by Jade White
“No, you’re right.” He squeezed her hand, and she could just see him smile in the dim green light. “We should be going up, but we’re definitely heading deeper underground right now. I think it’s a good sign. If we aren’t going back the way we came, we must be going toward the Well.”
“I hope so,” Eleri said, though in truth, she was more afraid than she was relieved.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The tunnel seemed to go on forever, deeper and deeper underground in a relentless spiral. Eleri wondered how deep it could possibly go. For all she knew, they were heading straight to the Underworld where the Ancestors dwelled. But finally, they reached a huge stone door which was carved with ancient symbols and studded with gemstones. “How do you think we open it?” Eleri said, but she’d hardly gotten the words out of her mouth when a booming voice echoed through the cavern.
“Welcome, Carwin, champion of Ceridwen, and Eleri, daughter of Glaw. You have faced some painful truths and passed the second test. Do you still wish to drink from the Well?”
“Yes, of course,” they both said almost at once. There hardly seemed a point to going through all of that and then giving up.
“Very well,” said the voice. “Prepare for the final test.” They braced themselves for whatever was about to happen, and then the door opened.
“Was that it?” Eleri said, frowning in confusion. “I didn’t notice anything happening, did you?”
“No. The test must be inside,” he said, and they entered the chamber with a mix of caution and curiosity.
“Approach the Well,” the mysterious voice boomed again. “Gaze into its depths.” They did as the voice commanded, though their confusion had not abated. Was this the third test, or had they already passed it? Eleri felt Carwin’s fingers press into her palm, and with that reassurance, she gazed into the swirling waters of the Well of Truth.
They were not like any waters she had ever seen before. They were glowing green, blue, silver, gold, any and every color she had imagined water could be, and they seemed to move with a life of their own, almost hypnotizing her, pulling her in with a strange magnetism. Eleri could feel them slipping into her mind and tangling with her thoughts. She wasn’t sure she liked the sensation.
“Eleri....” the waters whispered. “Don’t you want to stay with Carwin?”
“Of course,” she mumbled in reply. It was a silly question, really, but what could she do? Though she didn’t entirely understand why Carwin could not be with her in the long term, she knew that it was because he was sworn to Ceridwen. There was no way they could go against the wishes of a goddess.
“But you could. If you stayed in Afallach....” Eleri gasped as she realized what the Well was telling her. Manwydan and Rhiannon’s magic had blocked Ceridwen’s power completely. If they never left the island, she would never be able to find Carwin to punish him for abandoning his quest.
“You could be together for the rest of your lives. You could be happy, have children. Isn’t that what you want?” Now, images were appearing in the Well. She could see everything. Their children, a girl with fair hair and hazel eyes, and two boys, twins with dark hair and the emerald eyes of their father. Eleri could see her and Carwin growing old together, holding their grandchildren. It was everything she had ever wanted and more. Tears began streaming down her face.
“All you have to do is say the word. You know he would do anything for you,” whispered the voices in her head. Eleri wasn’t sure that was true. Carwin was devoted to his quest, even after confessing his love to her. He wouldn’t give up on defeating Dywell just because she asked.
“The Well of Truth cannot lie. Carwin sticks to his path out of duty, but his love for you is stronger.” Eleri could feel the truth of these words ringing into her bones. All she had to do was ask him, tell him this was what she wanted, and they really could be happy together. Her heart squeezed painfully just thinking about it.
“No. It would be wrong,” she heard herself say, and she knew without a doubt that she was right. Though she and Carwin would be safe, Dywell wasn’t going to stop with just taking over her father’s lands. Even without knowing his future plans, she could see that he and his dark minions would put the whole world in danger.
Although she wasn’t naive enough to think that only she and Carwin would be able to defeat him, she knew that for right now, they had a better chance than anyone, especially if the Well would give them information. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself, knowing that innocent people could be killed, and furthermore, though Manwydan and Rhiannon might be able to protect them from Ceridwen, the goddess would not be happy. Eleri didn’t want to be responsible for a war between deities, either.
“I do want to be with Carwin, but stopping Dywell is more important,” she said, even though she felt like her heart was breaking.
“Very well.” With that, Eleri could feel the tendrils of the Well’s power leaving her, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself slumped on the floor with her back resting on the cool stone of the well itself. She looked to her right and saw Carwin sitting there, looking as pale and drained as she felt. When she turned to him, she could see the tracks of drying tears on his cheeks.
Part of her wanted to ask him what he saw, but she was afraid to hear what he would say.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms before she had time to react. “I’m sorry,” he said into her hair. “I couldn’t. I couldn’t give up.” Eleri swallowed painfully. The Well must have offered Carwin something very similar to what it had showed to her. She tried to comfort him as best she could, running her fingers through his hair and kissing his cheek.
“I know. You did what you had to do.” He looked up at her, his mouth opened to protest or apologize further, perhaps, but then the same thunderous voice from before sounded through the chamber.
“You have both passed the final test. Drink the waters of the sacred Well of Wisdom and know the Truth.” Eleri sat up and wiped her face with the back of her hand. As much as she would have liked to continue to mourn their future together, they had finally gotten what they had come for. This was not the time to feel sorry for herself.
Carwin stood and held a hand down to pull her up, but he still looked shaken. Now, two small bowls sat on the rim of the well, both filled to the brim with glowing water. Eleri took the clay vessel in both of her hands, but they were trembling so much, she was afraid it would spill out before she managed to bring it to her lips. She looked over the edge of the bowl, and her eyes caught Carwin’s for a moment. His emotions were mirrors of her own, relief that they had finally made it, fear of what they would see, and lingering heartbreak. Together, they tipped the bowls to bring the magical water into their mouths.
She’d never tasted anything like it. It was cold and pure, with a faint metallic taste. The water tingled on her tongue like strong wine but left her feeling clean and refreshed as she swallowed. Eleri felt it humming in her veins like barely heard music, and once again, she heard the voice of the Well in her thoughts.
“What truth would you know, Eleri of Aberderwen? Your lover’s quest is not yours, and we will reveal all that he needs. Surely, you can think of something. Some question that troubles you? Some advice you require?”
Her mind went blank. She’d never considered asking her own question, a realization which made her feel foolish. After all, she had passed the same tests as Carwin, and it wouldn’t profit anyone for them to ask the same thing. Caught unprepared, her mind was suddenly so full of swirling thoughts, she couldn’t even focus on one long enough to consider it.
“Ah, that will do nicely,” said the whispering voice.
“But I didn’t ask anything!” she exclaimed, and at this point, she couldn’t tell whether or not she’d spoken aloud.
“Don’t you want to know why Carwin will not promise himself to you?” Another protest died in her throat, and she swore she could feel the Well’s amusement. “Behold the Truth!”
In her min
d, she saw the circles of stones where she and what remained of her family and friends had sheltered from Dywell’s attack on the keep. She saw herself slump down against the stone dragon that ringed the clearing. Her sister was talking to her, and she reached a hand back. It gleamed red with blood. There was a loud crack and a flash of light. Silence reigned for a heartbeat, and then the screaming began. The women and children scattered in panic, although Eleri wasn’t surprised to see that her mother was a point of calm in the chaos, gathering the smallest children to her and guiding everyone out into the forest. Still, that wasn’t the part of the vision that interested Eleri at the moment.
As she watched, the dragon rose out of the ground in a shower of dirt. Flakes of stone fell away like shed skin as the green and gold creature opened its wings and shook itself all over, snorting out a chalky sneeze and glancing around the clearing. The dragon that was Carwin spied her lying the in the grass and sniffed her. He paused, seeming to take a moment to consider, then he wrapped his body around her and spat fire upon the altar.
She knew that the mysterious woman could be none other than Ceridwen. The goddess was even more intimidating than Eleri had imagined. She watched their conversation with growing alarm. “And what about the price?” Carwin’s voice rang out among the ancient stones, and Eleri listened with bated breath.
“When the task is finished, your life is mine. Nothing more, nothing less.”
*******************
Her head was pounding in time with her heartbeat when she next opened her eyes. The warm amber light of the unfamiliar room seemed to soothe her headache, but it did nothing for the despair in her heart. Ceridwen’s words echoed in her skull on an unforgiving loop. Everything made sense now. Carwin could not promise her anything because he knew he was going to die. The thought made her throat constrict with tears she was almost too upset to shed. She always knew he could die. They could both die. This quest was dangerous. But this... this was too cruel.
“You’re awake,” said a voice, soft and motherly. Eleri started to sit up, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. “Do not strain yourself on my account. You need rest. The trials of the Well are not a trivial matter.” A red-haired woman was looking down at her with gentle concern, and when recognition hit, it was enough to make Eleri sag into the bed from shock.
“Rhiannon? Where am I? Where is Carwin?” The words tumbled out like trinkets from an overfull bag. Eleri slapped her hand over her mouth in horror, but Rhiannon only smiled.
“You are in my guest house. Do not fear. Carwin is with my husband, recovering from his own ordeal. Unlike you, much of what he saw will have been confusing and unfamiliar. He will require Manwydan’s wisdom to decipher it. Your truth is much simpler, but more difficult to bear. I thought you might require comfort and advice. As you might guess, the Lord of the Sea is not quite as well-versed in matters of the heart as he is in magic.”
Eleri didn’t find that at all hard to believe, but still, after seeing what Carwin had done, giving his life in exchange for hers, she wanted to talk to him even more than usual. Rhiannon either was extremely good at reading body language or she was reading her thoughts because the goddess held up a hand. “Now is not the time to confront him, Eleri. In fact, I would advise you not to bring it up at all, but that is your choice. However, right now, you are both shaken by what you have seen. It is best to wait for your emotions to settle.”
She wanted to protest, but in her heart, Eleri knew she was right. “I just... I don’t understand. Why would Carwin give his life for mine? He didn’t even know me. And why would Ceridwen accept that bargain. He’s her champion. Shouldn’t she be trying to protect him?” Tears started to well in her eyes, and she blinked them aside. Crying in front of a goddess didn’t seem polite.
“I think you know the answer, in your heart. Carwin may not have known you then, but it is clear to me that you two are connected. Why else would your blood have freed him from the punishment of his goddess? All good warriors learn to trust their instincts, and he must have felt something when he saw you that made him decide it was worth the risk to call Ceridwen for aid. As far as what she gets out of the bargain, we cannot truly know. But as her champion, his spirit is ever sworn to her service. Perhaps she has tasks in the Underworld for him.”
Hearing that only deepened Eleri’s despair. Even in death, she couldn’t hope to be reunited with him. Rhiannon laid a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “If you are somewhat recovered, I will leave you to bathe and dress. When you are ready, you will eat at my table.” Despite the gentleness of the tone, it was clear this was a command. Eleri nodded.
“Thank you, Lady Rhiannon,” she said, at least remembering her manners even when she felt like giving up. The goddess departed, and the room became just a little colder and dimmer. It matched Eleri’s mood. She sat up only to hold her head in her hands. Carwin had warned her, but then, she hadn’t understood. How could she have predicted how deeply she would come to love him, and how final the loss would be?
****************
Washing and putting on the clothes left out for her actually did improve her mood a little, but she still wasn’t feeling terribly social when Rhiannon’s handmaiden guided her to an outdoor pavilion where the goddess was waiting amid a veritable banquet. “Eleri, you look somewhat more composed. How are you feeling?”
She sighed, not really knowing what to say. It wasn’t in her nature to brood about things or to see the worst-case scenario, but she couldn’t think of any bright side to this situation. “Fairly awful, to tell you the truth.”
Rhiannon nodded. “I understand. Please eat, and after our meal, I will discuss how you might take back some control over the situation.”
That piqued Eleri’s curiosity enough to dispel some of her despair. At least now she actually felt like eating, whereas a moment earlier, the thought of food had made her stomach turn. The food was delicious, no meat but plenty of fruit, bread with honey and fresh butter, soft cheeses with herbs, and apples so wonderful, it seemed to Eleri that she had never tasted a true apple before that day. Before she knew it, she had stuffed herself full and was feeling... not quite content, but much more hopeful.
“You seem much recovered,” Rhiannon said with a satisfied smile. “Would you walk in the orchard with me? If you are not too well fed to walk?”
Eleri couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I think I can manage it,” she said with a small smile, though in truth she was burning with curiosity.
Did Rhiannon really have a solution to their problem? The goddess dismissed her handmaidens and started to walk along the rows of apple trees. She offered her elbow to Eleri, which was mildly terrifying. Would it be worse to touch a goddess or to refuse one?
“I promise, I won’t bite,” Rhiannon said, arching her eyebrow.
That wasn’t exactly what Eleri had been worried about, but she took the reassurance in the spirit in which it had been given and linked her elbow with the goddess. Rhiannon patted her arm in a comforting way. “Tell me, Eleri, how much do you know about apples?”
“Not a lot,” she admitted. “They’re sweet, and they grow on trees? I’m sorry, our keep didn’t even have orchards.”
The goddess laughed, deep and rich like rippling water. “I admire your honesty. But surely you know more about apples. Not as a food, but as a symbol. They often feature in mortal stories. After all, the land you stand on, Afallach, is named for them.”
Eleri looked around at the rows of trees marching up the rolling hills like a beautifully decorated army. For the first time, she noticed that the trees were arrayed for every season, some bare branched with the barest hint of green buds, some blossoming, some with tiny fruits among the leaves, and some heavy with ripe apples.
She thought back to all the stories she had ever heard around the fireside. “The apples here... they can cure any sickness or restore youth. And Manwydan was supposed to have a magical branch from a silver apple tree.”
“Y
es, that is true. But have you never heard the other tales about apples? Perhaps it is more of a peasant tradition.” They had climbed up a large hill that seemed to look out over the whole island, though right now, most of it was obscured by gray mist. More importantly, she could see that they were standing before a golden gate in a fence that encircled a small grove of trees. Eleri didn’t need to be told that these weren’t any ordinary apples. Not that anything on Afallach could be called ordinary, but these trees had branches of silver and gold. Rhiannon unlocked the gate and stepped inside, but she held her hand up to Eleri.
“I’m afraid no one other than me is permitted inside. We’ve had some problems with thievery in the past. It will only be a moment.” Eleri was still trying to think about what peasant tradition the goddess referred to when she was again outside the gate. She held up what was simply the most beautiful apple Eleri had ever seen. It had skin that was golden and peach, blushing pink and red where the sun had kissed it, and even from several feet away, the most intoxicating aroma was rising from it. It was all Eleri could do not to reach for it at once.
Rhiannon smiled. “You sense it, don’t you? The power that it has. In the villages, at least, they say that if a man offers an apple to a woman, he is making her a promise. That is the real meaning of the apple, a promise of eternity. Youth, beauty, life, or love. I have apples for all of them.”