Two and One: Chapter Four

 The door slammed shut.

Grakdar stood there, the darkness around him, the cold stone walls and dirt floor pressing against his body.

He could smell the fear of the two elves and the stench of the demon outside, and he knew he had no choice.

"It is okay," Grakdar said, his deep voice echoing in the darkness.

"How is this okay?" Hope said.

"The demons can't get us," Laira replied. "The burial wards will keep them out."

"But we are in here," Grakdar sighed. "With little food and water. Best case, we die here with a bunch of elven corpses."

Hope kicked him.

"Ouch!"

"Stop being so negative. I'm tired of your gloomy attitude."

"Sorry. Being trapped in an Elven burial mound with a pair of elves has me on edge."

"Well, I'm an elf, and I'm on your side. So, get used to it," Hope said.

"I suppose you are right," Grakdar replied.

"Of course I'm right. I'm an elf. We are always right."

"I will concede you are mostly right. Now, let's look around and see where we will die. Does anyone have a light?"

Laira cast a spell, and her staff glowed. "I have this."

"Nice trick," Grakdar said as he pulled himself up.

"it is not a trick," Laira said. "It is a blessing from the Tree."

"Right. I'm sure the tree is a big fan of elves," Grakdar grunted, looking around.

The chamber was large and dark, and the walls were covered with symbols and runes. There were stone biers in the middle of the room, and upon each bier was a body.

"Are those... bodies?" Grakdar asked, looking around the chamber.

"Yes," Laira said, her voice quiet.

"And what are we supposed to do, exactly? Sit and wait for the demons to find us?"

"I do not know. Maybe they won't," Hope said, looking around the chamber. "They won't come in here."

"And there will be more of them out there when we open the door," Grakdar sighed. "We might as well lay down and die."

"Do not talk like that," Hope said.

"We are all going to die, one way or another," Grakdar said.

"No, we are not," Hope said. "We are elves; we live 100 times longer than you."

Grakdar stared at her.

She smiled. "We can find a way out of this. There must be something here. We are not helpless."

"There is nothing here. We are surrounded by bodies. This is a tomb."

"No," Laira said. "These are our ancestors. They will guide us."

Grakdar frowned. "You want us to speak to dead elves?"

"No," Laira said. "Well, maybe. These are the ones who came before us. They are our ancestors."

Grakdar sighed.

"Maybe we can ask them for help," Laira said.

Grakdar shrugged. "They won't help me."

"I'm an elf," Laira said. "And a healer. Of course, they will help me."

"Okay, then. Go ahead and talk to the dead elves," Grakdar said, turning around.

"Wait," Laira said. "They might not help me if you are here."

Grakdar rolled his eyes. "Oh, for the love of the gods."

"It's true. Elves don't like orcs," Hope said. "Maybe you should wait outside?"

Grakdar rubbed his face. "You have got to be kidding me. The demon is right outside!"

"Then, just stand near the door," Hope said. "You are making this harder than it has to be."

Grakdar groaned.

"It's okay," Laira said. "Just wait by the door. If the demons try to come in, you can fight them."

Grakdar walked over to the door and stood by it.

"Happy?"

"Yes," Laira said. "Now, let me talk to the ancestors."

Grakdar folded his arms.

Laira closed her eyes and began to pray.

"Oh Great Ones," she said. "We seek your wisdom. Please, help us."

The chamber was silent, save for the sounds of the demons outside.

Grakdar looked at Hope and shrugged.

"Oh Great Ones," Laira said. "We seek your wisdom. Please, help us."

Nothing.

"The gods do not listen," Grakdar snorted.

"Quiet!" Laira snapped. "You are disturbing the sacred silence."

"Whatever," Grakdar said, turning away. He stared at the door, hearing the hissing and scratching of the demons outside. He knew stopping was a terrible idea. They were trapped in this tomb, doomed to die. He knew he had to keep moving, keep fighting.

"Great Ones," Laira said, her voice calm. "We need your guidance. We have been trapped, and we cannot escape. We need your help. Please, help us."

There was a pause, and then the sound of wind blew.

"The air is moving," Hope whispered.

A low, steady hum filled the air, and the runes on the walls began to glow.

"What is happening?" Grakdar asked.

"I don't know," Laira said.

A voice boomed throughout the chamber, speaking in a language neither Grakdar or Hope understood.

"What are they saying?" Grakdar asked.

"They are saying they are sorry for our suffering," Laira translated.

"Oh, well, that's nice," Grakdar said. "So, how about getting us out of here, dead elves?"

The wind picked up, and the hum became louder.

"They are saying that we have been chosen," Laira said.

"Chosen for what?" Grakdar asked.

"To save the world."

Grakdar and Hope stared at each other.

"That's nice," Grakdar said. "So, how will we do that, dead elves?"

"We will have to defeat the demon king."

Grakdar laughed. "We are all going to die."

"We are not going to die," Laira said.

Grakdar glared at her. "Do you not understand? We are going to be eaten by demons."

"We are not going to be eaten by demons," Laira said. "We are going to defeat them."

"Yeah, right," Grakdar said. "I'll tell you what, dead elves. If we survive this, I will give you my firstborn son. How does that sound?"

"They are not interested in your firstborn son, Grak," Laira said. "That would be an orc."

"So, what are they interested in?"

"Our service," Laira said.

"Service to what?"

"To the Great Ones."

Grakdar stared at her.

"And what does that mean, exactly?"

"I don't know. They didn't say."

Grakdar rolled his eyes. "Now what? They gave us no weapon, no power, and no way out! Want to tell me what good this all was?"

"I don't know," Laira said. She touched the rune on her forehead, symbolizing the Elven Order of the Tree. "I think I have an idea, though."

"What?" Grakdar asked.

Laira stepped forward and took his hand. "Grakdar, I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"I need you to trust me."

Grakdar stared at her.

"Alright, tree-lover. What is your idea?"

Laira smiled. "We are going to get out of here. But we have to work together. Find a root of a tree that managed to find a way into the tomb."

The three of them turned as something huge and weighty slammed into the stone doors of the tomb, forcing them open an inch with a loud thud.

"Time is up," Grakdar grunted, drawing his sword.

Laira and Hope ran towards the chamber's center, searching for the tree's root.

"Hurry!" Grakdar shouted and braced himself against the doors, pushing back with all his strength.

The demons threw themselves at the door, and the stone groaned under the pressure.

"Hurry!" Grakdar repeated.

"I'm trying!" Laira shouted, grabbed a root, and began to pull, revealing more of the strand she cradled like a precious child. "I think I have one that is still alive!"

"What are you doing? Gardening?" Grakdar yelled.

The demons crashed into the door again, and the stone groaned.

"Just hurry!" Grakdar shouted, and he pushed back with all his might.

The root glowed with an ethereal light, and Laira held it.

"This is going to work," she said, placing her hand on Hope's shoulder. "Grakdar! Come to us!"

"I'm a little busy right now!"

"You have to come to us! The Great Ones are calling you!"

Grakdar growled but pushed away and ran to the two elves.

The doors flew open, and the demons rushed inside.