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Elf Sightings: Tales from Ancient Lands

A Tribute to the Elves
(Part One)

Having come down to us from the dawn of recorded history, there are few legends that have inspired as many children's stories, as well as mature literary creations of the highest order, as the mysterious culture sometimes known only as the nature people.

The nature people are said to possess unique powers, perhaps even of a magical kind. When that is the case, a different name is sometimes used; a name that has graced mighty rivers, and served as title to wizened monarchs. History reserves then for special attention and proclamation, the designation Elf.

During holiday seasons, Elvin myths, if they be such, take on special significance; so much so that contemplative people everywhere find themselves wondering about the evidence in fact, if any, for the presence of Elves among us.

The following story is based on true events.

As recently as September of 2009, the Prism Association for Arcane Research (PAAR), awarded a grant to Dr. Samuel Bainbridge whose aim is to discover and describe to the extent possible the involvement of Elvin culture in the unfolding of human affairs, both past and present.

Dr. Bainbridge is a noted authority of Rosetta Stone scholarship, as well as the Nagamati documents. He is also an international expert of Sanskrit and Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Dr. Bainbridge was quoted in September, immediately after being notified of the PAAR grant, "There is reason to believe that a people generally fitting the description of Elves in popular literature have made their presence felt time after time in human history.

I have made it my life's mission to investigate in a scholarly manner the mentions of these people, as they have lived, and as they still live today, unseen, yet working in support of principles we and they hold dear."

Bainbridge continued, "Let me share with you incidents of which we have record, incidents that may hold clues to a culture secreted away perhaps in the depths of the Earth or in still-protected natural enclaves. Tales of a people who may have access to technologies and powers gradually being brought forth in ways so as not to overwhelm human culture, and guided so as to preserve and advance standards acceptable to the nature of Elvin society."

Asked by reporters to be more specific, Dr. Bainbridge said, "For our first recorded example of exposure to Elvin values, let us travel back in time to the year 6 AD.

In that year, Augustus Caesar reigned supreme at the center of man's known world, Rome.

Augustus Caesar had in that year sent Tiberius, future leader of the Empire, with an expeditionary force, to the North in search of lands to add to the territory over which the Roman eagle might soar.

Augustus' desire, as always, was to expand the Empire's reach, so that every Roman citizen, no matter how far or fast he might travel, would never suffer to gaze upon a horizon over which Rome's legions had no command.

In the autumn of AD 6, Tiberius' force was camped on the southwest bank of a concourse which would in future times be named the Elbe (Elf Woman). The Romans were approximately 200 kilometers south of the North Sea. (As we know, the 1175 kilometer Elbe has its source in the highlands of what we today refer to as southern Poland. Its flow then proceeds south and west, being joined along the way by sister tributaries, including the Havel and the Ohre. Finally, the Elbe runs sharply northwest to join the dark waters of the North Sea.)

In Tiberius' own journal we read, "The area was rich in forest, fish and game; but also for the past two days, a region eerily quiet, almost as if nature itself were awaiting someone to utter a command."

On the third day of their encampment, the dawn of which Tiberius had planned to move across the Elbe, having refreshed his force with food and much needed rest, without warning, a clarion from the northeastern shore of the Elbe at that location was heard by several legionnaires.

Peering through the morning mists, four Roman centurions spied a small, but royally attired figure, standing easily upon a craft fashioned of a hollowed log. The figure was perhaps thirty meters from the centurions, and, contrary to the laws of nature, seemed, despite the river's flow, to remain in a fixed position upon the water.

The apparition was dressed in green and brown clothing with a cape of brilliant scarlet, the precise hue of many of the surrounding autumn leaves.

One of the centurions shouted to the visitor, inquiring whether he was friend or foe. He ordered his scorpio bearing soldiers to stand fast, to lower their bows; and to await further command.

All listened intently for a response from the unexpected guest.

In a steady, strong voice, a deep sound, one to be anticipated of a much larger man, the figure announced, "I would speak with the leader of your force."

Although the language of the visitor was foreign to the Romans, they understood plainly what was being said. This amazed and chilled the most battle-hardened warriors among them.

Hearing this request, however, the command centurion sent a messenger, with all haste, to the large white four-sided tent-like enclosure situated three hundred paces hence upon a rise. This was the field command headquarters of Tiberius.

Tiberius, arriving upon the scene, was amazed at what he saw. In addition to the kingly figure, there were clearly visible now several hundred of his kinsmen on the far bank, intently observing the proceedings.

Without hesitation, Tiberius asked the apparition who he was, and what his mission might be.

Having been thus addressed, the regal being announced, "My name is Celtric. I am king of the Elbe Forest. I wish only to determine if you are spirit or flesh; of the light or of the darkness. I wish only to come ashore in safety, touch your hand, and look upon the light of your eyes."

Tiberius, despite the protests of several of his personal guard, immediately granted the request.

The warrior proceeded to drift toward the shore, and upon landing, approached Tiberius.

Celtric looked upon Tiberius, and Tiberius in his turn gazed upon the most unusual personage he had ever encountered.

Celtric, leader of the Elves, as described by Tiberius in subsequent writings, was "perhaps the height of the back of a small pony. He possessed a broad chest, clearly that of a warrior, and his eyes were of a hazel color, reminding me of an autumn's dawn. Celtric's face was regal, with balanced features, straight prominent nose, and hair the color of October hay, but with a fine sheen which reflected the sun's light in strange and unusual ways. It was almost," Tiberius went on, "...as if, even standing very near to Celtric on an autumn's afternoon within a wood, it would be difficult to see his outline for the colors of his body, hair and garments matched so closely those offerings of nature in that clime and in that place."

Upon ascertaining that Tiberius was indeed a man, the Elf asked Tiberius what was his heart's desire.

Tiberius shared with his guest the command of Augustus to discover additional lands for the Empire.

The Elf king then told Tiberius that so long as the Empire was just, they, the dwellers of the Elbe Forest, welcomed new friends.

With that, the Elf king re-entered his craft and returned to the multitudes awaiting him.

Once safely with his warriors, the Elves seemed to Tiberius to simply melt into the forest. Never again did Roman soldier see or hear of the Elves during the reign of Augustus.

In a later time, when Roman rule became sore in that land, history tells us that two Roman legions were decimated by warriors generally fitting Tiberius' description of the elves, appearing at "inconvenient times" from those very woods. Their arrows were true in an almost otherworldly way. To be struck by an Elvin arrow was almost certainly "....to suffer an injury most extreme."

Therefore," said Dr. Bainbridge, "I hope you now realize the importance of the investigation I am about to undertake."

The reporters present, however, were not fully satisfied. They pressed Dr. Bainbridge for one more instance.

Dr. Bainbridge responded, "Very well. However, for the present, this will be the last.

Let us turn our attention to the year 800 AD.

In that year, what is now southern England was under attack from a group of warriors calling themselves Warriors of the Norse.

None of the inhabitants of the region under attack were safe in their homes. Children were stolen from the land, and pressed into various forms of slavery at sea.

After several months of travesty against the people of the south, suddenly, from the marshes of Kent to the south-east, appeared one Alfred with a large number of bowmen.

Once again we have reference to the diminutive size of this force, and the brutal accuracy of their arrows.

The conflict was so sore for the Warriors of the Norse that they retreated northward, finally being isolated by Alfred's forces in what is today Scotland.

For the next two hundred years, the Warriors of the Norse and their descendants were left in peace, so long as they did not venture south into the lands which were under the protection of Alfred, now known as 'the Great.' (Alfred, translated, simply means 'Elvin Counsel.')"

Dr. Bainbridge concluded the interview by saying. "So there you have a short history which, because of my schedule, must be concluded this very moment, I'm afraid. There are many more events of which I am aware, and, in time, I will divulge. But, for now, I must be on my way."

With that, ToysPeriod concludes the first installment of its Tribute to the Elves. Next time, we will perhaps have more information to share from Dr. Bainbridge.

Perhaps we can convince Dr. Bainbridge to discuss the Elvin tradition as it has been portrayed in literature, and to tell us how closely authors such a J.R.R. Tolkien have come to describing the historical structure of Elvin society.

In the meantime, during the holiday season, when we speak of Elves, for instance, at the North Pole, we suspect the Elves, in addition to helping Santa construct toys, are also guarding the valuables whose true worth is reflected in the eyes of many an eager child throughout the world.

Friday, 10:48 am | December 25th, 2009

Comments

Danny on Sunday, 4:12 am | February 14th, 2010

When mankind stop using their hearts as weapons instead of gifts they will find what they are looking for. I miss Evendarr. It is so lonely at times, so hurtfully still with just edges of memory , yet full longing and awareness for the magic that you are so apart of and yet so torn away from it for the greater goodness, the extreme restlessness realizing that somehow soon, you will be swept back home and hugged forever and then at last you will be home.....the most bittersweet of it all is when you are found on this world , so far from home, which is insanely close, being hugged so tightly that it kisses your soul by magic and love in the arms of a little boy on a hot summer day9