Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ came forward, bowing her head as well. Without a word, she raised her sword to San'lr'in', then laid it down on the ground in front of her. She and San'lr'in’ stared at each other for many long moments. Finally, San'lr'in’ knelt before her.
"First and greatest of all High Queens. I have not enough words to thank you for your assistance. But now I show you a Realm that is once again in turmoil. I stand ashamed before you, unable to show you a peaceful Realm for which each of you, in your turn, worked overly hard."
"It is the nature of The Realm, My daughter. You will see through it. You are made from the best of all of us."
"It is lonely, this affair of High Queen."
Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ nodded her head briefly, “It is as you say. But we have done better through you, as the Young One is now with you. And so shall it be from hereon."
"The humans come."
"We know."
"There is overly much killing."
"Find another way. You are High Queen. You have to accept not the ways of The Realm. It is up to you to inspire another direction."
"The burden is heavy.
"It is truth. It is. Stand up to it, San'lr'in'. It is your duty, and your privilege. You are of our line and were chosen to do as such. And your path is strong. You will return the Elves to The Realm. You will provide The Realm with a long lasting peace. Your name will be sung with praises for many reigns after you are long-gone."
"As are yours. But I seek not as such."
"What is it you seek, High Queen?"
"Peace."
"As did I. As did we all. Then make it as so, My daughter. The Realm is in your hands now."
San'lr'in’ stood, letting her tears fall silently. Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ raised her hand and caused a tear to come to her. She felt it and examined it, then looked back up at San'lr'in', “Life is more precious than you can know. Be good to yourself in your life."
She held up her hand, yet holding the tear within it, “Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n is of such."
San'lr'in’ was surprised, “I am told it was a pairing of Sam'r'in'thel'ineln’ and the Elf."
She smiled gently, “Do you always believe as you are informed, High Queen?"
San'lr'in’ looked at her for a moment, saying nothing. She brought her patience to her, sensing that The Realm had overly many secrets, “Perhaps it best I know not."
"She knows. As do you. You just deny its presence. But I will hold this tear for you. Should you ever desire a Birth-daughter of all our line, call Me to you once more. I will come for such, as one is greatly needed."
"A Birth-daughter? Me? With the Elf?"
Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ looked over at Sle'nel', “It is strange to think of her as the only Elf remaining in The Realm. There were so many during My reign. Take good care of her, My daughter. I also wished for the love of an Elf, but it was meant not for Me, even though I was half Elfin. There is no better love than this. But no, My daughter. This Birth-daughter would be of our line, in the great part. Of the Elves only a little."
"You loved an Elf?"
"I did. For a short moment only. She died in the tunnels, along with overly many of the others."
"You risked much as High Queen and lost all the ones you loved. The story of the great beast of the UnderRealm is truly sad."
"It was so, but I loved well enough.” She smiled lightly, “Perhaps not all the stories survived, as I did manage to maintain one great love for a short moment, as you do now. And yours will be for far longer."
Having heard enough, San'lr'in’ knelt and bowed her head deeply, “Greatest of All First High Queen. High Queens."
Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ looked sadly upon her, “Think us no better than you, San'lr'in'thel'ineln', as we were not. You are perhaps the greatest of us, as you hold more true to your path than any of us managed, but you have much yet before you. All of us made our way the best we could. None no more than this. Each of us had to cut our own path. In truth, your path has been most difficult as The Realm meets a great crossroad in your reign, and for this I am sorry. I also faced as such, and it required much of Me. Overly much, at moments. Deep sadness seems to be a constant across us all, as we have all lost much more than we ever gained for ourselves, but we all gained much for The Realm, and that was our path and our purpose."
"But many of you gave your lives overly soon to The Realm."
And at such moments, it was often the easier path, to die overly soon. At least the burden was no more. As you said, the burden is great. It was for all of us. Each in their own way."
The long-prior, long-dead High Queens each looked at San'lr'in’ for a moment, knowing well what she now went through. They then all turned and walked off, disappearing into a mist. San'lr'in’ looked down upon the ground, seeing that The First High Queen's sword waited for her.
A great gift.
She walked to it and picked it up, So many cycles prior, and yet here it is. The sword that began the Era of High Queens.
She examined it, noticing its lack of refinement as compared to her own, in the present era, but admired its strength. She was slightly surprised to feel how correct it felt in her hand, pleased at its weight and balance. Even this old, the sword shone in its magnificence, and the red stones remained as shiny and beautiful as her own. She walked back to her forces, beginning to feel the exhaustion from her use of powers. Each step began to feel heavier than the last. She was so exhausted that she didn't realize the turn had passed and that it was now early eve.
"Force Leader."
If it were possible, Ann'wn and all her forces were now in even more awe of their High Queen. As The High Queen had spoken with the long-prior, long-dead High Queens, Ann'wn and her forces had been busy fighting against those that had escaped through the fog.
She knelt and bowed her head, “Great High Queen."
San'lr'in’ sighed, suspecting that the burden had been even greater for Drn'rn'thel'ineln', “Did you see the final lightning strike?"
"Yes, Great High Queen."
"On the next morn, after we bury our Master, we go to where it struck the ground."
"Yes, High Queen. My Queen?"
She looked down at her kneeling Force Leader, “Not now, Ann'wn. I can do no more this turn. I must rest.” It was seldom that The High Queen denied her Force Leader a moment, so Ann'wn easily accepted the depth of The High Queen's statement.
The eve passed quietly as The High Queen slept. The Healer remained nearby, worried over her Queen's condition. All the travelers now worked together to bring all their supplies down from the tunnels, as well as the great Master for her burial in the morn. Ann'wn's forces ensured that the Master's final ride upon her horse was as each would desire for their own funeral.
In the morn, The High Queen rose early so as to prepare herself for the funeral. As she began to prepare for her meditations, Ern'seln’ approached her, “Great High Queen?"
San'lr'in’ turned to the voice that sounded so new to her, “Ern'seln'. Daughter of the Great Third Master, Be'rn'. What is it you ask of Me?"
Ern'seln’ shook with fear at being in the presence of this most powerful High Queen. As The High Queen looked upon her, Ern'seln’ knelt and bowed her head, “It is as my Birth-Mother had told me."
San'lr'in’ wanted no more praise, but knew she needed to give this one-turn great Master her moment, “Tell Me."
"You are the greatest of them, my Queen. My Birth-Mother told me this story. She said that the long-prior High Queens knew that your reign was to be as such. It is in the stories. It is why they come when you summon them."
San'lr'in’ wondered about these stories, but wanted no part of them for the moment, “Ern'seln'. You need to prepare yourself. We approach the moment of the Great Third Master's funeral. Do you require My assistance in achieving your sixth meditation?"
San'lr'in’ noticed that the mention of this made Ern'seln’ look sad, “No, thank you, Greatest of All High Queens. The Future Supreme Sovereign will prov
ide as such."
The High Queen was relieved, “Then prepare yourself to our task, as your Birth-Mother would desire. Prepare your bravery. Call it to you."
"Yes, my Queen."
San'lr'in’ began to turn away, but then turned back, “Ern'seln'?"
Ern'seln’ looked into her High Queen's eyes, “My Queen?"
"I am deeply saddened for your loss. And it is equally sad for The Realm. I knew her well. She was a great, great teacher, and perhaps the very best of the teachers. I will in truth, miss her."
Ern'seln’ was saddened, but pleased. She remained strong, “Thank you, Highness."
"Serve Me well, Ern'seln'. The Future Supreme Sovereign, The Realm, and I have great need of you and your abilities. You are the only one remaining who will be able to teach these skills to the ones that come after us. Your path is clear."
"Yes, my Queen. I serve your need only, Highness."
"And as you are now, you will ever be the guardian of the Future Supreme Sovereign. It is a most difficult of assignments."
She bowed her head to her and placed her fisted hand over her heart, “I give you my solemn vow, my Queen. To my death."
The High Queen nodded slightly, “It is the answer of a true Master. Be strong this turn, Master-Apprentice."
Ern'seln's heart leaped at the title, knowing it to be given only by another Master, and only when a student had achieved such an honor, “Yes, Master."
* * * *
The High Queen sought refuge in her meditations as she awaited the funeral of Be'rn', knowing it her duty and desire to give the Great Third Master the funeral she was due. The Healer sat near by, ready to help The High Queen exit from her meditations when needed, relieved from the prior turn's terror. Her trust in her High Queen had once again proven correct.
Sle'nel’ had watched the entire prior turn's proceedings, wondering who San'lr'in’ truly was. Every moment she thought she knew her, San'lr'in’ became even more. Even as she knew that The High Queen loved her, she also knew that San'lr'in’ belonged exclusively to The Realm. She had spent the eve quietly watching over her overly tired High Queen, wondering as to her great powers.
In having displayed one of the great long-unused powers, San'lr'in’ had isolated herself even further from The Realm. Even now, her forces were stunned speechless in her great presence, afraid to approach her. Only in stories had they ever imagined that such could occur. Halting the legions of the long-prior dead had been an astonishing feat, but none had ever thought that anyone would have the powers to call the long-prior, long-dead High Queens to her—The Watchers of The Realm.
And then, as if all that wasn't enough, she had been given the First High Queen's legendary sword.
Ann'wn approached The Healer, “Healer. What do you think of this prior turn?"
Shr'dler'in's heart jumped at the sound of the voice, “Force Leader. You surprised me."
The events from the prior turn had proven so intense for The High Queen, as well as for all the travelers that Ann'wn was compelled to stand guard outside her tent during the eve. She hadn't been able to return to her discussions with The Healer, so now attempted to do so. She hoped with quiet desperation that The Healer would yet be open to her advances and desires.
Ann'wn sat down next to her, touching her cheek lightly as she did so, holding tight control on her growing desires, “I know not what to think of our High Queen. Her powers are beyond amazing."
Shr'dler'in nodded in agreement, “There were overly many enemy forces. This is truth."
Ann'wn shook her head, “I speak of the other. We guessed that The High Queen had such powers against an enemy as this, but to be able to summon the long-prior, long-dead High Queens to her is to control the long unknown powers. This has never prior occurred. There is no such story of it. I asked Caitha, and even she knows of none. All are shocked."
"The High Queen would tell you that she is as any other."
"And she would be wrong, then."
Shr'dler'in looked at Ann'wn, “If we treat her as such, Ann'wn', she becomes even more burdened and separate. We would make her stand alone as no other must endure. This must not occur."
"How can we treat her as every other, when she is not?"
"By knowing that you cause her more isolation in the doing of it."
"But she is the strongest that has ever prior been."
"And she will yet die upon one turn, Force Leader, as you and I. And she yet seeks solace and love, as any other. You cannot isolate her further in your adoration. You would make her reality overly harsh. You should treat her not as special, even if she is. To stand back and adore her is to make her stand alone. We do her greater honor and respect by treating her as High Queen, only. It is enough. She wishes no more than this. Treat her as every other turn, Force Leader."
They sat for a few moments in silence, tired, as was everyone, from the recent events, “You are correct, Healer. She is lucky to have such as you."
"As we are lucky to have her."
Even in her desire and need to return to their prior eve topic, Ann'wn didn't know how to approach it. She felt awkward in saying it, but did so anyway, “I would consider myself as lucky to have you."
"Have me, Force Leader? What does such mean? I am your Healer."
"I mean that—"
Sele’ toddled over to The Healer, “Healer. I sense that our Greatest of All High Queens is approaching the moment for our usefulness."
The Healer nodded, rising, forgetting that Ann'wn was there. Ann'wn saw that when it concerned The High Queen, nothing else mattered to The Healer. She was both pleased and saddened by this. The Healer looked at Sele’ and asked, “How can such a young one speak so? What meditation is she in?"
"She now returns to the third from her fourth."
They began walking toward The High Queen, “Do you wish to help?"
She nodded, “Yes, Healer. Thank you."
"She will appreciate this assistance, but take it overly slow, Young One. Her prior turn has been most difficult. We will need to keep her in her second meditation until the arrival of the Great Third Master. It will allow her to rest if we hold her there."
Sele’ thought hard on this for a moment, “Then you best help, Healer, as my youngness yet makes me overly energetic. I have no such control as this, yet."
The Healer began to go to her High Queen, then suddenly thought better of it, “Young One. I will be returned quickly. Wait for me."
She turned back to Ann'wn and saw that she was rising to leave. She called to her, “Force Leader."
Ann'wn turned to her, surprised, “Healer? Is something wrong?"
She stood before her, staring at her, then suddenly placed both her hands on Ann'wn's cheeks, kissing her fully. As quickly, she turned and went to Sele’ and her High Queen.
Ann'wn stared for a moment, once again surprised, then walked away to other affairs. If anyone had bothered to look, they would have seen a smile upon her face.
The Healer and Sele’ kept The High Queen within her second meditation until the final preparation of Be'rn's now dead form. Sle'nel’ continued to watch the turn's proceedings, yet wondering who San'lr'in’ truly was, as she was certainly more than just High Queen.
In having helped her sister, Sam was now fully aware of what it took to use her powers, and motivated to learning more of them while they waited. Ann'wn also watched the morn pass, watching The Healer as it did so, wondering if The Healer could feel for her what she knew she felt for The Healer. The five sorcerers used the moments to prepare for the funeral, collecting the wood needed for it.
By midmorn, Ann'wn's forces and the sorcerers had prepared Be'rn’ for her Great Master's funeral. The Healer and Sele’ were told that all was now in-readiness, so began to bring The High Queen back into The Realm.
Returning from her meditations, The High Queen looked around, sighing. It had been a long two-turns, but much more now faced them. She saw that the funeral was prepared, but also saw the rising
of dust in the distance, from approaching riders.
To no one in particular, she softly said, “They come."
Ann'wn had heard her, “Who, Highness?"
"The Masters."
"But what if these be the traitors?"
She looked at Ann'wn briefly, then turned back to the growing image of the Masters, “It is their due, by all the Masters’ vow. Have My sword and crown brought to Me, Force Leader."
"My Queen, I cann—"
Very softly, she repeated, “Bring them."
"Yes, my Queen."
The High Queen remained standing, watching the riders come nearer. Ern'seln’ came and stood close to her.
The High Queen felt Ern'seln's presence, “They come for The Great Third Master's funeral, Master-Apprentice."
"Yes, Highness, but I wish them not to come. They are not worthy of this, and they fought against my Birth-Mother."
"Place your feelings aside. Think only of your Birth-Mother, these moments."
"I wish not—"
"It is a command, Ern'seln'."
The High Queen's tone was nothing Ern'seln’ wished to hear, and she was now sorry she had pushed her Queen, “Yes, Master. To your will."
San'lr'in’ well knew the patience this would take from both her and Ern'seln', especially if the ones who now came were The Realm's traitors, yet she also well knew that a Master's funeral was to be attended by all the Masters, as possible, and as solemnly vowed. She watched closely, wondering who now came. She saw that there appeared to be two separate groups, each with their swords raised against the other.
Ann'wn had brought The High Queen's sword to her, as well as an attendant to place on her crown. As the strangers approached the funeral site, San'lr'in’ saw that the Masters hadn't yet fought each other, but were prepared to do so as they dismounted. But they saw her first.
They dismounted, each group keeping a wary eye upon the other group. Eanna and her group of eight Masters went up to The High Queen, then knelt and bowed their heads, “High Queen."
The group of seven traitors remained at their horses, neither bowing nor kneeling to The High Queen. Eanna turned back to Ll'strin'll, “You traitor. Show some respect, you cowardly scum."
The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] Page 6