The elves come

“What’s this?” Egelric barked, jumping up from his chair as two strangers burst into the room. “Dear God!” he cried, paling, as he got a better look at them. They were oddly dressed, but – their ears! “Elves!”

Where was Iylaine? he wondered immediately. She was still with Gunnilda – pray God that Gunnilda didn’t bring her home now.

“Where’s the baby?” the woman asked.

His heart was pounding; nonetheless Egelric tried to be calm. “Are you Iylaine’s parents?” And he had once hoped they would come to take her away!

“We are,” the woman said. “We have come for the baby.”

“Now just a moment,” Egelric said. “She has lived with us for a year. She’s like our own daughter. You can’t just – just take her.”

“She had lived with us for two. That didn’t stop you, did it?” the woman sneered at Elfleda. “But we haven’t come for Iylaine. We’ve come for the baby.”

“Finn!” Egelric cried. “Never! My son!”

“You took my daughter,” the man said.

“Then take her back!” Elfleda shrieked. “I don’t want her any more!”

“Leda! No!” Egelric cried.

“It’s her fault! She did this! She did this! She called them here!” Elfleda was growing hysterical.

Egelric tried to maneuver himself between the elves and the cradle where Finn slept, but the elf saw him move and would not let him pass.

Egelric looked wildly around for something he could use as a weapon, though he had seen the sword at the elf’s side. “You will not have my son. You will have to kill me first!”

“I hope that will not be necessary,” the man said calmly.

“Leda, get the baby and run to the castle!” he cried. If he could only keep the man occupied until Elfleda had made it out of the house!

Egelric thought he saw the elf woman struggle with Elfleda in a blur of pink and linen, could hear Elfleda shrieking, but the man was already upon him.

The elf simply lunged at Egelric’s throat and closed his hands firmly around it. Egelric had thought he was a rather strong man, but there was nothing he could do – the hands could not be moved, and even his flailing did not serve to unbalance the elf. He stood massive and immovable like an iron statue that had been cast with its hands already closed around Egelric’s neck. 

The last thing Egelric heard as the world went black was his baby son beginning to cry.