One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

  “King Elieor and Queen Unyae of the three Kingdoms of Calnuthe, name this your child, born of the heavens and earth.”

  Together the young couple replied gently, their eyes still on the infant.

  “Her royal highness Celestine, Elionor, Unyae.”

  Eveline felt her body shake as the words were uttered, stepping closer to the couple.

  “Do you swear to protect and guide Celestine, Elionor, Unyae, born of the heavens and earth?”

  “We do.”

  “Do you swear to raise Celestine, Elionor, Unyae, in the light, forsaking all darkness?”

  “We do.”

  The royal couple handed their small babe over to the priest who cradled her lovingly in his arms. Cautiously he set the rim of the cup upon her lips and tipped its contents up a little so that water dripped into her mouth, causing her to cry out in protest. The priest gave the cup of water to the waiting boy before nursing the child. After a moment, he turned and began to walk around the two thrones, holding the child up into the air carefully.

  “Child of the Heavens, child of the Earth, we submit you into the arms of Heiden, God of the Heavens and God of the Earth.”

  Eveline watched on as he came full circle smiling at the royal couple, whose eyes were glistening with tears. Turning, the couple stood before the enormous congregation and watched on as the priest stood before them holding the child up.

  “I here present unto you, her royal highness, Celestine, Elinor, Unyae of Calnuthe. Do you, people of Calnuthe swear to protect and guide her royal highness, Celestine, Elionor, Unyae, of the three Kingdoms?”

  In unison the congregation replied with a firm.

  “Yey.”

  “May Heiden, God of the Heavens and God of the Earth bless you with righteousness, glory, strength and courage. May he walk with you and protect you in all your ways. May you prosper in all you do, ever faithful to your God and people of whom you serve.”

  All at once ethereal music filled the great hall and the priest made his way down the nave with the newly blessed Celestine, Elionor, Unyae. The congregation stood and watched on with joy as the priest, babe and royal couple once again made their way up the nave. Eveline quickly followed, her muddied feet leaving stains upon the marble floor. Slowly she proceeded to follow the royal couple through the tall processional glass doors and out onto the steps of the palace, which stood high above a large courtyard below, filled with what looked to be a large crowd of peasants. With one wave of a guard’s hand the crowd grew silent as the priest held up the crying babe.

  “I here present unto you, her royal highness, Celestine, Elinor, Unyae of Calnuthe.”

  The crowd erupted into a joyful applause, cries of mirth filling the atmosphere, causing Eveline to feel moved beyond words. How loved this small family were. As she stood upon the steps she cast her eyes beyond the courtyard and could see that a large city was located across a wide and unyielding river that separated the royal palace from the city. To the south she could see what looked to be the sea. Above her the sky was blue and the birds sang out in harmony on such a joyous occasion. Focusing her eyes on the couple she drew in a deep breath and slowly edged her way over to them, standing before them. Time seemed to stop as she took in the features of the young couple. The Queen stood tall and beautiful, her long auburn hair flowing down her back, her golden eyes filled with water. Standing before her, Eveline felt something within her warm, she felt a deeply rooted connection to the young Queen, something she had never before felt. How alike they were, how very alike they were. Turning her eyes, she gazed upon the young King, tall and handsome, his hair golden and his eyes green. He wrapped an arm about his wife and looked down into her eyes with a mixture of pride and love. The priest turned and handed the small infant back into the arms of her beloved parents and for a brief moment, Eveline caught a glimpse of her and felt herself shake. The child, who looked so very alike her, was so very akin to her it shook her inner being.

  Why was she here? What had brought her here? And who was she to this couple?

  Eveline plucked up the courage to take the littles girls hand into her own and found that the child’s eyes looked up into her own, her face brightening as she smiled up at Eveline. Beside her she could hear something and turned, seeing a small ball of light hovering beside her arm. At once the ball of light entered her body and suddenly everything around her began to fade away into a swirl of light, as she felt herself fall once more through a tight void that almost sucked the very breathe from her body. With a thud she landed upon a field of moist grass, her body moulded to the ground in pain. With her eyes shut, she could feel the rays of the dawn fall upon the sleeping world around her. Pain soared through her as she opened her eyes and forced her body to sit up, the dew of the grass dampening her nightdress. She was once again near the shore of Lake Derwentwater. With an inward groan she stood up and looked out across the lake, now alight with the rays of dawn. Standing in silence she fixed her nightdress and began to process all that she had seen. Had God given her vision? If so what did it all mean? As she stood contemplating her vision she felt the air tighten, the rays of the sun fading away behind the distant mountains. A sensation similar to the sensation she had felt when being sucked into the void of white light, caught at her chest and she bent over in panic, her hands at her throat.

  “Such beauty, such power,” a deep and malleolus voice announced. Eveline turned her eyes to the man that now walked towards her, beautiful and dark, robed in black, his feet bare. Eveline fell to her knees with a terrible swiftness as the man controlled her body with the wave of a pale and thin hand. “And beautiful you are,” he sneered, coming to stand before her, tall and powerful, the sky turning black in his presence. Eveline tried to find her voice but failed as she struggled to breathe. With strength she lifted her eyes to the man and felt fear in the pit of her stomach. For within his beauty lay such horror, such terror, veiled in such beauty as she had never seen before. His eyes were of such a black it almost boasted of consuming all colour known to the human eyes. His hair, long and ice blonde did not bend to the winds harsh commands. The man did not bend for anything or anyone, instead he bent down low, tilting his head slightly as though observing Eveline as she writhed in pain before him. “How lonely you are, hidden here among the monotonous and bromidic species that are humans. Such desolation in your eyes, to be brought so low by your own kind.” The man bent even lower, clasping her chin in his cold hand. “To be so unenlightened as to your true self. To be disregarded and cast away, to be kept hidden and shielded from all that you are, just like your mother.” Eveline forced her head away from the clutches of the man’s hand, closing her eyes in pain. “You will look at me, creature of the light!” the man cried out suddenly forcing her body off the ground and into the cold air. Eveline struggled, her body burning with pain as her eyes were forced to hold his own. “She was brought low too, hidden away from the eyes of her people. How she would weep for your existence, how she wept when she held you in her arms as she drew her last and final breathe in the knowledge that all she had once known and stood for had left her destitute and alone.”

  Eveline felt a tear fall from her eyes as she battled against the burning in her lungs. From behind the man’s bare feet a snake came out of the shadows and wound its way up the man’s tall body, settling upon his shoulder, its eyes red and filled with venom.

  “How easy it would be to take you, to kill you now, forever brandishing the sun with your blood,” the man whispered into her face, his cold, harsh breath filling her mouth. “How long I have searched for you, creature of the light.” The snake hissed loudly, slithering onto her own shoulders, her body trembling at the feeling. Eveline felt a sharp bite upon her throat and cried out, the snake’s teeth burying deep within her, blood spilling from her pale skin. When the teeth had retracted from her, the snake slithered back to its master. The man stood back, suddenly noticing something in the distance. “I shall be waiting in the shadows for you, Celestine.�
�� At once he was gone and she fell to the ground, unconscious.

  *

  Estelle awoke from her nightmare, sitting upright in her bed, her body alive with alarm. Quickly she got out of her bed and made her way to Eveline’s room, feeling guided by an inner feeling that all was not well with her daughter. She opened the door of Eveline’s room and entered. Looking over at the bed she found it was empty and suddenly a deep seated fear filled her and she ran to the open window, casting her eyes down upon the land. Her eyes suddenly fell upon two figures, one who she knew to be Eveline the other unknown but frightening to behold. Estelle gasped as she realised her daughter was hanging in mid-air, her body bent forward. With haste she turned and exited the room running as fast as she could down the corridor and narrow steps. Forgetting her shoes and nightgown she violently opened the door of the cottage and ran out into the darkness.

  “Eveline!” she cried out, her feet drenched in dew from the long blades of grass. “Be gone!” she screamed at the man who stood before Eveline, tall and unhuman in form. The man found her gaze and she felt ice within her heart forcing her to stop running. In the blink of an eye he vanished and she watched as Eveline fell to the ground with a loud thud. With renewed strength she began to run again, quickly coming to Eveline’s side. “Eveline wake up,” she cried, turning the lifeless Eveline onto her back. Gently she lifted Eveline’s head and cradled it in her lap, bending her head down, their foreheads pressed against one another. “Eveline awaken!” she cried, salted tears falling onto her daughter’s cold cheek. As she knelt upon the moist grass, holding Eveline in her arms she could hear Belle running down.

  “Evie!” the little girl cried aloud. Estelle turned her eyes to the child, who ran across the grass, her arms out stretched.

  “Go into the house Belle!” Estelle cried out, waving a hand in her direction. Belle refused and stopped before Estelle and Eveline, her cornflower blue eyes filled with tears.

  “Evie,” she whispered, falling to Eveline’s side, taking her lifeless hand into her own. With her other hand she wiped away a long strand of auburn hair, bending her lips to Eveline’s lips, kissing her softly. “Wake up.” The trio knelt in silence until a male voice could be heard, the rays of dawn resting upon the world once more.

  “Miss, can I help?” a young man with a leather suitcase ran across the grass, throwing his suitcase upon the grass before he came to stand before the trio.

  “My daughter, she is ill,” Estelle cried out, looking up into the face of the man, his blue eyes piercing.

  “Let me, I will bring her up to the house,” the man said. Estelle stood up and bid Belle to stand away from Eveline, letting the man have better access. With ease he lifted Eveline’s body into his arms.

  “Quickly she will catch pneumonia,” Estelle stressed, bidding the man to hurry. Belle ran on ahead of Estelle and the man, disappearing into the cottage. Estelle lifted the man’s suitcase and brought it with her, showing him the way in to the cottage. “Upstairs if you please,” she ordered, making her way up the narrow staircase. The man followed with ease, his eyes cast down upon the lifeless form of Eveline. Estelle led him to a room in which Belle stood waiting for them.

  “On the bed please,” Estelle said watching as the man lay Eveline down upon the cream sheets, wiping away a strand of hair.

  “I will sound presumptuous but if you could please fetch me warm water and blankets?” the man asked, turning his blue eyes to Estelle.

  “Are you a doctor?” Estelle asked quickly, her eyes aggrieved.

  “I am.”

  “Then warm water and blankets you shall have,” Estelle proclaimed, holding out her hand for Belle to follow. When Estelle and Belle left the room with the door open, the man waited a moment before bending over Eveline, laying a hand upon her heart and closing his eyes.

  “Awake!” he ordered, a beam of golden light filling the room. When the light faded he sat by Eveline, his hand still upon her heart. He felt a thud under his hand and sighed with a breath of relief. Gently Eveline opened her golden eyes and looked up into his blue eyes, her heart thudding sharply under his fingers as though a bolt of electricity had coursed through both of them. Without speaking, Eveline lifted her right hand, laying it upon his chest, his heart thudding under her touch.

  “Who are you?” Eveline whispered as she lay beneath the man, his eyes so very blue.

  “My name is Galean.”

  III

  Moirai

  10Th October 1940

  Love is not a fire to be shut up in a soul. Everything betrays us: voice, silence, eyes; half-covered fires burn all the brighter…

  Jean Racine.

  “Eveline?” a familiar voice echoed within Eveline’s mind prompting her to open her eyes. Her body felt drained of energy, her heart faint and she felt disorientated as her eyes lifted to find the gaze of Estelle whose face was bent low over her. Briefly she closed her eyes again as the room began to spin. “Can you hear me?” Eveline felt Estelle’s hand upon her own and squeezed it in response, opening her eyes once more. The room was alit with candles that flickered upon the ceiling, drawing Eveline’s eyes to the end of her bed. Upon a chair sat Galean, his long legs crossed, his eyes on her. Eveline smiled weakly before drawing her eyes to the left hand corner in which she gazed upon a tall figure, shielded by the darkness, a pair of black eyes upon her. Eveline’s heart seized with fear, struggling to move her body further into the headrest, her eyes now upon Estelle, wide and dilated. “What is it? Eveline? Tell me child,” Estelle begged as she struggled to calm Eveline down. Eveline forced her right hand to lift itself from the sheets, pointing her index finger over at the far right hand corner of the room. Estelle followed the finger, seeing nothing before turning back to Eveline. “I see nothing,” she said with urgency. Eveline settled her gaze upon Galean who got up from his chair and lifted a candle, walking over to the right hand corner and standing before the shadowed man, drowning him in light. With one last glance, Eveline fell into a dark sleep once more.

  *

  “You may sleep in Theodore’s room upon your stay here Mr?” Estelle held a lantern up high as she entered the small room that belonged to Theodore.

  “Mr Galean Edwards,” Galean murmured as he entered the room, setting his suitcase upon the bed, turning to Estelle, who held Theodores letter in her hand.

  “You may have this lantern,” Estelle placed the lantern upon Theodores writing table.

  “There is no need, the sun is rising and the room is light enough for me to see,” Galean smiled, handing the lantern back to the exhausted Estelle, whose eyes were drawn and face pale.

  “We serve breakfast at nine Mr Edwards, if you would be so kind as to join us?”

  “Indeed, I will be down directly after I have checked on the patient,” Galean said with raised brows, eager to find out what exactly had occurred during the night.

  “As you wish,” Estelle smiled, stepping out of the room with Theodore’s open letter by her side. Galean waited for the door to close before he sat down upon the edge of his bed, resting his head between his hands. He needed to find out what exactly had happened to Eveline, afraid that she had already been found. When he had given Estelle Theodores letter in the study she had sat down upon a leather chair in silence, reading its contents before raising her eyes to him.

  “My son is well?”

  “He is, he will make for Bath next week and hopes that you, Eveline and Belle will join him,” Galean replied, his eyes taking in the sheer volume of books that filled the shelves.

  “He has never mentioned your name before?” Estelle said with accusing eyes.

  “Well I would suspect that that may lead you to doubt my legitimacy,” Galean smiled. “And so Theodore bade me to pass on a piece of information that only you and Eveline would know, in order to prove that I am indeed who I say I am.”

  “And the information would be?”

  “That he proposed marriage to Eveline on the ninth of August, 1938 under
a cherry blossom tree,” Galean announced clearly. Estelle sat quietly, observing the young man with keen eyes.

  “Correct.”

  Galean closed the study door behind him and took a seat opposite Estelle.

  “Then we may speak frankly?”

  “Go on.”

  “When I arrived here early this morning, I saw your daughter hovering in mid-air before a man,” Galean said quietly aware that Belle was somewhere in the house.

  “You saw what happened?” Estelle asked darkly taking in a deep sigh before crossing her arms before her.

  “Not just I, the man that brought me here saw it also,” Galean admitted, seeing the fear in Estelle’s eyes.

  “That complicates matters.”

  “Indeed it does,” Galean said, moving his chair closer to Estelle. “Before we discuss this any further, I believe I must tell you something about myself and your son.”

  “You may speak freely Mr Edwards.”

  “I believe you already know that your children are gifted in ways that others are not, in ways that would lead others to hold them in distaste, to believe them to be creatures of the dark?” Galean asked quietly, watching as Estelle’s lips became to quiver.

  “Theodore has told you this?”

  “There was no need, Theodore and I have been friends for a very long time, long before he came to this house,” Galean muttered cautiously, seeing confusion in Estelle’s eyes.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I am like your son, I am gifted and am a creature of the light like he is,” Galean said, leaning back into his chair and giving Estelle time in which to digest this information.

  “He came to this house as a child, did you grow up with him in London before his parents died?”

  “You believe Theodore to be twenty one years old, I can tell you that he is in fact two hundred and seventy one years old.”