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The Elphame Chronicles Parts 1: 4 The Destiny of a King The Complete Saga
The Elphame Chronicles Parts 1: 4 The Destiny of a King The Complete Saga
The Elphame Chronicles Parts 1: 4 The Destiny of a King The Complete Saga
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The Elphame Chronicles Parts 1: 4 The Destiny of a King The Complete Saga

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A scintillating epic fantasy ...
There are myths and there are legends, but none compare to those of The Land of Elphamia...
A journey into the esoteric world of myth and legend, where mystical creatures fight out the eternal battle between good and evil - a lost world of Elves, Faeries, Pixies, Unicorns, and Griffins, along with Dragons and other creatures such as the sacred Hare or Elphin Rabbit.
The Chronicles are the adventures of one Elphin Rabbit who rises up to become King, fulfilling his destiny...

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 17, 2017
ISBN9781909466760
The Elphame Chronicles Parts 1: 4 The Destiny of a King The Complete Saga
Author

Adrian Holland

Adrian is primarily known for his artwork and book cover designs, although he is also an author. Originally, from Solihull, West Midlands, England, he now lives in Rural Cheshire.Adrian has now written over 40 books mostly Science Fiction, although he has also written in other genres including Spiritually Influenced, Mystery, and Fantasy.All of his work can be viewed on his website: www.amazola.co.uk

Read more from Adrian Holland

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    Book preview

    The Elphame Chronicles Parts 1 - Adrian Holland

    Contents

    The Poisoned Sceptre

    Introduction

    One

    Two

    Three

    Four

    Five

    Six

    Seven

    Eight

    Nine

    Ten

    Eleven

    Twelve

    Thirteen

    Fourteen

    Fifteen

    Sixteen

    Seventeen

    Eighteen

    Nineteen

    The Realm of the Dragons

    Twenty

    Twenty One

    Twenty Two

    Twenty Three

    Twenty Four

    Twenty Five

    Twenty Six

    Twenty Seven

    Twenty Eight

    Twenty Nine

    Thirty

    Thirty One

    Thirty Two

    Thirty Three

    Thirty Four

    Thirty Five

    Thirty Six

    Thirty Seven

    Thirty Eight

    Thirty Nine

    Forty

    Forty One

    Forty Two

    The Winged Unicorn

    Forty Three

    Forty Four

    Forty Five

    Forty Six

    Forty Seven

    Forty Eight

    Forty Nine

    Fifty

    Fifty One

    Fifty Two

    Fifty Three

    Fifty Four

    Fifty Five

    Fifty Six

    Fifty Seven

    Fifty Eight

    Fifty Nine

    Sixty

    Sixty One

    Sixty Two

    Sixty Three

    Sixty Four

    Sixty Five

    The Dream Rivers of Aetheria

    Sixty Six

    Sixty Seven

    Sixty Eight

    Sixty Nine

    Seventy

    Seventy One

    Seventy Two

    Seventy Three

    Seventy Four

    Seventy Five

    Seventy Six

    Seventy Seven

    Seventy Eight

    Seventy Nine

    Eighty

    Eighty One

    Eighty Two

    Eighty Three

    Eighty Four

    Eighty Five

    Eighty Six

    The Poisoned Sceptre

    Introduction

    It is difficult to know where to start, but as in all good adventure stories it is best to start at the beginning!

    Long ago, in The Age before Man, there was an ancient kingdom known as Elphamia inhabited by a variety of creatures.

    Most people have heard of Elves, Faeries, Pixies or Leprechauns, but not many people have ever heard of an Elphin Rabbit!

    They are one of the oldest races, and are very secretive creatures, that live deep underground and seldom venture out apart that is, from Midsummer’s Night. So, if ever you have heard a distant scurrying on such a night, then, just maybe, it might have been an Elphin Rabbit!

    Now, the word Rabbit conjures up thoughts of long ears, whiskers, fluffy tails and buck teeth, of creatures covered in fur that hop about. Elves are supposed to be small creatures with pointed ears, although long ago, they were almost the same size as the average Man. Elphin Rabbits are no exception, apart again from their ears, which are large and floppy, and their nose and whiskers, which are very Rabbit like - hence their name!

    What makes them different is the fact that - apart from the ears, they live at one with nature, and all Elves, no matter what type are vegetarians.

    Long, long ago, they did have their own kingdom deep within The Land of Moors and Woods, but sadly, that was a very long time ago indeed. Things are not what they used to be, and The Age of Man has done little to help their cause. However, it was not always that way, as Men were different all of those years ago.

    From a time before memory, there was one Elphin Rabbit whose destiny was about to shape the Kingdom…

    One

    Before we start, it is best to mention a legend far older than the most distant of tales, told by storytellers for countless generations…

    There was once a King from another land, who tricked his way to power, and let his kingdom’s riches dwindle away. He was deeply unpopular and was challenged to a wrestling match by a nobleman, who was considered by the people to be their rightful King. The nobleman won, and the King left in shame.

    In his exile, he came across new lands, finding a large quantity of gold within them. He sent word to the new King of his find, thinking that he could buy his way back into power.

    He demanded that the new King should come and see all the gold for himself, and when he arrived, he suggested that they should have another wrestling match to decide who should be the rightful King.

    He knew that he would lose, so poisoned the King’s drinking water, but his deception failed, when he drank from the wrong cup.

    The new King left with a large quantity of the gold, dividing the land between his two sons. They both became a King in their own right, and the elder one became know as the Great King, as he created a magnificent kingdom know as Elphamia, with the aid of their sister. The other became very jealous of all that they had achieved, and tried to take it from them. Despite the wisdom of the Great King, he was unable to prevent a terrible battle, after which everything was destroyed.

    The Great King’s followers then took his body burying it deep inside a mountain, carving his image upon it, as a constant reminder of all that he achieved…

    It is said that one day, the Great King will emerge from the mountain, and rebuild the ancient Kingdom of Elphamia...

    Legends are one thing, but the lives of normal folk are quite something else!

    Within the ancient kingdom of Elphamia, lies The Land of Moors and Woods, although there is not much of a kingdom left any more, and all that remains are a few scattered villages nestled in the valleys between the rolling hills. Our story starts in one such village occupied by our main character Roger or Roggie, as he is more commonly known.

    Now you might think that Roggie is not really the sort of name you would expect to have for an Elphin Rabbit, however, if you were to be able to speak Elphin, then it would sound more like Hroogar, but not quite. Elphin is so different from our language, that it is doubtful whether you would be able to make any sort of a translation at all. Therefore, the closest that we can come to his real name is Roggie, and after all Roggie is quite a nice name, particularly for an Elfin Rabbit!

    Incidentally, the name Roger also means Famous Spear, which seems to be quite apt, as this particular Elphin Rabbit has won the village spear throwing contest for the last three years in a row, and is the current holder of the Sacred Spear.

    Now, this actual spear has mythical properties, and dates from a time long ago, being made of a strange metal that never tarnishes. It also has strange writing carved on the blade, and is sometimes referred to as the Spear of Destiny. Long, long ago, it was hotly contested by the warriors, but since there are none of them left anymore, or much of a kingdom for that matter, it was not so difficult to win!

    Now that we have established that his name is Roggie, we really need to find out a little more about him!

    Well, there is really not much to tell, apart that is, from the fact that, well, his destiny awaits…

    Now destiny is something that you cannot escape as it is your future, but fate is quite something else entirely. We all have free choice as to whether we do something or not, but whatever we do or do not do, try as we might, we cannot escape what is destined to happen to us!

    For Roggie, his fate was within his own hands, as it is for all of us, and as you will see, his destiny was waiting to be fulfilled...

    A shaft of light poked through the half drawn curtains, creeping its way very slowly out across the wooden floor as it had done all morning. From just a glimmer it now illuminated the inside of the little burrow, where its single occupant lay in his warm comfortable bed, thinking about all the things that he could have been doing, but like most days, what he could have been doing, and what he actually had done, were two entirely different things!

    His life revolved around thoughts of wonderful things, and thoughts were his main activity. Yes, he did have his vegetable plot, which lay besides his burrow, although burrow is not quite how you would have described his home.

    Roggie’s burrow was little more than a turfed mound, held up by some stout wooden posts. It had just the one window, which sat besides its solitary door, which led out into the village. Besides the door and window, the only other things that could be seen, was a table and chair, pantry and a chest which held all of his clothes, and of course, his spear!

    Roggie liked clothes, and always dreamed of having lots of them, but that would mean having to do something to earn them, and leaving his warm comfortable bed, always proved to be the stumbling block. It was not that he was lazy, it was just the fact that he had so much thinking to do, that he had no time to do anything else. Thoughts were his main occupation, and there was nowhere better for having them, than his warm comfortable bed!

    Roggie had many thoughts, some of which were based around what he was going to do, although they seldom materialised as he would easily get sidetracked into thinking about something else. They ranged from the clothes he was going to get to how he was going to expand his vegetable plot, and even the odd thought about going on a big adventure.

    Now, that was something which took up a lot of his thought time. Roggie was not one to venture outside the village, and always wondered what lay beyond the hills that surrounded it. He had heard some tales told by the village elders of distant times, when there was a mighty kingdom. It all sounded very exciting to him, and he could imagine how fabulous it must have been. That was a very long time ago, and things were a lot simpler in those days.

    Sometimes, he would think about how marvellous it would be to live in a castle, or maybe even a palace. He did love his burrow though, so much so, that he seldom left it, only to visit his vegetable plot to get something for his dinner. Food was something else that he really enjoyed, and his thoughts would then drift to all of the sumptuous meals that he could have been eating.

    As you can see, Roggie spent so much time thinking, that there was just not enough time left to do any of the wonderful things that he had been thinking about!

    He left his thoughts for a moment, as he could see some people walking about outside his window, no doubt busy with their daily chores, and chores were something else which Roggie seldom did. However, occasionally, he was known to offer his help, although that was very rare, and only if he really wanted something in return. But Roggie was contented with all he had, or should I say, the thoughts of all he wished to have!

    He lived a very simple life, one which as you have probably gathered, usually involved his warm comfortable bed. This day was no exception, as he had plenty of food on his vegetable plot, and his burrow was always lovely and warm, thanks to the underground spring.

    The spring emerged under the village from deep within the earth, where it was heated by the remains of an ancient volcano that had not murmured for generations. Some people thought that the Spirit of the Mountain was asleep, and feared waking it, whilst others believed that the Spirit watched over them. Not since the days of the great battle had anyone heard it rumble, and everyone was glad that it had stayed silent ever since!

    Maybe that was the real reason why the village remained so quiet, as no one wanted to wake the Spirit, although Roggie had thought about that too!

    Maybe one day, he would find out a little more about it?

    The only really important thing however, was the fact that it heated the underground water, which flowed beneath the floor of his burrow, before emerging out into a pond situated in the centre of the village. From there, it flowed down along the valley floor, meeting another stream before cascading down a waterfall into the mighty river far below.

    Roggie felt so comfortable in his bed, that he let any thoughts about the other villagers drift away to be replaced by those of the Spirit of the Mountain, and how he would go about speaking to it?

    That was quite a thought, and if he did manage to speak to it, then what was he going to say?

    These were fascinating questions, and would take a considerable time to answer. Roggie had plenty of time, and as he lay there in contemplation, he suddenly heard a rumble. However, it was not the rumble of the mountain, but the rumble of his stomach. Roggie had been so busy thinking, that he had not noticed the fact that he not eaten anything all day.

    The warm underground stream meant that there was always a ready supply of fresh food, which just grew all by itself. His vegetable plot was no exception, and it was going to be easy enough to just walk outside and pick something fresh for his dinner. That was, if he could drag himself away from his thoughts!

    Life was good, and Roggie intended to make the most of it!

    Just a few minutes more, he said to himself, as he had done for most of the day. He was just too comfortable to get up yet!

    Raising an eye, he looked out of his window again, wondering what everyone else was up to. There seemed to be a gathering by the side of the pond, as he lazily considered getting up to have a closer look. Most of the people in the village seemed to be there, and his curiosity got the better of him. He thought that maybe, he ought to find out what it was all about, although maybe he should wait just a few more minutes!

    Reluctantly, Roggie eventually struggled out from between the thick warm sheets, moving his quilted blanket to one side. For a moment, he almost pulled them back over himself again, and lay there wondering if it was worth the effort of getting out of bed. He had made a start, and so whilst he had the momentum, he decided to get fully out of bed.

    His outdoor clothes lay neatly folded on his chair, as the one thing that you could never say about Roggie, was that he was untidy. The fact that he seldom did anything to make a mess, was besides the point!

    Slipping out of his pyjamas, he donned his shirt and trousers, pulling on his jerkin. It was sleeveless and padded, with a hood, and was just enough to keep him warm. The village was never really cold, and it did not call for a coat. His jerkin fitted snugly, but not quite as snugly as his sheets and padded blanket!

    Folding his pyjamas and placing them on his chair, he returned to his bed - not to sleep, but to neatly make it ready for his return, and when he had finished, he lazily ambled towards his front door.

    The large round door knob turned in his hand, and the hinges creaked as it swung open sending the bright sunlight flooding in. Roggie had to shield his eyes and began to rub them, as they adjusted to the brightness. He sleepily stood there, leaning against the doorpost yawning, wondering whether he should have just stayed in bed.

    The air was warm and fresh, with a hint of perfume from the roses which grew up the front of his burrow. They were in bloom which was not unusual, as they grew in profusion flowering for most of the year within the village. Today however, their scent was particularly strong, and very pleasant on his nose making him twitch his whiskers.

    Normally, he would have stood there for quite a while breathing in the sweet scent, but there seemed to be quite a commotion, which was very unusual, as the village was almost as sleepy as he was!

    Everyone had gathered around the village pond, and voices were raised. Voices were never raised in the village, apart that was, from when there was a fair, and even then, everyone was calm and relaxed for the most part. Roggie could not understand it as the village fair was days away, and whatever it was, he could feel a distinct tension in the air, which was something he seldom felt. The village folk were a contented bunch, although not quite as contented as he was!

    Watching from the sidelines, Roggie thought that at the centre of the gathering he could see what appeared to be some strangers. That was quite unusual, as no one ever came here, apart from the odd distant relative paying an unexpected visit. What made this all the more unusual, was that the strangers appeared to be Men. Men seldom ventured into The Land of Moors and Woods, and none had ever ventured as far as the village.

    There also seemed to be a lot of shouting going on, which broke the usual quiet. What had brought them here was a bit of a mystery, and Roggie leisurely strolled towards them to find out what all the fuss was about.

    At the centre of the commotion stood a Friar, or at least Roggie thought that it was a Friar, as he resembled the description given to him by one of the village elders. Apparently, Friars wore long brown gowns, tied around the waist with a white cord. Roggie could not quite remember the full story, as the village elder told of many things, when they were gathered around the nightly fire in the village. Roggie had always loved to sit and warm himself, and listen to the tales that he told.

    Roggie liked tales, as it gave him something else to think about. Often, he could imagine himself taking part, striding off into battle, or venturing on a journey to a distant land. That prospect was just as distant as the tales, as he loved his burrow, but not as much as his warm comfortable bed!

    The tales were very old, and passed down from generation to generation, with no one really knowing how old they actually were. They told of the ancient kingdom of Elphamia, its wisdom, culture and of the Great King who ruled over it. That was before it had all been destroyed in a terrible battle, and what remained was just a few sleepy villages, just like his own.

    The Men’s voices were raised, and the sound of them shouting could be heard echoing around the burrows, which circled the fire in the centre. It was nothing more than a pile of ash at the moment, as there was no need for a fire in the middle of the day.

    "We have been sent by your new King - The Self Appointed One!"

    Roggie had a very puzzled look on his face, as there had not been a King since the terrible battle all those years ago. There was no need to have one, as there was nothing much to rule over.

    "He is the only one who can protect you from the Dragons!"

    Everyone lived a quiet tranquil life, and did not need protecting from anything, and as for Dragons, there had never been any mention of them as far as he could remember. It was something which most people did not even know existed, and those that did, only got a brief description from the village tales. Dragons were mythical creatures, and something most people thought had been invented, just to give the tales an added twist.

    "The Self Appointed One demands that you all pay a Dragon Tax for his protection!"

    The whole village looked stunned, and everyone had a look of total bewilderment on their faces. There were not taxes here, as everyone shared everything, and worked together - well that was apart from Roggie, who seldom worked at all!

    "Dragons are terrible creatures that can suddenly appear from nowhere breathing fire and destroying everything in their path. They could destroy this entire village in a matter of seconds, and everyone within it. It is only The Self Appointed One who can protect you from these cruel and vicious creatures."

    There was a groan from the villagers as the Friar continued.

    They can roast you alive, or tear you limb from limb, and never show any mercy. They are wicked creatures and destroy things just for pleasure, you do not want that to happen to you, do you?

    There was a shaking of heads.

    I want three gold coins off each of you, otherwise you will be sent to work in the gold mines.

    The village was very isolated and the people did not even know that there were any gold mines either. There were some gold coins within the village, but they had not been used for generations. Most people just worked for themselves, and when they needed something that they could not produce themselves, they just traded one thing for another.

    "The gold mines are terrible places, and the work is hard. Most people only last a few months and by the look of you, I doubt whether any of you would last for more than a week!"

    This was all very strange, and the villagers had no concept of being forced to do anything. There was no need, as the rich luscious soil, and warm natural spring provided them with everything that they needed.

    Roggie was equally as confused, and could not make any sense of it. Even if there were any Dragons, then why would they come here, as there was nothing much to destroy?

    There was some jostling, as the Friar’s men started to push the villagers around. Violence was something else that they were not used to, and Roggie could not really comprehend what was actually going on. It was only when one of the villagers was struck, falling to the ground that he decided to do something.

    He had heard enough, and began to creep slowly back towards his burrow. He had no money, and did not like the sound of the gold mines, or Dragons come to that!

    Hopefully, if he closed his door, and got back under his quilted blanket, then they would just go away, but somehow, he knew that there was little prospect of that happening.

    What was he going to do, and where could he hide until the Men had gone away?

    He looked around at the little burrows, all covered in turf with an adornment of brightly coloured flowers. There was nowhere that he could see which would make any sort of a hiding place.

    With the sun at his back, his shadow pointed in the direction of the distant mountain, although that place looked equally as uninviting. It was swathed in thick trees, and no one had been there for generations, and the thought of being up there on his own, did not sound very appealing to him either.

    Nevertheless, he did manage to creep back to his burrow, which offered him some temporary relief. It was warm and comfortable inside and he longed to stay, but could already see the men ushering everyone back to their homes.

    What was he going to do?

    The Men started to move from burrow to burrow, collecting their gold coins, and it looked as though they were putting a mark on the door of those who had paid, and anyone unfortunate enough not to have any coins, had their hands bound and were tied in a line, ready to be marched off to the gold mines!

    Roggie stuffed some food into his bag along with anything else that he thought would be of use. He had to get away from here, although where he was going to go, he had no idea!

    Picking up his spear, he looked out of his window, and when he thought that the coast was clear, he slipped out of his front door.

    Walking as quietly as he could, he crept past his vegetable plot towards the nearest burrow. It was not a moment too soon, as the men walked up his little path, banging on his front door. When there was no answer, they forced their way inside, searching it thoroughly before emerging in a foul mood.

    They were very angry, and the Friar did not seem at all pleased either. Roggie could hear their shouts as he scurried away, wishing to get as far away from them as he could.

    Moving stealthily from the back of one burrow to the next, he made his way towards the path which led out of the village. It was his only means of escape, and as he entered it, he began to run.

    The path led him towards the stream which flowed out from the village pond, and he could see the sunlight glisten off the water, as it meandered towards another stream which flowed down the valley. Where they met, the water grew much deeper as it passed under a wooden bridge. The path crossed it just after the waters merged, and he knew that if he was going to get away, then he had to cross it, and hope that the Men did not see him.

    However, Roggie was not quick enough, for as he got half way towards it there was a shout.

    You there, halt!

    One of the Men spotted him, and pulled a bow out from behind his back. Roggie gave a quick look over his shoulder as he ran for his life.

    The Man drew an arrow from his drawstring bag, loading the bow, and pulling back the tight bowstring. He aimed it at the fleeing Roggie, before letting go. The arrow shot through the air, and as Roggie neared the bridge, it hit him, sending him tumbling towards the water...

    Two

    A frantic cry filled the air, sending birds scattering from the nearby trees, breaking the normal tranquillity of the outskirts of the village. They, like the inhabitants, were used to a very slow pace of life.

    Birds were respected, as all life was, which was considered sacred. Everything had a purpose, with its own character and spirit. Even the rocks and trees, the water, the sky above and the ground below. The inhabitants of the small valley lived in harmony with nature, and it lived in harmony with them.

    Today, the harmony had been broken, as everything had been upset by the arrival of the Men.

    The birds flew into the sky, as Roggie flew through the air, carried by the momentum of the arrow. For him, everything seemed to be going in slow motion, as he felt its impact, sending him off balance. He had been running as fast as he could, and now there was no path to run along, as his legs grasped at thin air, before he hit the water with a big splash.

    Roggie took a deep breath, as the force of the impact sent water gushing up everywhere, as he descended below its surface, almost hitting the bottom. The water was much deeper here, than it had been upstream, and the wooden bridge, marked the point at which the streams merged into the beginnings of the river.

    It has to be said that Elphin Rabbits, are quite good swimmers, and reasonably fond of water. Roggie was no exception, although that was in the village pond. His whole body went into shock, as he rose to the surface still clutching his spear tightly in his right hand, as he struggled to stay afloat. Fortunately, the water was quite warm, thanks to the lava, as he gasped for air, slipping below the surface again. He grasped the spear with both hands, kicking his legs as he rose to the surface again taking another deep breath, with the arrow sticking out of his back like a Shark’s fin. He was now bobbing up and down, as he tried to remain above the surface, not really knowing what he was doing.

    It took Roggie several minutes to get accustomed to the water, and all the time the current was taking him further down stream. It was gentle at first, although the further down the valley it carried him, the stronger it became. He could see the riverbank on both sides, as it swept him along, and he realised that he was gaining speed all of the time. The ground had begun to dip, as he headed further downstream past the luscious green vegetation of the upper part of the valley. It was quite dense, with thick grass and ferns dipping themselves into the waters edge.

    The village lay in the upper part of the valley nestled beneath the hillsides, which afforded it some protection from the worst of the wind and rain. It was more open here, although there were several trees dotted about. Roggie could see that there were more of them up ahead, as they began to form the edge of a dense forest. It was not long before the trees began to line the riverbank, as the grass and ferns were replaced by barren looking rocks. The river began to widen, and he felt the current increase again, as he was carried further downstream.

    The rocks were covered in a slimy green moss, and as he made a grab for one with his left hand, he lost his balance, descending below the surface, swallowing a mouthful of water as he went. Roggie managed to struggle back to the surface, coughing and spluttering, as he was swept past.

    The shock of falling into the water had begun to wear off, as the enormity of his situation began to dawn on him. There was no way that he was going to be able to grab hold of any of the rocks, and there did not seem to be any other way of saving himself. It was also getting noisier, as the sound of the water crashing against them, sent a cloud of white spray out in all directions.

    Roggie had never been so far downstream before, as he preferred not to go into the woods. In fact, he preferred not to venture out of his burrow at all, if he could help it!

    He could do nothing apart from try and keep his head above water, as the current whipped him around another rock, as the water continued to gain momentum. It was just flowing faster and faster all of the time the further downstream he went, and just when he thought that he could get near to a rock, he was swept away from it.

    Further and further down the valley he went, as the sound of the water increased to a deafening roar. He began to panic, as up ahead he could see a massive cloud of spray, and nothing but clear daylight beyond it.

    In his mind, he could hear the voice of the village elder, telling a tale about a giant waterfall which flowed down into the valley below. His heart sank, as he realised that there was a lot of truth in the tale.

    However, there was no hero in it, as it described the ancient kingdom, and at this moment in time, he wished there had been. It would have been comforting to know that someone else had survived its decent, although from the elders’ description, it was going to be a very long way down!

    The water was now giving out a thunderous roar, and Roggie had never seen so much spray before. He was in big trouble as he frantically tried to grab hold of the passing rocks, which pushed their way out of the cascading waters. It was no use, as he was travelling far too quickly, and the water kept on sweeping him past before he had a chance to grab hold of one. The sound of the water was truly deafening now, as the white spray shot up into the air, before diving down into the valley below.

    The only thing that Roggie could see was an old tree, which was partially submerged in the water. It had fallen down from the hillside above, and must have become wedged between the rocks right on the waters edge. He was travelling right for it, and as he got within range, he made a grab for one of its outstretched branches.

    His left hand caught the branch, and he jerked backwards, as the water tried to pull him away. The current was so strong, that he had difficulty holding on. Roggie gritted his teeth, summoning up as much strength as he could muster, but his efforts were in vain, as the branch suddenly snapped, and he felt his whole body lurch over the waters edge...

    Three

    Clouds of white spray cascaded into the air, shrouding the edge of the waterfall in fine droplets, as the thunderous roar of the water hitting the river far below echoed all around the valley. Far below the severed branch of the tree disappeared in another shower of spray eventually rising to the surface, before being swept away.

    Roggie felt his whole body lurch as he hung precariously over the waters edge, expecting to follow the branch down into the churning cauldron below.

    He waited for the sudden impact, as he hit the water, before being thrust far below its choppy surface. For some reason, it failed to materialise, and as he hung there in mid air, he began to realise that something was wrong.

    Looking upwards, he was both amazed and relieved to see that somehow his bag had got caught up in the tree’s other branches. It was pulling tightly around his shoulders, although he did not mind, as it had been enough to save him from being sent down into the turbulent waters below.

    Roggie splashed about trying to get a grip on the branch which had saved his life, whilst still trying to hold onto his spear, and eventually after quite a struggle, he managed to haul himself up onto it. His bag was still caught up within the tree, and somehow he managed to free it without being swept away.

    Slowly, he was able to climb along the branch until he was almost out of the water, and then all of a sudden, it moved. Roggie lost his balance, as his weight dislodged the tree, as the current got a hold of it. Roggie gasped as he made a mad scramble for safety, climbing along the tree in a desperate attempt to reach the riverbank.

    Roggie tried to grab hold of a nearby rock. It was wet and slippery, and all covered in moss, but it was all that there was to grip hold of, as the tree finally broke free. There was a horrified look on his face, as he feared that just like the tree, he would be swept away in the current, and out over the edge of the waterfall. There was nothing that he could do, as it disappeared in a cloud of spray.

    He gasped for air as he scrambled onto the rock, his left hand clinging to a dry piece, that lay above the covering of slimy moss. Still holding onto his spear, he scrambled up, with his feet still submerged in the water.

    Somehow, he found the strength to hold on, as the strong current threatened to sweep him away. It was a precarious position, and with his arms aching, he used all the strength that he had left, to try and climb clear.

    Somehow, he managed to get his feet up, as they tore at the moss to get a foothold. It was incredibly slippery, and he almost fell back into the water again, but his efforts were just enough to haul himself clear.

    There was no time to rest, as he feared that if he tried to stay here, he would eventually lose his balance, so the only thing that he could do was to try and reach another rock, which was half submerged just in front of him. Roggie jumped, and his feet bounced off the rock, as he fell forward, onto yet another rock, which was a bit nearer the riverbank.

    It was very difficult to hop over the rocks, even for an Elphin Rabbit, and one gave way, rolling down and hitting another before splashing into the water, as Roggie stumbled, almost losing his balance again, as he finally reached the relative safety of a much larger rock. This one was comparatively dry, with a flat surface, which he fell head first onto. Gasping for air, he managed to hold on, finally pulling himself clear of the water.

    Roggie was totally and utterly exhausted, and just lay there breathing heavily. In all the excitement, he had forgotten about the arrow, which was still sticking into his back. Strangely, he did not feel any pain from it, and as he delicately removed his bag, he could see that it was sticking into something. He opened his bag and found that it was embedded into his trusty spade.

    The spade was one of his most treasured possessions, which he used on his beloved vegetable plot. It had a smooth wooden handle, and a metal heart shaped blade. The arrow was sticking into the handle, and he realised that if it had of struck him a fraction either side, then he would not be here now. Luck was certainly with him today, as he had eluded the Men, evaded the gold mines, and survived the arrow, not to mention the clutches of the waterfall!

    Relief filled his body, as he spread out on his back in the warm spring sunshine. He was soaked right through to the skin, and his clothes clung heavily to him. With all his efforts, Roggie was worn out, and did not have the strength to move, as his eyes soon began to close, as he drifted off into a deep sleep...

    Four

    Droplets of water danced magically in the sunlight, creating a rainbow of colours, as they hit the rocks, before cascading down over the waters edge. It was a beautiful site, although its beauty belayed the danger to anyone, or anything unlucky enough to follow.

    The sight may have seemed magical, but the thunderous roar was enough to bring fear into the hearts of the bravest of souls, who, if they were ever unfortunate enough to fall into the raging torrents, had little chance of escape. The tree had long since lost its battle for survival, and succumbed to the powerful current, which had eventually swept it away, far down into the swirling mists below.

    There was one exception to this rule however, and having miraculously escaped from its clutches, he now lay spread out on a rock. Fortune had certainly favoured him today, and for the first time in hours, the contentment of sleep filled his body, as Roggie slept on, oblivious to the dangers that surrounded him.

    His mind was far away from here, and his thoughts were still concentrated on his little burrow. To him, he was soundly asleep in his warm comfortable bed, and any thoughts of the waterfall, or his escape, were nothing more than a distant memory.

    His mind began to drift, and Roggie could see the inside of his burrow, and everything was neat and tidy as usual. He was thinking of his vegetable plot, and what he could have for his dinner. Roggie was just going to lie here for a little while longer, before getting up and venturing outside.

    Roggie!

    A distant voice seemed to be calling out to him, but the contentment of the sheets and warm quilted blanket, were enough to prevent him taking any notice of it.

    Roggie!

    There it was again, soft and gentle, wavering at the edge of his mind.

    Roggie!

    For a third time, the voice called out to him, but he slept on, not wanting to move a muscle, as he was far too snug to rise for anything.

    You’re destiny awaits, young Elphin Rabbit!

    Roggie could think of nothing more than his warm comfortable bed, and any thoughts of destiny would have to wait until he was ready.

    I have been able to protect you so far, and I will show you what will lie ahead in the next phase of your adventure.

    Roggie had often dreamed of going on an adventure, but that was as far as he had ever got. To him it was far better living out his adventures from the safety of his burrow. He did not like to leave the familiar surroundings, where he felt safe and secure. Roggie was not that courageous, and had heard tales of adventurers from the village elder, and it all sounded far too dangerous for him to get involved.

    Images began to float over his closed eyes, like clouds blowing across the sky on a windy day. They were soothing, and he felt a sense of beauty and calm, emanating from a distant figure standing by his side. He could not see it clearly, but at the edge of his peripheral vision, he could just make out a beautiful Faery. She was wearing a full-length white silken dress, which sparkled with little magical diamonds. She also had light blue and turquoise wings, with their many tiers spread out behind her. Roggie could also see some butterflies, which circled around the bunch of beautiful flowers that she was holding in her right hand.

    Don’t be afraid, little one.

    How could he be afraid, when he felt such a feeling of peace and security?

    The clouds began to clear, and he could see that it was now night-time, and a beautiful crescent moon was shining high above him. He could also see two stone pillars, and what looked like a monument on the other side. It was shrouded in mist, and looked so tranquil, being the home of several beautiful flowers.

    In the daylight, he suspected that it was visited by many butterflies, and Roggie loved butterflies. He used to watch them playing around his vegetable plot, and used to talk to them. He had never had a reply, but he just knew that they understood what he had been saying to them. He even planted them a special bush, which they really liked, as he was such a kind and gentle soul.

    He could not see the monument very clearly, as the mist was too thick, and what he could see, was mostly covered in thick undergrowth. It lay at the top of the mountain, and looked down over the valley below.

    This is the monument of the Great King, who was lost in the terrible battle that took place all of those years ago.

    Roggie felt sad, as he thought about all of those people who had perished on that terrible day. Many of the tales told around the village fire were of those distant times, of the Great King, and of the glorious kingdom of Elphamia.

    Don’t feel sad little one.

    Roggie could not help it, as he had heard how wonderful life had been before that fateful day.

    "You must find the sceptre, and take it to the Wise Old Griffin."

    Roggie started to feel uncomfortable, as he had never taken anything that did not belong to him.

    It is all right, I will protect you as much as I can…

    Roggie still felt that it was wrong, as the villagers never took anything. If ever they wished to borrow something, then they just asked, as everyone shared everything they had with each other.

    I must leave you now little one, as you must awaken, and begin your journey.

    Roggie was never one to journey, or to get out of bed unless he really had too. All he wished for was to stay here, safe in the knowledge that adventure and journeys were something that other people did.

    His vision began to fade, as he could see the inside of his burrow again, and that was where he wished to remain. Just a few more minutes, he said to himself, as the warmth of his bed began to develop a slight chill. Roggie reached for his blanket, to pull it up over himself, as he dozed on. His blanket did not seem to be there, as he reached around for it. The bed also felt strangely hard and almost mossy to the touch, and he could have sworn that instead of his pillow, he was holding onto the handle of his trusty spade. What was that doing in bed with him?

    He thought that he must be dreaming, as his back started to ache, and his whole body felt stiff and sore. That was unusual, as his lack of activity prevented him from feeling anything like that. The bed was always so comfortable, and the mattress was usually so soft and inviting.

    Roggie began to stir, and very slowly, he opened an eye, and was shocked by what he saw. There shining brightly above him, was a crescent moon, just like the one he had seen in dream.

    He closed his eye again, hoping that it was an illusion. His aches and pains were very real though, and he felt as though he would have to move. Opening an eye again, the crescent moon was still there, along with a lot of trees, and a raging river, whose thunderous roar filled his ears!

    Roggie sat upright, not knowing where he was. He was shocked, and quickly remembered what had taken place earlier that day. He began to shiver, as he relived the events which had brought him here. He shivered again, as he looked out towards the edge of the waterfall. He could now remember the tree, and his frantic struggle to climb up onto the rock.

    It had not been a dream that he’d been having, but a nightmare, and the nightmare had taken place during his waking hours!

    Five

    The chill of the breeze combined with the memories reverberating around his mind, sent a ripple down Roggie’s spine. It had been a terrible experience, and as all of the day’s events quickly flooded back to him, he felt bewildered, not being able to come to terms with what he had been through. He was full of confusion.

    What was he going to do now?

    He could not stay here, or return to the village either!

    Roggie sat up gathering his thoughts, and trying to pull himself together. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a large carrot - well he was an Elphin Rabbit after all!

    There were also some other vegetables inside, and some bread, although that was still a bit soggy, and he did not like the look of it. Maybe he should make a fire, and toast it, although if he did that, then the Men might see it and come after him. It was a bit of a dilemma, and he was not quite sure what to do as he munched away on his carrot.

    He was still sitting there, when he heard a voice.

    The sceptre!

    Roggie looked round but could not see anyone in the moonlight.

    Maybe he was imagining things?

    Finishing off the carrot, he thought that he could hear the voice again, only this time it was much fainter.

    Get the sceptre!

    Roggie was very confused, and as he looked up the riverbank, he could see nothing but trees. He looked down at the river, and there was nothing there either, apart from the swirling torrents of water. He listen intently, but there was no sign of the voice, so he reached into his bag, and pulled out another vegetable, wishing that he was in his burrow enjoying a hearty meal.

    His nerves began to calm as a soothing energy seemed to wrap itself around him. It was the same feeling that he had experienced whilst he had been asleep, and he could see the Faery again in his mind. She was smiling at him, although he could not see her for

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