Warrior

by Jana LaPelle

  The Mortal Realm

  My God. How is Alaric to come back from what happened in The Underworld. How can he even look at me without seeing his loss, seeing how I failed him and Pip. I stand in the corner of our room and lean over the twins to quiet them. They’ve outgrown their bassinettes, so I placed the two in a crib large enough for the two of them and I watch as they snuggle into one another. Both have nursed, and their bellies are full. As always, Lachlan held on to me and would not let me go until he was satisfied that I would not be going anywhere for a while. I watch the two as their eyes grow heavy and they drift off to sleep. They always have a way of calming me, but tonight is different and my thoughts are tormented. We’ve not been back long, and I can’t seem to get the image of Alaric holding Pip out of my mind. In the time that Alaric spent in The Underworld, he came to love that child dearly and his grief over the loss of that boy is stifling.

  Retracing in my mind the turn of events that took place in the arena, I don’t think that either of us could have ever predicted that the young imp would put himself between Alaric and harm’s way in that arena. I’m haunted by the image of my kindred begging me for Pip’s soul. Begging me to make a choice to reap a beautiful young soul that would leave one of us forever tied to The Underworld. I’m not sure that Alaric has realized what his request would have meant for one of us.

  Lexie walks into the nursery and has caught me in my tortured reflection and whispers, “Are they asleep?”

  “Yeah. Come on, let’s go to the study. We’ll hear if they wake, but I have a feeling they are down for the night.” I pull the door closed quietly behind us as we make our way downstairs. I’ve not had a chance to catch Lexie up on what went down when we went after Alaric. Walking into the kitchen, I see Tarron and TNT in quiet conversation, a University of Kentucky basketball game is playing on the flat screen. I grab a couple of glasses and pour some tea for the both of us before heading to the study. Someone has started a fire in the fireplace, and we take a seat on the cozy overstuffed couch.

  “So…, out with it. You guys weren’t even gone a day, so why does it seem as if you were gone for days or even weeks?” Lexie’s large green eyes look upon me questioningly, her fiery red hair frames her face and hangs in tumbling curls down her back, and I realize that I have missed her.

  “I don’t know where to begin, Lex. So much has happened. I think, for me, it was only a couple of days, but I think for Alaric, it was more like a couple of weeks.” Sighing, I take a sip of Millie’s sweet tea. Staring into the fire, I ask, “What did Camoryn do once he realized that Jasmine came with us? Jasmine has been so worried about how he would react.”

  “Oh, he was pissed. There’s nothing like an angry satyr stomping about the Keep and the grounds around the castle to keep everyone on edge. He only realized it about an hour or so before you all popped up in the courtyard, but it was a long hour. I swear if satyrs could breathe fire the whole area would be scorched. Jasmine is going to have to grovel to get back into his good graces.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m forgiven.” Jasmine quips with a naughty little smile, as she sashays into the room faerie size, her wings retracted. “Cam was supremely pissed, but not surprised by my actions. Now, we have a puzzle to figure out.” She plops down on the floor in front of us. I’m so happy to see that The Underworld has not had an everlasting effect on my sprite friend, unlike Alaric and myself.

  Jasmine and I quickly bring Lexie up to speed on the happenings in that miserable realm and she exclaims, “Seriously? No wonder Alaric seems so detached and withdrawn. It’s not just that, he seems…” She pauses, not sure how to continue.

  “He seems broken,” I fill in, reluctant to say the words out loud. We’ve only been back a couple of hours and Alaric has retreated to the basement. Breaking from my dismal thoughts, I announce, “Not even seeing the twins has helped. Poor Lillie was so happy to see him, and all he did was give her a quick kiss and hand her back to me. She was devastated. She called after him for the first time ever as he walked out of the room. He didn’t even pause. It was her first words ever. I couldn’t believe that he just walked away from her like that, but how can I be pissed off at him? Lillie cried herself to sleep tonight, both of them were distraught and not sure what to make of their father’s actions. His homecoming should have been happy for everyone. I’m not sure what to do. I know he will wear the scars of his time with The Morrígan and in The Underworld on his heart and his conscious for an eternity. I don’t know if there is even anything that I can do to help lighten the weight of the guilt he feels over Pip. I guess time will tell. In the meantime, first things first. Jasmine is right, we need to figure out how to remove those wretched binding cuffs.”

  Lexie pulls her feet up to sit cross-legged on the couch, and says, “I’ve been thinking about that. Meme’s memoirs hold the key, and I think I may have figured it out.”

  “Then spill. What are you waiting for?” I demand, anxious to get those cuffs off of Alaric.

  Lexie turns to Jasmine and asks, “Remember when you and the gang came rushing into Ashlinn’s hospital room and Alaric asked for Ashlinn’s necklace, her talisman, and you began a thorough examination of it?”

  “Yeah, I remember. What about it?” Jasmine narrows her eyes in reflection as the fire snaps and cracks in the grate behind her.

  “Remember what you said, Jaz? You said it looked like a-”

  “I said it looked like a KEY!” Jasmine exclaims and jumps to her feet before continuing, “That must be it!” She paces in front of us before pointing excitedly to my necklace, and says, “You’ve had the key all along! Lexie, you’re a genius. Why didn’t we figure this out sooner? Your mother’s journals said she will have the means that will be needed to unlock the bindings of the gods. Bindings forged in angel fire. The key resides with her. The key, Ash, it's right there!”

  My thoughts are racing, and I look down at the pendant that lies nestled between my breasts. Looking back up at Jaz and Lexie, I ask, “Can it be that easy?” Thinking back, I’ve had no explanation as to where the pendant came from and why my mother gifted it to me. Needing answers, I summon my mother. It takes just a moment before my mother and father are standing before us in the study.

  “Ashlinn, are you okay? Your summoning was laced with anxiety and curiosity.” My mother asks, and I notice that she looks a bit pale, whereas my father looks rather like the Cheshire cat.

  Tarron and TNT come strolling into the room and ask, “What’s up with all the commotion in here?”

  “I’m about to find out about the pendant I wear. Come on in guys and have a seat.” Turning to my mother and father, I ask, “I need to know how you came about this pendant. I know that it was meant to protect me, but does it have a history that I’m not aware of?”

  My father pulls a chair over for my mother to have a seat and she says, “I was wondering when you would get around to asking me about your talisman. Before I begin, how are you baby girl?”

  Sighing, I say, “I’ve been better, but you may be able to help us with a puzzle that we are trying to solve. How did you come by this pendant?” I hold my key shaped talisman up for emphasis.

  Danu looks at us all gathered within the room and I sense the moment that she realizes that Alaric is not in attendance and she cocks her head and gives me a penetrating once over and decides to not broach the subject before she begins, “Many years before your birth, I crossed paths with an old crone, she was ancient, and although she felt familiar to me, I knew that I had never seen this old woman before. She said that she lived not far from where our paths crossed and asked that I join her for tea. You see, like so many of my brethren, there was a time that I had lost my purpose, and I began traveling the lands of Faerie disguised as a wanderer in hopes that I would find my purpose once more. You see, I missed Nirvana, I missed The Overworld, my home. I missed my creator and I missed my wings. For a time, I felt lost. On this day, the old crone welcomed me into her most humble abode. She fe
d me and gave me a warm bed to sleep in for the night. The next morning, before I left out, she held out her hand and the pendant you wear, laid in her open palm. I remember thinking how beautiful I thought it was, but then she surprised me when she called me by name. She said, “Danu, mother goddess to all the realms, I gift you this pendant. You must keep it safe. You see, it has special properties. You must keep it hidden away until the birth of your first-born daughter. This talisman is meant for her. It will keep her safe and when the time is right you will place an enchantment on it and send your daughter away.” I remember thinking that she was crazy. Why would I ever send a daughter of mine away?

  As I left the old crone’s home, my purpose was renewed. I believed her, at least part of her predictions. For the first time in eon’s I felt as if I had something to live for. It was not long after that when I came upon a piece of the prophecy. The rest is history, or so they say.” My mother finishes.

  The room is utterly quiet as we all process her tale and I announce, “We need The Dagda. I think this is what we have been looking for. I think Lexie and Jasmine are right, this pendant is the only thing that can release Alaric’s binding irons.”

  “What are we waiting for?” Declan exclaims from the doorway. I have no idea as to when he joined us. “He’s not himself, Ashlinn.”

  I shake my head and say sadly, “This won’t fix my kindred. I don’t know what will. He’s grieving, Declan.”

  Tolin speaks up, “It’s a start.”

  I nod, “Mother, can you summon The Dagda?”

  “He will be here soon.”

  I take my pendant off and hold it in front of me and announce, “If this works, I want none other than The Dagda to have access to the cuffs once they have been removed. Iron forged from angel’s fire should not be readily accessible to just anyone.”

  “Aye, lass, no wiser words have been spoken. So, ye have solved the mystery at hand?” Dagda asks as he strides into the room.

  “Let’s see if this will work. If not, we will have to go back to the proverbial drawing board.” I stand, and everyone follows me from the room. We all quietly make our way down to the basement. Alaric doesn’t even turn in our direction at our intrusion. He is so far withdrawn.

  I walk over to my broken kindred and kneel in front of him, taking his hand in my own, and I whisper, “I love you Elf-Man, I hope this works.” He doesn’t even look at me and my heart cracks a little more. I hold my pendant between my fingers and move it toward the irons on his left wrist. I’m amazed as it melds seamlessly with the bands, and then the cuff snaps open to fall to the carpeted floor with a dull thud. I do the same with the irons on his right wrist. Once again, the cuff opens and falls to the ground next to its mate. The only reaction from Alaric is a quick inhalation of breath, as if he can breathe easier now. I look down to notice that while the bracelets were on Alaric they had a different look, they were a polished silver, but now as they lay open on the floor, they look tarnished and have taken on a look of neglect. I’m careful not to touch them with my hands. Dagda is beside me and at some point, he acquired a small wooden box. Quickly, I gather up the offensive cuffs and place them in the box that Dagda holds open, and say, “Do what you must with these. I never want to see them again. Please everyone, let’s give Alaric some time.” I lean over and caress his jaw before gently kissing his cheek and whisper, “I miss you Alaric, come back to me.”

  Chapter 20

  (Ashlinn)

  Twenty-four hours has passed and still Alaric chooses to shut me out. Coming back to The Mortal Realm felt right. Our return is giving Alaric the time he needs to put the whole sordid mess behind him, but he’s not really here, not that I blame him. Watching him with Pip, he had held the imp child with gentle loving care as he died in his arms. That moment nearly broke me, and I had not formed an attachment to him like Alaric had. He continues to be withdrawn since our return a couple of days ago, and I’m worried. I need my kindred back, my Guardian, he is the other half of my soul. I want to kill that bitch for harming my man and taking him away from me. The turn of events that happened later is all her fault, but that is not the most important thing for me to be focusing on right now. Alaric’s not the same male I knew before she took him from me, before his time in The Underworld. His eyes are haunted and even though those horrible cuffs have been removed, and he has been healed of all his physical wounds, I know that he is plagued by the physical and mental abuse that he has suffered while at the mercy of those binding cuffs and The Underworld. I certainly hope that is the last time that we have to travel to that accursed place, although it really was not what I expected it to be. That place is not for the faint of heart.

  It’s safe to say that Alaric is not allowing me in, he has closed off our binding link and I want it open. I need to understand the depth of his torment. I hope to end that tonight. The twins are sleeping and at this point have begun sleeping through the night, thank the gods for that, so we have the entire evening to ourselves. The wards on the property have been reinforced by Lexie and Nemus and their Druid Order, so we are safe here for the time being. This is the perfect place to allow Alaric time to recover from everything that he has been through.

  I spy on him and watch from the back of the house as he just sits there by the brook staring out into the quiet night, at what I don’t know. He’s so distant. My heart is breaking. We might as well be a thousand miles apart. Tarron takes my hand gaining my attention as I stand staring out of the window at my kindred, and he says, “Ashlinn, he needs you, go to him. He’s been through hell, literally, it’s time to break down his walls. We’ve given him space. We’ve given him time to mourn his loss and time to open up…, but he’s becoming more withdrawn. Go to him.”

  Nodding, I look up at my favorite Incubus and smile a sad wistful smile, “Wish me luck, Tarron.” Before I head out back to my favorite spot along the brook, I turn back to Tarron and Tolin, “You know what I miss most in The Otherworld? The music of this realm. Can you turn on some music and the speakers out back? A ballad maybe, something slow and romantic, I may have retrieved Alaric from hell, but I have yet to get him back. That ends tonight. I trust you both to choose something appropriate for the setting.”

  Tolin smiles and leans in to kiss my cheek, “We’ve got this, Little Bit. Go work your majic. Bring him back to us.” I nod and hug Tolin close before pulling away to go get my Elf-Man back.

  Quickly, I pull on my winter coat, a cashmere toboggan, and matching fingerless mittens and a scarf. The snow is steadily falling. We have gotten several inches of accumulation so far. The temperatures have been hovering right around thirty-one degrees and the snowflakes are large and fluffy and clumped together. I open the back door and step out into a winter wonder land. The news says that we are expecting a snowstorm of epic proportions, whatever that means. Evidently, the weather over the last decade has become unpredictable at best. Alaric does not even turn in my direction at the sound of the door closing behind me and I sigh, God I miss him. For a moment, I just stand there watching my kindred with the snow falling around us. I love being home, and I want more than anything for just one normal night for Alaric and me, as if the thrum of power within will take a back seat for tonight so I can just be me, that for one night the weight of The Realms was not sitting squarely on our shoulders and we could just be us.

  I look down to see that the large fluffy snowflakes are forming a damp layer on my jacket and for a moment the hush of the snow is mesmerizing. I stand on the deck transfixed by the serene beauty around me and then my eyes land once again on Alaric’s disconnected form. He has stoked the fire in the fire pit and sits isolated from his family and friends. Slowly, I take one step and then another and before I know it, I’m standing by his side. I look down at where he sits and it’s as if he hardly recognizes my presence. I close my eyes and whisper, “I miss you.”

  Alaric inhales a deep breath before glancing up at me, his eyes have that haunted look that I’ve grown to hate. “I don’t d
eserve you, or the twins,” he rasps out.

  Not that again. I’m not sure where that is coming from, and a sigh escapes me. About that time the music kicks in from the speakers located on the back deck and I hear Ed Sheeran’s Perfect. I love this song so much. Thank you, T … Holding my hand out to Alaric, I ask, “Dance with me? Come on Elf-Man. This is where it all began for us, dance with me.” I reach down and grasp his hands in my own and pull him up as the haunting lyrics begin, and the snow falls around us in the dark.

  I pull him to me, swaying to the music and for once, since getting him back, he gives in and we are just together as the song wraps itself around us and Alaric pulls me in tight and rests his cheek on the top of my head.

  “Come back to me Elf-Man, I miss you so much.” I plead, looking up at his handsome face.

  “I don’t deserve you, Ash,” He whispers again.

  “Of course you do. Why would you think that? I love you and only you, come back to me, I beg of you.” I swallow hard and my heart aches as my plea escapes my lips.

  The song continues to work its majic on us both as we sway together and for a moment, time seems to stop as the two of us begin to reconnect and the snow falls silently around us.

  “We miss you Alaric, Lillie misses you, Lachlan misses you, come back to us. We’re not a family without you.” Alaric pulls me in close and tight. I melt into his embrace, and I whisper, “I know you’ve been through hell and back again. I know you need time to process everything, but we need you to come back to us.” My eyes are wet with unshed tears.

  I feel him shutter in my arms and he whispers, “I’m not strong enough to be your Guardian.”

  “Of course you are, you’re mine. Together we are a whole. We can shoulder this together.” I whisper, holding him so very close to me as the song comes to an end.

  “I love you Ash.” He pulls me in close and I burrow into him and he whispers, “You’re my angel, Ash, your mine. Mo grá. I’m so sorry.”