by D L Goddard
It had taken nearly more than they had been able to give, but Lirima really was gone. And so was Arahir. There was nothing to show he had ever been; except the spark that still burned brightly in Anya’s chest.
The Light took them from the charred room, burnt black until nothing was recognizable. They all found themselves in a lovely airy room with hot and cold drinks and light snacks. Comfortable chairs were everywhere. They sat, still dazed from the speed with which events had taken place and they were still trying to accept the loss of one loved both as a soul mate and friend.
Anya looked around at her new soul mates and her companions in the fight against Lirima.
“I have a promise to keep in the Light, but I won’t be long. I will return with our son my loves. Don’t fret, I will be fine.”
The Light whisked Anya away inside the sanctum. Anya had promised to place her Beast’s spark inside the Living Light to take care of the Light and Castle Barshael until Caranor had grown to take over from his Father. But removing the spark would take from her the only thing she had left of her beloved soul mate. Then, Arahir would truly have left her; she would have to come to terms with his death whether she wanted to or not. Anya wasn’t ready to lose her beloved Beast just yet.
While she watched her beautiful son sleeping peacefully, she stroked his precious face, smiling at his contentment, safe in the Light. Anya was struck anew just how much he looked like his wonderful Father. Anya lifted him from the cocoon bed the Light had created for him and held her baby boy gently. A bed appeared and she lay down, suddenly exhausted beyond belief; curled next to her son’s tiny body.
Anya suddenly felt her Beast’s life spark flare strongly and a wave of pure love washed over her. Overcome by grief Anya broke out in fresh tears and wept silently while her heart broke anew.
**********
Epilogue
Caranor stood communing with the Light; it was almost time. He had spent several days in the sanctum getting reacquainted with the Living Light and fine tuning their connection. His Fathers and Mother spent quite a bit of time with him here as he had gotten older. His Father Arahir, the Keeper before him, had wonderful memories to share with him. It wasn’t that Arahir was alive exactly, but because he was still inside the Light; his memories were able to be accessed right up until the point of his death. Caranor had reviewed his Father’s life many times, especially when the Keeper had met his Mother. This portion of their lives brought real joy to Caranor and real sorrow.
As the next Keeper, he had learned a great deal from Arahir on how the negotiations were run, how he had defended the Keeper’s peace and how to negotiate the endless quarreling leaders. It even had the secrets of the glorious blood roses. And now … Caranor was ready to make his own way. It was time for Arahir to return to Seren. She had spoken to the entire family as they were eating their evening meal in the castle. Seren had told them that Caranor was ready; he had learned everything he needed from his Father. It was time to return Arahir to his home.
It was a huge change for Caranor. Not only was Arahir’s comforting, loving presence returning to his home world, but the family would return as well. The family had stayed in the castle for the sake of the Light ensuring she was not left alone, and for their son who would need to know everything about Castle Barshael. Before Caranor was five years old, the little boy felt at home running around the castle as he was discovering every hidden bower and maze in her immense grounds. There wasn’t anywhere he hadn’t seen and every hidden nook and cranny that he hadn’t discovered. He was a constant joy and delight to the Living Light and she watched over him keeping him free from harm no matter where he was in the castle or in the vast grounds. His parents were able to relax knowing he would come to no harm and let the child have the freedom to explore he so desperately desired.
The castle made the family welcome and wanted, knowing they were trying to help her recover after the tragic loss of the Keeper. The Light had grieved terribly and Anya had spent over a month in the sanctum helping the Light remember and talk about all Arahir and the Light had accomplished together. Anya in turn had told the Light about her love for the Beast and how wonderful he was. In this way they helped each other accept their tragic loss and to move on with their lives. As she left the sanctum, Anya placed the life spark deep in the Light and the Living Light was comforted a great deal.
Anya found without the Beast’s life source inside her, she was finally able to fully give herself to her soul mates and their love for one another continued to grow. It was then that Anya understood why the Beast wanted her to remove his spark. With the Beast’s memories and final spark in her heart, she would never fully accept or finish grieving for her beloved Beast. He was too much in her life, constantly reminding Anya of all she had lost. But once she had placed him where he needed to be, Anya began to accept her loss and remember the good things they shared, but also the love she had with the twins. Anya became fully theirs for the very first time and the twins were truly happy for the very first time. Their life was bliss; Anya really was their soul mate unreservedly. It was everything they had ever dreamed it could be with the one woman who was their whole world.
The family had moved into the castle permanently with their son to ensure she was never alone without one of them always in residence. They loved being with the Light and were constantly delighted by new things the Light created just for them. The constantly growing nursery that changed as Caranor grew was a real delight to the parents and the family spent many happy hours playing with their son helping him to constantly push himself and learn new things. Anything that was required was given and the Light was constantly creating special things for them to show how much she appreciated their loving care.
They could not have the same relationship with her that the Keeper had, but until Caranor grew, one of them would always carry out the Keeper’s duties to the leaders of the other worlds. They always took Caranor with them wherever they went and Caranor seemed to absorb everything he saw and heard and he became as well-known as his Father Arahir was. Caranor became a huge advocate for the Keeper’s Peace and did everything he could to ensure it was kept.
Their home life was one of joy and great happiness and when the Troll King brought his wife Queen Callidora to visit with their twin sons, Caranor was introduced to other worlds and customs, visiting often and becoming a great favorite with the people of Laconia and Arnosta. Marcos and Keplin had been reappointed Commander of the King’s Guard and King’s Advisor respectively when the people called Calithil to be the new King. King Calithil of Arnosta was of the Moon Elves, walkers under the night sky, but he was fair and just as well as beautiful. The people were happy and the land prospered.
Then, one year Marcos and Keplin came to visit and Marcos came with a lovely Ogre female called Deanna; they had been married for two years and she was expecting their first cub. Keplin was to be the cub’s Godfather and he was very proud. Things were going well all around for the Keeper’s Peace and the usually unruly leaders were being surprisingly cooperative. Caranor’s great Grandfather visited often as did his Grandfather. His Fathers and Mother would ascend the throne of Serenor once Arahir was returned to Seren. But Caranor the Elder and King Aica wanted to live in Castle Barshael and help the Keeper as they were able once they gave up the rule of Serenor. The Light happily allowed it.
Caranor sighed then, he took a small object from his cloak. He opened the crystal casket that was shaped like a burning flame. It glittered and sparkled in the Living Light. Holding it carefully, he watched as the Light slowly placed Arahir’s life spark inside. As the lid closed, the sanctum felt different; lonely and empty somehow. He transported the casket to the great hall where his Mother, Fathers and younger brother Arhel and little sister Ferlain waited. It amused him that he was the very image of his Father the Keeper, his brother Arhel was the image of his Father Selmir and his sister Ferlain was the image of their Father Tûval. The children might all have different Fathers, but they a
ll had the same Mother and they loved their Fathers and Mother and each other dearly.
The Light transported the family, the crowd, and the assembled royals to a deep underground cavern. It was rather strange, deep and dark, but lit by uncounted flickering flames in crystal boxes. Who they all were and how they had gotten here was anyone’s guess. But there was so many flames that they lit up the huge immensely wide cavern. The crowd with the family at the forefront, gathered quietly around their new Keeper, while Caranor waited.
A surge of soft music accompanied by powerful magic filled the air. Suddenly, the shade of the most unearthly beautiful woman appeared directly in front of them. They all gasped. This then was the heart and life of their planet, their Mother Seren. Her lovely voice hushed them and called Anya to her.
Taking Anya aside, she spoke to her privately and at some length, and Anya was much comforted sharing Seren’s words later that night with Mir and Val. But Seren thanked all those who came and for the Keeper taking such wonderful thoughtful care of the spark. Everyone was suddenly silent as Caranor came forward holding the crystal box out toward Seren.
Her beautiful musical voice sang a song of such joy making the box start to glow. It hummed and sang as it glowed brighter and brighter. Then, without any warning … the beautiful perfect Arahir stood as a shade beside the Lady Seren. She smiled happily and he went down on one knee acknowledging her. She lifted him up and kissed him on both cheeks.
“It is good to finally have you come home my son. Welcome.”
With a radiant smile encompassing the whole crowd, Arahir made all of them feel loved. But even now … he had a very special smile for his beloved Anya.
“Until we meet again my love … until we meet again.”
Then taking Arahir’s hand in her own, Seren took him into the brightness caused by the flames where they lost sight of them completely. The company found themselves back in the Great Hall of Castle Barshael where there was food for feasting and drinks for merry making. Musicians began to play and dancing began. Tears shone on every cheek, but these were grateful tears; tears of joy. At long last Crown Prince Arahir, the Beast and Keeper of Castle Barshael had finally come home and found true peace.
**********
The End
**********
About the Author
Hi my name is Debs Goddard and I have been painting and illustrating for over 30 years now. I have always wanted to write but never had the confidence until 10 years ago when I was too unwell to do much else but be stuck in bed. As a result I began giving it a go. My first novel took 2 1/2 years to write and ended up 1200 pages or 350,000 words. 'The Charnel Throne' was my first novel and is still my baby; I am very fond of the story.
I decided to stick to fantasy stories, or gothic type stories to give me a break from the pain in my reality. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on my 23rd birthday and given 4 months to live. I tend to think my life is something of a miracle because I had a spontaneous remission from the very last stage of cancer. I had many health issues after that but all very intangible and no one seemed to know what was going on.
With a wonderful helpful and giving hubby at my side, we had a beautiful daughter and a cherubic son at that time. I loved my life and I certainly didn't want to leave my children without a mother or my darling man. But the next eight years were ones of seizures, severe pain and many trips to the hospital with intrusive tests and surgery and more tests and more surgery. Until, after another beautiful daughter and a hysterectomy, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer on my 39th birthday. This time I was given six months to live.
Since that time I had 15 operations in the following 10 years and they finally managed to stop my body trying to kill me as it kept cutting of my blood circulation. It was a truly terrifying time. Several years ago, around 6 years now, I began to walk again, gaining my strength and my fitness back slowly and loving that I can walk again, even though I get very tired very easily.
As a result of all my surgery and my cancer, I am and have been in unrelenting acute pain 24 hrs a day, (for 31 yrs now this birthday), topped up by a handful of pills twice daily. The pills help me move and think without concentrating on myself all the time. People get very self-absorbed when pain is all they can feel and I was no exception, but after the first five years I did learn to keep a sense of humour and be a happy sick lady. I began to do much more and got into my writing and painting again. I have the best hubby in the world who has carried us through the hard times, giving of himself over and over again. I have three beautiful children and I have one truly special granddaughter and two grandchildren I still don’t know. I love to write and paint and I truly hope you enjoy my work.
