by Jana LaPelle
"I promise. Be safe and remember what we discussed, okay? One month." I say as I move to hug him, "I love you, Father. I'm counting on you and Alaric to make it happen." Pulling back, I look up at him with a tight smile on my face.
“Ashlinn?” He looks at me questioningly. I just slightly shake my head, indicating that this is not the time.
My mother has been observing our little exchange, and she looks at me shrewdly before turning her attention to Rhespen, and she effectively changes the subject so I can say one final goodbye to Alaric and the Guard. Each of them gives me a brief hug, with the exception of Tolin, who pulls me into a huge bear hug and tells me to save some cake for him. I can't help but laugh. I love the teasing side of his personality.
Alaric reaches for me and pulls me in for a kiss. He means for it to be gentle and loving but I can't help but deepen it. I'm beginning to feel like I'm drowning and he’s my lifeline. For an instant, I can't let go, and I cling to him for a moment longer before I pull away resting my forehead on his chest as I compose myself. I look up to see concern written all over his handsome face.
“Ashlinn, I think maybe I should stay. I can send Declan in my place. I’m sure that the men would understand.” He says.
"Absolutely not. This legion of warriors is expecting to see their prince, their commander at arms. It is your duty to ride out to greet them and escort them back." I say, pulling on my big girl panties and putting on my game face.
“Ash, all of the sudden I have a really bad feeling about tonight.” He says, and a small v forms between his eyebrows as he cups my cheek in his calloused hand.
“Alaric, you know I’m right. This is something that you must do. You are their prince and next in line to the throne. You need to have faith that everything will work out as it is meant to.” I say with as much determination as I can muster. I meet his gaze, and I can't help but let my gaze wander over his form. I had no idea that I would ever find a male so attractive when he’s decked out, head to toe, with swords, daggers, throwing knives, you name it. It looks good on him, and I smile before saying, "I love you, Elf-Man. Don’t take too long to come for me.”
Alaric is silent for a moment before he nods and kisses me one last time before saying, "Remember what I said, mo grá. I will set the world on fire for you. I will never be separated from you for long. I love you. I hope to be back before you wake." With those last words, he kisses my forehead. My kindred then walks over to Tempest to mount up. Alaric signals the elves manning the gate to the Keep, and as the gates swing open, he spurs Tempest to head out and with one last glance over his shoulder to me he rides out of the Keep with his companions. Tolin waves his signature salute wave, and my father nods with his grave expression still on his face. He knows that I'm not taking care of myself the way I should, and he's right. That will have to change no matter what I will face after tonight. As the entourage rides out of sight, I turn without a word to Lexie and my mother to head back inside. At this point, I want nothing more than to hide in my rooms until after the sun sets. The weight of what is to come is unbearable.
“Ashlinn, what is going on with you?” Danu asks from behind me grabbing my elbow and turning me toward her before I can even make it to the stairs.
“Do you know how tired I am of everyone asking me that?” I snap. “You of all people should know what is wrong with me!” I demand, officially losing it now that Alaric is gone. I am so practiced now in tempering my link to him that I hold these emotions close to me, not allowing him to sense my inner turmoil. How very close I am to losing it. My mother jerks back as if I’ve slapped her and I’m instantly sorry for the words that have tumbled from my mouth. I shake my head as I say, “I… I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I’m sorry. I’m just under a lot of stress.”
Danu takes a deep breath and says, “I deserved that. This whole situation is my fault. Come on; your father is right you have not been eating like you should. Let's see what Maith has planned for dinner. Maybe she will let us eat in the kitchen with her tonight. The dining room will feel empty with so many gone this evening. Just so you know, I do not plan on leaving your side this evening. I struck that infernal deal, and I will be there to help you, however I may. I'm so sorry that I did this to you and Alaric.” She says to me with a pained expression on her face.
Not thinking about it I pull her into a hug, “I know you are, and this isn't your fault. I'm just irritable and being a bitch. This is something that was prophesized. It would have come to pass one way or the other.”
“Ashlinn, is it happening tonight?” I hear Lexie ask from behind me.
I sigh, knowing now that the cat is out of the bag. Thank the gods and goddesses that Alaric has left the premises. "It won't be long now. Once the blood contract is evoked, I will need to meet up with Jasmine. She will be waiting for me at the entrance to the forest. I’m just not sure how I will get out of the Keep. It’s on lockdown and Declan will not allow me to pass. Alaric will have given very explicit instruction. Even though he knows that this will happen inevitably, I know he wants to be here.”
“I’ll take you.” My mother says resolutely. “I have a few choice words for the dark prince. Come, girls, let’s get you both fed and ready for this evening's events. I will hear no argument. You will have a filling meal. Rhespen is right; you’re neglecting yourself.” She is so mothering that I squeeze her hand in mine as I fight back the tears. It pisses me off that I'm so emotional. I have been preparing for this night for some time now, and I need to get it together.
As we enter the kitchen, Maith greets us and has anticipated our arrival. She has set a place for the three of us on the island, and I see that she plans to join us. It's a simple but hearty meal of shepherd's pie, along with fresh baked rolls and we settle ourselves for our dinner. "Thank you Maith, this looks wonderful," I say as the aroma of the meal assaults my senses and my stomach growls.
“You’re very welcome dear. There’s plenty here so eat up.” She says with a smile as she continues to putter around the kitchen. She reminds me so much of Millie, and I wonder how they are doing as I take a moment to reminisce about home.
Tackling my evening meal, I turn to Lexie and ask, "How is it going with the witch? I hear she has been cooperating to an extent. Is my role still the same? Am I only to retrieve Tarron's blood?"
“Ash, everything hedges on you being able to acquire, even just, a drop of Tarron's blood but he has to give it to you willingly. Otherwise, nothing we do will nullify the blood contract short of his death." Lexie says grimly.
“Tell me a little more about the mechanics of the blood contract. How exactly does it bind me to him?” I ask while I reach for a second roll, they’re still warm from the oven as I break it open and smooth the now warm butter over the soft texture and watch as it melts into the bread.
Danu answers this time, "At the time the contract was drawn up, it was to be an arranged marriage or binding if you will. So in theory, it should act much the same as a kindred binding, but it is tainted with dark majic. I believe that you will feel drawn to him much the same as to your kindred, but it's not a true binding link. I had hoped that once you and Tarron met, that you both would indeed be drawn to one another and that over a period of time, the blood contract would no longer be the binding link between you. Now that you are bound to Alaric through a true kindred and mate bond the dark majic in the blood contract will have to work that much harder. Once evoked there will be a duality that will plague you. You will suffer a great deal of pain at being pulled away from your true mate while being drawn to Tarron." My mother swallows hard and looks away with a trace of tears in her eyes.
Lexie speaks up, “Ashlinn, I’m going to place a new charm on your pendant to ward off any additional dark majic that you may be subjected to during your time with Tarron and his dark horde. If you don’t mind, can I have your pendant for a moment? Once I place the charm on your pendant, and it’s placed ba
ck around your neck no one but you should be able to remove it, and it should protect you." Lexie smiles at me tentatively while waiting for me to remove my pendant.
I reach to unclasp my necklace as she gets up and goes about finding a stone bowl, a candle, some paper and a writing utensil. Once obtaining those objects, she then pulls a four leaf clover and a smooth bloodstone from a side pocket. I’m fascinated at how quickly she has been able to acclimate to her new found Druid abilities. She slides the paper and charcoal pencil my way and says, ‘Write down in four words the four most important things in your life while I continue to set up.”
I hesitate, and I'm not sure how to proceed. Then I ask, “Does what I write have to be viewed before the charm is cast?”
Lexie and my mother look at me questioningly before Lexie replies, "No. Not if you don't want us to see what you have written. The charm will work the same way regardless. Do either of you mind lighting the candle? I am quickly learning that the fire element is not my affinity element. Even though I seem to have a fiery disposition when it comes to Declan, that elf can set me off with just a few words." She says with a dreamy look to her gaze as she thinks about her kindred.
“You can say that again.” I smile, and with a snap of my fingers, I'm able to pull a spark to me and light the candle.
Lexie grins brightly at me and says, “I’m so freakin jealous of that ability. You have no idea. That’s just so cool.”
Smiling back at Lexie, I take the paper and pencil with me and walk to another counter away from everyone and set about writing my four words.
Alaric.
Babe.
Family.
Balance.
I thought long and hard about the last word but knew it to represent so very much. We all have to have balance. I'm going to need balance. The Realms need balance and will only have balance through the Tree of Life. The other three were easy. I fold my piece of paper into quarters and rejoin the others sliding it across the counter to Lexie. She places my pendant, the four-leaf clover, and the bloodstone in the bowl. She picks up the paper and proceeds to say, "The symbols on your pendant, the four triquetrae, are symbols of protection among other things, the four leaf clover is also a symbol of protection as well as a symbol of luck, the bloodstone holds properties of protection." Then she begins. She holds the paper in one hand and the candle in the other and begins to chant in what I believe to be ancient Irish Gaelic. As she does so, her eyes take on that opaque white look that I'm not sure I will ever get used to. As her chant ends, she lights the paper on fire and drops it into the stone bowl. There is a sudden swoosh as the charm takes hold before the fire goes out with dramatic pop.
I look into the bowl and the only thing left is my pendant. I can’t help but ask, “Where did the bloodstone go?”
Lexie’s eyes begin to return to normal as she says, “They are bound to the charm on your pendant. As are the four most important things I asked you to write down.”
“What do you mean bound? I wrote Alaric’s name on that piece of paper.” I say in a bit of a panic.
“Ash, it’s okay. I knew you would. Maybe it would be better explained as the essence of what you feel for your kindred and the other three things you wrote down, has been captured and bound to the pendant. It truly has become your talisman in more ways than one.” Lexie says as she takes my hand in hers and gives a little squeeze. “I can’t help but think that there’s something else that is worrying you. Is there anything that you want to talk about?” She asks.
I'm becoming excellent at deflecting as I say, "What do either of you know about the Sword of Light? I know it is one of the Four Jewels that is mentioned in the Prophecy but other than that? You both should know that I visited the Tree of Life a few nights ago. She was very cryptic, but she told me that I needed to find the Sword of Light and fulfill my destiny, something about a new line of guardians that would begin with me."
I had forgotten that Maith was even in the room as she spoke up to say, "My dear child, that can't be right. The Histories tells us that the previous guardians were all male after the Cherubim were called back to the Overworld. As for the Sword of Light, Legend has it that when the last guardian passed from the land of the living to the Overworld, the Sword of Light mysteriously disappeared."
"What do you mean, it disappeared?" I ask. "I really think that I need to find that sword. I've been thinking about our conversation. It would appear, that even if we're able to overthrow The Morrígan and reverse the curse that has been cast, the Tree of Life is convinced it won't be enough to save her."
My mother looks at me and then the others as she says, "All of this happened so very long ago, it's difficult to remember the details. After Adam and Eve had been cast out of the Garden of Eden, the Cherubim were assigned a station as protector or sentinel to God's Garden. That happened before the Overworld, and the Underworld were permanently sealed off to the Mortal and the Otherworld Realms. In those days the Drakon Dragons were appointed as guardians to The Realms, but that was so very long ago. I digress, our Creator decided to move the location of the garden to be, really, in a Realm all her own. Once our Creator felt that The Realms were stable, and everything was working as it should, the portals to The Realms of the afterlife were permanently closed. When that happened, the Cherubim were called home, and a new order of guardians was appointed. The Sword of Light was gifted to the Order of the Guardians as a symbol to enforce our Creators will. If the sword indeed disappeared, then it would have been called home. If it were called home, then we will have to find a way to open the portal to the Overworld. Although I'm not certain, that can be accomplished."
I sigh, “That’s all? Why does it feel as if the odds are always stacked against us?" I catch myself rubbing my forehead in agitation. I'm so very tired. I just want to lie down and take a nap, but I know that I can't. The sun has set, and it is only a matter of time now. The storm that looked to be on the horizon is rolling in as I look outside to see the lightening that lights up the darkening night and notice that the wind has picked up. I look at the women in the room, and I say, “I love you all, so much. Thank you for all that you have done and are doing. I'm going to retire to my chambers." I say, fingering my talisman as I get up to walk upstairs. The Keep is quiet as I make my way to the steps. That is when the first tendrils of dread begin to wrap around me. My breathing catches in my throat as I feel dark majic wrap around me. It has begun.
Chapter 4
(Alaric)
From the moment I left, I’ve been uneasy. If I were being honest, I've been unsettled for days. Ashlinn has erected a barrier in our link, and I'm not sure why. The one thing I know is that she is trying to protect me from something. When I get back to the Keep, we’re going to discuss her need to protect me. We’re supposed to be equals, and I have given her long enough to come to terms with whatever is bothering her. What has me worried is that I can’t help but feel like Ashlinn was saying goodbye in her own way tonight before I left. None of this evening is sitting well with me. Since I rode out of the Keep, my chest has been tight, like steel bands have wrapped around my torso and I can hardly breathe. The further that I ride away from my kindred the worse the feeling has become. The storm is behind us now. It seems to be on a direct course for Glenndale Loch.
We are close to being about an hour and a half out, and I'm suddenly only able to focus on my kindred. The wind is knocked out of my lungs as I double over Tempest and cling to his mane. The pain is excruciating as I feel the bond to my kindred being tampered with. I reach for her through our bond, and for a moment we connect, her love for me surges forth in a desperate attempt to reach me. It’s then that I realize what my kindred has been keeping from me, a child. As the realization of that sinks in, her torment becomes my own as the blood contract is taking hold of what is mine. I have to get to her. I cannot allow Tarron to take what is mine, my love, who is carrying my child. My beast rushes to the surface
and before I know what is happening I have shifted. My panther has taken control, I find that we are running back the way we came and we’ve left Tempest behind in our desperate attempt to get to Ashlinn. I can hear Tolin following me as closely as he can. Urging us to slow down, but our need to get to her is riding us hard as we follow our connection back in the direction of the Keep. It’s only been moments since the torment began but the longer it goes on, the more muffled our connection is becoming. I’m frantic in my need to get to her.
We crash to a halt as I feel our bond go dark. Looking left and right my panther shakes his head in a desperate attempt to shake the fog that is clouding our sense of her. I no longer feel her pain as my own, and we can no longer sense which direction to head. Before our link was like a beacon in the night, and her light drew me like a moth to a flame. Now we’re forced to search blindly, desperately for her. The link between us has grown dark and cold, and I now understand why Ashlinn was so fearful of this moment. Why she dreaded her premonition coming to fruition as I feel the dark majic take hold, wrapping its cold, menace hands around our bond in an attempt to block us from one another. My panther roars in frustration and alarm before taking off again in the only direction that we can, back to Glenndale Loch. We won’t rest until we are by her side. I swear to the gods and goddesses that I will not rest until I have her in my arms again. Tarron that bastard will know no mercy.
(Ashlinn)
I can hardly breathe as I fight against the dark pull. My vision is beginning to fade, and I reach blindly in front of me for something to stabilize my balance as I fall against a bust on a pedestal in the hallway. It crashes to the ground in a loud thundering clatter, and it burst into a million pieces, the sound echoing throughout the hall. I fall to my knees as my vision begins to go dark, I pant trying to keep my focus. I hear footsteps racing for me, and I gasp for breath. Darkness is consuming me, and I feel like I will never see the light of day again. I reach out to my creator and beg for relief from this oppressive constriction that has taken hold. Alaric is foremost in my mind as is the child that I have been keeping from him these last several days. For one brief moment, I can feel his love wrap around us before I feel our connection grow cold. A scream wrenches itself from the center of my being as I feel physical arms wrap around me, pulling me in. Trying to give me comfort, where no comfort lies. I can no longer feel my kindred and our connection. My panther is agitated but refuses to surface because of the child I carry. I know I must give into this dark majic, but I'm defiant to my last breath. I want nothing to do with this unnatural binding. It is dark and evil and will rip me away from all I know. A loud keening wail burst from my mouth as I continue to try to resist the pull.
