The Boy, The Wizard and the Tree

     The Boy, The Wizard and the Tree

Suzanne Marsh

Morden, his long gray cloak flowing in the breeze, walked quietly through the forest toward the village of Tippen. It had been many years since the last time Morden had set foot in the village. He harrumphed to himself as the village came into his view. He hoped this trip would be as fulfilling as the last one. He remembered the small glade where he had first stumbled across Tim, a boy the, a

wizard now. He was proud of Tim; he was proud of all the young boys he had taught over these past one hundred and twenty-five years. He was beginning to feel his age as he trod onward. Patience, he told himself as the small glade appeared in the distance. The glade would offer him protection from the elements as he sought out a young boy, who was wizard material.

Tom sat silently on the edge of a downed limb, as Morden approached. He thought about the old man with a staff, maybe he was a shepherd, after all they did carry staff’s. No, somehow that did not seem correct to Tom, he waited and watched as Morden approached:

“Hello, boy, is there a spring somewhere close by here?”

“Yes, sir, just over the hill there. If you would like I can take you there, it is on my way home.”

“That would be delightful, thank you boy.”

Tom, began to climb up the hill as Morden, fumbled along attempting to keep pace with the boy. They reached the apex of the hill when Morden saw the spring, he remembered it now. His memory was failing or so he thought. Tom, continued on his way home:

“Sir, if you are here tomorrow, I hope to see you.”

“Thank you boy, I will be here, I have business in the village.”

Tom, strode toward his home, a small stone cottage in the middle of Tippin Village. He was an orphan boy. The villagers had helped him to build the cottage, Tom wanted more than the cottage, although he was not exactly sure of what he really wanted. He hoped some magical being would show him the way to what he was supposed to be. He knew from the village folks that wizards and fairies roamed the forest. Maybe one of them could help him.

Morden, could feel the presences of the boy Tom, he then knew he would befriend him and help him to be the greatest wizard of all time. ‘The prophecy of Alcwyn, is about to come true. I have found a boy who will the greatest wizard of all time’ Morden thought.

Tom, was seated in the hollow of a tree, in the small glade where Morden had seen him the previous day. He strode toward Tom, with his staff in hand:

“Boy, you are here once again, what may I do for you?”

“I want to be a wizard. Can I show you something I can do?”

“Go ahead boy.”

Tom sat quietly for several moments then another tree appeared next to Morden. Morden, was unable to grasp a boy so young with that type of power. Tom, would be his greatest triumph, he would be the greatest wizard of all time. Morden, smiled at the boy:

“Boy, do you have any family?”

“No, sir, I am an orphan.”

“Good, very good. How would you like to live with me?”

“I would like that very much sir.”

Morden, waved his wand, dressing the boy in robes befitting a wizard. Together they flew to the Castle of Mogador. Mogador greeted them with a surprise, a meal and a room in the castle. Later that evening Mogador, sent for Morden:

“Morden, the boy, is he strong, are his senses keen?”

“Mogardor, he will be our most brilliant student wizard. He cloned a tree for me when we

spoke. We must proceed to teach him how to control the elements and himself.”

Mogador, agreed completely with the assessment the Morden gave him. Morden then returned to the room he would share with Tom as the training began. Tom was already asleep when Morden returned.

Morning broke, with gray skies, damp and cold. The first thing Tom learned that morning was that he could adjust the weather, which he did. Sunshine was so much better than glumness. Morden, was pleased with how quickly Tom was learning. Later that day Morden discovered his staff missing; think perhaps Tom was experimenting with it he flew over to the other side of the room:

“Tom, where is my staff? Are you using it?”

“No, sir. When was the last time you saw it?”

“I believe when you gave me shelter from the rain with the tree.”

“Maybe that is where you left it. I can look and see. Go ahead boy.”

Tom, stare steadily ahead, then he located the staff:

“Morden, your staff is behind the a wooden box in what appears to be the hollowed tree

where I sat when I first met you.”

“Boy, will you fly with me to capture the staff before it falls into the wrong hands?”

“Yes, we can go now.”

Morden, was pleased that his mentoring was paying off so quickly. They flew to where the staff was, then returned to the castle. Several days later a tournament was to beheld to honor the King. Morden, hoped that the small homage they were to pay would please the King. They had worked hard to find the perfect horse in the entire kingdom. Just as they were to present the horse to the king, the animal galloped away. Tom, quickly dispatched the illusion of the horse while Mogador and Morden went after the real one. Once the two wizards returned with the horse in tow, the King was pleased in deed. He was jovial by nature, enjoying the gifts of his subjects.

Later that evening, after drink and song, the wizards of Mogador decided it was time to move the castle back to where it belong. In a swirl of smoke, the king sound asleep in his bed, the entire castle was moved back to a small glade. When the king awoke the next morning, he was surprised to see the glade, not the mountains where the castle had been the night before; he was amused with the wizards.

Tom, chortled as the three wizards watched the king staring with a twinkle I his eye, his castle returned to him.