Bliath: Shattered

by Theresa Caligiuri

  “Now Vance please tell them goodbye.”

  He leaned down and kissed Fera’s forehead and the baby smiled up at him, cooing, and reached for him. Desree stood and started to carry his little form out .

  “Wait” Riel calls as she gets up from the floor with Fera still in her arms and goes over to them, the tears streaming down her face, she leans in to his little ear, Vance is too far away to hear but he can hear what she is whispering just as if she was whispering it in his ear now. “I know you will help her, watch her, protect her, love her, let her do the same for you, and remind her of me, remind her how much I love her, how I protected her, and will always watch her too.”

  The memory is fading out and Vance is left with sad, haunting violet eyes fixed on him when the darkness comes before reality sets in.

  ******************************<3~*~<3*******************************

  Vance was sitting at the table mouth agape. Desree was hoping it would trigger a few things in his mind that she was not allowed to tell him, point him in the direction that he need to seek, but like when he was little, he could only see Fera and not the big picture around them, or who he is too and where he comes from. Instead the first thing he says “How did she know I would find her, or she would find me, or we each other?”

  Desree didn’t answer but instead stood up. “I better get back up the Rose room and make sure all is well and maybe talk to Leo.

  Vance sat in the kitchen for a while, replaying that memory in his head. When he saw the sun slowly peeking up he figured he better go try to sleep for little bit, and since the barn was closer and hay is soft enough, that is where he headed.

  He settled himself down in a big pile of hay, his mind replaying the memory, he knew as soon as he would fall asleep Riel’s sad eyes would haunt him, but he couldn’t stay awake any longer.

  Chapter 17

  “His heart is beating really fast, maybe we should wake him?” Larin looked at Vance slightly worried, he had slept almost the whole morning, Larin had taken care of the morning chores with Oren’s help, and now she paced in front of Vance.

  Vance was dreaming if you can call a nightmare dreaming. He was in a smoke filled forest, he could hear explosions and screaming, smell sulfur in the air, confusion all around, he was moving, but lost in the madness of it all.

  He woke, and shot up, to find Larin looking at him with confusion. The little girl looked at him with an old soul, “Vance, you shouldn’t meddle with magic before bed, it can cloud your mind and addle your judgment.”

  Vance just shook his head. “Larin, when did you become so good at all this?”

  “Your mom said it is because Fera is here, and she has so much energy that she is giving me some, and it feeds my ability, she thinks when you two go, I will go back to normal, but it might get worse before that.” She seemed so nonchalant about the whole thing.

  Vance started to brush the hay off and look around the barn, all the horses were fed and watered, some were even turned out for their exercise, he turned back to Larin, “did you…?” as he gestured around.

  “Oren helped.” Was her explanation

  “Of course he did.” Vance was sure the girl was telling the truth, but things were not adding up much as of late and something was just so odd about that horse. Vance hoped to find another Elven mount to compare him to.

  Larin followed Vance out of the barn, “is it true my brother said you can’t see Fera and he banned you from the Rose room?”

  “Where did you hear this Princess?”

  Larin picked at the bottom of her dress but didn’t look up, “I heard Cook talking about it this morning, it is just um…..” she trailed off.

  Vance dropped down to her level, “It is just what Larin?”

  She just shook her head no.

  “You can tell me anything, and if it is something to help Fera, I should know, right?”

  Larin paled a little, “They will find her blood soon, it will lead them here, in a little over a day, they will be here, two at the most, things will get super interesting, like the time I stuck the pea up my nose then it disappeared and mom freaked out. You know we still haven’t found it?”

  “Princess focus…….Who Larin, who will be here?”

  Big tears started coming down Larin’s cheeks, she didn’t answer, she didn’t have to, it didn’t matter; anyone coming for her could not be good. Larin threw her arms around Vance’s neck. He did his best to comfort her, but he was shaken, and needed a plan.

  Larin spoke into his shoulder, “Pack, get everything ready to go…I don’t want you and Fera to go.”

  “I know sweetheart.” Vance really did love Larin like a little sister

  “Vance” She sniffled and looked up at him, “I will drug Leo this time, she will come out of limbo long enough to go.”

  Vance faked a shocked look, but recognized Larin knew all along. “Larin do you think we will see you again?”

  “Yes, but things will change a lot by then. Vance did you know your memories have been locked?”

  Vance gave Larin a confounded look, but knew she was right, because some things he could remember clear as day and other were just gaping holes of darkness. “You know, Larin I think your right.”

  “Don’t worry, they will unlock when you need them. Ok, off the kitchen, come knock on the door to the Rose room after you’re done packing.” She put her hands on her hips then glared at him like his mother does, “and don’t doddle Mister!” She gave him a hug and skipped off.

  As Vance got up to pack he had a half smiled tugging at his lips once again, more than happy Larin was on his side. She was way too eager to drug her brother, but it had to be done, she would find a way.

  The first thing he did was pack all of Fera’s things hiding under the barn board. Before putting her history book into the saddle bag, he flipped it open to Riel’s photo, “I promise she will be safe, I will never give up or stop fighting for her.” As he closed the book, a breeze danced around the barn, and it was if the winds of change were coming to great one of their creators.

  He finished packing what he could in the barn, before going to get what he needed from his home, Vance went to Oren’s stall.

  “Oren,” The horse faced him, “We will leave tomorrow, rest well tonight. The time for hiding will soon be over I think, I will protect her, as I know you will too. Before we go, say goodbye to Larin, she is very fond of you.”

  Oren bobbed his head up and down showing he understood.

  Oren was more than ready to go, but even he knew he would miss Larin, she was the first child that could really talk to him. She spent hours telling him things, like who he really was, and his part in this whole mess, what he would have to do to keep Fera safe, and that their bond would be broken and sewn back together in another way. She also told him that she was pretty sure there was some sort of monster or fairy like creature living under her bed. It would steal all her right socks and tie her shoe laces in double knots at night if she didn’t leave it cookies. That still made him laugh, he hoped to someday have a little girl just like her, but first thing first get through the next year. Who was he kidding? The next few weeks. Each day seemed to throw challenges at them with the degree in difficulty mounting higher. Oren felt like he was in a narrow passageway with walls closing in around him. Fera was the light in front of him, they just had to make it out.

  Chapter 18

  After Vance dropped the last of the bags in the tack room, covering them with a few hay bales, he headed for the Rose room, hoping Larin was able to aid Leo in sleep.

  He didn’t even have to knock, she popped her face out, her blue eyes looking up at him, “It’s about time you got here, he will be out for a while I didn’t know how much to give him so I just dumped a bunch in the apple butter on the roll, your mom said it was enough to put him out for hours.” Her eyes got real big emphasizing her point and she giggled as she let him in the room.

  Desree wasn’t in the room, but Vance was sure she wo
uldn’t be far away. Fera was still looking like she was fast asleep on the bed, but it was Leo that caught his attention, he was on the floor, in a slightly contorted position. Vance gestured to him, “Larin, do I want to know?” She giggled again, “Nope.”

  Vance went over and sat down next to Fera, before he could take her hand Larin hopped up onto the bed, “Vance can I come too, I think if we are all connected, you can pull me in, can we please please please try?” Vance really liked being alone in limbo with Fera, it was almost like a special place where it could just be her and him, but Larin helped them, more than he could have asked for, “Yes, I guess it can’t hurt to try, right?”

  She squealed with delight, and grabbed his hand and Fera’s other hand before he could change his mind.

  “Wow look at this room, I love it!” Larin was in awe of the sheer pinkness of it all.

  Fera shot up in her bed at the sound of someone other than Vance in her limbo.

  She looked relieved when she saw it was just the little Princess, then she looked over at Vance, a smile went from his lips all the way up to his eyes, or was it from his eyes to his lips, either way she did not care, he was just smiling at her, and that is what really mattered.

  “I hope you don’t mind, I brought company. It is just…” Vance didn’t get the chance to finish what he was saying, Larin jumped up on the bed.

  “Of course you don’t mind, your room is so amazing! Is this really what it looks like? I want a pink room! I bet the fairy, creature thing would leave then, I know it doesn’t like pink, crazy not to like pink right?”

  Fera couldn’t help get caught up in Larin’s excitement, “I know, I bet Vance even likes pink, don’t you Vance?”

  “Whatever you say Princesses.” He rolled his eyes, seeing how happy the two girls were he decided to wait until it was time to go before mentioning the fact in a day they would be leaving.

  They got down to the business of burning off the built up energy, with Fera finishing taking them on a tour of the castle. Vance thought it was funny when they stopped at the gardens, were she and Markus used to fence and sword fight.

  “Vance it really does clear your mind, the tedious repetition of it and the fact you're exhausting your body, helps bring on sleep.” Fera defended. Vance decided that her skills were still probably like most girls, and in a fight, would probably get herself hurt if not worse. Fera’s temper flashed, she used her energy and made two lances, tossing one to Vance, she gave a slight bow, “Shall we dance?” She rebuked at him with a smirk.

  “As you wish but I should warn you I am good.” Vance bowed back.

  She laughed and fended aghast “Oh Vance, don’t look now your ego is showing.”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.” He winked at her. Their banter was ended with the smallest voice who was watching them closely, “Geesh are you actually going to fight or just flirt?”

  Both Fera and Vance blushed, but crossed lances and took stance.

  At first Vance was taking it easy on Fera, but quickly found her besting him and had to put effort into it. Fera was quick and could find his weaknesses with ease. Larin watched them, it really did look like a dance, she could not tell who was winning, but she was starting to get bored.

  It was clear neither was going to concede, so Larin did the only thing she could think of, she gasped really loud, both Fera and Vance stopped and looked at her to see what is wrong.

  “Are you ok? What happened?” Fera asked going over to Larin.

  “Nothing” she giggled “You two were taking forever, it is clear your both good, so just agree to disagree or something like that, ok?”

  “How old are you really?” Fera asked her. It was more of a rhetorical question, but Larin went ahead and answered it, leaving them all laughing.

  After sightseeing a little more in Thoren, they ended up back in Fera’s room.

  “Fera, there is something I need to …” he was cut off.

  “Fera, why don’t you show Vance the memory of what happened before you had to, um, come here, I think it would help.” Larin offered when she saw them both staring at her she quickly offered “I am going to go back and make sure Leo is unaware, and you two need to talk without little ears, right? Well, I know I am right.” She dove in and hugged Fera, and was gone.

  “That, that was weird, don’t get me wrong, I like that child a lot but it is like she is omnipotent, and sometimes like talking to a child and other times an old woman.” Fera threw her hands up and fell back on the bed. Vance agreed and landed next to her.

  “So, do you really want to see my last day in Thoren?” She was hoping he would say no, but he propped himself up on one side looking down at her, “Yes, Fera, in a day we have to go, Larin said they are about to find you, and will be on our doorstep with in a day, maybe two, so anything to help, anything I can pick up on that you might have missed could be our saving grace, and I have to keep you safe no matter what.” Fera closed her eyes, she never wanted to go back to that day, she felt her heart shudder with pain. “Ok, let’s go.” With that she reached up and pulled him into the memory.

  ******************************<3~*~<3*******************************

  Vance looks around, the real Fera is holding tight to his hand, they are in the library, Fera is being held by Markus and her father is sitting next to them, he looks to be aging by the minute, but it is just worry, stress, grief, taking their toll.

  After a few minutes of sitting there, Markus lets go, and scoots back a little. “Fera, look at me,” She doesn’t, he takes her chin genially and makes her look at him, “we all acted out of love, in truth you control your own fate, it is about choices not chances.” At that the king, her father, let out a sob, but Markus went on, “you know your mother put up a barrier keeping the outside world out, and us in, if you fell into the wrong hands, if someone took you and molded you when you were little, you would and still could be the most dangerous weapon in Bliath and could very well end it. I might have kept information from you, but I have never lied to you, nor has your father. Do you understand why you are so dangerous?” Markus was not intending to be cruel, to pour salt in her wounds, but Vance could see how much it hurt. The Fera on the floor closed her eyes, “Because whoever controls me controls the fate of Bliath and I have the blood line to rule them all.” She said it in a quiet tone that was edged with venom.

  This time her father spoke, “Markus, please, the book,” Markus got up and Goodale continued, “Your mother was the most powerful of the Elven kind, when she became pregnant with you, she started planning, and seeking advice, to keep you safe, like her with her mother she knew your magic would be stronger than hers.” Fera went to interrupt but he cut her off, “You have it, it is hidden for now, she found out about shields and blocking charms, and the valley would create a dome to keep you safe. It just took all her magic, and her life force, when you become a parent you will understand, it was a temporary fix, to buy us time. To teach you what you needed to know, to become your own person. That time is nearing an end, the barrier is breaking down.” The king shuttered, Fera took his hand, she could see his pain. Vance looked at the real Fera, tears running wild, and pulled her into his arms, as he kept watching.

  Markus sat back down with the book open to chapter one, The Prophecy. She turned the page. This was the one thing Vance did know, and he found it strange that the girl that the Prophecy is about, didn’t know it until that moment.

  The few lines were scrolled in the middle of the page Markus read them aloud:

  One female child born of three worlds,

  Bound by fate to bring them together,

  If not to watch them fall,

  Power flowing stronger from each generation to aide her,

  Bound again by loves design

  For her fate is to rest in the hands of another’s heart

  To undo what was done by the creation of the Guardian ones bind.

  Markus asked Fera if she could understand what those words mean
t, but the Fera on the ground was looking very shell shocked. It took a few moments for her to come around and ask, “Why, why do you think it is me that this is referring to?”

  Markus looked sadly at her, as he turned the page, “It was a wise and powerful Oracle who wrote this, he came to your mother before she got to Thoren and gave it to her, along with this,” Markus pointed to the pictures, one of Fera as a small child and another of her now, “As you can see, it was clear it had always been you. Copies were also given to your grandmother and a few other key people in Bliath and then spread from there.”

  The Fera in Vance’s arms held tighter to him. Vance was trying to keep standing, he knew the Prophecy, but that one was slightly different, and the differences are what put him on alarm, especially the part about undoing the creation of the Guardian Ones.

  He then watched as Fera said she needed to go to bed.

  Then the memory changed to the castle stable in Thoren. Fera had her arms around Oren, and from Vance’s point of view it looked like he was hugging her back. She was telling him everything that had just happened. Then Oren laid down and Fera went over and curled into his side and fell asleep.

  The memory changed again, now they were is Fera’s room, and Markus burst in, the sun was just coming up, and Fera shot up in bed. “You have to get up now Fera, it broke, we should have had weeks, I don’t understand. Please, Princess move!”

  “Markus,” Fera ran to him, “What broke, what is going on? Please, you’re scaring me!”

  “The barrier broke, you are not safe, it is too soon.” Markus was shaking, “Get dressed now and run to the meeting room, and I mean RUN!”

  Fera listened and started to change, as the real Fera realized this, she reached up and covered Vance’s eyes, this made him laugh, and Fera playfully smacked him with the other hand.