Silevethiel

by Andi O'Connor

  Time ceased to exist. Hazy visions danced before her eyes. Some were of the past. Some were of the future. Some would come to pass. Some would not. She knew with utmost certainty that she was the one who would decide their fate.

  Yet, their destiny was not the only thing that now hung in the balance, depending solely upon her. So too did her life. By killing the Drulaack and banishing the spirits possessing them, she’d demonstrated that she had the power to kill. But in order to achieve such a feat, she’d surrendered a part of herself.

  It was now up to her to decide if she deserved to reclaim what was rightfully hers. It was up to her to decide whether or not she would live. No one had the ability to come to her aid. She had to save herself.

  The figure of her father appeared below her. His arms outstretched before him, he beckoned to her to join him in the Spirit World. She wanted nothing more than to run to him, to feel him shelter her against his body in the familiar embrace she’d longed for since his death. She wanted to bury her face in his chest, feeling him run his fingers through her thick wavy hair. She wanted to feel his warm lips kiss her forehead, letting her know that they would be together forever and she would never be alone.

  She was about to give in, allowing the chains to freely carry her into the comforting arms of her father, when a vision of Laegon appeared above her. He too had his arms extended before him. Two toddlers ran to him, one boy and one girl. He knelt down, scooping them up in his arms.

  Suddenly the composition changed. Laegon and the children were joined by a slightly older likeness of herself. Irewen gasped. The children were her own.

  Squealing with delight, the little boy reached for her. She took him in her arms. Laegon turned to her. Smiling warmly, he wrapped his free arm around her waist. Irewen watched longingly as he leaned in and kissed her deeply.

  Without warning, the scene vanished. She was once again alone, plunging further into the abyss.

  “No!” she cried, struggling against her bonds. She yearned to return to her father, but she also desired the future with Laegon—with her children. Her heart was torn. She was caught in the vortex of her two loves. She hungered for both, yet she could only have one.

  The chains released their hold. Her body hovered weightlessly between both worlds.

  The time had come to choose.

  25

  IREWEN FELT A SOFT TINGLING AS SOMETHING brushed against her cheek. Sighing blissfully, she nuzzled closer to the warmth, relishing its tenderness. She slowly opened her eyes to see Laegon sitting on the edge of her bed. Gazing down upon her, his expression was a mixture of shock and elation.

  “Irewen,” he whispered, unable to hide his disbelief. “Do my eyes deceive me?”

  Timidly placing her hand over his, her lips spread into a smile. “No, Laegon. You are not deceived.”

  He smiled, his heart finally believing what his eyes told him to be true. “I cannot express the euphoria in my heart at seeing you awake, Irewen. We tried everything within our power to bring you back to us to no avail. Nothing produced even the slightest change in your condition. After countless days and nights of exhausting efforts, everyone believed you were forever lost. Only Silevethiel and I retained hope. But I must admit that even I was beginning to despair.”

  “There was nothing anyone could have done to aid me,” she replied. “That power resided with me, and me alone. After killing the enemy, I collapsed and felt myself being pulled into the darkness. Dozens of visions flashed before me while I fell. Some were of the future, but I knew they were not certain. They were linked to me. Their fate depended on mine. It was then that I was presented with two separate visions, each enticing in their own ways. One would come to pass if I lived, the other if I died. I was forced to choose.”

  Laegon’s voice was breathless with wonderment. “So our suspicions about you proved to be true.”

  Irewen furrowed her brow in confusion. “I do not understand.”

  “You have the blood of the four races.”

  She was astonished. “How can you be certain?”

  “We already know you have the blood of both the Wood Elves and the Green Elves. What you unleashed upon the Drulaack is an ability found only among the Sea Elves. By giving up a part of themselves, they are able to destroy an enemy by calling upon the element that they hold so dear to their hearts. Water. The visions of the future you experienced are proof you also have the gift of Foresight and the blood of the Light Elves. Because you chose to live, the events you saw will come to pass in one way or another.”

  She sat up. “Are you positive?”

  “Aye, Irewen. I am. You must still travel to the city of Lilendvelle as planned, for I believe that is the path you must follow. But in my heart, I also believe that you are the one spoken of in Irwiendel’s prophecy. You are the one who will unite the four elven races and stand against Elthad. You are the one the fate of our world depends upon.”

  For a time, Irewen mulled over his words, saying nothing. When she spoke, her voice held a velvety air of satisfaction that Laegon had never heard before.

  “I suspected I’d discover my elven blood contained that of all four races,” she explained, “but I must admit that receiving confirmation is a bit overwhelming. It presents me with an odd sort of contentment. A reassuring finality. After twenty years of wondering and speculation, my curiosity into my heritage has been answered. I don’t know names or details, but strangely, that does not matter. Finally, after so many years of feeling lost, I know who I am.

  “The truth does nothing to alter my charge. I will still search the Light Elves’ archives and discover the identity of the woman spoken of in the prophecy. Whether or not I am the one to unite the four Elven races, I will still do everything in my power to destroy Elthad and the Drulaack. Nothing has changed. But I feel different. I feel at peace with myself. At ease. Whole.”

  She wrinkled her nose, trying to find the appropriate words. “It is more than that though. I feel energized, the roots of which go far deeper than mere knowledge of my ancestry. For the first time in my life, I did not follow someone else’s orders. When I turned around to join the battle, I acted on what I believed to be right. I found the power to defeat the Drulaack on my own. I had no help from you, or Silevethiel, or anyone else. I realized what needed to be done, and I found a way to accomplish it.

  “When hanging in the balance, I made the choice to fight death. Many factors contributed to my decision to live, not the least of which was you. But in doing so, I liberated myself. I’m free. Reborn. I finally buried the girl I was and became the woman I was meant to be.”

  Saying nothing, Laegon leaned towards her, pressing his mouth firmly against hers. She returned his kiss hungrily, losing herself in their mutual passion. Slowly pulling him on top of her, they melted onto the bed, her heart fluttering in pure ecstasy. They were one: heart, body, and soul.

  She had made the right choice.

  VAELINEL ELVISH

  WORDS

  Belfir — white fir trees beloved by the Wood Elves of Mistwood

  Cíllér(en) — Speaker(s) in the common tongue is a Green Elf who has the ability to enter the Spirit World through their dreams and communicate with the dead.

  Crújend — hard bread used for long journeys (hardtack)

  Culthen — elven knight

  Kularen — greetings

  Míendvel — gift of the Wood Elves that allows a Protector to communicate mentally with his or her Guardian

  Naralé - run

  Penndryn — a small shop or store

  Vreln — strong swear word used by the Wood Elves (no literal translation)

  PHRASES

  In Sequential Order

  Quel é na? — What is it?

  Quel dé ün va? — What do you see?

  Ilé lednan, Irewen. — Sweet dreams, Irewen.

  Ün frayn, Laegon! — You fool, Laegon!

  Neryn la pün — Rest in peace.

  El a Lün kíra me gílanen — May t
he Light guide my hands.

  Na é lérn en va ün. — It is good to see you.

  Neryn la pün, mi frélánen — Rest in peace, my friends.

  Brégen, quel é dna? — Brégen, what is wrong?

  Quel ga lüllerden? — What has happened?

  Mi chül — My god

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Andi O’Connor is the author of the fantasy series, The Dragonath Chronicles, which will continue with the release of Awakening in March 2014. Andi is a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, the National Writers Association, The Association of Writers & Writing Programs, and the Boston Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and four dogs. You can visit Andi on her website at www.andioconnor.com.