A rush of warm air washed over her face and then her entire body.
Slowly, Emily opened her eyes. But nothing was happening; it had already taken place. Now she faced an overwhelming sight. Two giant wooden doors stretched high above her head, coming to a sharp arch.
She couldn’t help but reach her hand out and run her fingers over the door’s complex floral carvings. She had to touch it to see if it was real.
“How absolutely beautiful.” She traced her finger along the carving of a swirled vine that led to an orchid-like flower.
“You did it.” Alexander’s voice was directly behind her. His hands slid over her shoulders and down to her elbows, squeezing her arms tightly.
She turned to face him but couldn’t speak; she didn’t know what to say. It was hard to imagine there were adequate words to describe the emotions surging through her, let alone understand the magnitude of the event which had just transpired.
“I did do it, didn’t I?” she finally mumbled to herself as her face lit up with excitement.
This new reality was a hard one to accept though. Time would be the only antidote for her disbelief.
“Are you ready to see Eden?” Alexander ran his hand down her cheek, brushing her long wavy hair over her shoulder.
“Yes, I am. I’m ready.” She could already smell the clean, crisp air saturated with the sweet scent of fruit and flowers. The aroma teased her nostrils, slowly filtering down to her taste buds just as when she walked past a bakery or favorite restaurant and the smells made her mouth water.
Alexander gently spun her around just as the two huge doors slid open. For a moment she had to shield her eyes because the light leaking through shone directly on her face. But, once the doors opened further, the blinding sunbeam dissipated.
She gasped, trying to pull back the sudden gust of air knocked out of her lungs. It was impossible to accept the scene before her. It reminded her of a piece of art she’d seen by Thomas Kinkade, with flowers and foliage everywhere and bright, colorful hues in every tone. It looked too perfect. Every detail shouted for her attention.
Alexander grabbed her hand and escorted her through the doorway and onto the terrace.
It was extremely difficult to peel her gaze away from the scenery and acknowledge the thousands of green eyes watching her, all those Guardians who were anxiously awaiting her arrival.
When she was finally able to concentrate on the Guardians and their faces, the picture was just as beautiful. A green sea seemed to flow before her as she tried to meet as many gazes as possible. They each had a smile on their face and Emily instantaneously knew she was welcome.
The Governing Five stood off to the right, their faces just as eager and animated. It was Aldara who came forward and was first to officially greet the couple.
“Alexander, my son, welcome home.” Aldara held him closely, though she couldn’t fully reach her arms around his broad shoulders. His oversized physique made Aldara appear tiny and delicate.
She then turned to Emily. With what appeared to be the first hint of tears in her eyes, Aldara said in a hushed whisper, “And welcome to Eden, Daughter of Earth.” She then moved in closely and pulled Emily into her heartfelt embrace.
Instant warmth rushed through her body. The warmth came straight from the heart, the glow a child often feels when cuddled closely by his or her mother. It was an unmistakable feeling, one she’d missed very much since her mother’s death; and she’d never expected to experience it again. It was pure pleasure.
Aldara turned, and then swept her open arms over the crowd standing at the bottom of the steps. “Guardians,” she exclaimed in a loud voice, “I present unto you, the first fruits of eternal peace, the key to the gate, the long prophesied Daughter of Earth!”
Everyone erupted in a loud, almost deafening cheer. Emily hadn’t expected this kind of reaction. These Guardians didn’t even know her, and thus far she hadn’t done anything for them, yet they hailed her like some princess or deity.
The remaining four Elders stepped over to introduce themselves. Mathaius was first. He greeted Emily with a bow and then said: “I am Mathaius, Guardian of the Law, welcome to Eden, Emily.” His voice was kind and tender, but he kept things as formal as possible, for that was his way.
Next was Cyreena. Her approach was much more like Aldara’s. She gave Emily a giant hug and then said, “I am Cyreena, Guardian of the Tower; I am so happy you are here.”
Emily supplied a soft smile. All the attention was making her nervous.
Athos came over and grabbed Emily’s hands, raising them to waist level and then giving a mild bow. “And I, my child, am Athos. I am The Caller, the one whose voice brought you here.” His smile radiated his pride.
Emily recognized his sweet voice, it had indeed been the same one she heard in the elevator earlier that day.
Last was Damarus. As he came forward, the other four took a small step away from Emily. His very presence demanded attention, but not in an overbearing or arrogant way. No, it was from deep admiration and respect everyone fell silent.
Emily swallowed hard. It was easy to deduce this was Damarus, not just from process of elimination but because Alexander had told her a lot about him over the past four months. She recognized the large build and wide chest from Alexander’s description. His eyes were green, of course, but seemed more aqua green, carrying a deep blue hint within them. It was a color Emily would not have thought possible for the eye’s iris, but this whole experience stretched, if not entirely broke, any boundaries she’d previously set for possibilities.
“Hello, Emily.” His voice was deep but soft. It reminded her of Alexander’s. In fact, his entire persona seemed to give off the same confidence and charisma as Alexander.
“I am Damarus, The Trainer. I am so pleased you have come to Eden, and for your willingness to accept the call and responsibility which comes with entering here. I will work closely with you and I am honored to do such.” He bowed and stepped back to return to his position on the side.
“And this, Emily, is Olivia.” Aldara escorted a young woman before her, directing the petite beauty by the hand. “Olivia will serve as your guide and lady-in-waiting while you reside in Eden,” she announced, gesturing toward the girl with a nod.
Olivia stood there with a shy grin, like a small child being introduced to a handsome adult. Her green eyes were bright and sparkled in the light. Long, red curls lying perfectly tamed and tight, flowed to the small of her back. Her skin was light and spotted with freckles, with a heavy band sprinkled over her small nose. She was exceptionally beautiful, as were all The Guardians, but Olivia held a beauty that seemed more like a budding adolescent. She looked slightly younger than the other Guardians, more like Emily’s own age than anyone else’s.
“I am honored to meet you,” Olivia said as she curtsied.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Emily didn’t feel as nervous around Olivia. “It’s nice to meet all of you.” She looked back over at each of the Governing Five. “I am grateful to be here.” It was all she could say. The entire scene was extremely intimidating. She felt completely humbled in the presence of these extraordinary beings.
Athos walked past Emily and held his hands out to the crowd. All the excited whispers were quickly silenced, as everyone wanted to hear what he would say.
“Brothers and sisters,” he called for their attention, even though he most certainly already had it. “The induction ceremony will take place at sunset. All are to meet at the Gathering Stone to take part in this sacred ceremony. Until then, peace be with you.”
With Athos’ simple words the Guardians dispersed fairly quickly, although some lingered as long as they felt they could to get a better look at their new arrival.
Assessing the sun’s height, Emily became a bit confused. Athos had said the ceremony would be at sunset, yet she had been watching the sunset with her father before they left New York. Here the sun seemed like it was just past its zenith and it would be quite
a few hours until it was low enough to dip behind the horizon.
“I guess I could be on the other side of the planet.”
She wondered where she actually was but, at the same time, figured it really didn’t matter. Not after being able to travel like she had. The sudden and very large greeting which took place just minutes before had momentarily distracted her from the event’s sheer awesomeness. She had transported to another place. The idea almost made her faint.
Alexander interrupted her thoughts. “So, what do you think?” He whispered in her ear.
“What do I think…? I’m not sure what I could possibly say to describe . . . I’m in utter awe.”
He chuckled to himself. “You like it so much already?” He didn’t give her time to respond. “You’ve only seen what is visible from the front gates. There is so much more to Eden. I can’t wait to show you.” His excitement was audible in every syllable.
“I can’t wait, either!” Her eyes darted to and fro like a child in an amusement park trying to decide what ride to rush to first. “But what was that about a ceremony? You didn’t tell me anything about a formal ceremony. I don’t even have any clothes to change into.” Emily assessed her outfit. It wasn’t sloppy but definitely not something she thought qualified for a sacred ceremony.
“That is one reason I am here,” Olivia said from behind them.
Alexander and Emily both glanced over their shoulders to look at Olivia, standing just a few feet away.
“Oh, I’m sorry, that was rude, wasn’t it? Interrupting a conversation, or eavesdropping, I guess it was both,” she looked down sheepishly and fumbled with the tail of the sash wrapped around her waist, embarrassment coloring the skin beneath her freckles.
“So odd how different they all are, just as different as humans. Olivia definitely isn’t as confident as Alexander or exuberant like Xavier. She seems quite shy and reserved, but simply sweet, for sure.”
“Oh, no we weren’t talking about anything important. Please don’t feel like you’re interrupting. I’m so glad you’re here to help me,” she tried to reassure Olivia with a generous smile.
“Well,” Olivia looked up with reclaimed confidence. “Whenever you are ready I can take you to your quarters and help you prepare for the ceremony. But, that’s not for a while. I’m sure you want to look around first. I can wait at the Gathering Stone until you’re ready. Is that alright?” Olivia’s voice even sounded young, like she was closer to sixteen rather than eighteen. Yet, Emily knew she was older than that. Or, at least she thought she knew.
“That would be just fine, thank you. I will have her at the Gathering Stone in a little while,” Alexander responded.
Olivia gave another curtsy and excused herself.
“Shall we?” Alexander placed his hand on the small of Emily’s back escorting her forward and down the five stairs to the ground.
“How old is Olivia? She seems different from you and Xavier. You two appear as though you are in your early twenties. And I noticed the Governing Five actually seem slightly older than you, maybe their thirties. Olivia looks like she is a teenager. I thought you Guardians didn’t age?” she questioned as they began walking down a cobblestone path that wove its way beside a small brook.
“We don’t age, not in the sense that you are thinking. When Guardians are ‘born,’ if you want to use that term, we are fully grown in the physical sense. However, our maturity level is much lower than our bodies would indicate. We mature over time. As our mental and emotional capacities increase, the process seems to affect the very nature of our bodies.” Alexander took a deep breath and then continued with his explanation.
“The Governing Five look older than me because they are. They have been around since the very beginning. And because of the mantle that has been placed upon them, much more is required of them. Therefore, they need to acquire more wisdom. That added wisdom is reflected in their appearance, which is what makes them look older.
“Olivia was only created a century ago and is still developing and maturing. She’s not yet reached the level permitted to protect a Traveler. Her internal development is reflected in her appearance, as well. She is among the youngest Guardians. In fact…” Alexander paused, biting his lip in contemplation. “She was among the last to be created.” He looked to the side, examining the flowers which hung lazily and low on a nearby tree.
“You mean there haven’t been any new Guardian’s created in the last hundred years?” This was new information to her. Alexander had explained a lot, but never spoke much on how they came to be. It was a sensitive subject, so she never pressed for more than he was willing to tell.
“No, I am afraid not. And truthfully, I’m not sure why. As I’ve said before, I really don’t know how we came to be. It’s not openly discussed among Guardians. They say the way by which we are created is so sacred it is not to be mentioned. That’s why none have any clue other than our first memory standing in the woods, with Aldara there to greet us.” He let his head hang loosely, staring down at the ground. “It was poor timing, too. Guardians stopped being created about the same time modern day weaponry was invented. It is much harder for us to escape from multiple gunshot wounds. We have lost thousands of our kind in the last century, with no one to take their place. Eden was overflowing with Guardians then. Now, it has more open space than I’m comfortable with.”
Emily stopped in her steps and turned to look directly at Alexander. “Hey…” She wanted to say something to make him feel better, to comfort him like he always comforted her. “I know all this upsets you.” She placed her hand on the side of his face and he welcomed it. “Just know you are loved, not only by me, but by the family you have here. And, for what it’s worth, I don’t see there being an end to your kind. Guardians are too beautiful of a creation to go extinct. It would upset the entire universal balance if Guardians weren’t around…if you weren’t around. I think there will be more Guardians created. I feel it in my gut.”
Alexander reached for her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it softly.
They continued to walk hand-in-hand, exploring Eden’s every corner. Alexander showed her the buildings where the Guardians went to rest. There were the bathhouses, which she found unusual at first, but then figured that sitting in a giant hot spring must appeal to any being in human form.
They viewed the training Arena that resembled the great Coliseum in Rome, but much more architecturally sound and erosion-free. Alexander explained this was where much of her time would be spent. It seemed slightly different than what she had pictured in her mind. The ground was dirt, carrying no hint of green, but it didn’t make sense to have grass or flowers beneath their feet. Still there was an ancient beauty to the Arena and she looked forward to being there often.
The biggest surprise was the, “Library,” as Alexander referred to it. He explained what was inside the giant building and it sounded more like a museum to Emily. Time was running short now and they were unable to venture inside, but she made a mental note to visit the Library as soon as possible. It sounded like her kind of place.
The gardens, flowers, shrubbery and streams filled the space along the buildings and pathways. It seemed like every earthly species of tree and flower grew in Eden. Emily wondered if this was the utopia spoken of in the Bible or if the Guardians had just named this place after it because of the similarities.
It was hard to pull away from the sights. Both Emily and Alexander were enjoying their time together immensely.
When they arrived at the Gathering Stone, Olivia was waiting patiently.
“Hello,” she greeted. “Are you ready to see where you will be staying now?”
“Yes, I guess I am.”
“This way then,” Olivia gestured in the direction they were to go.
“Where will she be staying?” Alexander stuck out his hand to block their path, indicating he wanted an answer before they departed; he wouldn’t be accompanying them.
“With the other women in t
he eastern garden quarters. Aldara wants her in the end chamber where she can be secluded so she may rest when needed,” Olivia informed him, hesitantly.
His abruptness surprised Emily.
“I just wanted to know where she would be. I will see you both at the ceremony.” He gave Emily a quick kiss on the cheek and then departed.
Something seemed fairly off about Alexander’s demeanor in that moment, but Emily shrugged it off. It didn’t matter.
Chapter 5
The two women walked in silence, Olivia was too shy to start a conversation and Emily was still captivated by everything they passed. She wondered if she’d ever be able to navigate Eden on her own. All the paths seemed to twist and curve in every direction with multiple intersections offering numerous options.
When they arrived at the building where Emily would be staying she was amazed with its beauty. All the structures in Eden were made from large white stones with every sort of foliage climbing the walls, but this one seemed to have a tremendous amount of flowers adorning it. Apparently an extra feminine splash for the women’s quarters.
They entered through the archways onto the first level, which remained moderately open with similar doorways placed about six feet apart down what seemed a never-ending row of doors. They climbed three levels of a marble staircase, and then went down a long wide hallway to the end.
The giant wooden door gave a minor creak as Olivia pushed it open revealing an incredibly large room. It was so large it looked like three bedrooms put together. Golden colored sashes hung from all the open windows and entryways giving off a shimmer as they danced with the breeze. The flowing material drew attention to a bathing area where a sunken marble tub sat flush with the floor. There was also an ornate wooden wardrobe with a matching vanity and chair.
There wasn’t a typical bed; at least not what most people would think was typical. A giant oval shaped pad rested upon a stone platform that could not have been more than 3 feet high. The bed looked quite fluffy and soft, with dark green velvet and generous stuffing. Emily imagined leaping onto it and getting lost among the numerous pillows stacked all over.
Daughter of Earth (Tales of the Guardian) Page 4