The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (87 page)

Sle'nel’ spoke to her, guessing that this wonderful beast wouldn't be able to understand her. In her own Elfin language, she said,
I am so frustrated, Great One.

The Great One spoke no words, but did as the Ancient Ones, providing her with the strength and wisdom of great eons, giving her the understanding that all worries and cares passed by like the clouds. When the Great One needed to place herself back into the deeper waters, Sle'nel’ gave her a final hug, then returned to the shoreline and sat upon the sand, thinking and studying her staff's spells.

The turn passed by midturn, the sun at her back, but Sle'nel’ yet sat, waiting for nothing, trying to think through her place in all The Realm, and her many questions in its regard. Her staff was at her side at all the moments now, but as hard as she wished it so, the staff offered her little in answering her questions. She thought the journey interesting, and enjoyed seeing the different parts of The Realm, but as much as the journey offered, it gave few moments in which she could think through her questions. As she sat looking out at the great sea's expanse, she wondered what the First One's had thought as they stood on this same spot so many cycles prior.

Uthrn came out to Ann'wn, relieving her for her midturn meal. Then Meera came out at late after-midturn, relieving Uthrn. Uthrn told Meera that she was going to send for The Healer, as The High Queen remained overly long into her meditations.

The Healer came up to Meera and nodded, “The High Queen must be troubled."

Meera nodded, “They both must be so."

"Have they been here since the morn?"

"They have. And not a word has passed between them, that we have heard."

"Has The High Queen moved at all?"

"No."

The Healer went up toward The High Queen quietly, not wishing to jolt her back into The Realm. She moved slowly up to her Queen, gently placing her hand on her Queen's head, trying to find where she was in her meditations. She could feel that her Queen had taken many moments to go through each of her meditations so that she could enter her tenth, a place that even The Healer couldn't go. A place she was blocked from. She removed her hand, worried. She knew well that The High Queen had only entered her tenth meditation upon two other occasions, only doing so when all else seemed impossible to her.

The tenth meditation opened a space that The Healer thought should be well avoided, a place that should be feared. And she also knew that the tenth meditation was always the most difficult from which to exit. But The Healer couldn't help.

She went to Meera and spoke softly, “I need the Young One."

Help Me. I cannot make this decision. And there is no one else in all The Realm who can do so.

You can make this decision, High Queen. You have been well prepared.

What if I am wrong in this?

Life is not so simple as this. Each decision opens many paths. And each will have its individual experiences. It is a journey only, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. You know this. You have just chosen to forget.

I am tired of the journey. I have done My duty for The Realm. I feel as if I have lived a thousand spans of life.

You can always join us at any of the moments. But it is your decision alone.

But I love the Elf, and couldn't leave her so sad as this.

Life will go on without you. You know this well.

Is it peaceful where you are?

Always. Always peaceful. There is no journey. There is only peace. Feel this peace of ours.

I like its feeling.

Aunt High Queen. Hear me.

Sele’ had entered into The High Queen's meditation, angering her.

Leave Me.

I need you. The Realm needs you.

Go away. Leave Me.

Being held by The Healer, Sele’ placed her hand on The High Queen's head, trying to draw her back into The Realm. Given who she was, Sele’ had the ability to enter the tenth meditation, and now did so.

Follow me, High Queen Allow not these long-prior spirits to capture you into their Realm.

You know nothing of this.

Your journey in The Realm is not yet complete, High Queen. There are many wonderful moments yet awaiting you. Me, for example. Your Elf for another. But your Elf is troubled, and has moved not from her spot.

The Elf is troubled?

Yes, my Queen.

In her mind, she sighed,
Goodbye our long-prior ones. Thank you for your wisdom.

Are you ready to return, my Queen?

Lead Me back, Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. I am overly tired to do this for Myself.

Sele’ led her Queen back slowly into her eighth meditation, then allowed The Healer to bring her back through the remainder of the meditations. As they neared the final moment, The Healer began to speak aloud to her, drawing her finally back into The Realm.

She opened her eyes, seeing The Healer.

"Do you hear me, my Queen?"

"Like a thunderous herd of running horses. You disrupted My meditations."

The Healer frowned at her, letting The High Queen know of her feelings, then said, “The tenth meditation, my Queen? Perhaps I was unsuccessful in removing the twist in your mind, Highness."

"The decisions just become more difficult, Healer. And The Realm is becoming more complicated. I am only one, in all of this."

The High Queen bent down to Sele', “Young One.” She placed her hand on Sele's head.

You should have not entered that space, Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. You are overly young.

No one should enter that space, my Queen, especially you.

It was an ability given to Me, in case it was needed

I was given this as well. But I also know not to go there. It is never needed, Highness.

It will compel you also, one turn, when the burden becomes overly heavy.

No, my Queen. It will not. I have you. And you now have me. We will help each other through these moments. I know you think me overly young, but my mind is one of many eons. It was a gift that was born in me. While I cannot yet sort all things out because of my lack of cycles, the knowledge is already there. I am here for you, my Queen. You are not alone in this burden.

I never wished this burden on anyone else, Young One. And you also will be alone upon one turn.

No, my Queen. We must never allow this again. It is up to us to ensure this, but never again will you have to be alone. Nor will I. We will see to it, my Queen. We will ensure that there is at least another born before you and I must die, so that none of us are ever alone, again. Vow this to me, my Queen. Vow that you will never again enter this space.

Vows can be broken, Young One. I broke a most solemn vow to save you.

Vow it to me anyway. Vow it to me, as I am the Supreme High Sovereign ruler.

You command it so, Young One? At such a young age, you now command me?
Sele's invoking of her own title amused The High Queen.

She wondered if she had overstepped her bounds,
Would it help if I did, my Queen?

San'lr'in’ laughed lightly, hugging Sele’ to her, “Then I vow it to you."

The High Queen rose and looked back down at her, “I need your body to grow, Young One, but your mind is already well past most. Grow more of your powers, as I am tired. And it is most difficult to take commands from such a body as this."

"Go to your Elf, my Queen. She needs you. And remember your vow to me."

San'lr'in’ began to walk down to the beach, but turned, “Young One? What color will be your hair when you reach your majority?'

"Red, my Queen. Like yours."

San'lr'in’ spoke softly, “I understand this not, Young One. Is there something I have not been told of in regard to you? The bond between us is strong, as if we are connected."

Sele’ giggled, “Perhaps, High Queen. Will you be attending the eve meal? I miss you."

San'lr'in’ stared at the little one that already stood so wisely in The Realm, wondering as to her true background. She shrugged, “I know not. I will try."

She felt tired, but went to her Elf, sitting down beside her. Sle'nel’ laid her head upon San'lr'in's lap.

Without thinking, San'lr'in’ ran her fingers through Sle'nel's hair, looking upon her beautiful face, “Tell Me your thoughts, My Desire. What troubles you so?"

Sle'nel’ looked up into her Queen's face, then looked away, “What do you think it is like to travel so far as these humans do, out there in all that emptiness?"

"I have been told that it is a journey, like any other part of life."

"A journey. Do you think they feel alone in their travels, so far from their home?"

"They must have moments of such feelings. Such a journey must have its moments of fear for them, as that is a common feeling in the humans."

"How do we know for certain that the Elves should return?"

"A moment of indecision on your part in this regard, My Desire? Perhaps you know not of the past of this realm. The ones who first lived upon this realm were Mystics, but Mystics of a much different past than yours, or mine. They were much more mystical than any of us, relying little on physical needs. They lived here, but truly only lived upon this realm, not in it as we do.

"The Elves were of their making, as the oldest of all Mystics were also the creators of all the other Mystics, including My kind. When they made the Elves, they placed them, like they did My kind, upon a realm where they could thrive, and the Elves did so. But eventually, the humans came to the same realm as the Elves. The humans believed not in Mystics of any sort, not understanding Mystic qualities. Since the only Mystics upon that particular realm were the Elves, this non-belief in Mystics killed off most the Elves, as you have been told. The earliest Mystics upon this realm were watchful of the Elves and saw what occurred, finally bringing them here, to a land of only Mystics. At that moment, it was vowed that the humans would never be allowed here. Not that they are bad, but their characteristics are such that it causes a plague upon the Mystics, such as the Elves, killing them.

"The Elves were brought here, as all the Mystics wanted it so. The Elves are a large part of the mystical whole, and contain parts that no other Mystic has. It is why the Elves are needed. No other Mystic understands the connection across all the parts of The Realm as do the Elves. They are the ones to teach us of the Ancient Ones, of the Sorrows of the Stones, of the animals, and so on. Without them, the remaining Mystics are as if we have our arms or our legs missing from us."

"So that is why The Realm wants no more of the humans. But can we not integrate them into our realm such as we have begun to do."

"We could do so ... for a while. It is not necessarily a matter of destroying these that now come, but of preventing large masses of them. Eventually, they must be halted if we wish to save the mystical life."

After a few silent moments, Sle'nel’ spoke again, “Do you think the Elves would welcome me as an Elf?"

San'lr'in’ thought about the true meaning of the question, then guessed as to it meaning, “Because you are a half-Elf, only? In truth?"

"In truth."

"You were planned by the Elves, My Desire. Only a half-Elf could survive so that they may return. So, in truth, it is already destined that you will be considered as great, among them, especially given your Elfin-Mother. In truth, My half-Elf, I would wager that you will become their Elfin Queen."

"Elfin Queen? But I am only half-Elf. This would be ridiculous. There are enough Queens in our union, already."

San'lr'in’ looked again at her beautiful face, touching it lightly, and laughing softly at Sle'nel's statement, “Perhaps, My Desire. We shall see."

Sle'nel’ looked up once again into her Queen's face and eyes, “What were you and Sele’ and The Healer speaking of?"

"What were you doing with the large sea creature?"

"It came to me."

"And they came to Me."

Sle'nel’ was feeling improved, as was her Queen. She rose from her Queen's lap, pushed her Queen lightly to the ground, and laid on top of her, “Now then. In truth. What were they doing?"

The High Queen laughed, “What? Like you can keep Me here if I tell you not?"

Sle'nel’ pinned her Queen's arms down to the ground, “Yes.” Then kissed her. Then kissed her neck, biting it gently, then kissed between her breasts. The High Queen moaned at the feeling.

"And perhaps you are correct."

Meera watched for a moment, then turned away from them, smiling.

After many moments, as the sun's set was occurring, Sle'nel’ sat up, rearranging her garments, “Look. The sky is a sky-blue pink this eve."

San'lr'in’ yet laid on the ground, resting from their intimate moment, well content, “It is you I would rather look at, My Desire."

Sle'nel’ began rearranging her Queen's garments, then began to pull her up, “Come. I am starving. You never feed me."

"We could have it arranged that food be brought here. Would you not rather remain here and observe the sun's set?"

"I want to see Sele'."

The High Queen rose, “Sle'nel', My Elf. What do you know of Sele's background?"

"That I am her Birth-Mother, and that Sam is her mother."

"Are you certain of this, with no question?"

Sle'nel’ looked surprised, “No. I know this not for certain. The Spirit Mothers said as such, and it was believed. I know that I most certainly gave her birth. Why do you ask?"

They began walking toward their eve meal, “It is not important.” She looked at Meera as they close to her, “Come, Warrior Woman. Walk back with us."

The High Queen's attendants tended to them quickly, preparing them for the eve meal, which was to be a more ceremonial eve than the eve prior. Meera had informed the High Priestess that they were finally arrived, so when San'lr'in’ and Sle'nel’ entered, the eve had already begun.

"I will ask not what took you so long."

San'lr'in’ just looked at her sister, but vowed to herself to remain patient, “I am sorry, My Sister. My meditations called to Me. I apologize for My lack of consideration."

"Hmmppphh! Your apology is barely sufficient, but it will do. Come. Let us begin the eve meal. You sit on the other end, with your Elf near you."