Avalyne Series 02: The Easterling

by Linda Thackeray

  While hunting the foul things that may still roam the greater wood of Eden Halas might be distracting for a time, Aeron also knew he would soon tire of this and be pining to depart. If not, his life would return to what it was before Dare was found by his mother and would likely remain so for the next thousand years. It disturbed Aeron that there was nothing ahead but this inevitable journey into stagnancy while his friend continued to face new challenges.

  Dare was now a King with a wife and a child, not to mention a kingdom to consolidate and to strengthen. Kyou, head of Clan Atrayo, recently wedded his long time love Hanae in the Jagged Mountains. At some point the Master Builder would complete his work in Sandrine and then return to Iridia to begin a new life with Hanae. The same could be said for Celene who was now the Lady of Gislaine and as a wife, would be expected to give Ronen children at some point in their marriage. Even Tamsyn, currently travelling the territories of Carleon, was seeking out acolytes to expand the Order of Enphilim.

  And what was he doing?

  Nothing.

  He was doing nothing and if he returned to Eden Halas, he would continue to do nothing. As Aeron walked the sculpted gardens of Sandrine Keep, this bothered him a great deal. He could not deny that he missed the forests of Eden Halas. He missed the smell of the trees in the morning and the scent of the morning dew after a particular cold night. He missed its peace and its quiet but he knew if he returned home, it would be temporary distraction before boredom set in again.

  There had to be some purpose to immortality than to go on for centuries without change.

  ‘Aeron,’ Dare's sudden call broke him free of his thoughts. ‘There you are.’

  The Prince of Eden Halas glanced briefly at the sky above and was somewhat surprised to see the sun had crested overhead and was now starting its evening descent. He had begun this walk shortly after receiving his father's message and that was early afternoon. Not one who often lost track of time he was startled that the day had slipped by him without notice.

  ‘I am sorry,’ Aeron muttered, ‘I had not meant to be away for so long.’

  Dare nodded as they stood within a cul-de-sac in the path of the garden, where a fountain made of blue marble was situated. ‘There is nothing to be sorry for. I merely wondered where you were. I was told that there was a message from your father.’

  ‘Yes,’ Aeron frowned, showing the King clearly it was not good news.

  ‘Is it what you feared?’ Dare asked, having known Aeron long enough to discern why a summons home would upset the Prince.

  ‘More or less,’ Aeron shrugged, not bothering to hide his discontent from his old friend. ‘He would like me home as soon as possible.’

  ‘And you mean to go,’ Dare said with disappointment because he would not be happy to see the back of Aeron. They were family and had been constant companions for the last eighteen years. If Dare had a best friend in the entire world, then Aeron would have surely been it and to lose another close friend after the events in the Frozen Mountains bothered him more than he cared to admit.

  ‘I do not see that I have any other choice, he is the King after all,’ Aeron reminded.

  ‘And you are his son, not his possession,’ Dare pointed out.

  ‘I have responsibilities at home,’ Aeron countered but he knew that was a lie. He had older brothers who were of more use to his father than him. His father wanted him home because Halion disapproved of Aeron having a life outside the Veil. During Balfure’s reign it had been a necessary evil but now that the Shadow Lord was no more, there was no longer any reason for his continued absence from home.

  ‘You have responsibilities to yourself first,’ Dare stated firmly, conscious of the fact that while Aeron was more than 950 years older than him, the elf had spent very little of that time actually living. As much as Dare loved the elves, he felt their immortality was more a burden than it was a gift from the Celestial Gods because time was no one’s friend when you had too much of it.

  ‘Do you know what your trouble is, elf?’

  Aeron stiffened for Dare did not refer to him that way unless he was about to impart some uncomfortable insight that Aeron probably would not want to hear, no matter how much he needed to.

  ‘You are more like men that you care to admit,’ Dare declared firmly. ‘You want more from life than just hiding behind the Veil. You want to experience life, not hide from it.’

  Aeron flinched uncomfortably because as always, Dare's observations were not only astute but utterly correct. While Eden Halas would always be his home, it was not all that he was. He was a different elf than the one who had left with Dare so many years ago. Like the others, he wanted to accomplish something, just as Kyou was now doing in Iridia and Dare was doing with the Carleon. It was probably the first time he had ever confessed to himself even that he wanted more out of life than what was expected of him.

  ‘Even if you are right,’ the elven Prince admitted reluctantly, ‘one does not simply go and tell the King of Eden Halas that his son wishes a life beyond the Veil.’

  ‘There are things that are set forth by destiny and then there are moments where you are the master of your fate. It is up to you to defy the conventions that say you should act otherwise. Do not remain chained to duty Aeron. It can break the spirit if it is not what you desire.’ Dare said earnestly, squeezing the elf's shoulder in order to show him how serious he was of this. As much as he loathed Aeron returning to Eden Halas, he feared the elf resigning himself to an unhappy fate when it was clear what he needed to do.

  ‘You are right,’ Aeron sighed heavily. ‘I know you are right but it is a task easier said than done. If I walk away from Eden Halas, then what? You have your life to live and I cannot remain here indefinitely. You and I, we have spent eighteen years running from one place or another to rid the world of Balfure. You have stopped running because you have a place to stop. I do not.’

  Dare would have begged to differ but he did not wish to give the Prince that alternative until Aeron had decided what it was he wanted to do. ‘You do not because you have never considered anything other than Eden Halas as your final destination. Take some time Aeron. Think about what you really want. You have already made the first step by leaving Halas with me and look at what we have accomplished together. While I may have my responsibilities to Carleon, you and I can still do much together.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Aeron replied, touched by the sincerity and the friendship behind that statement. They were more than friends and not quite family. Perhaps it was in-between that made their bond so strong. ‘I will consider it and perhaps see where I am led.’

  ‘Good,’ Dare grinned leading him out of the garden, ‘now come on, we should join the others.’

  ‘Yes,’ Aeron replied, still surprised he had forgotten the time so completely.

  With Kyou continuing the work on Sandrine’s fortifications and both Ronen and Celene in the city, Arianne’s delight at having so many of their good friends about had manifested in her insistence that they all take dinner together. The nightly dinners had become intimate gatherings between friends whose time together grew shorter and shorter as their lives diverged from one another and Arianne wanted to savour as much of it as possible.

  ‘I must confess Aeron, I came seeking you for another reason other than your father's message,’ Dare announced as they took the familiar path back to the keep. A faint smile of mischief tugged at the corner of the King’s lips as he spoke.

  ‘Really?’ Aeron threw a sidelong glance at Dare as they approached the doors leading into the castle.

  ‘I thought you would be interested in knowing that Melia has just arrived,’ Dare answered, keeping his tone nonchalant even though he was burning with curiosity to see Aeron’s reaction.

  Kyou had given them a word by word description of Aeron's banter with the lovely watch guard during their return journey to Carleon following their business in Sanhael. Their bickering obviously masked an attraction which interested the Circle to no en
d since they had never seen the elf so affected by anyone in that fashion.

  Aeron's expression was as stone.

  ‘Melia is here?’ He asked feigning indifference.

  ‘Yes,’ Dare nodded seriously even though his eyes were dancing with amusement at the elf's feigned indifference to the news. ‘Arianne invited her to Carleon. They became good friends during the quest to Sanhael.’

  ‘I suppose a watch guard has little choice but to accept an invitation given by the Queen,’ Aeron remarked trying to hide from Dare that the news was the best he could have received at this time, especially in light of the summons home by his father.

  Aeron had no desire to share with anyone how he felt about Melia. In fact, how the Prince of Eden Halas felt towards any lady was his own business. There were some things he kept to himself because they were intimate and would not share, even a trusted friend such as Dare. After all, he did not recall the King being any more forthcoming about his feelings for Arianne before their wedding. While Dare spoke of Arianne herself, his adoration of the woman was something he kept to himself largely because he still had reservations about her love for him.

  ‘She looks well,’ Dare stated casually. ‘Though one wonders why a woman would choose such a life for herself.’

  ‘I’m certain she has reasons of her own,’ Aeron said quickly, not realising he had risen to her defence without a second thought.

  ‘I suppose she must,’ Dare agreed hiding his smirk. For his part, Dare had little chance to know Melia before leaving their company all those months ago but she seemed to him to him a strong woman with deep thoughts she kept to herself. Of course, she had earned his favour by helping Arianne in her quest and the watch guard would always have an ally in her King, whether she knew it or not.

  ‘She has travelled a long way to come here,’ Dare added. ‘We know almost nothing about the Eastern Sphere, beyond the fact that its people were allied to Balfure and our alliance with them is a tenuous one.’

  ‘They considered him their god and we struck him down,’ Aeron pointed out. ‘Right or wrong, that its a poor foundation to begin any sort of alliance.’

  ‘Agreed,’ Dare sighed with resignation. He wanted time to rebuild Carleon, to restore the wounded spirit of his people before he inflicted another war on them. Though he had been reluctant to extend the friendship across the Burning Plains to the very people who had warred against them, Dare knew that Carleon could ill afford further conflict after Balfure’s end had come. They needed recovery more than vengeance. He prayed that diplomacy would be enough to heal the rift between the east and west because the alternative was war.

  And he wanted to avoid that for as long as possible.

  ******

  Melia stared at herself in the mirror of the room she had been provided in the Keep and wondered how long it had been since she had been required to dress for a dinner. With sadness, she realised that it was well before her father had died. Those days seemed so far away that there were times when Melia wondered if they had happened to some other girl for who she was now could not imagine that she had ever been so young. Her life after his death had been one hard turn after another but Melia regretted none of it. As difficult as it was since fleeing Nadira, her life was her own.

  Still, staring at her reflection and seeing not the watch guard but the woman wearing in the one dress she owned, Melia could not help but think there was a stranger gazing back at her. The dress was simple, a blue shift that clung too tightly at the bodice with sleeves that seemed to drape over her hands in elvish fashion. She bought it when she was in Cereine, from a peddler who made his mark selling dresses sewn in the fashion of highborn ladies. She had no idea why she bought the thing for it was such a frivolous purchase but she liked the colour of the fabric and that had made the decision for her, impractical as it was.

  It had remained almost forgotten in her saddlebag, kept because of its colour and a memory of better days. When the invitation from the Queen of Carleon had come, she was rather surprised and realised finally, she had occasion to wear it. The invitation itself still astonished her. True, they had experienced some extraordinary things during their adventure in Sanhael but as a watch guard it was her duty to aid the Queen. Melia had never expected the friendship shared with Arianne and Celene to continue once they returned home.

  In all honesty, after Melia left Arianne and Celene at the Frozen Mountains, she never expected to hear from either again.

  However, it appeared she was mistaken because the Captain of the Watch in Baffin had sought her out and presented her with the invitation to visit Sandrine Keep. It was not an invitation she could refuse and so she had set out, convinced that when she had arrived at the palace, she would be told it was a terrible mistake. Of course none of this took place when Melia did reach the Keep and was presented to the Queen who greeted her with the warm embrace of a friend.

  Many claimed that the Queen of Carleon was the fairest maid of her day. Melia wondered if they knew her beauty was easily surpassed by the capacity of her kindness.

  ******

  As Melia adjusted the gown upon her body, she pinned back her dark hair and hoped that she was suitable for the company she would be keeping tonight. However, each time she glanced at the mirror, she was startled by who she saw there. The woman in the mirror did not look like a watch guard. After one wore breeches and spent most of one's time riding through the wilderness, becoming a non person with neither identity nor gender, was a given. Now the reflection staring back reminded her she was once Melia, daughter of Hezare, a general of Nadira.

  It was almost to her relief when she heard the door behind her. The sound of knuckles rapping against the thick wooden door had the power to snatch her away from her anxious thoughts and sent her hurrying to answer it. She had no idea what customs and protocols needed observing whilst in the Royal Court so she did not wish to be perceived as being rude by leaving her visitor to languish outside her door.

  ‘Melia!’ Celene burst into the room as soon as Melia opened the door wide enough and was greeted with another enthusiastic hug of friendship and joy.

  ‘Celene,’ Melia stuttered a response, still rather overwhelmed by the reception she was receiving from the Lady of Gislaine.

  ‘My goodness,’ Celene exclaimed, sweeping her gaze over Melia in her blue dress. ‘Now I can see why so many were shocked when I discarded my breeches for a dress. You look beautiful.’

  ‘I feel as if I should be better armed,’ Melia retorted, remembering that Celene had a dry wit and would appreciate the humour.

  Celene laughed and took her hand, leading her to the chairs in the room so that they could talk. Like Arianne, Celene had not forgotten how Melia had risked her life to aid them in the quest to Sanhael. Though she claimed she was duty bound to aid the Queen of Carleon, they knew better and took her to their hearts. Besides, there were not many other women with whom Celene shared common interest, who did not think battle and swordplay was wholly inappropriate subjects of conversation for the Lady of Gislaine.

  ‘How have you been?’ Celene asked as they nestled comfortably into the wing chairs.

  ‘I have been well though life does not vary much for a watch guard. We ride, we watch and we report what is important to those in authority,’ Melia explained.

  ‘And how goes your search for your mother?’ Celene inquired, remembering Melia had set aside her own quest in order to help them.

  Melia let out a disappointed sigh before responding. ‘I am afraid that I have found little evidence of her. Wherever she and her people disappeared, they hid well for I have spoken to no one who has even heard of her.’

  ‘You will find her,’ Celene patted her on the arm in support, showing more confidence that Melia herself felt at this moment.

  ‘I hope so,’ Melia smiled, grateful for the gesture. ‘Now, how about yourself? How have you and your husband been?’

  ‘Ronen and I fare well. We have spent much of the past months in Gislaine
trying to rebuild the outer settlements there but I fear that we our resources only stretch so far. Many fled across the Baffin during the occupation and until we prove that the south is free of Balfure’s forces we will not bring them back. I know the King would like the Southern Provinces peopled once more but it is going to take a long time for that to happen.’

  ‘I understand that land of east of Gislaine is quite beautiful and the woods of Eden Ardhen are quite magnificent,’ Melia remarked, knowing something about the local topography.

  ‘It is,’ Celene responded. ‘Unfortunately many of Balfure’s forces have taken refuge there. Tor Ardhen still stands even though the Disciples are gone. Its a pity because it was the centre of elvendom until Lylea was driven out.’

  ‘I suppose they are retreating behind the Veil again now that Balfure is gone. It is a pity that Eden Ardhen is not occupied. That might solve your problem.’

  ‘It might,’ Celene nodded in agreement and then added rather coyly. ‘Speaking of elves, Aeron is here.’

  Melia's expression was as stone.

  ‘Is he?’ She asked feigning casual interest that was not at all unique in the Keep today.

  ‘Yes,’ Celene nodded, having also heard of Kyou's description of the two’s interaction during the return trip from the Frozen Mountains. ‘Though I fear not for long. I am told that he has been summoned home to Eden Halas by his father Kangaloon.’

  ‘Well that is hardly surprising,’ Melia snorted. ‘If he were my son I would try to keep a tight rein on him as well.’

  Celene chuckled and remarked, ‘I see you remember him well then.’

  ‘And trying to forget him just as well,’ Melia replied sarcastically, recalling how she had almost taken her knife to him when they travelled together. He had taken the notion of chivalry beyond the boundaries of its intended use. She could not understand how he could have fought Syphia with her at his side and then treat her like some fragile damsel who needed protection the next minute.