Folk Lore
Page 16
Upon seeing them approaching, the protectors urged their princesses back and allowed the army to deal with the remaining opposition as they retreated into the forest. The girls stood in a circle bound by hands and chanted the words which would send them back to the garden without opening the gate.
Once all had returned safely to the lands the gate would be opened for the folk warriors. As the last warrior swiftly passed through the gate, it promptly disappeared.
Nermina crouched beside Mortimer ensuring his wounds were completely healed while Anna and Sera aided the injured warriors.
When all were healed, the army disappeared through the forest towards their villages for refreshment and Kalar beckoned the circle forward.
“Princess Seraphina, your bravery and power have returned our Nermina and we are all grateful to you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said quietly a little embarrassed by the attention.
“Our journey has only just begun. While Mecaldorf is in control of the banished folk and warlocks, we still must be completely on guard. I do not believe he will give away his plight in trying to obtain the book. We should reconvene in the morning to discuss our strategy in this regard. Finally I wish to know why a banished Mortimer has managed to return to our lands.”
27
Nermo’s Vision
Sera returned to her room after they’d all been politely dismissed so Nermina and Mortimer could explain his presence to the elders before they would meet to discuss what his fate would be. She changed out of her black fighting fatigues into one of her newly acquired dresses in her now vast wardrobe of mystic attire. Suddenly exhausted with a few hours to spare before dinner, she stretched out on her generous love seat to wait for Keelor. He’d told her he wanted to change and ‘attend to some matters’ and would meet her at her hut.
When there was a knock at the door moments later she was surprised he’d come to her so quickly.
“Come in.”
Instead of Keelor entering her rooms it was Nermo with a smug smile. “My, what a seductive invitation that was, Seraphina. It was almost as if you were waiting for someone again. Could I dare hope it was me?”
“You can hope whatever you like, Nermo.”
“I told you we would be together. I thought perhaps you were warming to the idea and given up any hope of the elfin risking banishment for you.”
“What do you want?”
“I believe I have not enlightened you about my vision yet and I think now is the time.” When she didn’t respond, he took as an encouragement to continue and sat down beside her. “As we all witnessed in the castle, it appears our Nermina has a soft spot for Mortimer and I have foreseen the law will be changed in gratitude for his ... service. This will open the door for all mixed folk to engage in a relationship. However none of this will occur until after we defeat Mecaldorf and his warlocks. I realise at the moment you do not harbour such feelings for me ... however you will have no alternative in the end.”
“What are you talking about, Nermo? The law won’t change; it is far too dangerous to have mixed folk offspring, apparently.”
“On the contrary, certain mixed offspring could prove useful in maintaining peace in the lands. Imagine a human with the ability to fight as a pixie protecting the lands from evil. You see the majority of banished folk were evicted because they broke this law, were it to change ...”
“Even if this were to actually happen, Nermo, why would I be with you?”
“As opposed to Keelor?” He smiled. “You see he will be in no position to undertake a relationship with you.”
“What? You’re talking in riddles.”
“I cannot reveal all of my vision to you because you will not believe it to be so or will do something foolish to change it.”
“You are contradicting yourself by saying it could change, perhaps it already has. A lot has happened since you were in that bubble.”
“Yes it has, however, everything I saw in my trance sleep has occurred thus far. I saw you would heal the hazer and we would save Nermina. This is why I was not overly concerned about her incarceration.”
“Have you had these ‘visions’ before?”
“No, I believe the spell Cornelius used went awry and allowed me to view the future.” She shrugged. “You will see, my love. We will be together.”
“Not if I have anything to do with it you won’t,” Keelor informed him from the doorway.
“Ah, so he reveals his true feelings at last,” Nermo quipped.
“I am her protector only and it is my duty to prevent her from breaking the law.”
Nermo burst into fits of laughter. “Oh the irony. You will prevent her from breaking the law with me while doing so yourself.” He continued to laugh as he left.
“Why did you deny your true feelings, Keelor?”
“I do not trust him to keep our secret.”
“He seems very certain we have some destiny together. Why does he think it lies with him and not with you?”
“Only the ridiculous pixie could answer that question, Sera. Anyway, I do not wish to talk any longer about Nermo. I wanted to tell you how proud I was of you today.”
“Thanks, I was pretty impressed watching you fight today too.”
“Is that why you took so long to help us?”
“Yes, I was a little awestruck I suppose. I wanted to ask you about Nermina and Mortimer, what is happening there? He helped her today, why was he banished?”
“As usual lots of questions.”
Joining her on the seat he eased her up and pulled her close to kiss her until she became breathless.
“Why are you distracting me instead of answering my questions?”
“I would prefer to kiss you than talk about Nermina and Mortimer.”
“Please, Keelor.”
He sighed and she wondered why it was such a difficult question to answer.
“I believe you are not going to like my answer.” She stared and waited. “Mortimer was Audrey’s protector until he broke the law. He fell in love with Nermina. At the time they were good friends and spent a lot of time together. Nermina was enamoured with Nermo who did not reciprocate these feelings so Mortimer became a confidant as such. One afternoon he declared his love for her while in the gardens, which was overheard and reported to the elders. Mortimer was banished.”
“Who would do such a thing?”
“I would.”
“Yes but you didn’t, right?” He didn’t answer. “Why?”
“It was just after Hallow had gone. I was bitter. My views on the law, as you know, have changed dramatically since then.”
Sera glared at him for what seemed to Keelor like endless moments and his heart gave a sudden lurch. What if she decided he was no longer worthy of her? He immediately discovered he did not relish the idea of a life without Seraphina. Knowing he would need to prove to her how much he’d changed he made a decision, regardless of the consequences. Pleading his case, their case, at the convention the following morning would be the only way to prove himself to her.
“I’m sorry, Sera. I was a different man then.”
“I don’t think it’s me you should apologise to. What if Nermo decided he wanted to do this to us? What if they banished you?”
“It is for this reason I am sorry. I cannot imagine my life without you in it now.”
“Well you might have to. I’m not happy with you right now and I want you to leave. Someone who is so against love and cares more about a ridiculous law isn’t someone I particularly want to be with.”
“Sera please I ... lo” She cut him off.
“I do not want to hear it, Keelor!”
Her annoyance surfaced and as it overwhelmed her she lost control of her power. The surge which pulsed out sent Keelor across the room to thrust and then hold him firmly against the wall. Although he said nothing Sera was aware of the pressure he would be enduring from the force. Her compassion eased the hold but only slightly.
“I don�
��t know if I can control my feelings right now. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Asking me to leave is hurting me,” he gasped.
She pushed down her annoyance and let him go.
“Please go, so I don’t hurt you. Come back later when I’ve calmed down.”
He nodded and left.
Sera became immediately deflated the moment he was gone. She knew she was in love with him, there was absolutely no denying her feelings nonetheless he’d proven on several occasions how he felt about breaking the law for love. Had he really changed or would he do the same again? Was she really better off with Nermo, as he predicted? The idea hurt her heart. Sera knew she would never want to be with anyone but Keelor. How was it possible to feel so much for someone so quickly? She determined it was probably because she was now channelling her powers and it merely increased her emotions tenfold. Perhaps in time it would fade. The idea filled her with sadness and she missed Sam with abundance.
When Anna sought her out her daughter an hour later, she discovered her sitting, looking despondent, on the small balcony watching the spectacular sunset without much enthusiasm.
“Why are you hiding out here? I’ve been looking for you. I’m surprised you didn’t go with him to plead your case,” Anna said.
“Go where and what case?”
“You don’t know?”
“No, Mum.”
“Keelor has gone to the elders and revealed his true feelings for you. The others are deliberating over their vote. I have already decided mine and cast it. I voted for Keelor to stay and protect you regardless of his feelings.”
“Oh no! Mum, they can’t send him away.” She leapt to her feet. “Why aren’t they voting on my banishment too?”
“He told them it has nothing to do with you and it was all one sided. I know differently but the remaining elders don’t. They believe you were naive and it was merely whimsy that drew you to Keelor. As you haven’t lived in the lands they decided to allow you to stay along with the fact you are the most powerful human princess they have seen. Kalar, in particular, stressed how important it was you stay if we are to defeat Mecaldorf.”
“He is the best warrior in the circle and my new protector. They can’t send him away!”
“If they decide to banish him, they will bring your human protector forward. In my opinion he isn’t ready but I am only one vote.”
“I must talk to the elders. Shouldn’t I be able to decide who I want to protect me?”
“Folk law, albeit antiquated, is gospel to many folk for they have lived by the creed their entire lives. I don’t believe anything will sway their unwavering view.”
“Where is he? I want to see him.”
28
Keelor and the Elders
Keelor paced by the river but could find no peace. He was still a little astounded he’d gone through with his plan. The elders were meeting when he located them to declare his love and plead his case.
Upon leaving Seraphina, Keelor sought answers as he sat deep within the forest and could only find one. With resolution, he’d strode into Kalar’s chambers, where the elders deliberated and without pause delivered his speech.
“I beg your pardon for my intrusion however I have a matter to discuss which I could wait no longer to reveal. I am unconditionally and deeply in love with Seraphina and whilst I understand the consequences of my revelation, I deemed it important to cease the secrecy. I am unsure if she returns my feelings as deeply although I do believe she is quite fond of me. I think what she feels is most likely adulation. I have been hiding my emotions although it has been with great difficulty. I do not believe however I was concealing them well enough and would have been discovered before too long. I am hoping my honesty will work in my favour. If my punishment is banishment then I accept these terms as it is the law and I have always believed in justice. I only ask one thing, that Seraphina be allowed to remain here, regardless of my fate. She is valuable and powerful and I believe could only benefit the circle when it comes time to face Mecaldorf again.”
He’d stopped and glanced in turn at each elder’s face to find mixed expressions. Anna offered a secret smile and Keelor was relieved he would have at least one vote in his favour. Kalar told him to await their response as they needed to discuss and vote. This was now what he was doing, waiting.
The thought of being banished was not causing as much grief as he thought it would. What was causing his trepidation was the idea of never seeing Sera again. As he’d told the elders, he was completely in love with her, although he realised suddenly who he hadn’t told this to was Sera. He considered the possibly he wouldn’t have the opportunity to before he would have to leave. His perception of the world had become totally different since Seraphina entered his life such a short time ago. The thought of being unable to continue to share his life with her made his heart ache. He was staring at the river, which he now thought paled in comparison to the eyes it matched, when he heard her sweet voice.
“Keelor.” She rushed to him before throwing her arms around his neck causing him to wince. “Did I hurt you?” As always Sera didn’t miss a thing and the thought almost made him smile.
“I am a little tender after your ... outburst earlier.”
“Let me see.”
A bruise had already formed on his strong pale chest and she gasped. “I did this to you.” He nodded, gazing into her blue pools. With haste she healed the pain, unaware the ache inside his chest was unbearably worse.
“Why have you told the elders about us and without me?”
“I do not want you to suffer the same fate as me. I have been the reason two folk have been banished from their home already. It would cause me enormous pain if I did it to you as well.”
“If they send you away, I’ll go too.”
“No you will not! Besides they are only considering me. I though Elder Annaphina would have informed you of this.”
“Stop shutting me out, Keelor thought we were going to do this together, when this is all over.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Why?”
“I cannot hide my feelings anymore. I do not want to hide them anymore.”
“Then don’t.”
Sera kissed him and poured all her love into her heart before projecting it to him. She hoped this would convince him she didn’t want to live without him.
“Sera,” he groaned into her mouth before pushing her away.“ Please do not torture me.”
“Then don’t torture me!”
“I am sorry. I was simply showing you how I truly feel by taking a chance with the elders.”
“Without me, Keelor? It will be much worse when they send you away while I stay here. You could have shown me another way.”
“How? You were upset with me and I wanted to show you how much I have changed. I needed you to see that how I feel about you is much more important to me than the law.”
“Why not tell me?”
“I do, I have.”
“Losing you won’t make me happy.”
“It will not make me happy either. I am so in love with you, more than I ever thought would be possible.”
“Oh, Keelor ... I ...”
They were interrupted by Anna who informed them a decision had been made. They followed her into the conference room and Sera realised her mother wouldn’t meet her eyes. She knew the worst possible outcome was about to occur.
Kalar stepped forward, her face devoid of expression. “Keelor, the council have high esteem for your honesty and I believe had you been discovered, the vote would have leaned further toward your banishment. It is with a vast amount of regret to inform you the vote was five to three in favour of the law. You have until morning to vacate the lands.”
“No!” Sera cried. “Don’t I have any say in this? Doesn’t everyone else have to vote?”
“The decision has been made, Princess Seraphina, however you are of course free to voice your opinion. When the law has been broken, only the e
lders need to vote unless it is a tie or the decision will affect the entire circle. In this case the outcome does not concern the circle.”
“The only opinion I have is, if he goes, so do I. We all voted on Sam and Angelique. Why not now? This does affect the circle!”
“Sera,” Anna cautioned her daughter.
“No, Mum. I’m as guilty as he is. If anything it was my persistence that broke him.”
“Sera,”Keelor moved to stand before her. “Please, it will be alright. If you feel the way you say you do, then you will stay, for me.”
“That’s not playing fair, Keelor, you know I would do anything for you.”
Leaning forward he whispered in her ear, “We have one night left together perhaps we should be spending it alone.”
Her sad eyes stared into his and her concern radiated around him which filled his broken heart with solace.
“That’s my girl,” he whispered again before smiling serenely at her. “Shall we?” He held out his hands.
“This is not the last I have to say about his,” she called over her shoulder as he all but dragged her away.
29
Nermina and her Hazer
When dawn cast its warming rays across her face, Sera reached for Keelor to discover she was alone. She sat up abruptly and called out his name with no response. Dressing swiftly, she search the hut only to discover his possessions gone too. He’d left without saying goodbye. Dread consumed hereto lose Sam and Keelor in close succession was almost too much. His hut now barren as though he’d never lived there.
After his insistence the previous evening, she’d moved her ever expanding wardrobe to his home, which had now become hers. Filled with determination, she strode to the gardens, to be the first to arrive, in preparation to voice her disapproval once more.