Dark One Rising (60 page)

***

Days later, Melenthia decided to spend some of her time in the temple on the far side of the city proper. She concentrated on her breathing as she wandered down the back paths. The birds were singing above her, the branches of the ancient trees rubbing together, making a clicking sound, as if speaking to each other. She had become more aware of her surroundings in the months she had been here. She could feel, rather than hear, the activity of all living things around her. She could sense the animals and was able to communicate with them in her mind, easing their fear that she would do them harm. She could feel the hum of the insects and the breathing of the trees. She took the time as she walked to listen to the conversation of nature around her. She felt calm and at peace when she could stretch her mind out to the world surrounding her.

She made her way down the path and finally reached the small but ornately crafted temple that sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Xanthe River. A waterfall could be heard rushing over the wall of the precipice, and as she got closer, she could feel the mist that shrouded the air toward the back of the temple. A small fire blazed just outside the door, and a rack just to the left side of the door was stacked with beeswax candles. She picked one up and lit it on the fire. When it was going, she pulled open the ornately carved front doors and went inside the dim cool building.

The building was in the shape of an octagon, and each side represented the eight families who had been kings or queens of the past or family members thereof. Each wall had the names of the past regents and decedents, and paintings depicted the images of each one. She walked around the room, gazing at the regal looking Elves that looked back at her from each picture and paid homage to each of the sacred people. She had made her way around the room when she stopped in front of the second to last family of Elvin royalty. She stared at the picture that was hanging there, and a sudden lump caught in her throat. The Elvin woman who looked back at her with green eyes, long golden red hair that hung long down her back, but was tucked behind her ears, looked exactly like her. There was no mistaking the creamy white flawless skin and the small nose, the red supple lips and the beautiful smile. She was stunned and could not move. The woman looked exactly like her, and only the pointed ears that gave her identity away as an elf, was different. It was impossible, of course, to deduce that this painting was of herself, for she was neither an elf nor a descendant of one, and she certainly was not dead yet.

She took a minute for the surprise to sink in, and then the wheels in her head started to spin. She felt almost dizzy at the implications that could be. She didn’t try to understand what this meant or how to discern its meaning. She simply stared at the picture and hoped that an explanation would present itself. As if in answer, the double doors opened to let in a shaft of light that caused Melenthia to squint in order to see who had entered and disrupted the silence. She saw a small lithe figure coming toward her from the other side of the building and figured out it was Dallen by the way she moved.

When Dallen reached her side and looked up at the wall Melenthia had been staring at not moments before, her nose wrinkled in dismay. Melenthia suspected then that she was not intended to see what was in this building, and someone had forgotten to tell her. She also suspected it was Dallen who had made the error.

Dallen looked at her and tried her best to smile. Melenthia didn’t smile back but instead asked, “What is this all about, Dallen? What does this depiction mean?”

“It is not my place to interfere in this. Perhaps I should take you to His Majesty.”

“Perhaps you should.”

Melenthia was not really mad at her but had uneasy feelings that she was not able to swallow. Something was wrong. She suddenly was afraid to find out what it was. She had a feeling that she was going to once again get some news that would turn her life upside down.

After extinguishing their candles and placing them back in the rack with the others, Melenthia followed Dallen down the path toward the city center. They were silent for a long time, but Melenthia felt that she should make sure Dallen knew she was not angry with her. She had been a big help to her since she’d been here, helping with her training, but had also become friends as well. It had been a long time since she had anyone that she could talk to, or that she enjoyed being with. Dallen had the same carefree attitude she had, and Melenthia felt they shared a kindred spirit. Sometimes they stayed awake nights talking and giggling just like ordinary girls. Dallen meant a lot to her, and she wanted nothing to come between that.

“Dallen, was I not supposed to go into the temple? Was I forbidden to enter without permission?”

“It was not forbidden but only intended to be delayed until the king thought things were ready to be revealed. I am at fault. I failed in telling you. It is my responsibility, not your mistake. I will take whatever consequences befall me.”

“I don’t think you should get into trouble for my curiosity.”

“The king is stern but fair. My punishment will not be severe. I must learn.”

They continued on until they reached the city and turned down the path toward the residence of the king. They passed the guards on the steps and entered the hall. Tomaz was in audience with Theron. Dallen and Melenthia waited silently at the doors until beckoned. Theron saw them waiting and motioned them to enter. Melenthia and Dallen bowed in reverence, then rose when told to do so. Dallen approached the steps and looked up at her grandfather.

“I am afraid Melenthia has been inside the temple, Your Majesty.”

Theron looked from Dallen to Melenthia. “You have questions.”

“Yes.”

Theron waved Dallen off, dismissing her until called. Dallen bowed again and left the room. Theron looked now at Tomaz, but said nothing. Something passed between them and Melenthia caught it.

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but there’s something you’re not telling me. I have a right to know. Why is my picture in the temple with past royalty?” Her tone was high and accusing.

Theron looked at Melenthia without speaking, his eyes softly penetrating through her, and she felt calm wash over her.

“You know the answer to that, Melenthia. You need to just trust your heart.”

She was silent for the longest time, biting her lip in consternation. Tears started to well up, but she did her best to hold them back. “My mother,” she simply said. “But how is that possible?”

“Your mother, Aerwyn, was my daughter, Princess of Vallis. Your father had been king for only a couple of years, becoming so at such an early age. One day he got lost while on the hunt, and wandered too close to our border. Aerwyn was working when the warriors at the gate were informed of his arrival. She was a curious girl, precocious and feisty, not unlike you, and she wanted to see the human for herself. When she saw him, she had a desire to be near him and ordered the border patrol to allow her to go with them to escort him away from the border. When she saw him up close, she became more enamored with him and spoke to him. When she did that, he knew where he was, and the spell we cast to erase his memory failed. He was just as enamored with her as she was with him. When she came to me and told me, I was furious. There had not been contact with the humans for many, many years. I forbade her from making contact again, but she went behind my back several times. I saw the love she had for this man, but I was worried about what might happen if I allowed them to be together. Power can often cloud one’s judgment, and I did not want her to be corrupted by the ways of man. When we heard about the coming conflict with the rebels from across the Tiernan Sea, we watched the king and his troops bring peace to the rebellion. I was impressed with your father’s love and compassion for his people and for his ability to allay the fears and need for uprising in those that would oppose him. I saw his ability to keep the peace. Together with the southern king, they brought peace and quiet to Aelethia and helped keep its borders safe. I decided that Aerwyn was wise enough to choose her path and gave her permission to be with him. When she came to me a year later, I gave my blessing for them to be married. I saw how much he loved her and knew how well he treated her. They worked together to rule the realm with justice and love. I knew that I had judged him unfairly. There has not been a union of an elf and a human for more than five hundred years. Your mother and father were the first since long before the Great War. Their love was true, so I felt confident they would make it.”

“If she was an elf, I would have known it.”

“We cast a spell on those that knew them to make sure her secret would be safe. There were only two people other than us that knew she was Elvin born, your father’s Prime Minister and the priest that married them. No matter who rules and no matter what justice is done in the world, there is still prejudice. She chose to live in the human world and therefore chose to leave her Elvin life behind. When she did that, her elf life vanished. She still had ties to her heritage. We can never deny that part of us even if we want to, but to the eyes of everyone, she was a human queen. Your brother did not know, either.”

“Why didn’t my father tell us?”

“She asked him not to. She felt it would be safer if she did not tell anyone, but vowed to tell you when you were old enough. She never got that chance.”

“Why didn’t my father tell me after she died, when I was old enough to understand?”

“Your father did not believe that you were mature enough to handle the truth, so he kept it hidden. And I think he was afraid. Your mother planned to tell you, until she became sick. The last living sorcerer besides Sol, the dark sorcerer that was living in the peaks of the Indriah Mountains, found out about your mother. He also found out by black arts about the Tanith Prophecy, that you were the Chosen One, and that you would grow to destroy his heir. He killed your mother with the only poison that can destroy an elf, the juice from the daylea plant which grows along the edge of the Elanorrah Lake. When brewed just right, and administered slowly, it will kill Elves without trace. A physician cannot decipher the cause. When your mother knew she was dying, she made your father promise never to reveal her secret. She felt it would be too dangerous. She knew that if someone had poisoned her, someone knew of her secret and therefore would know about you. She did it to protect you. So you see, your destiny was predetermined from the beginning, but your life would never be normal no matter what your mother’s intentions had been. I have watched you all these years, and I am happy with who you are. You are my grand-daughter, Melenthia, and I am proud of who you have become. I did not tell you sooner because I felt you were not ready for that burden. Your training is finished and now you, for better or worse, know the truth about who you are. Your time has come to make your stand.”

“All my training is finished?”

“No more do you require. Knowing the truth was the final piece to your destiny. It is time for you to fight for your world.”

She looked to Tomaz who had been keeping silent vigil next to his grandfather. They were cousins, she and he, and suddenly she felt unworthy. She knelt in front of the king, bowing her head in reverence.

“Rise, my child. From this day forth you will always be welcome in this city, in this house. Whatever will be now will be because it should, because it was written that way. Tomaz and Sol will accompany you back to Azlyn. When we are called, we will come.”

He stood from his chair and walked forward down the stairs, taking her hands in his, a tear sliding down her face. He opened one of her hands and laid a large flat stone, polished to a shiny glow, in the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around it. She looked at him, then opened her hand and looked at the stone. Her mother’s image suddenly shone on the surface of the stone. She rubbed a hand across the flat surface as if in prayer and closed her fist once more. She looked up into the eyes of her grandfather, smiling at her with nothing but love in his green eyes. “She will always be with you. Your father’s love for her, and for you, and your mother’s faith in the world will be with you always. Do not be angry with your father. In the end, he did not know what it was he was doing. Do not ever doubt he loved you, as much as he loved your mother. Aerwyn’s blood, my blood, flows within you, and so does your father’s. You are loved, and in the end, that will save you.”

He kissed her cheek and held her close for a few minutes. Tomaz finally approached and placed a loving hand on her as well. She smiled at him, and he bowed. “Come, My Lady, let’s get you home.”

***

Melenthia packed all her stuff as Dallen watched in silence. She seemed sad. Melenthia didn’t want to pry, so she packed her things without talking. When she was finished, she looked over to the elf who was sitting on the bed, now distractedly fiddling with the glass bauble at her throat. She looked up at Melenthia when she felt her eyes on her. She tried to smile, but didn’t succeed. Melenthia decided to ask. “What is it, Dallen? Why do you look so sullen?”

“I am not ready for you to leave. From the moment I was born, I have had only boys and men around me. I liked having a sister.”

Melenthia sat beside her on the bed now. “I know. Me too. But we will always have a connection now, Dallen. I may be far away, but we will always be together in spirit.”

“I believe in my grandfather, and in Sol, who say that this evil time will turn out right. But sometimes, I feel afraid.”