The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (8 page)

"Your lover, my Queen. I am glad she is here and no longer of Woden. The Realm needs such as her. Her and the Meera Warrior Woman. Their qualities are truly of worth."

"I also think this as so. I have sensed this greatness you speak of in the Woden Warrior Woman. We need to enlist her somehow, but My sister has need of such as her, as I have of you. So I have relented from bringing her into our Valley. Perhaps I can find a way."

They spent many moments in silence, then The High Queen asked, “Tell Me, Ann'wn. Why have you never loved?"

"I have, my Queen. Twice. It is not meant for the likes of me. A true warrior loves only their Queen."

The High Queen laughed, “Poor Ann'wn. To love only Me and never find its fulfillment. Who were these two?"

"I speak not of them, my Queen."

The High Queen studied Ann'wn for a moment, then surprised, she said, “Me, Ann'wn?"

Not surprised that The High Queen had sensed into her mind, knowing it The High Queen's right, she responded, “It is a usual occurrence. Even the warrior Meera has done the same. We spoke briefly of this."

The High Queen was surprised, never having thought that any other had loved her, or even desired her. She felt somewhat saddened that Ann'wn had to face this love alone.

"Perhaps, My Force Leader, you will find someone worthy of you."

While they spoke, the Spirits of the Valley delivered food to them. They continued their quiet morn as they sat together, eating.

"My Queen? Why is it that our Elfin Faiere commands such love? Whenever I look upon her, my heart tries to do everything I can for her. I have never seen such as this. Even the Dungaras loved her."

The High Queen laughed softly again, “And I thought I fell in love with her on My own. I stole her not so much as her Elfin Faiere blood mesmerized Me."

"All of us, my Queen."

"And I think we will all be the better for it."

Sle'nel’ had risen and placed one of the bed covers around her thin undershirt and pants. She walked out to the porch where she heard the voices.

As she opened the door, she said, “And they talk about me behind my back as I sleep. I should never leave them alone."

Gladdened to hear her voice, The High Queen laughed and rose. Ann'wn knelt and bowed, but Sle'nel’ made her to rise by pulling strongly up on her shoulder. She went to her Queen touching her hand to her cheek, “My Queen. Thank you."

She turned to Ann'wn, smiling, “Kneel to your Queen, Ann'wn, not me. I be no queen."

Ann'wn's heart softened upon seeing the smile, “But, my Princess. I must. It is—"

Sle'nel’ looked at The High Queen, standing close to her, “If I beat her senseless, will she halt?"

Both laughed, but Ann'wn responded, “No, my Elfin Princess. But if and when you beat me in swordplay, then I shall do as you bid."

"I am ready. Where is a sword?"

"I will return in a moment, my Princess."

Ann'wn left to retrieve the sword. Sle'nel’ looked at her Queen, touching her face gently, “Thank you for prior turn. While my heart broke, your strength and presence were always felt. You save me yet again."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ smiled, “It was noth—"

Sle'nel’ wrapped her cover around the both of them as she moved her arms around her Queen's neck, bringing her Queen to her. She kissed her for a long moment. Neither of them moved the kiss further, enjoying the closeness of the moment. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ moved her hands to Sle'nel's breasts, holding them firmly. They separated briefly, then Sle'nel’ kissed her again, more passionately, more consuming, needing to be close. The High Queen placed her arms around her and moaned at the intense feeling. They remained tightly embraced in the kiss until Ann'wn's return. Upon hearing her, Sle'nel’ looked at her Queen sleepily with a knowing smile, but with sadness yet remaining in her golden, glowing eyes.

She began to smile more fully, looking only at her Queen, yet embracing her, but speaking to Ann'wn, “Are you ready to lose, Ann'wn? You know I am part Elf, and they are well noted with the sword."

The High Queen smiled back at her, mouthing the words, “I love you."

Sle'nel’ gave her Queen a quick, stolen full kiss, then threw the cover off of them, “Prepare, Ann'wn! The Elf is upon you."

Clothed in only her pants and the most see-through of shirts, almost fully unlaced, she placed one hand on the railing, jumped over it easily, grabbed her sword and circled around Ann'wn, laughing. The High Queen watched, fully amused, loving Sle'nel's wildly uncombed hair and her entire bearing. She watched as her Sle'nel’ was turning into the Elfin Faiere The Realm long missed, complete with their often playful qualities. The memories and powers given to Sle'nel’ prior by her Birth-Mother were already awakening. Ann'wn was unprepared for her playfulness, but attacked as she was allowed. Sle'nel’ danced around lightheartedly, now with fully-honed Elfin sword skills.

Ann'wn didn't know this swordplayer, “These skills, my Princess. You used them not during our prior swordplay."

Sle'nel’ laughed, moving her sword against Ann'wn, “I learned them most recently.” She lunged at Ann'wn, making her to move back. Sle'nel’ laughed again, “Say ... prior turn only?” She laughed again, moving around gracefully like only the Elfin Faeries could do.

Meera came running with sword in-hand, hearing fighting.

She suddenly halted, seeing Sle'nel’ barely clothed, fighting against Ann'wn. She watched, completely in awe of Sle'nel's sword ability. She re-sheathed her sword and enjoyed the scene.

"Don't just stand there, Useless One. Help me. She is more than I can handle."

Ann'wn needed Meera's help, as Sle'nel's new skills were truly magnificent. Sle'nel’ laughed, “You have not lived until you fight against an Elf. Go ahead Meera. Join us."

Sle'nel’ looked toward her Queen, “What say you, my Queen? Be these more fair odds? If I win against the two of them, then Ann'wn cannot bow to me again?"

The High Queen smiled back at her, seeing her become the Elf she had so long been denied. The High Queen was truly enjoying the moment. She laughed, “No. I don't, My Love. Perhaps I should help them as well?"

Sle'nel’ laughed in return, “Three against one Elf? No. Yet not correct. Where be Sam? That would even the odds a bit better, I think."

The High Queen had no sword, so just gladly watched as Sle'nel’ played with both Meera and Ann'wn, dancing around their skills, showing no tiredness or strain throughout the swordplay. Sam finally walked over, wondering what the commotion was about. She saw Sle'nel's sword skills and was impressed. She had never seen Meera so strained as this, even given that Ann'wn was fighting with her against Sle'nel'.

She stood next to her sister, saying to Meera, “You have grown weak in your old cycles, my Friend."

Meera halted briefly, panting, looking at Sam, “A lot of help you are. Where be your sword?"

Ann'wn turned to Sam, “Your turn, Highest. We are exhausted and she is not even yet tired."

Ann'wn tossed her sword to Sam. She caught it gracefully, examined it a moment, and decided to enter the play. She moved around Sle'nel', encircling her between Meera and herself. Sle'nel’ was yet laughing, making them come after her, making them work together to win.

As they moved to corner her, she looked at her Queen, “My Queen. I am hungry. Toss me a roll. I might as well eat while I wait for them to lose."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed. Ann'wn was now standing beside her, “How did she come into this ability, my Queen?"

While San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ watched Sle'nel’ tire out Sam and Meera, she noticed a familiarity in Sle'nel's sword-play. She wondered about the memory, frustrated in not being able to recall the moment.

Her sword skills remind Me of another. But whose?

She kept watching Sle'nel's new Elfin movements, but finally responded to Ann'wn's question, “As her Birth-Mother died, she gave her memories to our sprightly Elf. My guess is that within some of the memories were powers from her Elfin Mother. She made you look like a first-moment sword user, My Ann'wn."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was trying to tease Ann'wn back into the swordplay. It worked, “My Queen. I take that as a challenge.” She picked up another sword.

"Have you another?"

Ann'wn handed The High Queen yet another sword, and The High Queen walked down to join in the swordplay. As Meera and Ann'wn were now engaged against their Elf, Sam looked to her sister, “Care for a contest, my Queen?"

"I was just going to spar lightly with this sprightly Elf of ours."

"Afraid I might win?"

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, knowing well she had just been challenged. She nodded and prepared herself. She hadn't wanted to have any such contest with her sister, but could see it was now meant to be. She touched her sword to Sam's, and the contest began. Ann'wn, Meera and Sle'nel’ all halted so as to watch this battle of the wills.

The High Queen and Sam were fully engaged in the fight. While San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ had engaged Meera in swordplay, she hadn't shown her true abilities, wanting to see Meera's moves, only. After a few moments of fighting, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ had seen all she cared to see of her sister's fighting abilities. She focused upon her opponent's sword, no longer thinking of her sister, but only the sword she now fought against. She mentally blocked out all else around her, bringing up a few of her long unused abilities. She heard her long prior teacher's words to her,
Focus only on the sword, but keep your eyes on the one behind it.

She made a swift, close move from one direction, then within a blink, the same from another direction. Sam saw that she wasn't quick enough in return, when San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ suddenly made another quicker move, but on this moment, much stronger, easily knocking Sam's sword from her. The fight had been swift and stunning. Meera couldn't believe the skill she had just seen from this so great of a queen.

Sam laughed, remaining good-natured about it, placing her arm upon her sister's shoulder, “Well done, Sister. You fight well. I am most impressed."

Ann'wn bowed to her Queen, “My Queen. A contest?"

She didn't want any more contests, but saw the twinkle in Ann'wn's eyes. She knew she would pay for this later with her back, but bowed her head in acknowledgement. She took a moment to return her energies, then raised her sword to Ann'wn. Of all of them, Ann'wn was the only one that knew of The High Queen's former sword abilities. At one moment in all The Realm, The High Queen was the best swordswoman until the Mungardies had permanently injured her. But Ann'wn also knew that her skills and strong-will were yet there. What Ann'wn had never been able to learn from The High Queen was the identity of her teacher.

Meera was impressed. She saw that clearly, The High Queen had held back when she first sword danced with her. The High Queen's abilities were far better, with precision-like accuracy in her aim and movements. Even Ann'wn was taken by surprise at her ability. The contest lasted a short while only as The High Queen moved into her very aggressive movements of attack.

The High Queen used the contest to rid herself of her anger that she held deep within her. Her teacher had often told her to never fight with anger. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ often found herself ignoring the comment, especially given that she seldom had to fight anymore. As High Queen, she had developed much rage and an immense anger at the Spirits of the Falls, at herself, at The Realm for what it had done to Sle'nel', at all the evil within The Realm. It was at these moments that she also hurt her back more. When she followed her teacher's lessons, she was better controlled. But on this moment, she once again ignored her teacher's comments, fighting Ann'wn only to help release her rage.

After a few short moments only, The High Queen's blade hit Ann'wn's with such force that, even had this been an enemy of Ann'wn's, and had she been giving her greatest effort, she yet would have lost her sword to it.

Meera acknowledged her skills, “My Queen, you surprise me. You be the one who held back the eve of our contest. This I now see to be the truth of it."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ smiled at Meera, waving her hand as in dismissing the notion, but Meera wasn't about to give in, “I am due a fair contest then, my Queen."

She looked at Meera, “Perhaps another moment, Warrior Woman. I have been tired out from these two."

Meera continued to challenge her, “I think not, my Queen. I see well the rage you hold within you. That last swing would have undone any swordswoman. Any."

The High Queen studied her for a long moment. Without speaking, she sent her thoughts to the Warrior Woman,
What would be the bet, Warrior Woman, as I would need it to be worth My interest. And know that you cannot win this contest.

Narrowing her eyes Meera looked at her, seeing a true Warrior Woman before her,
What would you have, my Queen?

The unspoken response was instantaneous,
You. As My Warrior Woman. That and you take responsibility to ensure that My sister does what The Realm requires of her
.

And if you lose, what will I gain?

What would you like?

You to teach me your sword abilities. Personally.

"Done, Warrior Woman. It is a deal."

All the others had heard were The High Queen's final few words said aloud, but Sle'nel’ knew that some bargain between them had been agreed upon.

The High Queen bowed her head for a moment, feeling her back beginning to ache. She displaced the pain temporarily, knowing she would have to deal with it soon enough. Meera waited patiently, thinking it some ritual of The High Queen's. The High Queen reopened her eyes and raised her sword, touching the tip to Meera's, and the sword dance began.

The High Queen reached down into her depths of teachings as she had been taught, and anger, as she had been taught not to, drawing them to her. Using her rage of all The Realm's evils, she went instantly on the attack. Meera had no moments to study The High Queen's moves, finding herself fighting against wild and impossibly strong moves. The High Queen quickly saw that Meera's eyesight on her far left side was weak, seeing that Meera missed some of the moves there.