The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV]

by Robbie Collins

  "My Queen?"

  She looked back to Ann'wn, “Forgive Me, Force Leader. I am fully distracted, and shouldn't be. I gave you an audience, yet I remain elsewhere. Do you require anything else of Me?"

  "Will the Warrior Woman be remaining with us now, my Queen, or will you be sending her with The Highest?"

  "She is ours, Force Leader, and is directly under your command. My sister may desire the Warrior to travel to Woden with her, for a short transition of her force leaders."

  "Yes, my Queen. I could have her travel with The Highest to Woden, and remain with her until our arrival. She could then leave as we do. When are you planning your visit to Woden, Highness?"

  "One moon after our return to the Valley. Given how our plans seem to alter considerably, however, your guess would be as good as mine."

  "Yes, Highness. We will return to the Valley, and then wait for the correct moment."

  "And given that My Counselors will once again be most frustrated with Me, I suspect that I will be ready to leave well prior to even these plans."

  Ann'wn smiled gently, “I understand, Highness."

  "Come, Force Leader. Walk with Me back to the camp to where I must now endure the incessant tongues of My attendants."

  Ann'wn held out her arm for her Queen. The High Queen placed her arm on top of her Force Leader's, “Tell Me, Force Leader. How many cycles has it been in which you have been My Force Leader?

  "Nine, Highness."

  "As many as this, then?"

  "Yes, my Queen."

  She looked at Ann'wn with a glint of mischief in her eyes, “Are you ready for nine more, Force Leader?"

  Ann'wn smiled and blushed, “Even more than this, Highness."

  As they returned to the camp, Meera awaited them. She knelt and bowed her head, “Highness."

  "Warrior Woman. Rise. Tell Me your report."

  "The High Priestess calls for you, my Queen."

  Ann'wn noticed that her Queen didn't sigh at this report, an unusual moment, “Tell her it will have to wait until after our entrance into El'fs'nd'lle. I have no moments for her, as I must prepare. Inform her that she will ride alongside the High Counselor.” She halted, then added, “Oh, and inform her that we are most pleased in her acceptance. And that she does us great honor. This should be enough."

  Meera knew that this would do little to silence Sume', but would carry her Queen's orders to her, “Yes, Highness. As you bid."

  The High Queen looked at her carefully, “You approve not of this response, Warrior Woman? But I understand. Have Sele’ taken to her. That should entertain her for a while longer."

  Meera smiled, knowingly, “Yes, my Queen. I am most certain that Sele’ will take her role seriously in this regard."

  "Tell the Young One that her Queen needs this of her. Consider it part of the learning experience for her."

  As San'lr'in’ entered her tent, she saw that Sle'nel’ was almost prepared. Upon most moments, she yet found herself surprised in the beauty of her lover, and that Sle'nel’ yet caused shivers within her. This moment was no different, “You look stunning, Elf. Is your mind as well-prepared as your wonderful Elfin body?"

  Sle'nel’ smiled lovingly, then looked down at her new garments, “It is of Elfin material. The Queen of the Waters had them delivered for me, for this moment. What do you think of them?"

  "The Elfin garments are quite unlike anything we wear in the Valley. But they suit you well. They fit almost as if they were your skin. I quite like how it displays your body. And the cape is extraordinary."

  "And you? What will you be wearing?"

  She smiled and placed her arm around Sle'nel's waist, bringing her to her gently, holding her close, ignoring the question, “I never prior thought that this moment would arrive during My reign, but to also hold you close to Me is an even greater surprise."

  Sle'nel’ blushed a little, grateful for her Queen's love, “Thank you, San'lr'in'. While I never could have thought of a place such as El'fs'nd'lle, this love that you give me is even more the astonishing."

  San'lr'in’ could sense that Sle'nel’ was anxious in regard to this moment, and was pleased in it, knowing that it completely removed her mind from thinking of her tortures by the Dark Sorcerer.

  Sle'nel’ looked at her, “San'lr'in'? Are you not at all anxious in this moment?"

  The High Queen looked surprised, “Should I be? Is this not the glorious moment in which The Realm has long awaited?"

  "Yes, but we know not what will occur, in truth."

  "But I do. I know that the Elves will now be restored to their rightful place in The Realm."

  "Will they effect your reign?"

  "Most certainly so. While they will provide continual challenges to My commands, they will also provide the strongest of loyalties. They are not easy, but are worth the strain. But enough of this. I must prepare."

  Sle'nel’ was always surprised as to the physical strength of her Queen, yet thinking she was as soft as she looked. San'lr'in’ held Sle'nel’ tightly, yet in a most desirable of fashions. It was one of the reasons Sle'nel’ felt safe in this union. She touched her Queen's face gently, then kissed her.

  San'lr'in’ returned the kiss fully, then stepped back slightly, “My Desire. I must remove Myself from this moment, or we will never get this procession prepared."

  Sle'nel’ left San'lr'in’ to her preparations, taking the last remaining moments to prepare Mor'inl'. After the unspeakable tortures the Dark Sorcerer had inflicted on her, Sle'nel’ had begun taking greater solace in the quiet moments with the animals, especially when San'lr'in’ was otherwise engaged.

  As she placed the decorations onto Mor'inl', Sam came up to her, “Good morn, our most treasured Elf. Are you prepared for this most grand of moments?"

  She turned, looking into the beautiful blue eyes she had prior loved. While Sle'nel’ looked at Sam most lovingly and gently, Sam noticed that Sle'nel’ seldom smiled anymore, “Highest. Is all well?"

  Like San'lr'in', Sam didn't answer the questions she thought unimportant, “I have but thought much on this moment. If, while we lived together in Woden, someone had but told me that these events were to pass in our direction, I would have thought them as most crazed. Now, here we stand at the gates of a future we couldn't have but even imagined."

  Sle'nel’ nodded lightly at the comment, thinking the same. She said nothing as Sam continued, “After the moment that caused you to leave me, I but wished that we could return to our past moments in Woden. This journey has removed me far from this thinking, and now I find Woden so distantly removed from all this ... “(comma deleted) she gestured all about her with her hands, “...that I can make but little sense of anything, let alone our own roles within The Realm."

  Sle'nel’ shrugged in understanding, “I gave up attempting such. It seems a useless endeavor, as you say. It would seem that The Realm knows our roles, and just leads us toward them."

  Sam placed her hands on Sle'nel's shoulders, “I know that I love you, Sle'nel', and should have acted on this feeling far sooner, but I see in truth that our paths, while often verging together, are on separate journeys from this moment."

  Sle'nel’ took Sam's hands into her own, holding them softly, staring at them for a moment, then looking into Sam's wonderfully blue eyes. She spoke so softly that Sam strained to hear her, “Woden needs you most desperately, Sam. I can think of no other who could lead Woden into the future it has long been denied. But I am truly pleased that I was able to spend with you what few moments we had. I think of them often, and they give me pleasure."

  Sam nodded, “As do I. Often. Which causes much trouble between Uthrn and me, but that is but another tale. And this is not why I have come to you this morn. I have come to but tell you how very proud I am of you, and to tell you that I know that even if San'lr'in’ were not now your lover, I can see that I would yet but need to give you up to The Realm. This is most evident, even to me. Your role is great in this realm, and we never even knew of suc
h. You are, at this moment, facing a future long denied to you. This is your realm, Sle'nel'. I have long prior but believed that this realm was Woden's, but in truth, this realm was for the Elves. You need to see this as truth, and to act as the Elf that The Realm now needs. You were Second of Woden, and Highest while I was but gone, and now it is your moment to be that most capable leader once again."

  "Sam. I know not what to sa—"

  Sam placed a finger on Sle'nel's lips, “You need say nothing, while I should have long prior said this to you. This is your role, Sle'nel'. Had the Spirit Mothers of the Falls not kidnapped you, you would have been raised to know of this role. The only difficulty you face is in the surprise and unknowingness of it. Now you must act as if this were the role you have long prior known to be correct. I cannot undo what the Dark Sorcerer did to you, but you must not allow it to dampen this moment for The Realm, you, or all the Elves prior and yet to come. Many great prior ones, perhaps more than we can but guess, hoped for this moment and tried most desperately to bring it forward. And their efforts are finally succeeding.

  "All will look upon you now as one who stands apart, Sle'nel', which is but something you long wished to avoid. But it is so, and you must now see this as truth. No longer can you hide behind Woden, the Valley, or even San'lr'in'. You stand alone in this realm like no other, and you must face this, as The Realm needs you to do so. You now must embrace being the leader of the Elves until such moments when they are once again a force. If I were yet your Highest, I would command this of you. So I say this as your prior lover, and as your friend. The Realm but needs you, Sle'nel', to now step forward and take this role. You are this role, and it should be but easy for you. Many have fought to prevent this, but above all else, think only on those who have given their lives to arrive at this one moment. Many lives have been lost for this, and they gave them willingly. Never forget this part, Sle'nel', as that is one thing I have learned while being The Highest of Woden. No matter what has occurred to me, and no matter how overly difficult it is to often face Woden, many of Woden gave their lives so that peace would continue. I must lead it with this in mind, and now so must you, for The Realm."

  San'lr'in’ had come to find Sle'nel', but overheard Sam speaking with her. She decided to remain apart from them, but was pleased, yet surprised, at what her sister was saying to her lover.

  "All leaders fight their battles. I fought Buron, my sister has fought overly many to mention, and you have fought against the Dark Sorcerer. And we all have our prior sad memories in this regard, but we all learn to place these dark memories aside for The Realm, so that in the winning of these battles, we are yet able to keep to our roles. I am sorry for what I have done to you, and I, in the deepest of truths, am most sorry for what the Dark Sorcerer did to you. But never allow your dark thoughts and fears to command you. Command yourself, so that you can now command others. This must be so, Sle'nel', as you are the only one to make it so. Face your future, Sle'nel', as the woman I have truly come to love and admire."

  San'lr'in’ placed a light spell upon herself to avoid detection, so as not to interrupt this most tender of moments between her sister and her prior lover. She was fully surprised at the depth of her sister's understanding of the situation, and was well pleased. San'lr'in’ knew that Sam was considered as a most special of Highests, but had yet to see the qualities of such, until this moment. She stood quietly, feeling surprised in her own emotions of her sister's words to Sle'nel', knowing them to be the exact words that Sle'nel’ needed to hear.

  So, My sister is a great leader, indeed. My own role has done nothing but cast a shadow of doubt upon her. I will need to correct this.

  Sle'nel’ couldn't see anything unusual about them, but sensed a presence. She smiled to herself at what she sensed, feeling comfort in it. After a moment of quietly looking, she drew her full attention back to Sam, not fearing the feeling of another's presence.

  Sle'nel’ nodded, “You are correct, as ever prior. These words are from the same woman I loved while in Woden. The same woman who I so admired. Thank you, Sam. You give me a great gift this turn. While your words are harsh to my ears, they are correct. I never wished for this role, but neither did you or San'lr'in’ ask for your roles. And neither of you asked for the terrible battles in which you have had to engage. You are a most special friend, Sam. I will never forget this moment."

  Sam stared with all her strength into Sle'nel's eyes, “I love you, Sle'nel'. I will always love you. So do this for me. Do this for The Realm. And do this for your lover. Never display your weak moments to The Realm, from this moment on. Whatever decision you make now for The Realm, know it and feel it to be but the very best decision you can make, and never look prior. My sister's only weakness is in this single act. She ever looks prior, ever rebuking herself. Do this not to yourself, as it is overly harsh. I see the toll it takes on her, even given her never-ending strength. She has her reasons, but I know you well enough to know that this would cause you more harm than good. She is trained in this fashion. You are not. Trust your instincts."

  They looked at each other for a few moments, keeping their thoughts to themselves. Finally, Sam placed her hands on Sle'nel's cheeks, then kissed her lightly upon the forehead, “As you mount your horse, Sle'nel', mount her with the feeling that you are, with no doubt, and with much support from many in The Realm, truly the leader of the Elves. This is your role, Elf. Many line the path to El'fs'nd'lle, awaiting only your presence. Give them the stance they expect, this turn. And always remember, my prior lover—I am most proud of you."

  San'lr'in’ shook her head ever so slightly in disbelief of her sister, but well pleased.

  Sle'nel’ smiled at Sam, the first smile to her in many turns, “Thank you, Sam. You words are most wise, and most needed."

  "I will watch you this turn with great pride. Enjoy the moment, as it has been long in its arrival."

  She hugged Sle'nel’ to her briefly, then took her leave.

  San'lr'in’ watched as Sam left, then wondered what she should do next. She wanted to be with Sle'nel', but didn't wish Sle'nel’ to know she had overheard many of Sam's words.

  Sle'nel’ turned back to Mor'inl', but quietly said, “How long have you been here, my Love?"

  San'lr'in’ smiled to herself, shaking her head at her own stupidity, recalling that Sle'nel’ would have easily sensed her presence. She undid the spell, then went to her lover, smiling, “Your prior lover gives you strong words to go forward with, My Desire. If she gives such words to those in Woden, then she must incite much bravery of attitude."

  "It was the Sam I knew, what now feels so long prior. This is the leader of Woden."

  San'lr'in’ walked up to Mor'inl', “Tell Me, great wise one. Are you ready to carry our great Elf on this greatest of moments?"

  Mor'inl’ moved her head up and down, as if in answer. The High Queen smiled then turned to her lover, “I will save you from My own words, as I believe that your prior lover has provided you with the ones you most need. Yet, is there anything I might do for you, My Desire?"

  Sle'nel’ stood just staring at her, confused in the moment, and confused at The Realm. She struggled against her own thoughts, then laughed lightly, “Yes. There is."

  "Anything, My Desire."

  "Let us get this pageantry over with quickly, my Queen. We have much left to do upon its completion. It appears that it is the moment for me to enter fully into The Realm."

  "Your requests are always overly easy. Is there anything else I might do for you?"

  Sle'nel’ smiled longingly, touching her hand to her lover's cheek, “You have already done it, my Queen, as ever. I could ask for nothing more."

  She looked at her lover, seeing her Queen prepared in garments far different than from her usual processional ones. The High Queen stood before her fully prepared as the most intimidating of High Warrior Queens in all The Realm's long past, and was fully armed as if prepared for battle. Sle'nel’ saw that while she wore warrior garm
ents, they were decorative ones of many colors, providing a most ceremonial effect.

  "You look quite stunning, my Queen, and highly intimidating. You will invoke much fear this turn. Your garments are ever a surprise. Even in such warrior garments as these...” Sle'nel’ moved her finger down between San'lr'in's mostly exposed breasts, “...your breasts are quite displayed, as with your other garments."

  The High Queen nodded, moving the Elfin collar on Sle'nel's shirt aside, “It is odd, is it not, how the cultures each have their own alluring traits. The Valley's fashion seldom provides Me with amusement, yet this Elfin collar is quite intriguing.” She bent down slightly and kissed Sle'nel's now exposed neck.

  Sle'nel’ enjoyed the moment, shivering in the feeling. After the slow and sensual kiss, Sle'nel’ saw the newly painted decorations on her Queen, “You have even more drawings upon you this turn. Why is this? You never do as such in the Valley."

  "Many of these drawings are from the long-prior Queens, and are meant as a display of strength. Perhaps you recall that The First High Queen first lived in Rns'deln', then moved her reign to the Valley. Rns'deln’ has for long prior used such body decorations, so they hold much meaning for all in The Realm. This one ... “, she lightly touched a finger to the drawing on her forehead, “.... is the first High Queen's sword. It is steeped in legends of great powers. The blood that drips from it provides a symbol of all the battles fought for The Realm, and of all those who have given their life to it. It is said that with this sword, the first High Queen restored peace to The Realm.

  "This one ... “, she pointed to the one on the left side of her neck, “...is of the third High Queen's great battle against an opponent who was noted to be of much greater strength than she. She won the battle, but barely, and with much skill and luck. She had taken many arrows, and lay dying, yet remained resolved to the battle, never giving in to her most fatal wounds. She placed her last arrow in her bow, took careful aim on the single enemy who had done so much damage to her realm, who is said to have been now laughing at her, and sent her arrow a most impossible of distances, and so overly wounded. The aim was true, and sent with such force that as the arrow pieced fully through the heart and chest, only the feathers remained showing. The High Queen saw her mark was true, smiled, then died. The symbol is of an arrow piercing the moon, as The High Queen's shot was considered as difficult as sending an arrow to the moon."