by Jana LaPelle
Through our bond, I ask, “Oh my freaking goodness. What is he going to do? Tell me he’s not going to walk out? If you think for one moment that is going to happen you need to intervene.”
"Mo grá, this is their life, and they have to live it, but I will intervene if I think that Deck is going to make an ass of himself.”
“Thank the gods, because I think it’s getting ready to happen.”
“I will never let you go, Alexia! You are mine! I will protect you…” Declan all but shouts.
"Will you protect me to the point of suffocating me?" She demands. "If you cannot love me for who I am no matter what, then maybe we shouldn't be together, Declan. That's what love is. Being able to overlook a person's faults and accept them for who they are at the core and support each other in all things." Lexie says with unshed tears clinging to her eyes, ready to fall at any moment. "I need that from you Declan. Please?" Lexie whispers the last.
Declan looks like a caged animal as he paces, but he only has eyes for Lexie. Wanting to try to help reason out why this could be a good thing I say, "Declan, if our suspicions are correct then she will be stronger for the fight ahead of us." With that, he just glares at me as if I'm the root of all evil.
Then I turn to Alaric and ask, "Why the hell is he acting like an overbearing ass? We have been through this before, and it has gotten him nowhere."
"Because the kindred bond is not yet complete, this is all new to Declan, and his first instinct is to protect. They will need to complete the bond before he feels comfortable about this turn of events." Alaric explains.
I give Lexie's hand a quick squeeze and smile at her before saying, "Then, by all means, you two need to complete the bond. I say that we have a double binding ceremony tonight. Ours is just a formality at this point anyway, a reason to throw a party and celebrate. Before you both say a word, think about it. Clíodna, what are your thoughts on the matter at hand?" I ask as I turn to our resident goddess of love.
Everyone turns their attention to Clíodna as she addresses the couple in an authoritative tone. "Declan, come sit with your kindred. She needs your support as you need hers. You both are two halves of a whole coming together. Sometimes it takes a bit for the two halves to find a comfortable fit. Declan, any male in this room understands the need to protect your kindred. She is a woman. She is beautiful and fragile in the way we women are. She is to be the mother of your children. You must also learn to trust that she is strong, stronger than you know, in ways you have yet to see because you are so hell bent on protecting her." She pauses as she pins every male in the room with a look and addresses them all in turn, "You males need to understand that we females are in many ways stronger than you, and we will not be sidelined due to your sense of duty to protect. Our creator knew what he was doing when he gifted you males the female race. You are stronger with us. Without us you are weak! Remember that. Our creator knew you could not survive on your own!" Turning her attention back to Declan and Lexie she says, "Declan will you bind with your kindred completing the bond? Will you accept Alexia for whom and what she is in all things? If you do this, you will know what it means to surrender to your own vulnerabilities, and in doing so, you will become stronger than you are now." Clíodna concludes.
I hold my breath as I wait for Declan's answer, taking comfort in my mate. Everyone is quietly waiting for his decision as he looks at Lexie and says swallowing hard, "I'm just so damn scared. Scared of losing you, I've just found you. You're so young and tiny. Even though we have only just met, I don't know what I would do without you, if anything were ever to happen to you. I don't think I would survive in this world without you. Clíodna is right. I'm the one that's weak, and it scares me to acknowledge that. I worry that I will not be strong enough to protect you. I'm sorry for being an overbearing ass. I worry that I'm not good enough for you Alexia."
I look at Lexie to see her reaction and with tears shimmering in her eyes. She is literally glowing as she smiles and reaches over to cup Declan's face in her hands, "That has got to be the most romantic thing you have ever said to me. You're forgiven. I love you Declan, but you have to trust that we need to be equals in this relationship. I may be young, and I may be petite but that does not equal me being a child, and I will not be treated as one. I love you and your overbearing tight ass." There are snickers all around the terrace. "I want this, I want us, and I want to go through with the binding tonight. Are you agreeable to that with everything it entails? There is nothing that I want more in this world than to be your mate in all things. What do you say? Will you complete the binding?" She asks, hope shining on her face.
Declan looks so very serious as he replies, "You are mo neart, my strength. Yes, I will complete the binding, mo grá." As they lean in toward one another, foreheads together. Everyone claps, and there are smiles all around as the two kiss one another cementing their promise to each other.
Clíodna speaks up with a smile, "As I have always said, you are stronger together than apart. You have my blessing, and I will be happy to officiate the ceremony for both couples this evening.” She says, looking toward Danu before she continues, “Sister, we have much to do. As High Queen and Mother Goddess to the Realm, we will do this right. We will evoke the old ways for this binding ceremony, and these two couples will receive both our blessings, Dagda you too.”
With that, I'm brought back to my earlier thought about the Tree and ask, "The old ways? Did the old ways have the binding ceremony taking place in the sacred meadow? And if so, when did things change?"
Clíodna tilts her head as she looks at me studying my face as if trying to understand my thought process before she replies, "There has not been a true kindred binding ceremony in some time. That is why I could feel the energy of you and Alaric once you entered the realm, and that of Alexia and Declan so strongly. Over two hundred years ago the ceremonies fell out of fashion and couples sought to have their ceremonies take place in their perspective courts. That way they could schedule them at the time and place of their choosing. You see, the three of us scheduled the binding ceremonies to take place four times a year on the solstices. Any in the realm that sought to be bound would make their way to the sacred meadow to participate in a group ceremony. Then each couple would come forward to accept a blessing on their union from the three of us, Bridgid as well. The blessing took place under the canopy of the Tree. Afterward, there would be a huge celebration. Why do you ask, princess?"
"From what you just said, I think that the Tree of Life has been starved for over two centuries. The only way that she was susceptible to The Morrígan's curse was because she has been neglected. What better way for her to recharge than to have the binding ceremonies take place at the meadow. You said it yourself that from a couples binding, comes its own special majic. Think about it. The purpose of The Tree of Life is to balance us all and to keep the cycle of life going. She gives life and how does new life begin? When a male and female come together, it is the hope and beginning of new life. I hope that I'm wrong, but I don't think that I am. Think about how she appeared before and then after the binding ceremonies." I direct my statement to the god and goddess in the room.
“By the Creator, how could I have missed this? Danu, Dagda? Could this be? If Ashlinn is correct and I really think she is, then it would help us to understand the decline in paired kindred mates.”
The three converse amongst themselves, as the rest of us, wait patiently for them to come to their own epiphany. For whatever reason I know this to be true, Faerie has neglected the Tree of Life, and that neglect has resulted in the decline of kindred mates and has weakened the Tree to the point of decline. "Alaric I fear that we may run out of time. I know that I'm not ready for what's to come, but now we have to find a way to strengthen the Tree so that she can hold on long enough for us to break the curse that the Morrígan has placed on her."
"Then it's time that we get busy. Everyone, the morning is getting away
from us. The girls need to begin training in earnest for the rest of the morning. Then we will break for lunch. After lunch, we'll meet back here in the library to reconvene and continue working on bringing us all up to speed on the histories, the prophecy, blood contracts, and anything else we need to work through. Lunch will be at one. Come on, let's get going." Alaric says to everyone. We all agree to reconvene at lunch.
Chapter 27
(Ashlinn)
Combat training sucks! Once again Tolin has handed me my ass, and it is firmly planted on the ground. I glare up at him as he laughs at me. Again. To think that I was looking forward to this torture, we've been at it for over two hours now. Lexie is doing no better than I am at the present moment and we're both catching our breath before standing. The Guard was not interested in seeing what we know of Taekwondo, but I still think that it could help us if we incorporate what we know with how the Guard is training us in techniques known to the realm. So, like always, I make a decision to change things up. All the moves they're trying to instill work best with brute force. The guys have that in spades. They outweigh us by at least a hundred and fifty pounds if not more. It's time to see if I can get the upper hand on Tolin, even though he's taking pleasure in my ass becoming overly acquainted with the ground, I can tell he's holding back. I look around the training ground in the courtyard and see that everyone is training, some in hand to hand and others in swordplay. Alaric and Declan are going at each other with short swords, and even though he is engrossed in his exercise, he continues to monitor me through our bond. If I'm going to change it up now is as good a time as any.
I think static through our link as I get up and take my stance. Looking over to catch Lexie’s eye I wink and take the sitting stance. She smiles and does the same. Through our link, I hear Alaric ask, “What are you up to?” I choose not to answer and direct my attention to my opponent. “Alright T, come and get it.”
“Ash that’s not the stance we’re working on.” Tolin tries to correct me.
"Are you chicken? Scared to try something new? Maybe Ferg will be willing to spar with me if you're feeling a little out of your element." I taunt. Giving a sidelong look at Lexie and grin as TNT size us both up. Then they shrug and stand before us with a cocky bring it on look.
I quickly move into my walking stance and then drop back into my fighting stance as Tolin makes a move toward me. I'm able to dodge him sinking lower into my stance. I'm now in my own zone as my brain slows the scene for me to determine Tolin's weak points. I quickly determine my next move as I dodge his next attack quickly utilizing a fingertip strike to a pressure point in his abdomen, causing Tolin to exhale and bend at the waist in pain. I quickly deliver another strike to the pressure point in his neck bringing him to his knees. Before I can deliver the next blow, he staggers back up to his feet. My stance changes to my fighting stance and before Tolin can recover I deliver a roundhouse kick to the back of his leg, downing him again, at which point I deliver an elbow strike to the back of his head pulling back ever so much, not wanting to really hurt Tolin. He goes down with a heavy thud. I look over and see Lexie has taken down Torin as well. Both males are slow to get up, and we are both still in our sitting stances ready to go another round. Ferg is the first to recover as I hear his deep bellowing laugh. Then the others join in. Lorcan, I have noticed, is always quietly observant, and he steps forward.
Smiling Lorcan says, "We can definitely work with that. I think that Ēolieus and I should take over. Their training will require a little more… finesse. We can also learn from these young ladies. It's obvious that the two are outmatched physically by any of us but utilizing their fighting technique, they were able to determine weaknesses in their opponent and deliver blows that were able to take their opponents down. Alaric, I hate to admit it, but we should have listened to them initially. "
I grimace as I look at Tolin and say, "I'm sorry Tolin. It was not my intent to switch partners. You know I love you right?" I wait for his reaction.
"You are so dead." He says in a completely deadpan voice. I squeal as he reaches for me with his huge hands. They grab for my waist, and he begins tickling me. I'm helpless but to succumb to a bout of giggles.
He is relentless in his quest to make me pee my pants. I squirm and wiggle and try to get away to no avail. In moments I’m panting and begging for him to stop. Secretly, I love his playfulness and think that this would be what it would be like if I had grown up with a brother. When he does finally stop, he says with a smirk, “And that is what you get, little bit, for holding out on me.”
"What?" I ask indignantly. Stomping my boot clad feet, I go toe to toe with the large elf in front of me. "You… You… You giant ass! You didn't want to see what we could do. You shut us down before we could even show you. You got what you deserved, and I'll kick your ass again, Tolin. Let's go, big boy!" Tolin doubles over laughing, and as I'm about to deliver a blow to his head when my mate intervenes.
“Easy Άlainn, remember he’s your friend.” Alaric grabs me from behind as he whispers into my ear holding me close, my back to his front.
As always, I become totally distracted by Alaric. I turn into his embrace. "I'll think about it," I say with a smirk before pulling him down for a kiss. My stomach decides it's time to eat as it rumbles loudly. "Oh. My. God. Really, what is up with my growly stomach? You would think three plus plates of food would hold me over until lunch." Alaric laughs and pulls me in for another kiss. I whisper, "I love you, Elf-Man. Let's go eat."
Lunch is really thirty minutes away, but because we're so famished, we make our way to the dining room in the Keep. They are just beginning to put food out, and my mouth is watering. I breathe in the scent of my mate and say in a low husky voice, "Distract me." Wow. Where did that come from?
He decides to pull the tip of my ear into his mouth, and I can hardly hold my weight as his tongue slides over that sensitive spot. "Oh. Merciful gods.” I shudder and say. I turn to him, and we are helpless but to succumb to our passion for one another. Oh, my freakin' goodness, I love this male. He is the only one that can make me feel this way. For a moment we are lost in each other before I hear someone distantly clearing their throat, and we pull out of the kiss.
As we pull back from one another, I see two people I have not yet met standing behind Alaric. I look to my mate for direction as he smiles broadly and says, "Mother, Father. I didn't expect you until a little later in the day. I'm so glad you made it. We're about to sit for our mid-day meal. Please, join us." He takes my left hand in his much larger right hand, and our mate markings tingle and almost come to life, I look down to see that they are glowing ever so slightly. That's new, but I don't have time to ponder. "First, I'm happy to introduce my kindred. Mother, Father it is my honor to introduce you to Ashlinn Ryllae Elan, after tonight to be Faerondarl.” Alaric is beaming.
The whole time I am trying to figure a way out of an awkward situation as we have just been caught in a rather intimate moment. There really isn't one. Not to mention, I don't know how to curtsy. I'm in skinny jeans and a tank top as well. I'm filthy from all the tumbles to the ground that I and my ass made over the last several hours and I inwardly cringe because I know that I look nothing like a princess in their eyes. I take the two of them in, and without a doubt, they look like the royalty that they are. His mother is in a beautiful gown, and his father is decked out in dress leathers and weapons. Both are stunning, standing before me staring at the disheveled young woman that their son has become entangled with, and I feel my face flush. I suddenly feel lacking.
Alaric looks at me as my gaze drops to my feet feeling uncertain, and then through our bond I hear, “Don’t. You are beautiful and perfect for me. I love you, mo grá. You are my perfect match. You need to have faith that others see you the way I do. Stop fussing.”
Aloud Alaric says, “Ashlinn, meet my parents, King and Queen of the Northern Territories, Άemarick and Airmed Faerondarl. We’re famished after
training this morning. Please join us for lunch.”
Alaric’s mother is beautiful and to say that Alaric takes after his mother is an understatement. They have the same hair and eye coloring, she steps forward to take my hand and I panic, “I’m so sorry my lady, I need to wash up. I’m filthy after training.” Airmed arches her brow at her son, and then to me, she says with a smile, “Go wash up, quickly. I can’t wait to get to know you. I have so many questions for you.”
I race from the room looking for a washroom and panic as I have no idea where a washroom is located on this level. When I get back to Alaric, I'm going to insist on an extensive tour. In my distraction, I full on run into a beautiful blonde, who of course towers above me. "My lady, how can I help you?'
Wow, I know that voice, “Claire?”
“Yes, my lady.” She says.
“Please forgive me for the other night. I’m so very sorry.” I sputter.
She smiles down at me. Really? I thought elves were supposed to be short and tiny. I guess that only applies to me. I appear to be the only vertically challenged elf that I’ve met.
“Nothing to forgive, my lady. How can I help you?” She asks.
"One, I need to find a washroom, and two, Lexie is having her binding ceremony tonight as well. Do you have something in green that you may have made for me, that she could where? We are similar in height and size overall. I plan on wearing that bronze beauty you made tonight."
“First, the washroom is right behind you, and secondly I have the perfect gown for Alexia tonight.” She says with a smile.
