The Great Spruce

(from Chapter 18: "A Lemon for Immortality")

Credit: Saschas Traum (Twitter / Twitch)

A Glimpse From Chapter 18

Beyond the assemblage of spruce trees Rum was revealed to the tree’s base, and the clearing around it, which seemed to be the end-point of a number of other trails. The evidence on which he based this assumption was the many openings that seemed to surround the great tree, along with the vast forest which Rum had been navigating for the last hour or two. There was also the fact that a few elves were out at this hour and walking in and out of the forest, away from or towards the base of the tree, into whose opening Rum could now see. That entrance is a little grand, he opinioned as he walk-studied the tree’s base. Not only was it large, but to reach it one had to ascend a broad, finely shaped, wooden stairway. As Rum watched, arriving elves did just that; they ascended to the top, where they one by one came face-to-face with an odd thing. It was something, which Rum could only interpret to be a part of the tree, positioned before this grand entrance, but not just any part: it was an animated wooden torso, two large arms and a slightly large head, a long thick hair of bright green moss too. It was a being that shone with expressiveness and charm, but had no legs. Rather, this being of wood sprouted out of the trunk-floor beneath like a wooden trophy come alive. To the elves that approached it, this trunk-body politely offered bows and fist-bumps with what Rum thought to be elegant social skill. The attitude of the tree-person matched perfectly with the high, the low and the reserved spirits of the elves passing it, at least so Rum judged, looking at the scene from an angle a bit away. It didn’t speak though, as far as Rum could tell, even though its wooden face and -mouth made that fact hard to determine. And yet, Rum concluded, it and the elves seem to get along really well. Almost like as if the tree and the elves were friends, or buddies even, he wondered in fascination. As Royath guided him to the stairway and the first step, and they themselves began ascending, the tree-person noticed them. With a head tilted to the side like a dog, it waited patiently for them to come closer. When they did come closer though, the being of wood UNLEASHED its intensity upon them. With an exaggerated expression of surprise, it pointed energetically, first at Rum and then at Royath, looking confused or shocked or something like it.

“Who – or what – is that?” Rum pointed back to the wooden body gesturing wildly at them.

Royath turned around to Rum and saw what he was pointing at. “Oh, him? It’s just Great Spruce.”

Royath turned over towards the tree-person named Great Spruce. “Great Spruce, this person here is Rum. He’s my guest.”

Great Spruce formed a big “OOOH” expression of understanding on his large face. Then as Royath and Rum continued ascending, Great Spruce pointed at Rum and made the universal sign for sleeping-face.

“Maybe, Great Spruce” Royath responded. “I was thinking about it, it’s getting dark”

Rum didn’t understand what was going on, but Great Spruce smiled a little happy smile and nodded repeatedly at Royath. As Royath passed Great Spruce to enter the trunk, Great Spruce looked over at Rum and smiled even more, and gave Rum a short but deep bow. Not knowing how to respond, Rum just reflexively gave a half-bow nod in response, before stepping quickly after Royath.

“Do all the elven great trees have a humanoid shape like that?” Rum asked Royath.