Odin couldn’t see the elves, but he could feel them. He was only about an hour away from Yggdrasil, and the forest was changing gradually. During most of his travels, the land was wild and untamed. Sightlines were few and far between. Animal paths ran randomly this way and that. Now the paths had been gently directed to guide him toward his destination. In addition, there were clear kill points that had little cover and clear lines of sight in many directions. The area around Yggdrasil had been clearly, if subtly, cultivated.
Without so much as a rustle of leaves, five elves appeared in the branches above Odin. Each had an intricately carved bow aiming a serrated arrow directly at him. Then, I sixth elf strolled out into the open to face him. She appeared to be around thirty years of age, which meant she was at least a couple hundred years old, and carried herself with the surety of a veteran warrior. Her hair was the color of moonlight, and a silvery blade hung at her hip. Like the other warriors, she was wearing leather armor and a green cloak.
“Greetings traveler. What brings you to Yggdrasil on this fine day?” she asked as she leaned back against a tree and hooked her thumbs in her belt. Her friendly words and relaxed posture did little to hide the authority in her voice.
Odin bowed low to the elven woman, but his eyes left her only for a second. “Greetings upon you as well. My name is Odin, and I seek an audience with Tyrande Whisperwind, as I understand she rules Yggdrasil and this part of the Tangled Green,” he replied.
The elf’s smile did not reach her eyes as she looked over the traveler. “You are unknown to us, Odin, and we do not let any stranger that prances up to Yggdrasil meet with our queen.”
“A most reasonable position to take, but I am not above proving my friendship to you. Is there some task I can perform to prove my intentions?”
The elf frowned, thinking. “There is an enchantress, Melody. She seeks to cure the forest of the damage done by a magical blight. Help her on her quest, and I will know that you are at least a friend of the Tangled Green. Bring proof of your assistance when you return, and only then will I take you to see Tyrande Whisperwind. You can find Melody a few miles from the Gate to the Nexus.”
Odin smiled, though he didn’t mean it. He expected to have to do something to prove himself but had hoped it would be in return for access to the tree’s roots. There was little he could do about it, however, since he lacked both the power and reputation of his former life. “Very well. I will seek out this Melody and aid her. When I am finished, I will return here.” Odin bowed again, though not quite as low as the first time.
Odin turned and trudged away from the elves. After 50 yards, he glanced back. As expected there was no trace of his watchers. He continued walking for a few hours before summoning his steed, Sleipnir, and mounting up.
Without so much as a rustle of leaves, five elves appeared in the branches above Odin. Each had an intricately carved bow aiming a serrated arrow directly at him. Then, I sixth elf strolled out into the open to face him. She appeared to be around thirty years of age, which meant she was at least a couple hundred years old, and carried herself with the surety of a veteran warrior. Her hair was the color of moonlight, and a silvery blade hung at her hip. Like the other warriors, she was wearing leather armor and a green cloak.
“Greetings traveler. What brings you to Yggdrasil on this fine day?” she asked as she leaned back against a tree and hooked her thumbs in her belt. Her friendly words and relaxed posture did little to hide the authority in her voice.
Odin bowed low to the elven woman, but his eyes left her only for a second. “Greetings upon you as well. My name is Odin, and I seek an audience with Tyrande Whisperwind, as I understand she rules Yggdrasil and this part of the Tangled Green,” he replied.
The elf’s smile did not reach her eyes as she looked over the traveler. “You are unknown to us, Odin, and we do not let any stranger that prances up to Yggdrasil meet with our queen.”
“A most reasonable position to take, but I am not above proving my friendship to you. Is there some task I can perform to prove my intentions?”
The elf frowned, thinking. “There is an enchantress, Melody. She seeks to cure the forest of the damage done by a magical blight. Help her on her quest, and I will know that you are at least a friend of the Tangled Green. Bring proof of your assistance when you return, and only then will I take you to see Tyrande Whisperwind. You can find Melody a few miles from the Gate to the Nexus.”
Odin smiled, though he didn’t mean it. He expected to have to do something to prove himself but had hoped it would be in return for access to the tree’s roots. There was little he could do about it, however, since he lacked both the power and reputation of his former life. “Very well. I will seek out this Melody and aid her. When I am finished, I will return here.” Odin bowed again, though not quite as low as the first time.
Odin turned and trudged away from the elves. After 50 yards, he glanced back. As expected there was no trace of his watchers. He continued walking for a few hours before summoning his steed, Sleipnir, and mounting up.