Chapter Five
Out into the daylight.

Amber, Jasper, Grendle and Danfare all turned to see Slevantus gone!

“Slevantus”!Called Amber no response “What do you think happened to him” ?

"I don’t know” said Danfare. “But I am sure he will show up soon”.

No sooner had he said that then from out of the shadows stepped Slevantus dressed in a hooded cloak.

“Sorry about that” he said “It just has been so long since I have seen daylight It took time to adjust”.

Amber nodded while the others only stared .

“Shall we go on” said Slevantus “I don’t know where we are headed and I don’t know what is going on so someone will have to explain”.

“Which I would be glad to”said Amber“Jasper and Danfare you lead the way” .

Jasper only nodded while Danfare grunted and marched forward.

“He is Jealous"!Thought Slavantus "Hum is she stricken already with me and who else?”

He looked at Grendle who turned away with a huff.

Slevantus smiled “Well well”!
He thought “I have taken the golden egg which two more are fighting for I wonder who will end up with it and if we do not creak the egg first” .

He looked down at Amber who only came up to his knee and sighed he was already stricken with more then just thirst for her and he knew it but she was so small and fragile and like a baby and he was a monster an animal and if he was not careful he could end up breaking this little bird who was staring up at him with adoring eyes none of his power was being used on her it was only love that made her do this if she only knew the truth maybe then she wouldn’t stair at him so but then the truth might ruin him forever and hurt her even more he did not want to frighten her so he decided,"No I will not tell her no matter what.”

(That Evening.)

Slevantus listened quietly while Amber told him about the famine the truce and where they were headed. Elfs! He shook his head they would know.

“I cannot go that far with you he said I just do not do well in mountains once we reach them I must go my own way”!

“But, said Amber“where will you go”?

“I will find a place in the forest”. He said with a soft smile. “It is for the best believe me I would not be a help if I came with you only a burden”.

She looked at him more confused than ever but shrugged “Very well I cannot force you go your own way once we reach the peaks”.

“And so I shall”he said with a smile“thank you again my lady for rescuing me.”

“It was Danfare” she said blushing “without him and his persuasiveness we would not have gone in the cave in the first place”.

Slevantus turned to Danfare who was putting more wood on the fire and was about to say something but Danfare gave him a look and he closed his mouth.

Well said Grendle stretching out on his cloak "it is late and I haven’t had a bite of sleep since we entered the forest so if you don’t mind I will get some sleep maybe you don’t sleep but I am only mortal”.
And with a slight chuckle he closed his eyes and began breathing softly.

Amber yawned and said with a smile “even we immortals need sleep” and soon she too was breathing softly.
Jasper found a flower and soon was asleep leaving Danfare and Slevantus staring at each other across the fire.

“Tell me” said Dnfare and “I will tell you”.

“It is a long story” said Slevantus “one I cannot tell in one night”.

“Well we have more than one night only do not upset me that brings on the curse and how long can you hold your hunger”?

“I have held it long” sighed Slevantus “I must feed soon but only if my eyes become black then I am starving I can still hold for some time”.

“Good your eye are fine.” said Danfare his eyes shining gold.

“Very well I will start” said Slevantus with a sigh “I was born in Italy the son of Salvador Slidor and only Air to the thrown I have no idea who my mother was father told me she died when I was born he would not tell even me what her name was it still bothers me.
It is something I will continue to want to find out.
Then one day when I was12 father received a letter from my great Aunt Bershea inviting us to come to the west to stay telling him that I needed a mother and he was getting old.
So we packed up our home in Italy and made our way up to where my Aunt lived”.

Danfare was about to say something when Amber stirred and sat up .
Daylight was coming and the sun was rising .
“We must get going,” she said shaking Grendle and shaking gently the flower until Jasper tumbled off it.

Then they all stood up cleaned up the camp and while they were traveling ate some bread and cheese.

They traveled on through the forest of light.Where birds and bees sang and trees danced with elven magic in this forest and the animals danced and sang.
But today everything was silent in the forest the trees were still the birds were quit and the bees were nowhere to be seen the little bunnies and squearls did not dance and magic was quit.

There was a faint light but it looked like any forest in good condition Jasper wore a sad and puzzled expression as did Amber the two men looked worried and scared even though they tried not to show it
.
Suddenly Amber stopped and turned to look at Slevantus with silted eyes,“Who are you”? She said in a very suspicious voice “the forest tells me evil has entered and to take it out before it destroys them."

“If I am evil” said Slevantus “I am ignorant of it but if they think it is me I shall leave and meet you on the other side and take the long way around”.

“It is not only you” sighed Amber then looking at Danfare she said “you are not evil but your creature is a creature of darkness so you cannot pass through you must go with Slevantus”.

Dnfare sighed and turned “as you command” and he and Slevantus left the forest of light.

As soon as they did the forest came to life little animals danced trees sang and the light shone with majestic brilliance.

Amber sighed and looked at both Men “why must we always end up with the evil creatures for company”?

Jasper shook his head and Grendle shrugged,

Amber sighed “but there is nothing that can be done about that now is there we must go on if we are to meet them on the other side but there way is longer so we can go slower”.

“Good” said Jasper and flew towered a flower and landed on the petals “this flower tells me there is a Mermaid Sorsirous in this forest and that we should go see her for protection for the rest of our journey. She live in the heart of the forest and disappears during the day but at night she comes out of her pool in human form but we must go see her for protection under the ocean where her magic is powerful”!

Grendle looked astonished “Go see a witch!”
The forest blew a harsh wind and Jasper spoke,

“She is no witch witches are what we call evil she is a sorserous and she is a mermaid they are creatures of light and can give protection it is our duty to go see her ".

”Yes” said Amber “We must go to see her we have time and must go through the heart of the forest I hear a spring of water leads to the ocean, that is where we must go.