One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

by Iseult O'Shea

  “You would not believe me if I answered you honestly,” Galean said with a shake of his head.

  “If you are a creature of light as you claim yourself to be, then are you telling me that you are something akin to an angel?” Eveline quizzed as they came to stand before the rippling waters of Derwentwater. Before Galean could reply, Wordsworth came bounding up to him, stopping before him to shake out his coat. “Wordsworth you rogue!” Eveline cried out as Galean stepped away quickly, laughing merrily.

  “He’s fine!” Galean pleaded as Eveline shoed the dog away by throwing a stick into the lake.

  “I’m so sorry, he’s ruined your good jacket!” Eveline said nervously as she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and began to wipe away at the water stains. Galean looked down at her long eyelashes as they fluttered under the sunlight.

  “Really Eveline I am quite alright, the stains will dry in the heat,” Galean soothed taking her wrists and setting her away from him least he should suddenly bolt and run away never to return. Eveline blushed heavily before placing her handkerchief away.

  “Sorry,” she said sombrely.

  “You have nothing to apologise for,” Galean smiled kindly. “Come sit down on the log,” he ordered gently bringing her to a thick log that lay near to the lake, sitting her down before taking a seat beside her.

  “I seem to be doing everything in a miss-matched way,” Eveline said through gritted teeth, her heart settling and her chest now rising and falling gently.

  “I think you have had a particularly hard time of it lately,” Galean replied as he took off his jacket and lay it across his knees. “I’m sure a lot of it is to do with missing Theodore.”

  “I do miss him terribly,” Eveline admitted, entwining her hands upon her knees. “But sometimes I find myself not thinking of him at all I am so busy with Belle.”

  “There is no fault in that, life goes on and we cannot stay still forever.”

  “And so many peculiar things have been happening of late that I find myself not thinking of my heart at all.”

  “He would not want you to be sitting around idly pinning for him,” Galean smiled reassuringly.

  “At first when he left I was stricken with grief, losing my best friend and not knowing if he would return to me,” Eveline began as Belle and Wordsworth came to sit on the ground before them, playing with stones. “But then I found myself coming round and gently settling back into my normal life once again only with the added bonus of Belle, who has been such a blessing from the very start.”

  “I can see she has brought you a lot of joy in the last year,” Galean observed as the little girl looked up at him with a beaming smile.

  “She has and for a good time no shadows could creep into my soul,” Eveline said with a serious look in her eyes. “I felt freer than ever I have done. I was not bound by my peculiarities.”

  “But you feel the heaviness of who you are now?”

  “Yes very much so.”

  “And if I may be as bold as to add confused to the list of your burdens?” Galean said with sombre eyes.

  “Indeed, very, very confused Mr Edwards. I have always been stuck in a state of confusion as to why I am the way I am, never finding answers only ridicule from those that see me as a superstitious threat.”

  “Not everybody sees you as a threat Eveline.”

  “That man whoever he was obviously does,” Eveline said flatly her eyes darkening at the memory. Galean watched as she unconsciously searched for a spot upon her throat and held her fingers over what looked to be a mark. Galean took a closer look as her auburns tresses fritted in the light wind. The mark looked to be a bite mark and worse still the veins surrounding the mark were black.

  “How did you hurt you neck?” Galean asked edging himself closer to Eveline to get a better look. Eveline feeling his gaze upon her throat quickly withdrew her fingers and brushed a curl over the mark, her cheeks colouring.

  “I didn’t,” she lied keeping her eyes upon the water.

  “Eveline have you looked at your neck recently?” Galean said firmly, wiping her auburn curl away and taking a closer look at the mark. “This is no normal cut, how did you receive it?”

  “Please,” Eveline got up from the trunk, the touch of his fingers upon her skin too much. “It is nothing to worry about I promise.”

  “Nothing to worry about,” Galean followed suite and got up from the trunk taking her wrist gently and turning her so that she faced him. “Look at me Eveline.”

  “It is nothing Mr Edwards,” Eveline said sharply, untangling her wrist from Galean’s grasp and walking away. Galean watched as she chased after Belle, completing transformed and unabashed. Galean drew in a deep breathe, he would have to watch her carefully over the next few days. Finally the group made their way back up to the cottage stopping before the garden gate.

  “Evie why are those people standing in front of our house?” Belle asked, fear in her eyes as she wrapped her arms about Eveline’s legs. Eveline looked to Galean, whose eyes were scanning the wider area, resting upon a group of a dozen or so shadows that lay at the edge of the forest, standing very still under the shadow of the trees watching them. Galean then looked at the six or so men and women, dressed in normal attired, standing by the front of the cottage.

  “Take Belle and Wordsworth inside and lock the doors,” Galean ordered, his eyes falling to Eveline’s.

  “Who are they Galean?” Eveline asked clearly frightened, her face pale and her eyes wide with terror.

  “Take them inside and whatever you do, do not open the door until I knock, promise?” Galean guided the trio to the garden gate and opened it. When the gate had closed Eveline turned to him.

  “Promise.”

  “Go,” Galean ordered quickly waiting until they entered the house to walk around to the front.

  *

  Estelle cursed under her breathe as she rushed to finish the packing as Eveline sat quietly before the fire place, silent and still.

  “Mother stop rushing about and sit down a moment,” Eveline announced, needing the room to stay peaceful and quiet as the adrenaline in her body made her feel weak and dizzy. Estelle stopped what it was she was doing and looked at her daughter so different from the Eveline she had watched leave the cottage earlier in the morning. Belle was sat in the music room, her face moulded to the window with Wordsworth by her side watching Galean talk to a man that looked very similar to the local reverend, Matthew Tinsley.

  “Belle come away from that window at once!” Estelle ordered sharply. Belle sighed and withdrew from the window, coming into the living room with an equally disappointed Wordsworth who fell before the fire with a deep grunt.

  “Who are those people Estelle?” Belle asked as she came to sit upon Eveline’s knees.

  “Well one of them happens to be reverend Matthew Tinsley,” Estelle answered as she stood before the window looking out at Galean who was conversing deeply with the reverend. “I see the local librarian Mr Grey and the pharmacist Mrs Brown, the others I think are the local butcher Mr Geoffrey’s and Mr Bellendale from the farm next to our cottage.”

  “What are they doing here?” Belle went on, twisting her fingers with nerves.

  “I wish I knew,” Estelle sighed deeply noticing that Galean was looking at her seriously. Estelle withdrew from the window and came to stand before Eveline. “Tell me how many of those men are hiding among the trees?”

  “A dozen or so,” Eveline whispered holding Belle close.

  “Blast!” Estelle said under her breathe.

  “Mother sit down before I get exasperated!” Eveline suddenly announced, shocking everyone in the room and causing Wordsworth to stand up and bark loudly. “Wordsworth sit!”

  “Sorry,” Estelle said, forcing herself to sit down opposite Eveline and Belle. Time seemed to pass slowly as they awaited Galean’s return, so much so that when he eventually knocked at the door they all were startled beyond reason. Estelle rose from her chair and made for th
e door looking through the small, glass stained window before opening the door. “Ah Galean and reverend Matthew, come in and do explain to us what exactly is taking place outside.” Galean let the reverend pass him by before entering the cottage. The reverend came to stand before the unlit fire, smiling down at Eveline kindly. “Shall I make us some tea?” Estelle announced as she closed the door of the cottage behind her.

  “That would be lovely,” the reverend replied as Galean brought forth two seats from the window, bidding the reverend to take a seat. “Ah Wordsworth you old fellow! How content you look.” Wordsworth grunted in reply, one ear standing up in response. Eveline kept herself quiet, looking over at Galean quickly. Galean smiled in return easing her tension at once. Soon Estelle re-entered with a tray filled with cups and large pot of brewing tea. Everybody spent the next five minutes filling their glasses with tea.

  “Belle you will find a glass of juice in the kitchen with some biscuits, why don’t you take Wordsworth with you,” Estelle ordered Belle gently before turning to Galean. “She will be safe in the kitchen yes?”

  “Don’t worry Estelle the reverend Matthew has men stationed behind the cottage, Belle will be fine.”

  “Oh, well that’s good,” Estelle muttered before sitting down, waving Belle and the Irish wolfhound out of the room. When eventually Belle has left the room, everyone set their cups of tea down. “Now reverend would you care to explain why you have men and women stationed around my cottage.”

  “Ah yes,” the reverend smiled, his eyes on Eveline. “We have been watching over you since your arrival in Keswick child.”

  “Why?” Eveline returned flatly as the room grew darker, every pair of eyes on her.

  “Have you heard of the free masons?” the reverend asked Eveline.

  “Yes but what do you have to do with them?” Eveline asked, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

  “I am the masonic leader in Keswick, elected to oversee the guardianship of you,” the reverend replied seriously.

  “I don’t understand,” Eveline said, her eyes finding Galean’s, pleading and confused.

  “Maybe Mr Edwards can explain a little better,” the reverend said casually, turning his gaze to Galean. Galean moved his seat a little closer to Eveline’s.

  “When we spoke by the lake I told you that I was a creature of the light and you asked me if I was an angel.”

  “Yes.”

  “I am an angel Eveline and so is your husband,” Galean said calmly seeing the confusion in Eveline’s eyes. “I was sent here to protect you and bring you to Bath were you will be safe from the shadows that linger now outside this cottage, wishing you great harm.”

  “I don’t understand, why do they wish me harm?” Eveline whispered to Galean, her eyes never leaving his own.

  “You told me that you feel unnatural and different and you would be correct in thinking that for you are unalike those who surround you,” Galean explained gently, laying a hand upon her own. “There are many like me in this world, the reverend being one. But there are none like you in this world Eveline.”

  “I am not a creature of the light?” Eveline asked, her brows furrowed in a deep crease.

  “You are a creature of the light, a light so deep and bright that it can only belong to a few,” Galean smiled. “And though I am bound by oath not to reveal to you your true identity I can tell you that you have been right in thinking that you do not belong to this world.”

  “Then where do I belong Mr Edwards?” Eveline asked, her voice shaking with anxiety.

  “I wish that I could be the one to tell you, but it is not my place,” Galean said with saddened eyes, wanting inside to reach out to Eveline and comfort her in this her moment of darkness.

  “Does Theodore know this?”

  “Yes.”

  “He has always known this about me?” Eveline asked, turning her eyes to Estelle.

  “I shall let Theodore explain himself to you,” Galean said gently. “You need to know that you are in danger of a force graver to you than you realise. Those men that stand along the edge of the forest they are known to us as shadows and to humans as demons.”

  “What do they want from me?” Eveline whispered, her eyes filled with doom and despair.

  “They want to vanquish the light that lives within you, they want to destroy all that you are but for the present they wish to take you to their master,” Galean said seriously.

  “Who is?”

  “Their King and commander, known to you as Lucifer and known to us as Lagar.”

  Eveline sat back and looked across at her mother, wanting to enfold herself in her arms for comfort.

  “I have always felt unconnected to this world as though I belonged to another, now that you have revealed all of this to me I don’t feel quite as stupid,” she sighed. “I am however confused still as to who I am and why it is that these shadows wish me dead.”

  “When you arrive in Bath you will be met by one of our superior commanders who will reveal to you everything that you need to know,” Galean said warmly, his hand still upon her own for assurance. “But we must leave this cottage and Keswick at once.”

  “I cannot believe that we have a masonic group in Keswick,” Estelle announced.

  “We are a secretive society Estelle for needs of protection,” the reverend replied as he took another sip of tea from his cup. “We have always been keeping an eye out for Eveline, ensuring her safety here in Keswick. When the local taxi driver Mr Cavil dropped Galean off and witnessed what occurred that night, he came to me at once and I knew then that the masons of Keswick had to act at once in ensuring you the safety you needed until you could leave Keswick.” Eveline looked to Galean again and found his face warm and comforting.

  “We are scheduled to leave in the morning reverend,” Estelle said, alarm in her eyes.

  “That will not do, you must leave tonight,” the reverend said with serious eyes. “There will be no room for argument. I and those within the free mason lodge will secure your passage to the train which has been specially scheduled to leave this night at ten. Do not worry about a thing Estelle we have booked you into the grand hotel in Bristol for two nights.”

  “And I have phoned Theodore and arranged for him to meet us at the grand hotel in three days’ time,” Galean announced to the shock of Eveline and Estelle.

  “Theodore will be in Bristol?” Eveline whispered, her heart skipping a beat.

  “Yes,” Galean said with warm eyes. Eveline looked down at her hands, covered by Galean’s and took in a deep breathe, something within her wanted to stay in Keswick, she could not for some unknown and intangible reason understand why she yearned to hide away from her husband. “Eveline?”

  “Yes?” Eveline looked up from her hands.

  “You will need to get yourself ready,” Galean said firmly releasing his hand from her own and standing up. “Come.” Galean held out his hand for her waiting until she clasped it and arose to her feet. “Wear something dark, we must be invisible to the naked eye if we are to get to the station without any trouble occurring along the way.”

  “Two cars will arrive, one at the front and one at the back to create a diversion,” the reverend explained carefully as Eveline stood before the window gazing out across the hill towards the edge of the forest were men stood in dark cloaks, watching on. Eveline felt a tremor arise under her bite and raised her fingers to the mark, feeling a pain run through her, unaware of Galean’s eyes upon her. “The train will have guards within to ensure your safety to Bristol.”

  “Why has the devil himself waged war upon me,” Eveline said aloud, turning to the group.

  “He has waged war on all that is good and true in this universe Eveline,” Galean replied thoughtfully. “And you stand for all that is good and true.”

  “I am one woman.”

  “You are more than a woman Eveline, this you know to be true,” Estelle said coming to her daughter and enfolding her in a hug. “You always have been. Wh
o else can make the leaves of the ground dance about in the air so beautifully?”

  Galean showed the reverend out of the cottage and closed the door behind him.

  “We should ready ourselves,” he announced quietly his eyes upon Estelle and Eveline still enfolded in an embrace.

  *

  “We should keep the house alight and alive, shadows have problems seeing in the light,” Galean said as Estelle blew out a candle after dinner.

  “If you say so,” Estelle smiled nervously. The house was quiet after the hours of preparation. Belle had been taken up to bed for a few hours of sleep before they left the cottage for good. Galean turned to were the sound of the piano lingered and followed the music, finding Eveline at the beautiful piano, her back straight and her hair loose, falling to her waist. He had wanted to spend some time with her before the left, to train her to use a dagger for self-defence. Instead he found himself sitting down beside her and watching her long fingers dance upon the ivory keys with fascination. Eveline stopped playing and turned to him.

  “Have you ever played a duet before?” Eveline asked Galean, the candles flickering against the cream walls.

  “Only once before,” Galean replied, letting his fingers touch the ivory keys.

  “Do you know how to play Franz Schubert’s Fantasy in F minor?” Eveline asked quietly.

  “Not very well but I could try if you wish?”

  “I will probably not have time or the access to play the piano in the near future so I see it as only right that I spend an hour or so playing my favourite tunes,” Eveline smiled shyly as they both prepared themselves.

  “It is quite a long piece,” Galean teased as he bent his fingers before splaying them over the keys.

  “Well all the better then,” Eveline ended. With a countdown they began to play, each losing themselves in the music. Unknown to Galean, Eveline had opened a window so that the music would travel, bringing joy to those who stood outside protecting her and infuriating those who awaited her in the woods. Estelle came to stand in the doorway watching the pair with curious eyes. They had an unspoken bond which had enlivened Eveline and brought her unforeseen comfort. She was not sure how appropriate such a friendship like this was or how it would affect her son, but she trusted Eveline and understood her new found happiness in Galean’s friendship for it had been a long time since she had befriended anyone of her own age. When the piece of music had finally ended and Estelle had left the pair alone, Galean turned to Eveline.