by Jana LaPelle
Another growling roar rips from deep inside me as I stand in front of the dormant portal. Staring into its darkened deeps, as I absorb all the images that my kindred has sent me. Images of her sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean, images of Tarron having meals with her, images of her and five guards that have been assigned to her, images of her throwing a knife at Tarron, and images of her succumbing to the blood majic as Tarron twirls her around in his arms, kissing her. I'm trying hard to hold it together as those last images settle into the foremost corner of my mind, and I see a blinding red.
Dagda comes up behind me and lays a hand on my shoulder. He stands there quietly as I battle my emotions. I take what comfort I can in his quiet vigil. Those last images are hard to dismiss as they play over and over in my mind. My rage is barely contained, and I’m shaking with the need to shift, but I know that I cannot. I have to plan in the hours to come how we are going to get her back. She's mine, and Tarron must be punished for taking her from me, for tainting her beautiful light soul with dark majic. Her soul will forever be touched by darkness, and she will never again be the innocent young woman I pledge my soul to. She will forever have to carry the taint of this unnatural binding that has been forced upon her and my child. My child. I remember Ashlinn's words, not even an hour before I left out, as she said, "It may happen sooner than you think." I can't fault her for keeping this information from me. She knew that I wouldn't let her go, but after how everything went down I'm not sure that I could have prevented it from happening.
My rage is beginning to recede, and I'm starting to breathe easier. Dagda is still standing behind me and now Rhespen. I stand, still facing the dark interior of the portal as I say, "She's pregnant and she is enduring untold pain as she fights this dark majic that is worming its way into her soul. She has endured ten days so far, and I can't get to her. Ten days. I have endured nothing compared to her. She is so strong, but she's tired. I don't know if she can endure four more days."
Dagda claps me on the shoulder and says, “Son, you have to have faith that she will come through this. You have to have faith that you will be reunited with your kindred and unborn child. She is stronger than you know.”
“Yes, she is, but her despair runs deep, she feels as if she is betraying me all the while she fights the hold this curse has over her.” I spit out as my anger rekindles.
“How do you know that?” Tolin asks as he has joined us in front of the portal.
"Because somehow she was able to break through the darkness that binds our link to one another to reach out to me through our bond, she flooded our bond, with love, agony, despair, guilt, and her fear. I could sense how much that cost her in the end as the curse attacked her with a viciousness that was not there before. Her agony was all I felt as the bond snap shut again." I'm visibly quaking in my anger and helpless.
Rhespen steps forward, and his feral panther is visible in his glowing amber eyes and the angles of his face as he says, "We will get her back. Now, we have several hours before sunrise. We make our plans to move forward. We will need the druids and Alexia. We will need protection spells cast so that we cannot be ambushed. We have much to do and much to plan for, come with me, my son. You need to lead your army. They are here to do your bidding so let's plan our next move."
With one last look back at the dormant portal, now my only link to my kindred, I move toward the army that has gathered behind me awaiting my direction. I look to Dagda, Rhespen, Tolin and the rest of my Guard, Ashlinn’s Guard and say, “Let’s make plans to bring her home. Nothing else will be acceptable. No one touches Tarron. I want the honor of bringing him to his knees.”
Chapter 12
(Tarron)
"Jasmine, hurry, I fear that time is of the essence for what I must do," I say as I follow her to the large walk in closet. As I look around the space, the one thing that surprises me the most is that the casual wear is what is front, and center, ready for her, everything else, the expensive dresses, the gowns, the jewels, everything looks as if it has remained mostly untouched, as if these things are not important to her. I'm pulled out of my ponderings as the little sprite grabs my attention.
“Here, here they are. What do you plan on doing with these?” Jasmine asks, clearly alarmed at the turn of events this evening.
"If all goes as I think it will, I will be back here before midnight, please have one of her male sentries inform me of any changes in her condition. I go to seek council with the witch Morgwais," I say before taking one of the knives, I chose the jewel-handled dagger on impulse. It just feels right.
Jasmine asks, “What are you going to do with that? My Lord, this has to end. It has to end tonight. If not all will be lost, you are the only one that can end this. If not all The Realms will suffer and may even fall.”
“What do you know sprite?” I growl.
"No more than you, but she does not belong to you, and the longer you hold on to her, the worse the damage could be. Do what you must!" She leaves in a flurry and goes to stand vigil over mo solas. She is right, the longer the blood contract is in play, the darker her soul becomes. I must hurry.
I quickly make my way to Morgwais. I rap on her door with urgency. As she opens the door, she asks, "Ye brought something of hers and yers? Yes?"
“Yes, my Lady. We must hurry!” I say.
She narrows her eyes as she asks, “Why must we hurry, what has changed?”
“Ashlinn has changed. I fear that she is being torn apart by this wretched blood majic, so please, we must do this quickly.” I state, voicing my fears.
"Ah, so ye be worrying for her well-being. Yes? Is that the case, my prince?" She asks, waiting patiently for my answer.
“Yes, yes. That is the case. We must continue quickly.” I say, urging her to be quick about it.
“What would ye do if ye had no seer in yer midst? Yes? Something to think about, now my Lord and prince let's get started, I need both her and yer item. Ahhh, I see that ye have chosen strong representations of ye both." With that, she putters about gathering items for the scrying.
We sit at her table, and she gathers everything around her. Soon she is muttering an incantation under her breath and then waving her old, gnarled hands over the bowl in the center of the table. As her chant increases in volume, I see a cloud cover the surface of the water in the bowl. I can't see what she sees, and I wait patiently for Morgwais to offer up her visions of the future.
“My prince, why do ye seek me council? What has the princess said?” She asks, looking at me quizzically.
"She said that we each have our destinies to fulfill and if we continue this path together that we will not be able to fulfill our destinies. She also said that this path would lead to all The Realms demise." I repeat.
"Ah, she does have the sight. She be special, but she is not to be yers. Ye have a choice to make my young prince. Ye can be stubborn and stay the course, dooming all of us and by all of us, I mean all The Realms or ye can choose to let her go and walk yer own path. The choice is yers and yers alone. I caution ye to listen to yer heart. I know ye care deeply for her in yer own way, but do ye love her? She will never be the same if ye continue to force her into this binding. I fear that what ye once found appealing will be lost to the darkness that threatens her very light. May I speak frankly?" The old witch inquires.
"Yes, please, I would appreciate your guidance where the princess is concerned.”
"There are those of us who be born with a dark nature, but yer princess be born with a pure and light heart even though she be a shifter. She will never be what ye want her to be. If the blood contract between the two of ye continues to pull her in, she will lose her soul, and ye will be stuck with a sad replica of what ye thought you wanted. Yer solas will be lost to ye. She was never yers, to begin with, my dear boy. Ye must let her go. In doing so ye will accomplish so much, ye will become a leader and ruler to yer people. Together ye will achi
eve much, but she will not be yer queen if ye choose this path. She will become yer confidant and one of yer dearest friends, but not yer lover. Yes?”
“If I choose to keep her?” I ask.
“Then all will be lost. I be sorry, my Lord. I know that is not what ye want to hear.” She says.
My worst fears have been confirmed, and my decision is made. I ask, "How do I break the blood contract?"
“My prince, ye must willingly give yer blood along with Danu and the witch’s blood that cast the terms of the contract, how will ye acquire all those things? This must be done as soon as possible. Time be of the essence. The princess be in a battle for her very soul. Blood majic is not something to be taken lightly. Call on me once ye have the blood of the others, my Lord. I know ye will do the right thing. One last thing my prince, it will be she that will appoint ye to yer throne and it will be she that will make certain the dark fae have a voice in Faerie through ye.” The crone’s words ring of truth.
"We must lift the wards, and I must call on The Dagda, he once told me that if ever I was in need of his assistance that all I had to do was call. I hope that works in this Realm as well. Gather the witches and meet me outside in less than thirty minutes time. I must make arrangements to increase the guards at the perimeter." I say as I make my way to the door.
From behind me, I hear, "Ye will make a great king, my Lord."
Without further delay, I make my way to the dining hall where the evening meal is under way and seek out my Captain at Arms and quickly relay the instructions for this evening, officially putting everyone on alert. As the males make ready to go to their post I see Daria sashay her way toward me, her look is smug as she sidles up next to me and says, “I see that your princess is a no show for this evening. What a shame that she is so very frail that she can’t attend the evening meal. I will see to your needs tonight in her absence. I will be there for you in her stead. Come, my Lord." And she pulls me in her direction.
I take affront at her tone and meaning, and for a moment I just look at her. For the first time since laying eyes on her, I feel nothing but disgust, and I say, “Not now Daria, I have important matters to tend to. From this day forward if I seek sustenance, I will come to you. Otherwise, do not approach me in public again.” I say sternly, watching her jaw drop and her face flush in anger. I shrug her off and quickly make my way to Ashlinn’s chambers.
I'm not prepared for what greets me as I enter her room. Ashlinn is in bed tossing and turning, oblivious to everything and everyone, she is drenched in sweat, and she is burning up. Her complexion is extremely pale. The change is so drastic in the hour, or so that I have been gone that I'm shocked. I lay her jewel-handled dagger at her bedside, and I walk over to her. She stills at my approach. This is not what I wanted. I never wanted to hurt her. She is being torn apart. I swallow hard before saying, "Mo solas, I'm so very sorry. This was never my intent, but tonight I will make things right. Tonight, I will break the bonds of the blood majic. I know now that you were never meant to be mine. Just hang in there a little bit longer." As I get up to leave, she begins thrashing, and I know that I cannot leave her, not like this.
“She will have to come with me. I need a warm blanket to wrap her in.” I state to no one in particular.
Jasmine is in my face and desperate to get my attention, “You should know that there is another that is being affected by this. She carries a child. How do you intend to break this curse?”
“Damn it sprite! I should have been told before now.” I growl at the ferocious little pixie.
“Would it have made a difference?” Jasmine shoots back, her tone dripping in indignation.
Shaking my head in agitation, I gather Ashlinn close to me wrapped tightly in her blankets before I lay a gentle kiss on her forehead and I say, “I’m going to call on The Dagda. I will need him to call on Danu. I’m sure that together they will be able to bring the witch, who no doubt is with Danu, to break the curse. Come we have no time to spare.” We quickly leave the manor. All of Ashlinn’s entourage are accompanying us out as we make our way to the frozen back gardens and out toward the cliffs.
The night is turbulent, Morgwais and her coven of witches have already gathered, the four strongest have already begun to call to the four watch towers as they begin to cast their majic circle. There are torches lit along with several braziers around the area casting an eerie flickering glow across the cliffs. The wildly, whipping, wind threatens to extinguish their light and the flames dance about. The coven’s movements are synchronized as they sway right then left and bend at the waist completing a circular motion with their torso. Their arms push out and appear to reach out as if pulling thin air to their center as I hear the call go up individually, "We call on the Guardian of the Watch Tower to the East, to witness our rites and guard this Circle." Then I hear the call go up, "We call on the Guardian of the Watch Tower to the West, to witness our rites and guard this Circle." They continue to call on North and then South, and as they conclude, a loud sonic boom sounds, originating from the center of the circle, and I can feel the power of the circle burst forth like a rippling effect of a pebble in a pool of water but with more force. Now that they have completed their circle they begin working on lowering the wards enough to allow me to call The Dagda and hopefully Danu. They continue to chant in the background.
Ashlinn shivers in my arms, but for now seems content, her face is now as pale as snow. Switching my gaze, I look up into the dark rolling clouds of the midnight sky. I do what I never thought I ever would do. I call out to the heavens to the High King of the Otherworld. I call out to The Dagda who once gave me shelter, who sought to give me council. I call out to the Father God of Faerie and plead for him to come to me and pray that he hears my plea. I wait for several moments and nothing. I'm desperate, and I call out again and wait once more. I'm not sure how long I wait before I drop to my knees, I'm not beyond begging at this point as I cradle mo solas in my arms, holding her close. I hear her faint whisper as she says, "Together, Tarron, we will call them together."
I smile sadly down at her and nod my silent agreement, and we both call out together to The Dagda and Danu. I know that this will cost her strength, strength that could be used to fight this curse, this curse that I have placed upon her, and I call out with all the sadness and repentance in my soul to The Dagda as she calls to Danu.
Several moments go by before both The Dagda and Danu appear before us. I'm kneeling before them cradling Ashlinn who has once again succumbed to the curse as she continues to battle for her soul. I swallow hard before saying, "I need your help. She is struggling. Please, we need to break this curse. I had no idea that this would happen. We need to help her and her child." I say, not beyond begging at this point.
Danu jerks her head toward me looking for an explanation, "Jasmine just informed me this evening. Please, this is not what I wanted. We have to save her."
The Dagda looks towards Danu and says, “Go Danu. Retrieve the witch. This ends now.”
Looking at me, The Dagda says, "Son, I’m proud of you. I knew you would come around. You should know that Alaric is going to try to rip you to pieces once this is done. I'm not sure if you will be able to salvage anything of your friendship." With that, he cups Ashlinn's face in his hands as I stand and says to her, "You are stronger than you know. Hang in there, my wee little lass. Help is coming." He rests his thumb on her forehead for a moment before pulling away as Danu appears with the witch that cast the terms of the blood contract.
Morgwais approaches and greets the two deities from the Otherworld and then her wayward witch. "Come Zoey. We have much to do, and we must do it quickly." With an awl made from bone, she goes about collecting blood from Danu, Zoey, and myself as I cradle Ashlinn close to my chest. Morgwais and Zoey take the collected blood from us all and begin to chant. The night is dark and ominous, and the wind whips loudly about us. It sounds like they are speaking in reverse and
as they conclude, I feel the pull to Ashlinn dissipate. I breathe a little easier until I realize that she isn't waking.
“Why isn’t she waking? What went wrong?” I demand, worry lacing my gruff voice.
Morgwais puts a calming hand on my shoulder and says, "Rest easy my prince. She has succumbed to her exhaustion." She then lays a hand on Ashlinn's belly and says, "The babe be strong and has been unaffected by the dark majic of the blood contract. My Lord, she be simply drained and must sleep to gain her strength. Yes?"
I look up to see The Dagda and Danu, the latter of which is glaring at me. I gently hand Ashlinn over to Nym and say, "Nym, can you see to it that Ashlinn is tucked into her bed. I want all of you to stand guard tonight. I will be up shortly to sit by her bedside to watch over her." I turn to Jasmine, "If anything changes and you feel that I should be informed, please come find me as soon as possible. I should be up before long."
“Yes, my Lord, and thank you. I will keep watch over her.” Jasmine does one of her mid-air curtsies and follows Ashlinn’s Sentinels.
Turning to The Dagda, I say, "Thank you for hearing me tonight and coming to my aid; I'm not worthy of your attention to me. Since the moment that I met you, you have been there for me. I'm grateful that you heard my call tonight." In the background, I hear the witches increasing the wards. The Dagda and Danu will not be able to leave if my calculations are correct. "Please come in. We have much to discuss. I know that the hour is late, but it's time that I let go of all the anger that I have held onto, and that starts tonight. Come, I need your council." I say solemnly. He nods his agreement as I watch Nym carry Ashlinn back to the manor, followed by the rest of her Sentries that have become so attached to her, in such a short period of time. Then her mother Danu and Jasmine follow closely behind as they get caught up on the most recent events.