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The Lighting of a FlameWritten by Celeynah and Indoril SirianA Back-dated Journal Entry Part I: Celeynah Winter 1010 The days have been dull, grey for weeks now. I’ve been wondering if there’s such a thing as sunshine anymore. Helping the newest residents of Lionsgate and catching up with the old friends who have decided to settle here does help keep me cheerful. Navier always knows how to make me laugh. He and Devarynn make such a funny pair and never fail to inject humour into my days. I have been occupied with helping Quin set up the security operations for Lionsgate and the surrounding areas. He shall certainly help keep the city a safe place to be. We had an unexpected visitor from a distant land - Daoine Sidhe - stay with us briefly, for one night. I have a bit of time, so I’m writing the next part in story form: The knock on my door provided a welcome break from the work I’d been saddled with all morning long. I was certainly starting to have double vision by now, but sometimes it’s not enough to stop me from working. “Yes?” I called. “Your Majesty, may I have a word?” “Enter.” The door swung open, giving way to my Advisor. “Callius Sidhe from the Kingdom of Daoine Sidhe has arrived in Lionsgate. He is now in the Keep and would like to speak with you on the matter of a guild Alliance…” I had vaguely heard of Daoine Sidhe, a distant Kingdom that was not a known part of Temmarendil. Thinking back, I remembered meeting someone called Loriel Sidhe, but it had been ages since she and I had crossed paths. Slowly standing, I nodded. “Where is Sir Callius now? The Parlour?” “Yes, your Majesty.” Nodding, I stepped into the corridor, grateful for the chance to stretch my legs for a change. My Advisor accompanied me as far as the Parlour door, opened it and cordially announced my presence. I couldn’t stand formality, but I had to allow it for diplomatic purposes. Then, something happened. I found myself staring into the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. They belonged to a tall, handsome Knight, who was now smiling broadly as he moved forward to greet me. I found myself unable to avert my gaze elsewhere. Soon, I could feel my pulse quickening, as well as a fluttery sensation in the pit of my stomach. The young Knight bowed his head respectfully. “Greetings your Majesty, Celeynah,” he said, looking a bit unsure of whether or not he should offer his hand to me. My usual shyness threatened to take over, but I decided that I would not let it this time. I had to be confident, for I was representing Seladania. Taking a deep breath, I moved toward him and took both his hands into my own. “Welcome to Lionsgate, Sir Callius!” He looked taken aback by my gesture, but immediately relaxed once he’d recovered. “Thank you, your Majes-“ “Please…Cee will do fine,” I insisted, much to his surprise. “I am not of royal blood and therefore do not feel the need for such titles most of the time.” He nodded. “Thank you…Cee.” I realised that I was still holding his hands in mine. They were warm, strong and, although rough from hard work, gentle. He squeezed my hands affectionately before we broke contact. “You’re a long way from home,” I said, once we were seated across from each other. “I’m sure you would appreciate some accommodation.” “I have a room at the Inn, which I’m finding very comfortable.” “Very good. Please let me know if you need anything at all.” “I shall, but unfortunately, I depart again at sunrise. So, I thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Callius said, with an appreciative smile. “It’s always a pleasure to meet people from unknown areas of Temmarendil,” I replied. “It’s rare that we do in these parts.” Did I look too disappointed? I was always rubbish at hiding my feelings. “Well, I’m here to change that, if possible. My King has expressed a desire to form an Alliance with you and he sent me here to discuss it with you.” “Of course.” Suddenly, he remembered that he had come bearing scrolls that were sealed shut with the finest wax in the Sidhe and imprinted with the King’s Official Seal. “I regret that I don’t have much time here, but my King has sent these for you.” He was just about to say something else, when there was a knock on the door. “Yes?” I called. The door creaked open and Cadfael poked his head in. “Cee, the Sheriff wishes to speak with you immediately.” “Did he say why?” “No.” I sighed and stood up. Callius stood, too, out of respect. “I sincerely apologise, Sir Callius, but duty calls, I’m afraid.” “I understand, Cee.” “Will you join me for a drink later on in the Tavern?” The disappointment was obvious in his expression. “I am sorry, m’Lady, but I plan to retire early so that I can get enough rest for the journey ahead.” “Well…I can understand that. When will you be back in Lionsgate?” “I’m afraid I don’t know that. I shall return at the first chance I get. I’m sure that my King will require my frequent visits here if there’s to be an Alliance between us.” “Hopefully you may stay longer next time.” His gazed locked onto mine as he moved toward me once again. Pressing the scrolls into my hands, he smiled down at me for what seemed like ages. “I would like nothing better.” With a final bow of his head, he bade me a farewell and disappeared out of the door. Without realising it, I had sunk back into the chair behind me, Callius’ blue eyes still clear in my mind. Cadfael’s voice brought me back to the room. “Cee? The Sheriff’s waiting…” Fate can be mean sometimes. Very mean. I can only hope that I’ll see Callius soon. For a few moments there, I thought the sun was shining again. Part II: Indoril Sirian Her face had haunted my dreams from the very first moment I had laid my eyes upon her, that fateful evening in Lionsgate, the Capital of Seladania. She was a woman unlike any I had ever met before, stunningly beautiful yet still kind and fare as few. For the longest time I was unable to remove my gaze from her glimmering green eyes, struggling not to loose myself within those pools of beauty kindly gazing back at me. She was a Queen and I but a Knight, a Knight there with a task. The words I told myself had helped little, yet still enough to grant me some struggling control over the heart pounding heavily in my chest. Some roads are not meant to be taken. Yet no matter how much I tried I simply could not shake the thought of her, her silky voice echoing constantly in my mind, her stunning eyes ever glaring kindly back at me from within the shadows of my consciousness. Many moons had passed since I had left Seladania, travelling back to the lands of the Sidhe. However I cannot help to think that I must have left something behind there, some part of me, unable to fully leave. Ever since my departure I have not felt the same, my spirit incomplete, almost empty in a way. A craving filling my soul that meditation has been utterly unable to halt and hinder. “A penny for your thoughts” Her familiar kind voice woke me out of my dreams with a bang and I immediately dropped the pen resting in my hand. My right arm trying to cover the paper as I turned towards my sister Loriel and smiled. “Tired of knocking I see Sister” I grinned and waved her inside with loving smile. It felt great to see her again, her presence always calmed me. “Are you alright? You have been inside your chambers ever since you got back” The crimson haired Elven druid slowly stepped inside, a concerned look upon her face as she gazed down upon me. “It’s nothing really, just not been feeling very well since the journey. I suppose I’m not much of a sailor” I gave her a soft smile, trying to hide the truth aching within. “Oh really? So it has nothing to do with a certain Queen that seems to have stolen my brother’s heart huh?” She spoke teasingly as she walked up next to me, laying her arm around my shoulder. I struggled not to look to guilty, not really surprised that she knew. Loriel always had a way of finding things out. Yet realising that hiding my feelings for Celeynah was useless at this point I meet her eyes and sighed. “How’d you know?” “You never could keep anything from me brother” She gave me a compassionate smile and gently sat down upon the table. “I just can’t stop thinking about her…And my duties here make it impossible for me to travel back anytime soon.” The whole situation just made me feel so hopeless, frustrated beyond words. Even if I where to be able to return, what was I to do? Loriel sat quiet, obviously pondering what to say, a clever smile upon her fair Elven lips. “Then, my dear Callius, why not make sure she comes here then” She winked playfully and then gracefully leapt to her feet, nodding towards the pile of paper placed before me. “Good luck” She bowed quickly and then hurried off, leaving me there with the obvious task set before me, my gaze upon the empty paper resting on the table. Grabbing the ink pen I leaned closer, slowly shaking my head. Dear Queen Celeynah, By the time this letter reaches you I regret to say that far too many moons has passed since we last meet. Sadly, I can bring you no good news about my return to your fair Kingdom. My duties here to the King and to the Order allows me not to leave, thus I fear the alliance treaty discussions must wait a little longer. However, it would grant me no greater honour then if you would consider visiting me here in Daoine Sidhe instead, see my homelands with your own eyes. I do understand that the burden of your crown lays heavily on you shoulders my Queen, yet should the opportunity arise, know that you shall always be welcome here. May the Horned Moon be with you, Your ever faithful servant, Callius Sidhe. With a nervous smile upon my lips I leaned back against the chair, dropping the pen next to the short letter. I wanted to write so much more, reveal the feelings brewing within me. Yet this would have to do, a gamble I desperately wished to come true. Part III: Celeynah I could see him walking toward me in the distance, at first a silhouette. As he got closer and closer, the details of his face became clearer to me. He was smiling and his pace quickened. When he reached me, he picked me up and swung me around… “Cee?” Dart said, with a gentle nudge to my arm. When I snapped out of my dream, I found everyone at the Round Table staring at me, curiously. “She was in a whole ‘nother world,” announced Liessa, shaking her head. Cadfael smiled knowingly, but said nothing. “It’s okay – we’re all entitled to the occasional daydream. Are you okay, Cee? You seem a bit flushed.” To my horror, I was blushing. “I could er…use some water, please.” Anton stood and poured from the pitcher situated in the middle of the table. “Here you go, dearie.” I smiled, appreciatively at him. “Thank you, Twinsie.” Cadfael cleared his throat. “So is there anything else anyone wishes to discuss here?” “Actually, yes,” I spoke up, holding up the scroll I’d had tightly in my grasp for the entire meeting. “This is from Callius Sidhe, the Knight from Daoine Sidhe who visited here several weeks ago to discuss an Alliance between KR and his clan.” “So is it official yet?” Cadfael asked. I shook my head. “No. Unfortunately, Sir Callius cannot return here anytime soon for further discussion...” “That’s a pity,” Cadfael said. “So I suppose it has to wait?” “Well, it depends…” “On…?” Quin pressed. “On whether or not I accept his invitation to go to Daoine Sidhe.” “He’s invited you to Daoine Sidhe?” Cadfael repeated, in surprise. I nodded, remaining silent. I wanted to go so very much, but I was unsure of whether or not my commitments in Lionsgate would allow me to travel to such a distant land. “Are you going?” Anton asked. “I want to, but I suppose I wanted everyone’s opinion on the matter first.” Silence. Nobody was willing to be the first to speak. Cadfael sensed my feelings for Callius from the beginning. “I think you should go. We can take care of things here in your absence.” >From Cadfael’s face, I looked to each one of my members of the Round Table for affirmative expressions. “It will be a long journey…are you certain?” Each one of my beloved guild gave me a nod and a smile of blessing. And so, it was official. I would soon be seeing Callius again. As soon as it had sunk in that my journey to DS would indeed be taking place, I could feel the undeniable excitement building within me. Once the meeting concluded, I hurried to my chamber and composed a reply to Callius: “Dear Sir Callius, Ad Sanctum to you and everyone in Daoine Sidhe. Your warm letter arrived this morning and brightened my day immensely. I was delighted to hear from you and hope this finds you well when it reaches you. The news of your inability to return to Lionsgate was disappointing, particularly as your last visit was so very brief. I regret having so little time to talk with you during the time you were here in the Keep. Duty always has a way of interfering with the more pleasant aspect of my work, I’m afraid. Having said that, I am pleased to tell you that I have some good news of my own to report. After receiving your kind invitation to visit Daoine Sidhe, I had the opportunity to discuss the possibility with the senior members of KR and they have all agreed to look after things in Lionsgate in my absence. So…I shall be setting off from Lionsgate as soon as I have taken care of everything to make sure things run smoothly in my absence. I thank you for the maps you so generously provided – they will, indeed, come in handy when I reach your Kingdom. I look forward to seeing you again and, also, seeing your homelands. I am filled with great excitement, for I’m sure it will be quite memorable. So! I hope to arrive in Daoine Sidhe within a fortnight after you receive this letter. Take care of yourself, m’friend…and thank you again for your kind invitation. With Warmest Regards, Celeynah” Once the scroll left my desk, in the hands of the Herald, I sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, Callius would know of my intentions to visit. Closing my eyes, I called to mind the night we first met. I remembered his piercing, blue eyes…his warm smile…his impressive height…his gentle voice. “What are you thinking about, Cee?” a familiar female voice asked. My eyes opened in surprise, finding Arwen standing just inside the doorway. “Well…uhhh…” “You were wearing the biggest smile I’ve seen you wear in quite a while.” “I was?” I asked, unaware that I’d been smiling at all. Arwen smiled, thinking I was simply being evasive. “Come on, Cee. Out with it!” I sighed in relief. “Okay, okay! I will tell you.” Arwen sat in a chair next to mine, looking at me with an intrigued expression. “Don’t keep me in suspense!” I could feel my cheeks fill with colour at the mere thought of Callius. “Several weeks ago, a young Knight called Callius Sidhe from Daoine Sidhe came here to the Keep to discuss an Alliance. It was an unexpected visit but, as I’m always open to new Alliance proposals, I agreed to see him.” A sigh escaped my lips. “As soon as I walked into the Parlour, our eyes met and…something happened. Something I can’t explain if I tried. Something…I’ve never felt before in my life.” “So what happened after your eyes met? Did you talk for a while?” I shook my head. “Unfortunately, he was in Lionsgate until only the next morning. I would have spent more time with him that evening, but Quin needed my attention and I had to rush off after a few minutes.” Pause. “After he was gone, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was such a gentleman. I felt considerably brighter than I had before I met him.” Her eyes widened. “Whoa…are you saying you fell in love with this Callius Sidhe…at first sight?” I contemplated her statement for a minute. “I don’t know…I only know that I must see him again. I cannot rest until I do.” Arwen looked at a loss for words. “Well…if that’s how you feel, my dear Cee, then you need to invite him to come back. Can he come here?” “No. I must go there. I just received a scroll this morning. He cannot return here for the foreseeable future, but he has extended an invitation for me to go there. I just discussed my possible absence with all the members of the Round Table and they’ve assured me that they will cope, if I go…not that I ever doubted their capabilities…” “Well there’s nothing stopping you, is there?” “But…we live so far away...what if it is love? How will we cope?” She gave me a reassuring look. “Cee, if you love him and he loves you, it will work. The most important thing is that you follow your heart. It would be far better to go and find out for sure than to sit back and wonder for the rest of your days.” I nodded, knowing that my sister was right, as she usually was. With the scroll en route to DS, there was much to do before I left Lionsgate. Not everyone was impressed with my constant reminders of what needed to be done. Every time I’d open my mouth, someone would say, “Yes, we know Cee.” The first time the entire group said it, in unison, I looked at them all sheepishly. “I’m nagging, aren’t I?” Smiling patiently, Anton put his arm around my shoulders. “Everything will be fine, Twinsie. Just go and have a good time. Leave us to worry about everything.” It was difficult to know what to pack; my wardrobe had to be suitable for all climate changes for the next several months. Then there were gifts – personal ones, for Callius, as well as the ones we presented to other guilds once they were allies. Another small trunk contained miscellaneous personal belongings. When I was finally satisfied that I had everything I needed and that everyone knew what to do in my absence, it was time to set off. Hugging each of my dearest friends, I told them to be safe in my absence and to look after each other. Flashing them a brave smile, I waved and walked aboard the boat. I barely managed to hold back my tears as the vessel made for the open waters of the Sea of Riches. Once I was safely in my cabin, the tears flowed freely. Part IV: Indoril Sirian The sword came down faster than expected, the beautifully crafted Elven sword carving a deadly path through the soft, summers sky. Its black, glimmering edge howling as it gracefully sought its target, craving the warm mortal’s blood. He was as fast and skilful as ever, why could I never seem to see that in time? The words entered my mind just in time to make a desperate dive to his right side, escaping the thirsting reach of the sword. Rolling sideways I quickly leapt to my feet, regaining balance as I brought up my blade in defensive position, awaiting the second attack of my Sidhe brother. “Slower than usual. Growing old are we?” The Elven ranger grinned loudly, a smug smile upon his lips as he charged forward, striking swiftly in a low arc against my waist. Allowing his taunting to affect you was just one of Karrade’s many deadly tricks. A fact I’d learned through years of experience. “I’m just letting you get a feel for it old friend. Don’t want you to strain yourself trying too hard” I gave him a playful smile, hastily parrying his attack as I raised the longsword over my head and struck downwards, aiming the blow against his throat. Sparks flew as the two screeching blades made contact and without delay Karrade countered by slashing low against my chest. Passing just inches from the unprotected ribcage I leapt backwards, distancing myself from the deadly fighter, preparing to charge again. “Boys…You never get tired of playing do you?” Loriel’s kind voice broke through the empty arena of Tairngire, waking the two fighters from their dance of death. Something burst to life within Karrade as he saw the woman he loved, his eyes sparkling as his met hers and for the longest time they seemed to just stand there watching each other. Turning towards my sister, I sheathed the blade on my back, slowly shaking my head as I watched the two in love. “When you two are quite finished staring might you please let me know?” With a teasing wink towards Loriel I sighed loudly, struggling not to chuckle as she turned red and returned an angry glare. “When you’re done, little brother, come see me…” Turning towards Karrade she gave him one last short, longing gaze. Then, she turned with her usual graceful posture and hurried off, leaving through the small archway by the spectators’ seats, situated high above the fighting pit. “Sounded important” Karrade had walked up next to me, as silent as only one his kinsman could, and now curiously looked back from within those cunning, grey eyes. “Seems so yes…” Distant in mind I gave the Ranger a quick bow, laying my hand upon his shoulder as I ran off towards the changing rooms, eager to see what was on my sister’s mind. A cautious hope silently grew in my thoughts, could it be her? It would be about the right time, yet I dared not hope. Ever since word of Queen Celeynah’s pending arrival had reached the halls of the Sidhe, I had struggled excruciatingly through each passing day, counting each rising of the sun until I could see her again. Time had passed agonizingly slow, each sunset offering faint hope that the day I could meet her glimmering eyes once again was approaching. Heavy in breath I quickly reached the High Priestess chambers, still clad in the moist training clothes used in the sparring with the fellow Sidhe Knight. I silently cursed that I hadn’t taken the time to change, as seeing the leader of the Order in such appearance, sibling or not, was not appreciated by the guards of the Temple. The sentinel by Loriel’s door bowed in greeting as I approached, trying to hide the surprised look upon his scarred veterans face. Returning a quick respectful nod, I knocked upon the heavy wooden entrance, awaiting my sister’s response. “Enter” Her fair voice echoed soundly through the dim, murmured corridor, moving the guardsman into attention as I pushed open the door and walked inside. “That was quick” She turned from her table and gestured me closer, her wide and clever smile raising my hopes of what to come. “It sounded important enough to grace with my presence” Grinning humorously I promptly took a seat by her, meeting her kind green eyes. “Think highly of ourselves do we?” She smirked and leaned closer, reaching for a parchment by the side of the table. “I have some good news I thought you might be interested in my dear brother.” Leaning back against the chair she gave me an enigmatic smile, the letter resting softly in her hand. “Well? Are you going to keep me guessing all day sister?” I could feel hope burning more fiercely as I gazed upon the scroll. It was a navy insignia, sent by a captain of the fleet. “A ship bearing the royal banners of Seladania is approaching the coast. I hear they will be reaching Talathorn any day now.” Her slim fingers softly drummed the parchment and she winked joyfully, enjoying the reaction spreading through my body and soul. I struggled to remain calm and composed, yet accomplishing nothing but a wide, sheepish grin. I couldn’t believe it, she was only days away now. She might even already be there, waiting in Talathorn. The words forced me back to life and I almost instinctively jumped to my feet. “She might already be here! Come, we have to hurry!” Not waiting for Loriel’s reply I rushed outside, never hearing her delighted laughter as I sprinted down the corridor, heading towards my own room. I changed as quickly as I could, just taking fresh clothes for the journey and wrapping the white robe of the Sidhe over my shoulders. As I reached the stables by the bustling courtyard below, my sister’s familiar face suddenly greeted me. She was sitting upon her white stallion, clad in her green sage’s cloak, her soft hand clutching the reins of my own steed. She must have known that I had wanted to depart right away, for she was fully prepared to undertake the journey, as was my horse. “Who knows you better then your sister?” She smiled as gently as always and nodded towards the mount, slowly making her way for the large, black gates of Tairngire. Before I could answer she had disappeared, hurrying across the courtyard, the clapping hooves echoing loudly in between the high walls surrounding them. Not wasting time I leapt up on the horses back, grabbed the reins, and galloped after, hurrying towards Loriel as she begun fading away outside the gates, taking the long lingering path through Galentaur. Two days later, as the sight of Talathorn slowly grew larger in the distant horizon, the modest rooftops breaking through the thick morning’s mist, my dry lips formed to a soft, grateful smile. In the corner of my eye I could see Loriel looking at me. “With a little luck we won’t have to wait too long” Breaking the silence I turned to her and spoke softly.. She returned a gentle smile and nodded. “Nervous?” “No not at all” Grinning I motioned towards my leg twitching anxiously by the side of the horse. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there to protect you” She smirked humorously and winked, revealing the compassion in her kind eyes. As we reached the border of the city and the first row of apartment buildings making out the bustling merchant city of Talathorn, our attention shifted towards the paved roads and the many people running back and forth, carelessly dodging oncoming riders and wagons speeding back and forth between the huge marketplaces. “We better leave the horses. No use trying to get through the inner streets mounted” She nodded carelessly and continued down the street as if not hearing my words. I decided not to ask, Loriel usually knew exactly where she was going. We continued down the main road for a few minutes until she finally stopped, gesturing towards a nearby building upon one of the smaller side roads. “There’s the stables. We can leave them there” She dismounted, gracefully leaping of the back of the horse and landing soundlessly upon the paved street. Following her lead we stopped outside of the small stables, securing the horses inside and quickly moving out on the main street again. The port lay only a few hundred meters down the road and there was no time wasted in following it to our destination. “We should see the ports master, he would know if any foreign ships have docked” I looked around, distant in thoughts, my eyes travelling across the ever moving stream of people. “I think it might be this way” I pointed down towards one of the smaller roads through the port, not noticing the Loriel had unexpectedly stopped beside me. She nudged me by the side, pulling my shirt to gain my attention. “What?” As I turned, gazing curiously upon her, my heart suddenly exploded, pounding faster and faster. Out of the crowd, a mere 100 meters away, a face that had visited my dreams for so long suddenly appeared before me. It was really her, she had already arrived. It felt like an eternity before I could find myself to understand it, to fully accept that she truly was there. Standing upon the soil of Daoine Sidhe. “Well? Are you just going to stand there?” She pushed me forward, giving me a meaning smile as she gestured towards the Queen. Not able to release my eyes from the stunning lady, Loriel’s words sounded but a mere distant whisper as I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Cupping my hands over my mouth I called out the name my lips had silently wished to speak for the longest time. “Cee! Cee!” Part V: Celeynah A month. An entire month to get from Lionsgate to the destination port in Daoine Sidhe. After two weeks at sea, I was growing more and more eager to reach the end of my journey. Yes, boredom had set in. I had not intended to stay within the confines of my cabin for long periods of time. However, most days were sunny and I knew that if I stayed out on deck, my fair skin would pay dearly. Knock, knock. “Cee, are you okay?” a husky, male voice called from outside. Smiling, I wiped my tears from my eyes and edged toward the door. Soon, I was staring up into the aged, smiling face that belonged to the ship’s Captain. “I’m fine. Just feeling a bit homesick, is all.” We had established a fast friendship in the two weeks since setting off from the habour at Lionsgate. After the ritual of insisting that he and everyone else call me Cee instead of ‘Your Majesty’, the Captain began to see that I wasn’t a typical figure of royalty. He felt more relaxed, as a result. He chuckled. “Quite alright. Why don’t you come out on deck? It’s a fine day out.” “Well, only for a little while,” I responded, forcing a small smile. “Could you give me a few minutes?” With an assenting nod in response, he agreed. “Of course, of course. I just thought you might like some fresh air. See you on deck, when you’re ready.” With a slight bow – more out of respect than protocol – he pulled the door shut and soon, I heard the thud of his footsteps fade as he climbed the stairs up to the deck. I could hear the muffled sounds of loud banter above me – the crew was a noisy bunch, but they all got on rather well. I smiled when I heard the laughter they shared and realised how much I missed MY bunch. It had been two weeks since I’d seen a familiar face. Of course I missed everyone very much, but it was Anton’s company that I missed the most. We enjoyed daily chats in the Parlour after dinner. Sometimes we would head to the Library together and do some research or read. Covering myself adequately, I headed for the deck and when I appeared, warm greetings came from every direction. “Ahhh, Cee!” shouted Bryce, one of the deckhands who had quite a charming way with words. “A pleasure to finally see something of beauty up here!” Of course, I blushed as a result, whilst the others groaned. Bryce winked at me. “’Nough o’ that,” chided the First Mate, Jacob. “Mind your manners!” Jacob looked roguish and acted quite macho, but he was quite the softy when one got to know him. He took it open himself to be my protector and he wouldn’t stand anyone being disrespectful toward me. “Are you feeling okay today, Cee?” I nodded, settling into my usual spot. “I’m coping…just a bit homesick.” “Ohhh, aye, I’m sure you are. ‘Nother two weeks and we’ll be where we’re goin’.” Jacob winked at me. “Where are we now?” I asked, curiously. “We’re just north of the Fractured Islands,” he answered, matter-of-factly. “We’ll start to veer farther towards the northeast just as we reach the middle of Lyndret, heading towards Daoine Sidhe.” The mere mention of “Sidhe” brought a smile to my face. Callius popped into my mind. In two weeks, I would be in his homeland, ever closer to seeing his smile once again. The next two weeks seemed to crawl by. I kept myself busy by exercising and writing in my scrolls. After nearly a month of entries, I was amazed by how many pages I’d written. During what were to be the final days of my journey, I read through everything I’d written, which was quite entertaining and certainly helped to pass the time. ----- On what would come to be the final morning of our journey, I was awakened by the sound of shouting directly above. The sun was just barely over the horizon when footsteps sounded just outside my door. THUMP, THUMP! The sound of someone pounding on the door startled me. “CEE! CEE! We’ve spotted land! We’re nearly there! We should make landfall very soon!” Suddenly, I was filled with the most intense relief I’d ever experienced. Closing my eyes, I sunk into the chair behind me and wept with joy. I had made it to Daoine Sidhe. As we docked at the harbour I stood on the deck, taking in everything I possibly could. Talathorn was an impressive port city. Markets lined the streets, catering to the bustling crowds. I so loved to shop and I had no doubts that I would spend a lot of time, looking around, but for now, I wanted to find a nice Inn, clean up and get some rest. After being at sea for a month, it felt very strange to be walking on land once again. Arwen had told me that it would take a while before my legs stopped swaying – at least a couple of days. Jacob appeared behind me as I left the docks. “Cee, allow me to at least see you to an Inn. I’ll have Bryce and a couple of the others see to your belongings.” The Captain stood behind Jacob, looking at me sadly. “I’d come, too, but there’s still much to do on the ship.” I looked at them appreciatively. I had said my goodbyes to most of the crew, but I found myself dreading saying goodbye to the Captain and Jacob. It was difficult to know whether or not I would see them again. I hoped so, but there were no guarantees. First, I addressed the Captain. Taking his rough, battered big hands into my softer, smaller ones, I smiled through my welling tears. “I understand. You go do what you need to do. I’ll be fine. Keep safe, Captain. I hope our paths cross again one of these days.” To my surprise, his eyes were filling with tears, too. “I hope you enjoy your time in Daoine Sidhe, Cee. May your journey remain a safe one. Say hello to Sir Callius for me.” He winked, gave my hands a final squeeze and hurried back onto the ship before I had a chance to respond. I stared after him for several moments, then turned toward Jacob. “Of course I’ll allow you and the others to escort me to an Inn.” He beamed. “Stay here, then. I’ll summon a caravan.” Fortunately, we managed to find an Inn just beyond the markets and by nightfall, I was settled in a nice room, wearing fresh clothes and contented with a full belly. Not surprisingly, I found it quite easy to give into my exhaustion – I don’t remember drifting to sleep but I’m quite certain that the sheer comfort of my new bed probably had something to do with it. The next morning, I awakened, not remembering where I was. When I did realise, I filled with relief once again. My mind was now occupied with thoughts of how I was going to find Callius in this vast Kingdom. He probably had a vague idea that I was due to arrive, but as we never had a plan to meet in one specific place, it would probably take some time to locate him. Dressed for the day, I decided to venture down to the markets to see what there was to buy. Just as I left the Inn, I heard my name called out behind me. “Cee! Cee!” Spinning around, I didn’t immediately see who was calling me. My eyes scanned the crowd until finally…my face broke out into a broad smile. Walking toward me were two very familiar people...a fond acquaintance I’d met a couple of years back when she came to Seladania, in search of special herbs that were native to our continent. Walking beside her was the person who was solely responsible for my being in Daoine Sidhe. Callius had been waiting for me, and suddenly the gruelling, month-long journey faded into a distant memory. The gap gradually closed between us, although I don’t remember actually taking any steps toward him. He smiled down at me, with a welcoming expression. “Welcome to Daoine Sidhe, m’lady.” He bowed his head respectfully toward me. “It is truly an honour to have you here.” I could only smile back up at the handsome Knight for a few seconds, before realizing that it was my turn to speak. “I’m delighted to finally set foot upon the soil of your fine Kingdom, Sir Callius.” “Was your journey on the ship a smooth one?” he asked. “It was…as comfortable as one would expect. Everyone in the crew was very hospitable and I made some new friends along the way.” I thought of the Captain and Jacob, with a fond smile. “I am glad.” Silence, for a few moments and then we heard someone cough in the background in an effort to remind us that we were not alone. I looked beyond Callius, finally, and smiled. “Loriel! How marvelous it is to see you!” She stepped forward with an accommodating smile and grabbed my hands into her own. “Celeynah! Ad Sanctum and welcome to Daoine Sidhe. I have been meaning to return to your fair lands for more of those herbs I love so much…“ her voice drifted off when she saw me raise my hand. “Ah…but I brought some with me, especially for you.” Her face lit up with excitement. “Oh! How very thoughtful of you! Thank you so much, m’lady!” “My pleasure, dear Loriel. My pleasure.” When I looked up at Callius once again, I found him beaming. His unrelenting gaze brought about instant colour in my cheeks. I couldn’t believe that I was standing in front of him again. “Were you off to the markets?” Callius asked. I nodded. “Yes, I was. I’m afraid that my curiosity finally got the better of me – I so much want to see what sorts of things are available here.” Loriel chuckled softly. “I remember feeling that way when I saw your market square in Lionsgate.” She started to say something else, but suddenly decided against doing so. “Why don’t you go and see if there are any rooms available at the Inn, dear sister?” Callius suggested, with a pointed look. “Oh! Right! Yes! I’ll do that then!” said Loriel, with a smile. “I’ll see you back there later on.” “Thanks Loriel,” Callius said, smiling at her appreciatively. “See you soon, Loriel!” I called after her, suddenly conscious of the fact that Callius and I were now alone. Together. This moment was one I’d dreamed of since first meeting Callius and now that it was here, I was at a loss of what to say. I looked up at him, unable to hide my admiration. “Shall we head for the market now?” I said, in an attempt to break the ice. “Indeed!” He held his arm out to me in a chivalrous gesture and as soon as I caught a gentle hold of it, he began to walk. For a couple of hours, we weaved through the crowd, pausing every so often to get a closer look at some of the merchandise offered. There were tables filled with fine fabrics, fresh fruit, handmade jewelry and so much more. All of a sudden, the heavens opened up and the rain came down heavily. Callius and I ran to the nearest shelter, which happened to be a deserted covered stall that was no longer in use. By the time we were under cover, we were both soaked. “Typical – our first day here in Talathorn,” Callius said, shaking his head. I laughed. “Yes, I know.” I looked down to survey my clothes. My dripping hair hung in my face and automatically, my hand flew up to brush it away. The next thing I knew, Callius was shrugging out of his white Sidhe robe and draping it around me. “You’re shivering. We can’t have you catching cold.” “Yes, but aren’t you cold, too?” I asked, concern in my voice. “I have a couple of layers on me,” he assured. After the rain showed no signs of stopping, we realized we were stranded in the stall for a while. The streets were now empty, quiet. “Thank you for your invitation, Callius,” I said. “I was pleased when it arrived.” He smiled. “Good. I’m pleased you accepted it.” My heart was pounding in my chest. The feelings I had when I first met Callius had returned, only a hundred-fold. Seeing him again after having had time to think about him more and more, I realized that something was happening within my heart. I was filled with excitement, just being here with him, listening to him talk to me. What was more exciting was that there was nothing at all to interrupt us. All the weeks that I had prayed for the sun to shine…how ironic that I was now grateful for the rain falling all around us, holding us here. The fates that had kept us apart for the past months were being kind once again. Part VI: Indoril Sirian Many days had passed since Queen Celeynah had arrived at the port of Talathorn and the lands of Daoine Sidhe. For three days, from the first birth of the sun to the coming of night, I spent each minute awake with a woman that, with each passing minute, conquered yet another piece of my aching heart. It was with amazing bliss and astonishment that I looked upon her, unable to remove my gaze, despairing over my desperate longing to hold her. The days in Talathorn had gone by fearfully fast and the time had soon come to move on, the bustling port city offered only so much for the eyes of a visiting Queen. Loriel had been forced to return to Tairngire in business, and left after a few days, leaving me and Cee to fend for ourselves. A frightening thought at first, yet I felt that any time spent with Celeynah was a pure blessing. We travelled north upon the trade route to Annonbar, however I had decided not to visit the city just yet. The beautiful lake of Silaelin lay just a few hours riding within the forest of Galentaur and I could imagine no better place to share together with her. The journey itself had been deliberately slow and careful. I felt reluctant to rush it, enjoying any and all moments of solitude together with the young Queen. The gentle, midsummer sun blessed the ancient lands with a serene beauty as we turned east upon the lingering path upon the outskirts of Galentaur, leaving the vast, luscious fields bordering Annonbar. The warm rays created a soft shimmering light throughout the tranquil forest as we ventured deeper into the last bastion of nature, the aging trees growing thicker around us, engulfing us into the mystical silence. The faint road slowly grew thinner by each passing mile, fading into a mere trail as the hours passed and the fabled lake drew nearer. Still riding side by side the decreasing space forced us closer and our horses suddenly bumped together. My hand brushed off against hers and I turned my head to meet her glimmering green eyes. Taking her hand in mine, I gently squeezed it and gave her a soft smile. “Not much further now” I couldn’t help not to smile as I saw her, my heart beating faster, warmth spreading throughout my body as she rode but a few inches away. “I can’t wait to see it” Her warm eyes met mine and she returned the smile, her soft voice like silk against my longing heart. “You won’t be disappointed” Giving the lady a loving wink, I was suddenly reluctantly forced to release her hand as an approaching tree interrupted my path. Slowing down the pace I rode behind her, just catching sight of the clearing growing larger in the distance as Celeynah took the lead. The legendary lake of Silaelin, home of the Sprites, was just a few hundred meters further down the faded forest path, the tranquil water beckoning tired and thirsty travellers closer to the shallow beachhead. The woods seemed to come more alive the closer to the lake we came, animals of all shapes and sizes drawn to the ancient pool of power. The birds' singing formed a stunning symphony of nature, only further enhancing the breathtaking aura of the area. As we passed the tree blocking parts of the trail, I quickly hurried past Cee, riding in front of her as we approached the glade in case of any unwelcome surprises lurking by the lake. Despite the soothing and peaceful atmosphere surrounding Silaelin, Galentaur, no doubt, was a place that offered much hazard for unwary travellers. Dark and twisted creatures always lurked within the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Turning back towards her I silently watched her, her soft tender face bright and joyful as the road disappeared behind us and we found ourselves by a place as mythological as it was beautiful, the legendary bottomless lake of Silaelin. Leaping to the ground I hurried towards her, taking the reins of her horse to slow it down. I stretched out my arm, offering my hand to help her down with a wide, caring smile upon my lips. “My lady” “Why thank you m’Lord” She straightened her back and gave me a playful smile, her emerald eyes sparkling as her warm hand grasped mine and she slid off the back of the steed. Her soft skin brought shivers to my body and I found myself unable to find the strength to let go of her, gently holding her hand as I led her closer to the water. The lake lay silent and tranquil, a soothing perfection upon the clear, still water. As we stood there, hand in hand, I could see her watching me from the corner of my eye. I turned my head towards her, gazing into her glittering eyes and then gestured towards the far end of the lake. “It’s starting” She curiously fixed her eyes on the place I pointed towards, searching for any signs of life beneath the magical pool. Then suddenly as the quiet lake seemed to come awake, bursting to life, I could feel her edge closer towards me. The clear blue water seemed to shift in colour, green, red and yellow orbs flowing beneath the surface, a wave of life spread to every corner of the lake, as if a rainbow had materialised beneath. Ripples formed as they began to rise to the surface, the glowing halo surrounding them slowly descipating as their forms became visible on the awoken lake. “It’s the sprites of Silaelin. Their dance is beginning” I could see her watching the magical creatures with stunning interest as they rose from their sleep and greeted the visitors with their fabled playful dance. “It’s beautiful!” Her eyes where wide open, watching closely as they leapt gracefully upon the water, dancing back and forth, playing like they had done since ages past. The display lasted a few moments, before they suddenly begun to disappear, descending to their homes deep below Silaelin. Their playful giggling slowly faded and died away as the last of the creatures left us. “Don’t go anywhere” Giving her an enigmatic wink, I spun around and hurried back to the horses, leaving her standing by the beachhead. Not wishing to waste time, I reached into the bag attached to the saddle and pulled out a large cloth tied together into a ball. I turned around to watch her, half worried she wouldn’t be there once I did, that it would all just be a distant dream, and promptly returned. I offered my hand and carefully lead her a bit further down the beach to a small grass meadow by the water. Untying the knot I spread the blanket upon the ground, a beautifully woven green mantle adorned by the Eternal Tree, the symbol of the Sidhe. “A good day for a picnic, is it not my Queen?” Bowing humbly before her, I gave her a gentle smile and gestured her to sit down. “A perfect day, Callius” Her eyes met mine, shining every bit as strong as the blazing sun above us and with a tender smile, she gently sat down. A small basket had been placed within the bound cloth and as I sat down beside Celeynah, I placed it before us, carefully lifting the lid and opening it. Within, wrapped in white textile, lay a few pieces of bread and a bottle of wine. It wasn’t much and for the first time I was struck with feelings of doubt. I had bought it from one of the trade wagons moving towards Annonbar, yet as I had to make sure to keep it from Cee it had been fast and now quite apparently not very spectacular.. “It’s not much…Not very fitting for a Queen I am afraid” I looked upon her with sincere regret, silently cursing that I hadn’t found more. Yet her smile did not fade and with the natural softness she had been blessed with, she took my hand in hers and whispered. “Callius stop. It’s perfect, more then enough for me.” Her gaze made my heart beat faster, warmth spreading through every inch of my body. For weeks, I had longed for such a moment, an opportunity to speak my heart, reveal my feelings, and there and then, all doubts faded from my mind. All fears dissipating beyond memory. “Cee…There is something I must tell you.” The strength gathered within me and I discreetly bit my lip to keep calm before her. “Yes?” Her eyes narrowed and she carefully leant closer, apparently as anticipating as I was, her hand tightening around mine. “From the moment I met you Celeynah, from the moment I gazed into your eyes that morning in Lionsgate, I have been lost. My soul feels empty, my heart longing for something I have not felt in the longest time. I…love you, my heart belongs to you and no other…” For a moment I looked away, fearing that I would be mistaken about her feelings, that my heart had led me astray. Yet, as I met her eyes again, I could see a soul within her destined for mine, bonded by the webs of destiny ages past. I could sense that her heart was yearning as much as mine. She embraced me and I held closely, never wishing to let go. We sat there, two souls of two different worlds, sharing an endless, perfect moment. A moment of Love, a moment of destiny. Part VII: Celeynah Could it get any better than this? Callius and I were alone together, surrounded by the exquisite beauty of the lush forest of Galentaur and glimmering Lake Silaelin. I had just witnessed a mystical dance performed by the Sprites of Silaelin, which gave me a sense of serenity I’d not felt in a long time. During the display, Callius stood by my side, holding my hand in his. We stood so closely together that I could feel his chest rising and falling with his every breath. I could sense that he was watching me enjoy the magical show taking place before me, watching the delight in my expression. When the sprites had disappeared once again, he returned to the horses to retrieve the food for our picnic. On the blanket, we sat partially leaning against each other, satisfying our hunger pangs with the contents of the picnic basket. The bread and wine were meant to be a surprise, which I thought was sweet of Callius to do for me. I couldn’t get enough of the scenery…there was so much for my eyes to take in. I remained quiet whilst I ate, simply content to appreciate the beautiful setting. He, too, ate quietly and wore a serious expression. “Is everything okay, Callius?” I asked, touching his arm lightly to show my concern. He nodded, despite the fact that he looked rather uncomfortable. When he finally broke the silence, it was to say that he needed to tell me something. The tone of his voice made me slightly nervous; I could not imagine what he was about to say. His crystal blue eyes never left mine and with a soft-spoken voice, Callius Sidhe professed his love for me. As I listened to his adoring sentiments, spoken with such eloquence, sincerity and emotion, I was finding it more difficult to contain my growing elation. He LOVED me!! His heart was MINE! He averted his gaze for a brief moment and then our eyes met once more. Could he see into the depths of my soul and know that he’d made me truly happy? I could no longer resist the urge to embrace him; as my arms pulled him tightly against me, I felt his arms close around me, too. We held each other for a long time, until I realised that reacting with a hug was not nearly enough. I gently disengaged myself from his loving embrace and looked into his eyes once again. I could not help but smile in delight. My heart soared high into the clouds and I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. Squeezing his hand firmly, I managed a breathless “Oh Callius…” I was fighting to keep my voice steady. “When you left Lionsgate after we first met, I felt as though a part of me left with you. I was restless. I couldn’t concentrate on anything at all. All I could think of was seeing you again. I dreamed of you day and night, wondering…and hoping, with all of my heart, that you felt the same way. The time we have spent together here, in Daoine Sidhe, has been so, so special…just to be near you again fills me with more joy than you could possibly imagine. You have reached my soul and touched my heart like no one else has before.” My hand drifted up to his handsome face and caressed his cheek gently. My voice dropped to a mere whisper. “Callius Sidhe, I love you.” When I heard the words, I felt startled by them, but deep down, I knew that I was only speaking of what my heart knew as true. The emotions were charging at full speed throughout my body as I felt the undeniable touching of our souls. A moment later, I repeated in a more certain tone, “I am in love with you.” His eyes closed and his lips curved into the broadest smile I’d ever seen him wear. He opened them again and looked down at me. “Oh, CEE! You don’t know how happy you have made me, my love!” he cried. I smiled back up at him, but then my smile faded, as did his. Our gazes were locked and we were now focused on what would inevitably happen next. His hands were on my face, stroking my cheeks gently, adoringly. Simultaneously, but slowly, we began to lean together, closing the gap until our lips met. Tenderly, his lips brushed against mine. From that moment on, I knew that there would never be anyone else for me, but Callius Sidhe. ------- We both smiled dreamily as we proceeded to tidy up after our picnic, gazing at one another every so often to exchange loving glances. The memory of his kiss was still fresh in my mind, yet I could not stop myself from wanting to kiss him again. Would he think me too forward? Ready to move on, we first returned to the spot where we had watched the Sprites. This time, Callius embraced me from behind and held me close to him. “I’ll never forget this place,” I said. “Its beauty is beyond description...and now…it holds sentimental value for me.” Callius gave me a squeeze. “It does for me as well, my sweet. Being here with you, discovering our mutual feelings for each other...well, it’s given this place a whole new meaning.” I turned to face him. My voice barely a whisper, I said, “Our place.” “Our place,” he repeated, as if to confirm my declaration. He was now leaning towards me for another kiss and I willingly met him halfway. As our lips touched, I knew one thing for certain - it didn’t get any better than this. ------- Tairngire wasn’t much farther on from the beautiful Lake Silaelin; it wouldn’t be long before we would meet up with Loriel once again. Callius was bursting to tell her our news. Our journey since leaving Silaelin was far more relaxed than it had before we’d gotten there. Gone was the tension brought on by wondering how we felt about each other, replaced by feelings of deep contentment and the desire for our journey alone together to last for as long as it possibly could. With the outline of the castle up ahead in the distance, Callius seemed hesitant to rush towards it. The road gradually became less deserted as we neared the walls surrounding the castle itself. It made for an impressive sight; I could only stare in awe as we made the final approach. The guard recognised Callius immediately and waved us through the massive gates and into Tairngire. The castle loomed to one side of the main road, its golden pinnacles reflecting the afternoon sun. The little village to the other side boasted shops and merchants quite typical of such a community. My mind was comparing and contrasting Tairngire with my own Lionsgate. “Callius!” a shout came from somewhere on the road ahead and when we looked more closely, we could see a small auburn-haired figure waving as she ran to meet us. As she got closer, I saw that she was not smiling. Callius dismounted and ran toward her. “What’s the matter, sister?” Loriel spoke in a low voice and I hung back so as not to overhear their private conversation. She looked worried, almost distraught and suddenly, Callius’ hands were on her arms, trying to comfort her. I could hear him telling her not to worry, that he would take care of whatever was distressing her. She nodded and stood still. Her eyes met mine and she smiled apologetically at me. Callius was now walking toward me once again; his expression had changed considerably since speaking to his sister. When he was beside me, he extended his arm to help me down from my horse. “What’s wrong?” I asked, fearing the worst. “It pains me to tell you that I must leave you, my Celeynah. I do not know how long I will be gone, but I want you to promise me that you won’t leave Daoine Sidhe until I return. I couldn’t bear it if I knew you wouldn’t be here when I got back…” I sighed, unsure of how to answer. My head reminded me that I had a Kingdom to run and I had already been gone for over a month. Yet, when I looked into his eyes, my heart took precedence. There was no way I could even consider leaving Daoine Sidhe until he returned. I did not smile, but I nodded. “I will be here when you get back. I promise.” The sadness in his voice was obvious, the pain in his eyes, undeniable. “I leave in the morning,” he announced. “First thing. I must go to the castle to be briefed…then prepare for my upcoming mission…” his voice drifted off, tears filling his eyes. “We might have to say our goodbyes here, Cee…” He said “mission” and I thought of the danger he would be in…the possibility of never seeing him again overwhelmed me. The fates were interfering again and I wanted to scream out in anger, cursing their cruelty once again. Yes, I knew I should have been thankful for all the wonderful days we had together, but it was only the beginning! We had just found each other and I couldn’t bear the thought of him being taken from me. I flung myself into his arms and held him as tightly as I could, my eyes squeezed shut. I had to think positively…he WOULD come back to me. I had to believe that he would. For the first time in a long time, I prayed…BEGGED the God that I had ignored for most of my life to look after my Callius. When I calmed down a bit, I looked up at him. “You look after yourself, my darling.” The tears poured down my cheeks and I was powerless to stop them. “Remember…I love you with all my heart.” With his thumbs, he brushed the wetness from my face. “My beloved sister, Loriel, will look after you in my absence. She has promised me.” He looked deeply into my eyes. “I WILL come back to you SOON.” I nodded, knowing that he truly believed what he was saying. “I will be here when you do.” “I love you, Cee…I always will.” What followed was a kiss so tender, so filled with emotion that my knees almost buckled beneath me. He then pressed his cheek against mine, whispered a final, “I love you” and gently pulled away from me. I watched him walk quickly toward the castle, refusing to look back at me. In his wake, I whispered, “I love you, too…Callius…always.” Loriel walked toward me, her arms outstretched, inviting me into her comforting embrace. “Come, my dear Celeynah. I have readied your room at the Castle. You will want rest after such a long journey.” I was too upset to want any dinner; as soon as Loriel left my room, I fell into bed and slept. At least, when I was sleeping, my heart didn’t ache so much. ------ I thought about Callius daily, but managed to keep myself occupied by spending time with Loriel. She gave me a grand tour of the Castle and surrounding areas. She introduced me to her many friends in Tairngire; I certainly enjoyed meeting them all and spending time with them. The Sidhe hospitality was unrivalled; everyone did their utmost to make me feel at home. Thoughts of my own dear friends crept into my mind…I sent scrolls every chance I got to assure them of my safety. To my surprise, Cadfael sent one back to let me know that everything was running smoothly in my absence. Anton had scrawled a message at the end, as had Arwen. Reading their messages had brought tears to my eyes; how I missed them all terribly. Two weeks passed since Callius and his fellow Knights left on their mission and Loriel sensed that I was getting more and more restless. She knew how I missed Callius and tried her best to keep me occupied. She also knew how much I enjoyed helping people and she made it possible for me to do so during my time in Tairngire. Taking essential items to the needy and the sick, spending time with children gave me a sense of purpose and passed the time more quickly. One evening, over dinner, I noticed she seemed to be brighter than she had been in the weeks since Callius had left. With a twinkle in her eyes, she leaned over the table toward me and said, “I have a proposition for you, Cee.” I looked at her curiously. “Oh? Do tell.” “Well, I received a scroll from a friend who’s now headed toward a town, north of here called Brith. He wants me to meet him there and I would be delighted if you came with me.” I hesitated. “But what if Callius comes back whilst I’m gone?” “Come on!” she replied, ignoring my question. “We’ll be gone for a few days at the very most. You cannot leave Daoine Sidhe without seeing the beauty of Mount Lothern.” I nodded. “Very well then. When will we be leaving?” “First thing tomorrow. You retire early tonight, after you’ve packed a few belongings,” she said, with a smile. “We will leave straight after breakfast.” As we passed through Mount Lothern, I was grateful that Loriel had talked me into making the journey. It *was* indeed beautifully breathtaking. The forest was lush, filled with brilliant emerald green trees; its brightly coloured flowers appealed to my senses of sight and smell. The sounds of nature tickled my eardrums; I felt a certain calmness envelop me as we continued along the path. I could imagine living here forever in a secluded cottage, Callius by my side… I must have drifted off into one of my daydreams because I didn’t hear Loriel’s voice, at first. “I know you want to stay here longer,” she said, gently, “but I’m sure you’ll have more of a chance to spend some time here on the way back to Tairngire.” She placed her hand on my forearm and squeezed it affectionately. “I’m afraid we must reach Brith by midday tomorrow, if I’m to be on time to meet my friend.” I smiled at her and nodded. “Of course, m’dear. I was just wishing…” She giggled. “This place has that effect on everyone who passes through it.” The next morning, we set off for Brith just as the sun peeked over the horizon. The air was cool and crisp – much more comfortable when travelling long distances. The sunlight filtered through the branches of the trees, enabling us to ride in the shade for most of the journey. As we reached the edge of the forest, Brith was visible in the distance. Loriel seemed relieved to see its outline against the clear blue sky and commanded her horse to speed up to a gallop. I followed suit, as eager to get to Brith as she. I knew that by the time I returned to Seladania, I would be tired from all the travelling…not that I minded; I was having the time of my life here. Our horses safely in the stables, Loriel and I walked along the main street of Brith, her arm looped through mine. “Where are you supposed to meet your friend?” I asked. “The local Tavern,” she replied, with a knowing smile. “Should be just up the road a bit.” As we approached the Tavern, we could hear the sounds of loud laughter and talking. “Are you sure it’s okay to intrude?” I asked. “Sounds like a celebration of some sort…” She smiled. “Of course!” She pushed the door opened and led me inside. The instant we entered the room, the music stopped. There were so many people in the Tavern…all looking in our direction. I leaned against Loriel for support, but she discreetly nudged me forward. If Loriel hadn’t been behind me, I surely would have bolted for the door, but I stood my ground – trembling, of course - and smiled. The silence was deafening as my gaze drifted across the room. It was then that I realised that many of the party guests were wearing armour. My eyes widened and smile spread across my face when I noticed a very familiar Knight at the far end of the room. He was smiling, walking toward me and suddenly I knew why Loriel had been such a rush to get me here. She thought it was high time Callius and I were reunited and, frankly, I couldn’t have agreed with her more. Part VIII: Indoril Sirian The moment I laid my eyes upon her I knew something was terribly wrong. Loriel’s usually kind and compassionate features were covered in sadness and worry. The day had begun as one of the best of my life, yet as we entered Tairngire I could not help to think that perhaps the cruel fate had caught up with us once more. My sister awaited us upon the courtyard as we passed the gates, her voice calling out to me through the crowd. As I approached I could see her eyes were not far from tears, raged with sorrow and anxiousness. “The Orcs! They, they have attacked Kalgond…” She struggled to keep her calm, her emotions in check, as she spoke slowly and carefully. “They burned much of the town, and hundreds of survivors where…carried off to their camps. Women and children, Callius…” Loriel held a love and respect for all life like few others I had ever met, her heart ever aching at the needless suffering of the innocent. “Don’t worry my sister. We will get to them before it is too late” I gently held her arms, trying to comfort her as best I could, though worried myself. She nodded gratefully and forced a kind smile. “Karrade left earlier with the Rangers to find out where the captives are held. He will be awaiting you in Kalgond” Her voice grew stronger, more at ease, and I could see her eyes edging towards Celeynah behind me. “Anything you want to tell me brother?” She smiled gently, curiously raising an eyebrow as she had apparently not missed the ways we had looked upon each other. “Later Loriel, later. For now promise me that you will take care of her. Do not let anything happen to her. I cannot stand to lose her now after all this time…” “Of course, I promise” She gave me a nod and compassionately lay her hand upon my shoulder. With Cee waiting behind me, unknowing that I would have to leave, I feared to turn around and face her. I was afraid that it might be the last time that my eyes would meet hers. The thoughts of what had happened raged within me, trying to comprehend and come to terms with what was to pass. The Orc tribes of Carandol had unified once again and raided a settlement of the Sidhe. Not an uncommon occurrence amongst the vast mountain realm. Yet they rarely journeyed as far south as Kalgond and attacking a town of that size in that magnitude was not a small deal. Their strength was growing and with that, their boldness. Normally the northernmost citadel of Illyrion kept the Orc tribes at bay, their epic walls having withstood centuries of attacks and sieges. Yet the powers of the stronghold had greatly diminished during later years, their borders across Carandol greatly strained by the increasing activity of the Tribes and their kin. If an army could pass their eyes unnoticed and attack a city as Kalgond, then all of the Northern cities surrounding the mountain reaches were in jeopardy. Something had to be done, an example set before others joined under the brutes’ banner and all of the northern borders broke. My thoughts travelled to the poor men, women and children captured during the attack, a fate worse than death, should they disappear before being found. Whatever length left of their life would be spent in slavery and torture, driven by the never tiring whip of their bestial masters. No, we could not let them fall in the slave lord’s control; every last one must be returned safe and sound, free men and women of the Kingdom. We owed them as much. Gathering the courage needed to part with the woman I had come to love so, I turned to face her, struggling not to let her see the bitterness boiling within me. My eyes sought the paved ground as I stepped towards her, extending my arm to help her down from the back of the horse. Her soft warmth still made my heart thunder within my chest, aching at the thought of yet another farewell. Two hours had passed since I was forced to part with Celeynah upon the courtyard, each minute having gone by excruciatingly slow as the thought of her waiting inside the castle not five minutes away made me want to leap out the window and go to her. Waldemar, the captain of the guards’ home in Mur, had joined me soon afterwards and, as always, he made me find comfort from my longing in the direness of the quest before us. Our time was spent in silence caring for our gear, sharpening the blades and equipping the armours as the available Knights where gathered by the barracks next to the castle, preparing for the journey to Carandol. As the orders to saddle suddenly roared from below I turned to Waldemar and nodded, it was time to leave. Standing up, it took a few minutes to get used to the weight of the armour again; I hadn’t worn the plated chain-mail suit for awhile now. Yet, once the royal guards rode out together it was unfortunately required, no matter how clumsy it made you feel. With my sword and shield secured upon my back we hurried outside to meet up with the rest, our horses already prepared and waiting by the stables. They were a hundred in total, metal clad knights waiting in a two-row formation, spreading from the gates of the Barracks to the wall behind them. Not an impressive number I thought and sighed quietly, yet a rescue mission demanded prudence rather then raw strength. We quickly mounted and joined the formation, giving the commanding officer a quick nod of respect. I caught sight of my brother, Valeron, in the front row and not having had time to go greet him after I got back, it was a comforting to once again see him. He saluted me with his usual wide smile and bowed in the saddle. “How nice of you to decide to join us” He grinned teasingly, making the surrounding knights laugh. “Well I have to make sure you won’t hurt yourself with that little sword of yours don’t I?” With a clever wink I swiftly got in place, our brothers in battle around us grinning at our ever joking fights. The commander roared for silence, obviously annoyed by the lack of discipline as we arrived, and then rode out from the front to address the force. “Men of the Sidhe! Listen up! We will ride to the outskirts of Kalgond, to the small valley situated between the city and the abandoned Dwarven stronghold. There we will meet up with the Rangers who, hopefully, will have found the location of the Orc base and the captives. Camp shall be made there for the night and at the break of dawn we will move up the mountain and prepare the attack. Reserve your strength for you shall need it. May the Horned Moon guide us on our journey.” As his booming voice silenced we all lowered our heads in prayer, silently pleading for luck and good fortune upon the quest set before us. “Forward!” The order roared, snapping many awake from their distant thoughts and day dreams and as the officer took his place in the front of us, the glimmering columns slowly begun moving towards the gates. The guardsmen posted on the wall ordered the heavy black gates opened, saluting each of the Knights as we passed onto the fields surrounding the eastern side of the castle. The mood was dim and silent, many of the warriors around me seeming lost in their own thoughts, their eyes starring distant into the far away horizon, as if looking for something that wasn’t there. The hour of reckoning would soon come and we would ride into the jaws the wolf with a smile upon our lips. ------ The sun had long since settled beyond the mountains once we reached the small, grass valley in between Tumnaug and the burned city. We had passed Kalgond on our ride here, a deliberate move of the captain, I suspected, as the sight of the destruction filled our hearts with darkness and rage; we were already longing for the sight of Orc blood spilling upon the mountain cliffs of Carandol. The night was still and calm, the faint stars above giving us the small light needed to find the small path towards the mountain road. The order to halt suddenly came as the front line reached the hillside, dark figures appearing from the shadows before them. One of them stepped out from behind bush and as the faint moonlight fell upon him I recognised Karrade. He walked up to the commanding officer and bowed, wasting no time as he began gesturing towards the mountain peeks towering above us. “The Rangers must have found where the Orc encampment is,” Waldemar whispered beside me, his voice tense and eager from coming closer to our goal. I nodded in response and gave him a sly smile, gesturing towards the front rows. “I’ll be right back, my friend” Before giving him time to respond, I hurried off, riding towards Karrade and the rangers. The officer now conversing with them quickly caught sight of me, his eyes almost glowing as he raised his eyebrows and glared, obviously annoyed by the disturbance. Karrade turned to face me, not seeming much surprised that it was me, and with quick and serious nod he welcomed me. “Callius” He spoke as serious and to the point as always when faced with a hunt, and as I dismounted I approached them, bowing in greeting before the small crowd hulking within the safety of the shadows. “Karrade…Have they been found?” In the corner of my eye I could see the captain silently grinding his teeth to keep quiet, obviously struggling not to loose what little temper he had left from the long ride. “They have. We followed their tracks to their encampment a few hours north of here. Yet we will have to move fast for they will not stay long.” With his eyes travelling in between the faces of the men present he quickly drew a crude map in the mud with the tip of his sword, telling of a small valley between the towering mountain peak. “As I was about to say before the…interruption, we will leave at dawn and prepare for the attack” Throwing an annoyed glance my way, the captain drew a small dagger and encircled the area upon the drawn map which indicated our position. “We make camp here tonight. As the sun rises tomorrow I want every rider ready for battle. I want these brutes found and destroyed by noon.” “Very well then. I shall take the rangers north again and keep an eye on any movement. Follow the mountain road and we will signal you once you are close.” Gesturing towards a faint gravel road disappearing amongst the darkened mountains above them, Karrade rose to his feet and bowed. “Good luck and may the Horned Moon be with you” Turning towards me he smiled and nodded, his eyes expressing the well-wishes not needing to be spoken further. “May your aim be true and your sword steady, my friend” I returned the smile, laying my hand upon his shoulder before turning and heading back towards my horse. I suspected staying any longer would merely further test the patience of the captain and thus quickly leapt onto the saddle and rode back towards Waldemar. ------ The night had been quiet and offered no difficulties for the sleeping knights, the only sound escaping the modest camp the silent footsteps of the patrolling guard posts. As the morning sun had risen above us the order was given to prepare our gear and move out, a command carried out with hardened discipline as we where all mounted and ready within minutes. The road itself towards the encampment offered most difficulties as the old unstable pathway made it near impossible for the horses to pass without struggle, and at many times the column was forced to dismount and continue on foot. Yet, as the blazing summer sun later rose high above our heads, telling of the coming of noon, an arrow suddenly struck the ground a few meters before us. Waldemar and I had moved up, riding second and third behind the front Knight, and as he instinctively reached to draw his sword I quickly reached towards him, calming his eager hand. “Don’t worry. It’s the Rangers.” A look of relief spread upon his face as he lowered his arm and turned to try and seek out the position of the hidden archer. Yet as the captain approached from behind us we both turned to face him. “What happened?” His voice roared as harsh and callous as ever, impatient for answers. “The signal. We are close.” My eyes meet his as I spoke, his annoyed grey orbs starring coldly back at me. Yet, just as I finished, a crack suddenly sounded from within the bushes next to us, and a second later the black clad scouts appeared, lead by Karrade in front. “Glad to see you could join us. The base is behind the next hill, a few hundred meters off. It’s been quiet all night” He spoke quickly, pointing towards the hill rising in the near horizon. I knew he had been up all night watching the Orcs from the trees, yet as always the Sidhe warrior showed no signs of being tired, no weaknesses. The captain nodded and turned to face the awaiting Knights, all now eager and anticipant as the eve of battle grew near. “We have reached the Orcs, a job well done. Now the real trial awaits us, it is now that you must show your bravery and strength. I want three groups, each positioned on one flank of the camp. Valeron, you will take the left flank, Callius, the right. I shall lead the front assault. You all know what to do, spread out and await the signal to attack. May the Horned Moon be with you.” Valeron saluted and immediately broke out of the column, his Knights following him into the safety of the forest line before regrouping and preparing their attack. The captain, now deeply concentrated and seemingly lost within his own planning pushed forward, continuing down the road with the main portion of the force. The remaining men turned towards me, all hardened warriors of many past campaigns, and their silent grim faces seemed raring to go, eager to once again tread upon the battlefield. “Shall we get moving my friend?” Waldemar broke the tense silence, his voice excited and impatient to move. “Just savouring the moment Waldemar, just savouring the moment.” With a soft smirk upon my lips, I gave him a wink and turned to face the awaiting Knights, now twenty in number. “Shall we get going? These Orcs will not be slaying themselves.” With a motion towards a faint clearing in the woods upon the right side of the road I moved off the gravel path, my hand resting upon the hilt of the sword tied to the side of the saddle. “With my luck they probably will.” Waldemar muttered from behind me. “Oh I wouldn’t worry old friend, I have a feeling there will be more then enough to go around” I turned and offered a comforting smile. “You always say that” Another of the knights said jokingly, sending a soft wave of laughter through the party. “And I’m always right, aren’t I?” Grinning, I replied with a faked sense of overconfidence and pride, rolling my eyes at the Warriors following me as we moved into the dense forest. “Not as often as you’d like” Waldemar said teasing, busy ducking the whipping branches and twigs of the trees as we pushed further inside and the trees thickened. “We’ll see. I just hope you brought enough gold to pay my ale afterwards, when you see I’m right. As usual.” Laughing, we continued inwards, catching a quick glimpse of the force moving upon the road left of us as the camp closed on us. The hill shortly came into view and I ordered the riders to dismount and continue the rest of the way on foot as to not seen from below as we climbed the mound surrounding the Orc encampment. We came to a halt at the top and caught sight of Valeron’s group waiting on the opposite side. Below us the crude base spread out over the valley, hundreds of tents housing the brutish invaders. The captives were held in cages, battered and exhausted but thankfully, still alive. As the captain came into place the banner was raised, a signal that the attack was imminent and without wasting any time, we mounted, securing our weapons and armour, prepared for the horns of battle to sound. The moments before the attack seemed an eternity, the pounding hearts within our chests preparing for the bloodshed to come. Suddenly the silver horn was raised, letting loose a thundering call to battle that echoed fiercely between the cold mountains of Carandol. The knights charged, their roaring war cries snapping the doomed orcs below us awake. Gripping the blade in my right hand, I unsheathed it and swung high in the air, filling my lungs for a cry to battle worthy the knights of the Sidhe. “FOR THE HORNED MOON!” The flanking forces set of simultaneously, the cold wind whipping at our faces as we thundered down the hillside, our swords raised and ready to deliver the mortal blow. The main force had drawn most of the orcs into battle, the brutes unknowing of the remaining warriors charging from every side and as the knights following Valeron and I came down upon them, little could save them from the slaughter to come. We arrived in the village of Brith the following day, having stayed the night at the enemy encampment to care for the dead and wounded. The bodies of the slain orcs were pilled up and burned, forever ridding the mountains of their foul presence. Though worn out, most of the captives were unharmed and they were promptly led back to the ruins of Kalgond to save what they could. Those of us slain in battle were carefully tied upon the backs of their former steeds to take the last journey back to Tairngire, where they would find a resting place amongst the most honourable of the Knights of the Sidhe. We entered the town in triumph, joyful that our task had been done, yet still our hearts ached with the loss of our brethren. Waldemar and I had survived with just minor scratches, the blood that had covered our bodies not of human kind and, as we entered the well-known Tavern of Brith, a grateful smile appeared upon our lips. We would drink to our victory, drink to our dead. Yet for the first time, I allowed myself to think of Celeynah, my heart aching to see her again, longing to hold her in my arms. I prayed that she was still well in Tairngire and thankfully, the thought that Loriel was with her filled me with relief. However, the celebration still felt dim, my thoughts elsewhere as she appeared in my mind. I couldn’t wait for the night to end so that I could travel back and see her once more. As Waldemar returned to the table, carrying another round of ale that he’d reluctantly bought, a chilling breeze suddenly spread throughout the room. The door behind us had opened, bringing new people to the bustling Inn. I did not think much about it at first, people had come and gone throughout the day. However, these visitors seemed to attract the attention of most of the knights within. Waldemar’s eyes widened and, with a smile, nodded towards the door and as I turned I could feel my heart beating faster. In the corner of my eye, I could see them, my sister Loriel and the Queen, Celeynah, standing motionless at the door. Instinctively, I stood up, struggling against the urge to run and embrace her, my eyes yet again lost within hers. I walked towards them smiling, knowing my hand would soon rest in hers, where it belonged. Part IX: Celeynah Cheers filled the Tavern as Callius and I embraced. Relief filled me as I felt his arms close around me. I wanted to weep tears of joy, but managed to hold off for the time being. We pulled apart, still holding hands, and smiled at each other. “So, Callius!” Waldemar called. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” He nodded toward me. Callius chuckled, unable to stop the colour forming in his cheeks. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it in a romantic gesture. “This wonderful woman, my brothers, is Celeynah, Queen of Seladania. I met her when our King sent me to discuss the possibility of an Alliance with her. We didn’t have much of a chance to talk when I was in Lionsgate, so I invited her here. After spending several glorious weeks with her during our travels from Talathorn to Tairngire,” He paused to smile at me, “I came to realize that I love her with all my heart…and I am pleased to announce that she loves me, too.” More cheers filled the Tavern. Valeron stepped forward and bowed respectfully towards me. “Your Majesty, Celeynah-“ Callius held up his hand, “Please, brother – no need for the title. Call her Cee.” Valeron looked at me, in question. I nodded to confirm Callius’ request. “Please.” “Very well then, Cee,” Valeron corrected himself, “I want to officially welcome you to Daoine Sidhe and bestow, upon you and my brother, all the very best of wishes and my sincerest congratulations. I may tease Callius a lot, but I must tell you that he is, indeed, a great man. The best.” I smiled up at Valeron and nodded in agreement. “I agree with you, Valeron.” My gaze returned to Callius, who was still blushing. Turning back to Valeron, I continued, “I am very pleased to meet you all.” Callius had talked about his Sidhe brothers quite a bit during our weeks traveling together and with great fondness. I felt like I knew them already and, for me, it was truly an honour to meet them in person. Loriel appeared beside me with a drink. “Here we go, m’dear. Some refreshment. I certainly was thirsty.” “Thank you, Loriel,” I said, gently taking my drink from her. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until I sipped. Formalities out of the way, Loriel and I were invited to the table where Callius, Valeron, Karrade and Waldemar sat. Loriel and I were on either side of Callius and Valeron sat to my right, keeping me occupied by asking me all sorts of questions about my native Seladania. “Go easy on her, Valeron!” Callius said, with an amused chuckle. “She doesn’t want to be answering all your questions, you know.” I laughed, showing my good-natured side and, although I was enjoying my conversation with Valeron, I was longing to be alone with Callius. I needed to feel his arms around me again. Under the table, he took hold of my hand and squeezed it. I responded by squeezing his back. A chill flew up my spine when I heard Callius whisper in my ear, “Shall we go for a walk?” Slowly I turned to face him. “Yes,” I whispered back, without hesitation, “I would love to.” As politely as he could, Callius announced our departure and within moments a crowd of those closest to Callius and Loriel gathered around us to offer parting sentiments and affectionate gestures. Amid a chorus of farewells, we left the crowd behind and stepped out of the Tavern into our long-awaited solitude. His arm tightly around my waist, my Callius gently led me to the edge of a small wooded area just within the town border. We found a series of old tree stumps and sat on two adjacent ones, facing each other. For the first time, since our reunion, I looked at him and noticed the unmistakable sadness in his eyes. He was happy to see me again, but inwardly he was filled with sorrow. ”What’s wrong, my sweet?” I asked, in a soothing voice, as my hands stroked his face. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke. “We lost several men in our battle with the orcs.” It had probably been the first time since returning from his battle with the orcs that he’d had a chance to think about the events of the past fortnight. He rested his head on my shoulder and clutched me tightly in his arms as his voice dissolved into soft sobs. I could do nothing but hug him back tightly and offer him the comfort of my loving embrace. I was crying, too, but because of the fact that I couldn’t bear to see him in so much pain. His face and hands were blemished with a series of superficial scratches, but I knew that his pain ran much deeper than the mere surface wounds. It would be a very long time before his grieving lessened. I struggled to find the right words to say, but there were none…well, none that I could think of, anyway. It was probably best that I said nothing at all, rather than risk saying the wrong thing. Lowering my head, I planted a gentle kiss on his head. “I’m sorry,” Callius apologised, straightening his posture to look into my eyes again. “I am so very happy to see you again, Cee. I shouldn’t be--” “Shhh…of course you should feel for the loss of your dear brothers. I’m glad that I am here to offer you comfort. I only wish that I could think of the right words to say…” “You needn’t say anything, sweetheart. Your presence is all the comfort I could hope for. I have missed you so much.” “And I have missed you, my love,” I responded, “more than I can express.” He smiled, finally. “It meant a lot to me that I knew you would be here when I returned.” I smiled, but my thoughts were reflected in my expression. “What’s wrong, Cee?” he asked, sensing that something was on my mind. “Well, I would not have left until you returned…but I’m afraid I cannot stay here for much longer…” my voice drifted off, hating the fact that I couldn’t stay with him forever. His face fell once again. “I know…and I have been dreading those very words.” I shook my head and let my gaze drop to the ground. Tears were now forming in my eyes, but what I was about to say had to be said. “I’ve been dreading having to tell you that my time here has to end soon…but I have been away from Lionsgate for far too long and I cannot burden my senior council members for much longer.” He sighed, in obvious frustration, but softened when he spoke to me again. “How much longer do we have together, my love?” After considering his question, I answered, “For as long as it will take us to get back to Talathorn.” He nodded and held my face in his hands. “Let’s make it a journey we never forget.” ------ We had been on the road for several hours. Loriel and Karrade were traveling back to Tairngire, as well, but since they wanted time alone, they did not travel with us. Surrounded by the beauty of Mount Lothern once again, Callius and I lingered amongst the lush green trees. I walked along the path, mesmerized by the scenery. The flowers were so brilliant in colour – I could not resist stopping to admire them more closely. Suddenly, I made the decision to hire someone to create a garden such as this somewhere on the grounds of the Keep, if only to remind me of this special place. Lost in another daydream, I didn’t hear Callius come up behind me. He spoke my name in a soft whisper, causing me to turn to him and find him offering a small bouquet of flowers. “I picked these for you, my love.” Smiling, I leaned towards him to kiss him tenderly. “They are lovely, sweetheart. Thank you.” “I have been watching you admire the flowers here,” he explained. “Never have I seen such appreciation for the beauty of nature – well, aside from my dear sister.” I smiled. “I was just thinking how much I want to have a garden such as this on the castle grounds…it will be my first project when I return home.” “That sounds wonderful, Cee. I shall enjoy being able to see its progress each time I visit.” He pulled me into his arms and lowered his head to kiss me for a long time. Our kiss was interrupted by a familiar male voice nearby. “Leave them alone for a while and this is what happens.” Breaking the kiss, we looked around and found Loriel and Karrade advancing up the path. Callius smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with kissing the woman you love…which I’ve no doubt YOU have been doing, too, so don’t play innocent with me, Karrade.” Loriel turned bright red, as a result. She was in good company – I was blushing, too. She pulled me off to the side, away from the two Knights. “I see you and my brother are getting on well,” she said, with a giggle. I giggled, too, lightly stroking the petals of one of the flowers in my bouquet. “Are you enjoying your time with Karrade?” “Yes, I am.” She pulled me down onto a clearing several yards away from Callius and Karrade. “So where you are going from here?” “We’re going to be travelling back to Talathorn…and then I have to return to Lionsgate.” Her smile faded into an expression of disappointment. “Oh, Cee…I’m going to hate to see you go…and if *I* hate seeing you leave, Callius will be a hundred times worse…” “Me, too…I really love him, Loriel…more than I ever thought possible for me to love someone.” She glanced toward Karrade. “I know the feeling. And Callius feels the same. I know my brother well. He was so lost after returning from Lionsgate...so preoccupied.” “As was I, after he left. I dread being apart.” “You’ll be together again soon, my dear,” she assured. “I doubt wild horses could keep him from you now…” I took her hand in mine. “Thank you, Loriel, for being such a kind, understanding friend. I have really grown to feel close to you during my time here. I hope we can be friends for a very long time.” She smiled and squeezed my hand. “I would have it no other way, Cee. I, too, will come to visit you when I can.” “I’d like that.” I gazed over at Callius and found him watching me with a smile. Even now, I could not help but blush and return his smile. I then noticed Karrade watching us curiously, too. In a low voice, I said, “Don’t look now, but we have an audience.” Loriel gracefully stood. “I’ll see you back in Tairngire. Do NOT leave there without saying goodbye.” I shook my head. “I couldn’t do that, Loriel.” She leaned down, gave me a quick hug. “Farewell for now, my dear. May the Horned Moon be with you. Enjoy your time with my brother.” She winked at me as she returned to Karrade and Callius. As soon as she hugged Callius, he made his way over to me and sat beside me. “It warms my heart to see you getting on so well with my sister,” Callius said, taking my hand in his. “Like you, she is very special,” I said. He smiled. “So…where were we before we were…interrupted?” I smiled, as he leaned toward me and pressed his lips against mine. As the sun approached the horizon, we decided it was time to move on to the next town, where we would stop for the night. Just inside the town border, there was a nice cosy Inn which provided hearty meals before we retreated to our warm beds for the night. ------ Just after we set off the next morning, Callius confessed to the fact that he dreaded reaching Tairngire, partly because he knew what awaited us there. Unlike the last time, our arrival was met with a peaceful welcome, although the overall atmosphere was somewhat sombre. The bodies of the slain Knights had arrived slightly ahead of us and preparations for their interment were now underway. I offered to remain in the background for the duration of the burial rituals, because I thought that maybe Callius and his Sidhe family would want privacy whilst they laid their heroes to rest. However, Callius would not hear of it; he wanted me by his side to lend him my comfort and support and I could not refuse his request. The rituals were wonderfully carried out...respectful and dignified, paying great tribute to those who had lost their lives. I decided that I would not broach the issue of an Alliance between DS and KR just now. The King obviously had enough to deal with…our talks would have to wait. I spent most of the morning in my room preparing for our eminent departure…packing my things and gathering the gifts I’d brought for Callius, which I’d planned to give him during our journey to Annonbar. I had a feeling that we would return to Lake Silaelin briefly before I left…and it would be the perfect setting in which to present my gifts to him. Once I had packed my belongings, I sat at the desk in my room and took care of some last minute business, which included documenting the last few days’ worth of events and composing several letters that needed finishing before I left Tairngire. As I finished writing the last letter, there was a knock at my door. Rolling the scroll up, I called, “Come in, please.” The door opened, giving way to Loriel. “A certain somebody wants to know where you are,” she said, with a smirk. I smiled. “Writing a letter to let my Council know of my return soon…” She nodded. “Well, I just thought I would let you know that Callius is waiting for you just outside. If you’re finished with the letter, I can take it and see it on its way…” “Thank you, Loriel,” I replied, gratefully, as I handed her the scroll. As soon as I emerged from my room, I saw Callius standing there. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, as it always did. Smiling, I took hold of his proffered arm, wondering what plans he had in store for us during our final night in Tairngire. ------ Callius, Loriel and Karrade hosted a special private dinner for five – Valeron joined us, too. After a few hours of laughter, good food and wine, Callius stood from the table. “Thank you all for coming,” he said to Loriel, Karrade and Valeron, “but Cee and I will be leaving very early in the morning…we need our rest.” I stood, too, and said my farewells. After thanking them all for their wonderful hospitality, I gave them each parting hugs, Loriel being last. Loriel hugged me tightly, tears filling her eyes. “Safe journey, my dear Cee. May the Horned Moon be with you. I’ll see you soon.” She grabbed Karrade’s hand and left quickly. “Take care, you two,” Valeron said, with a respectful bow, before disappearing out of the door. Callius looked down at me and with a sparkle in his eye, he said, “We’ve one more place to go, my love.” He beckoned me to him by extending his hand to me. I took it and followed him, wearing a curious expression. He led me to the door to one of the towers, opened it and together we climbed the numerous winding stairs up. At the top was another heavy door, leading outside. The night sky was brilliantly illuminated with billions of bright stars and a nearly full moon. The roads below were peaceful and empty. There was a chill in the air, which made me shiver and lean into Callius for warmth. “This is where I like to come to think,” he said, “and I wanted to show you before you left. Isn’t it beautiful up here?” I nodded. “Exquisite.” I looked up at the sky, wishing I knew the names of the different constellations. “I do this at my own Keep, too. I like to climb the east Tower at sunset and watch the sun sink below the horizon.” He smiled. “When I come to Lionsgate, you’ll have to show me.” “When you come to Lionsgate, I might never let you leave,” I said, giggling. ------ Shortly after we set off from Tairngire, Callius and I mutually decided to make one final visit to Lake Silaelin. Neither of us could resist the chance to spend a bit more time there before continuing onto Annonbar. As we ventured deeper into Galentaur forest towards the Lake, I was reminded of our last visit here only weeks before. The magic of Lake Silaelin was only enhanced by the meaning it held for Callius and me and as we drew nearer to the spot where we had declared our love for each other, I was enveloped by feelings of elation all over again. Loriel had carefully prepared a basket of rations for us to take with us and it seemed the perfect time for us to tuck into them. The fruit was succulent and sweet; the bread was soft and had a nice flavour. Our hunger sated, we sipped on wine whilst I reached into my backpack for the gifts I had brought for Callius. “I have been waiting for the perfect moment to give you these things I brought to you from Lionsgate." He looked at me with great anticipation in his eyes. “Oh sweetheart, you didn’t have to bring me gifts…” “I know…but I wanted to.” I pressed the first gift into his hands. He carefully untied the ribbon and peeled back the heavy paper that protected it. His eyes lit up when he saw what he’d unwrapped. “It’s beautiful! It…it’s a perfect likeness of you, my love.” He was looking at a drawing of me, done first in pencil, the filled in with pastels. “Devarynn did it just before I left Lionsgate. I had to sit for hours whilst he got every detail just so.” I hesitated. “I want one of you when you come to visit. Dev promised me that he would draw you for me.” Callius nodded to indicate he would let Dev draw him and then, he hugged me. “I love this. Thank you, Cee.” “I’m glad,” I replied, hugging him in return. The next gift was smaller, placed in a silken pouch. He gently took it from me and reached into the pouch to pull out a gold cloak brooch in the form of Celtic Love Knot. It was specially designed by a close jeweler friend of mine and, at my request, he had incorporated a beautifully formed “C” in the middle of the design. “The letter in the middle was put there for us…our special monogram. It will hold your cloak snugly around you, to keep you warm...just as my love does.” Tears formed in his eyes. “This is beautiful, Cee. I will cherish it forever.” I then pulled out the final thing – a scroll on which I had written a heartfelt letter to him before we left Tairngire. I had written one to Loriel, too, and left it for her to find after I left. She might even have read it already. Now, it was Callius’ turn to read my words. “My Dearest Callius, As my time in Daoine Sidhe draws to an end, I have had time to reflect on everything that has happened to me since my arrival. I am not the same person I was the moment I set foot upon the soil of your Kingdom. All those weeks ago, I came here, not knowing what to expect….unsure of what would happen when I saw you again. In the depths of my soul, I knew my true feelings for you, but my mind forced me to question whether or not I could feel so strongly after only a brief time spent with you. I was tormented by the possibility of my feelings not being reciprocated…but I had to find out… When you declared that your heart was mine, I experienced happiness that I never knew existed. Every look, every touch, every tender word we share fills me with renewed feelings of joy. I never thought it possible to love another human being so deeply. Your immense love for me has changed my life significantly by giving me the strength to face whatever my future holds with a new sense of confidence, despite whatever distance may separate us. When I leave Daoine Sidhe, I will take, with me, the beautiful memories of our time together. I look forward to the day when we are together again and hope that it’s soon; my days will feel so terribly empty without you. I will miss you, my love…and I will love you, forever and always. All My Love, Always, Celeynah” Part X: Indoril Sirian I took the stunning golden brooch in the palm of my hand, my fist closing tightly around it as I struggled to keep the tears away, the pain of a loss now growing closer by the passing of each hour. The cold metal sent a quiet shiver through my body, such a fierce difference from the soft warmth of her touch. My eyes closed, trying to force away the inevitable of what was to come. Yet what else was there to do but give thanks for the time now given to us and silently endure the trials of the distance between us. My gaze softly met hers and with a loving smile, I opened my fist, my knuckles now white from the strain, and brought the brooch towards my chest, pressing it against my heart. “This is beautiful, Cee. I will cherish it forever.” She nodded, the pain of the moment clearly visible in her warm, emerald eyes, and then calmly pulled out one last gift. A rolled up scroll rested in her hand, a letter of farewell addressed to me. I knew of which words it would be written, I felt them too and, as I leaned forward to read it, I placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. The words expressed the feelings that so clearly lived in our hearts, the ache of two bonded souls having to divide, but also the hopes of a future together. A quiet tear escaped my blue eyes, slowly traveling down my cheeks until it finally fell, dripping onto the letter and blurring part of the writing. I carefully rolled the scroll together, laying it securely upon the blanket before moving closer, our lips meeting in a passionate kiss. As they parted moments later, still burning from the touch of her, I edged but a few inches back, whispering in a broken voice. “Thank you my love” Discreetly lowering my head, I brought my hands up towards my neck, gently grasping a silver chain hanging around it. I lifted it over my head, revealing a small gold and silver medallion connected to the chain. The amulet itself was of gleaming silver yet in the centre of the round pendant a brilliant golden figure rested, a large S, shaped in the form of a serpent dragon. I tenderly hung it around her neck, gazing sincerely into her eyes with a gentle smile upon my lips. “It is not much, but I have carried this with me for many years past now, ever since I left Thyrion…It is the symbol of my family, the House of Sirian, the last still in existence. Carry it with you, my Queen, and I shall never be far away.” The amulet spun in its glimmering chain, revealing a lone name inscribed upon the back; Indoril, my birth name. It felt so distant, so far-away, as a memory from an age long past, shrouded in the mist of time. We embraced then, holding each other tightly for what seemed an eternity, never wishing to let go, never wanting to slip apart ever again. Yet the web of time was ever spinning against us, our time together slowly pouring away, thus we both knew that the journey had to continue. The road was still long and should not be wasted upon tears. We rose to our feet together, our hands clutched together tightly, and met in one final kiss before mounting our awaiting steeds and traveling onwards. “We will return here together again my love, some day. For now Annonbar awaits us” With an amorous wink I took the reins and strode ahead, steering towards the modest forest road leading south through Galentaur. Cee quickly followed, riding up behind me as I took the lead out of the vast and luscious woodland. “Let’s not keep her waiting, then, dear” She suggested softly, as she speeded up next to me, taking my hand in hers. Annonbar, the biggest settlement within the Kingdom of Daoine Sidhe, covered an impressive area on the surrounding countryside. From the trading docks and dense streets to the outlaying farmlands, the city provided home for more people than any other in the realm. People of all races and professions called it home, dark and sinister, as well as holy and righteous and one could easily pass through its bustling streets without gaining any attention to himself. The journey south passed without problems, the quiet road offering much peace for two in love, unable to release their gaze from one another. Gradually civilization grew denser upon the blossoming countryside, farmhouses turning to apartment buildings until we rode into the centre of Annonbar, a huge stone square. Dismounting I hurried to her side, offering my hand to help her down as she gazed wide-eyed around us. “It’s big!” She gently grasped my hand and leapt off the horse, her kind, loving eyes watching the busy town go about around us seemingly unaffected by our presence. “I told you sweetheart. Now let’s get going, I have something to show you!” I clutched her hand tightly and set off, crossing the massive square to the other side. A modest tavern, seemingly crammed in between two larger stone apartment buildings, appeared before us and, without stopping, I led her towards the door which was a heavy old oak entrance. Yet before we were able to open the door for ourselves, it suddenly flew wide, revealing an aged, graying man underneath the doorpost. His wrinkled, kind face was adorned by a wide smile and his warm eyes seemed to sparkle at the sight of us. “Calli!” His wide arms flew to his sides and he rushed forward, embracing me in a heartfelt greeting. “Too long have you been away from my house!” Releasing his stone fast hold, he stepped back to eye me, a cheerful grin upon his face. “Had I known you’d be aging so fast I’d come back more often old friend!” With a playful wink I broke into a joyful laughter, happy to meet my old friend after all this time. “Bah! And still no respect for your elders, young lad!” With his ample smile the broad innkeeper turned towards Cee, now standing by my right side, hand in hand. “And who might this be? The beautiful Queen of Seladania, I presume?” Sending me a quick blink he bowed, reached towards her hand and kissed it. “How on earth did you know that?” My eyes narrowed and I watched him in query, trying to decipher the ever-enigmatic old man. “Word travels fast around here. A queen of such beauty attracts attention you know! Especially around the likes of you, friend” In the corner of my eye I saw Cee turning towards me, a confused look covering her face. “Forgive me, my love. I want you to meet Olaf, an old friend and innkeeper of this fine Tavern. A very old friend” With a sly smile I gestured towards Olaf, now giving Celeynah his most courteous bow. “Not as old as he might want you to think m’lady, if you ever grow tired of that buffoon, that is” His always to warm and cordial grin sounded over the plaza, gaining the attention of the surrounding people, and with a inviting gesture, he pointed towards the door. “But please, let us not waste anymore time out here. Come inside!” Promptly turning around he pushed the door opened and stepped aside, letting Cee enter the aging tavern first. My hand found her shoulder and together we strode inside. The simple Inn had a counter at the far side wall, next to a staircase leading up to the rooms for rent. Heavy wooden tables covered the squeaky floor and a lone, blazing fireplace, surrounded by a half circle of leather sofas, spread soothing warmth from the eastern wall. “Olaf took me in when I first came to Daoine Sidhe and offered a place to stay. This was my home for many years, before I was taken into service at Tairngire.” The memories of the serene room came into mind as we passed through it, the smell of mahogany and ale filled our nostrils. We sat down at the table closest to the fire and Olaf hurried off straight away towards the kitchen in the room behind the counter. “Aye! And a good tenant he was. I offered him to stay for free, but he wouldn’t have it! Always insisting to help out as a waiter and look after the place.” He quickly returned from the small kitchen, carrying with him a trey with a bottle of wine and two mugs of ale. “You were a waiter? I’d like to have seen that” Cee turned towards me, smiling tenderly, her fingers entwining with mine upon the table. “I have many uses, my love, some more known then others” I gave her a playful wink, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss upon her temple as Olaf put down the tray next to us, smiling as he slowly shook his head. Sitting down with a deep sigh, he offered Celeynah the wine and the glass, leaving the ale for me and him. “Indeed he has m’lady. Yet imagine, when he first came here so many years ago, Callius was but a shadow, a broken man. And I don’t just mean the cuts and bruises on his body, his heart had been crushed! Took me months to get anything out of him.” Leaning forward, Olaf grabbed one of the tankards and brought it to his lips, drinking deep from the refreshing ale. The conversation sent a slight shiver of down my spine, the memories of what passed so long ago still painful. Celeynah’s eyes narrowed, her brows taking a curious yet concerned look as she eyed Olaf, waiting for more. “I see he didn’t tell you. I’m not surprised really, he never does. Always lets old Olaf do the talking when it comes to the past, not wanting to think about I suppose. Why, I bet that’s why he brought you here in the first place!” He paused for a moment, taking another sip from the ale. I closed my eyes and listened to the story, letting the words take me back to the past. “Well, let’s see then. Callius didn’t come from Daoine Sidhe, yet you know that I suppose, the Kingdom of Thyrion was his home, a nation far to the north. I have been there actually, cold and rugged but nice enough in the summers. Anyhow, Thyrion and Daoine Sidhe were allies, and Callius was sent here to study in his younger years. Much due to strengthen the ties between the countries, but also due to the situation within Thyrion, it wasn’t safe. You see our friend here is of royal blood, a Sirian, the ruling bloodline of Thyrion. Yet things do not always work out as you wish. His mother, the Queen, lost her husband at a young age, leaving no heirs. According to Thyrion customs she would then become a widow, not allowed to remarry, and as she had bore no children, this was quite the cruel fate for a woman at such a young age.” Pausing, Olaf raised the mug for another drink, smacking his lips in delight as the soothing fluid poured down his thirsting throat. “Now where was I? Ah yes indeed. As you can understand, when the King leaves no heirs and the Queen is not allowed to remarry, that places the bloodline in quite the peril. Seems the Sirians had fallen from the grace of the gods, as they had held the throne all the way back to the days of Septimus and the founding of Thyrion. The other noble families immediately begun fighting over the right to the crown, as you can imagine it was quite a tempting prize amongst the power hungry. Yet as in all things in life, only the strong and ruthless may succeed, thus when the smoke had cleared and the dust settled; one family finally stood as victor. Being amongst the most violent and bloodthirsty bloodlines everyone knew what would follow in the wake of their reign, yes a time of darkness it was. Pestilence and famine spread across the nation, the new ruthless King caring little for the suffering of his people. His golden palace grew more and more with the pain his reign caused. Now the Queen, being a Sirian and all, lived a dangerous life amongst the court of the new ruler, as you can imagine, and thus soon fled, taking refuge amongst a most unlikely rescuer. An Elven King from far across the seas had fallen in love with the beautiful widow, yet it was a forbidden love. The elves frowned upon the King choosing a mortal human as his bride, and she, loyal to her country and its way, could not become a bride a second time.” Suddenly the door to the Tavern slid open and a lone man stuck his head inside, searching for the innkeeper. He had a rugged appearance, his cloth dirty and torn, his face covered in soot. As he caught sight of Olaf his eyes suddenly lit up and he stepped inside. “Olaf! Ye open?” “Not right now John, I have special friends visiting. Come back later, will you?” The man nodded and promptly disappeared out of sight, carefully closing the heavy door behind him. “Forgive me, the miners usually return home from work around this time a day. In any case, a child they had, carried and birthed in secret amongst the elves. Yet sadly the half blood child could never find refuge amongst the pure Elven kin, seems the pointy ears are quite picky about that sort of thing. So the King reluctantly had his infant son sent away, back to Thyrion with his mother, where he was entrusted in the care of an old friend. One of the retired Royal Guards of her court to be specific. The elves had named the boy Indoril, however amongst the humans of Thyrion he went by Callius, as given by his mother. He stayed there until the age was right, training and educating in his adoptive fathers care, ignorant of his own past. His mother returned to tell him of the truth years later, and that’s when he was sent down here, to Daoine Sidhe, to study and grow in safety. You see word had spread, through a prophesy escaping the halls of the priesthood, that the line of Sirian was still intact and very much intent on reclaiming the throne. The King, quite a paranoid man at that, sent out his guards to search for this unknown descendant to rid him of the realm of the living before he could challenge the right to the throne.” Olaf stopped in his tale, clearing his throat with a subtle cough, and then took promptly took another drink of the ale before continuing. “I met Callius then briefly, a mere boy he was, which I suspect was the reason for why he returned all those years later to see me. But anyway, when time had come, he returned to Thyrion with his mother, the word of his arrival preceding him. Being a woman quite loved by her people, the fact that she had borne, in Thyrion eyes, an impure child, was quickly forgotten and forgiven. The promise of a new ruler awakened a mob that was already brewing by the hand of the cruel king. The people rose up and stormed the royal keep, capturing the unsuspecting monarch and swiftly beheaded him upon the courtyard of his golden palace, ending his reign of terror. Now, with the King dead and the former Queen returned, the House of Sirian regained their foretold place as rulers of Thyrion. Celena sat upon the throne the first years until her son was ready to take her place, which he later did. Though young and inexperienced the nation began rebuilding itself once again in his care, the wounds of the past tyranny slowly healing. Yet the brief peace lasted not long, as an impending doom grew closer upon the unknowing lands. The Great Cataclysm, as named in Thyrion lore, more commonly known as the Sin War, birthed one calm spring morning. Legions of demons and fiends rose from the depths of hell and engulfed the lands within days, a wave of death and destruction ridding Thyrion of all life. Celena, who was visiting the northern provinces, was amongst the first to die. She was caught in the path of the unrelenting horde and all of the northern kingdom soon fell with her. With no chance to stop the demons onslaught and save Thyrion, the King ordered his people to abandon their homes and flee south, over the mountains, towards the Kingdom of Daoine Sidhe. The last of the knighthood stood their ground outside the Citadel of Mur, the capital of Thyrion, intent on one final battle to buy the refugees enough time to escape the reach of the demons. Few made it out alive, yet a handful managed to flee south towards the lands of the Sidhe, Callius one of them. He knocked on my door about a month later, having spent day and night crossing the rugged mountains of the northlands to reach safety together with the last warriors of Thyrion. I granted him shelter, seeing what shape he was in, and I never lived to regret it. Gained a good friend that day, I did!” The old innkeeper gave me a compassionate smile and nodded as my eyes opened again, my mind still struggling with the raging memories of the past. “It’s…still very hard to talk about, my love” My eyes met with Celeynah’s and she gently squeezed my hand, leaning closer for a comforting kiss. “Oh and I don’t mind at all. I have studied Thyrion lore for a long time, and Callius tale does prove quite enthralling.” Olaf, still notably excited about the tale of the story, grinned and raised the tankard, saluting me. “What ever happened to the survivors?” Celeynah asked curiously. “They scattered upon Carandol, settling in small camps all along the mountain sides. Some prospered and grew into small villages, others, far too many, where lost to the Orcs tribes constantly searching for new slaves. By the grace of the King, my people were, years later, given an island of the western coast of Daoine Sidhe, to gather and grow as one again. I journeyed north to find as many of the survivors and their descendants as I could, and together we sailed towards the uninhabited island. There we rebuilt the Citadel of Mur, to honor her memory and made it our home. Far away from our homeland, yet close in memory.” The thought of my home brought renewed strength, shattering the painful recollections of lost times, and a loving smile spread across my face as my gaze fell upon Celeynah and those enchanting emerald green eyes. “But please my friends, enough talk of the ancient past! There so much else to talk about, so many others tales to share. Starting with, for example, how, by the Horned Moon, the Queen of Seladania ended up here in Daoine Sidhe, together with Callius of all people!” Olaf lashed out his arms and grinned loudly, filling the room with warmth, such as he always did. That evening passed quickly, spending those our last hours together sharing tales of past and present. Celeynah and I cherished each and every minute together, knowing that soon morning would come. Soon the sails of Seladania would greet us in Talathorn and our two loving hearts would part yet once again. Part XI: Celeynah Squeeze. A few seconds later, squeeze. After being spellbound by Olaf’s recount of Callius’ history, I suddenly became aware of Callius squeezing my hand. A glance over to him told me that hearing it was painful. His eyes were shut tight, his face frozen in a grimace. My immediate reaction was to stop Olaf from going any further, but I knew better than to do that. He had known Callius for a long time and I had every faith that he would know when to stop. Still, I leaned closer to Callius to kiss him supportively. I did not wish to prolong the pain for my beloved, but I had to know. “Whatever happened to the survivors?” It was Callius who spoke, this time, and as soon as he answered my question, he winked and squeezed my hand. Our gazes locked and he mouthed, "I love you." Olaf appeared to be touched by our exchange and was |