by DB Jones
She asked what they had said to him, and he replied, "They? I only saw Morven." But he hovered for a moment, looking into her eyes, and said, "There were others. I am remembering, but it isn't clear yet. Give it time, and I will share with you." She continued looking into his eyes with honor and respect, for she knew—she just knew—it was time. He looked back at her and said to her in the language of the ancients, "Yes, my Willow, it is time." He took her hand in his, and they vanished.
They reappeared in the coral forest alongside Ellura. Ellura sent Vala to his cave and Willow to hers and told them to stay there until it was time. They looked into each other's ice-blue eyes and without speaking said, "Soon." Then they glided gently to their caves. They each retreated to the deepest part of their caves in preparation for the coming event. They would not eat or come out until Ellura called to them to meet her at the edge of the coral forest.
This event would not be just for the water people, but for all the Sea Kingdom to experience. The voices ripped through the waters, announcing the upcoming joining of Willow and Vala.
Llyr came close to the forest and called Ellura out to the edge. They discussed the joy and excitement but also talked of the dangers that would lie ahead for the two. No beast of the sea would interfere with this joining, knowing Willow and Vala would be protected, but after that they would face peril always. All measures were to be taken to protect them both—and at all costs. But for now, the sea would celebrate.
The Delfin Clan met Llyr there, and they headed for the open waters. They had a mission: to return to the endless waters of the village where Audra lived. They greeted the fishermen out in their boats, preparing the vessels for the next migration of fish that would come in the full moon. The fishermen had always tossed fish as the clan passed their boats. The Delfin Clan came closer and closer to the shore. The children on shore had never seen them come so close. They rushed to the shore to watch them leaping in and out of the water. Soon half the village approached the shore to see this unusual event. Yet something kept Audra on the knoll in her rocking chair in the cool of the day. She loved feeling the sea breezes on her face. It reminded her of Willow.
The wind began to pick up, but not uncomfortably. In the wind, Audra thought she heard a voice calling her name. She stood up and looked out at the endless waters. From where she was standing, she could see beyond the Delfin Clan playing near the shore. Far beyond them, she saw a great Delfin with his head above the waves. He seemed to be looking right at her. Then she heard the sound again. "Audra." She intensified her stare at the beautiful, magnificent creature. The distance between them drew shorter and shorter until she could see the glimmer in his eyes. It was he who was calling her name; she was sure of it.
She replied, "Why do you seek me, great being?"
"Willow has chosen a mate," he said. "And they will be joined in two days. Is there not something you wish to give to her?" Audra realized he was speaking to her in the language only she and Willow knew.
She didn't hesitate. "Yes, but how?"
Llyr told her when the night bird sang and the moon was high in the evening sky, she should bring her gift to the water's edge and wait. "Do not be frightened."
He turned and sank down into the endless waters and disappeared. Soon after that, the entire Delfin Clan retreated from the shore to join him. They gathered and headed back out into the open waters. Audra watched from the knoll as they slowly vanished. She sat back down in her rocking chair, thinking, Could I have been dreaming? How could it be possible that I have communicated with such a creature of the endless waters? But she knew in her heart that it was true, because she had felt something important was about to occur with Willow. She was so thrilled that her daughter had chosen a mate to spend her days with. She did not want Willow to live her life alone.
Nyle came out to the knoll to tell her what had happened near the shore that day, but when he approached her rocking chair, he could see the glow on her face and knew something else had happened. Audra didn't want to keep any secrets from him, especially about Willow; he missed her too. She asked him to sit down beside her and said that she had something to tell him.
He didn't fear it was bad news, for her face was glowing, and her cheeks were flushed like they were when there was joy in her heart. She didn't even think that he would find her crazy when she told him that the magnificent creature had spoken to her. He pulled even closer to her, not wanting to miss a single thing. He listened to every word about how Willow had chosen a mate and that she was to go to the shore that very evening.
Nyle stood up and looked down at Audra. Suddenly, she was filled with anxiety; should she have told him everything? He must think now I have finally lost my mind. But Nyle stood there in amazement, speechless for a moment, and then said, "I will go with you."
She stood up, took his arms in her hands, looked into his eyes, and said, "My dear husband, I am a proud woman to have you for my mate to spend the rest of my years with, but this I must do alone."
"But..." he started to reply, but her look was that of a loving mother who needed to do what mothers do. He said, "OK, but I will wait for you outside until you return." She reached up and took his face in her hands and kissed him. Then they went into the house for the evening meal.
The evening meal was like any normal evening with the family, but Nyle and Audra knew it was anything but normal. Yet they said nothing to the rest of the family. After dinner, Raven put the oats and fresh berries in the pot to soak overnight. Seth banked the embers in the fireplace so they would be ready in the morning for his mother to swing the pot over to cook. This was how they had always done it for the morning meal, but now that Raven and Seth were older, they had assumed the chore—and proudly. After all the cleaning up and preparation for the morning meal, Raven helped the twin girls get ready for bed. They climbed into their sleeping lofts, and Audra tucked them in and kissed them good-night.
After they were all tucked in, Nyle and Audra went out to the knoll, as they had done many times before. Before Audra took her place in her rocking chair, she told Nyle she had to get something from the house. She went back into the house and pulled out a box from beneath her sleeping loft. The box had the gown she'd made for the night Willow entered the circle on the knoll off the rocky shore to choose a mate. She took the gown out, along with the silver threads that had been given to her great-great-great-grandmother when she was given baby Morven on the shore from the endless waters. The silver threads had been passed down for generations, and now they were Willow's and must be returned to the sea with her. It had all come full circle. The promise had been fulfilled, and Willow was the one.
Audra held the dress and the silver threads close to her breast and walked out to her rocking chair, where Nyle awaited her. Tears cascaded down her cheeks and onto the dress. She could not release her hold on it. It was all she had left of Willow, and she knew soon it too would be gone. Nyle held her tightly against him to comfort her. They stood there for a short time, but then Audra heard the call of the night bird. She glanced up to see the moon rising. She looked up at Nyle and said, "I must go soon."
He replied, "Are you sure this must be done by you alone?"
"Yes," she said.
The wind started to pick up slightly, and Audra felt she must go right then. She pulled herself gently away from his arms and turned and walked toward the shore. She hesitated for a moment, looking back at Nyle, and then turned and headed for the shore. The light from the moon shone a path for her, so she had no problem finding her way in the night.
As she approached the edge of the water, the moon was at its highest point and the endless waters shimmered with each wave. She saw a rock near the edge of the water and walked over and sat on it. It had a perfect hollow in it for sitting on. It was as comfortable as her rocking chair, and she felt even closer to Willow as she sat there. She was so entranced by the beauty of the water and the rhythm of the waves, she hadn't noticed it rising up around her. She felt a gentle wave brush against her leg
. It felt calming as it caressed her skin.
Audra looked down into the water as it started to become still, so still she could see her reflection in it. She pulled her face closer and closer to the surface. She thought she saw something move, yet it didn't frighten her. She looked even closer, and there, beneath the water, was something beautiful, swirling. It illuminated beneath the surface like silver threads of light. The glow came closer to her, but she could not move. The beauty captured her. She remained entranced by the swirling motions of those silver strands. For a moment, she thought, There is something very familiar about them. Then she saw her—the woman of the water Willow had told her about. It must be her. She is everything Willow described. Audra pulled herself up on the rock. As she did, Ellura emerged from the water.
Audra was speechless. All the stories she'd heard all her life were true, and this was the woman Willow had spoken of seeing at the edge of the waters. Ellura sat next to her by the rock, yet most of her remained in the water. She spoke in the language only Willow and Audra spoke. Audra asked, "How is it you know the language my daughter speaks?"
Ellura reached up and touched Audra's arm. "You speak the language of