The 4th Step- Part 2

"You have been gone too long. For far too long.."

Like the rising sun forgotten in the shadows of clouds, he arose, peeking around the massive white giants, illuminating all the land before him. First, the hand, then a leg, and then came out the face. A face familiar, yet lost. A face of bygone worship. 

Slowly, he pulled himself out of the moss, head aching like a storm was brewing inside. Groaning softly to himself, he rested his eyes and laid back down. But realisation struck. His eyes snapped open, suddenly alert of his surroundings. With those brilliant golden eyes, he looked around, first at the ring of boulders surrounding him. Then, upwards towards the three elders.

"So this is how the binding turned out in the end?" 

Speaking softly to himself, he stood up for the first time in centuries. Stretching his legs, he inhaled deeply. Then, he exploded with light. Intense, white light emerged from his body, shooting in all directions. Touching the soul of each and every member of the forest. The tiny sapling, the scurrying squirrel, the singing thrush, the great elders. He connected them all to his soul, bringing them close. And even if they couldn't see him, they felt his warm embrace. And they rejoiced.

Walking up to each of the elders, he gently placed a hand on their trunks. When he removed it, there stood a marking. A hand, but on the palm was an intricate flower. Through and around the fingers, vines curled, tethered to the flower. To each of the elders, who had stood for so very long to guard his resting place, he left a little bit of his soul, his life-force. His eternity.

"Now you shall stand strong for ages to come, and protect this forest as you once protected me. A king does not forget his debts, and this is but a shard of repayment for the priceless duty that you undertook. Thank you, oh sprawling oak, towering redwood, wise cypress. I shall call upon you again when the time comes for me to return."

As he spoke, the elders seemed to bow to him. With creaking branches and groaning trunk, they all bent inwards. To show the king respect, even the poorest pauper bends his knee. The hallowed forest entered a lull, silent and tranquil. Then, with a grating roar, all the trees in the forest followed suit. The animals stopped their wanderings, all looking towards him, and bent their heads. The forest greeted their king from slumber, and he, in turn, lent them his light. For that one short moment, everything flourished. A paradise on earth.

The king sat back down on the soft moss that had preserved him for so long. He truly had been gone for centuries. As the forest returned to its tranquil balance, he closed his eyes. For an immeasurable period, he sat there. But his soul was free. It soared with the winds, laughing at their mischief. It ran with the wolves, one with the pack but also one of the wolves. It bathed in the gentle showers, cleansing itself, although it was already pure as virgin snow. It swung from the trees with the apes, looking at the blue sky as he embraced the young. It reached for the stars and added its own twinkle, encouraging the others to glow brighter. 

It stood over this world. This free and gorgeous world. Straight-backed, chin held high, both hands moving in a sweeping gesture, he exploded again. Brighter than the sun, he shone, blinding to look at. Yet, all which lived stopped to look at his brilliance. Then gently, his voice rang out. Not from outside, but from within everything. 

"The Hallowed King of the Fae has returned!"

This time, the rejoicing rang out louder than the harmony of the universe itself.