Chapter 12 - The Tree

Once out of town Orion speaks to Sherly about now that they know a bit of the area, they are heading towards they can take their time a bit and explore. By the map there is 2 small towns between here and Dilmah and we will be traveling on roads mostly but I heard that there are some places that the roads are no longer that well maintained. There are a couple of places I want to check if even exist in the mountains one of my old homes if someone else hasn't taken up roust. Should have some things that could be useful if they still stand. As the pass through a forest things became weird Orion seemed to be looking at a big tree and for some reason, he says I wonder and starts to sing and a path opens to the tree. They travel down this path and come to the tree and it wasn't just a big tree it was huge the trunk was bigger than the dwarven town. Sherly had her jaw drop because she noticed that the road behind them disappeared. This is when Orion Started singing the song of truth as he sang, he motioned her to sing as well. Sherly Sang with him and suddenly the tree shook violently and then the atmosphere felt lighter and the air felt fresher as they finished singing a door opened in the trunk of the Tree and a beautiful green lady stepped out and bowed to them. Orion Looked at her and said "Lilian it has been a long time". The green woman's head snaps up "how do you know me"? Orion smiles and says "you don't remember me? This is truly sad it means time has truly erased me. He sings again and Lilian says Phillip the Sword Mage "? And with that Orion Falls over clutching his head. He knows his name and now everything hits him he was betrayed by his brother and his dragon wife because of the shadows they meant to make him be lost forever in darkness but could only seal away some of his memories. His name was the key now he knew everything and that because of being trapped in the sword and having the dragon core mixed in him that in a year he will become a dragon youngling. As this happened Sherly and Lilian talked Sherly explained everything up to this point. Lilian said that "Such a curse and it has been so long there are still affects that are yet to be reviled and I think he should keep the name Orion he has always guided people they took Orion in the tree and put him in a bed. Sherly asks so this tree is your home? Lilian laughs "I am a Dryad I am the tree. So, you are his new apprentice? How I envy you, being able to travel with him. In the past he was known as a friend to all. He never looked at race. He truly followed the oath and code. If he still does then you have a teacher that is beyond your imagination"! Sherly replies "he truly is I have learned so much from him and I know that he is more powerful than anyone I know. After a while Orion wakes up and he says "Lilian the fact you are still alive means they Did not know our connection and now I know my name again but I will go by Orion so they can't use that curse on me again. Thank you Lilian it may have hurt but now I have all the pieces to this puzzle. Now I truly understand their fears. What has happened in this world, how was the order over thrown"? Lilian Responds "its as you have been told the old enemy had taken over. The order was first infiltrated and any who were like you and strong against their influence were the first to be killed or disappear the fact that you were bound in your sword means they could not kill you and in fear actually made you stronger. Then every nation went to war with each other decreasing the population of this world by two thirds. No race escaped this culling. Even I was under their influence your song saved me"! Orion looks at her and asked "What! even the dryads were culled? How did they Find you all? I mean I know where ever there is a tree you are there you were almost godlike with how flora grew in your presence farmers always wanted dryads around to grow their crops". Lilian replied well the ones by the towns and city's first got shadow possessed then made the crops fail. This made the people angry then there was a fight between the dryads and the people and people won, killing many of my sisters and chopping down their trees. Even I was possessed, the shadow that had me was curious how you sang his trees out of the way it was my protection after all and when you got to the tree you sang the song of truth and well, he was destroyed. I am so thankful!! I have been trapped so long and now I can revive my forest! With that she started to sing the song of life of rebirth and of spring Orion looks at her and sings with her, he encourages Sherly to Join in and she does. When they are done singing everything suddenly feels so alive around them. Lilian then offers them food and they find plates of fruit and nuts being served and they enjoy the food completely. They stay the night and the next morning as they left the tree, they saw that the forest suddenly was alive. There were birds singing, there were squirrels, there were bears and wolfs and all kinds of animals surrounding the tree. The change cough Sherly off guard she asked "did our song do all this? Will the animals attack us"? Orion looks at her and Says "They are here for Lilians blessing to live in her forest and her rules". Lilian sings a song of welcome and that all must follow the laws of the jungle but that Orion and Sherly are under her protection. The animals all bow to them and spread out in the forest. Suddenly Sherly could hear various animal's voices as they thanked them before leaving. Lilian and Orion just nod and smile at the animals and Sherly follows their example. Orion ask Lilian "there used to be a beast folk village on the far side of this forest is it still there"? Lilian looks at him and Says let me check she closes her eyes and then says oh my. Its there but in very bad shape. If you go there be careful. To this Orion says I will.