I see it. Look and tell me if I am correct.

Kaen used Pammon’s eyes and saw where his dragon was currently looking.

You appear to be correct. Those trees look like the others we had stopped at, but… this land is not where we had them on the map. For those trees to form here…

It would require magic…

Kaen nodded as Pammon seemed content with his answer.

You are starting to believe in this magical forest now, aren’t you? Did Queleth say something or do something that has changed your mind from the first time?

Unfortunately, I have been spending too much time with you and others, and now I find myself thinking about things I would never have bothered with years ago. One of those things is what I heard you, Aldric, and Herb talking about. Combined with what Juthom said… It feels like a cycle of energy and power.

Pammon turned, adjusting his path toward the trees they were following.

Ava and I discussed it yesterday, as you know. Why were the elves so good at creating magical items? How did their people live so long even though their numbers were less as a race than the dwarves and you humans?

Have you considered that the land has some magical element, and they learned to tap into it? Think about that tree they lived in and the power it provided. Now we see the destruction that came upon their land once it died.

This is why Queleth had mentioned some of their problems with the elves… they wouldn’t move and considered that one tree more sacred than anything else.

Why do the wood elves consider all the forest to be special? What if they use magic but in a different way?

Kaen wrestled with that same line of thought as he and Pammon watched the place they now knew the wood elves were getting closer.

If Queleth finds out we are asking these questions, we might be given the honorary title of wood elf… or maybe a wood dragon.

Snorting, Pammon continued his descent, choosing not to respond to Kaen’s joke.

“Welcome, Dragon Rider and Dragon!”

Kaen waved as a group of wood elves approached slowly, each waving and smiling but none he or Pammon recognized.

“You’re tense. Is everything ok?”

Kaen nodded and squeezed her leg gently. “This is the usual greeting, but Pammon and I don’t see any of the ones we recognize. If you look at them, they are also skinnier than usual.”

Ava smiled and waved as she looked them up and down. “They are skinny, but are you sure?”

Kaen shrugged and undid their clips, climbing down from Pammon and then waiting to help Ava down.

A male elf with a brown braid down to his knees approached them and gave a deep bow, crossing both arms as he placed them against his chest.

“Welcome to the shade of our trees! I am Fenain. May I guide you to our tables?”

Kaen bowed and gave the same gesture. “I would be honored to sit at your tables. Tell me, is Elder Queleth here?”

A pained look crossed the elf’s face, and he nodded slowly.

“Queleth is here, but he will soon rejoin the forest. We have a new elder, and they are looking forward to meeting you.”

Kaen winced and nodded, saddened to hear that Queleth was not in good health.

“If you would follow me.”

Kaen held out his hand and gently grasped Ava’s when she put hers in his.

“Sorry,” she whispered in his ear.

Kaen nodded and smiled, looking at those gathering around them and seeing that the number of wood elves also appeared to be fewer.

The tables were set up as they had been the last few times he had come. A long row of multiple tables with seats carved from trees in intricate designs.

Flowers decorated the top, and some fruit and other snacks were set at the centerpiece.

A woman he hadn’t seen in years sat in the elder's chair.

“Dragon Rider Kaen! It is my honor to welcome you to our table!” She turned and looked at Ava and gave a bow. “You must be the wife, Ava, I have heard him talk about.”

Ava smiled, bowed slightly, and elbowed Kaen ever so slightly.

“Please come sit and join me.”

Kaen pulled out the chair as Ava sat down, and before sitting in his seat, Kaen couldn’t help but bow and chuckle.

“How long has it been, Elder Sedel? How did they manage to convince you to take this seat?”

The woman sighed and waited until Kaen sat down before clapping her hands. A handful of elves came with a few cups of water and then moved away, standing nearby if needed.

“I wish my answer was that I desired it, but there was no other choice,” Sedel stated as she sat in her chair. “When Queleth became sick, those worthy of the role were few. As you can see, many of our people are gone. The last year has not been kind to us.”

Kaen nodded, took a drink from his cup, and smiled after setting it down. “Cold and sweet, just as I remembered.”

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“You are a very blessed woman to have a man like this,” Sedel said, turning her attention to Ava. “After he won an archery contest against me, using all forms of trickery, he could have had his pick of any elf here.”

Smiling, Ava reached over and put her hand on Kaen’s. “I must say it is never a dull moment. I am also grateful that no one stole his heart from me.”

Kaen groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Please eat,” Sedel said in a quieter tone. “I know it isn’t much, but now more than ever, your honor must be kept.”

Leaning forward, Kaen plucked two small apples and handed one to Ava. Taking a bite, the juice ran down his lips and into his beard. It took great effort to hold back the moan he wanted to let out.

“These tastes better than anything I have experienced in a while.”

Ava nodded as she chewed, smiling as she studied the bright red fruit.

Sedal watched as they ate, allowing the time required to provide what their customs expected to pass.

“I take it you want to speak elsewhere,” Kaen asked, glancing around with his eyes at the elves nearby.

“When you are finished, I would enjoy showing you my residence and allowing you to see Queleth before he rejoins the land. He had perked up when word reached him you had arrived.”

Understanding the situation, Kaen finished consuming the last of his apples and washed them down with the water in his cup. Ava picked up on his lead, finishing only a moment after he did.

“My wife and I would be honored if you let us see Queleth now before we are gifted with a tour of your home.”

A grin appeared, and Sedel stood, clapping her hands as elves rushed forward, taking the remains of their food and helping to pull their chairs as they stood.

“If you would follow me. Please forgive the climb. I know it is not easy, and for a woman like yourself, anything while pregnant is not easy.”

Ava released a startled gasp and glanced at Kaen, who shrugged.

“I will tell you how I know later, but for now, congratulations. Twins are an uncommon thing indeed.”

Kaen began to laugh as he squeezed Ava’s hand, trying to ignore her look of amazement.

Twenty minutes of climbing the stairs and bridges that ran up and to other trees brought them to a home, cut inside the massive trunk of one of the side trees.

A cloth hung over the entrance, and Sedel smiled as they moved next to it, knocking gently against the tree.

“Queleth. If you are up to it, I have some visitors who would like to see you.”

“Yes! Please come in! Send that young boy in quickly!”

Chuckling, Kaen smiled as Sedel pulled the cloth aside, and Kaen moved into the room. His heart broke as he saw Queleth sitting up in a bed, covered with a few blankets and almost nothing but skin and bones.

The older elf smiled, his hands and head shaking as he lifted them, motioning Kaen to come to where he lay.

“Come! Come, my boy! Or I guess I should say a man! I have missed you and your dragon! Tell me, is this your wife?!”

The barrage of questions made Kaen forget the man’s current state, glad to see he had never lost the enthusiasm he remembered.

“Yes. Ava this is Queleth. Queleth, my wife Ava.”

“It is my honor to meet you,” Ava said with a bow. “Kaen has often mentioned his fondness for you and your people.”

A glimmer of life shone in the man's eyes at her words. “It is my honor as well! Please sit!” Queleth glanced at Sedel and grinned, smiling as he watched Ava and Kaen come to sit near him. “He came! He came like I told you he would!”

Kaen glanced at Sedel, who shrugged and smiled. She moved to sit in a chair across the small room.

“How did you know I was coming?” Kaen asked, looking at his friend.

“The forest told me! You touched it a few days ago, and I knew it meant you were coming! Sure enough, you have touched it daily, like a line pointing to here!”

Kaen knew his face looked confused as he looked between Sedel and Queleth. “Sorry, I’m lost. What am I missing?”

“My boy,” Queleth started before a series of coughs cut him off. Raising his hand, he waved away Sedel, who had stood. “I’m not dead yet. I am fine.” The older elf turned and fixed his eyes on Kaen. “Now tell me, when did you learn to see life?”

Kaen took a deep breath, wondering what he meant when his brain finally connected all the dots. “The green dots of magic?”

“Life… magic… power… call it what you will, but yes! When?”

“A month ago, I guess? Wait, how do you know I can see that?”

“You tried to impart yourself into the forest. You tried to connect and touch it. For that to happen, one must be able to see it. The forest is excited! A man has not done so in…” Queleth paused, scrunching his eyes and face, making wrinkles appear like mountains. He looked at Sedel, and she could tell he needed help.

“The forest has never spoken to a man before,” Sedel replied, smiling as she watched Kaen and Ava look shocked. “No man has ever opened himself up. Two women have in the history of our people, but those are stories for another day.”

Queleth nodded, excited at what had happened.

“Kaen, your timing could not be better! The forest needs you! It needs your strength and to share with you things.”

Kaen looked at Sedel, who was just smiling, and then back at his old friend, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, it needs my power and wants to talk to me?”

“Yes! Just like you and your dragon talk, it wants to talk!” He paused, shaking his head slightly before nodding. “Well, not exactly, but… you’ll find out when it happens.”

Kaen looked at his wife, who shrugged and just smiled.

“Congratulations also,” Queleth said, turning his attention to Ava. “Two children! They appear strong as well!”

“Ok, I can’t take this,” Ava said, her tone showing her frustration at how everyone seemed to know she was pregnant. “How do you all know this?”

“The gift… the gift shows me,” Queleth replied as he held a shaky finger up to his eye. “I don’t see you as you see. I see everything the way Kaen has seen it. I can see the tiny lives that are inside you.”

Ava found her mouth open and looked at her husband, motioning to her stomach. “Can you see them?”

“I actually haven’t tried,” he stated as he looked at Queleth, who was beaming with joy. “Let me try.”

Calming himself, Kaen felt his lifestone roar with power and closed his eyes, letting the world shift and again wincing as the light around him initially overwhelmed him.

“It is bright when you first glimpse it,” Sedel said. “Give it a minute before you try to see your children.”

Kaen nodded, trying to find a place to look that wasn’t roaring with those green balls of energy or life that were everywhere.

Soon, the room settled down, and he could see the outlines of the walls and the tree they were inside taking shape. Against the wall, he saw Sedel and her sitting on a chair. Turning to where Queleth was, he saw the old man, his body and the light within it almost gone.

“Don’t worry about me, boy! Focus on what matters!”

Kaen nodded, turned, and looked at Ava. He could see her, the shape of her face, her hair in some weird way, and then, as he looked at where her stomach was, he focused.

Power, energy, and light swirled within her core. Leaning forward, he tried to see through the lights, and slowly, it was as if a veil was pulled away. Two tiny lights different from all the others he could see appeared.

They flickered side by side, pulsating rapidly, so fast it almost made a solid light.

“Go touch her,” Queleth whispered. “Watch as you do.”

Moving around the bed, Kaen used his hands to guide him, never taking his eyes off the spot that he saw. When he got next to Ava, he fell on his knees and slowly reached out with his hands, putting them on her stomach.

Both lights flickered faster, pulsing with a brighter light.

“Kaen?”

Ava’s voice was trembling, and Kaen couldn’t answer.

He nodded, feeling tears running down his cheeks. “I can see them Ava… I can see our children.”