“This is what’s best for us both,” he pitched his voice low, drawing his forehead to mine. He had read my emotions yet again and answered my flaring concerns.
“How did things get so complicated?” I laughed humorlessly. I was delaying the inevitable, and I knew it.
“I told you I was dangerous. You should have let me leave town the night I brought you back from the Black Eagles,” he chuckled, knowing that was ridiculous to say, because it never would have happened either way. He wouldn’t have been able to leave even if I didn’t ask him to stay at my house.
“I don’t regret a single moment of it,” I reassured him. And I didn’t. Not for a second. Yes, life totally sucked right now. This realm was extremely harsh and morally depraved.
But it was my home. I always knew I was destined for something greater than Kennebunkport. Deep within my core, I had always felt I didn’t belong there. I would dream of other places, and I knew one day I was getting out. Rydan was right. That day we dreamed of together finally came true. We got out.
I just never thought that place would be in a completely different realm. And even though we were going back, I knew it was only temporary. I couldn’t stay away forever. There were ties here in Luïnil that I couldn’t possibly ignore for long.
“Neither do I,” he agreed with me, tucking my long, dark brunette hair behind my ear. And that meant the world to me, knowing he also had no regrets about us meeting.
“Please,” I beseeched, bringing his fist to my lips, “be careful.” I poured every emotion into those two little words and hoped he could feel how much I needed him to stay safe. I kissed each one of his knuckles.
He didn’t make any reply. He furrowed his eyebrows in anguish as he brought his mouth down upon mine.
It was torture. Kissing him with the intent of goodbye was literal torture. My entire body ached and trembled. The soggy tears that ran down my chin landed on my chest, bounding me to reality.
I wished more than anything this were just a nightmare.
He kissed me with fervent passion, making my head swim. He braced my body up against his so tightly, I never wanted him to let go. Our souls entwined together, merging as one entity. I knew the second we pulled apart we would suffer in bitter agony.
And that was exactly what happened when he unwillingly pulled away.
“Come back to me,” he pled in his accented voice, thick with emotion. He looked up at me from under his eyelashes like he had done so many times before. His tumultuous blue eyes shone with ferocity. They slowly burned my heart with longing.
“Nari, let’s go!” Rydan called.
I gave Mycah one last, angel-soft kiss before turning away from him. He held on to my fingers as I walked away, and they slowly drifted from his grasp.
I did not look back.
His taste still lingered on my lips as I forced myself to take step after step back to Rydan and the others—Back toward the majestic Weeping Willow tree that was the start of it all.
Rydan crossed his arm over my shoulders and pressed me against him, comforting me. I inhaled his smoky scent, letting it calm my raw, broken heart.
We stepped into the clearing with caution. Then once our eyes lay upon the giant Weeping Willow, we immediately broke out in a run, practically tasting our sweet escape.
Epilogue
~Nari~
I knew I didn’t have much time. Running from evil hunters tended to put urgency in your step. But, when I entered the proximity of the Weeping Willow through its graceful long branches, I hesitated.
For two-seconds, my mind screamed at me to not go back—To not reach out my hand and pass through into the Earthly realm—back into Kennebunkport.
“Hey, what are you waiting for?” Rydan urged, pushing the small of my back.
“I don’t know,” I mused in reply, not really sure of the right answer.
I took one last long inhale of pure, crystal-clean oxygen that I would greatly miss, and then extended my trembling hand to pass through the tree.
Except, it didn’t. The impact of the rough bark bent my hand down at the wrist, almost breaking it. I rubbed at my now aching bones.
“What’s going on?” I asked the group, confused.
“Nariella, you may only enter the sacred Ëlemmiire if you truly wish it. Rydan, you must ordain Naminé passage. Only royal elda may pass naturally. All others must be ordained,” Ender explained swiftly.
“I still don’t get that whole Princess Nariella thing. When exactly did all that happen?” Rydan questioned.
“We do not have time to explain. Rydan, you work on ordaining Naminé. I will teach you how. Nariella, you work on your desire to return to Kennebunkport.” Ender was quick with strategy and giving orders. Thank goodness, because we seriously needed someone like that.
I watched Ender instruct Rydan to put one hand over Naminé’s heart and the other on the tree. Next, he had to voice a command in Elvish.
“Amin meylòn tara,” Rydan spoke respectfully. I caught a hint of pride shining through. I had no idea what he said, but it sounded beautiful. Ender nodded his approval, and then they all looked to me to get moving.
I closed my eyes and worked on breathing normally. I thought of Zaylie waiting for me on the other side. She could have been sitting out there this very moment—What if time moved just like it did in Narnia. We would return to the Earthly realm and absolutely no time would have passed at all! Maybe Zaylie didn’t even know I was missing.
No, that couldn’t be the case. I knew I was left behind when Rydan and Mycah passed through. And it was a torturous week without them.
Well, there was only one way to find out. Using Zaylie as my focal point, I remembered how much I cared for my best friend and how much I missed her. Either way, I knew she had to be worried for me—whether time moved slower or not.
So, I made the plunge and cleared the invisible threshold. My body magically moved beyond the boundaries of everything real and scientific. There was no explaining this phenomenon. Yet I made it out the other side, back into Kennebunkport, Maine.
What my eyes took in next had my feet paralyzed like blocks of concrete.
I half expected to see Zaylie in the same position I had left her in—but no. She was mysteriously lying in a messy heap within an iron cage. At least, I thought it was her. It was hard to tell because her hair was now long. It was no longer a short, just above her shoulders length like it was when I had left. And the trees were painted in autumn colors—as if time reversed and it was no longer grasping at winter like the way I had left it.
My heart constricted and my lungs heaved as my eyes jerked in every direction, taking it all in. I felt Rydan and Naminé enter behind me, followed by Ender. But I could not pull my eyes away from the appalling scene before us.
“Hello, Nari,” Nikolai greeted sadistically, his Austrian accent as thick as ever. “We have been waiting a very long time for you.”
Elvish Guide
Aglar {ah-glar} -- Glorious
Amin feuya ten’ lle {ah-meen foo-yah teh-n lay} -- You disgust me
Amin mela lle {ah-meen maylah lay} -- I love you
Amin meylòn tara {ah-meen mayl-lohn tah-rah} -- I grant you passage
Amin naa tualle {ah-meen nah too-ah-lay} -- I am your servant
Antolle ulua sulrim {ah-toh-lay oo-loo-ah sool-reem} -- Much wind pours from your mouth
Arwenamin {ahr-wen-ah-meen} -- My lady
Aselaira {ah-seh-lie-rah} -- Mountain home
Ast’Quessé {ahst-queh-say} -- Dust feather
Atara {ah-tah-rah} -- Mother
Burrbein {ber-bane}
Cathar {kuh-thar}
Coria { cohr-ree-uh} -- Purple
Cormamin lindua ele lle {kor-mah-meen leen-doo-ah ay-lay lay} -- My heart sings to see thee
Dae’Sûl {die-sool} -- Shadow Wind
Deasar {day-uh-sar}
Dhaeraow, lle desiel? {die-row lay deh-seel} -- Traitor, are you ready?
dïikē {dee-kay} -- Please
Döron {doh-run} -- Oak
Dúlin {doo-leen} -- Nightingale
Durdell {der-del}
Edhel-N'dor {ed-hel-n-dohr} -- Elf Land
Ed’ i’ear ar’ elenea {ehd-ee-air ahr} -- By the sea and stars
Elanor {eh-la-nore}
Ëlemmiire {ay-leh-meer} -- A star
Elròs {ehl-rows}
Enÿalie {ehn-yah-lee}
Erulissë {air-oo-lee-say} -- Grace
Fallaner {fah-luh-ner} -- Healer
Fëa {fay-uh} -- Spirit
Finrod {fin-rahd}
Isil’Elda {ee-seel ehl-duh} -- Night Elf (Moon Elf)
Kirtly {kert-lee}
Lanta en’ kalale {lahn-tuh ehn} -- Lightning bolt
Lassaira {lahss-eye-ruh} -- Leaf home
Lirima {lee-ree-muh}
Lisse {lee-say} -- Sweet
Lle desiel? {lay deh-seel} -- Are you ready?
Lle holma ve’ edan {lay-hohl-muh vay ay-dahn} -- You smell like a human
Lle quena i’lambe tel’ Eldalie? {lay queh-nah ee-lahm-bay tehl ehl-dah-lee} -- Do you speak Elvish?
Lómë {loh-may} -- Dusk
Lorda {lohr-dah} -- Drowsy
Luïnil {loo-ee-neel} -- A star
Lureá {loo-ray} -- Dark
Maite’Ona {my-teh-oh-nah} -- Skilled gift
Malinornë {mah-lee-nohr-nay} -- Sacred Elven tree
Mani naa lle umien? {mah-ni nah lay oo-mee-an} -- What are you doing?
Mani naa ta? {mah-ni nah tah} -- What is it?
Manke naa lle vahka? {mahn nah lay vah-kah} -- Where are your guardians?
Maranwe {mah-rahn-way} -- Destiny
Marywane {mary-wane}
Mastas {mah-stahs} -- Bread
Menelmara {meh-nel-mah-rah} -- Good heavens
N’alaquel sii {n-ah-lah-quehl} -- Back, now
N’taurn {nuh-torn} -- Low
Nae saian luume {nye say-ahn loo-may} -- It has been too long
Namaarie {nah-mah-ree-ay} -- Farewell
Naminé {nah-mee-nay} -- The sound of waves (ocean)
Námoman {nah-mo-mahn} -- Judge pure
Ndu {n-doo} -- Down
Nianan {nye-uh-nahn}
Nianott {nye-uh-not}
Nura’ringul {noo-rah-reen-gool}
Ohtar {oh-tahr}
Olor I’lanya {oh-lohr ee-lahn-ya} -- Dream Weaver
Óre’Dae {oh-ray die} -- Heart Shadow
Raama’Ksh {rah-ma kish} -- Wing evil
Raen’Sigil {rine-see-geel} -- Crooked dagger
Remycah {reh-my-kah}
Remydan {reh-my-din}
Roche {roh-sh}
Rydan {ry-din}
Salmé {sahl-may}
Sarqua {sahr-qwah} -- Fleshy
Sinome {see-noh-may} -- Here
Skultor {skuhl-tohr}
Ta naa seasamin, Lirimaer {tah nah say-sah-meen} -- It is my pleasure, lovely one
Tad glor {tahd glohr} -- Two gold
Tavas’Elda {tah-vahs ehl-dah} -- Wood Elf
Tenna’ ento lye omenta {tehn-na eh-toh lee-ay oh-men-tah} -- Until next we meet
Viresse {veer-eh-say} -- April
Wea {way-ah} -- Adult
Ya naa re? {yah nah ray} -- Who is she?
Yala onna en’kemen {yah-lah ohn-nah ehn-keh-mehn} -- Summon Earth Elemental
Thank you to J.R.R. Tolkien for creating this ethereal language, and to grey-company.org and bladesofanarion.com for keeping the Elvish language alive. It was important for us to stay true to the Elvish tongue, and so we made it a priority to use real Elvish words in this story. However, some of these words/names are made up by Bailey Ardisone.
Sweet Requiem
(Sweet Series, Book Three)
by Bailey Ardisone
Copyright © 2014 Bailey Ardisone
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
www.BaileyArdisone.com
Cover art created by Bailey Ardisone
All rights reserved.
Editing services provided by Rare Bird Editing.
Elvish language sources: www.grey-company.org, www.bladesofanarion.net, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy.
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Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.
—William Wordsworth
For Nonna.
And for Victory.
You will be forever loved and missed.
Prologue
The world was a cruel, cruel mistress. She was beautiful, majestic, enticing, and exquisite; providing pleasure at every corner. But like every good thing, there was a dark side. And the world’s darkness was so fierce, so unrivaled, it was unlike anything that could ever be imagined organically. She was like a two-sided coin—on the underbelly of each magnificent thing slung a wicked evil. She was harsh, violent, unfair, and demented.
This could be the only reason for what stood before me currently—that the world was sick and enjoyed seeing my torment. It was the only explanation that I could come up with. The powers and abilities I had encompassed just moments before, were now lost to me. I no longer could feel the land, the energy, or the magical blood that ran through each and every atom in the atmosphere and deep down in the soil.
I was alone here.
Never could I have foreseen this turn of events, but here I was. And never before had I desired those gifts as greatly as I did in this moment. But the world was playing a cruel trick on me.
As I stood staring into the frightened, helpless eyes of my best friend locked in an iron-barred cage, the fact of my direful predicament screamed in my face like a blaring horn. I couldn’t use my gifts here in the Earthly realm—here in Kennebunkport, Maine. Why was Mycah able to, but I couldn't?
The overwhelming connection to Luïnil that fueled my blood and my spirit before I had passed through the Weeping Willow tree had been cut off. The aid and guidance from Lassaira that stood only steps away were faint, if it could even be called that.
I did feel it was there, like a slight pull to go back through the tree—through the Ëlemmiire—but it was nowhere near strong enough to call upon its aid.
Nikolai, who watched me with precise, narrowed eyes, licked his lips and smirked. I wanted to puke. He spoke strongly, “Finally. I was beginning to think you would never return.”
“How long has it been? And what are you doing with Zaylie? Let her go!” There was no stopping the things that came tumbling out of my mouth one after another. Fear gripped my chest, but I tried not to show it. I didn’t want him to know I was terrified out of my mind.
When he turned his head, I noticed the burn scars that covered the right side of his face and head. I couldn’t believe he had survived that explosion Mycah had caused the last time Nikolai had tried to kidnap us. I worried that the only reason Mycah had kept sparing Nikolai’s life was because I had asked Mycah not to kill him. I was beginning to regret that.
Nikolai shook his head before saying, “According to your friend here, you have been away just short of a year.”
Crisp, cool, autumn air whipped around my face, as if to mark his words as truth. I gasped back as my eyes darted around the area I used to be so fond of, and so in tune with. The trees shined in an
array of fall colors—orange, yellow, red, and brown. When I had left, they were stripped bare from the early bitter cold of late October that was all too familiar for Maine.
It had to be true. An entire year had passed me by in a blink of an eye. But I had no time to dwell on that newfound information, because the half-dozen tents taking up the space surrounding us, and the dozen rifle-clad military-looking men standing near Nikolai and Zaylie, tended to suck out all of my focus and attention. One of the men had a large, ugly gun pointed at Zaylie’s head through the bars. Her eyes stayed locked onto mine, looking wide and horrified.
“Who the hell are you?” Rydan demanded as he moved to stand in front of me. “What is this?”
“Do not take another step or the blonde dies,” Nikolai threatened, and Rydan instantly froze. My heart squeezed in on itself and my stomach turned sour.
“What do you want?” Rydan asked, not so nicely.
“What do you think? We want to go where you just came from. We know about the other world where creatures stay forever young and never die. Take us through that tree and she lives.” Nikolai gestured toward Zaylie.
Ender stepped up next to Rydan. “It is forbidden and impossible. You would kill one of your own for nothing?” Ender scoffed.
Nikolai scrunched his eyebrows together in thought before saying, “Nothing is impossible.”
“And yet this is. You cannot enter our sacred Ëlemmiire. Your body and mind would be evaporated. You could never withstand it, and that is if there were some miracle that allowed you to pass through. However, there is not. Try as you might, you will not enter. It will not happen,” Ender argued firmly with confidence.
“Then give us the Sindora,” Nikolai retorted defiantly and way too haughtily for my comfort. The way he said those words elicited the strangest feeling in my gut. A horrible foreboding came over me. I didn’t know what the Sindora was, but already I didn’t like it. Ender’s eyes went to mine with a look of confusion on his face.
Great. Did that mean he didn’t know what the stupid thing was, either?
The Sweet Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 62