The Great Crimson Tree: Chapter Five

We finally made it to the end! This was such a fun break from the difficulties of making longer, more serious works. I hope y'all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this. And maybe someday the little girl who invented this world and characters will write a published book of her own with their real adventures. I really, really hope that happens!

Una slapped the side of the freshly erected log and grinned. “This oughta hold out another attack for some time,” he said, gazing down at the wall of logs that stretched around the trunk of the Great Crimson Tree.

The goblin holes had not only been covered with dirt; the newly returned villagers had covered them in gravel, rocks, logs, and had posted fresh guards. Una didn’t think there had been so many guards at the tree before, but now that they took their job seriously he doubted they would slip again. At least twenty from various villages and cities stood around the tree as their four hours ticked away and a fresh batch would replace them. They didn’t look eager to be replaced though, and Una was deeply glad.

The Crimson Tree was damaged, but not broken. Burned but not ashes. Scarred but still standing as proud and firm as ever. The trees of the forest seemed to be leaning into its embrace, comforting the tree as the ages went to work and healed it slowly.

Luhn walked up and gave Una a friendly punch to the shoulder. Her hair was tied back with a creamy white ribbon and she wore a sky blue traveling dress gifted from Melgarias’s sister. Spoony had a matching ribbon tied around his neck; perhaps a gift but more likely a peace offering once word had leaked out about what he could do.

“I think the villages will be able to hold their own from now on,” she said.

Una nodded. “Undoubtedly. They’re not gonna forget any of this.”

“We certainly won’t.”

“Una! Miss Luhn!” They turned to see Mel hobbling up on a pair of crutches. The man had healed well over the past two and a half weeks, and though still in no shape to guard, he was determined to hop about checking on things and thanking Una and Luhn about fifty times a day. Frankly, Una was getting tired of it and wished the man would just accept a “your welcome” and leave it at that.

“Mel!” Luhn said, smiling. She reached out and shook his free hand. “So nice to see you.”

“Again,” Una added drily. Luhn elbowed him.

Mel bowed his head. “I am deeply in your debt. You helped us when no one else would. You’ve saved not only my life, but our entire land.” His gaze traveled up to meet Luhn’s eyes. “You look lovely, by the way. My sister sends her gratitude that you accepted her gift.”

Luhn blushed. “I’m the one who should be saying thanks. Think nothing of what we did, Mel. It was what any good traveling team would do. Why have every man for himself when we can help each other?”

“Nicely put,” Una said. He didn’t like the adoring way Melgarias was watching Luhn, oblivious as Luhn seemed to it. We’re going to have to put a stop to that. A strange sense of protection had formed throughout their new adventure, and as much as he (sort of) liked Mel, he didn’t think he was a good match for his friend. Especially not when Luhn still had a quest to complete.

“Well, it was nice talking to you,” Una said, trying to be kind. “Luhn…?”

Melgarias nodded. “Of course. I will go back to trying to negotiate a guard shift! Sir Una, I thank you.” He bowed the best he could on crutches. “And Miss Luhn, I am forever in your debt. I will never forget you. If you ever return this way, you’re more than welcome to drop by and visit my family. You will be an honored guest. And, uh, Spoony, too.” He cast a skeptical glance at the spoon but didn’t lose his puppy eyes or dreamy smile.

Una steered Luhn away. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Mel had indeed hobbled off to plead with a captain. He looked back at Luhn, whose eyebrows were drawn together wryly.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re up to something, aren’t you?” She put her hands on her hips. “Well?”

Una pressed his lips together. “You don’t… like him, do you?”

“Of course I like him! I like everybody. But not the way he likes me, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

Una breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. He was getting on my nerves.”

“You gotta learn how to accept thanks. Poor guy got his life, home, and tree saved. Of course he’s going to be a little emotional.” Luhn nudged his shoulder. “Don’t be such a- a grumple frumple.”

Una rolled his eyes. “That’s not a word.”

“Yes it- oh, nevermind.” She sighed and looked out to the sky. It was pure and violet-blue, clouds wafting by on gentle waves of the breeze. More leaves had fallen, and winter was coming fast upon them. Una stood quietly by her side and watched with her.

“I think it might be time to leave,” she said at last, not looking at him, her eyes still locked on the sky. “I love it here, but we need to move on before it snows and the mountains are blocked for the rest of the season.”

Gravely, he nodded. “True.” He looked around at the bustling villagers, the beauty of the tree’s red shade, and all the golden and orange colors of the forest floor and ceiling. It would be hard to leave, as it always was. But already his blood pulsed with excitement of seeing the stony mountains and the first flakes of snow crunching beneath his boots.

“How about this evening?” he asked, glancing at her.

Luhn bit her lip but nodded. “Sounds like a plan, chief.” Then she broke into an infectious smile and looked at him. “We needed to move on anyway. I’ll get my things packed, and you, me, and Spoony will be ready to tackle the next unavoidable calamity we’ll run into.”

He snorted. “We always do.”

The Great Crimson Tree was safe, its villagers aware of their duties and ready to preform them, and a whole new chapter of life opened for their generations to come. Una and Luhn could leave knowing they had done their best and succeeded. But for them, their paths didn’t lie in a steady home or an eternal tree to guard, nor in a familiar forest they would know forever. They were the wanderers, the travelers, guides and protectors, the collectors and fighters and dreamers of the paths yet to unfold as they left the forest of Caldin and made their way to the unexplored mountains lands.

The road called, and Unatarius Dragon-Speaker, Luhn of the Fairy Folk, and Spoony the Great yet Highly Suspicious followed the tune.

It was time for another adventure.

THE END