The Beaded Tapestry

After a month had passed and Erendar prepared to once again attend to the chimes, Ellyna came to him in his workshop and expressed her wish to speak of what had transpired on their joint venture to the meeting halls.  Deep into the night they spoke of the encounter with the musician and what they both suspected was his malicious intensions toward their creation.  Ellyna spoke of her encounter with Galvinar, as Erendar had tended the chimes, and the hatred that now marred her life, an affliction that she had never known before. This last confession filled Erendar with dread for never had his sister been afflicted with evil tendencies or judgements and he blamed the musician for all her woes.  He also at last perceived the obsession of Galvinar and wished to deny him even the sight of his sister’s face.

The next day as his sister slept, Erendar left their home and made his way to the meeting hall of the Doyens. The foyer was deserted upon his arrival and there was no sensation of watchfulness to mar his work as he tended the chimes. This relieved Erendar but also disappointed him since he wished to confront the musician about his encounter with Ellyna, and to warn him against further interference.  But as the day wore on and Erendar complete his ministrations, no sight of Galvinar had been seen and no watchfulness was felt.

Unbeknown to the craftsman, Galvinar hid amongst the trees on the border between the Fayde and the Realm of the Doyens and watched Erendar as he made his way to the halls. He then took to the road and heading away from the realm, made his way to the lands of the siblings. There he found Ellyna at work on her loom upon the raised platform at the edge of the forest. She was unaware of his presence, being in the trance of foretelling that came upon her when she created.

The musician then pulled from his back a golden harp that was bound there, and began to play. In the months since he first gazed on Ellyna he had labored on the melody that he now played. In this composition he injected all his desire and quest for control into its haunting theme, both beautiful and bewitching.  Ellyna at once fell into his spell, being already in a state of reverie and receptive to magic. 

The musician completed his song and seeing Ellyna returning from her trance, stole away before ever she saw him. He hid again in the trees on the edge of the land and watched her as she gazed in bewilderment at the unfinished tapestry before her, wondering what had broken her dream before her work was accomplished. She then arose from her loom and making her way up to the house, entered and was removed from Galvinar’s sight. Turning, he made his way back into the realm, avoiding the detection of Erendar as he returned on the same road. There was no need to observe further the home of the siblings. Galvinar only needed to bid his time and await the fruition of his labors.

At Erendar’s return he was overjoyed to find Ellyna once again herself and all shadow of her encounter with the musician strangely gone.  Only a month had passed since her visit to the chimes, but his hopes were that the memory had faded and her strong nature had won over the evil influence and she had now returned to herself. He vowed to keep her away from the musician at all cost and in this he knew she would rebel as this would also separate her from the chimes.

As the year drew to a close the Doyen and Doyenne sent another messenger to the siblings, desiring a new commission from the workshop of the artisans.  They wished Ellyna to create a tapestry for the Arch Doyenne who was expecting her second child. She wished for a rendition of her expected child’s former existence in order to prepare the home for his arrival.  In this request unbeknownst to the Arch Doyenne was the interference of the musician, for he wished to look upon Ellyna once more and see the progression of his song.  During the announcement ceremony of the expected child, Galvinar included the praises of the siblings work in his song, thus placing the compulsion within the Doyenne to request this new commission. He also injected doubt within the Elder at the happiness of the new born if his past was not revealed and studied before his emergence. In this act of manipulation of the minds and desires of the Doyens, Galvinar tainted his fate although he knew it not.  The Elders looked with fell judgement on any being who interfered with the free will of another.

At his summons, the first strife arose between Ellyna and Erendar, as there never had occurred within their life together. His desire to isolate her from the musician and also to protect her newly healed mind created a rift between them. Ellyna, knowing the importance of this new request from the Doyenne and the need for direct contact with her subject, was confused by her brother’s reluctance at her acceptance of the commission and her desire to travel to the halls of the Doyen. Their debate went well into the night and escalated with Erendar losing his reason and forbidding Ellyna to go, ran out of their workshop locking her in behind him.

This proved the undoing of his plan as Ellyna knew many hidden escapes from their dwelling structures being the chief designer of their abode. After Erendar had locked the door and Ellyna was sure he had gone up to the house, she went to the back of the workshop near the storage of her tapestry supplies and released the latch on a hidden panel opening onto the platform where she sat to do her meditations. It had been placed there only as a convenience, giving her quick access to additional supplies when she was at her work, relinquishing the need to traverse the entire building. She then escaped the workshop unnoticed, closing the panel behind her and made her way down the green lawn and onto the road that led out of the Fayde. Erendar knew not of her escape until the following morning.

Being an early riser, Erendar woke just before sunrise and quickly preparing refreshment for his interned sibling and himself, made his way out of the house and to the steps of the workshop. Entering the workshop with his peace offering he found Ellyna gone, knowing at once where she had gone although not realizing her full mind. He then took immediately to the road hoping to overtake her before she reached the realm. By this time Ellyna was already in the throes of the musician, Erendar being too late with his pursuit.

As her bother slept in their home, Ellyna entered the upper Realm and by the rising of the sun came to the great doors of the meeting halls. There Galvinar stood in greeting and she found herself glad at their meeting, but knew not why. He led her through the empty foyer and into the inner structure through the left arched alcove. Here lay the private chambers of the retainers of the sacred halls and only the Doyen and Doyenne were allowed entry by their liegemen. Galvinar took Ellyna’s arm and drew her to his own apartments, entering the rooms through a door of ebony leading off a maze of passageways. She did not question this nor ask why she was not brought before the Doyens, thus was the power of the spell that Galvinar had sung to her. There he placed her within his inner rooms and no one was aware of her presence.

Late on the day of Ellyna’s capture, Erendar arrived at the halls of the Doyen calling out for his sister. When he received no response, he entered the foyer and found it deserted. A slight melody from the chimes acknowledged his entry and he moved to the center of the dome and gazed up at their shining form. One of the Doyens found him there saying works of greeting, but also words of confusion at his presence. Although the elder welcomed the brother, his sister had been requested. Erendar voiced his concerns for his sister and also described the strange reaction to the request of the Doyenne that had come over his sibling. He learned to his dismay that Ellyna had not arrived that day and had not answered the call of the Doyenne. The elder did not realize that she was within their own sacred halls and surmised she must be elsewhere within the realm or might not have left the Fayde at all. Erendar’s thoughts went immediately to the musician and his desire for Ellyna and the chimes, but the Doyen pushed these suspicions away, saying their liegeman was away from the realm on an urgent matter. He then bid Erendar to continue his search within the Fayde and turning entered the inner halls.

Erendar spent the next weeks searching the realm and Surrounding areas for Ellyna, traveling further each day in his frugal hunt. He returned home after one last journey to the home of his mother, dejected and full of sorrow at his failure. His mother had hoped Ellyna would seek her out in her strive with her brother, but after a month no sight of her was seen and Erendar gave up, returning to their empty cottage to prepare for his next visit to the chimes.

During her internment, Ellyna revealed many secrets of her abilities, some willingly and others through the enchantments of the musician. She created two great works of art during this period, revealing much of her mind and aspirations. If all had remained as it were and Galvinar remained content with the possession of Ellyna alone, his crimes might never have come to light, leaving her a captive forever, but his desire and jealousy was not alone for Ellyna and her gifts. The burning desire to possess the combined efforts of the siblings that still hung within the entry of the Eldar grew with each passing day and their sweet melody taunted him at the stir of every breeze.

Thus, after a month of captivity in the grips of the musician, Ellyna’s brother returned to the realm to administer to the chimes. As he removed the chimes from their perch, breaking the seal of protection placed on them by Ellyna’s runes, the musician creeped up from the shadows and smote him with an oak branch.  Erendar let fall the chimes and with a mighty disharmony they crashed to the marble floor.  The cacophony made its way into Galvinar’s inner chambers and Ellyna hearing the chimes discord awoke from her enchantment and fled from the apartments of the musician.  She entered the domed foyer and there discovered her captor hovering over the prone form of her brother who’s head was afflicted with a bleeding gash. 

Then all that had transpired over her weeks of internment came rushing back to her in full and a rage filled her at the transgressions of the musician. She reached for the oak branch that Galvinar had let fall at the sound of the falling chimes and with all her new found fury, rushed to the stooping man with murderous intent. It would have gone ill for Galvinar if at that moment the Prime Doyen, on his way to the inner halls, had not entered the foyer, seeing the musicians peril. Catching her arm in midair as Ellyna strove to strike the musician; the Doyen stayed her movements speaking works of calming to her as she struggled against his grip. She released the weapon as the Doyen spoke, dropping her arms in dismay at her actions. Looking down at her brother, she saw his eyes flutter open and his gaze alight on her distraught form. The subject of his search was before him and the worry and agony of the last weeks passed from his mind. Slowly his eyes closed, shutting away the vision of his beloved sister and his spirit passed from his body, dispersing his great creative energy into the cosmos. Then Ellyna, her rage curbed by the elated face of her brother, knelt down and covering his fallen body, wept, forgetting all those around her and even who she was.

The musician had retreated to the wall of the foyer when he glimpsed the rage of the weaver as she stood confined by the Doyen.  He now huddled in terror at what he had done and the arbitration and retribution of the Doyen and Doyenne he would now face for his transgressions: not only to the siblings but also to the Eldar themselves. 

The Doyen and Doyenne, seeing all that had transpired since the creation of the chimes, held a council on the fate of the remaining sibling and their own liegeman. Now was the loss of the chimes influence felt the strongest since with the passing of Erendar and the decomposition of Ellyna’s spirit they could not be repaired.

Thus in consideration of all that had transpired the decision of the Doyens was to release Ellyna from the worlds of the upper realm, finding it the only way to break the grief of her brother’s loss. When the weaver awoke from her grief, she found herself in the lower realm and in mortal form. All memory of her former existence was washed from her mind, being a tragedy that could not be resolved. No retention of her life with her brother remained as the Doyen could not release her from the trauma of his loss. They instead removed him from her mind before her transfer to the lower realm and if an unwanted tear escaped her eye whenever she heard the sound of a chime catching the breeze, she only brushed it away in wonder at the unknown sadness.

They left Ellyna only an echo of her former abilities, a simple fortune weaver among her new people. On Galvinar they also took pity, but knowing he could no longer be included in the service to the Doyen after his transgressions against the Eldar and the perpetration of a death within the Realm, he was also sent in human form to the lower realm and all knowledge of the upper realm was removed from his mind.  He retained a semblance of his former adeptness for music,  but never again would he be able to use it for enchantments or dominance.  He would be a simple musician, entertaining the denizens of his new existence.

Still, in the depth of his mind a desire for Ellyna and her talent lingered unknown to the Doyen, but he was sent far away from where Ellyna started her new life and no memory was in his mind of who or where she was.

Here is part 1 of a prequel to my book The Beaded Tapestry. The finale part 2 will be shared in the next post.

Very long ago when time was new and no blemish marred Lune, there lived a craftsman together with his sister. His skills were renown among the Eldar race and they coveted all that issued from his workshop. Erendar was his name and his sister was Ellyna. She also was illustrious among the Eldar race, for she was a master weaver and her tapestries were both beautiful and foretelling. Their home they made outside the living world, dwelling instead within the parallel existence of the Fayde. This was much to their liking, being isolated where no being could disturb their creative process or steal away the treasures they created.

The nature of the Fayde was also much to their liking, as there grew within its borders many beautiful things full of color, life and music, giving rise within the thoughts of Ellyna and Erendar ideas of creation and visions of what will come.

Erendar spent many joyous hours walking the paths of their world, capturing visions of the living world and stashing these pictures within the drawers of his mind.  Coming to his workshop, he would open these drawers and transform his visions into items of surpassing beauty and wonder.  Sculptures he produced of ebony wood in the likeness of the night sky, dusted with flakes of mica to mimic the stars, and lanyards of jade in the likeness of weeping willow fronds hanging in curtains above the surface of a sapphire lake.  Verily he labored in his craft, finding joy and fulfillment with each creation. 

His sister Ellyna was no less industrious, but found her inspiration within the depths of her thoughts and not in the outer world.  Instead she sat upon a raised platform on the edge of the forest near their dwelling, heeding only the sounds of the world around with her eyes closed.  Within her mind images began to take shape, bringing her visions of things yet to come, but also things that had already occurred, but were hidden. When all was laid out in her mind, she opened her eyes and set her hands to the loom and began to weave.  As in a trance she remained for sometimes days at a time, sitting still as solid stone except for the blur of her industrious hands.  As the creation at last came to fruition, a great sign would escape her lips and her hands would drop to her lap as her eyes rose to gaze upon the finished work.  A tapestry of exquisite form was always before her, reflecting the vision that she had held in her mind; some scene from the distant past, giving guidance, or something yet to be giving hope for the future or warning for what was to come.

As was said of their endeavors, it was greatly desired by the race of the Doyen, being the eldest and highest race of the world. They made their swellings and halls within the High Realm and had a direct road to the Fayde. The Doyen often sent messengers by this path to request works that they wished for the siblings to create. Erendar sat in his workshop on one occasion when one of these messengers arrived. The messenger decreed that the Elders desired a new creation for their halls; A thing of beauty and enchantment to adorn the entry foyer of their great meeting chambers. So great was their admiration of the craftsman’s arts, that they wished this item to be the first thing they viewed when gathering together in thought and decision; A handiwork of color and sound to adorn the entry and bring pleasure and decisiveness to all who entered their grand halls.

Erendar found delight in this request, being eager to try his hand at new ventures.  In all his endeavors, he had never included music or sound and this he was willing to attempt.

He called his sister to him as the messenger departed and explained with excitement this new commission. She also found enthusiasm in this request as she shared in the joy creation of all things gave just as her brother and knew in this they could work in unison to produce a work of immense beauty.

Thus, on a morning of exceeding brightness, the pair began this undertaking for the great halls of the Doyen. Silver bright and unmarred, was brought from their vast store rooms and was laid out in gleaming sheets along with lesser quantities of gold and bronze. Gossamer strands of silk were retrieved from Ellyn’s weaver’s satchel along with all the tools of their trade and all was made ready to begin their great labor. 

Taking the silver, Erendar wrought the gleaming material into delicate hanging chimes.  Their long elegant vessels filled with the gentle atmosphere of the sibling’s realm.  The shining surface was embellished with runes by Ellyna, telling a tale of great deeds past and odes to those yet to come.  Trace adornments of gold and bronze finished off the creation, enhancing its beauty and adding rich undertones to the chimes melody. The final vessels were strung together is precise order, using the gossamer silk, ensuring the sounds of enchantment.

Erendar hung the finished work upon the branch of a golden laurel tree that adorned their land and the sweet melody of the chimes sang out as the gentle breeze played across the silver surface. Far and wide the music traveled across the Fayde and even traversed the borders of their world and was heard within the great halls of the Doyens.

At this time there was a great musician who was in service within the inner meeting halls of the Doyens.  He was named Galvinar and he spent his days relieving the toils of the weary with his songs of joy and enchantment. His abilities were great and he worked tirelessly and with pleasure, but he was also a proud and vain artist coveting and protecting his standing within the inner halls and reluctant to share acclaim in anything he achieved.

As he sat within the entry foyer of the great hall, he harkened to the sweet melody emanating from the Fayde. At once his jealousy arose, thinking an usurper for his position had come and he left the hall making his way toward the reverberations.

As he entered the Fayde and crept nearer the din the sweet melody ceased and he stood as one awakened from a trance.

It chanced that as Galvinar approach her dwelling, Ellyna sensing that their chimes had completed the cuing of its wood, retrieved their hanging creation and wrapping them in silk to quiet and protect their music, placed them in a silver casket decorated with runes of giving. Little did her thoughts dwell on things of deceit or malice being a creature of peace, or she might have known her response as being a warning of peril to this creation she had come to love. 

Unknown to Ellyna, Galvinar had crept up to the edges of her land and espied what Ellyna did, noting the nature of the casket and the letters of giving adorning it.  Then he knew in his heart that this was indeed a gift for the Doyens and the chimes enamoring melody, surpassing his own gifts would threaten his position in the great hall. His thoughts also dwelt on Ellyna and he could sense that she possessed a great gift of foretelling.  This he coveted being aware of its advantages, both good and malicious.  Thus he wished to possess both the woman and her creation, not knowing that the chimes also contained her brothers’ abilities. 

The musician stood long at the borders of the property, watching the woman as she went about her daily rituals, hoping she would release her vigil on the silver casket long enough for him to spirit it away without her knowledge.

It happened at this time that Erendar returned from a visit to their mother’s home a half days travel from the siblings swelling.  She also possessed talents for the foretelling which she had passed on to her daughter although it was altered in nature.

Erendar coming up the road that led to their dwelling beheld the musician watching his sister from his hiding place.  Unlike Ellyna, Erendar was quick to discern evil intent within others and he came upon Galvinar and held him fast demanding words of his intent.

Galvinar caught unaware could not answer truthfully without revealing his evil intent or lust for their creation, thus he remained silent in the strong grip of the craftsman, meeting his eyes with false innocence. Ellyna, hearing the raised voices quickly left her liturgy and raced to her brother’s side.  Seeing the musician restrained by her brother, Ellyna quickly stayed his hand as she recognized him as in direct service to the Doyen and Doyenne.  She pleaded with Erendar to release him,  not caring what he had done, for she knew pain of punishment was placed on any who hurt or hindered one of the Doyen’s inner circle.

At his sister’s words, Erendar released the musician and he fled down the road, returning hence he had come and one again entered the foyer of the Eldar halls. There he sat in silence, pondering and scheming how to bring about his possession of the chimes and the weaver without breaking the laws of the Doyen, his masters.

The siblings, not understanding the extent of their peril, quickly put the occurrence with the musician behind them and prepared for the ceremony of the giving of their labors.  Their joy of the finish creation was empowering and as their nature was at once proud but not possessive, they did not covet the chimes, but only thought of its qualities as a gift. To share with others and thus receive more pleasure from this giving was the extent of their ambition.

The day of the ceremony was set for three days’ time and the brother and sister made all ready for their visit to the realm of the Doyen and Doyenne. 

The morning of the ceremony opened bright and clear and the siblings took to the road leading from their home.  By midday they entered the realm of the Elders, carrying the silver casket between them.  Leading from the great entry of the meeting hall, many steps ran down to the road.  As their journey drew to a close, Erendar and Ellyna came to these steps and made their way up their white lustrous surface to the closed doors.  Many were lined along the stairs to witness the giving ceremony and they cheered and raised their limbs in praise as the siblings reached the top of the climb.  A short note from a gong announced their arrival, although the striker of this note was not visible, and the tone seemed to come from the depths of the structure.  The doors were flung open by wardens within the hall and Ellyna and Erendar entered the foyer.  Round was the foyer, with a lofty domed ceiling and all was built of snowy marble veined with ebony. Across their sight, all dressed in fine silks with flower and wreaths adorning their hair, stood the Doyen and Doyenne in an arch around the center of the foyer. The hall was also adorned in lanyards and wreaths of blossoms, trailing across the arched passageways leading off the domed foyer.

A short stair was in the center of the entry and the siblings ascended these with great ceremony and placed the silver casket upon the raised platform that had been raised there. They lifted the hinged cover in unison revealing the silk covered contents within. Ellyna lifted the chimes from the cushioned interior with her left hand, than unwrapping the silk cover from the gleaming cylinders as she did so, handed the creation to her brother.  Erendar then climbed onto the lofty platform next to the casket, and finding a silver clasp just within his reach, made fast the chimes to the domed ceiling.

At once the space was filled with the music of the chimes and the glittering reflections of the sun as it hit the rune covered surface.  The dance of light mingled with the frolicking melody and all that were within and without the hall were lifted in a tenor of great heights.

The siblings retreated to the entry of the foyer and bowing spoke words of farewell to their creation, relinquishing ownership to the Doyens. 

Now many watched these proceedings with joy and amazement, but one remained apart from the others and looked out from the shadows of one of the many alcoves of the entry to the inner halls. This was Galvinar, who also was the hidden striker of the gong that announced entry into the hall. At first he was hesitant to attend the giving of this item he coveted, knowing it was given to others, but he desired more to gaze on it once more and also to glimpse Ellyna in her triumph. Thus, only he, giving his full attention to the weaver, noticed the slight hesitation she showed when relinquishing the chimes to her brother and also the reluctance in her tone when she spoke the final words of farewell.  Then he became aware that within her heart a possessive flame had been sparked for the exquisite creation.  A glimmer of design awoke within him, laying out how he could master both the chimes and Ellyna.

The renown of the chimes spread out through the realm and the entry foyer was visited by many. They found delight from their beauty on these visits to the council halls of the Eldars, but many came only to view the gift of the siblings and marvel at the emanations.

The care of the chimes was given to Erendar and he made regular visits to the hall to warrant the chimes were well maintained.  On many of these visits a sense of watchfulness would shadow him as he worked and he spent much attentive energy searching about him for the culprit. On his return to their dwelling after one particular disturbing visit to the hall, Erendar voiced his concerns to his sister, hoping she would alleviate his suspicions, knowing she herself was rift of this mistrustful affliction.  To his dismay she only compounded his worry with her own wariness and voiced her desire to accompany him on her next errand to the chimes. In the months since the relinquishing of the chimes, the unrest in Ellyna had been growing and in this unrest her work had suffered. Although the renditions she begets were both beautiful and full of knowledge, they all contained a taint of possessiveness, creating an overprotective tendency in the recipients.  This flaw in Ellyna’s work haunted her thoughts, thus it came to her mind that a visit to this coveted work would relieve her troubles.  For although this desire for the chimes was buried deep, she still felt its pull from afar and felt this was the source of her affliction.  

The following month, Ellyna and Erendar traveled from their home into the Realm of the Doyen and Doyenne.  At the entrance to the meeting hall they were greeted by the High Doyenne, she was delighted in seeing that Ellyna accompanied her brother. They entered the hall together and stood admiring their gift as it encompassed the foyer with its light and sounds.  The watchfulness again smote Erendar as he stood watching the dance and as his gaze tracked around the domed room, came to rest on a figure standing in the shadows of the left alcove. The Doyenne also became aware of the figure and a look of great pride crossed her face as she went to greet him.  She at once took his hand and drew him near to the siblings and introduced him as the musician to the Doyens and one much revered amongst their kind. 

The siblings greeted him with much show of respect and admiration in reverence to the Doyenne, but a shadow was on their hearts at this meeting, remembering their encounter with Galvinar near their home in the Fayde.

Brother and sister were left to their task of the upkeep of the chimes and the Doyenne along with Galvinar traveled together further into the inner chambers.  It was forbidden by any save the Doyens and their retainers to enter the inner halls of the structure.  Ellyna and Erendar remained in the foyer, but troubled thoughts entered their minds as they watched the pair depart.  They both looked with knowing at one another, but remained silent until they were once more in the privacy of their dwelling.  For now they bother realized where the watchfulness came from and that Galvinar coveted their gift to the Doyens.  Nowhere in their thought entered the suspicion of the musician’s desire for Ellyna or his aspirations for her talents.

Before their labors were complete, the awareness of surveillance returned and looking up from her work, Ellyna spied the musician watching her from the doorway leading to the inner chambers.  His eyes glinted with a strange light as he met her gaze and a cold shiver traveled down Ellyna’s spine as he drew near them. A desire to renounce her gift to the Doyens flashed into her mind as she watched the man approach and she quenched the compulsion down before it overtook her will.  She knew as she looked on the musician that the thought emanated from him and a hatred never know to her before grew in her heart.  She at once began to weep and ran from the hall, not knowing what had come over her. Erendar, completing the final care of the chimes, turned from his work to find Galvinar standing beside him and sister nowhere to be seen.  He knew not what had occurred between them or what had become of his sister. He then became aware of her cries, but they were far down the road leading back to the Fade.  He then took up the tools of his trade and let the entrance hall of the Doyens, remaining silent in fear of speaking harsh works to the musician in his wrath.  For he knew that the cause of his sister’s weeping was due to this retainer of the Elders and other ills as well in the months that had passed since the creation of the chimes.  But he stayed his hand, knowing the penalty for violence within the realm and especially to one of their liegeman. He also had no knowledge of the altercation between Galvinar and his sibling, being engrossed in his labors at the time. 

An hour after Erendar took to the road; he came upon Ellyna walking as if in a daze. Her eyes were still bright with unshed tears, but she did not respond to him as he drew to her side. In silence they made their way back into the Fayde and entered their own lands. A deep silence filled their home from that day forward and was only broken by the repressed weeping of Ellyna.