The Forgotten Isle: Chapter 11 (01-09-07)
Hafise25:
I woke up the next morning to find a red gown laying across my bed. I put it on which was no easy task and headed out to the gardens. It seems I have spent a lot of time here. That's all I have is time, right now at least. After almost two hours seating in the garden the sisters came and told me to follow them.
I admit I was a little nervous but when they took me to the royal library instead, I was overjoyed! We spent many hours reading the history of the isle but nothing rang a bell. The sisters were a little distressed over this but everything takes time.
I didn't mention my visions or dreams that I had the night before. I didn't really know what they were. However before long curiosity got the better of me.
"Who is Da'Kar," I asked Eris.
"How do you know that name?"
"It was the name of the wolf that told me about the lake," I answered.
"I sent no wolf," Eris sneered, "You are lying."
"There was a wolf. He had glowing yellow eyes and said he once was a man."
"If you can not remember then I can not help you," she answered sweetly.
"Can not or will not?"
"Perhaps a little of both," she said laughingly, "Come you have an audience with the Queen and you must change."
"Yeah, whatever!"
"Have you remembered anything?"
"No, your majesty," I answered.
"You only have another week."
"I know," I said rising.
"Good, that is all," she said waving a dismissive hand.
"The room I'm in," I said glancing over my shoulder, "Who did it belong to?"
"You have the answer," the Queen answered.
"No, that is why I'm asking," I said whirling back towards her.
"Yes. Yes, you do! That is all! Begone!"
"Fine!"
I stormed out of the hall and towards the little chapel. I was more than frustrated. I was ticked off, royally! That is when I noticed the statue.
Dedicated to Queen Bronwyn. The light and heart of our world, it read.
My mother, I thought, impossible! Yet, it would make some sense. No, it is impossible!
As I was getting ready for bed that night I felt a change come over me. Instantly I knew my whole world was about to change yet again.
"Do not worry so," I heard Da'Kars voice.
"How can I not?"
"Just don't, it will give you wrinkles. What will be, will be. You can not change that, my heart."
"Da'Kar, wait....."
Hafise25:
A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory.
Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha
---------------------------------------
I woke up the next morning to a terrible headache. I thought it was nothing for the most part until bits of memory started to float through my mind. The mist that had been clinging there lifting. It was all too much. The unbearable pain.
"Sheild up, Sulwen! How are you going to protect this land if you can not protect yourself?"
"I know! I know! We've been going over the same thing since I could remember," I sighed.
"Then you should now," Tralena said, slanted her sword down at mine.
It never made a sound as it fell to the ground followed by my sheild.
"Do you yield," Tralena asked as she knocked me off balance.
"Yes!"
"You give up to easily. Remember your sword isn't your only weapon. I fear for this kingdom when you come to power."
"You say that each and everytime," I grimaced.
"It is true. That's all for the day. Imena should be in the library waiting on you."
"I know, endless rounds of lessons," I muttered heading off toward my rooms to change.
"Why does this spell give you problems," Imena asked after several hours of trying to teach me a levitation spell.
"I don't know. My mind is not here today."
"It hasn't been here for nearly two moons now," Imena sighed.
"I'm sorry. I'll practice on my own time," I promised.
"Where is that spellbook," I grumbled.
"Second shelf," Imena called from behind me.
"Thank you," I threw over my shoulder pulling the book out.
"What do you want with a potion book? You mastered that when you were five."
"Just brushing up, that's all," I explained not daring to look at her.
"Uh huh!"
"Sulwen, a moment," the Queen called out to me.
"Yes," I said not looking up from the flowers I was plucking.
"We need to talk about your lessons with Eris."
"No, I'm done with that!"
"Earth magic is important here in Aslemor, please reconsider," the Queen implored.
"I've learned all I can. Besides we do not get a long."
"I did not know," the Queen said casting a side long galnce at the flowers.
"Is there something you need to tell me," the Queen asked.
"No!"
"The Goddess' say that you are not giving your all to your lessons."
"They would say that," I sneered, "None of them like me overly much. Why is that?"
"I would not know, my dear."
"Figures!"
"What?"
"You don't know anything. You always say that! You have to know why they dislike me so much. You have to," I ranted.
I wanted to get away. I wanted to be anywhere then here having this conversation with...
"...NO," I screamed bolting upright in bed.
It can not be true, I thought. I'm going to refuse to believe it. This whole thing is nothing more than a dream.
Hafise25:
"Da'kar," I called.
"Here by the lake, my heart."
"I was so afraid you would not meet with me tonight."
"I will always be here for you," Da'Kar said reaching up to brush an errant strand of hair away from my face.
"I've missed you so."
"Not half as much as I have missed you," he growled and leaning in gave me the fiercest kiss I've ever had.
"What are you doing," I asked as Da'Kar dropped to his knees.
"Worshipping a Goddess," he laughing up at me.
"Do not say that! They already hate me enough," I cried.
"It will be all right, my princess. You can always cry on my shoulder."
"Hmm, yes," I said snuggling deep into his arms, "I could stay like this all night."
"Then the morning comes and reality dawns," he kissed into my hair.
"There is that."
Morning always comes to soon for me. I never have enough time to spend with Da'Kar. I want more than moonlight kisses and stolen caresses. Why should I not have it all? I am the heir, am I not? I must talk to the Queen.
"This must be truly important!"
"Yes, I have a request," I stated looking up.
"What is this request?"
"I would like leave to marry Da'Kar Kane," I rushed out, tripping over words.
"What," she screamed, "Aya, Phoenix to me."
"NO! Please, do not," I cried.
"You love him?"
"With all of my heart!"
"It is impossible," the queen shouted as she rose, "You can not. No one of my blood will marry such as he!"
"Please, just listen."
"Never," she ranted, her face red with fury.
"Please!"
"No and that is the final word of a Queen!"
"What about the word of a....."
"You have remembered?"
"Yes my Queen or should I just call you mother," I asked.
"You do remember! My daughter!"
"Do not! I want answers first!"
"Of course," she said bowing her head.
"Why do I have memories of one life but not this one?"
"That would be my sister's fault," She explained, "You see, I was young and foolish. I loved where I should not. I loved my sisters husband and I conceived a child. You, my daughter."
"Goddess," I groaned.
"Oh it gets worse," she said holding her head with her palm, "Follow me."
She lead me to the statue of Queen Bronwyn. There she continued her tale.
"You see my sister could not have children, not that she really wanted any. Her husband, however, desired a child more than anything. He came to me one night and asked if I would grant him an annulment. I refused for I did not want to see my sister unhappy. Foolish I know! At the time all I thought of was her happiness," she paused to take a deep breath, "She was the first born and the rightful heir. However our mother felt she was not right. She would wonder for days in the woods."
"She hasn't changed much." I muttered.
"I didn't think she would. After months of your father begging I finally granted an annulment. My sister did not take it well nor the fact that I was carrying his child. I went in to confinement until I gave birth to you. My sister ruled in my place. She corrupted everything she touched. Your father vanished while I was away. I do not know what happened to him to this day."
"There was a man with her that helped raise me but he seemed a little distant," I explained.
"Ah, a ghost nothing more. It's the same with your childhood and teenage years. I am sorry."
"It wasn't so...."
"My Queen, there are people at the gates," Aya announced.
"Shall we," my mother motioned for me to walk with her, we shall finish this later."
Hafise25:
Thanks StarLucid.
Hafise25:
I followed my mother to the gate. Once there we found her husband and the two guardians talking and laughing with two strangers. Although they did look a little familiar to me.
"Lark, darling is that you," my mother called to the pale grey figure.
"Who else would it be mother?"
"It is good to have my two daughters back home," our mother laughed.
"You mean she made it," Lark called up and noticed me beside our mother, "Ah I see that she did. Who helped you out of the ocean sister dear?"
"I do not know. I awoke here in the forest," I explained.
"Hmm...likely," Lark sneered.
"Now now," Morgause sighed, "Sorry your majesty but it seems Lark has a strong dislike of our dear Sulwen."
"So I hear. Let us go into the hall. I do think there is a storm approaching."
"You look different," I said to Lark when we entered the Hall.
"Of course I do! Do you think the humans would like my grey skin?"
"How should I know? I've seen much and remembered much since I came here. No thanks to you I might add."
"Well, we do what we have to do," she replied.
"I guess."
"Now my daughters," our mother broke in.
"Why do you have to have her here? Am I not enough for you," Lark stormed, "She is nothing. I can smell the taint of mortality about her."
"We are all mortal," Morgause put in.
"You don't understand! None of you," Lark said heading for the doors, "If you need me I'll be in my rooms."
"Same here," I said following her out.
"What are you doing in here?"
"This is my room," Lark stated.
"No, it is mine! It has always been mine," I screamed.
"After I was born it became mine. That was about ten years after our aunt stole you away."
"Well I'm back so get OUT!"
"Fine, but I promise you this: It will be mine again."
"Hello Sulwen," Lark said the next morning.
"Hi."
"I see you like Aslemors lake."
"Yes. It is a little clearer than those in the mortal realm."
"Of course it is. I have a question for you."
"Okay."
"Have you remembered Da'Kar?"
"Of course."
"Do you know who cursed him? You know after you left."
"How could I know?"
"I think you know."
"Are you saying our mother did it," I asked stunned.
"Who else? Do you think the Goddesses currently residing at Aslemor castle have that power? I can assure you they do not. They may be able to help cure him though."
"Who is that," I asked motioning towards a wolf I had never seen before.
"This is Leane. She was..I mean is my maid. Our mother cursed her too."
"Why?"
"Why do you think or do you not think?"
"You loved her," I said as realization dawned.
"Of course I did. Just as you loved Da'Kar. Now go ask the Goddesses about the Heart Wish. I would like to know as much as you."
"Why are you helping me?"
"If it works for then it can work for me. I'm sorry Sulwen for everything. You should not be here," she said glancing down at Leane, "Go, please."
"I have come about the Heart Wish," I spoke before any of them noticed I was there.
"Who told you of that?"
"It does not matter. Can it be done?"
"By you? Never," Eris snickered, "You do not have the power."
"Do not be so sure, sister! She had much power when she studied under me."
"She can not perform it. It could very well kill her," Tralena said.
"I do not care. Please tell me!"
"Fine. Listen carefully because we refuse to help you or Da'Kar. It goes against the wishes of our Queen."
"You must do it as soon as possible. The vial we gave you will not keep past the full moon."
"I understand."
"Good then leave us. Do not ask another favor of us," Eris said dismissing me.
"Thank you," I said rising, "I will not forget this."
I walked into the woods to pick the herbs they told me I would need. My heart was heavy for if I failed then Da'Kar would stay in wolf form forever.
"Do not try this, my heart," Da'Kar called.
"I must. I have to at least try."
"Why? Am I not still here with you?"
"Only your voice! I want it all Da'Kar. Do you not have the same needs and feelings as I?"
"Yes! If you should fail though it is your life."
"I will be fine! The next time I hear your voice I want to see your face!"
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