Chapter Two

The eight gem elves, the most powerful, the protectors of their realm, took the baby and her brother to their gem-encrusted cavern. They stood by the Great Gem, which encompassed the sacred one hundred and eight gems and lesser crystals.

“The wards have been strengthened,” said the acolyte, one of many in the cavern, all dressed in softly flowing many-coloured robes.

“And the wards around the city?” said Diamond.

The acolyte nodded. “Even as we speak, Mistress.”

“It is only a matter of time, then, before she is found,” said Beryl, her hair and robes whiter than Diamond’s.

“Girasol’s essence has joined with her crystal,” said Emerald, reaching up to lay her hand on the grey crystal that continued to swirl as if agitated. “But she remains distressed.”

Diamond moved to her gem-sister’s side and rested her hands on her shoulders. “To have your life taken by your own sister… We can only pray sweet Girasol will find peace soon.”

The heavy silence was broken by Topaz. “What of the children?” She looked up from where she knelt by the now-sleeping boy’s side. “We cannot keep them here, it is not a place for children.”

“So long as Marlis believes her foolish notion, that their life force is more potent, they are not safe,” said Ruby.

“She is dying.”

They turned to Peridot, stood by the baby who was encased in a cocoon of light.

“Her body is too broken. It cannot sustain her life force. And that, too, is fading.” Pressing her hands against her heart, she closed her eyes.

Her grief, clearly etched on her face, was felt by her gem-sisters. Because elf children were rare, each one was exceptionally precious. To witness a newborn slowly lose her life was too much to bear.

“We put her life force, her essence, in another.” Emerald’s clear voice cut through their sadness. As one, they stared at her. “It has been done before.”

“Not by any of us,” said Garnet. “But it would appear to be our only option. Who would be suitable?”

“It would have to be a young one,” said Topaz.

“And how would we protect that one from Marlis?” said Beryl.

They fell silent once more, the magnitude of what they were contemplating so great.

“Whatever we decide, we must do so quickly,” said Peridot. “Before we lose her.”

“The mortal realm,” said Sapphire. “We choose a young one from the mortal realm.”

“Or.” Topaz got to her feet. “Or a little one yet to be born.”

Diamond started to pace back and forth. “Yes, yes. A woman with child, the earlier the better. That will give the baby’s essence time to grow strong again before she is birthed. The mortal realm is one place Marlis cannot go.”

“And the boy?” Topaz looked back at him.

“We hide him in the mortal realm also,” said Ruby.

Beryl nodded. “We find a suitable family to care for him.”

“He is young,” said Diamond. “Time with a loving family may help him forget the horrors of today. We conceal him with a hiding spell to diminish his essence. Once we have Marlis, we will bring him home.”

“But what if the family grow to love him?” Garnet spread her hands before her. “And he them? Would it not be cruel to separate them?”

They turned to the sleeping child, her words giving them pause.

“We do not have to decide that now,” said Emerald. “We must find a host for the baby, that is of paramount importance.”

The baby’s laboured breathing was slowing. Working fast, they condensed her essence, carefully lifted it from her body and transferred it to the diamond on Diamond’s wand.

Leaving a handful of acolytes to watch over the boy, the gem elves made their way to the Pool of Light, which reflected the Great Gem. Standing in a semi-circle around the pool, they joined hands with Diamond and Beryl on either end, who placed their free hands in the water. The gems on the pendants of the elves – Diamond and Beryl, Ruby and Garnet, Emerald and Peridot, Sapphire and Topaz – gradually brightened, as if lit from within. Silently, they channelled their combined energies into the water, all with the same thought, to be shown a suitable host for the baby.

The still waters rippled, turned cloudy then cleared to reveal a woman, asleep on her back with one arm flung across the man lying on his side next to her.

A loud humming sigh escaped Beryl. Garnet glanced at her. From the frown on her brow, she could tell Beryl was concentrating on checking the woman. Beryl’s humming, her usual precursor to voicing her revelations, always made Garnet smile.

“The woman, this woman, she is only just with child. She-they have tried many times, no success. She is healthy, strong but.” Her frown deepened. “But this new life in her, it is weak.”

Diamond’s ethereal self detached itself from her physical body. Wand in hand, she slipped into the waters. Her sisters could see her ghostly form materialise next to the sleeping woman. Laying her wand against the woman’s lower belly, the diamond on the wand flared.

The woman moaned and shifted in her sleep, her hand moving to cover her belly.

Moments later, Diamond sucked in her breath, back with her sisters. “It is done,” she said, her shoulders slumped from weariness.

“The woman will keep her safe,” said Beryl.

“And now, the boy,” said Sapphire.

The elves went through the same procedure to find a suitable family for the boy.

“He will have to be taken to these people,” said Peridot.

“I will take him.”

“Ruby!” Garnet’s eyes widened.

A soft laugh escaped Ruby. “I will take him and explain his care to the family. How difficult a task can that be?”

Garnet failed to return her smile.

“I would suggest staying with him until we have found and captured Marlis,” said Diamond.

The others agreed, but Garnet remained silent.

“I will ready myself,” said Ruby.

As she walked to her chamber, Garnet caught up with her. “Ruby–”

“I know what you will say, and I tell you there is no cause to worry, sister.”

“I will go.”

Ruby stopped and faced her. “Do you not think me capable?”

“That is not the reason, and you know it.”

With a sigh, Ruby lowered her head. “I know. It is because you are older, and you see it as your duty to protect me. But there is no need, Garnet… Armina.” She smiled, laying her hand on Garnet’s. “It is not like before, when I needed my big sister to take care of me. Now, we are both gem elves, both equally strong.”

Garnet leaned forward, resting her forehead against Ruby’s. “I know, I know. But. It is a hard habit to break, I suppose.”

Ruby hugged her sister. “Come. Help me prepare.”

Dressed in her travelling clothes, her dark red hair braided, Ruby could have passed for a commoner except for the gem circlet across her forehead, which, once donned, could never be removed. Her wand and other items hid in a bag hung from her waist.

Cradling the still-sleeping boy in her arms, she faced the gem-encrusted archway, which stood in a pool of water.

“We will inform you when we have found Marlis,” said Diamond.

Ruby nodded. “Before I leave him, I will take the precaution of cloaking him in a concealing spell to ensure his safety.”

Her gem-sisters voiced their approval.

Garnet had to stop herself going to her sister’s side, for Ruby was not only her gem-sister, she was her birth-sister also. Instead, she raised her hand and forced a smile as her sister stepped into the pool and disappeared through the archway.