“All I have shown you is true,” Heiden announced loudly, the sun causing his robe to shimmer brightly.
“Then if it is I am going to be in therapy for a very long time,” moaned Eveline heavily, it was true, what was she to do when she eventually woke up? Put all of this to the side?
“I don’t believe you will, do you want to know why?” Heiden asked stopping, and feeling the ground beneath him before sitting down, motioning Eveline to follow suite. Eveline sat down a little bit away from Heiden, but close enough.
“Why?” she asked, holding up her hand to shield her eyes from the blaring sun.
“Because you have always known deep down inside that you do not belong to this world,” he replied, his hands motioning to the world around them, “and you have tried very, very hard to prove that you do.”
“Don’t we all feel as though we do not belong?” Eveline quizzed, letting her legs relax, she was incredible tired and disorientated.
“Yes, we do, but humans know where they come from, they can trace their roots back to a beginning,” Heiden answered.
“I belong here,” Eveline replied stupidly.
“No you don’t, have you ever met another human with eyes like yours?” Heiden asked raising his eyebrows.
“No, but then I would have to meet every single human being on the earth,” replied Eveline sarcastically.
“I’m being serious Celestine,” Heiden scolded.
“That is not my name,” argued Eveline hotly, it was the name of the baby she had watched over and held.
“That is your name, the baby that you met, that was you,” Heiden announced calmly undeterred by her attitude of denial.
“Impossible,” Eveline retorted shaking her head.
“And yet when you think about it…, when you really think about it, is it?” Heiden asked, “Impossible?”
Eveline let her mind wander back to the memories she had just experienced, when she had met Unyae she was stunned by their likeness and equally so when she first laid eyes on their baby. Heiden watched his granddaughter come to the realisation that what he was saying was the truth. He waited patiently as she tried to figure it all out in her head, unable to do so.
“If this is true, then you have a lot of explaining to do,” Eveline whispered, her head in her hands.
“And we have all the time in the world to do just that,” Heiden replied seriously.
“Okay,” Eveline sighed.
“Shall we start at the beginning?” Heiden asked her softly, watching as she tried to keep herself in check.
“If you would be so kind,” she muttered, keeping her eyes averted from him.
“I am your grandfather as you may now have guessed, your mother was my only daughter Unyae, my most precious jewel.” Hieden smiled as an image of his daughter conjured up within his mind, she was so beautiful, just like her daughter. “Her mother, Unae and two brothers, Bada and Runae were killed by Lagar, who you know to be Lucifer. When my wife and two boys were taken from me I will not deny that I entered into a dark place. I was unaware that my daughter who lived had been raped by Lagar and in turn impregnated by him. I sent her to a secret garden within the three Kingdoms of Calhuni, it is called Calhuni and you have been there. My kingdom entered into a dark war against hell and I stupidly thought my daughter would be safe, not for one second did I stop to think of how lonely she would be, draped in her grief and longing for understanding and love.”
“Why did you isolate her away from her home away from you?” Eveline asked feeling an intense pity and sympathy towards Unyae.
“Lagar has a plan, had a plan I should say, it was to impregnate my daughter so that her son or daughter would have equal claim not only to my throne, but to Lagar’s throne; this would mean that the child was as powerful as myself and Lagar and by the laws of the universe, he was entitled to the claim of the throne.” Heiden took in a deep breath and watched as two butterflies danced around a daisy. “I wasn’t aware that he had already implemented his plan, I just knew that I had to protect my only daughter and only heir to my throne and Calhuni is protected by ancient powers that can withstand the dark powers of demons.”
“But you never visited her?” Eveline stressed, if Unyae was her mother then she felt she had to stand up for her, she had to receive justice for all the loneliness, pain and confusion she must have felt.
“No, it was too dangerous and my kingdom was weak.” Heiden answered flatly.
“That’s simply not good enough,” Eveline said with feeling.
“I know, it is my greatest regret that I treated her so, that I let her bare a child of rape, alone and without support,” cried Heiden the true burden of his regret etched upon his beautifully smooth face.
“What happened to the child?” Eveline asked softly, no matter how angry she should be with him for all that he let happen to her mother, she couldn’t summon the anger, it drifted away leaving her feeling pity for her grandfather, grieve as she already knew complicated your thought process and how you functioned, why shouldn’t it be the same for him?
“She had a boy and named him Heidan in honour of me, it means bringer of peace, and not at all a name that suits who he has become,” replied Heiden darkly. “He has become a prince of darkness, and resided in a kingdom called Ruarr, which is ruled over by a ruthless chieftain names Islaer a follower of dark magic.”
“I heard his name in a conversation I witnessed at Caci, my father,” it felt very strange to be calling Elieor her father, in fact it felt wrong, “ I mean the King had defeated some of his soldiers at a place called Rhane?”
“Yes it was a great victory for Elieor, but it was the last, the ruarrians drew Elieor’s eyes away from his sister’s stronghold in Ethe, to the north were a vast legion of ruarrians attacked and conquered.”
“And what happened to his sister?” Eveline asked nervously knowing by the look he now gave her that she had not survived.
“She was drawn, hung and quartered before her people, who were sent away on slave ships to the east,” answered Heiden.
“Poor Elieor, I think he loved his sister very much,” whispered Eveline changing her legs about as her hip became stiff.
“Your father was a brave and honourable man, a very intelligent man,” Heiden smiled, “no he was not meant for my daughter, but I was hardly in a position to argue with him after all as he so eloquently put it, I had left her alone in a bordered garden, pregnant and vulnerable.”
“You did, but against my better judgement I can understand why and as you said you did not know that she was pregnant.”
“If I had known that she was I assure you with all of my heart that I would have made sure she was by my side always, what would have happened with the child I do not know, but I am fairly certain if he had grown up in Heaven with me as his mentor, he would not be as cruel and dark as he is now,” Heiden confirmed firmly.
“How were my parents poisoned?” Eveline went on, waiting a few moments and giving Heiden space to relieve the heaviness that weighed upon his elegant shoulders.
“Heidan has been practising dark magic for quite some time now, he has perfected the art of shapeshifting, he can shapeshift into the form of animals and humans, this is how he got into the court of your father, he poisoned their wine on your name calling day,” Heiden responded weakly. “From what I have gathered, your mother knew instantly and they made their way directly to Calhuni seeking my help.”
“You didn’t come,” Eveline said blandly, “you left your daughter to die without saying goodbye.”
Heiden dramatically got up from the warm grass and began to walk about in circle, his head in his hands. Turning abruptly he looked down at his granddaughter in earnest.
“It was not that I wished to stay away from her, it was to protect you,” he pleaded. “I had to make sure that you would remember nothing, it was the only way to keep you hidden not only from Lagar but from your half-brother who wishes you dead. You are the only other blood relative tha
t has a claim to not only my throne by the throne of Calhuni, only a King or Queen blessed by me, or someone within my bloodline can claim my throne and the High throne of Calhuni.”
“So Theodore, he is my guardian?” Eveline asked sharply, bending her legs up to her chin.
“Yes, and when he left with you I entered the gardens. I cradled your mother in my arms for days, and your father for he gave her the gift of love and happiness, something I had taken away from her,” Heiden cried softly, letting his eyes roam over the vast fields of green grass and sheep.
“What did you do with their bodies?” Eveline replied, trying to keep a close eye on her emotions as they dared to overwhelm her.
“I buried them beneath the tree of life, they are with the stars now,” replied Hieden wistfully looking up at the blue sky dotted with tiny clouds. Eveline got up from the grass and walked to her grandfather’s side not looking at him, but standing close.
“What was your plan, to keep me hidden without me knowing of my true heritage or to wait until the time was right to tell me?”
“It was never my will to let you live on as though you were not my granddaughter, as though you were not the heir to your fathers throne; you are subconsciously becoming powerful as you get older, the shadows have found you and that is why Theodore followed you down to Bath, it was why those shadows stalked you and why Galean stayed with you and Belle.”
“And now? What happens now?” Eveline asked seriously.
“Nothing has turned out how I had hoped and in a way Theodore, Cael as he is rightly named is to blame.” Sighed Heiden unsure of how to go on about a subject as personal as his granddaughters heart.
“How is he to blame?” Eveline wondered, folding her arms and feeling a defensive need to support Theodore. “If anyone is at fault it is you.”
“I admit to my failings, but in my defence I had warned Cael about the implications of him falling in love with you,” Heiden replied sharply. Eveline moved forward, her gown flowing about her warmly. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun remembering the first time she had met Theodore, it felt as though they had met a hundred years before. Eveline met the silence with calm and let her senses rush as she remembered their first day together, the unspoken connection the need to be at his side always. Theodore was her match in so many ways and in such a short space of time Galean had introduced himself and create an earth shattering divide within her. Was it only a little over two weeks ago that she allowed a man to stay in her bed with her? Something she had never intended to allow, she renowned for her independent and feminist ways. Theodore had melted her heart, even now she yearned for his comfort. Galean, he scared her, the depth of feeling her uncurled within her, he wasn’t innocent like Theodore, and he was scarred, complicated and more intense.
Eveline turned her fingers inwards and clenched her fists tightly at the complications of the whole situation. If only she had stayed in Keswick, none of this mess would have evolved, she would be happy and content waiting for poor William to return to her. William would have been the safer option, she should have waited and married him, he was her best friend, he caused no mess no complication in her life, and he was black and white. Opening her eyes she turned, Heiden was sitting down on a newly visible chair watching her closely.
“Please,” he motioned to her, “sit.”
Eveline sat down beside Heiden and breathed in calmly.
“How is Theodore to blame for my current situation?” she asked solemnly.
“Cael is a commander and a very respected commander, no he is not like Galean, he is not moody, has not tasted the bitterness of life like Galean and hasn’t been exiled from heaven like Galean, yet,” Heiden sighed deeply, “ angels of his station are not allowed to marry humans or anyone from my blood line it is forbidden.”
“Why?” Eveline asked slightly confused, didn’t Christianity preach that there would be no hierarchy in heaven, that all would be equal?
“Once, a goddess married an angel and terrible events occurred, their children were born with deformations, the husband became darkened with greed and the goddess lost her powers, for reasons I cannot yet understand,” Heiden began, “and so I banned any marriage between an angel and human or child of my bloodline. Cael intends on marrying you, he has forgone his rights as an angel and if he binds himself to you in marriage he will become stripped of his gifts and powers making him vulnerable. If you decide to marry him I must warn you, it is not part of your destiny to marry Cael, marriage to him will lead you down a dark and terrible path.”
“Why should it? We both love one another like my parents did,” Eveline argued softly.
“And look what happened to them? Your mother would have been safe in Calhuni, she would not have lost her precious life,” Heiden bite back tensely.
“No maybe she wouldn’t have, but she would have missed the opportunity to love another person, to be happy and to have children and most of all to be a woman,” retorted Eveline sharply. “I think it is worth all of that just to be happy.”
“Your destiny has been written long before your birth Celestine, you are not bound to Cael, he is not a part of your future,” Heiden lectured, “you have two choices before you, firstly you choose to marry Cael and live here quietly,” Heiden motioned to the countryside about them, “or you choose to take up the path with which you were destined, go back to Caci, take back your throne and defeat you brother and marry the man with whom it is written in the stars, shall become your lover and husband.”
“I have not the power to fight a battle, I have no claim to a throne when I have not grown up amongst my own people, and who? What man is my destiny?” growled Eveline darkly.
“You have met him already, you are bound to Galean,” Heiden announced, looking at her eyes steadily. Galean? She was bound by fate to an angel she had already declared her love to? Was it possible?
“Impossible,” she whispered hoping her eyes did not give away her shock.
“It is not impossible, Galean was told quite some time ago that you and he were bound,” Heiden answered proudly.
“He already knows?” Eveline choked, is that why he was trying to come between Theodore and herself? Because he felt bound to? Because he had been ordered?
“Yes, I told him he was to try to win your heart before it was too late,” Heiden said curious at her reaction.
“Well,” Eveline turned away from Heiden, shielding her eyes, “he has not won my heart and never will, I love Theodore, I want to bind myself to him and him alone.” No, she cried inwardly, why is this happening to me? Why? I have been cornered, I cannot marry Galean as he is only acting under his Kings orders and I must marry Theodore as he is giving up everything that he once was to love me. Eveline shook with anger, how had her life fallen apart so dramatically? How would she face Theodore and Galean?
“Celestine, do not let pride get in the way of how you really feel,” Heiden urged gently, “Cael’s pride at not getting what he wants has damaged those around you, it has brought danger into your life, more danger than I thought possible.”
“This is all so complicated,” cried Eveline, “ you bring me back so that I can understand where I come from, you caution me against marrying a man I love and on top of all of that expect me to go back to Caci, get back my throne, overthrow my half-brother and marry Galean.” Eveline shot up from the seat and walked away, turning round violently to her grandfather. “What do you want from me? You keep me hidden and unaware of my real identity, you want me to fight a war I do not understand with powers I cannot wield and to marry a man of your own choosing simply because it is,” she rolled her eyes dramatically, “my destiny.” She ended bitterly.
“I understand that this has all happened very suddenly and is a shock,” Heiden replied also getting up and trying to comfort his granddaughter.
“Do you? Do you really? I have just witnessed the death of my parents, realised that my life here,” she waved her hands around, “is a lie, and now you w
ant me to up and leave everything I have known to fulfil your own agenda?”
“I am not asking you to up and leave all that you know, I am giving you a choice,” pleaded Heiden.
“What choice do I have? If I stay here I will forever be plagued with regret and shame and if I go I will be entering into an alien world fighting a war I truly do not understand and claiming a throne I do not really want to claim.”
“You are the heir to your father’s throne,” Heiden answered flatly.
“With whom I did not know of until this very day,” yelled Eveline, “I know nothing about him, nothing!”
“Well you certainly have his bad temper,” answered Heiden firmly, walking away from Eveline. Eveline stood stubbornly, arms folded as she watched her grandfather simply walk away.
“You scold me, and yet you simply walk away when things get hard!” she yelled to his back.
“No, I am waiting for you to follow,” answered Heiden keeping his head forward and his feet moving.
“I will not follow,” Eveline spat, turning the other way and walking back over the field making for her home, tears falling from her eyes. As Eveline ran across the field, the skies darkened and a strong gust threw her down onto the grass. Eveline sat up and looked behind her, Heiden was standing looking down at her.
“You will follow me,” he ordered holding out his hand.
“Why?” Eveline cried, her knees sore.
“Because I am telling you,” he commanded waiting for her hand. Eveline clasped his strong hand in her own and stood up in front of him. Heiden brought Eveline into a strong hug and kept a hold of her, “hold on and close your eyes,” he commanded. Eveline held on tightly and closed her eyes firmly feeling the air about them changing. Darkness and stars filled her mind as they fell through time once more. Landing with a thud they both fell onto hard marble. Opening her eyes, Eveline found herself once more in the glorious palace of Caci, getting up onto her feet she stood beside Heiden and gasped at the difference between the beautiful palace she had first set her eyes on and the now dark, silent palace that stood around her.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 28