A short story…
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled at the edge of a vast and ancient forest, there lived a curious and brave boy named Finn. Every night, his mother enjoyed to read to him from a thick, leather-bound book filled with tales of magical realms and mysterious creatures. His favourite stories were those of the dark elves, who were said to dwell in hidden cities deep beneath the heart of the forest.
One bright and crisp morning, as the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, Finn decided to explore the forest. He wandered deeper than ever before, guided by a sense of adventure and the faint hope that he might discover something wondrous. After hours of walking, he stumbled upon a cave, half-hidden by thick vines and moss. The entrance appeared dark and foreboding, yet something about it beckoned him forward.
With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, Finn stepped into the cave. As he ventured further, the darkness gave way to a faint, otherworldly glow. The walls of the cave sparkled with strange, glistening stones that cast an eerie light, illuminating his path. He pressed on, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Suddenly, the cave opened up into a vast cavern containing an underground city. The buildings were crafted from the same glistening stones that adorned the cave walls, and the streets were filled with dark elves, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. Finn realised with a thrill that he had found the hidden realm from his bedtime stories.
However, upon discovering Finn the dark elves immediately recognised him as an outsider. They surrounded him, their voices soft and beguiling. “Welcome, young traveller,” they said. “You must be weary from your journey. Come, rest and partake in our hospitality.”
Finn was wary, but the allure of the dark elves was strong. They led him to a grand hall where a feast was laid out. The food and drink were unlike anything he had ever seen, shimmering with a strange, enticing beauty. As he ate and drank, he felt a drowsiness overcome him, and his vision began to blur.
“Rest, young one,” the dark elves whispered. “You are safe here.”
But as Finn’s eyes grew heavy, he saw their smiles morph into guileful grins. He realised too late that he had been tricked. The food and drink were enchanted, meant to trap him in the dark elves’ realm forever. Panic surged through him, but his limbs felt like lead, his head began to spin and eventually, a darkness closed in around him.
With a sudden gasp, Finn awoke. He was back in his own bed, the story book on the table beside him. The light of a setting sun filtered through his window, casting a warm glow on the familiar surroundings of the room. He sat up, heart racing, and looked around in bewilderment.
Had it all been a dream? He touched the book, its pages filled with the stories he loved. He quickly opened it, the tale of the dark elves was still there, the illustration of their glistening city staring back at him. Finn shivered, feeling the lingering touch of the dark elves’ enchantment.
From that day on, Finn was hesitant to venture into the forest alone. But he kept the memory of his adventure close to his heart, a reminder of the thin veil between reality and the world of dreams, and the perils that lay hidden in the shadows. Every night, as his mother read to him, he couldn’t help but glance through the window towards the forest, wondering if the entrance to the realm of the dark elves was actually there, behind the vines and moss, where he had found it in his dream.