The Merging of the Realms, Book One

Offae’s eyes were still closed as he felt colors drifting across his skin. He opened them slightly to see liquid crystals floating in air, some hung in clusters, some alone, each one a different tone and color. They sounded like chimes dripping into pools of music. Each note was a whole song that wanted to be sung. He opened his eyes to see floating crystals filling his room, singing to him, refractions of light, reflections with sound. They lit all surfaces in a symphony of colors as they danced into his room. They were images of crystalline seeds suspended by the daylight flowing between them, holding each in place and connecting all. The colors sounded like music. All images had a different tone that combined with others and bathed his room in harmonious light. He looked at his courtyard to see shimmering crystalline trees reflecting this into his room. Each tree made a distinct sound, some humming a single note, others singing full chords, but all in perfect harmony. As the wind blew through them, their crystalline leaves sounded like chimes ringing against one another, each a different size and pitch. Some that sounded like voices, and they sang to him. “Thank you, Offae. This is just where we’re meant to be.” “What are you?” “We are Singing Trees. Offae ran to the Great Hall. “Merlin, come with me! I have something I need to show you.” Merlin followed him to his room, trying to keep up with him. Offae was speaking quickly, “You need to see this, Merlin. I put those crystals in the ground last night and they grew into trees, crystalline trees! They’re Singing Trees now Merlin.” Offae took him out to the courtyard and the trees had become larger than they were earlier in the morning. Merlin walked around in silence, placing his hands on them all, one by one. “Can you hear them, Merlin?” “Yes, I can. Each one is different frequency but they’re all in tune with each other. You only had clear and red crystals when you left the workshop but now you have every color here. This is beautiful, we must show the others.” The trees sang to Merlin and Offae. “We are meant for all here. Plant the other seeds in the floor of your Great Hall and in your private chambers. Have the others come to us so we can hear them and guide them to the seeds meant for them. You should add one of our crystalline leaves to your staff and wand.” Merlin ran to the Great Hall to get the others while Offae stayed in the courtyard listening to the Singing Trees. He had never heard anything like them before, the way they sparkled and chimed spoke to something ancient within him. He listened to the colors until the others arrived then they all listened to the melodies and songs of crystalline trees. No one spoke for the longest time, unaware each was hearing a slightly different song and finely attuned to each one of them. Guinevere was the first to speak, “How did you know to do this, Offae?” “The crystals told me to plant them here then they asked for all of you to come so you could each hear your own song, and they could guide you to your own seeds.” “Are we to plant some too?” “Yes, we are to plant some in the Great Hall, and in each of our rooms. They also said to place a crystal leaf in each of our staffs and wands.” The Singing Trees then spoke to them all, “We are a gift from the mountain to each of you. You will never find any more like us. We will produce seeds that can be planted, but not just anywhere. They will speak to you as we did to Offae and tell you where and when. You have all been good stewards of these lands. You came and watched over this mountain so you could heal her. She knows what you did and the goodness in your hearts. This is her gift to you. Our leaves will provide something different for each. The seeds will grow fast because you will need them soon. You can sense a dark presence. We hear it as Noise. We will be your greatest shield around this place. It is the song we sing that will not let them find you. A day from now they will not even know you’re here. By tomorrow morning this place will be invisible to the Noise.” “What is this thing you call Noise?” “It is advance scouts for a darkness that seeks to destroy you. Three of you defended this Mountain long ago and now she will fight by your side to defend you. Guinevere, some of these seeds will provide for your archers and foot soldiers. Those trees will produce arrowheads and spear tips, finer than any they have ever seen. There is no armor that will stop their flight and whenever one of those points falls on ground or man, a new tree will take root on that very spot. Offae, Merlin, ÐüiiR~RhiijŅ, GrånåchK~ŅôôR, these will enhance your staffs and wands, and they will also make you and any dragon you ride invisible to the Noise. PůçĶ, find the two pairs of crystals that are meant for you and ØdîŅ. What they can do will surprise you. They will unleash their powers when you need them most.” The trees then stopped talking, but their singing continued. They all walked back to the Great Hall as GrånåchK gave voice to what they were all thinking, “We’re being given gifts and warnings at the same time. Offae, we need to begin your training. I need to awaken the magic that’s buried deep within you. The time is at hand.