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

by Robbie Collins

  Sele’ now traveled with Sle'nel', and was surprised at having no memory given to her of this strange path. Sle'nel’ looked down and saw that the path was one long switch-back after another, all the way down into the valley.

  Sele’ looked across the valley, looking for another entrance, “A good design, as I see no other entrance into this valley. Their enemies would meet certain death coming this way."

  Sle'nel’ placed her hand on Sele's head, brushing through her hair absent-mindedly, “There is another way, but it is a secret passage that cannot be shown to others."

  Sele’ was surprised, “Why is it that I know not of it?"

  "I know not. Perhaps our High Queen would know of such."

  The High Queen nodded, then answered, as she gazed down into El'fs'nd'lle, “I would guess that El'fs'nd'lle would first ensure that you have come fully and willingly into The Realm before such knowledge is given to you. It is one of their greatest secrets."

  "Do you know of the other passage, Great High Queen?"

  She looked at Sele', then at Sle'nel', raising an eyebrow, but said nothing.

  As Meera looked down into the El'fs'nd'lle valley, she could begin to see the town that occupied much of it, surprised at its beauty and expanse. All the buildings were sparkling white, outlined by short rock walls along all the flat-stoned paths, for sitting. She saw that every clump of white buildings surrounded its own courtyard area, as if each cluster subsisted of one particular family or grouping. Even after this many cycles of no care, the city looked as if it were resting only, as there was no sign of decay.

  Caitha saw that three rivers ran through the valley, each lined by clusters of shining white rock-formed dwellings. Unlike the Valley, the Elfin valley was mostly a narrow one, with the dwellings pushed up along the north mountainside, some even built up into the ledges. Along the southern mountainside, many tall waterfalls dropped from their mountaintop sources into the river that ran below. Because the dwellings had been built alongside the mountains and between the rivers, many small and enchanting bridges had been built between the stone walkways to provide access throughout the entire town.

  The procession wound its way slowly down into the Elfin valley, long switchback by long switchback. With the completion of each one, the journeyers became more awed as they neared the town.

  "Does this reside in your memories that were given to you, My Desire?"

  Sle'nel’ nodded, “As we near, it becomes familiar. Yet, it is quite stunning, and looks as if all those who lived here were merely resting."

  "And it looks peaceful."

  Sle'nel’ looked at her growing Birth-daughter, who now looked to be about seven to eight cycles, “It is peaceful, as it has been well protected.” She looked back to San'lr'in', “Did they ever have a battle within this valley?"

  "Many, but far long prior, before they sealed off the ancient entrance and built this one. There have been no battles within this valley since this passage was built. It would be certain death to attack from this direction."

  Ann'wn had never prior been to El'fs'nd'lle, and was awed by its splendor. She turned to her lover, who now rode beside her, “All this magnificence, yet it lies empty."

  The Healer disagreed, “I think not, Lover. I think they just sleep, waiting to be woken."

  "Sleeping? How could this be so? All these cycles? Only a few Elves have been in The Realm for long prior cycles. It has been many, many cycles since all the Elves lived in The Realm. And they are all gone, now. Long past dead."

  "Willing to wager on this, Lover?"

  Ann'wn blushed, but smiled, “It would depend on the wager, most wondrous Healer."

  As late after midturn approached, they finished the switchbacks and made their way to the gate. The second gate had been in their view for the prior three switchbacks, and all looked upon it in full disbelief as to its size. If any enemy were to have found a way to successfully complete the switchbacks, the gate would certainly hold them forever away from the city. It stood nearly the size of seven tall trees, and was embedded firmly into solid rock, as if it had been of the boulder itself. There were no known weapons in The Realm that could take down such a gate.

  Everyone dismounted, and Sle'nel’ walked to the gate, Can you feel El'fs'nd'lle, High Sorcerer? It shakes in its excitement.

  She recognized the unknown and unspeaking Elfin voice from the first gate, “Feel it? How?"

  Sense it, High Sorcerer. You have the memories to do as such.

  She placed her hand upon the gate, sensing the energy it sent out. She turned back to San'lr'in', “It is as if it is alive."

  The unknown voice spoke its own truth and excitement, It is.

  San'lr'in’ nodded, “It is. It is filled with sorcery for such."

  Sle'nel’ heard both the responses, and looked about once again, “Who are you?"

  All will be explained to you soon. Open the gates, High Sorcerer. All await this moment. Use the key you have been given.

  Sle'nel’ stood with head bowed before the gate. As if chanting a spell, she gave the key that had been given to her by the Deep Mystics what now seemed so long prior. Spell by spell, she recited the key, taking the long moments necessary for such.

  The High Queen bowed her head, closed her eyes and gave a deep sigh of relief, We have brought the Elf safely to El'fs'nd'lle.

  "One of your sacred vows has been accomplished, my Queen."

  She opened her eyes and turned to the familiar and ever-welcomed voice, “Erthrn. I can think of no other who I would rather be at My side upon this occasion. This is a great moment for The Realm, and we have finally brought the Elf safely to the task."

  Erthrn placed a hand on her Queen's shoulder, something that wasn't permitted, but knowing it was allowed by her, “You have done well, my friend. If you accomplish no other, this vow is the greatest of them all."

  San'lr'in’ smiled, but with a twinkle in her eyes, “I have just begun, Erthrn. Together, we will finally accomplish these vows."

  Erthrn was pleased, “I am proud to serve such as you, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'.

  After many moments, Sle'nel’ raised up her staff, sending the final spell. As she finished, the gate visibly shivered, then opened slowly, as if greatly aged and rusted. The moment was breathtaking for every journeyer now present, and not a sound could be heard among them as they watched the gates open in great anticipation.

  "My Queen."

  San'lr'in’ turned to the voice, seeing Ann'wn kneeling, with head bowed, “Rise, Force Leader. Tell Me."

  "Who is welcomed inside, my Queen?"

  San'lr'in’ turned back toward El'fs'nd'lle, “All our guards, and all of Erthrn's forces, should she desire as such, and the Deep Mystics, but no other. The remainder will have to wait outside the gate of El'fs'nd'lle until the moment the Elfin Faeries finally return to The Realm. This is their decision to make. Until then, we guard it from harm."

  "Yes, my Queen."

  "Oh, and Force Leader."

  "My Queen?"

  "I leave our safety in your hands, as My attentions will be elsewhere. It is up to you to tend to the details. The pasture for the horses is clear, and you can place the guards in the various dwellings that the Elf ignores."

  "Please consider it as so, my Queen. You and the Elf will be safe. Have no concern over the details. Your High Counselor and I will ensure all is well and that the meals will occur as needed."

  She examined Ann'wn for a moment, seeing a Force Leader she hoped would never die in battle. She placed her hand gently upon Ann'wn's cheek, “You have done well, Force Leader. You have brought us safely to El'fs'nd'lle. All The Realm will now look upon you as the greatest Force Leader ever, as this was no small task.” She paused at the thought, then laughed quietly, “Indeed, this has been a most monumental of tasks. I am well pleased. You will rise in rank upon our return to the Valley. Tell Me of your needs upon our return, and I will make them so.” She removed her hand, “And know this, Force Leader—I cannot
do without you. Please see to this, and place not yourself directly into the face of danger without sure cause."

  Ann'wn blushed, “Yes, Highness. Thank you, my Queen. I am honored. With your leave, I will tend to my duties, Highness."

  "You have My leave, Force Leader."

  San'lr'in’ walked up to Sle'nel', placing her hand on her shoulder, “Why do you hesitate?"

  Sle'nel’ shivered, surprised, “All is well. I just gather myself for the moment. Enter by my side, my Love?"

  She nodded, seeing how small her Elf was, amazed at her willingness to face whatever came to her, “Of course, My Desire. If this is your wish, it is a small enough request, but are you certain? This is your moment, not mine."

  Sle'nel’ placed her arm through her Queen's, feeling safe in doing so, “If I were without you, I would merely stand in this spot until eternity passed, as this is taking all my strength, even with you."

  She looked at the gate one last moment, then, with San'lr'in’ at her side, she took a deep breath and walked through the gate, entering the path that led straight into the town. As she passed the gate, she felt a strong presence, then once again heard breathing. Suddenly, while seeing nothing, she could hear someone walking alongside her.

  "Do you hear anything, my Queen?"

  San'lr'in’ shook her head, “No. What do you hear, My Desire?"

  "Breathing. Not yours. And the sounds of someone walking alongside me. Not you.” She continued to hear something, like someone breathing and walking alongside her, but saw nothing.

  We welcome you home, High Sorcerer. We have waited long for this moment. Continue down the path to the dwellings near the great reflective pool. You know the path well.

  "Where do we head, Elf?"

  "To a reflective pool."

  "Who is directing you?"

  "I know not. A voice."

  San'lr'in’ looked around, trying to sense the voice that Sle'nel’ was hearing, but could sense nothing. “Do you recognize this voice?"

  Sle'nel’ shook her head, unknowingly walking the Elfin path to the great reflecting pool, “No. But how would I?"

  "It has been long prior since I have been inside this great town. Yet it is as if nothing has changed."

  They passed by a single building, an unusual feature within the town, as everything else seemed connected. Do you recall this dwelling, High Sorcerer?

  She studied it for a moment, “I know I have been there.” She studied it a few more moments, “It is the Elfin library."

  San'lr'in’ nodded, “It is, but how did you know this, My Elf?"

  Good. You do recall it.

  "Should I enter it?"

  Not yet. You will visit it later. Keep going down the path.

  They followed the main path as it followed the largest of the three rivers, and as it wound through the main part of the town. Sle'nel’ looked at each dwelling, trying to recall who it might belong to, but found that she knew little about the details. But she did seem to know where she was heading.

  They walked past many empty complexes, amazed at their openness. As she looked inside, Sle'nel’ saw that they were primarily circular structures with the enclosed rooms only toward the center, the rest remaining open in the fashion of roofed and partially enclosed patios. Some were nearer the mountains, and thus the waterfalls, while the remainder of the dwellings were near the rivers, but all were within the sound, smells, and sight of water.

  "Their town looks quite advanced as compared to the few others in The Realm I have seen."

  "Yet they are among the oldest in The Realm. It is enchanting, though."

  After a few moments of walking the widest of the paths, Sle'nel’ turned onto a smaller one, following it to the edge of a steep mountainside. They arrived to the Great Reflecting Pool after a moment, stunned in its peaceful yet spectacular appearance.

  "It is as glass, or a mirror. And it is quite large. Look. It reflects everything around it."

  It does much more, Elf. Can you recall its purpose?

  San'lr'in’ was looking at the pool, recalling her own memories of it, “Your Mother once told Me that it reflected all of The Realm, if one were able to look closely into the bottom of it."

  Sle'nel’ tried to recover the memory, then did, “I do recall it! My Mother was its keeper. It was said that she could see the future of The Realm in this pool, as well as all its past. Perhaps I should see if the staff knows the spell for such."

  Later, Elf. For now, enter into the dwelling behind you.

  "Perhaps we should tend to this later, My Desire?"

  Sle'nel’ laughed softly, amused that the voice as well as her lover always seemed to be responding in the same fashion, and at the same moment, “You are correct, my Love."

  They turned to the dwelling, seeing that it was one of the more isolated structures, with no complex surrounding it, “My Mother's dwelling."

  "Were you given this memory?'

  She nodded, “Yes. Since she was keeper of the Great Reflecting Pool, she was given this dwelling, as it was close to it. I have memories of her and Birth-Mother in this dwelling."

  They entered the small dwelling, a usual Elfin design consisting of one bedroom, a small kitchen, and a sitting room. The Elves had designed most of their dwellings for living on the outside, while the inside remained functional only. The furniture was of the same purpose as others throughout The Realm, but of different designs. Most of the beds in The Realm that Sle'nel’ had prior seen were raised slightly away from the ground. Her Mother's bed was soft looking, but sat upon the floor, much like The High Queen and Sle'nel's bed during their journeys. There was one set of wooden shelves for personal belongings, instead of a piece of furniture with drawers, as Sle'nel’ was more used to in Woden. Even the table, while of the same purpose, was without long legs, and pillows upon the ground were used instead of chairs. And the dwelling was white throughout, all the fabrics were off-white, and what little furniture was about was of a light-colored wood.

  "What are your thoughts, My Desire."

  She startled at the voice, taken away abruptly from her thoughts. “I was just thinking how very simple her dwelling is, unless some of her belongings were removed."

  "Enter into the kitchen, High Sorcerer. We have much to discuss.” San'lr'in’ heard the voice for the first moment, as it spoke aloud, “High Queen, your presence is requested. Please go to the porch, if you would grant this request."

  Sle'nel’ touched San'lr'in's hand for a moment, squeezing it gently, looked at her intently, then left. San'lr'in’ watched her go to her duty, then exited the dwelling, wondering what, or who, waited for her.

  "San'lr'in'thel'ineln'! Great High Queen. You finally have come. The legends were correct. You have done as predicted. You have returned my daughter to me, and you are now returning the Elves to The Realm. I am truly grateful. You are as a daughter to me. A great, great daughter. I always knew that you would be the greatest of The High Queens. I saw it in your eyes.

  San'lr'in’ heard the voice, and although well astonished, recognized it, “Great Master Teacher, I am honored. The Realm and I have long missed your great presence.” She was well surprised that her Teacher was yet in The Realm.

  It is I who am well honored this turn, Great High Queen. You have provided for this moment, as was told you would, but I am truly sorry at the great cost it has taken. Truly sorry. So many deaths. So much battle. I can sense that it has been most hard on you.

  San'lr'in’ sighed, “I have been told that it is the nature of The Realm."

  Then you must continue in your efforts to change this nature. But enough of this. I have few enough moments left, even as a spirit, but I will now gladly exit this Realm knowing that our plans and hopes will now be achieved.

  "Are you so certain she will be able to return the Elves to The Realm?"

  It will occur, High Queen. Have no fear in this regard.

  "Then I am honored to have had such a role in this Realm. And I am well pleased that
the Elves will finally return to their rightful place.

  It is I who am honored, my most valued student. You have returned my daughter to me. I am lucky in that I have been allowed to know that you have been a great success in this realm, and that Sle'nel’ has been returned to The Realm through your efforts. I was well angered to learn that the Spirit Mothers’ interfered once again. Be watchful of their desires, Great One. They are more involved in tricks than spells.

  "Yes, Teacher. I will attend to your words.” She sat down on a nearby bench.

  We have something in which to attend, High Queen. You have recently defeated the Dark Sorcerer. Is this not correct?

  "It is correct, as you say."

  And you broke his staff of spells?

  "I did as such, then had it burnt. But it is a surprise to Me that this tale traveled so quickly as this."

  I assume that you captured the spells, prior to breaking the staff. Is this also correct?

  The High Queen was again surprised, “I know not how you know of such, but it is truth. As I held the staff, I secretly transferred its powers."

  Your powers must indeed be great these turns, to do as such so quickly and quietly. It was just a guess on my part, but given your knowledge of the powers, I know that you wouldn't wish to lose these powers for The Realm.

  "My powers are strong, as you say."

  This is good. Do you intend to use the sorcerer's spells and keep them for your own, as is your right?

  "This was never My intention. I have wondered whether I should restore all the sorcery to Sle'nel's staff, yet I also have the sixth High Queen's dagger, and it also contains much sorcery. I have no need of sorcerer's powers, but wish them not to be used against The Realm. And our current High Wizard Sorcerer is not such as you were, Great Teacher. Now that Sle'nel’ is High Sorcerer, My thoughts have once again moved to returning these spells to The Realm."