Ariel had no way of knowing that she was about to begin the most important journey of her life.
Chapter 8
For the second time Ariel climbed nervously onto Reynaldo’s front porch. She noticed this time that the front door was closed. For a moment she wondered if she had chosen the wrong time and that Reynaldo was not at home. The thought filled her with dread as she realised it would be extremely difficult to get back into the orphanage undetected. She also knew that the penalty for her brief escape would be severe. In a combination of frustration and disappointment Ariel was about to turn away convinced that her agonised decision had come to nothing. Purely on impulse Ariel lightly touched her hand against the door and then drew back as it clicked open and swung inwards. Questions raced through Ariel’s mind. Did she make this happen? Was the door loose? Hesitating for just a moment Ariel entered the house, her footsteps making the old floorboards creak as she walked down the dimly lit hallway. Ariel called out.
She called again, uncertainly. ‘Reynaldo?’ and continued to walk down the dingy hallway.
‘Come into the kitchen, Ariel,’ he responded.
She entered the kitchen and noticed that Reynaldo was sitting in the same position as he was the first time that she had come to his cottage. His ragged clothing looked the same as did his appearance of frailty; his kind, comforting smile contrasted with his appearance. The difference this time was that there was an unusually shaped wooden box sitting on the table in front of him. The box was covered in symbols that looked foreign to Ariel and had a star-shaped lock that seemed to be made of a material that looked like cork. Sitting down she waited for Reynaldo to start talking.
Reynaldo began. ‘I am pleased to see you again, Ariel. I hope you have decided to return to Walhalla.’
Ariel swallowed. ‘I have. I am still not sure that all of this is real. How can I be certain?’
Reynaldo smiled. ‘I am not surprised that you feel this way, Ariel; it must seem very strange to you. Let me put your mind to rest; I will be with you, Ariel.’
Reynaldo paused, his forehead wrinkling slightly. ‘You must understand, I cannot make you do anything you are unwilling to do. That means, however, that I cannot show or tell you more of your origins unless you decide to trust me.’
Ariel could not help but look at this man and wonder what had he meant by show her more.
She noticed a slight tremor in his hand as he gestured to the box sitting in front of him. As he gazed at the box, he spoke. ‘I brought this with me from Walhalla. It will make it possible for us to return there.’
Reaching for the wooden box, Reynaldo touched the small, star-shaped lock and murmured something that Ariel could not understand. She was surprised to hear a small squeaking sound as if the lock was somehow alive and had responded to Reynaldo. Her mouth dropped open as the lock began to move. It trembled for a moment then folded itself down causing the lid to spring open and fall back.
Reynaldo heard Ariel take a sharp breath and turned to her with a slight smile and began to explain.
‘The lock holding the chest closed is a living object. It is called a dreaming star and is found in the deepest forests of Walhalla. It responds to certain words as you just heard. It is used for the chest because if the right word is not used, nothing in the known living world will make it open.’
Something inside was glowing. Ariel gasped and slightly pulled back in her seat at her first glimpse of a truly magical object. Reynaldo slid the chest towards Ariel and nodded his head. She leaned over and looked inside the chest to see a pendant.
‘This is called the Palladox Charm. It is how we knew something had happened to your parents. When your parents left Walhalla it was around your father’s neck. However, within a short time, it had returned to its protective chest. The chest had been open after your parents left as it can only be sealed when the charm is inside. This is how we knew something terrible had happened to your parents. The charm has been enchanted so it can only be worn by members of your family and it has been passed down many generations. The nature of the enchantment means it would be quite dangerous for those not of your bloodline to even touch the charm.’
Ariel frowned for a moment looking from the pendant to Reynaldo and back again. He had told her that only her direct family could touch it, yet how had he travelled here? Clearly he could not touch it as he seemed to wait for her to lift it from the chest. So much of this did not make sense, so many questions just kept popping into Ariel’s mind.
Ariel could see it was a gold and black pendant shaped a little like a hollow triangle inside a braided gold circle. At the centre of the triangle was a glittering black stone. ‘The stone is called ebonite and it is the only one, we believe, to be left in Walhalla. The pendant is a magical object created by the ancient ones of our world.’
‘Ancient Ones?’ Ariel asked a small frown creasing her brow.
Reynaldo held up his hand to still her questions. ‘There is time for all of your questions later, Ariel,’ he said simply.
She could not imagine how a piece of jewellery was going to transport them to another world. Ariel then reminded herself that, not that long ago, she found it incredible that she came from another world. For a moment it seemed as though one of her story books had become real. She stared at the charm sitting on the table in front of her. Without realising it her hand moved towards the charm as if driven by an instinct she did not understand. Consciously she pulled her hand back but not before feeling warmth emanating from the charm and seeing a soft glow when her hand was inches from it. It was almost as if this object had some kind of awareness, almost as if it knew Ariel was near.
‘There is quite a lot I need to tell you before we make the leap. As you may have guessed your parents were very important people in Walhalla.’ He paused, then said, ‘Ariel they were our king and queen, which of course makes you, Princess Ariel.’
Ariel stared at Reynaldo unable to believe what she had heard. For a moment she thought she must have imagined what he had just said. Her mind kept replaying his last statement. She was a princess! How was that possible?
‘Ariel, you need to know many things about Walhalla before we proceed. Firstly, you need to know we have a different language to the one you have always used.’
Ariel suddenly had a flash of a memory that she had cherished since early childhood. Now she finally understood why the song her mother had sung seemed strange and exotic. As this thought passed through her mind an extraordinary revelation occurred. The words of the song began to separate and, with a sense of disbelief, Ariel realised that she understood the words that her mother had sung.
She turned wide eyes to Reynaldo, her face pale and her breath short. She could not prevent her eyes travelling to the strange wooden chest that Reynaldo had brought. The symbols on it began to circle and Ariel realised that she knew the words that they represented.
Reynaldo was watching her face closely and nodded when he could see that she had accepted that English was not her native tongue.
Reynaldo continued. ‘Walhalla had been a peaceful land for thousands of your Earth years. However, approximately twelve of your Earth years ago, a man named Largo began creating unrest. He incited others to rebellion. Soon he had quite a large following, including some of the more unpleasant elements of Walhalla. The men he had selected were chosen for their lawlessness, brutality and cunning. They, under Largo’s leadership, were determined to overthrow your parents’ reign.’
He frowned to himself for a moment, pain clear on his face.
‘Ariel, what these men did was regicide; the killing of a king. It is a crime that had never occurred in all of Walhalla’s history.’
Ariel was riveted. Listening to Reynaldo her emotions were a confusing whirl of hope, anticipation and fear. She felt a nervous flutter in her stomach. She had spent most of her life dreaming of different worlds. Was it possible that some instinct of which she was unaware had been trying to tell her of her origins? Could this be
the reason that she had always felt like an outsider? Was this why she gravitated toward the make-believe worlds contained in her story books? Was there some part of her that knew that she was not of this world? Reynaldo’s descriptions did contain many of the elements of one of her favourite stories. A mystical land of kings and queens: a land where people plotted against the parents she had never known. She could not help but wonder what kind of people her parents had been. She also wondered why would this man Largo want to take their kingdom from them.
‘Largo became powerful and quite dangerous. We discovered that there was a plot to assassinate your parents. We, in the Royal Council, decided that the safest place for them would be as far away from Walhalla as possible. We had only intended them to be gone long enough for the Royal Forces to overpower Largo,’ Reynaldo said.
Then his face changed. ‘If we had known that we were sending them into greater danger, we would not have chanced it.’
Ariel could hear the sadness in his voice and realised that he cared a great deal for her parents. He had told her that he had worked for her parents. Was there more to his position than that of a servant? How else would he have developed such affection for the people she had never known?
‘Ariel, you need to know that shortly after your parents were transported here, we think Largo sent one of his agents after them. This man may have been responsible for the accident that killed your parents.’
Ariel frowned.
‘But you just told me that this charm thing is the only way people can move between worlds. How did this man follow them?’
Reynaldo smiled as though pleased at Ariel’s insight and understanding.
‘We don’t know. The Royal Council had always believed that the Palladox Charm was the only method. It concerns us that Largo has found another way to move between worlds.’ He hesitated. ‘Largo has gained great power since your parents’ deaths. He has created a government where those who oppose him are killed.’
In shock Ariel stared at Reynaldo. Her eyes wide and her mouth open.
‘You want me to go back to a place where I could be killed?’
‘I know I am putting you at risk. However, Ariel, you are Walhalla’s only hope. What was once a rich and bountiful world has become a waste-land under Largo’s rule. I understand your fears, but you have something of which, as yet, you are not aware. It is something that will protect you and will make Largo reluctant to touch you.’
Confused Ariel looked at Reynaldo.
‘I have something? Do you mean like a weapon or something?’
Reynaldo appeared to be considering her question.
‘Not exactly a weapon as such; it will be easier to teach you about this gift when we reach Walhalla.’
Reynaldo paused again. He had an important question that was waiting to be asked. A minute or two passed then Reynaldo spoke.
‘So, Ariel, what is it to be? Will you come with me to Walhalla? Or do you wish to return to Riverview?’
She hesitated.
Ariel sat for a few moments turning everything over in her mind. The choices were not as easy as she thought they would be. One alternative was trying to get back into the orphanage where she knew Mrs. Blackwell would be awaiting her. She could only imagine the punishments she would have to suffer after her short escape.
The idea of returning to her grim existence and unpromising future seemed unappealing. The alternative was potentially risking her life to return to her parents’ home. While the prospect of the dangers facing her made her want to take her chances with Mrs. Blackwell, Ariel knew that she would never forgive herself if she threw this opportunity away. It really was the only hope she could get to know her parents, her home and maybe have a future. Finally, a sense of resolution filled her as she faced Reynaldo.
Taking a deep breath Ariel replied to him. ‘I am ready to go with you, but we need to go now before I have a chance to change my mind.’
Reynaldo heard the slight tremor in her voice and he was impressed at the courage and determination in her face. Nodding his approval Reynaldo continued.
‘Are you ready to go?’
Ariel nodded. ‘I’m ready.’
‘Very well,’ he said. ‘We must prepare, as time is of the essence.’
Reynaldo nodded his head towards the case and Ariel knew that he wanted her to lift the charm out. Hesitating for just a moment Ariel removed the charm from the chest.
‘When you are ready, place the charm around your neck and then take my hand. Hold the charm tightly, Ariel. Focus on your goal of returning to Walhalla.’
Ariel lifted the charm, surprised at its weight. There was something powerful and ancient about the item in her hand and for reasons Ariel could not explain she was shaken. The charm glowed gently and slowly she slipped the heavy chain around her neck. Marco’s face flashed through her mind and she realised it was very likely that she would never see him again. She noticed that Reynaldo picked up a small bag from the floor and placed the chest inside, keeping the bag in his right hand. Then glancing at Reynaldo, she took his outstretched left hand, closed her eyes, and breathed in deeply. She closed her other hand around the charm, privately thinking nothing would happen. A feeling of warmth penetrated her hand and slitting her eyes open she could see that the charm was glowing brightly inside her closed fist. Trying to visualise what Walhalla would look like, she concentrated on the words Walhalla and home.
Suddenly she felt her feet leave the floor. An odd sensation of spinning went through her. She could feel Reynaldo holding her hand tightly but was too overcome with the strange feeling of weightlessness to protest. Ariel lifted her eyes a fraction and saw a whirl of colours and lights unlike any she had ever seen. Ariel could feel her stomach churning at the peculiar flying feeling rushing through her. A strange whistling sound was all that she could hear, as if she was standing in a strong wind. Just when she began to think this sensation would last forever, her feet hit solid ground. Slowly opening her eyes she looked, for the first time, on Walhalla. It was an eerie semi-darkness. She could make out some trees ahead of her and small shrubs closer to her and Reynaldo; an odd cackling noise could be heard in the distance.
She turned to Reynaldo to ask what made such a sound and felt her jaw drop. The man she had known suddenly looked at least twenty years younger. His thin white hair was thicker and streaks of black were visible even in the dim light. His face was much less lined and a neat moustache aided the impression of youthfulness; somehow he looked taller. He was dressed in a full-sleeved white shirt with some sort of long waistcoat over it. His shabby grey trousers had disappeared and had been replaced by close fitting leather breeches. The outfit was finished with knee high leather boots. Seeing her expression he threw back his head and laughed. Ariel wondered if she had undergone such a dramatic change and reached up to touch her face. As she did she noticed that she was wearing a blouse with long, puffed sleeves. Looking down Ariel saw a leather waistcoat held together by a long cord. Her jeans had turned into soft long suede pants with a skirt over the top that was slit down the front and back. On her small feet were soft leather boots. She went to brush her hair back from her face and noticed that it was longer. Swinging her head she felt it ripple down her back.
Ariel noticed the bag Reynaldo had picked up had turned into a small leather satchel with a long cord and it was now sitting comfortably on Reynaldo’s shoulder.
Reynaldo suddenly dropped to one knee and bowed his head, his voice reverent.
‘Welcome home, Princess Ariel.’
Chapter 9
Reynaldo found himself lost in his own thoughts as he became accustomed to being home. He knew that he should simply feel an enormous sense of relief that he had accomplished what he had set out to do but, he also knew, that they both had a long road ahead of them. He had found the Princess Ariel and brought her to her homeland. Possibly he had also found the means to correct one of the biggest wrongs in Walhalla’s history. His mind could not help but wonder if he had p
layed a part in that wrong. As he walked he became lost in memories of another time.
Reynaldo had grown up on a farm between Ten Oaks and Little Handleton. His mother, Lady Marissa, had been an attendant of the Queen Clotilda; mother of King Rufus and Ariel’s great grandmother. She had a natural grace and elegance that seemed out of place in her rural environment. Reynaldo occasionally caught an expression of wistfulness on her lovely face; an expression of yearning for what she missed as a Lady in Waiting to Queen Clotilda and a member of the Royal Court. Reynaldo’s older sister had wed and moved to North Alderidge when Reynaldowas only eight seasons old; so following his father’s death Reynaldo felt as though he and his mother were alone.
An unexpected invitation to attend the frail Queen Ariel arrived when Reynaldo was roughly twenty four seasons, only slightly younger than Ariel was now. The Queen had fallen gravely ill and her husband, King Rufus, was overwhelmed with grief and fear. In desperation he reached out to the gentle woman whom he remembered had been such a favourite of his mother, the Lady Marissa.
The Lady Marissa arrived only a few days later bringing her young son, Reynaldo. Shortly after their arrival and to the grief and shock of the entire court, the much loved queen passed away. Reynaldo’s mother, Marissa, stayed in Golden City; her concern over the wellbeing of the bereaved king was uppermost in her mind.
She and Reynaldo found a small cottage in Golden City and Reynaldo had to become accustomed to city life. The boy, who had always lived on a farm, now was as far away from that environment as was possible. For a long time he swung between anger and loneliness. Eventually, however, he got used to his new home. Very soon, he became aware of an increasing closeness between his mother and the newly widowed king.
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