The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (24 page)

"You said that the Dungaras you just battled were waiting for you—that they knew you were traveling at that moment and would pass that location. Is that correct?"

The High Queen nodded, now even more curious.

"How is it that they knew you were going to be there? The guards found no signs of either a short or a long-term encampment."

The High Queen startled, knowing she had missed the obvious, “I should have thought of this myself. You catch Me unthinking and stupid."

Before The High Queen could answer, Mil'der'in responded, “I think you were overly busy with the Dungaras to yet put this together. It is only a guess, but why did the High Wizard Sorcerer depart alone? She may not be at fault, but someone must be."

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, “I trust you will manage this for Me."

Mil'der'in nodded, “The Spirit Mothers will need to be approached again."

"Give Me a report as you can. Discount not Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, but I think you most correct about the Spirit Mothers. I trust them not."

Their visit had been an extended one, but The High Queen had many affairs that needed attending. As usual, she had enjoyed her visit with her High Counselor, and had also tended to the most urgent needs of the Valley. When they completed their visit, The High Queen returned to her room, wanting to see Sle'nel'. She walked into the adjoining room only to find the bed empty. Wondering where Sle'nel’ was, she went to one of the guards outside the door.

"Where is Sle'nel'?

Upon seeing The High Queen, the guard knelt and bowed her head, “I know not, my Queen. I just came on duty."

Her panic instantly rose, “Get me Ann'wn and My Healer, quickly."

Within a few moments, both had appeared, “Highest? What is wrong?"

"Where is Sle'nel'?"

The Healer looked puzzled, “She was in her bed not some moments prior."

The High Queen looked at Ann'wn, but she only shook her head. The High Queen was most displeased, “I have My lover in the adjoining room, injured in battle, and now she is missing? What kind of protection is this? FIND HER!"

Ann'wn gave orders to the guards, calling for an all-out search. She gave them mere moments or threatened them with the worst of punishments. Many dozens of guards were instantly brought into the search, “We will find her quickly, my Queen. She couldn't have gone far."

The High Queen was becoming frantic, but hiding it, “Ann'wn."

"My Queen?"

"Find her."

Ann'wn looked at her queen, “I guarantee it, my Queen. Trust me."

Ann'wn had a good idea of where to find her, overhearing some of the conversation between her and The High Queen. She went into The High Queen's Gardens with one guard in tow, following the path she knew they had taken prior. She didn't think that Sle'nel’ had necessarily remembered it, but thought that she might have followed her instincts. After many moments of taking the path toward the lake, Ann'wn saw her sitting upon the bench. She turned to her guard, whispering, “Go inform The High Queen, and quickly so, that I have found her and that she is safe. I will bring her back when she is ready."

She watched her for a few moments, seeing only that Sle'nel’ gazed upon the lake. She went to the lakeside so that Sle'nel’ knew she was there. She crouched down at the water's edge, looking out to the beautiful view of the great mountains in the distance and the beautiful lake scene. She watched the birds upon the lake for some moments, just resting.

After a while, yet looking at the lake, she spoke to Sle'nel', “We were worried about you."

Sle'nel’ just looked at her, not wishing to speak to this strange woman.

"I am surprised that you were able to walk this far alone. Do your injuries not hurt? The distance is quite far. How did you know to come here?"

Again, Sle'nel’ just looked upon her, studying her.

"I thought that Elves liked to speak."

"How would I know?"

Ann'wn heard something in her voice that made her wonder. She looked at her, seeing that she had been crying, “What is wrong, Elf? Do you cry because you are in pain?"

She shook her head.

"I am considered an excellent listener, and as one who never tells a secret."

"I know you not."

Yet crouching, she turned slightly toward Sle'nel', “Ah, but you do. And well. Just a few turns prior I walked in upon you and The High Queen. I found myself in a most awkward position, and you laughed."

Sle'nel’ smiled shyly, “The High Queen gave me this image. It showed me that we are happy together, yet a memory comes to mind that tells me otherwise."

"Of you and The High Queen? You two are the happiest together I have ever seen."

She shook her head, “She betrayed me."

"WHAT? What memory is this? She has not! Tell me of this memory."

"I overhead my lover with another, in bed together."

"Tell me more of this memory."

"I left her. She now uses my loss of memory to gain me back."

"You left her? Never. You love her more than life."

"While I was with child."

It finally dawned upon Ann'wn, “Ah, now I know of what you speak of. This thing did happen to you, but it wasn't The High Queen. You were companions with another, and this indeed did occur. It occurred around the same moment in the forest, of what you spoke of with The High Queen. Would you like to hear of this story?"

"Be it the truth?"

The High Queen had received Ann'wn's message and had insisted on going to Sle'nel'. As she walked up to the forest just behind the seat in which Sle'nel’ sat, she waited, listening to the conversation that she didn't wish to interrupt.

"While I would lie, I lie only for The High Queen. But I need not in this case."

"Then it is enough. I have sensed this love in The High Queen, but my memories are becoming all intermingled. I can make little sense of them."

"Let me tell you of the story so that you may straighten out your mind."

Sle'nel’ nodded, and Ann'wn told her of what she knew of the story.

When Ann'wn finished, Sle'nel’ shook her head, “Why would this Woden Highest do this to me? Was I a bad companion?"

Ann'wn laughed, “No, not at all, at least from what I have seen of the way in which you treasure our most beloved Queen. The Highest betrayed you, most truly, but The High Queen tells me to have patience with her. She says that The Highest now grows into her role, and that she has been overly protected. I trust The High Queen's opinion, and hope she is correct on this."

"I was the companion of a highest, and now of a High Queen? Surely this is not truth. There in truth must be something wrong with me."

Ann'wn laughed loudly, “I think not, Elf. Judging from what I have seen myself, I would say that many would line up for you. In the ranks, the guards place bets on how many moments you and The High Queen have, well, uh, well ... you know."

Sle'nel’ ignored the statement, but The High Queen caught herself almost laughing, never having heard of such a thing. She turned and went back a ways, choosing to come up on them more noisily.

"Why would The High Queen love me?"

"All the Valley loves you. You are an Elfin Faerie. But The High Queen fell in love with you that moment in the forest, long prior to knowing you a Faerie Princess. I think you also fell in love with her at that moment. Meera tells me that your Highest never did say she loved you. She tells me that she thought the companionship was fine, but finally could see that it was only one way.

"The High Queen betrayed me not, then?

"Correct."

"The Highest betrayed me."

The High Queen came up at that moment, “You remember this, My Love?"

Sle'nel’ turned, looking upon The High Queen. She didn't answer. Ann'wn knelt, bowing her head, “My Queen."

"As you were, Ann'wn. I see you have found her. My Love, I am glad you are found. Do you now recall the gardens?"

"No. But somehow I knew to come here. They are most beautiful."

The High Queen looked upon her, “You look sad, My Desire. Are you feeling pain?"

"No. I think my sadness over. I was unaware I had a former lover and that she had betrayed me. I saw a memory of it, but thought it was you."

The High Queen laughed lightly, “Then you might consider speaking of these things, My Love, as you might confuse Me of wrong doing when I have not. What made you come here?"

"I knew not where else to go. Do I even have a home? I feel confused. My body tells me to love you, but my mind tells me you betrayed me. I recognize your smell and your voice, but cannot place your face. I know not what to trust in myself, and it feels so lonely. I am afraid of my thoughts."

"Did Ann'wn help?"

Sle'nel’ whispered, “She is humorous, and perhaps overly loyal to you. But she told me her version of the story between this Highest and me. Who is this Highest?"

"My sister."

Sle'nel’ groaned, “Oh, good. I was companion of a Highest, and now am the lover of her sister, a Queen. How twisted is this?"

The High Queen smiled, amused, “Described in this fashion, it does make one wonder.” She laughed, “Have you thought that your perspectives also be distorted?"

A memory returned to Sle'nel'. She mouthed the word, “Perspective."

The High Queen watched, intrigued, “What do you sense, My Love?"

"Perspective. You told me to look upon the stars, and then to think of an anthill. We were outside. Sleeping outside. We slept side by side."

"On our way to the Sorcerer Women of the Mountain."

A bird suddenly cried for its mate in the distance. Sle'nel’ turned her head to it, listening. In a moment, the mate returned the call. She searched her mind, “You and I have been here, prior."

"Yes. A little after you found out that The Highest betrayed you."

"You rescued me again."

"As you also said then."

Sle'nel’ shook her head, “I certainly hope my perspective is mixed up, as this story is a most twisted one. By the way, what did I call you, prior? I cannot recall."

The High Queen smiled, “You called Me by My titles. I asked you why and you said you hadn't yet landed upon the name you wished to call Me."

"You mean, my Queen and Highness?"

The High Queen shrugged, “It is so. It is most disconcerting, but it is up to you, only."

"Most twisted, indeed. Are you certain that you wish to love me? It would seem the most logical of moments to back out of this union. Why would your lover, one who is seemingly intimate with you, call you Queen? Am I as stupid as this?"

The High Queen laughed, “You do place a different slant on this reality, My Love. Perhaps it sounds most different than the moment itself. Perhaps you remove the background from the event."

The High Queen sat down, feeling tired as well as the pain from her injuries. Sle'nel’ looked down upon her, wishing for her memories to be returned. She bent down in front of her with great effort, “I came here because I remembered how much I loved you, but this memory became intertwined with my memory of this Highest's betrayal of me. I knew not where to turn and I was most frustrated. I am most sorry for causing you this worry."

The High Queen raised her hand to Sle'nel's cheek,
Feel My love
.

Sle'nel’ rose, finding another memory, “Who are the Sorrows?"

"They are part of your role in The Realm. They called to you and you became their keeper."

"You saved me from falling into them. I remember you calling to me. But that is all I see. My memories come only in pieces."

The High Queen nodded, growing weaker and more pained. She responded softly, with pain well displayed in her voice, “Have patience, My Love. They will return as they are ready."

She was turning pale from her pain, and Sle'nel’ saw this, “We should return to our room. My pain returns."

The High Queen searched Sle'nel's mind, sensing that she said this only to help The High Queen, “Mine, as well. I could use the rest, but it is a long way back."

Upon their return, The Healer checked all of their wounds, then sent Ann'wn to her own room, helped The High Queen into her bed, and Sle'nel’ into the other one. The High Queen lay in her own bed wishing she could be with Sle'nel', but would give Sle'nel’ the space she needed. It was now late eve and The High Queen wanted to return to the pattern of a normal turn, hoping to sleep through the eve.

She slept fitfully, as was her normal. Unknown to all except her Healer, The High Queen often experienced visions of the terrible events that occurred throughout The Realm. This eve, she dreamt of the battle they had just barely won. Her mind relived the event in painful detail. She saw each move she had made, seeing what she should have done instead. She had known since the battle that her skills were good, but not as they should be. Had they been better, Sle'nel’ and the others may had gone unharmed.

Twice, someone shook her slightly awake, “Shhhh.” She hadn't heard them, but torn from her torments, her sleep improved. She awoke in the early morn, unmoving, wishing to hold the pain off for a few more moments. She lay listening to the sounds of the morn outside her door, hearing very little. She heard someone breathing near her, thinking it to be her Healer or one of her attendants. She opened her eyes, yet somewhat sleepy.

Sle'nel’ watched as The High Queen re-entered The Realm from her eve's sleep. As The High Queen opened her eyes, she saw Sle'nel’ lying next to her in their bed, looking at her. It startled her, remembering that Sle'nel’ hadn't yet regained her memories, and remembering that she had left Sle'nel’ sleeping in the other room. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ just looked upon her, taking pleasure in having Sle'nel’ this close once again. Sle'nel’ put her hand on San'lr'in'thel'ineln's cheek, relishing in knowing the touch of this one's face. While she had few memories, she did remember some moments with her Queen.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ watched Sle'nel's shaking hand. She didn't know if Sle'nel’ was shaking from nervousness at being this close to her, or if it were from the pain of her wounds. She entered Sle'nel's mind for a brief moment, sensing her to be nervous as well as to be in some pain.

"Why do you shake so, My Desire?"