The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (72 page)

Ann'wn blushed, but San'lr'in’ spoke for her, “She is spoken for this eve. But if you would like another, we can see if that can be arranged."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non looked at her sister somewhat resentfully, “Why do you insist on taking the fun out of everything?"

San'lr'in’ ignored the statement, “Force Leader. Escort My Sister to her room. Guard her well, and be wary of her sorcery."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “Yes, my Queen."

Torsn'dynl was fully surprised, “Is this wise?"

San'lr'in’ was overly tired to care, “Wise? Was it wise for Me to go through such pain this midturn? Is it wise of Me to remain as High Queen, risking My life with each turn? Is it wise to think that we even can halt these humans from returning? It seems that little of what I do be as wise."

She turned back to Ann'wn, “Torsn'dynl will supply you with some of her guards as well."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “I will increase the guards outside your door, my Queen, with your leave."

She waved her hand in dismissal, “I am overly tired to care. Do as you wish. Just ensure that she remains safe and well guarded. She has need of My Healer's services. And supply her with an attendant."

San'lr'in’ went to her room, guessing that her Elf would be there given that her sister had interrupted the celebration. Several guards accompanied her, but she ignored them. One of the already in-place guards opened the door for her. She saw Sle'nel’ waiting for her as she entered. She looked at her Elf, saying nothing, feeling tired. Sle'nel’ went to her, hugged her for a moment, then began to prepare her for their eve.

Sle'nel’ guided her toward the bed, softly saying, “Come. Let me take off your garments, then you can rest."

San'lr'in’ nodded, watching her Elf, allowing her eyes and mind finally begin to rest. As Sle'nel’ tended to her, she began her meditations, slipping away from The Realm for a little while. She knew that if she didn't, her eve would be filled with visions of evil.

After Sle'nel’ had finished preparing her, San'lr'in’ stood, removing her mind from its tensions. Slowly, as she was taught, meditation through meditation, she moved herself into a state of oblivion, focusing on her breathing. When she reached her fifth meditation, she began to focus upon her powers, going through each of their commands. Seeing them in use. Practicing them in her mind. After many long moments of going through each, she moved mindlessly into her sixth, then finally into her seventh, where all The Realm was no where to be found. Then, one-by-one, she moved back through her meditations, backwards. Focusing.

When she brought herself back into The Realm, she opened her eyes and looked about the room. She saw that her lover was lying in the bed, and that her Healer was sitting at a small table, waiting.

She said softly, so as not to wake her Elf, “Healer. Is all well?"

She nodded, then also spoke quietly, “Your sister was injured."

"It will heal I presume, given your abilities."

"She neglects herself. She says that they have no good healer."

"Perhaps you could teach them a little while we are there."

"I know nothing of healing R'kin'dles."

"A challenge for you, then. What was her injury?"

"An arrow wound, three turns prior. Dirty and infected. I will tend to it again in the morn. She is with fever."

"I saw this not."

"She masked it from you with her sorcery."

"What else did she mask from Me?"

"She lied to you not. She is just fearful for her life at present. She has many of your traits, Highness."

"Yes. I have seen this. It is troublesome to Me."

"Did you complete all your meditations this turn?"

"Yes. Is it your affair?"

"Yes, my Queen. It is. But you do look improved. Do you need anything?"

"No, Healer. Have a good eve. Have you found a lover for the eve?"

She sighed, “One has asked, but I remain alone. I am not interested."

"Who?"

"One of the Warriors of the Sword guards."

"Ah. Have patience, Healer. Your moment will come."

The Healer left quietly, and San'lr'in’ removed her eve garments, slipping into the bed next to her Elf. She was slightly surprised that her Elf had also removed her own eve's garments, but saw that her eyes were closed, so moved closely next to her and wrapped her arm around her.

Sle'nel’ felt her, rolled over and looked at her, smiling sleepily, “I tried to wait for you, but could not. I am sorry, San'lr'in'."

She moved closer, then kissed her. San'lr'in’ returned the kiss, then began to lay her head on her pillow, “A long turn for us, My Desire. Sleep well."

Sle'nel’ moved on top of her, kissing her once again, “In a while."

San'lr'in’ looked up at her, moving her hands down to Sle'nel's hips, enjoying the feel of their silky softness. She moaned as Sle'nel’ kissed her neck and then her breast, “I can think of no bette—"

Sle'nel’ opened her eyes and began to rise, knowing they needed to do so early.

"Why do you awaken so soon as this?"

"You are awake, then. I thought you were yet asleep. Surely you are not rested."

"I am content. My eve was filled with better than just rest."

Sle'nel’ moved closer to her Queen, “I cannot resist the feeling of you, although I knew you needed the sleep."

San'lr'in’ laughed lightly, “Was that a choice? Sleep or you?"

"Why did your sister come last eve?"

San'lr'in’ brushed her hand through her Elf's hair, “She is yet here. She remained the eve. She requested that I come to Sansthera."

Sle'nel’ raised an eyebrow, resting her head on her Queen's shoulder, “Oh?"

"She pleaded I come. I told her I would give My answer this morn."

"We go?"

She nodded, “After our visit with the Skr'kinges'. It will be a diversion on our way to your home, but she says that I must see for Myself. She says she now knows that I am correct and that the humans come. She is, in truth, frightened by what she saw."

"You trust her?"

"At this moment, perhaps. But I trust few ever at even the best of moments. I will call My Private Guard to attend Me."

"You told her of this?"

"Yes. She cares not who or how many I bring, so long as I come. When do they give you the key to El'fs'nd'lle?

"This morn. You meet with her again this morn?"

She nodded, “I will come to you when My affairs with her have concluded. After, we will begin our journey to the Skr'kinges'."

The attendants prepared them, and then each left to their duty. San'lr'in’ was led to where she was to meet her sister. She had been prepared as a High Queen, in formal garments meant for the turn, as she had been informed that the ceremony for Sle'nel’ was to be a formal one.

Ann'wn was waiting for her outside the door to the room, kneeling and bowing her head as The High Queen approached, “Rise, Force Leader. Is she here?"

"Yes, my Queen. She awaits you inside, with The Highest. My Queen?"

She raised an eyebrow, “Tell Me."

"You are stunning, this turn."

Her eyes softened for a moment, but she only nodded, in response.

The door was opened for her, and she went inside to a small, but cozy and private room. The morn meal had already been prepared. She saw that her sisters were already eating.

"Good morn, My Sisters. Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, you surprise Me."

San'lr'in’ studied Sam carefully, moving into her thoughts so that she could learn why Sume'n'tinel'ti'non had brought her together with them.

"I can see that you have already discovered as to why I requested her presence. And my, but do you not look queenly."

San'lr'in’ nodded only, refraining from responding. She looked to Sam, “You learn more of The Realm than could be expected."

Sam nodded, “She asked me about the Spirits of the Falls. I saw no harm in the reply."

San'lr'in’ looked to Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, “The Spirit Mothers have always been a challenge. But Far'lin'ter'il fooled us all. I lied not to you about this."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non nodded, “You bore me with detail I already know. I thought the youngest of us would know more than she does, but even she seems confused by the affair."

"And you thought Far'lin'ter'il always told you the truth."

"She manipulated me. And used me!” She spat out the words.

"She hid you away because of the R'kin'dles’ line in you. And she told us that you are not quite the same in your mind as the rest of us."

"And you agree with her, I assume."

"I know you not well enough to say as such. All I know of you is of your bitterness and hatred toward Me."

Sam interrupted, “Yet, she came to you."

Both the other two sisters waved a hand at her, dismissing her. Sam looked perplexed, then laughed, “You both use the same gesture."

The High Queen felt herself becoming irritated. She got herself some of the morn meal, then sat at the end of the table. She looked at her plate realizing that it felt strange to get her own food, but thought it a nice change.

"So? Do you come or not?"

San'lr'in’ sat back in her chair, trying to remain somewhat distant so as not to become even more angered, “Yes. I agree to your request."

"Good. When?"

"As I said. After our visit with the Skr'kinges'."

"You know the way?"

"Of course."

"You will bring her, as well?” She nodded her head toward Sam.

San'lr'in’ looked at Sam, “Would you care to visit your sister's home?"

Sam nodded, “She has the First Ones’ early diaries."

San'lr'in’ looked to Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, surprised, “You become generous."

"She is no threat to me, and holds nothing of importance."

San'lr'in’ remained silent, well knowing her sister wasn't done with the statement.

"But you hold the powers that are rightfully mine."

In spite of her efforts to remain distant from her irritating sister, her patience was ending, “I made not this decision. It was made for the both of us.” She rose, “I gave you My answer. We will arrive within a few turns. Our visit will be short, and know that I will bring guards with Me.” She turned and began to leave.

"Come back."

She turned back to look at this most difficult sister. She sighed, “What else do you require of Me?"

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non also sighed, “I will try to refrain from my long prior hate of you. Come back and eat your morn meal, and tell me how you knew that Far'lin'ter'il was lying to us all."

San'lr'in’ nodded, reluctantly telling the story of the Spirits of the Falls, and all that had occurred. When she was finished, she took a bite of the morn meal, displeased with her own selection.

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non thought about all the information for a long moment, “So. You in truth also knew not. She surprised you as well."

"She showed Me to be a fool."

"I can see why you did as such to her. I would have done worse."

"It is not allowed, or I would have. I wanted to remove her from The Realm. But I have agreed, by vow, that the Spirit Mothers are to take care of their own."

"Up to a point, it would seem. You interfered when they were going to allow our youngest and her mate to die."

San'lr'in’ nodded, “As you say, it is truth. Up to a point."

"Now tell me all you know of the humans."

San'lr'in’ sighed once more, sat back deeply into her chair, then told the tale she knew. When she was completed, even Sam was surprised.

"It is good you come, then. They must not be allowed further into our Realm."

San'lr'in’ rose, “I am anxious to see of your urgent request. Until then, My Sister. I must tend to other duties."

She left the room, heading toward Sle'nel's ceremony, grateful for the reason to leave. As the door to her sisters closed behind her, she stood completely silent for a moment, sighing, then forcing herself to focus on her breathing so as to calm herself.

Entering the room to the ceremony, she saw that all the Deep Mystics were present, and that Sle'nel’ was kneeling with her head bowed before them. Ersh'delrin', Queen of the Mystics of the Winds was standing directly in front on Sle'nel', her hand placed lightly on top of the Elf's head, looking down at her.

"...upon this most long-awaited of moments. As the Deep Mystic leaders of The Realm, we have carried within each of us one part of the key, holding it sacred beyond all else, risking our lives when necessary, and always, faithfully, passing on our part when facing death, as our first priority. For many long and seemingly unending cycles, we have carried our burden with continued hope, trusting beyond reason that this moment would finally come forward. And now you are arrived."

She raised her head to the other Mystics, the tears streaming silently down her face, “Our patience and trust have at long-last been rewarded. And in truth, there were many moments that some of us had lost hope when our young Sle'nel’ was taken from us. Removed from our sights. Hidden deep within The Realm, to be found and returned to us by our High Queen."

"The moment has come to us finally when the Great Elves will be returned to The Realm. Although the process will take many cycles prior to them being fully returned in all their prior glory, it has begun here with us, and with our Elf, this turn. This is a great turn in The Realm, our Elf, for you and for us. After many, many long cycles and eons, the single moment that will realign our place within the stars is about to occur. The vows long prior given to us are finally to unfold about us."

San'lr'in’ guessed that her speech had been going on for some moments and hoped she was almost done. She loved the Deep Mystics well, but didn't mind avoiding their tendency toward excess whenever possible, especially in regard to their speeches.

"It is now the moment for you to receive the key to El'fs'nd'lle. Each of us now comes to you and returns to you that part of the key each of us has long held safe. As your mother gave it to us, it is now returned to you, in the same order. As each of us returns what has been entrusted to us, we no longer will remember it. You alone will now be the keeper of this key. Keep it safe, Elf. There will now be no other who can enter into El'fs'nd'lle. There were twenty of us to receive the key, so there will be twenty that now return it to you. I was the first to receive a part of the key, and am now, these long cycles since, returning it to you."