Enre describes to me what symbol they want "It is a crescent moon with the four main elements inside of it. I will draw it out for you while you do the lettering, alright."
I smile at him and say "That will work." I reach out for my white box, it just being out of reach. Thegan sees this, grabs it and hands it to me, I smile at him and tell him "Thank you." He nods at me with a smile. My white box is where I keep my silver and gold leaf as well as some other colors, so it doesn't get damaged. I lay out the lettering in a wax pencil that can be removed then I start applying the lettering in silver. I notice that they are all watching me, it is kinda making me nervous. I take a breath and finish up the lettering. Doing this so many times, I could just about do it in my sleep. But this is the first time that I have had an audience. "There you go, how does that look?" I turn the book around and show them. The silver really does look good on the red leather; it makes the letters pop off the cover.
"You are really good at that, it looks great," Thegan says to me. Enre has a big smile on his face, he looks proud. Is he proud of me? Nonsense, it's just a book cover.
I ask him "Do you have the symbol drawn, for me to do?" He hands me a piece of paper with a crescent moon on it with four symbols on the inside of the moons circle. "I can do this," I say to them and smile. I put the symbol on the book. Then I put silver leaf on the moon, I think of something and ask them if I can change the color of the symbols. "What would you think if I did the symbols in color, red foil for fire, green for earth, blue for water and white for wind. If you don't like the idea I can do it in silver."
They talk for a second and then Enre says "That would be perfect." I nod to him and proceed with finishing up the cover. After it is done I look it over, and I am, quite impressed with my work. This looks better than I ever thought it would.
I hand it out to them, and Thegan takes it and looks it over passing it along to Enre, He then looks at me and says "You did an excellent job, Princess, it is perfect, thank you" Then he takes out some money, trying to hand it to me. But I wave him off and say "No, put that away, there is no charge, I am just glad that you like it."
"Are you sure my lady? We don't mind paying," Thegan says.
I look at him and say "Consider it a thank you, for taking care of me" Smiling at him.
"This is beautiful work my lady" Enre then says while he is staring at the book. Rubbing his hand down the spine.
"Thank you," I say shyly. "Can I ask you guys a question?" I say to them. I am curious about Aelmere and want to know what it is like.
Chapter Fourteen
Enre
'She really is talented' I say to myself, as I look over our finished book. The relief I feel knowing, that she is not upset with me for not being able to protect her from injury, is heartwarming. I would do anything for her, anything she asks me. I would lay down my life if need be, to make sure she doesn't get hurt again. She speaks and it draws me out of my thoughts "What is Aelmere like?" She asks. I figured she would request that eventually, So I tell her all about our realm.
"Aelmere use to be a beautiful place, trees and flowers grew all over the kingdom, Beautiful birds, and flying creatures filled the sky, the lakes were crystal clear, and many fish and aquatic life could be found there, the fields grew abundantly with food and was populated by many grazing animals. The people were happy, and children played. Our town was full of vendors selling their wares. It was a sight to be seen. Our castle had a beautiful garden full of blue roses and statues, hedges and fountains. It was quiet and peaceful there. The mountains were full of creatures large and small, each unique in their own way. We use to have festivals to celebrate, well just about anything that could be celebrated. It was once a mighty kingdom, but now..."
"It’s alright Enre, I will take it from here," Thegan says. I am glad he took over telling her. I don't know if I could have continued talking about it. Thegan then begins telling Terra the rest.
"My lady, the rest of this story is full of pain and misery, are you sure you want to hear it?". She looks at all of us and then lowers her head for a moment.
"It is alright. You don't have to tell me more. I know it is painful. Can I ask you a question, though?" she asks. She wants to spare my feeling on the subject. How kind.
"Indeed, you may," Thegan says.
"Will Aelmere go back to the way it was before, if Ivar’s curse is broken?" she asks. she seems worried about a land she doesn't even know.
"Yes eventually. It will be hard work, but the kingdom would recover." He says to her.
Then she smiled real wide and said something that I did not expect "Then I will help any way I can. I would like to see it one day."
Thegan then says to her, "We will do everything in our power to make that happen My lady" and Aiden nodded at her with a smile. She is so strong willed, I'm sure she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
I look at her and say, "If you come to our Kingdom My lady, I may never be able to let you leave." I wouldn't. I would do what I had, in my power to keep her by my side. Feeling a possessiveness, I did not know I had.
She looks sidelong at me and says to me "That's just a chance I will have to take." Then she winked at me. My face turns hot, my brother and Aiden are snickering at me.
Thegan then says with a laugh "She has got you Brother" If he only knew.
"That she does brother, that she does" I say to him, leaning back in my chair to study this wondrous creature a little more.
I was watching her as she chats with the others. I notice a few things that I hadn't noticed before. One is that she has a tiny curl of hair hanging down just behind her ear. Oh, how I would love to wrap my fingers around it and kiss its ends. Another is the color of her eyes when she turns the right way in the light, it looks as though the emerald green color is moving like leaves being blown in a tree. It's very odd but breathtaking. The last thing that I have noticed it what looks like a birthmark just above the hairline on her neck. Her hair is so dark you can barely see it. I know there is something there. I have to know, so I ask her about it. "Terra, do you have a birthmark? I thought I saw one on your neck?"
Thegan and Aiden's eyes went wide, and they looked from me to her, waiting for an answer. She replies to me "Yes, I do have but it’s really hard to see." Hmmm... I wonder.
"Do you mind if I look at it?" I ask her. Just to curb my curiosities.
"Be my guest," she said with a giggle, leaning her head forward. I get up from my seat and walk over to her, she lifts her hair up, and I can see a tiny part of it.
I say "May I move your hair around My lady?" She nodded and loosened her hold on her hair. I part the silk tresses, and I see what is hidden there. The birthmark is a circle with two small orbs with lines through them in the center. With a little half sun on the left side. I don't think I have ever seen a symbol like that. One thing is for sure, though, her parents were not from this realm. I tell Thegan "Come look at this Brother. Have you ever seen this symbol?"
He comes over and looks carefully, "No, I cannot say that I have brother."
"What is it?" Terra asks. Thegan looks at me and nods his head. I guess it is better for her to know about her parents.
So I say to her "It seems My Lady that your parents were not from this realm, your birthmark has similarities to those of our realm." She is silent for a moment. I wonder what's going through her mind. I couldn't imagine how she is feeling, finding out her parents are not from here.
When she does say something, we are all kinda shocked, "At least now I know something about them. Maybe knowing that, will help me find them." she says with a saddened smile.
"All we can do is try My lady," Thegan says, patting her on the shoulder.
"Are you tired My lady?" I ask her, seeing her yawn a couple of times. She is probably still weak from the blood loss.
"Yes, a little," she says. Trying to hide another yawn.
"I am taking My princess to bed Brother. She is tired" I say to Thegan. "Goodnight Brother,
Aiden," I say to them. They nod to me and tell the princess to sleep well.
I carry my lovely bundle to my bed and lay her down softly. When I go to step away she grabs my arm, "Please don't go" She says in a small shaky voice. She is scared, I can see it on her face.
I turn to her and say "I am just going to lock the door, My Dear, I wouldn't leave you for the world." She releases my arm and smiles faintly at me. I close the door and head to the bathroom to change into some sleep pants. Then I walk over to the bed and climb in under the covers. I put my arm under her shoulders and pull her to my chest. She sighs and lays her head on me. "thank you Enre" she whispers to me.
I reach under her chin and tilt her head up where she can look at me, and I tell her, "There is nothing I would not do for you, Terra." And there isn't, not one single thing.
"You used my name," she says with a small smile. I guess I did.
"And what a beautiful name it is," I say to her. Her face glowed with redness. Such an alluring color. I look from her eyes to her lips, her tongue moved over them so slightly as she wets them. Oh to taste those lips again. I think to myself.
Just then she raises up and puts her lips on mine briefly, then she says "I'm sorry." The heat and hunger run through me like a wildfire. I can't hold myself back any longer. I pull her close, my hand behind her head and place my lips on hers. A tiny sound escaped her, and she leans into me deepening the fiery kiss. Our tongues tangle and dance like hot lava on ice. She runs her hand through my hair and stops at my neck, tracing tiny circles on my skin with her delicate finger. The sensation causes chills to go through my body. Never once had I been with a woman that cause my body to react this way. It's her, it's all because of her. She let out a little "Ow" it startled me, I ask her "Are you alright Terra?"
She was reaching down and says, "I'm sorry it’s my leg." I forgot about her leg. How stupid of me.
"Is it hurting?" I ask her. Knowing damn well it is. And it's my fault at that.
"Yes, I must have moved the wrong way. It is starting to throb now." What was I thinking? Making out with her and her being this injured. I berate myself
I reach down and say "I'm going to have a look at it alright" She nods her head. I slide her gown up her thigh to where I can see the bindings. There is blood soaking through, "This is going to have to be re-wrapped ok. I am going to get Thegan." She nods her head again and looks down, I reach down to her and kiss her on the forehead and say, "Fret not, My Princess, it is alright" she smiled a little, and I then head out to get my brother.
Chapter Fifteen
Terra
'That was the worst timing ever.' I think to myself. It was just getting good too. I have never been kissed like that in all of my 27 years. The feeling of his lips on mine. His gentle hand on my head and the look in his eyes are enough to drive a woman mad. Every cell in my body standing on end. The sensation on my lips causing goose bumps across my skin. Feeling my face heat up I say to myself 'Calm down Terra. It was just a kiss. Ok, the best kiss of your life but still, just a kiss'.
While I am thinking to myself, I hear the guys walking down the hall. When they come in Thegan looks at me and smiles. Enre didn't tell them about our little make-out session, did he? My face starts to heat up again, and Thegan says "It's alright, let's get this leg fixed back up, shall we. “Then he starts unwrapping the bandage. The wound is considerably smaller than it was before, but a few of the stitches have come loose. Thegan looks over at Enre and Enre just shrugged his shoulders. "This is going to hurt," Thegan says as he pulls the broken stitch out. He wasn't kidding. It hurts like hell. He places these small strips on it instead of re-sewing it. They seem to be holding it together really well. After that he rewraps it and hands me a cup of tea, "This will help with the pain" he says.
"Thank you Thegan," I say to him. Hopefully, it will stop the pain and keep me from dreaming.
He then gets up and looks at Enre with a wry smile and says "Next time, be easier on the princess." Then he gives a haughty laugh and claps him on the shoulder. The look on Enre's face was priceless, he was red from head to toe. I guess he hadn't told Thegan anything. He must have figured it out for himself. Thegan then looks at me and says "If you wake up hurting My Lady there is some more tea on the nightstand for you, Good night."
"Good night Thegan, and thank you again." He gave a small bow and left the room.
When I look over at Enre, he looks at me and says "I promise, I did not tell him anything." It's apparent that he hadn't based on the reaction he had earlier.
I start to giggle and say to him, "Its ok Enre, nothing to worry about, I know you didn't say anything." I mean it's not like it matters. We are adults. I am just not really sure how this royalty works, as far as customs and manners and such.
"Thank Bohyne. I thought for sure you would be upset" He said. Bohyne, there is that word again. I wonder what it means. Since I have heard the Brothers use that word a few times, I think.
It shouldn't hurt to ask and see if they know anything about it. "Enre, May I ask you a question?"
"You may ask me anything princess," He says in return. running his fingers through my hair.
"What does the word Bohyne mean? I have seen it before, and it is in your family book as well. And you guys say it a lot." I ask him.
He looks a little shocked at my question, but he answers me just the same, "Bohyne is our realms Goddess. She is like this realms mother earth. What's different between them is, Bohyne has the ability to save and destroy what she sees fit. Plus, she is the Goddess of Warriors. May I ask you where else you have seen this name before?" Warriors huh? That is very interesting.
"It is on a carved box that came into the book (yawn) shop," I tell him yawning. I'm getting so sleepy.
"Rest now my Princess. We can talk about it tomorrow alright." I flash a tired grin at him, and he kisses me on the forehead. He crawls the rest of the way into the bed with me, and I curl up to his broad chest. I can hear the beating, it's like a lullaby singing me to sleep. Soon after that, I am Standing under My Tree.
I thought I wouldn't dream since I drank that medicine. But here I am. My tree is missing half of its leaves. The branch that was broken was nowhere to be seen, and you couldn't tell where it had fallen from. Why is my tree losing its leaves? "Is it dying?" I ask out loud. But there is no answer, not only that but the wind and rain does not come. The sounds of men at war can still be heard, though. I look around the field and there stands the shadow by the tree line. From my earlier conversation with the brothers, I know that is Enre standing there. I have never walked away from the tree, So I don't know what will happen if I do, But I have to try and see if I can get to him. I take a hesitant step away from the tree, then another, and another. Soon I am running towards Enre. I yell out to him "Enre." He must have heard me because he is waving at me.
While I get closer and closer to him I sense someone else watching me, it is an eerie feeling which causes my steps to falter. The next thing I know I hear a voice in my head, "Terra, you must return it to the tree." It was a woman's voice. One I have never heard before. Her voice was soothing for some reason.
I slow to a stop, and I say to the disembodied voice "I have to get to Enre." Talking to the wind like a crazy person.
"No Terra, the tree is the answer. You have to save it; it is dying" the woman said again. What she says puts fear in me that I have never felt before. She said My Tree is dying. But why is that important.
I ask the voice "What happens if the tree dies." Scared to death of the answer to my question. In my heart, I believe I already know.
"Aelmere will be no more," she said. No, no that can't be. How do our dreams connect to Aelmere? Then the voice says something else. "You three have to save the tree, dark forces are manipulating your dreams, that’s why you were injured. I can't hold them off much longer." Hold who off? Who is doing this to us?
"How do we save it? Where can we find the tree?" I ask her. Wanting to help. Even though I do not know anyth
ing about trees. All she says is "The way to find it, is in the dreams. But you must return it to the tree. They cannot get to you at the tree" With that, I turn around and run as fast as I can to the tree. When I get there, I look back searching for Enre, but he is not there. He must have already woken up. I start to look around to see if I can find any clues. She said we have to return 'it' to the tree. What is 'it'? And who it is that is trying to get to get me.
I start to look around the tree and notice that there is some bark loose on the trunk. I go to touch it, and the bark falls off. I look at the bare space where the bark was just moments before, and it looks like something is supposed to be placed there. There is a hole in the shape of a crescent moon and another that looks like a heart shape. Do we have to find the pieces that go here? Is that why the tree is dying? I must tell the brothers when I wake up. With that thought, I slip into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
Thegan
I lay there wide awake stretched out in my bed. The dream I just had was nothing like it has been in the past. There was no pain, just silence, I could see where I was, I was in a cave, I could see the entrance and the trees just outside of it. I try to get up but I can't, I am tied to a tall stone. There is nothing else in the cave with me just more rocks. How do I get out of these ropes, I have to get out of here. There is something that I am supposed to do in this dream, but I have no idea what that is right now, if only I could get loose, I could look around. I try to wiggle and loosen the ropes, but they do not budge. I say to myself, 'Bohyne help me get free,' just then a voice says to me "Be patient Great King, they will come for you."
Who was that, I have never heard that voice before. "Who are you?" I ask the woman, but an answer never came, only more silence.
As I lay there, I wonder why the woman spoke to me and why had my dream changed. Who was she? So many questions run through my mind. How I wish I had the answers to them. I lay there for a while longer before I decide to get up. Heading into the kitchen to get something to drink, I hear people stirring in the hallway. I peek around the door facing to see, Enre and Terra, him carrying her like a priceless treasure, Beautiful but fragile. I say to them "Would you two like something to drink, while I am in here?"
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