The lacey shadow cast by the leaves of the rowan trees reminds me of the riddle put to me when I wandered in the Adventurer's guild.

"This is a quest like no other
Not for glory or honor
But to find and relay to me
The story of your meeting with an enchanted tree"

I opened my pack. Carefully I remove The Leabhar the leather is worn and cracked, the pages curling with age. This book has always been a part of my family with each generation adding to it. I seem to remember a legend about a hidden glade deep within the Druid Forest. Turning the pages with revance, I find the words of the song that used to lull me to sleep.

I close my eyes and began to sing the long forgotten song..

"Come quickly now and gather around
I have a sacred trust to pass on to you
About a tree that is held spellbound
It's secrets many have tried to pursue"

As the words began to flow through me I realized that they are a map to the enchanted tree location.Opening my eyes I let the song guide me.

"Set your feet on the path of well worn stone,

I quickly began walking down the main footpath of the forest. Looking for the next landmark in the song.I can't believe it would be along one of the most traveled paths in Mysteria.

Many eyes will look but few will see
a mound of moss overgrown.
Hides a blood red rose of untold beauty."

The sun is starting to set. The forest was bathed in moons' radiant glow. As the moon rose higher in the sky I began to despair of ever finding the enchanted tree. To my left I notice a small flicker of light.I rushed over to where I saw the flicker it was becoming brighter and brighter. Gently separating the layers of moss I found it, the rose!I turned around looking to see if anyone was close by.I could see no one, walking furtively I follow the red beam of light.

"Look for two now growing as one"

Two growing as one? Hallowed Oaks, what was that suppose to mean. The red beam was getting weaker and to my amazement when I looked back there was no trace of the light behind me.

I hasten my step lest the light completely disappears.There is a bright flash of light then it's gone. A cloud has blanketed the moon making it hard to see. Picking up a stick, I use it to guide my way in the darkness. Waving the stick in front of me I continue on.

Thud!

Ow... little good the stick did me I just ran into an immovable object. Rubbing my forehead, I feel beginnings of a large knot."Well now there are two growing as one."

The clouds started moving away from the moon giving off some light so that I can see. Before me stands the largest Rowan tree I have ever seen. The limbs' climb into the sky as if it is trying to reach the stars. Looking closer at the tree I notice that it has two very distinct branches from which the limbs grow. The trunk is as wide two trees.

Two trees that's it! Two now grows as one. How do you start a conversation with a tree? I have talked to the wise willow in the Healers' Guild but this is different. While I think of what to say to the tree, I remember the rest of the song.

Let your feet be light as an Aerian's wing
Be patient now your journey almost done
Listen for the bird's song of spring".

I mull the words over in my mind. Surely I am not to climb that tree. Goblin farts! Walking around the to the other side of the massive tree trunk. I find a dense corpse of trees growing so close together,that even a fairy nor sprite could pass through them. It would be very dangerous for them to even try for encircling the trees were vines with wickedly sharp thorns.

A sweet melody breaks the stillness of the night. Turning in the direction of where it is is coming from, I look up higher and higher.Of course it would have to be coming from the top of the Rowan tree. Hitching my robes up, I tie the end into a lose knot. With a deep sigh I look for a foothold. How ever am I to climb this tree with its massive trunk?

In the distance can hear the hooting of my owl Blaze. She lights on my shoulder and I reach out a stroke her snowy white feathers.

"Well Blaze how am to get up to the top of that tree, How about a ride?" I ask.She blinks her eyes in response.

"That's what I thought too." I reply

Blaze takes flight and circles the tree. She perches on the tree her big eyes blinking right into mine. It hits me that her eyes level with mine. Moving closer to the tree I notice that there are small knotholes just large enough to put my feet and hands in. Strange I didn't notice them before.

In no time at all I was near the top of the gigantic tree. The melody change directions to the dense cluster of trees, with Blaze flying beside me I start towards it climbing from tree to tree till I reach the edge of the tree line. Below me I could see the hidden meadow.

There were several rings of trees with blossoms of purple and white, encircling a rather nondescript looking tree which was surround by a circle of large white rocks.I climbed down and jumped the remaining few feet and landed with a thud.

"This is it?" I said aloud feeling somewhat cheated. This is supposed to be the hidden meadow with the enchanted tree. I had expected a grander looking tree. Maybe it's just a legend after all.

I walk towards the trees with heavy steps of disappointment. Stooping outside the ring of stones I looked down and notice they had some ancient symbols carved into them. I bend down to get a closer look at the stones.

Ancient words forgotten long ago
Hold to secrets of our kind
Chant the words within your soul
With the tree become entwined
And it's knowledge it will bestow.

But what where the ancient words? I had no knowledge of ancient words. I knew only a few different languages a little goblin and the old tongue of the Dryads. Maybe I could find something in The Leabhar. Taking it out of my pack, I thumb through it's pages. I could see no symbols like the ones on the stones. A gentle breeze begins to blow ruffling my hair and turning the pages of The Leabhar then suddenly the breeze stops. Looking down at the page that was now opened I saw the drawing of my grandmother when she was a girl, in a heartbeat I knew the words.

"Farraid saoi crann sanas ionsar mi diamair seanchus"

As soon as the words left my mouth,the wind started to blow showering me with blossoms of purple and white.

"Trobhad" answered the tree, as I step forward into its embrace, the tree whispers its secrets in my ear.

Later the next day I was uncertain what to tell the old man I had meet in the Adventures guild. He knew of the tree, but I had taken an oath.

I knocked softly on the door of the guild, hoping that there would be no answer. The door slowly opened, there sat the old man in the same place where I had last seen him.

"I am sorry, I looked but I could never find that enchanted tree you asked about in your riddle". I tell him in a rush.

He rises and walks over to me. Gently his places his hand on my forehead.

"Quite a bump you have there, it's happened to me a few times, that guardian tree sneaks up on you sometimes."

Removing his hand with a wink, he walks back to his chair. Leaving me standing with my mouth hanging open.

"Good day Kira may the God's always smile down on you."

"Thank you and may they smile down on you" I reply.

I turn to leave and catch a glimpse of myself reflected in the window ,there is no trace of the bump.Looking over my shoulder at the old man, he is fast asleep.

I tipped toe out the door and shut it softly behind me....