by Jana LaPelle
I pull away and look deep into her eyes as I try to reassure her, “The only way I’m leaving you behind is if you ask to stay here, if you are up for this adventure with me then nothing will stop us, okay?”
Lexie clutches me tight and nods her head. “I’m going with you. There’s nothing left for me here. This is our home, but it won’t be a home without you.” She says.
"Then it's agreed we stay together, right Jasmine?" Jasmine flitters about. "We've always been sisters, so where one goes, the other goes." I pull back from our hug, "Do you feel better about everything now? I know that it's a lot to take in, and we have a lot to do, but I wouldn't dream of doing this without you. Either of you.” I pause before bouncing from one topic to another like a ping pong ball, "I'm famished. You ready for some breakfast? Millie made our favorites this morning." During this exchange, I notice that Declan is practically glued to her side, and for whatever reason, I don't believe he would have left her behind either and give him a quick smile.
With that we all set down to eat, we have a little bit of time, so we briefly catch Lexie and everyone else up on the evening's events before moving on to my hot topic from last night as I say, "Although my mother has turned out to be a royal bit…”, I bite off what I was going to say as Alaric squeezes my knee, “What? I’m allowed to think what I want about her character. She was overbearing, rude, and completely insensitive. Her treatment of me was more like that of an object and not a person, and I quote, “you are too important to all the Realms…”, No thought was given to what I've been through. Just do this when I say so and go here when I say so. You were there for the last half of our conversation, you know I'm right." I say, knowing I sound like a child but her treatment of me was unsettling.
“That’s why I’m pulling my uncle into the mix of things. He’s the only one in Faerie that is her equal, and in some regards even ranks higher than she does.” Alaric says as we’re finishing up breakfast and I instantly feel just a little better.
“Okay, next topic. What was up with TNT and their outing last night to secure the perimeter business?” I ask, giving Alaric a pointed look.
"My brother and I were out last night. I know not of this TNT that you speak of." Tolin speaks up as he goes for yet another muffin, several more slices of bacon, and another slice of quiche. I have no idea where he puts all the food that he's capable of eating. He's working on his third helping.
"I see you're busy maintaining your amazing physique, Tolin," I say with a smirk.
“Hey a guy’s got to do what a guy’s got to do, right? Wouldn’t want to disappoint the ladies.” He says with a cheeky grin and a wink in the ladies direction. Jasmine snorts and shakes her head and Lexie, and I both laugh out loud.
Alaric just shakes his head as he takes my hand and says, “You both have been officially dubbed TNT by Ash, it’s your new official nickname.”
"But what's TNT?" Torin asks around a mouthful of food, the two of them are like two peas in a pod, and I smirk as I watch the two devour their meal.
“TNT is a type of explosive, and we’re getting off topic. We need to wrap this up very quickly as we need to leave out soon. So? Why the need to even put up wards and check the area? What exactly do you think is out there that we need to be aware of?” I ask.
"We have reason to believe that the Fomorians may be in this realm looking for you. Danu was correct when she said that you were relevant to all the realms, you may be the key to saving the Tree of Life. We won't know for sure until you begin to come into your abilities. This was a discussion that I wanted to save for later, because I know that you will have many questions and obviously you'll want answers. But for now, know that the Fomorians will not care if you are the key or not, they only know that you are a potential threat to their mission and therefore will not wait to see, if or when, you come into your abilities." He says very seriously, all the while he has begun running gentle circles over my wrist with his thumb.
"So they would eliminate me if given the opportunity? That's what you are saying, and that is why my mother bound you to me as my Guardian. As long as the glamour held I would not need your protection, but now that the awakening has taken place I do." I say as if some hidden knowledge has just made its presence known in my mind. "They want me dead, and it's your job to protect me. That means that you'll be throwing yourself between me and anything that comes after me, right?" I'm growing more and more agitated by the moment as I realize what this means. "No! This has just gotten really messed up! I will not have any of the people I love and care about throwing themselves in between me and whatever danger is lurking out there! I won't have it." I say looking pointedly at Alaric.
“It is my duty and my guard’s duty to protect you. We have been training for this for some time. Hence the reason Tolin and Torin will eat you out of house and home.” He says trying to make light of the situation.
"I'm not having it Alaric," I say again meaning it with every fiber of my being. I quickly make a decision and announce to the rest of the group, and my gaze falls on each of them as I say, "As soon as our business here is finished we'll make our way to the Otherworld. Lexie and I will put a rush on things so we can leave out as soon as possible. We'll begin training in self-defense. I'll not have either of us being caught in a situation where we're unable to defend ourselves." I say and hear two very resounding no's coming from Alaric and Declan.
“What do you mean no?” Lexie and I ask at the same time.
Alaric looks at me and declares, “It’s my duty to protect you!”
He has officially gone all caveman mode on me. I can feel that Declan is right there with him. “Listen, we can discuss this later but that’s the plan, we both will need to be able to protect ourselves if push comes to shove. I would much rather we were prepared than caught off guard. Right, Lexie?” I ask.
“Absolutely.” She says, giving Declan a questioning look. "Ash and I have had years of karate, and some tae kwon do, but I see that you all carry swords and daggers, so we'll need to learn how to handle maybe short swords, daggers, and a staff in combat." She says thoughtfully. "Ash and I will have to start some endurance training as well to build stamina, right Ash?"
I look around the table to see several shocked faces and smirk, “Absolutely, training starts as soon as we get home. Archery should not be a problem. We can start there and have the guys assess our skill level. We can meet up at the shooting range for some target practice, but we will definitely need instruction with the swords and daggers.”
"Wait, I have not agreed to this," Alaric says with a huff.
“If you will not agree to our training, then I’m sure we can get TNT on board. I have no doubt that they’ll enjoy showing off their mad skills. Right boys?” I ask smiling sweetly at the two of them.
Lexie chimes in about that time and says, “I’m down for training with TNT. It should be fun, right guys?” She smiles at me and then winks in their general direction.
About that time Declan pounds the table with his fist and says, “I will not allow it. It’s my duty to protect you Alexia; I will not allow you to throw yourself into danger.” He turns his smoldering eyes to her, barely able to contain his outraged anger at the thought of Lexie training with TNT.
That's when Lexie loses it, "Who do you think you are? You have no say over what I can or cannot do. Do you understand me? Why are you going all Neanderthal on me? It's training for gods' sake, I'm not throwing myself off a cliff. Get over yourself. I'm with Ash. We start when we get back, with or without either of your blessings." Lexie says with a huff as she gets up from the table and storms out of the room. This whole time Jasmine has been oddly quiet taking in the entire scene. She has been serenely sitting on the sidelines until now. I see her gracefully beat her delicate silvery transparent wings, and my attention goes straight to her as she brings herself eye level with everyone in the room.
"You men are all ac
ting like Neanderthals and have gone all He-man on these young women. Shame on you! If you would stop and think for one nanosecond, you would know that they're right. They deserve to be given the chance and opportunity to have the knowledge and skill set they will need to protect themselves, as well as the people of the realms. Everyone in this room, including Lexie,” she says glaring at Declan, “have all become key players in what is to come. So get your heads out of your asses and stop acting like cavemen. Don’t you dare hold these young women back because of “your duty” to protect them, because if you do, you will fail them! Have I made myself clear?” She says irately with an authority that I have not heard from her before. Then I hear her mumble under her breath, “What a bunch of stupid asses. The testosterone in this room is off the charts. What do they think women are good for anyway? We can’t all stay at home barefoot and pregnant. Some of us have the realms to save.” She continues to mutter to herself as she flutters out of the room in search of Lexie.
"Well, that went well," I say with a cheeky grin, then I look at Alaric and see that he's become very quiet and is staring down at his hands. I reach out to take his hands in mine. "It'll be okay; I know that this is hard for you, but it's for the best. If you don't feel like you can train me, then I'm sure that Tolin and Torin won't mind to step up. I need to do this Alaric. I need to be able to fight my own battles and know that I'm not a liability to you. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me, and right now I'm your Achilles heel." I say softly looking down at his strong hands, and then I hear him say.
"You're right; we begin when we get back, and I'll oversee your and Lexie's training. Declan, I will speak to you privately before we begin." Then looking back at me he lowers his forehead to mine and says, "We do this together or not at all, understood?"
I breathe him in and say, “Together.”
Chapter 15
(Ashlinn)
The day flies by in a blur, and before I know it the burial services have been concluded. I find that Lexie and I are speaking to our family attorneys and being giving letters that have been entrusted to them for this very occasion. They run through each family will and not surprisingly everything that was in Mom's name has been transferred to me, in the event that Audrey was no longer living. Since Lexie was still under the age of eighteen all her family belongings were put in trust for her. Both of us are being left very well off, not that it matters where we are heading. No mention of guardianship was made, due to the fact that within a matter of a few short months, Lexie would turn eighteen. Millie and Hank, Jasmine, Alaric, and his men have all been very supportive, but I sense that both Lexie and I need to be alone with our letters and our thoughts as we get back to the house.
It's early afternoon, and we ask for some alone time. We cross the tiny bridge that spans the width of the brook. We are going in search of the waterfall on the property. Lexie takes my hand, and we walk along quietly for a time. No words are needed. We are both morning and take comfort in the others presence. There's a light breeze in the late August afternoon that causes the branches of the trees to stir as we follow the brook. It gradually becomes wider as we get closer to the small secluded waterfall on the property. The letters feel heavy in my hand as we make our way quietly, contemplating the day's events. I can sense that Alaric is close by, but choose not to call him out on it. I sigh heavily as I sit in the grass by the water and look over to the spot that Lexie has chosen to sit some distance away. Both of us needing to be alone with our thoughts, even though we are together in our mourning. I begin to open the letters and then look up to her and ask, "Are you ready?"
She sighs and says, "Do I have a choice?"
At that moment I realize that neither of us has a choice. We need some closure before we can move on. I watch as she bows her head to read the lone letter she has in her hands and slowly begins to open it. I switch my focus to the letters in my hands and begin to open the first of my two letters. I chose to read Mom's letter first, and once I see her familiar script, time stands still as I read:
My dearest daughter,
Ashlinn, you should know by now that I love you with all my heart and I hope that you have always felt that you were mine. Biology does not a relationship make. My love for you was never tied to the flesh; it was your precious soul that called to me. You were my daughter from the moment I laid eyes on you, and you will always be mine no matter what. Please forgive me, but I read the letter that you birth mother left for you in your basket all those years ago, and therefore I have always known that you were special and that you are meant for greatness. If you are reading this letter then I have passed before giving you the letter from your birth mother, I had hoped that I would be there for you when it came time for you to read it. I caution you on letting everything that you will learn, overwhelm you. I raised you to be kind and thoughtful and to be true to yourself. Embrace that steadfast knowledge you carry in your heart in knowing the difference between right and wrong. If you can do that, then everything should fall into place.
I love you my dearest Ashlinn, and I am so very thankful that you appeared in my life when you did. You and Alexia will need each other in what is to come. Like you, she is not quite what she appears to be. Remember, all things happen for a reason and a purpose, I know that you are strong enough to handle whatever the fates throw your way.
With all my love,
Mom
Sobs rock through me as I read the last of the letter knowing that the greatest gift that I was given as a child was to be raised by her. My world will never be the same again. I silently cry out to the cosmos not understanding why she has been taken from me. I am so caught up in my sorrow that it takes a few moments to realize that I am being cradled in his arms. I cry uncontrollably into his embrace. "She's gone," I sob, "I miss her so much."
“I know, I’ve got you.” He murmurs, just letting me cry. I'm not sure how much time has passed, and when I finally look up, I see that my tears have soaked the front of his shirt. I hear Lexie a little ways away, and look over to see her in Declan's arms. She, like me, is caught up in the loss of her family.
“She’s lost so much more than me, and I have been so unsupportive. What’s wrong with me?” I ask. I take a deep breath and look up into Alaric’s mesmerizing eyes.
“Why do you say that? You lost your mother, your older sister, your brother-n-law, and your nephew. How is her loss any greater than yours?” He asks of me.
"Because I was closest to Mom and Alexia, but not so close to my sister and her husband, my nephew was just younger, and I didn't spend that much time with him. My ties have always been to Mom and Lexie. So yes, she has lost so much more than me." I say quietly, knowing it to be true. "She's is so much stronger than me; she always has been. She sees the world from a different perspective than I do and always has." I think about that for a moment. "In Mom's letter, she said that Lexie was not what she appeared. We need Nemus. Maybe he has some thoughts on this. Mom stated that we would need each other in what is to come. I think Lexie will play a key role; I'm just not sure why or how. I need to open the letter from Danu next. I thought I wanted to be alone but will you stay?" I implore of Alaric as I slowly open the next letter.
Daughter,
Shortly you will awaken to your true form to embrace your destiny. It was my hopes of hiding you away on Earth that would keep you out of the clutches of the Fomorians. By doing so, it allowed you time to reach your eighteenth year to the time of your awakening, at which point your Guardian, Prince Alaric, will arrive to keep you safe on the journey ahead as you travel back to your homeland of Faerie. Take care to avoid the Fomorians as they seek to end your very existence. Hopefully, the glamour placed on you will hold till well after your 18th birthday, and as long as the pendant is always on your person, it will keep the awakening at bay until the enchantment is meant to unravel. Be sure to keep the pendant safe and with you at all times. Please know that I have done everything
in my power to hide you and keep you safe, I love you, and look forward to meeting the young woman that you will become. I hope that in time, you will be able to forge a bond with me. I will miss you terribly but will do what I must, to keep you safe.
Your Mother,
Danu.
"Wow, so Mom knew this whole time, and she kept me anyway. Even knowing that I could be the reason that the Fomorians could appear on her doorstep if my presence were ever detected. I wonder if she even knew what the Fomorians even are. I think I need to talk to Millie and Hank, what do you think?" I ask.
"Sounds like a plan." He says, pulling me close. Sighing, I look around the area. I take in the tranquil setting and listen to the sound of the water falling in the pool surrounded by trees with the afternoon light filtering in from above. Then my gaze falls on Lexie and Declan, and I watch as they sit close to one another talking quietly. Each leaning in toward the other, shoulders brushing and heads bent together. I lean closer into Alaric. His presence soothes my aching soul. He is the balm I need to heal the fissures and cracks in my heart from losing my Mom, and I allow myself these few moments to let this feeling of home wash over me. I take his large hand in mine and pull it up to my lips to kiss his knuckles, and look up at him and say, "Thank you for knowing what I would need, you always seem to know exactly that." Shifting my gaze I say, "I believe that you're right, Declan seems to have the same effect on Lexie." I say with a smile and then tease, "Boy, you two are in so much trouble with the two of us. Are you up to the challenge? I mean, this morning was nothing, just wait." I say teasingly.
Giving me a lopsided smile, he replies by pulling me onto his lap and says, "It may be the two of you who are in trouble here. I think we can give as good as we get." With that, he lowers his mouth to mine and proceeds to give me a kiss that curls my toes. The spark that ignites between us is nothing short of explosive. I pull back breaking the contact and whisper, "Later, without an audience." I inhale deeply and gather my wits about me. “Lexie, Declan, we’re heading back. There're lots to do and to discuss. You coming? Or do you need some more time?” I ask.