Chapter Ten (Home)

Julian slowly opened her eyes and saw a beautiful canopy of dark green trees high above her. She lifted her head up slowly. She saw her father sprawled out next to her and their hands were still connected. Julian felt a swell of love and gratefulness in her heart as she stared at her father. He had just dropped into her world at the right time and already she felt a connection like no other to him and she herself felt more whole.

As she looked at her surroundings, she was in awe. They were in a forest, not a glum, dry, dormant forest like her woods. No this was a flourishing green forest. Moss covered most of the trees and the ground they lay on. And the smell, oh the smell was marvelous! Julian knew there was a stream or a river nearby, she could smell it in the air. Julian felt her spirit lifting and becoming awakened. It was like every nerve ending in her body was getting charged.

Julian unattached herself from her father and gently knelt beside him. She shook him gently at first. “James! James!” Then she shook him vigorously. James shot straight up, startled.

“What! What is it!” James yelled blinking fast, trying to make his vision come together.

“Wake up! We’re here, we are really here!” Julian exclaimed giggling and slightly bouncing on her knees.

“We are?” James started looking around and instantly broke into a smile. He was finally home! He rolled over onto his stomach and grabbed a heap of dirt and sniffed it. He was stunned and so happy! It had been so long. Everything had a memory. The forest the smell the rivers. James could smell the sea from here. Even though it brought back memories of his father it did not disturb his good mood.

Julian sit back on her legs laughing at her father. He was acting like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Oh Julian, you have no idea what is in store for you! You will never want for anything again. Not food, nor clothing, or even love. For you will have more than enough with our family!” James said as he grabbed Julian by the shoulders and engulfed her in a huge hug.

Julian was stunned and excited. She actually had a family, all this time. She could barely fathom it. James dragged her up with him as they stood.

“First you have to meet Leona and Kaleb, your mother’s parents. You will adore them as they will you.” James said with a smile as big as Texas on his face.

“Do you really think they’ll like me? Will I like them?” Julian said, really speaking to herself than to James.

“They will love you every bit as much as I love you. And as much as your mother loved you…” James said looking Julian in the eyes. “She really did love you, you know. I do not know what came over her when you were born. I wish you could have known the real her. But no matter, you will get to know her through us!” James nodded with assurance.

“I trust you. I ready to meet them.”
James and Julian walked through the vast forest wondering all the while what would be waiting on them. Julian could only picture an old lady and man with big smiles on their faces. As they came closer to their destination, Julian stopped walking for what she saw almost made her pass out.

This city, as that is what it was, stopped her in her tracks. Julian could not believe what she was seeing. It was a town in the mist of the branches of trees. It was huge! A city of wooden buildings connected by bridges made from vines, wood, and rope. The buildings looked rugged and old, if for a better word ancient. This truly was an ancient city, it went on for miles. The people were all walking along on the bridges and ladders but never once did a foot touch the ground.

“Close your mouth Julian,” James chuckled as he grabbed Julian’s hand and pulled her forward.

“What… is… this…”Julian asked with her head towards the sky and eyes wide.

“This is Sivemina, one of the cities of the valenians.”

“Wow, why would you ever want to leave this place.

“You will find out why we made that choice soon. Now come on!”

As Julian got closer she could not for the life of her figure out how enter this place. All she could see was a piece of board hanging above her head that said Hospitium. James captured it and pulled it down. All of a sudden a ladder started to unfold in front of them that led up to a double door that looked to be made out of granite.

“You first.” James said with a huge smile.

Julian stepped up and led the way up. Julian could not help but take the time to touch the smooth yet rough texture of the double doors before she took hold of the huge knocker that was in the shape of an owl on the right door colored in with dark blue eyes and dark green feathers. The huge door creaked open slowly. James took her hand and stepped in inside.

Once inside there were two guards on either side of the doors. They were both dressed in dark green breast shields and dark brown trousers with heavy black boots. They looked completely other worldly to Julian. The men stood with straight with their hand behind their backs. In front of entrance was a book. It was huge with many names written in it.

“What’s this book James?” Julian asked as she flipped it to the last page.

“This is the book everyone has to sign when they come into Sivemina. It lets the officials know who is in the city and what date they arrived.” James exclaimed as he took the feather pen and dipped it into the ink available. “I know it seems old fashion but it has been like this since I can remember.”

As they made their way farther in you could tell they were clearly inside of a huge tree. It was astounding and surreal for Julian she had never seen anything like this. It was like a city hall. It had hall ways and different departments that on different floors just like a building. Julian watched as all the people bustled around her on the wooden floor that had the emblem of the same owl on the knocker.

James led Julian through the busy crowd to the exit that was another set of double doors. When they stepped back outside. Definitely felt out of place. There were wooden bridges that led to everywhere. She could see stores and apartments up higher in the trees. The clothing was so unique that the people were wearing. Some wore animal hides, others wore plant like clothing, that to Julian’s surprise covered them, and others wore clothing that was clearly made out of natural materials. Everyone had unique style like she had never seen.

James led her through the crowd, “It is quite a long walk from here they live out a ways from everyone. The beautiful thing about the valenians though, is they are all like a huge family every home is connected by the branches or the bridges. No one is left alone here.”

This is really beautifully descriptive. I love the detail and I laughed a little when James smelled the dirt lol! A smile as big as Texas! No one likes Texas, Jennifer! Gah, Sharon! But seriously, I understood how amazing just this part of Erislan was and how it made Julian feel whole. Nice work, beautiful and light-hearted.

I love the tree homes! That is so cool. Like, I want to go there, seriously. And I love the symbol of the owl. I think the last line there is something that needs to be quoted. It's beautiful. No one is left alone because the bridges connect the branches and their homes. Sah cool. I wish she'd meet them already! But this is actually getting cool and interesting.