Chapter 3

 

 

As the bowl raced through the tunnel toward the waterfall Dom didn’t know what to think about Jena’s glowing bracelet. But he didn’t have long to think about it as she suddenly jumped to her feet and stretched out her arms.

 

‘Fly!’ she cried out. ‘Fly!’

 

He gave a dismayed groan, thinking his sister had gone completely mad.

 

‘Fly!’ Jena cried again and the bowl gave a sudden lurch.

 

To Dom’s astonishment it lifted out of the water. It was only just in time as he heard the waterfall crashing away somewhere below. They floated through the clouds of mist and then emerged into bright sunlight. They began to descend and with a splash the bowl landed in water again. Dom watched as Jena’s bracelet winked out and she collapsed into his arms.

 

He patted her cheeks for a few moments, calling out to her.

 

'Jena, wake up!’ he pleaded.

 

She opened her eyes and he gave a thankful sigh.

 

‘Are you all right?’ he asked.

 

‘I… I think so,’ she replied ‘What happened?’

 

‘We’re out of the tunnel,’ Dom replied, excitement back in his voice. ‘We were about to go over a waterfall... and then your bracelet began to glow. Then you suddenly stood up and yelled...  ‘fly! fly!’ ... I thought you had gone mad... then we flew out of the tunnel...’

 

Jena clamped a hand over Dom’s mouth.

 

‘Slow down, Dom and tell me again… slowly,’ she said.

 

Dom took a breath and this time he explained what had happened in more detail. When he finished Jena could only sit there with a bewildered look on her face. She had taken off her bracelet and was looking at it curiously.

 

‘You said it was glowing?’ she asked.

 

Dom nodded.

 

‘And you had this odd look on your face as if you were dreaming,’ he replied.

 

‘I... I did have a dream, Dom,’ Jena said in growing wonder. ‘I found myself in a forest clearing at night and a girl with silver wings came out of the trees and told me to fly.’

 

‘So what do you think it all means?’ Dom asked.

 

Jena turned the bracelet over in her hands, trying to imagine it glowing.

 

‘I don’t know, Dom,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘It’s never glowed or behaved oddly before. When grandma gave it to me she said there was some mystery surrounding it. It’s one of only a few pieces of jewellery gnomes own.’

 

Dom nodded.

 

‘I know and that makes it more strange,’ he said. ‘It came to our valley along with our ancestors. Don’t some of our tales say that some of the giant folk were… magical?’

 

Jena smiled.

 

‘I thought you said you didn’t believe in the tales,’ she said.

 

‘I didn’t… till now,’ he replied.

 

Jena slipped the bracelet back on her wrist.

 

‘It must be magical if it glowed like that… and made the bowl fly,’ she said. ‘But let’s wait and see. Let’s instead find out where we have arrived.’

 

They jumped up to the bowl’s rim and found they were on another river. A thick forest edged both banks. It was mid afternoon as far as Jena could tell, which meant they had spent the entire night and part of the day in the tunnel. The waterfall had disappeared around a bend behind them, its rumbling in the distance. Behind them as well were the mountains they had come under. Their village lay somewhere on their other side.

 

‘How are we ever to get home now?’ Dom asked in dismay.

 

‘Perhaps we’ll meet someone who can help us,’ Jena said.

 

You mean some giants,’ Dom said worriedly. ‘I… I hope they are friendly.’

 

'I'm sure they will be,' Jena reassured, though she was worried herself as to whether they would be.

 

The bowl drifted on and they clung to the rim hoping to see someone. But no-one appeared and they shortly slipped around a bend in the river. Ahead they saw a huge stone bridge arching over it.

 

‘Look at the size of that bridge?’ Dom exclaimed. ‘If giants built that, they must be nearby.’

 

‘If we can get to it,’ Jena said.

 

But the river was going to help them this time it seemed. It was carrying the bowl toward an overhanging bush growing out from the right bank.

 

‘That bush, Jena,’ Dom said. ‘If we can grab a branch as we go under it, we could climb into it and then down onto the bank.’

 

‘Let’s try it!’ Jena agreed.

 

The bowl shortly glided under the bush and a low branch snagged it to a stop. They grabbed a branch above them and dragged themselves into the bush. Then the river tugged the bowl free again and it floated away under the bridge.

 

Jena and Dom climbed down the bush to the ground and then scrambled up the bank. A wide trail obviously meant for much larger folk disappeared into the trees away from the bridge.

 

‘I smell smoke!’ Dom said suddenly.

 

Jena sniffed at the air and could smell it as well.

 

‘It seems to be coming from up the trail,’ she said. ‘Let’s follow it.’

 

They headed along the trail and were soon deep in the forest. The day was growing late now and the trees cast deep shadows on the ground. Jena hoped they would find the source of the smoke soon as she didn’t want to spend the night in the unknown forest.

 

Shortly the trail began to climb a small rise. When they reached the top they halted at the edge of a wide clearing. In the middle was the biggest cottage they had ever seen. It was built from thick wooden logs and had a dark tiled roof. A chimney stood at one corner and thick white smoke puffed from it.

 

‘I smell a stew cooking!’ Dom exclaimed. ‘It smells delicious!’

 

Jena could smell it too her empty belly gave a hungry rumble.

 

‘Come on!’ Dom urged, grabbing her by an arm. ‘I’ve got to eat!’

 

‘Now wait, Dom!’ Jena cautioned. ‘We don’t know if it’s safe.’

 

Dom groaned impatiently, but could see Jena’s point. They didn’t know if the cottage’s owner would be friendly.

 

‘Look, there’s an open window and some ivy growing up the wall,’ Jena said. ‘We could climb up it and have a look inside first.’

 

There was a stone path leading up to the front door and it passed by the window. They hurried up it to the ivy and began to climb up through its glossy leaves. They reached the window ledge and clambering onto it, peered through the window.

 

The cottage just had the one room and no-one appeared at home. A dark red rug lay over a stone floor and two small beds lay in the corners by the door. An old rocking chair sat before a fireplace in one wall and here a small fire burned. A small stove sat next to it and on this was a large pot in which the stew was simmering.

 

Then Dom groaned as looked at a table below the window. It was set out for a meal and on it were a thick loaf of bread, a plate of cheese and a big bowl of cherry tomatoes. There was also a teapot and two cups and saucers.

 

‘I can’t wait, Jena,’ he said. ‘I’m going in before I faint with hunger.’

 

And before Jena could say stop him he jumped off the windowsill and landed on the table. She followed, too hungry herself to be cautious. They helped themselves to some bread and cheese, tearing off some chunks and sitting down to eat.

 

Then quite suddenly a large white owl flew in through the window. It gave a loud hoot as it glided over to a perch above the fireplace. Jena and Dom froze in shock, watching the owl look at them sharply. Then they heard voices and footsteps coming up the path outside.

 

‘Someone’s coming!’ Dom blurted.

 

‘We’ve got to hide!’ Jena said as the footsteps approached the door. ‘Quick! Behind the teapot!’

 

They ran over to it and slipped behind it just as the door opened.

 

* * *

 

Into the cottage strode a giant figure with thick white hair and flowing beard. He was dressed in dark brown woodsman clothes and carried a long wooden staff. It was tipped with a silver claw and grasped in it was a dark orange crystal.

 

Behind him stepped a girl who was a good head shorter and had curiously pointed ears. Her dark hair was long and tied into two thick braids. She was dressed all in green except for brown ankle high boots.

 

‘Good elves, Eldor!’ she laughed. ‘You can be a forgetful old wizard sometimes. The soup is probably overdone!’

 

‘It will be done just right, Nyssa,’ Eldor the wizard replied as he leant his staff against the fireplace.

 

The owl perched above it hooted at him.

 

‘Yes, Moonwing!’ he said as he looked up at him. ‘It’s indeed time for supper.’

 

‘Good elves!’ Nyssa said as she stepped up to the table. ‘I think some possums or squirrels have been at the bread again.’

 

But Eldor didn’t reply, suddenly frowning as he gazed deeply into Moonwing’s eyes. Then he looked straight across at the teapot just as Nyssa spotted Jena and Dom behind it.

 

‘Eldor!’ she exclaimed in surprise.

 

He was at the table in two long strides and his bushy white eyebrows lifted in astonishment.

 

‘Good wizards!’ he exclaimed. ‘Gnomes!’