1. Now Do You Believe Me


    Date: 10/16/2015, Categories: Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Author: Will_greybeard, Rating: 7, Source: LushStories

    knew that I couldn't stay there because it was obvious that few people came that way, but I couldn't even remember which path I had come down, and I had no idea which way to go. I then started to feel frightened, and just sat down on a broken tree stump and burst into tears." "Oh, Julie, how terrible; what did you do?" "This is the incredible bit," Julie continued, "I was sitting there with my head in my hands when I became aware of a sort of presence. One minute it wasn't there, and the next minute it was, and I felt a sort of calmness and peace. I looked round and saw this shadowy figure on the edge of the trees looking at me. Then he stepped out into full view, and although he was obviously a man, he wasn't like any man I had ever seen before. He was tall and slim, but in a muscular sort of way, and he moved with the gracefulness of an athlete. He had long blonde hair tied in a braid at the back, and his face was so beautiful, with piercing green eyes - oh, and the stories are right, he did have pointed ears, although only slightly so, a bit like Mr Spock." "Go on," said Sylvia, "what happened next?" "He stepped over to my side, put a hand in my shoulder, and in a soft voice asked me if he could help me. Oh, Sylvia, his voice was so soothing, like the sound of running water, or a gentle wind in the trees. I told him that I was lost, and didn't know which way to go to get back home. But then I felt frightened again but he told me not to worry, I was quite safe with him, ...
    and he would guide me back to the edge of the woods. 'But you don't know where I live,' I said, panicking again, but he laughed, and said that he has seen me many times in the woods, and knew exactly where my house was." "He must have been one of the wardens," said Sylvia, in a practical sort of way. "No," replied Julie, "he didn't look anything like the wardens. To start with he was dressed in a very strange costume, a sort of long tunic and robe in a leaf green fabric that shimmered as he moved. He told me all about himself as he led me back through the woods, holding my hand so that I wouldn't stumble on any fallen branches. He said that he was a wood elf, one of the guardians of the trees, and that his name was Lithonien. He moved so swiftly and gracefully, almost as if his feet didn't touch the ground, and in no time we were back in a part of the woods that I recognised. When we reached the edge of the trees, he lifted my hand and kissed it softly, before pushing me gently in the direction of my house. I looked back when I reached the gate, but he had vanished as quickly as he had appeared." "Wow," exclaimed Sylvia, "that is some story. I wonder if there are more like him, perhaps I should get lost in the woods too. It would be interesting to meet an elf, and what a story I would have to tell my other friends over coffee. They would all be very envious." ooOoo A few weeks went by, and Julie has almost forgotten her encounter with the elf, when one morning a couple of days ...