The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (6 page)

BOOK: The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3]
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Sle'nel’ went to the High Queen. She spoke so softly that San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ could barely hear her, “Hold me."

While Sam, Meera, Caitha and all the others went with the Spirits of the Valley into their small town, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ held firmly onto her Elfin Princess, trying to give her whatever comfort she could. Sam watched the embrace and saw that Jandra was saddened by something, but knew not what. But she knew well the pains of jealousy that embraced her fully as she looked upon the tender moment.

Had it not been for my own stupidity, I would now be holding onto her. But what of this about being forced to connect with her? If I know this to be as truth, why do I yet feel this desire to make her mine?

The High Queen held her closely, “Share your thoughts with Me, My Love."

Sle'nel’ shook her head, “The only stability in my life be you, my Queen. You are always there to save me. Please never leave me. I am already alone in this realm. I couldn't take further loneliness."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ remained silent, hoping that Sle'nel’ could let out some of her thoughts.

"I am most confused and saddened. I have learned that my Birth-Mother lives, but that the moment I am to meet her, she will die. Yet, she be the only one left of me."

She knew that Sle'nel’ was dealing with anger over her loss, just now learning of it, “It be not fair, my Queen, to gain, but to lose so quickly as this. I know not what she is even like, yet my heart breaks. IT BE NOT FAIR! The Spirits of the Falls did this to me. To us. To my Birth-Mother. They should die, and not her."

Sle'nel’ had moved apart from The High Queen, ranting, “They did this to me. To my Birth-Mother. They stole me from her. They stole my life from me! The old sorcerer should have let you kill the Old One. Look, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. See what they have done? And now I am supposed to restore the long-prior Elves back to The Realm."

The High Queen took hold of Sle'nel’ and held her close while Sle'nel’ beat upon her shoulders. While she listened to her, one of Sle'nel's statements came roaring into her thoughts,
I am to restore the Elves to The Realm.

She held Sle'nel’ closely, allowing her to do as needed, while now struggling with her own thoughts,
It is truth, then. This is indeed one of My sacred vows. I am to restore the Elves to The Realm, and here before Me, in My arms, stands the key. Why did they not tell Me of such?

"Why me? Why is there this much evil? What have I done to deserve such as this? Why my Birth-Mother? Why all my kind? Why is there such evil as to lose all the Elves, my Queen? ALL OF THEM?"

Sle'nel’ quit beating upon San'lr'in'thel'ineln', and was now just crying. Desperately crying. Ann'wn looked upon her sadly, grateful that The High Queen could help. It was a sad thing to see an Elf cry.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ held her firmly until she felt the crying lessen. She gently rubbed Sle'nel's back, trying to comfort her. She knew that Sle'nel’ had seen the horrors and evils of The Realm through the Sorrows of the Stones, but also knew that this was a more personal moment, and one that Sle'nel’ would have to move through in her own fashion.

After some long moments, she heard Sle'nel’ speak softly to her, “What kind of Elf am I that has this much anger in her? I am but an impostor, as no Elfin Faiere would know this kind of rage and wish for this sort of evil upon others."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ silently welcomed Sle'nel’ back to her. She took hold of her shoulders, moving her back a bit, then, moving her fingers to under her chin, made Sle'nel’ raise her head. The High Queen looked into her eyes, and as was her way, spoke slowly and softly, “The best kind of Elfin Faiere, My Love. It wasn't that they had no such feelings, it was only that they never acted upon them."

She heard Sle'nel’ sigh, then said, “We can wait for yet another turn, My Love. There is no hurry upon this meeting. The Spirit Mothers have not yet removed her from her deep sleep."

Sle'nel’ shook her head, “Is it fair that I must carry the Sorrows of the Stones within me, and then place this upon it also? My heart is not big enough for such."

She smiled softly, “Then My heart will step in for you, My Bright Star. My heart has long been unused, so now has room in which to bear your burdens as well."

Sle'nel’ stepped back into The High Queen's shoulder, looking to yet again be embraced. The High Queen did so, knowing that Sle'nel’ was facing what she must now do. After a few more moments, Sle'nel’ breathed in deeply, then took The High Queen's arm and intertwined it into her own, and began walking toward what she must face. Ann'wn silently followed, wishing she could help remove this burden from the last of the Elfin Faeries.

"Are you able to recall, My Love, what wonderful fighters the Elfin Faeries were?"

"They fought? I thought they were peaceful, only."

"A wise Elfin princess once told Me that peace is a hard-fought battle."

She saw Sle'nel’ smile slightly, and was gladdened by it. Sle'nel’ responded, “She be an imposter only, my Queen. Beware of her knowledge, as she is ignorant in this realm."

Without realizing it, Sle'nel’ did indeed know where she was leading them. She wound their way through the town, heading them directly to her Birth-Mother's room.

Caitha was waiting for her as they arrived, “I know not how to feel, M'Love. I am happy for you in that you now meet your Birth-Mother, but I am so deeply saddened for you as well."

Caitha was crying, as was her usual whenever anything unhappy occurred. She held out her hand and Sle'nel’ took it, smiling softly at Caitha, listening to her, “I know not even what to call you anymore. My poor Jandra. So much has happened to you. This be not fair. Not fair at all. I wish we could but all go back into the prior and be as we were."

Sle'nel’ nodded slightly, “Life did seem but more simple then. But we have our memories of it, and we have to cherish those. I am grateful you are here now, though. But you be correct, Caitha. Our lives were smaller and simpler in Woden. I will ever fondly remember them."

Meera placed her arm around Caitha, trying to comfort her, but looked at Sle'nel', “I am truly sorry for all this, Second."

Sle'nel’ let go of Caitha's hand, moving it to touch Meera's cheek, “You yet have much to teach me, Meera. My Queen just informed me that the Elfin Faeries were some of the best fighters."

Sam looked sadly upon Sle'nel', shaking her head, “I know not what to say, Jandra. It seems all this began when I but betrayed you. The sad part is, though, that it meant nothing to me then and means nothing to me now. It was just a selfish, stupid act. From one single moment, an impossibility of unleashed change occurred."

Sle'nel’ gently placed both her hands upon Sam's face, “Sam. You need to let this go now. Our paths were separating as Sele’ was conceived, and you know this as truth. I almost left you then. The Realm changed because of her birth, as did our paths."

Sam let a tear fall upon her cheek, “You speak truly, Jandra, but it makes it no easier for the knowing of it."

Sam gave Sle'nel’ a quick embrace, then let her go. The High Wizard Sorcerer came up to Sle'nel', “I was with you when you were born, and know your Birth-Mother. May I enter with you?"

Sle'nel’ nodded, understanding the need, “Of course, High Wizard Sorcerer."

Ann'wn came up to Sle'nel'. She said nothing, but placed her hand upon Sle'nel's shoulder, locked eyes with her, then walked away. In a strange sense, Sle'nel’ appreciated that more than any words that had yet been spoken to her by the others.

She looked to her queen, “Come with me?"

"If that be your desire."

"It is."

The Most Honored Spirit Mother came to Sle'nel',
Are you ready, my daughter?

Sle'nel’ nodded, following her into the room. The High Queen and the High Wizard Sorcerer followed. Entering the room, Sle'nel’ saw her Birth-Mother lying serenely before her. She was older than Sle'nel’ had thought, but beautiful, beyond beautiful, even in such old age.

"She looks so peaceful."

The Most Honored One spoke to Sle'nel',
We will begin waking her, Daughter, but it will take a moment.

The old sorcerer looked at Sle'nel', “She lived an Elfin life, even though she wasn't of them. They rewarded her by letting her live among them until you were born, then stayed here, protected, the remainder of her life."

Sle'nel’ looked upon her Birth-Mother, trying to recall the memories of her. Her memories were vague, but because of the Spirits of the Valley, at least she had some memories of her Birth-Mother. She was old now, and almost beyond recognition, given the cycles that occurred since their last moments together. Sle'nel’ knelt down beside the bed, wanting to be close to her. Her heart was breaking, but she willed herself to be strong. The High Queen placed her hand upon Sle'nel's shoulder and sent her thoughts,
I am here for you, My Elfin Love.

After many long moments of the Spirits of the Valley waking her, Sle'nel's Birth-Mother finally awoke. She opened her eyes slowly, as if they were heavy. She looked around the room, seeing the High Wizard Sorcerer before her.

In the softest and most aged of voices, she said, “Old Sorcerer. You come."

The High Wizard Sorcerer knelt before her, “My old friend."

"These must be my last moments then."

She looked at Sle'nel', squinting her old eyes to see better. She studied her, slowly, carefully, for a long moment. Her eyes began to twinkle, tears falling from them.

A smile slowly washed over her face as the recognition dawned on her, “They have finally found you, my Sle'nel'. And you are fully grown."

Sle'nel’ nodded, crying silently, tears falling from her eyes, softly replying, “Birth-Mother."

The old woman worked at raising her aged arm, moving her hand to Sle'nel's cheek, touching it with the long memories of prior that they held, “Sle'nel'."

Sle'nel’ placed her hand upon her Birth-Mother's hand, “Yes. I return."

"Stand, so that I might see you."

Sle'nel’ stood, staring down upon her Birth-Mother. Her Birth-Mother looked upon her, focusing, studying her, staring at her, “You look like your Mother. I never had such beauty as this."

Sle'nel’ wasn't even aware that she spoke, but asked, “What was she like?"

The old woman smiled at the memory of her, resting her arm back down on the bed, “Like no other. She was the most beautiful and the kindest of all, across all the lands. I have so missed her. There be no love such as the love of an Elfin Faerie. It was the gentlest love in all that exists. I was lucky to have such."

She looked at Sle'nel’ again, “You look as she did when we first came together. You greatly remind me of her. I am glad for this. Someone should remain of her. Her worth will long be stated, but you know not of this, do you, my daughter?"

She rested a bit, then looked at The High Queen, “Be this your lover, standing beside you?"

Sle'nel’ looked at San'lr'in'thel'ineln', “Yes. She is my love. My great love."

"Come to me, my Birth-daughter's love. Tell me of you."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ bent down so that the old woman could see her. She let Sle'nel’ respond for her, “She is San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. High Queen of The Realm."

The old woman nodded, touching her face, “Yes. I know of you. These old Spirit friends of mine have told me of you. And Sle'nel's Mother spoke of you highly. She knew that you were to become a great, great High Queen."

The High Queen frowned slightly at the words, beginning to wonder as to who Sle'nel's Elfin mother might have been,
Her mother could not be ... but, no, surely this could not be so.
She frowned, thinking,
Yet she must be. Her mother must be ...
She let her thoughts remain quietly unspoken as Sle'nel's Birth-Mother continued, “You have many great powers within you, but are you worthy of an Elfin Faiere's love, High Queen?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ smiled gently upon the old woman, “I cannot come close to being worthy of such, but I will try."

The old woman nodded, knowingly, “Yes. I understand. It was all I could do as well. You are the lucky one, though. Treat her well."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ didn't wish to take up anymore of the old woman and Sle'nel's few remaining moments, so just smiled and stepped back. As she waited, she looked quietly upon Sle'nel’ while trying to recall her mother's appearance,
Most surely, Sle'nel's mother must have been ...
She let the thought pass as another thought emerged, ...
but that would mean that the young child with her upon that turn was ...
Her eyes widened as she looked at Sle'nel', but yet struggled to pull the memories together.
This would mean Sle'nel’ and I met, far long prior, when she was but a young child. But this could not be as so.

A few moments passed as the dying woman regained what few moments she had left, “Come closer, Birth-Daughter. Let me look upon you while I die."

Sle'nel’ knelt down close, feeling her Queen's hand upon her shoulder. Her Birth-Mother looked at her, breathing very shallowly, “You have much before you, Birth-Daughter. But know that your life was born into love. Never forget this, as it will end up being all you have. You are now alone in this realm, as you are the only Elfin Faerie left, but you are not truly alone, Sle'nel', as you have all the Elfin Faeries looking upon you. They wait for you, you know, to release them."

The High Queen frowned at the statement,
They wait for her? How could they be waiting for her?

The Birth-Mother waited a few moments before continuing, regaining some strength, “It was a hard thing to give up a Birth-daughter such as you. I am sorry for what you will face. I am glad that I will not know of it, as I would only worry over you. Face your life fully, Sle'nel', as you are of the greatest line of all. And remember your Mother. Of all there were, she was the best of them all. When she died, so did my heart. When she died, so did my realm. I truly deserved her not. Her love was the most amazing moment of all there is to know. Come, it is the moment for me to give you all of our memories, abilities and skills. These are a gift to you from your Mother and me, and are the reason I asked these Spirit Mothers to hold my life until they found you. And you will need them as you re-open El'fs'nd'lle."

BOOK: The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3]
3.33Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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