In the morning Wintersun band was standing in the vast empty hall of Izmiran – the Elven palace of the Land Beyond, carved in the body of a mountain many centuries ago. Prince Ringar, as tall and fair-haired as Jari and clad in a waistcoat of thick moonlight white silk, was bidding his farewell to his guests.
But Jari loathed to see the haughty face of their so-called “savior”, as the price to pay was too high. It was the first time when he desired to literally eat someone's face up and was struggling not to do that. Jukka hoped that after Kai's release Teemu would leave the thought of rejoining the Elves, but the front man knew his younger friend as well as no one.
“I'm happy to see you fully recovered,” Ringar told Jari and Jukka with a haughty smile. He really seemed not to see anything bad in the condition he had imposed or he didn't care.
“How can Elves find themselves in the human world without knowing it in the first place?” the head of Wintersun asked.
“Sometimes, when some major evil threatens our children, we hide them among humans. Some Elves are exiled to that world for evil deeds, and this is really a hard punishment, harder than a whip of fire.”
“You despise humans but when your kids are in danger...” Jari began, getting more and more furious.
“Haven't you ever despised humans for what they do to the Earth and to each other? I thought, that 40 years of life in that place have taught you something...” Ringar said coldly. “Still, I hope that your Kai is a decent man and is really worth the risk you are going to take.”
“He is!” Jukka exclaimed. The ravens on his shoulders cawed in the sign of agreement. “Your Highness... Why do you need the one I love?” Jari asked, looking directly into Ringar's emerald-green eyes.
“Not me personally. My single sister does, and so does our clan,” Ringar answered. “Sorry about that, but this is a fair price for thy salvation and the future release of your drummer Kai.”
“Hey, are we on a marketplace? This is so fucking human - to bargain even when Life and Death are concerned!” the lead guitarist exclaimed. “Jari, please...” Teemu whispered.
“Shut the Hel up!” Jari growled, feeling ashamed of himself. He had never, never spoken to his friends like that, but now he was too furious to watch his language.
“Your Highness, are you ready to marry your sister to someone who loves another person?”
“Family's not about love,” Ringar raised his eyebrow, looking at Jari as if the lead guitarist were a kid. “It's about obligation.”
“Really? Then I'm sorry for thee, as the Wintersun family's about love.” the lead guitarist proudly said, clenching his younger friend's hand.
“Your Highness!” - said a clear woman's voice, and they saw a lady in a long navy dress appear between two high narrow pillars of green stone. She strikingly resembled the Elven prince, she moved so lightly as if she were stepping on the air, and her sunny hair reached her knees.
“I thought about it all night long, and I ran to a conclusion. It's not good to ruin someone's family like that. Wintersun is on the Earth to make it a better place. And the band won't be the same without Teemu. If he's lost, it won't work well, and Evil will reign the Earth completely.” Both Jari and Ringar were gazing at her with awe, while Jukka's and Teemu's eyes shone with admiration.
“Yesterday your opinion was different, Lasswen,” the prince spoke through clenched teeth.
“He's our ambassador in the human world. He and Jari. And I wish not to hurt them like this, Ringar. They just don't deserve such cruelty,” the woman said.
The prince rolled his eyes. On the one hand, he could use his power to make his sister comply, and yes, he could hold the “metal Elf” by force and do that right now. On the other hand, he wouldn't be able to respect himself for such kind of violence.
“And, besides, it's really too human – to claim something in exchange for a fine gesture.” she added, approaching Wintersun and greeting Teemu with a smile. Jari understood that they had already seen each other and that she had even heard him play.
Ringar's eyes betrayed his hidden rage. He invented something he thought to be a beautiful plan, but his sister was the one to ruin it. “Think twice, Lasswen,” he said. “I've done it a hundred times. And I beg you to liberate Teemu from the promise”, she told her brother with a low bow. Jari wondered if an ordinary human fangirl would let either of the band go so easily in the same situation.
“You've got it!” the prince said in a low voice.
The Elven maid clapped her hands, and three mighty creatures proudly strode into the hall; they were as tall as horses, but more hairy and completely different in stature. On seeing them better, Jukka gave a short cry of surprise. These were giant wolves – stark, broad-shouldered, with large paws and teeth as sharp as daggers.
“Not quite a numerous, but a really glorious breed,” Lasswen boasted. “It's better to travel in the snowy lands on them than on horseback.” Jari remembered Robert Scott's unhappy Antarctic venture and agreed. The largest wolf – as white as snow – approached the front man and licked his face. The black one – a she-wolf – playfully poked Teemu's shoulder with her nose. Jukka came to the third wolf, which was reddish-grey, and stroked it on its heavy head.
“They must need plenty of food”, Jukka noted.
“You'll have to share your meal with them just to prove your respect and care,” prince Ringar. “Because they will hunt at night when you sleep. Even hungry, the snow wolves won't do you any harm, unless you are cruel to them.”
“They are strong and brave, yet they won't follow you to the halls of Hel”, Lasswen warned. “No animal dares enter that place, cause every animal is afraid of Garm.”
"Who's that?" Jari asked.
"The Guardian of Helheim. But I have no doubt you'll defeat him."
The three bandmates were touched to the very depth of their heart. They responded with a bow and then came in turn up to the Elven maid and kissed her hand. They got some more presents from the fair Lasswen: a battle-ax for Jukka, a narrow sword for Jari and a crossbow for Teemu, as he had no time to learn the Elven tricks with Matter and Energy.
An hour later, when they accustomed themselves to their extraordinary transport, the bandmates rode through the gate of Izmiran on the back of their wolves, shouting with joy. Wind whistled in their ears and caressed the thick fur of the beasts. The ravens, as always, were flying about one hundred meters ahead. The feeling of speed, of a strong beast of prey moving underneath, gave them a concert-like euphoria.
Alas, their happiness was not to last long.
(to be continued)
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