by L. Filloon
I can feel Lily shaking. Her death grip on my hand belies her cool exterior. Once she takes the seat, all eyes are focused on her and all breaths are held as we wait to see if the throne will accept her. Lily places her hands along the seat’s arms and instantly the throne begins to hum; quietly at first, then slowly the humming fills the room.
A soft melody spreads across the floor, the walls and along the ceiling, seeming to trap all within the hall. The enchanting song touches every inch. Sprigs of white gardenias begin to bud and bloom. The throne has found Lily’s essence in the form of her favorite flower and using it as its acceptance of the woman sitting on its seat. Along the walls shoots of willow and oak spring to life, intertwining and melding together, the drooping of delicate willow branches shoots leaves of both the oak and willow.
The kings and queens along with their heirs find themselves standing and walking toward the center of the hall. Without word and the ability to resist their movements, they allow the spirit of the Mother to use them. They reach the center of the room and all chairs and benches move away from them as they gather in a circle holding hands. Among the circled is my father. The Ancients and the only Summoner allowed move to stand at equal distance from one another to encircle the rulers. I turn to Kalis and give her a signal. She and Dalim move along with their men to encircle all of the royals and Ancients, facing out, weapons at ready. I know Mellis, Phoris and Alorn are standing next to Lily.
Once it seems that everyone is in place, I turn to Lily and take a step back. My cousins have also stepped away from her…frozen. Lily is standing in front of the throne facing the circled group before her. Her eyes are swamp green in color and completely filled…the eyes of the Earth Spirit.
With a thousand voices she speaks, “Lilianethia Senestra Michaels has been chosen and accepted as queen of the Willow Clan.” The Spirit’s eyes turns to me, “Tharin, son of Thilthen, heir of Kalinest, shall marry the virgin queen and together you will save Velesi. Beware future king, death will take his own and you will need to choose between two of those you love before the doorway of Eirrell.”
I step to her, “Who? Tell me.” She doesn’t answer and I rush to catch Lily when the Spirit leaves her.
The room feels like a vacuum as air rushes back into the hall. Alorn, Mellis and Phoris instantly go into fighting stances. I turn to face the center of the hall to find the royal court had let go of each other’s hands. With their palms facing down, they continue with their humming of the throne’s melody. Unlike the trees and plants before, the shoot extending upward from the floor is coming through the floor and I recognize the shoot as willow. It becomes a full-grown tree, but unlike the smaller versions growing and twisting along the wall, this one bears the trunk and overhanging branches of the willow, the leaves are that of the oak. I’ve been to several of these coronations and have never witnessed what I just witnessed.
Everyone in the room is at the center of the hall with the exception of Lily, my cousins and me. Somewhere within the circle is the traitor.
“Phoris, Mellis…protect the king,” I order. They don’t need to ask which king as they move to my father’s side facing the Ancients.
As if in a film moving in slow motion, I watch Sema speed toward my uncle Madeas and from behind take a blade to his throat, killing him instantly. Phoris roars with rage and shock before rushing to his father, but he doesn’t make it. Mili, who is closest to him, whips past him, placing a blade in my cousin’s throat. Mellis matches the Nolok’s speed, letting his blades fly about her furiously. Mili has her shields up but Mellis’ fury cuts through, cutting the Ancient deeply. But the Mili doesn’t go down. She pushes off to land beside Sema, putting distance between her and Mellis. Mili stands with her hands up beside Sema, a dead look in both their eyes.
Alorn and Inikai are at Mellis’ side, ready to attack, but a shield with a powerful will behind it, keeping them at bay. My need to be with them is tempered by my need to stay close to Lily. I can’t leave her unprotected, not this time, not like E’leiana.
“NO!” The scream comes from Lily as she cries out for Phoris. She tries to run to him but I hold her back. I call Kalis to me.
“No, Tharin,” she disobeys. “I stay with my king.”
Damn it. Lily looks up at me, anger and a deep rage flashes in her eyes. She somehow read my thoughts. With effort, she straightens, “Go.” I hesitate, torn to fight at my cousins’ side and protecting her. She continues, her voice hard, “I said go.”
As I move to Alorn’s side, I take one last backward glance at her as she stands still, eyes closed. I stand between Alorn and Inikai, now part of a small group surrounding Sema and Mili. They stand within the circle motionless.
Something catches my eye and I turn toward Kalis. A flash comes from Cili who is standing beside her and the energy force from his hands takes out everyone close by, including Dalim and Kalis. Immediately, Alorn, Ka, Inikai and Mellis put up a shield, covering those in our small circle. I send a shield over to Lily, joining with her own force, keeping her safe.
Ka steps forward facing Cili, “Release Sema and the healer, Eathos. Release them now, Ko.”
The young guard’s mouth twists into a sneer, “Do you think that the love I once had for her will save her now, brother?”
“Let them go, Kolinest,” warns Ka quietly. Cili drops to the floor dead – Eathos is gone.
“He doesn’t do the bidding of a used-up king, old elf.” It’s Sema who answers him.
Ka turns and roars, “Silence demon!” He throws his hand out at the demon. “You will release my wife’s body now, Falsad.” The demon grabs at his throat as Ka squeezes his fist tightly. Falsad would scream if his throat wasn’t being squeezed. The dead eyes of the demon disappear and Sema’s soft green ones appear. She drops to the floor, eyes open, seeing sightlessly at her husband.
When Ka points his hand toward Mili, she snarls and laughs. A deep, insolent laugh and she shrugs her shoulders as if shrugging off Ka’s will. Ka puts his hand down, but he faces the demon unafraid.
“I will know where your master is, Kabba,” demands Ka.
“I have no master, Kalinest,” says the demon warden. I feel the shocked eyes of each of us shift quickly to Ka and then back at Kabba who is still in Mili’s body. “And soon, you will know what it means to be imprisoned in my home, would-be king of Eirrell.”
“Shut up, demon,” says Ka as if he’s bored. “We all know you cannot make a move without your master’s say so. He has bound you to him for your release from the UnderRealm. You are nothing but a puppet. Now, go…leave us. And tell my brother next time we meet, I will kill him.”
Kabba snarls at Ka, eyes full of hate, and you can feel his deep need to let loose on the old elf. Seconds later, Mili drops to the floor dead. My heart stops when Kabba appears next to Lily. He puts his hand through her energy field and grabs her as if to pull her out. All blades from Alorn, Mellis, Inikai, Ka and me speed toward him hitting him square on the chest. He looks down at the blades, then back at us and laughs as he gives us another sneer.
I race to her side, but before I reach her, her eyes open, golden like the serpent’s and focused on the demon. She reaches up with her hand and takes hold of the demon’s wrist. The sound of broken bones rings throughout the hall, and the stench of burning rotting flesh emits from Kabba as he falls to his knees screaming. He snatches his hand from Lily’s grip, ripping the neckline of her gown. Within seconds he’s gone.
Jarhan’s gift. This is the gift of the healers.
I rush to Lily when she comes out of her trance swaying. I hold her close but she pushes away and runs to Phoris’ side. Inikai helps Ka to Sema’s side before seeing to his father lying with the other royals. Alorn moves to check on his king, while Mellis drops to his knees next to Phoris.
Ka lowers to sit next to his wife and takes her in his arms. Kalinest…Kalinest is alive. The greatest Sidhe king in the history of Velesi is here with us. He doesn’t look like the savior and her
o of our realm. He looks broken, old and tired as he mourns the loss of his beloved wife.
Lily kneels and puts Phoris’ head on her lap. Mellis, with Alorn joining them, are kneeling beside her as she places a hand on Phoris’ chest and slowly moves it down to his stomach. She’s still for a moment before letting her hand drop. Then she hugs Phoris to her and cries, holding him tightly.
Stunned, I can’t seem to move forward…to take one step before the next. A gentle hand touches my shoulder and I turn to look into Kalis’ eyes. I’ve forgotten how beautiful she is. I turn back to Lily and see that Mellis has gathered her in his arms as he sits behind her. Lily continues to hold on to Phoris crying. Alorn is gone and I catch a glimpse of him as he makes his way out the side door, finding solace in private. It’s his way, the only way he’s handled his emotions of loss and grief. I long to follow him out of this room, but I need to stay, for Lily. She’ll need me when she finally lets Phoris go.
I hear a deep cry from behind me. I turn to see my father who just noticed his brother lying close by. He half-runs, half-crawls to his brother’s side, catching my uncle in his arms. I have to look away, unable to see my father this way. I look again to Lily and know I should go to her, but I can’t bring myself to move toward Phoris’ body. I…I can’t do it. The pain of his loss is too much for me. In battle we’ve lost men and we all weep for them in our own way, but my brother and cousins have always walked away…alive.
Cries and deaths of ones I loved, ones I’ve known all my life, are all around me and I look about for escape. I subconsciously notice the white gardenias slowly turn black and the low branches of the hybrid trees sag heavily. It’s their reaction to Lily’s emotions. They feel as she feels.
Kalis slips her hand into mine and gently tugs at me to follow…and I do. I let her lead me away from this place, from Lily, Madeas, Milina, Sema and Phoris. Phoris. Phoris. Phoris. I should go to him. I should go to Lily.
I keep repeating it over and over again to go to them. Instead, like walking in a heavy fog, I let Kalis take me away, to comfort me as she’s done many times before. For a moment through the fog, I thought I heard Lily call for me, but Kalis’ gentle touch urges me forward. Before we make it to the doors, she slips her arm around my waist and without thinking, I hug her to me.
~ * ~
Chapter Forty
~ Lily ~
I didn’t know about Sema until Mellis pulled me away from Phoris. He was taken to be lain next to his father, and Mellis put me in the care of Walem. Dalim escorted me to my suites and once in the room, I yanked the simple crown of gold and diamonds and threw it across the room. I threw myself on the bed and cried. I cried for everyone I’ve lost on my path to be queen of the Willow Clan. I held back when Lucas came to me, I held back when I saw Tharin with Kalis, even when I saw them last night I was furious, but I held back the tears. I held back when Milina was killed, and I held back when Julia left me.
I cried and screamed into my pillows, letting out everything I had left in me. I cried until I was dry heaving and my throat hurt – raw and hoarse. I cried until I thought I couldn’t breathe any longer and waited for death to stop the tears. I cried until my eyes were swollen shut and it was painful to peek through gritted, tight lids. I cried until I couldn’t recognize the room or the bed I was in.
It was daylight when I was returned to my suite and when I try to see through swollen lids, it’s completely dark in my room. Feeling exhausted and drained, I rise to make my way to the double glass doors leading out to the private garden. As if in a trance, I move along the sidewall until I come to the garden of the pando trees where the queen’s bench sits in the small clearing. Panswas rise and light up the area with a soft warm glow. I make my way to the bench and sit, defeated. I miss Julia so much and wonder how she and Marilyn are doing. At least they are safe and away from this place of deceit and death.
I feel her presence before she steps into the clearing from the Malainisi realm, following close behind is a healed Cessa. She trots ahead of Lea’ith, moving toward me. She stops in front of me and without hesitation places her large head on my lap. When I don’t move, a sound I’ve never heard her make comes from deep within her. She mewling; I’m so surprised by the sad sound that I place my hands on her head, stroking the side of her face until she stops. Once satisfied I’m okay, she lays her body on my feet. Although heavy, the weight is comforting and I wiggle my toes deeper under her fur. Even lying down she’s so big that I don’t have to reach down to pet her. Her head is above my knees and all I have to do is reach forward and she’s there.
I give her a small smile then press my head against hers; giving her a kiss, I whisper, “Are you all right, girl? Thank you for saving me again. I wish we could talk instead of me just talking to you.”
“But you can, Lily.” I look at Lea’ith as she walks up and sits next to me on the bench. She looks about her, a soft smile on her face as she takes in the garden. “I used to come here often, most of the time to get away from Thilthen.” She looks at me and laughs at my confused look. “Oh, child; just because you love someone doesn’t mean you can stand them all the time. I loved Thilthen more than I can even explain, more than you believe you love Tharin.” I turn my eyes back on Cessa.
“It’s unfair how Fate dances with our life lines when she connects the silver streams to us,” she continues. “She’s very spoiled you know, Fate is. For eons when people think of ‘The Fates’ they see three sisters, old crones bending to the tasks of weaving out the fates of each of us, when in actuality there is only one Fate. Just one spoiled child of the gods who doesn’t just spin out our destinies, but becomes obsessed with a few million and decides to deal her hand on how they should walk their own paths. Like I said,” she gives a wink, “spoiled.”
“Is that what she’s doing with Tharin and me? Dancing around our fate and pulling the strings to our destiny?” I ask.
“Yes, but you must remember that you hold your own destiny. Fate can whisper in your ear what road you should take, but it’s up to you to make that decision.”
“Can she hurt me, us?”
“No. We are all restricted by the laws of the universe. We are given free will and it is up to us to choose our way. There is no right or wrong, but there is good and bad. You need to think your decisions through. You can’t let your random thoughts hide you from making those choices when they count.”
I look at her in surprise. “How do you know about my random thoughts?”
“Your mother told me,” she answers before looking toward the trees where she came from.
“Will she ever speak to me again?” I ask, afraid to hear the answer but need to know.
“I don’t know,” she replies still looking ahead, “what do you think, sister? Is it not time you spoke with your child face to face?”
Stunned, I look toward the trees, nervously standing. For a moment nothing happens and I take a step forward as Cessa rises, moving out of my way. Again, nothing, but I keep moving forward, my hands clasped at my chest. Finally, I call out, “Mom?”
She appears from the darkness like an angel in flight. She rushes forward, throwing her arms around me, holding on fiercely. Completely taken off balance, I stand for a moment, not returning her embrace. A moment is all it takes and I return her hug tightly. Can years of not caring who she or my father were, or the anger of abandonment and feeling of a child betrayal be shed in a moment? I can’t say, but for me…yes, yes it can. I’ve learned in just a few weeks and with the death of a good friend, a gentle soul, that life is precious and short lived; and that forgiveness can ease the soul, if not the past.
When she pulls away and places her hands on the sides of my face it’s like looking at my future self. Although she could pass for an older sister, there are signs of years of sorrow and anguish in her eyes, eyes like mine. She hugs me again and then turns me to walk back to the bench where Lea’ith and Cessa wait for us. Cessa stands and moves toward my mom, greeting her by nudging her
hand. She laughs at the cat and pets her fondly.
Lea’ith moves aside so my mom and I can sit at the bench together. After looking at us warmly, she signals to Cessa and heads back toward the pando forest, both disappearing into the darkness. We watch her go and say nothing until she was gone.
“I’m sorry,” we both say at the same time. Laughing and unable to look away from each other, she starts, “No, I’m sorry. I should have told you who I was the first time I came to you at Crowfoot Mountain, but I felt it was too soon. Besides, I didn’t think you would react in a positive way to find me in your head.” I have to laugh at the way that sounded, but I know she meant what she said.
“I don’t know how I would’ve reacted. Things have gone not quite the way I thought my life would turn out to be,” I reply, chuckling at the understatement.
Shaking her head, “There’s so much we need to talk about, but…”
“But what?” I urge softly.
“But the realm is in danger, Lily. And you and Tharin will need each other to save it.”
I nod, “Yeah, I got that part. We need to save the realm.” I think for a moment and then confess, “I have to admit something. I really don’t know what’s going on but what Sema has told me. I can’t help but think that she didn’t tell me everything. It’s like everyone walks around me as if I’m this fragile thing who can’t take care of herself.”
“Well…” she starts carefully, “you kind of are, Lily. You have to remember where you are. You are Sidhe, but you’re also human, a trait I very much love about you. But here, the Sidhe are much faster, stronger and even the humans in this realm can take out a Navy SEAL from your realm without much effort. What training you received from Ziri and Alorn is only a blink of an eye to what the people here have endured their entire lives. So, yes, Lily…you need help, even if you don’t believe you do.”