“Father, I can’t possible eat another bite at this moment.”
“Daughter it is not uncommon to have a ferocious appetite after your first shift. From here on out, you will have to, not only, eat at breakfast, lunch, and dinner but in between meals as well. That goes for you as well Alaric. It will take a lot more protein and carbohydrates to satisfy your feline. Do not be embarrassed at the large quantity of food it will take to satisfy your hunger. Over the course of the last day and a half I doubt that you have eaten nearly enough so you’re now playing catch up. You have probably even lost weight since your first shift.”
He’s right. I had noticed that the jeans that I’m wearing that normally fit very snugly were rather loose fitting this morning. I hadn’t really thought about it until now. If I were being honest with myself I would admit that I was indeed still hungry. I look over to see that Alaric is polishing off his third plate of food which includes the pancakes and I’m a little disappointed that none are left. He looks down at me and smiles and for a moment there is no one else in the room. It’s just the two of us connecting over our ravenous appetites. I can’t help but laugh at the most cheesy unromantic moment, probably in history, but it’s our moment and it’s perfect. I look back at the plate that my father has prepared for me and dig in with renewed vigor, all the while Alaric has grabbed yet another heaping plate. I’m about half way through my third plate of food when I notice that most everyone has cleared out of the dining room leaving Alaric and me to finish up the largest meal I have ever eaten in my life. Just another new facet of my life that I’ll have to adapt to, if I were being honest with myself I would have gone back for more pancakes but enough is enough.
“So where do we begin?” I say to those that are left in the room.
Dagda speaks up and says in his booming Irish voice, “Let’s take our leave to the library. We have brought the others up to speed of the obstacles that we face. They will be waiting for us there.”
We follow Dagda, Rhespen, and Danu out of the dining room to meet up with the others. As we enter the library I realize that I have yet to see this room and for me it’s love at first sight. The room is huge and spacious with a large rectangular shaped mahogany table in the center of the room that is littered with open books, manuscripts, and even scrolls. The walls are lined with bookshelves from floor to the fifteen foot ceiling. There’s an over large fireplace on one wall with couches, chairs, and end tables arranged around it. On the outer wall there are doors that lead out to a terrace that overlooks the lake and the waterfalls in the distance.
Alaric speaks to me, “You like it mo grá? I thought you might.”
“I love it. It’s probably my favorite room so far in the keep. I can’t believe you didn’t show me this room the other day.” I chastise.
“As you recall we were distracted by our unexpected guests.”
Suddenly my worry over this whole situation can’t be denied. Aloud I say, “Things have been happening so fast since the accident. Is there any way to slow things down? I mean, I just really need to catch my breath. We’ve just found one another and completed the binding. We should at least be able to have time to be happy and enjoy this time together. Instead we’re worrying about the possibility that we could be ripped away from one another. If that happens I could find myself on the wrong side of the war that’s coming, without a single person to rely on in an enemy camp. I don’t think I’m strong enough to bear that.” I realize that I’m clutching Alaric’s hand in mine in a death grip as I pronounce my revelation. Everyone has stopped to listen. But I don’t care, it’s the truth and I’ll never be ashamed of owning up to the truth. The men in the room all stand as Alaric pulls me into a hug that I didn’t know I needed until just then. I look around and everyone has gathered around us. Lexie reaches out a hand to take one of mine in hers. Jasmine lands on my shoulder. All are seeking to give me comfort. I realize in this moment that my family has just grown again and I smile blinking back unshed tears. “Thank you all for trying to comfort me. You have no idea how much that means to me. So enough of the pity party, we have work to do. Don’t we?”
Dagda speaks up, “My dear, it’s understandable that you’re feeling vulnerable right now. But if we do our job then we’ll come out on the right side of things. The Realms are depending on it. And you can depend on us to do right by you ceann beag.”
Before I can respond I see Danu making for the door, “Where do you think you’re going? You’re staying right here to help us figure this mess out.” She hesitates and I realize for the first time that she’s not confident in her place here as she struggles to appear like the in charge deity that she has always been. For whatever reason, I take pity on her dilemma. “It’s okay mother. You are both needed and wanted here. Please stay.” I say taking the high road by offering an olive branch.
Danu looks uncertain as she addresses me, “Daughter… Thank you. I… Could we take a walk out to the terrace? I just want a few moments of your time. Will you allow me that?” She asks hesitantly.
I give her a long hard look and then remember how upset she was last night when she confessed what she had done. She didn’t have to do that. She could have kept all that information to herself. It would have been easier for her if she had. With that thought, I feel that I need to give her this time. “Yes. Danu. Will you all give us a moment?” I ask everyone. The two of us walk to the terrace. Danu is tiny in stature but still taller than me and I have to wonder where my height comes from. Before I can help myself I blurt out, “So why am I so short? You’re a goddess and from what Nemus told us the other night that means that you were originally one of Gods angels so my lineage on your side really ends with you. Rhespen is probably taller than Alaric. It doesn’t make sense. I should be much taller.” I say, pouting.
Danu smiles at me and then sadly shakes her head before speaking, “In order for the enchantment to keep you hidden in the mortal world for an extended period of time it had to have energy to draw from. The only energy that it could draw from was you. By rights you probably should be much taller. When we placed the enchantment I thought it would pull energy from your majic but I think that we may have bound your majic to tightly so then it pulled from the only thing it could, you. It may have stunted your growth instead. I’m sorry for that.”
“Wow. Then I’m really glad that you didn’t want to wait till I turned twenty five for my big reveal. I could have been pixie sized by then.” I say with a bit of humor. My mother laughs at that. I mean really laughs and I see her beauty in this moment. I look back into the library and Alaric is of course following my every move but Rhespen is enthralled by my mother and I smile for just a moment. I will have to revisit that, a little later.
“Danu, you wanted to speak with me?” I ask.
“Would it be too much to ask of you to call me Mother? I understand if you have reservations about forging a relationship with me. Especially after everything that I have done, I have not really been the best role model after all. I am so very sorry. All of this is my fault. You know He warned me not to play god. He said, “Don’t get so full of yourself that you lose sight of the objective.” That is exactly what I did. I miss Him and wish that I could have council with my Creator. I need to know how to fix my mistake. I need to know how to fix the wrong that I have inadvertently placed on you and Alaric. It was never my intention to keep you from your kindred. But in my short sightedness I never for one moment thought you would ever find your kindred. It is so very rare now days.” She says.
“Rare? Really…? Why would you think that? I found Alaric. Lexie has found Declan. That doesn’t seem rare to me.”
“What you and Lexie have experienced is a bit of an anomaly now. Initially, in earlier days, those that were kindred souls found each other and binding ceremonies were celebrated frequently but as the years went by fewer and fewer kindred bindings took place. There are of course binding ceremonies when two people fall in love but there hasn’t been a true kindred pair in so
me time now. I’m really not sure what to make of it.” She says.
I ponder what she has said and then feel the need to call on Clíodna. Before I know it, she’s here on the terrace before us. The two goddesses are like night and day in comparison to one another, one with darker hair and eyes and the other with all that white blonde hair and violet eyes. Clíodna does not acknowledge Danu as she inclines her head to me and says, “Good morning High Princess to the Realm. I am so very happy that you and young Prince Alaric took my advice to complete your binding. Are you ready for your public ceremony? Is that why you summoned me?”
I look at Clíodna questioningly, “I summoned you? I’m so very sorry, I’m not sure that I understand exactly how I did that.”
Clíodna studies me for a moment and then looks toward Danu, “She has much to learn sister and not a lot of time to do so. How are we going to remedy this problem? On another note, how are you going to right the wrong you have caused? I told you the bargain you struck was ill advised and as always you disregarded my counsel. Now the fate of the realms is in jeopardy.” The goddess glares at Danu.
“Wait, can we go back to you two being sisters? And how did I summon you?” I ask as Alaric and the others come to the terrace doors and begin to gather outside before I continue, “Alaric, Clíodna wants to know when we want to have our official binding ceremony, I’m thinking as soon as possible, when do your parents arrive?”
“This afternoon, we could have it this evening and make it very simple. Just family.” He says and I know that he is including everyone in attendance.
“What do you think Jas? Can the sacred meadow be ready for a very impromptu binding ceremony?” I ask of my best little water sprite friend. Thinking about the Tree I get stuck on a thought as Jasmine is quick to answer.
“You know that we will do anything we need to make it happen. I can talk to the dryads to spread the word and the meadow will be made ready to welcome you and your kindred and guest. If that is your will, I have much to do.” She says, eying me and waiting for my response.
I look to Alaric and thru our bond we are both in agreement. “Make it so Jas. It should be simple. The meadow itself is beautiful on its own.” Jasmine takes off flying low over the water creating little water funnels in her wake. The girl is on a mission.
Turning back to Clíodna I say, “I hope you are available tonight because it looks like we’re having an impromptu binding ceremony. Now, you two are sisters? And how did I summon you?” I ask Clíodna.
Clíodna shakes her head. “There is so much you have to learn but lesson number one, all the gods and goddesses in this realm are brethren. We were created by our father in the Overworld as angels and then given a task as gods and goddesses to oversee the two realms.”
“So you could have taken either human or elven forms? How did that work?” I ask truly curious.
“Those that over saw the mortal realm took on a human appearance while those of us in the Otherworld took on the elven appearance. It seemed the best solution for the immediate issue at hand. I have become rather partial to the elven race and form. Now that all of us are bound to Faerie some of the other deities wish they had taken the elven form because here they are seen as lesser gods and goddesses. Some have gone into seclusion, while others grow restless or bored. Others have forgotten their way and now seek to gain power and rule those they see as lesser beings.” She pauses before continuing while eyeing me and my kindred. Her smile brightens her face for a moment before her smile slips just a little as she says, “It brings me great pleasure to see your kindred markings and your auras are utterly magnificent. They were before but now they shine so much brighter with pink and reds and even some white wrapping around you binding you together. It is its own special majic. But I digress, Ashlinn you have the ability to summon any god or goddess that has granted you favor. When I blessed your binding, I granted you favor. You now have a direct line to me for as long as you deem necessary. Although it does not go both ways and therefore I cannot summon you. You are in my favor for the task that is to come and I will provide as much guidance and counsel as I can.” Clíodna explains.
I muse more to myself but speak aloud as Alaric takes my hand, “The more I hear the more worried I become for all the Realms. The Tree of Life is just a side effect from the balance being broken some time ago. Are all the gods and goddesses confined to this realm now? I’m assuming that they have access to the Mortal Realm as well but it has long lost its appeal. Where they were once great in their own realm they became accustom to that power and prestige and now they must bow to the gods and goddesses of Faerie. I am surprised that it was The Morrigan that sought to gain power over all the Realms and not another that was forced out of the Mortal Realm.” I say looking over my family and the god and goddesses standing around me on this beautiful morning. Then I direct my gaze toward Danu, “Mother, you said there was a prophecy, we need to get our hands on the prophecy. The most accurate accounting in written form, I want to study it. Clíodna, we need to know everything you know about strengthening our bond so that when the time comes for Tarron to evoke the blood contract we have a fighting chance. Nemus, we need to know everything we can about blood contracts. Will it hold? Can we break it, etcetera? Dagda, we need to work on gaining allies. Guys, Lexie and I need to be trained in combat. We need a schedule. Lexie what do you think? We can train in the morning in combat and afternoon lessons in the histories and elemental majic. If there is time before dinner we can target practice. We’ll have to work in endurance training as well. Will that work for you?” I ask holding my hand out to her.
Lexie smiles back at me taking my hand in hers as she says, “Works for me. I may actually be able to teach you a thing or two. While you were otherwise “occupied” I’ve been working my ass off.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know that I’m behind. Quit talking smack already. I need to be brought up to speed.” I say with a smile. Then look at Lexie and back to Nemus, directing my question to the quietly observant druid in our midst, “Have you talked to Lexie yet?”
With a barely perceptible shake of his head, he then says, “Not without your leave princess.”
“Nemus, there’s no need to be so formal amongst us. Everyone here I consider family and friends.” I say as everyone looks at us curiously. It truly is an amazing day and Alaric and I have been indoors for too long. The sun is out and there’s a breeze as we stand in the shadow of the Keep overlooking the lake. The temperature is perfect. “Everyone take a seat here on the terrace and gather round.” I pause before I pull Lexie to sit beside me. Alaric on my other side and Declan on hers, I know deep down inside that this is important and my Mom tried to prepare me for how to break the news to Lexie. I take her hands in mine as I move to sit directly in front of her before I begin. I feel Alaric thru our bond sending me reassuring thoughts. While I notice Declan tensing not knowing what’s going on.
“You’re scaring me Ash, what the hell are you trying to tell me. Am I dying? What? You look so serious.” Lexie says.
“No silly, bear with me Lex. You know that we have always been close and felt a special bond, right? We have always been more suited to be sisters and not aunt and niece. Do you remember all the times that Mom told us how special we were? How one day we would make a difference in the world? Do you remember what she said? That it would be you and me against all odds, do you remember that?” I ask. I now have her undivided attention as she looks at me with wide eyes and nods. “Okay… When I read the letter that Mom left for me, toward the end of her letter she basically stated that we needed to stick together and that just like me, you were not what you appeared to be.” I pause to get her reaction.
“What do you mean? I know I’m not like you I won’t suddenly turn up to be an elven, demigoddess princess. So what are you getting at Ash?” She asks.
“Well, later that day I caught Nemus studying you at the practice range, like he was trying to figure you out.” Declan bristles at this and I have to interject
, “Declan. Not like that. Nemus was merely looking at her as if she were an intriguing puzzle.” Turning back to Lexie I take a deep breath and ask biting my lower lip, “Are you ready for this?”
“Spit it out already Ash, the suspense is driving me mad. What the hell is it?” Lexie demands.
“Okay. Don’t get too excited. Not yet. But we think that you may be a descendant from a line of Druids. If that is the case we should be able to unlock your majic” I say holding my breath to see how she reacts.
Lexie just stares at me trying to comprehend what I have just unloaded on her. Then she narrows her eyes and looks around the terrace at everyone in attendance before coming back to me and asking, “Ash, do you mean that it’s possible that I belong here just as much as you? That I’m supposed to be here with you? That all of this is not a cruel joke with me coming up on the short end of the stick? Are you effing kidding me? Are you serious?”
“Yep, I’m serious. I’m not sure if Mom knew why but she knew something. She’s been preparing us with all those self-defense classes and archery so that we could have a chance once we got here. I don’t know, but once I saw Nemus trying to puzzle out the enigma that is uniquely you I had to ask. Nemus said that if what we suspects is true that we should be able to determine it fairly easily and unlock your majic. Nemus, I will allow you to take over at this point.” I say.
Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book Page 19
