by DB Jones
respect. They in turn bowed to her. Then they did something that surprised her: they knelt in front of her. As they knelt before her, another brilliant light glided over them and stopped in front of the reverent circle of ancients. It was Morven.
Willow stood in amazement at her beauty and regal appearance. She hovered there, speaking to Willow the ancient language, and Willow understood it all. She too knelt, and Morven reached out and gently caressed her cheek, then turned and vanished. The ancients hovered there for moment, each touching Willow's forehead, and then also turning and vanishing.
Willow's heart was filled with joy from seeing Morven. She knew Morven was not only with the ancients but was now their goddess, which meant she would always be there for her. There was much to understand and absorb, for now Willow held the wisdom and secrets of all the ancients and the power Morven had given her. She knew she had to sit in the stillness of the cave of the ancients with each new thought she'd received with this new gift. She knew she must sit until she was able to pull forth the new wisdom at will to protect the Sea Kingdom.
There were many things Morven shared with her as they spoke in the cave, but now it was Willow who would carry the responsibility. She would have to make the decisions for her pod and be the counselor for the other clans as well. She was now the bridge between the water and land people as well. She must watch over both and do what must be done to ensure the future for both, and that would mean sacrifices she would have to be willing to make.
Willow's focus as she sat there was to channel her wisdom and power. She spent many days and nights in the cave, formulating and reviewing all Morven had said. She could feel the change in her thoughts and in her body. She had been emptied and then filled with knowledge and understanding of why she was chosen, why she must fulfill the promise made so long ago—and she was ready. When the time was right, she would emerge from the cave of the Goddess of the Sea.
Vala knew Willow would be away for a long time, for Llyr had told him it must be done that way. He wasn't impatient but missed her and wanted to be by her side. He paced the coral forest every day, practicing his gliding speed and envisioning where he wanted to be and then appearing there. Sometimes he appeared where he shouldn't and would be chastised by those he imposed upon.
It wasn't long until Ellura approached him and motioned for him to follow her. They glided to the edge of the entrance to the cave of the ancients, though he did not know where they were or why. She told him to wait there until she returned; no matter what happened, he was not to enter the cave. She explained to him it was forbidden, and he respected that coming from Ellura. She was the woman of the water, and her words required great honor and respect. She told him there would be many coming to speak to him and he must regard their words.
Vala sat on a rock at the entrance to the cave, next to a mighty shell. He was determined to do as Ellura said and not move from that place. After all that had happened in the open seas and the loss of Morven, he would not go against her wishes. "I will not leave this spot until she returns, no matter what," he said.
Vala sat there for what seemed like hours, yet he did not move. He became tired and thought he'd rest for a moment. He leaned against the giant shell and drifted off to sleep. Then he felt something touching his forehead, and he opened his eyes. He was so startled, he started to glide away, yet remembered "no matter what." He composed himself and sat back on the rock.
Vala could not take his eyes off the magnificent being hovering before him. It was not like any creature he'd ever seen; the being was almost transparent and seemed larger than life. The being did not say anything, but reached out his hand and laid it on Vala's forehead. Vala felt a pulse running through the very spot where the being was touching him. The energy seemed to cascade down through every part of his body. When the being slowly withdrew his hand, he smiled at Vala, then turned and vanished.
Soon another being appeared, and the same thing happened. And each time, Vala felt something changing within him. Finally, when it appeared it had ended, he leaned against the giant shell once more and fell into a deep sleep. He dreamed of Morven and Willow. He dreamed they sat together talking, as if nothing had happened. In his dream, Morven was still alive and well, and as strong as ever—even stronger.
Vala awakened feeling very hungry. He hadn't eaten since Ellura had left him there, yet he would not leave until she returned. He was so hungry, he began to feel lightheaded. "Oh, how I would love just a morsel to eat," he said. He felt the giant shell move, and he jumped back.
She opened her mighty shell and said, "Take what you need." He hesitated for a moment; for he knew the giant shell clan only offered such nourishment to the chosen ones. He reached in and graciously took a very small morsel and put it in his mouth. It wasn't like any food he'd ever tasted, but instantly he felt refreshed and satisfied. He bent down and thanked the mighty shell and told her he had all he needed. Without saying a word, she slowly closed her mighty shell.
Vala continued to wait there for Ellura to return. He felt a change in himself he could not explain. His thoughts had more assurance and direction. His body was tingling with a strength he'd never experienced, but he somehow knew it was from the spirits that visited him and the nourishment he'd received from the giant shell.
Suddenly, he could hear the call of Willow. She was calling out to him with her mind in the way she had told him about, not through speaking. He could sense her drawing near as well. It wasn't just a feeling; he knew she was coming. His heart began to race with anticipation. He could feel her joy radiating through his being, which delighted him. She is not mad at me, he thought.
She replied, "Of course I am not mad at you. You did what was meant to be done in order for the gift to be given to me." He had known she was good at reading others, but she was more powerful than ever. And he too would have to be careful with his thoughts. This was one of the gifts that had been given to him by the spirits that had touched him while he waited, but he knew hiding anything from Willow would nearly be impossible.
Ellura glided up beside Vala and smiled but said nothing, and neither did he for a moment. Then he said, "She's coming. Willow is returning." Ellura looked up at him and smiled again. Vala turned toward Willow as she approached from the entrance of the cave. Then he turned toward Ellura, but she had vanished. Willow glided closer and closer to Vala. He noticed right away she was different, yet the same. She came up to him and put her arms around him, and he put his around her. They held each other without speaking.
Then Willow spoke to him in the language of the ancients. Vala was surprised to understand everything she was telling him, yet they had never communicated that way before. She told him there would be many times they would speak that way together, but it was important no one else but Ellura knew of it. She told him of some of the things yet to come and how the way they could speak to one another was critical for the well-being of the Sea Kingdom. He agreed without question.
Willow looked into his eyes, and he could see the wisdom reflected in hers. She was the one he was meant to mate with, and he felt pride in knowing she had accepted him. She said, "We will soon be joined and have much to prepare for, for there is yet a great challenge that lies ahead for us, and we will need the power of two for this. You will be by my side as my equal." He leaned up and kissed her forehead. Then Willow said, "We must return to the center of the coral forest now." Then, without saying another word, they turned and were there together at the same time, hovering in the center of the coral forest together.
Ellura appeared by their side, then glided above the forest and hovered for a moment. The word traveled among the clans that Ellura would speak, and since she did not speak much, when she did it was always in a gentle whisper. The clans gathered. It seemed the entire Sea Kingdom had become still and quiet. There she was, hovering above with her long, luminous, silver hair swirling in the current. The glow that radiated from her engulfed her in brilliant silver light. As she began to speak, not another sound in the s
ea could be heard. Everyone was completely entranced by her beauty and gentleness; after all, she was the woman of the water.
She softly said, "Do not weep or mourn for Morven, for she has not perished; she has returned to the home of the ancients. Before the sea beast took her body, she gave to Willow the final gift. Now a part of her will eternally reside within Willow. Willow has been given the gifts of the ancients. It is done! Willow is now the Goddess of all the Sea Kingdom." Though her words were soft, they echoed through all the endless waters. Her words were carried beyond the waters on the crests of the waves that came ashore.
Audra was sitting in her rocking chair on the knoll, where she'd often sat in the evenings alone, when Willow would approach and lay a shawl across her shoulders. She was thinking of Willow at that very moment when she heard the sounds of the sea and knew the promise had been fulfilled and her daughter was now ruler of the endless waters. A tear fell from her eye, not from sorrow or loss, but for joy, for her daughter was happy and was where she was always meant to be. The wind caught her tear and carried it out to sea. When it landed on the wave and become a part of the sea, Willow
