet her high seat offered her, she would spend hours musing over these places and her dear brothers and sisters that were busy walking, talking and working there. Sometimes she would observe the graceful flight or a Dove as he would fly to or from the hall, probably bearing an urgent message and she would pray quickly that is would be nothing too distressing.
At night sometimes the halls of Vanima would be lit and she could see the dim light rise from between the trees and imagine the gay voices and laughter that would fill the hall. She would smile softly to herself at the joy her brothers and sisters must be feeling on such nights.
At other times her eyes would wander over the forests of Tol Vanima and she would think of all the animals that lived there: Deer, sheep, rabbits and the many birds who's soft songs always seemed to surround her when walking these woods. She would picture how the animals were walking the forest ground, how they would find shelter in the roots of trees, or fly between the trees and rest on the trees’ branches or sleep peacefully in their protection.

A heavy sigh escapes her lips as she sits on the ground and thinks of those animals now and how they have lost their habitat by this cruel misdeed. She shakes her head at the harm that was done by some uncaring soul. Hopefully the fir trees would offer some solace. She once more moves her hand over the empty spot, where not even the roots of this beautiful tree now remain, nothing to remind them of the beauty that stood there, nothing that might be tenderly cared for in hopes of re-growth… She stands up with a heavy heart and walks a little way back to the west, farther away from the rising sun. She would rather stay there, but she has to find a place to sleep and Elves cannot sleep in fir trees. She comes to the old forest and climbs one of the smaller Eldan oaks. In it she finds a branch suited for lying down and pulls a red garment out of her bag. She wraps it around her own green robe and lies down to sleep, resting her head on her bag, a few locks of her long white hair flowing down along the tree branch. She looks to the east and sees the new fir trees growing where yesterday only the barren soil showed. She turns her head to the north-west one more time with a small grateful smile. Before she drifts off to sleep a soft common language “Thank you” can be heard to come from her lips.