by Jana LaPelle
“It means that we have to find a way to track or locate iron forged in angel fire, it is not of this realm but of The Overworld. It has not been done in centuries, but it can be done. Nemus and Alexia, we’ll need you to search the histories for a means to locate this substance. I have never personally tracked-“
“Wait. You said that all known iron forged in angel fire was dismantled. What happened to it?” I demand.
Dagda shrugs, “It was smelted and…” He pauses, looking at me, “It was scattered across The Realms.”
“Dagda,” I shake my head, “it wasn’t destroyed but made really difficult to find, and she has found enough to serve her purpose. It also means that she has found a way to track and find this iron. Is there any known substance that counteracts the nullifying abilities, and how the hell do we get it off of Alaric when we find him and don’t have access to a freakin’ key?”
“My wee lass, it’s not invincible, but it does render the one wearing it bloody helpless and unable to tap into their abilities. Just touching it can render one of us without our abilities. ”
“Then how is she able to wield it?”
“Tis simple, it must be touching skin to have an affect. The handle of her whip many years ago was always wrapped in leather, and the iron was forged into a flexible wire and was intricately weaved into the whip. If she wears gloves to handle her beloved weapon she would not be affected. Come with me Ashlinn, I would have a word in private. Let us step out onto the terrace.” Dagda urges me.
“Dagda, anything that you have to say to me you can say in front of everyone here.” I swing my arm around in emphasis, all the while glaring at Lugh who has the decency to look chagrin.
Tolin steps up behind me and places his hand on my shoulder and I will myself to not turn into his arms and cry like a wounded animal. Instead I steal myself and straighten under everyone’s watchful gaze. Jasmine steps to my right and Lexie to my left both are flanked by their mates. I hear the others step forward in a show of solidarity. Tolin clears his throat, “With all due respect sir, whatever you have to say to Ashlinn you can say in our presence. She has been through enough tonight, we all have. We are here for her, always. If you think that for one moment we are going to let her go through this on her own, you are sadly mistaken. I mean no disrespect, my Lord.”
Dagda smiles sadly, “Alright, you all should head back to Glenndale Loch and get some rest. We will get together on the morrow and see what we need to do and what our next move will be.”
My anger is simmering and barely contained as his words from earlier reverberate through my mind, and I snap unable to contain my ire, “Don’t worry yourself, Dagda. You and Lugh and the rest of the gods and goddess can take your time in coming to our aid. Have another brandy. I’m under no illusion as to what role you all will play. We’ll figure this out on our own. You made it perfectly clear that we would not have your aid until the final battle. We’ve got this!” The last thing I see as I trace away is the hurt that I inflicted on the High King of Faerie with my angry, spiteful words.
Chapter 25
(Ashlinn)
I appear in the bathroom of our chambers back at Glenndale Loch. I quickly shed my battle gear and weapons, dropping everything in a heap on the floor and step into the shower. I turn the showerhead on high and allow the warm water to wash over me. The hopelessness that is settling into the very core of my being threatens to pull me under. It threatens to overwhelm me. Turning my face up to the spray, I allow it to wash away the dirt and grime from the evening, and with it, my anger washes down the drain as well. Suddenly, I’m spent, an empty husk or shell of the person I was mere hours ago. I’m not sure that I can endure this. I can’t sense anything from Alaric. I would rather feel his pain than this numbing, nothingness. The place that he has filled inside me since I first met him is now a gaping empty hole.
Sighing, I step out of the shower and quickly dress in a beautiful dark green gown, truth be told I have come to love the attire of this realm. The gowns are lovely and feminine. I quietly tiptoe into the nursery, my skirts rustling and I’m greeted with the smiling faces of Millie and Maith. Maith whispers softly, “I take it that everything went well.”
Inhaling sharply, I shake my head, “No, it did not.”
They look to the empty space behind me and swing their gazes back to me, “Master Alaric?”
“He was taken,” I say flatly. “How are the twins?”
“Poppet, what are you going to do?” Millie asks. Her face is riddled with concern.
I shake my head, not having an answer to her question, “Have they slept through the night?”
Maith eyes me wearily, “Yes, my Lady.”
I walk over and peer down at my children. Their resemblance to Alaric is astounding. I reach down and trail a light finger over each of their cherub-like cheeks as I whisper, “I will get him back, so we can have our happily ever after. I promise that we will get him back and make our family whole again.” Turning to the cousins behind me I say, “I’ll be back soon,” and I trace.
I appear on the island where The Tree of Life calls home in the sacred meadow. The sun is rising, and I have not had one wink of sleep. It’s doubtful that I will sleep well again until I have Alaric back by my side. I take in the beauty of the sunrise under the canopy of her branches as they sway in the breeze. It’s a new day, without my kindred. I reach out to connect with her physically. I sigh as I allow my fingers to trace the grooves of her rough bark. I don’t have to be by her side to speak with her now, but the physical contact was what I needed at the moment. Silently, I commune with her, “She took him.”
“I know. What are you prepared to do about it?”
“It’s my fault, everything I did tonight brought about Alaric’s capture. How am I supposed to live with that?”
“Get him back. He belongs to us.”
“How am I supposed to do that if I have no idea as to where he is being held?”
“Look within yourself, Ashlinn.”
“How?”
“Dream walking, of course, when you are in the in-between, it will be easier for you to find him. It may take you a while to get the hang of it but you will. Take back what is yours, Keeper, we need our Guardian, without him we are vulnerable.”
She recedes once more. I pull away and stand back to watch as the sun rises before smoothing my gown and tracing back to the Keep. I have children to tend to, and I have to find my kindred. It’s time to put away the insecurities and self-doubt, it’s time to put my game face on. It’s time to become the warrior goddess that I was meant to become, war paint and all.
(Ashlinn)
It’s mid-afternoon, and I have been holed up in my chambers all day with Lillie and Lachlan and the pups. Because of them, I have been able to hang onto my sanity. I know that a meeting is convening shortly and I will have to face Dagda and Lugh. After last night, there is not much else to say. I have been channeling my anger all day over the events of the evening before. I’m tired of not having all the information I need to make informed decisions, and I’m half tempted to do this on my own, at least then there is no one to blame for failure but myself.
There’s a knock on the outer chamber door, I scoop the twins up, they are now getting to be a handful, and as I settle them in my arms, Lachlan assumes its meal time as his little hands try to push aside the bodice of my gown. He grunts in frustration as I make my way to open the door, “Easy there tiger, you should not be hungry again so soon.”
He begins to wiggle, and the whole time he’s babbling, “Mama, mama, mama.”
As I enter the outer chamber I call out, “It’s open, come in.”
Jasmine walks in to find me struggling to juggle both children in my arms. Lachlan is babbling and squirming, and Lillie is giggling at her brother’s antics while Cara and Bán are jumping up at my feet to get to the two in my arms. She smiles, her eyes twinkling, “Looks like you have your hands full. Here let me take Lillie off your hands. If I were to
take Lachlan, you would be missing large chunks of your hair.”
I can’t help the grin that tugs at the corners of my mouth, “Please, they are getting almost too big for me to carry them both at once. Has everyone arrived?” I ask as I hand over Lillie.
Jasmine grins at Lillie and makes a silly face. Lillie squeals with laughter and pats Jaz’s cheeks wanting more. Lillie’s little giggles have a tinkling quality to them that is infectious. Jasmine kisses her on the forehead before turning her attention to me, “About that, most everyone is in a bit of a quandary over what to do. Evidently, Alaric is the one that held us all together. Everyone is in a foul mood and arguments have broken out. After your parting words last night, no one wants the god’s involvement. Funny thing is, you and Alaric are now a part of that faction. You’re a goddess, Ash. You need to start acting like one, and I don’t mean that you take on the high and mighty attitude that some of the gods display. Dagda would do just about anything for you and Alaric, and you know it. If you want his help, all you have to do is ask.”
“You’re right, Jaz. I’m just trying to get my bearings. What time do we meet?”
Jasmine eyes me briefly assessing me before continuing, “I have something for you. I think you need to see this before the meeting.” She pulls a letter out of the back pocket of her form-fitting leather pants. “I’ll watch the twins so you can have a chance to read this.” She walks over and leans it against the wall on the mantle of the fireplace from here I can see Alaric’s messy scrawl.
“Where did you get that?”
“Alaric gave it to me the night we welcomed Lugh into our midst. He said that I would know when to give it to you. He made me promise not to say anything to you until the time was right. I’ll take the twins into the nursery, come and get me when you’re ready.” She takes Lachlan from me, and he goes to her willingly all the while watching me. He and his sister have become very solemn as I stare at the letter from Alaric.
I’m rooted to the spot and not sure how long I just stand and stare at the letter addressed to me, Ashlinn Ryllae Faerondarl, mo grhá is gaire. Slowly I walk over to the mantle and with trembling fingers pick up the letter and turn it over in my hands to see the wax seal on the back. I make my way to the terrace overlooking the lake and break the seal to open the letter with deliberate care.
Ashlinn, mo grhá is gaire,
If you are reading this letter, then we were both right. The Morrígan has me, and you are no doubt questioning yourself and your actions of that fateful night. Well, you can just stop that right now. You and I both know that my being captured is not the end of me. It may be a hiccup in our plans, but I have faith that if anyone can find me, it will be you. Tap into the strength within you, it’s there. It has always been there waiting for you to recognize it. I have faith in you and your abilities. I have faith in us and our bond. Latch on to our bond and don’t let go, I know that I will. No matter what she has in store for me I will survive as long as our bond is intact, I have a feeling that it will save us both on more than a couple of occasions. You are going to have to be the one to step up in my place and bring everyone back together. No doubt all hell will break loose if you do not, you know as well as I do that they need someone to lead them. I know that you will not disappoint me. I love you Ashlinn. Kiss our children for me, keep them safe, and tell them how much I love them. I can’t wait to see my elven warrior princess in all your beautiful glory.
You have all my faith and love. Until we are together again,
Your Elf-Man
I swallow the lump in my throat and inhale deeply, pushing the tears back. He’s right. We’re a team, I can’t let him down. It’s time for me to get it together. I march back into our chambers and reverently place the letter on the desk open for me to see every time I walk by it. My purpose is clear to me now, and I make my way to my closet to find the beautiful golden chainmail that Claire had fashioned for me. I pull my gown off and slip on the form-fitting undergarments in rustic browns before strapping the ornate chainmail garment to me along with the brown leather corset that is meant to protect me from the back. The chainmail sheaths the front of me, hugging my curves. I slip on the matching leather wrist gauntlets that have matching chainmail over the top of my hands that comes to a point above my middle finger. Next, I strap on my belt and weapons. Looking around the room, I walk over to the matching circlet with attached chainmail headdress and pick it up. I walk over to the mirror and carefully place it on my head, the headdress lying neatly over my long hair in its intricate design. Lastly, I pull on the matching boots with the concealed three-inch wedge heel and stride out to get Jasmine.
“Jaz, I need your help. I need your expertise in this matter. I need war paint befitting a goddess.”
Jasmine looks up from the floor where she is playing with the children. The look on her face when she sees me is a cross between awe and shock then her beautiful pixie features morph into a smile. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. I’ll get Claire. She has been talking about a design for you for a while now, I’m sure it will go with your chainmail.”
“While you’re at it get Millie and hurry. I’ve wasted too much time as it is.”
Jasmine traces out of the room, and I pick up the now sleepy twins and smile and kiss them in turn before putting them down for a nap, “Your athair loves you very much. I’m going to find him and free him from the evil queen, and then I’m going to bring him back home where he belongs. Now sleep little ones while your máthair goes to battle.”
Jasmine is back in a flash with both she-elves. Millie to look after my little ones and Claire to properly paint my face, she goes to work immediately and whips out dark kohl pencils and shadings and jars of glittering gold paint. “My Lady, I have been preparing for this, thank you for trusting me to design your war paint.”
“Who better than you Claire, you honor me by creating such beautiful clothing and war attire.”
“Thank you, my Lady. Let’s get to work. The dark kohl is for shading around your eyes to give you a fierce, determined look and will allow your beautiful amber colored eyes to stand out dramatically. It will give the appearance of a narrow mask of sorts. The gold paint is befitting a queen or goddess of the highest station and will be used for the most intricate of details. The bronze paint is for the bolder and more crude designs.” She places her index and middle finger in the bronze jar and carefully runs those two fingers an inch just above my eyebrow and stops and then repeats the action starting below my eye from my cheekbone down. It takes her practiced hand only a matter of minutes before she is through and the lot of them look at me and nod.
Millie’s grim face gives me room to falter before she says, “Ashlinn, you give her an ass kicking just for me and bring our Alaric back.”
I nod, “I will,” turning my attention to Jasmine, “Are you ready?” I notice that she has changed into new gear as well and her war paint is done up in blue, her eyes shaded in a similar fashion to mine.”
“Come on Ash, let’s go rally the troops and get them in line. It’s time to show them who’s boss. It’s time they see this side of you.”
Turning my attention to Claire I smile, “Thank you again, I’m not sure what I would do without you. And you Millie, take care of my babes and their pups while I’m gone. I’ll check in periodically. Come on Jaz, let’s go.” We exit my chambers and make our way down to the main level and head for the library where a very heated argument is underway. I pause just outside with Jasmine and listen to what is taking place inside, and Alaric had the right of it, they are coming unglued.
“We don’t need your help, you or any of your brethren. Ashlinn was right, we’ve got this.” Tolin retorts, “Just maybe if you had of been there last night we wouldn’t have lost them both, she can’t sense him, and we all know what happens when a kindred soul loses their mate.”
“That’s not what she said Tolin, she said that she could sense that he was alive but that was all, everyone needs to calm down,” Dagda
interjects.
“Why are you here again?” Ferg asks heatedly, “Ashlinn was pretty clear last night as to her thoughts on your supposed help.”
“I have to disagree. I think we need to hear what they have to say.” Declan says over the ever-growing volume of voices coming from the room before us as an argument ensues.
I look at Jasmine and say, “I have to fix this. Come on.”
I walk into the library and I’m shocked at how things have gotten out of hand so quickly, there are two definite sides, and the lines have evidently been drawn in the middle of the room. I clear my throat trying to get their attention, when that doesn’t work I try to clap my hands, then as a last resort I place my index and pinkie fingers in my mouth and blow a shrill whistle bringing everyone to a halt.
“What the hell is going on here?” I demand as I walk further into the library. “We’re supposed to be working together not tearing each other apart. I know what I said last night. I was wrong. I was hurting, I’m allowed to hurt. That time has come and gone. We need to be a united force, we need to stand together and put aside our differences for Alaric. He needs us, now more than ever. Is everyone with me?”
Everyone in the room is now staring at Jasmine and me, jaws dropped at the sight of us. One by one my Guardians drop to one knee, I look to Dagda and Lugh, and they nod, “Let’s get busy, Ashlinn. We have much to plan for.”
I walk over to Dagda and take his large hand in mine while everyone around us gets to their feet, “I’m sorry Dagda, please forgive my hurtful words from last night.”
He pulls me in for a hug and says, “My wee lass, there is nothing to forgive. You had every right to feel the way you did. You were right. We need to show the rest of us by example. Now let’s find our boy.”
Chapter 26
(Alaric)
A loud screeching cry echoes around the dark chamber. I look up from the place where I find myself on the gleaming black floor to see The Morrígan, her eyes shaded an obsidian black, her trembling left hand going to the dagger that is embedded to the hilt in the soft fleshy area of her right shoulder. Ashlinn’s aim was true and found its mark, and I can’t help the hint of a smile that tugs at my lips as I watch her gingerly pull the dagger from her shoulder and drop the bloody weapon to the floor with a clatter, splattering her blood in crimson droplets.
