From Chapter 1: The Hidden People
A Conversation between Two Sidhe
Two Sidhe sit together in their world, having a conversation about the wonders of life. Their speech is more like a song than speech. One of the Sidhe is a tall, slender, and graceful male with pointed ears and wild hair, almost like a fan around his head. He is very young and eager, and he is disturbed by the fact that lately his world has been shaken. The other Sidhe belongs to the Elders amongst them. He has lived for a long time and experienced earlier times and many places full of wonder. Now they sit together at a flowing river, surrounded by rainbow-colored birds dancing in the light from the bright green fields of grass.
“Do you believe in humans?” the young Sidhe asks with a slightly strained look. He is worried about that which has interrupted his world and the question is very much on his mind.
The old Sidhe looks at the young with a scrutinizing glance engaged in the past, the present, and the future at the same time. With a deep, peaceful voice his singing returns to the young Sidhe: “We are dancers in the gentle, wild wind, and it is our nature not to become too fixed and rigorous. Therefore, be open my young friend of the wind. Yes, humans do exist. You often sense them as dark shadows passing by or as dense, rigid spheres. They are somewhat at our size, but they do look very heavy and dense.”
The young Sidhe looks with disbelief at the Elder: “You can’t be serious? The gloomy shadows you describe are lifeless echoes from something long gone. What should our business be with them?” The old Sidhe smiles whimsically: “You have kept these dark orbs too much at a distance - and you know it is not our nature to distance anything. Try to take a look with me right now. There is a group of them right there.” The young Sidhe stares slightly scared and with some disgust at the solid lumps that move along at the edge of the Sidhe realm like some kind of zombies or spooky echoes. Nevertheless, he continues observing them, unlike what he normally does. Time goes and he doesn’t think anything happens. His expression shifts between determination, slight discomfort, and a flickering change as he attempts to overcome his tendency to resist. “They seem almost lifeless and they emanate a rather monotone noise.” “Yes”, the old Sidhe answers, “but look deeper, connect with the presence behind the shell, almost as if you look into a dense thicket.”
The young Sidhe continue to stare, almost as if it is a riddle he has to solve, or a trick needing to be revealed. His eyes quiver and he remains perplexed as he senses the loud noise surrounding the tedious, disturbing noise. He is on the brink of giving up when he suddenly detects that inside the heavy, messy wilderness there is something. First, he senses it as a weak clearing that comes and goes, but finally he gets a glimpse of a flickering light far, far inside the murky thicket. He is struck by surprise and his eyes light up in confusion and disbelief. “You are right. There is something in there! What on Earth is it?!”
The old Sidhe breaks out in a big, warm smile: “It is the flame of hope and it is very special as it grows when you stay with it. The flame is a light from the forgotten human heart, and NOW you know why we are a bunch amongst us who have initiated a completely new journey into unknown territory. We simply KNOW that here something is hiding and waiting to be met. Humans do exist and they are our ancient relatives. You probably know the ancient legends about our forgotten Hallows and the magic that disappeared from the world above us. Humans are NOT just myth and humbug. They exist and they live - but their light is imprisoned in the thicket of cynicism and the darkness of isolation.”
The young Sidhe looks with big eyes of disbelief at the old one: “So what then? Are WE really going to save them? Are you serious? Would it not be better to leave them on their own so they can find their way and wake up? I mean, they can’t handle us!” The old one waits for a while and when silence has become penetrating, he continues in a quiet tone: “Some of the wise amongst us who have been here for a long time, have discovered that we actually need something from our human relatives, just like they can benefit from contact with us. We originate from the same root and the myths about our separation are not just fiction. It is a great and wondrous journey towards a new future where we can find each other again in some way or another. My dear young friend, the thing is that many like you doubt that the humans exist. So, why should any good things come out of a journey towards an unknown place? They believe that such a thing would be futile. You have just discovered the flame of hope in the seemingly lifeless humans, and you can actually embark on this journey if you want. We need young blood. We call the adventure towards the new future ‘The Journey to The Forgotten Land.’ Think about it and if you want to participate, let me know. You are welcome. I mean, come with us, if you cannot resist it. The traveling company towards The Forgotten Land bids you welcome if you are ready for the adventure. Humans are real - they live - and we have very valuable things to discover and to share with each other. The future has a new possible course and it seems the timing is now more than ever before
