by Jana LaPelle
Chapter 13
(Alaric)
The day has finally arrived, and I can tell that the girls are torn. This is the only home they knew for eighteen years, and for a short time they were able to embrace their old home and memories, take time to just be young women, and embrace motherhood. I would do anything to give Ashlinn more time because I know that the brunt of what is to come will fall squarely on her slender shoulders. The Morrígan has targeted Ashlinn in her vie to rule The Realms. She sees her as a threat and wants nothing more than to send her to the Afterlife.
I take Ashlinn’s hand in mine, and through our bond, I hear, “Do we have to?”
“Ash, if you’re not ready, we can stay another day. One more day is not even two hours in The Otherworld. We’re heading back a little early as it is and we have no idea as to how soon you will be able to get back here. From this point forward things are going to get a little crazy. You feel it right? The urgency that wasn’t there before? One more day here is nothing in the grand scheme of things.”
“Unfortunately, I do feel a sense of urgency, it’s there, and it’s beginning to build. You know I would love nothing more than to stay, but you know as well as I do that it’s time that we face our duty to The Realms. We can’t stop time. If we could, we could allow our children to grow up so that they are able to defend themselves, but we don’t have that luxury. Lexie is as eager to get back as I am at this point, she wants to finish the charm that she has been working on. Being the Keeper of Souls is more or less a figurehead type of position. The Tree of Life is the one to see to things like she always has. I’m just here for backup and to keep an eye on her. I sense when a Keeper is needed and they are dispatched so that there are no lost souls on my watch. All of us are connected, Keepers and Guardians alike. I fear that once this battle for The Realms ensues, Keepers and Guardians are going to be very busy that day and possibly others to come. I’m not sure how that day will pan out considering my Guardians are warriors. You know as well as I do that we need to go back. As much as I would like to stay and shirk my responsibility to be a mother to these two amazing miracle children, it’s time to face the piper.” She leans into me, and with a heavy sigh, she says, “This is my childhood home, and I will always love it, but my home now is in Faerie. Let’s go home Alaric. Let’s do what we have to do to ensure a future for our own little horde of children that is in our future.”
“Alright, mo grá, let’s head home.” We thread our figures together and lean in toward the other. As our foreheads touch, I breathe her in. I never thought for one moment that I could be so absolutely content. She is my world, as are the twins. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Elf-Man. Now let’s gather everyone together, and we’ll trace back to the Keep. I can’t wait to get back to our rooms. As much as I love it here, the Keep is so much more spacious.”
“Come on then, everyone is waiting downstairs. We should have everyone back in a matter of moments.”
Once downstairs, everyone has gathered in the large open kitchen, and living area in the back of the house. There are quite a number of bags that have been packed that need to go with us. Camoryn claps me on the back and says, “I can help with the bags if you would like.”
Jasmine is next to Cam and is literally hopping up and down, “As much as I love to fly, this is my favorite part of being a Keeper. I can take Millie and Hank but only one at a time. Are you both ready?”
Hank nods, “The property has been seen to, everything is locked up and ready for us to head out. Since we are unsure as to when we will be back, Talila and some of her friends and family are requesting to return to The Otherworld, they are out on the back deck.”
Ashlinn quickly opens the back door and ushers a handful of sprites into the house, “Is that everyone?” The woodland sprites nod.
Jasmine is quick to action and traces back to The Otherworld several times to ferry the tiny sprites back home. Ashlinn locks up while Camoryn and I trace back to the Keep to deliver the baggage we are taking with us. By the time we get back, it’s been determined that Danu will trace Lexie and little Sammy back. Camoryn traces with Declan and Jasmine traces with Rhespen and then it’s just us.
Ashlinn is looking around this place that she has called home for eighteen years .She walks from room to room, her hand lingering here and there as if trying to memorize everything about this place. Over the last few weeks, I’ve moved items back to The Otherworld. Things that are important to her, things that she insisted that she could not do without. I follow quietly behind her until she makes it back to the kitchen. She looks up at me with a sad smile and takes my hand. Lachlan is asleep in her arms, but Lillie is wide awake in my own arms.
Squeezing my hand and with one last look around, I hear through our bond, “I’m ready.” And we trace.
(Ashlinn)
We haven’t even been back a full half day, and we’ve been drawn into endless planning sessions, one after the other. I’m not sure why everyone is so agitated. The purpose of this mission is to reach Lugh and find out where his son’s final resting place is. How hard can that be? What comes after is what we have to worry about. My frustration is obviously evident as Alaric reaches over to rub soothing circles over my lower back.
About that time Lexie marches into the chamber, demanding my attention, “No one has seen Morgwais! Not since the night of the coronation, the night that The Morrígan showed up. It’s like she disappeared! It’s been almost three days here, and no one has seen her. Even Tarron is worried.”
“Lexie, I was so distracted that night that I’m not even sure when I last saw her. I do remember seeing her on the rooftop in the crowd before the coronation. Does anyone recall seeing her after that?”
“No. Nemus was the one to bring it to my attention. I honestly feel really badly. She hasn’t even met my little Sammy yet. How could we be gone so long and not even know that she was missing?” Lexie’s eyes are brimming with unshed tears.
From the entryway of the library, I hear a soft, timid voice, “Morgwais be truly sorry for causing ye worry. That be not me intent. Please forgive an old woman. That night Morgwais fell ill and retired to me chambers. It be just within the last wee hours that I be feeling meself again. Can ye forgive me?”
Racing toward the frail old witch, I grab her up in a hug as does Lexie, and we both exclaim, “We were worried about you!”
Chuckling, she pats us both on the back and pulls away and directs her comment to Lexie, “First, I can’t wait to meet yer little one, but we have time for that. Now, I believe ye have the right of things, me wee little lass. Are ye ready to ward ye clan against The Morrígan’s curse?”
“How did you know that I was ready to place the wards, charms, whatever?”
“Morgwais knows these things. Ye be gifted little Mother Druid.”
“So… Lexie, you’ve been holding out. You’ve come up with a way to ward the masses against The Morrígan’s curse?” I ask as I watch Lexie flush, smiling all the while.
“I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure that it will work. Think of it as an inoculation or vaccine. I intend to use the Keeper and Guardian markings to bind the charm to you all. That way it’s not something that can be removed, and it’s always with you, a part of you. Nemus and I have gone over it a hundred times, I’m confident that it will protect you and ward off not only The Morrígan’s curse but any others as well. I just need one little thing from you.” Lexie looks at me as if she is unsure of how to continue and the smile slips from her face.
“What is it, Lexie? What do you need from me?”
“Well… here’s the thing, I kinda need…” She clears her throat, hedging before continuing wringing her hands.
“Come on Lexie, we don’t have all day, spit it out. I can’t imagine that it could be all that bad. What is it?” I’m concerned now with how she is acting.
Over my shoulder, I hear Jasmine say, “Oh… I think I know what it is. Are you sure about this Lexie?” She co
mes to join us.
Morgwais moves closer to Lexie and takes her hands in her own weathered ones, effectively stopping her from continuing to wring her hands, “Lexie, do not fret lass, the majic ye seek to use may be dark majic but it be the intent in which ye use said majic that be the most important thing. Ye seek to protect not harm. Ye seek to use dark majic for good to fight evil and ward off harm. This charm will not taint ye, ye have a pure heart and good intentions. Do ye understand?”
Lexie looks up from her hands, her expression is serious, and she nods with a tight smile as she looks directly into the old witch’s eyes, “Yes, Morgwais, I understand. Thank you, I know that I’m over thinking this, but I can’t help but worry…”
“And that be the very reason why what ye are about to do will be a good thing. Now out with it, Lexie. Tell Ashlinn what ye need.”
I can’t help but worry about what has Lexie so torn up, “We are all still waiting Lexie, what is it you need from me?”
Lexie’s brilliant green eyes meet mine, and she says with determination, “Ash, I need a vial of your blood.”
Collectively, I hear several gasps behind me, but I had already begun to wonder if that is what Lexie was alluding to. I assess Lexie for a moment, she’s begun to fidget again, and I know that she’s still not sure of herself but I trust her to do the right thing, “Is that it? That’s all you need? Because I was beginning to think you were going to suggest something much more drastic. So you need a vial, how do we do this?”
Nemus approaches us from behind Lexie. Evidently, he slipped out to gather some things so we could get started. He walks over to the large table in the room and opens the case and begins to assemble everything together. There are a pestle and mortar, a container holding shamrocks, and a bowl of some kind of orangey-red fruit or berries. He carefully arranges everything on the table.
Before we can proceed my mother steps forward to ask, “Lexie, can you explain how this charm will work?” I can tell that she is a little apprehensive. Now that we know that Lexie needs my blood, everyone in attendance understands that she intends to fight blood majic with blood majic.
For the first time since bringing the subject up, Lexie gets this excited look on her face, “Well you see, I intend to bind the majical properties of the shamrocks, the Rowan fruit, and Ashlinn’s blood together to create a charm that will bind all the Keepers and Guardians to Ashlinn and her cause first and foremost so that if any of them are detained by The Morrígan and are forced to drink of her elixir it will have no effect on them. The charm’s primary goal will be to protect all from harm and evil intent but will also serve as yet another binding agent to Ashlinn. All that she has marked are already bound to her. You see, Ashlinn would never take advantage of any of us by forcing us to do anything against our will. She would release us first from the ties that bind. The Keeper and Guardian markings will be infused with this blood majical charm, and because they are already bound to her through blood majic, those ties will protect everyone that receives the charm. In order to protect Ashlinn, I will need just bit of Alaric’s blood and will work the same charm with his blood for her. I know of no other way to fight blood majic.”
Tolin and Torin are quietly snickering amongst themselves, drawing my attention and I can’t help but smile at the two them before Tolin looks up and says with a smirk, “That’s all well and fine, and I’m totally on board with this but what happens if Ashlinn goes off the deep end? It’s totally not outside the realm of possibility.”
“T, cut it out. This is serious, and that is an excellent question. Lexie, what happens if I for some reason lose it before I release my Keepers and Guardians from this blood binding?” I have a million and one scenarios running through my head at the mention of me going off the deep end.
“Ash, you won’t. You are one of the most level-headed people I know. You have a tendency to stew on things, but ultimately you make the right decisions. Once all this is over, all you have to do is willingly release those that are bound to you through this charm. It’s as simple as that.” Lexie concludes.
“Little Bits, I was only teasing. Lexie is right. We all know that you would never do anything that would intentionally harm any of us. I say let’s do this.” Tolin and Torin are the first to step forward and then everyone else moves toward the table.
From that point forward everything happens quickly. Morgwais draws my blood and then Alaric’s, and then Lexie goes about her ritual, first placing the shamrocks, then the Rowan fruit in the mortar and grinding those ingredients together. Then when she has that to a consistency that she approves of, she adds my blood and begins to chant as her eyes shade to all white. I will never get used to that. She directs her milky-eyed gaze at me and asks, “Ash, I need you to direct just a spark of fire into the mortar, just enough for the contents to catch fire, binding them all together.”
I do as instructed and stand back and allow her to continue her work. As the flames extinguish, she asks for Alaric to step forward and one by one everyone lines up behind my kindred. Lexie continues to chant her hand coated in the ashes from what is left of the ingredients of the charm that she is casting. She places her hand on Alaric’s Guardian marking, and I can see the marking begin to faintly glow as she binds the charm to him. Through our bond, I ask, “Do you feel any differently?”
“No Ashlinn, but we are already bound together in every way possible. Maybe we should ask Tolin?”
I mutter under my breath, “Not funny Elf-Man.” He chuckles and steps to the side allowing Tolin to step forward, and he comes over to wrap his arms around me.
His expression sobers, “One problem solved. Now we need to figure out how we are going to have you spend days away from the twins. I take it the bottle feeding was less than successful?”
“You heard. I think that even the Forrest Elves heard his wails of discontent. It’s not like I want him to take formula or cow’s milk. I’ve pumped enough to last close to a week. We even brought in a wet nurse when he refused the bottle. Thirty minutes in he was making himself sick he was crying so hard. Not even Lillie could console him. What are we going to do?”
Morgwais steps forward and takes my hand, “Me wee lass, hear Morgwais out. Me thinks me has the solution to yer problem with yer babes.”
“What are you thinking Morgwais?”
“Ye may not like this suggestion, but me thinks that it could be quite the solution to yer problem.”
“Alright, witch spit it out. What’s your suggestion? I’m kind of at my wit’s end at the moment.” The sigh that escapes me is soul deep.
The old witch inhales deeply before continuing, “Me thinks that a sleeping charm be in order.”
Shaking my head vigorously, I say, “Absolutely not!”
“Hear her out Ashlinn, I for one am curious as to how that would work.” Alaric is quick to respond while trying to soothe my angst.
Morgwais bows her head in Alaric’s direction before patting my hand that she still has in her own, “Lass, it would not be an indefinite sleep, just an extended one. Ye can set the terms of the length of sleep, but while the babes sleep, it will be as if they only just drifted off not wanting for anything. Their last memory will be of ye and Alaric. They will be closely guarded at a location of yer choosing. I would suggest yer Twilight Realm.”
Breathing deeply and considering her words, I ask, “So what makes this different from a curse? How would the spell be broken?”
“Well, lass, we put a time limit of yer choosing on the spell, and then there be the best case scenario, and they awaken when ye and Alaric kiss their wee foreheads upon yer return. As to the difference, well, that be simple, a curse be uttered and meant to inflict harm or a punishment of sorts. That be not the intent with yer babes.”
Alaric speaks up and asks, “So, let’s say we were not back in two week’s time and that is the time limit we put on the spell, they would wake up regardless of the fact that we have not returned.”
“That be correct, me
Lord.”
Lexie continues to do her thing, and I see that she is almost done. Alaric turns to me, I know that he thinks this is the best case scenario and I know that I would not worry about my two little angels if they were safely tucked away without a worry, and no anguish like I experienced today but what does that say about me as a mother? How can I condone placing a sleeping spell on my children? I’m torn, but we’re running out of time.
“Ash, do you trust Morgwais to do what is best for our two little ones? I know you do, so what is holding you back?”
I say the first thing that pops into my head, “It feels wrong. Like we’re using majic to solve a problem when there should be another more suitable answer. I don’t know, maybe it’s my human upbringing that is getting in the way. It just feels as if we’re manipulating them. They’re too young to understand and don’t have a choice in the matter.” I know that my look is pleading because I’m desperate at this point.
“I think that I understand now. For me, growing up in a realm where majic is most common place I would never consider this action as a manipulation only an answer to the problem at hand. Does it bother you that much? That they don’t have a choice?” I nod, and Alaric is thoughtful for a moment before saying, “What if we try to connect with them, like when they were still within your womb? They were aware enough then and tuned into your emotions and needs. We’re still a family unit. If we could do that would you feel better about the spell?”
Nodding I quickly agree, “Okay, let’s try to do that before making a decision one way or the other.”
I’m interrupted when Lexie calls out, “It’s your turn, Ash.”
Turning to Morgwais, “You know that I trust you, right? This has nothing to do with you, and your suggestion may be just what we need, but I need to be sure first that we’re making the right decision for the right reasons before I say yes to this. Please tell me you understand?”