Chapter Forty-One

After a good night rest, Atohmma woke up refreshed and renewed. She had a shower and a good breakfast. There was no longer a need for her to stick to a strict diet, but she was beginning to get used to eating a lot like the elves, and following their diet, was actually good for her now. She had to go visit the Chief. It was a bit too early, so she waited for the sun to rise some more. Usually the Chief would do his daily sage meditations and rituals that started his day right. He stayed up late every night, observing and reading the changes in the elemental shield, which only he could read. He understood the mysteries and it was only fair, to allow him time to rest.

Suddenly Atohmma felt a sharp pain. She endured it as though it was just temporary. It was a pain that she felt in her back. At first she thought it was her wings, gaining weight and size again. So she endured it. She waited a while, at least for the pain to subside. It was slowly becoming bearable. When she was able to stand and to feel less discomfort, she threw on her coat and went to see the Chief. At the Chief's tent, she noticed a lot of smoke coming out of it, when she arrived. She thought it must have been something he was cooking. She called out to him, but he didn't reply. Atohmma tried to make her way in through the smoke. There was the scent of familiar herbs and incense. Out at the back of his tent, he was sitting on a mat, meditating it seemed, but she couldn't identify where the smoke was coming from. She didn't want to disturb him, so she looked around and saw that he had a container made out of clay, which he placed on the ground in the corner of his front room. This must have been a part of his usual morning ritual, she thought. Then she couldn't bear it anymore. She had to get outside for fresh air. She went toward his garden and sat there, where the air was clearer and she waited. She noticed that she didn't have the sharp pain in her back anymore, but she wanted to make mention of it to him.

When the Chief completed his meditation, he walked around to the front and he saw her sitting in the garden. He went toward her, they exchanged greetings, and he sat with her. She mentioned that she was there for his advice about a few things. She told him about the sharp pain she had a while ago in her back. He checked her wings and her back, he noticed there was a bluish mark in the center of her back. He asked her if she had slipped or hurt herself. She said no such thing happened, and it only affected her like this, a while ago. He said he needed to determine what it was, so he placed his hands on the bluish spot on her back and closed his eyes. The Chief realized that it was a mark, which indicated that she was ready. He told her, what it signified and then he asked her to be extra careful for the next few days. Atohmma was amazed to know that she was ready. She thought she still had a lot to learn and she was there, in his company to find out. She explained to him, the need for her to understand, the ways of the ones who were leaders before. How they carried about themselves and managed their roles. Much to her surprise, the Chief told her about what he saw when he was a child growing up. There were no tents and they lived like barbarians. There was no need for them to have clothes made with threads, they used leaves and other natural fibers. Their tools were spears and wooden objects mostly. They had no rules to follow. The elders of his time, would usually sit around a fire and teach them their ways. They sat mostly during late afternoon and night time to share their legendary feats. They hunted for their food and were very noisy. They were usually always in groups and there was no way to tell who was the leader elf among all the other elves. Atohmma was surprised but she had a good idea of the time and their ways. She asked him, if the elders gave orders and waited for others to come to them. He said, the elders were solitary, but among the others, they were the same. They did give orders, but not in the way she imagined. They were respected and when their advice was needed, the other elves usually spoke to them personally. She asked if they would walk around with guards and other elves for support. He said said to her, their were elves that were appointed to see to their needs, but they were not servants. The elders did most of what they had to get done, themselves.

The Chief advised Atohmma, that the elders, were males and that it was different for them. She, being a woman, made it different for her. The times changed since then, most of their ways remained, but much has evolved. He told her she needed to understand who she was to the inhabitants, and what it meant to be the chosen one. So he went on to explain. that knowing two things, would have given her all the answers she needed and how to best carry out her duties. He said, the chosen one, was the one who carries the sword of compassion. Not only was it an instrument of war, but also a symbol of strength, honor, wholeness, unlimited powers and balance. As an instrument of war, the sword also had special and unique powers attached to it and being elemental, the sword itself, could be fire, water, air, staff or ether. It depended on the need for it at any point in time. It was controlled not by the hands, but by the mind. He said, "Your mind, my child, is powerful. Your thoughts are telepathic and can do anything you think even fleeting." Atohmma, had a revelation at that moment but she allowed him to continue. The sword of compassion only executed justice and was compassionate to the deserving. It would only kill those worthy of being destroyed, as its power was indestructible. He said, the chosen one was also of the lineage, but chosen for this time, this age and chosen to carry out a particular mission. The chosen one, would merit rank and respect. You will not be running around doing the things that you would usually do, but you will uphold the status of your role and that will earn you the respect you deserve. You can choose to do your own chores, cook your own meals and tend to your own garden, if you so choose, but because of modern changes, it is required of you, to accept being treated as the queen that you have become. To the inhabitants, you will be more than just the 'go to' that you were at the village. Although they will come to you and expect of you and depend upon you, they see you as the protector and the only one capable of doing the things they are unable to do. He asked her, "do you understand my child?" Atohmma nodded and said, "thank you Chief, I understand much better now." The Chief replied, "Anytime, anything you need I'm here, it was my pleasure child."