Arianne awoke, and for an instant she forgot where she was.
Sitting up, she found herself on a bed of elven design, although not the one Dare had brought from Eden Taryn for their wedding night in Sandrine. It was an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room that as unmistakably elvish. The room was all windows, with sunlight pouring through the thin curtains, giving clarity to the ornate designs carved on the bedposts and the other pieces of furniture. Outside, she could hear the rustle of leaves and the peaceful quiet that was only broken by the occasionally chirp of a bird.
She could have been forgiven for thinking herself back in Eden Taryn. She quickly realised that she wasn’t. She took in a deep breath and recognised the scent of the forest, crisp and sweet. It reminded Arianne of childhood when she would run through glens covered with wild flowers—lost in a sea of the golden coloured buds. Lylea used to tell her that they were drops of sun. Of course more recent memories soon returned to her and Arianne knew she was not home at all, but in a place that was almost as beautiful.
Eden Halas.
After fleeing Caras Anara she and Keira had rowed all the way to the woods of Eden Halas without a pause. They arrived in the woods of Aeron’s birth during the small hours of the night and were immediately set upon by King Halion's Forest Guard. Although King Halion was known for his dislike at humans entering his borders, he put aside his natural hostility once he learned the identity of his guests. Aware that his wife considered Dare family and to some extent so did he, Arianne was welcomed to his court as kin. Even if they were not connected through Dare, Eden Halas would not turn away a daughter of Lylea, High Queen of the elves.
Syanne was thrilled to receive Arianne, despite the circumstances of their arrival.
Upon seeing the exhausted and in one instance, the injured state of their visitors, she immediately called for Celene to be taken to the Hall of Healing. Despite protests to the contrary, Celene was more affected than she liked to admit by the venom of the spider that attacked her. In an effort to placate the Lady of Gislaine, Keira volunteered to accompany her so she did not tax too greatly the patience of the elves attending her. In the end, it was the pointed reminder by Arianne that Celene would be no good to them in this quest if she were ill.
Arianne had just made up her mind to go find Keira and Celene when a knock on the door received her invitation to enter and Queen Syanne stepped into the room.
Arianne had met her one only a few occasions. Although the elves preferred to keep to themselves, the elves of Eden Halas were particularly reclusive and did not like trespassers within their borders. Arianne knew that much of this had to do with Halion's dislike of other races. Lylea had explained to Arianne that his disdain originated from the belief that the Celestial Gods had used the elves to cleanse Avalyne during the Primordial Wars, only to give it away to lesser races. Halion had lost everyone he loved during the conflict and considered this an affront to all that he had fought for.
‘How do you fare this morning?’ Syanne greeted pleasantly as she took a seat in the chair next to the bed.
Like most elves she wore her hair long, although Syanne’s was unusual because it was the colour of copper, which stood in sharp contrast to her blue eyes. The Queen was tall and slender with cheekbones, and the shape of her face told Arianne that save for his dark hair, most of Aeron’s looks had come from his mother. This was of little surprise to Arianne since Aeron had taken after Syanne in manner and disposition, unlike his older brothers Hadros and Syannon who were very much their father’s sons.
‘I am well,’ Arianne answered, smiling at the Queen. ‘I feel as if I have slept for days.’
‘It is no wonder after fleeing from spiders and travelling across the country. That is not work for a Queen, let alone a woman with child,’ Syanne spoke with a hint of reproach.
Arianne shrugged, not wishing to discuss the reasons for her journey, and decided to make a change of subject instead. ‘You did not come to our celebration in Sandrine,’ she remarked.
As soon as the comment had left her lips, Arianne felt sorry for doing so when she saw the look of guilt stealing across Syanne’s face. Clearly the Queen had wanted to be there and the expression of regret made Arianne feel unkind for using it as a means of distraction.
‘I was needed here,’ Syanne said quietly. ‘The King felt it too dangerous for me to travel south. We did not know about the spiders in Caras Anara, as we have been dealing with the remnants of Balfure’s goblins. It has required Halion to cooperate with men of the Winter Keep and the dwarves of Iridia,’ she explained as proof of the urgency of the situation. There was no other reason why Halion would deal with them otherwise.
Arianne suspected that Syanne did not wish to admit that Halion probably disliked the idea of his wife travelling to city ruled by men, when Aeron was already present in Sandrine and capable of representing his court. ‘Galain did make mention of that,’ Arianne answered, hoping to move past the moment. ‘He said that the goblins were being driven back to the Cinder Mountains.’
‘Yes,’ Syanne said brightening up a little, grateful that Arianne was not dwelling on her absence at Sandrine. ‘Syanon has taken some our best warriors to help the humans push them back farther, and I think Halion will be sending Hadros to Caras Anara after your report of spiders.’
‘Tell him to be careful,’ Arianne warned. ‘There were many. I believe the entire village has been consumed.’
‘How terrible,’ Syanne winced in horror, and it was easy to see how this Queen could have defied her husband to give shelter to a helpless human babe left in the care of a dying nurse. Once again Arianne found herself thinking that Aeron’s compassionate nature was inherited from his mother.
‘Yes,’ Arianne nodded in agreement and then asked, ‘How is Celene? Do I need to apologise for her?’ A flicker of mischief crossed her face as she tried to move away from such grim talk.
Syanne laughed shortly and shook her head. ‘Perhaps a little. She is exceedingly stubborn. I thought Dare was difficult to treat, she might even exceed his obstinacy.’
‘That would not surprise me,’ Arianne giggled, picturing in her mind’s eyes the consternation Celene would have probably caused amongst the elven physicians in the Hall of Healing. ‘She is a good friend and has already saved my life once on this quest.’
‘I do not doubt that,’ Syanne retorted. ‘She believed she was ready to travel last night.’
That sounded like Celene, and Arianne had to admire the Angarad’s optimism even if she was somewhat unrealistic. ‘She would think that,’ Arianne shook her head in resignation because Celene’s stubbornness could sometimes override her good sense.
‘Fortunately after our healers treated her wounds, they gave her something to sleep, for her benefit as well as theirs.’ The Queen laughed and then added, ‘however, your other companion is up and about. There is something about her that is most unusual. I am not certain what it is, but I sense darkness and pain.’
‘It would not surprise me,’ Arianne admitted, because even Lylea sensed it. One could not survive the torture of the Disciples and the taint of the desert burrowers without some scars left behind. ‘Rest assured, she is someone who can be trusted.’
‘I know,’ Syanne smiled. ‘We were certain that any companion of yours had to be worthy of your friendship and this Green she speaks of seems to be very enchanting.’
‘It is,’ Arianne smiled, pleased that Keira had made a good impression. ‘The woods of the Green are old. I believe they may be even older than the woods of Eden Ardhen. They say that the trees are haunted by ancient spirits from the time of Enphilim and they protect the folk of the Green.’
‘How fascinating,’ Syanne remarked. ‘She is the same one who protected Dare from the Disciples, is she not?’ The Queen ventured a guess, having been told the tale by her adopted son years before.
‘Dare owes her his life,’ Arianne confirmed. ‘It was Keira who refused to give him up to Balfure. She endured the desert burrowers to keep him safe.’
‘That is what we sensed, then,’ Syanne mused before declaring as if she was making a royal proclamation. ‘She will always be welcomed here. In fact, you all must stay with us for a few days and allow the Lady of Gislaine to heal before you set off on your journey again.’
Arianne hesitated, because she knew that as soon as Celene felt able, the Lady of Gislaine would be eager to travel. Indeed, Arianne herself was conscious of time and knew that they needed to leave as soon as possible. As much as Arianne would have like to have taken advantage of Syanne’s hospitality, the threat to her child overrode all other considerations. Furthermore, she suspected that if King Halion knew of her quest, he would react in just the same manner as Dare. The King of Eden Halas would not let her leave this place without warriors to protect her, and Arianne's mission needed to continue within its shroud of secrecy.
‘If I know Celene, she will think herself ready to leave as soon as she awakens,’ Arianne stated, hoping to avoid giving away anything unnecessarily. ‘We will stay a day and then we must be off.’
‘Arianne,’ Syanne reached for her hand and squeezed it, ‘I can tell by what you are trying not to say that there is urgency to this journey of yours that you wish to keep silent. That is your right and I will not press you, but do not be premature in your desire to leave. The venom of the syphi is nothing to take lightly. She needs rest.’
Arianne was torn because Syanne was right. Celene did need to rest, but they had such a long journey ahead of them and so little time. In the end, she chose to confide in Syanne because she was not just the Queen of Eden Halas but also Dare’s adopted mother. She would trust that Syanne would understand her need for secrecy and her reasons for haste.
‘We ride to confront an enemy who seeks to bring forth Mael,’ Arianne finally revealed.
‘Mael!’ Syanne gasped, and then fell silent as if speaking his name was liable to summon the dark god into the room with them there and then. ‘And Dare sent you out alone to deal with this menace?’
She had the tone of a mother who just discovered her son had done something inordinately stupid against all the tenets of his upbringing.
‘Dare does not know, or rather he did not when I left,’ Arianne quickly explained before her husband earned himself a cuff the next time his adopted mother saw him. ‘My lady, you cannot tell the King why we are here. You know your husband as well as I know mine, he will not let us leave here alone, if at all, for such a perilous quest. If I am not allowed to complete it myself, Avalyne will fall into darkness again and Dare will almost certainly be destroyed by the consequences.’
‘But why…’ Syanne protested, unable to imagine any danger that would warrant Dare's exclusion at the cost of the wife he loved above all else.
‘The enemy seeks to fill the baby with the spirit of Mael. He intends that Mael shall be resurrected as the heir of Carleon.’
‘By the Gods…’ the older woman whispered, unable to imagine anything more monstrous plan. ‘How much time do you have?’ she asked once she recovered her composure.
‘I must reach him in two full moons or his plan will come to pass. My mother has told me that while I carry the baby, the Enemy cannot harm me. However, if Dare were to confront him, he will be killed without hesitation.’
Arianne went on to reveal what she had learned from Lylea and Tamsyn about the Enemy's design and why it was necessary to go on ahead and keep her journey a secret. If Dare rode out after her, the Enemy would believe that the King had most likely learned of the plan and had left his wife at home to deal with the threat himself. Their advantage lay in the fact that the Enemy did not know that it was Arianne herself who was coming to face him.
‘This is a dangerous course,’ Syanne said after Arianne had finished her tale. ‘I cannot help but fear for you and I would still prefer that that you embarked upon this with an escort of warriors, if not Dare himself.’
‘But he could be killed,’ Arianne pointed out. As much as she loved Syanne for thinking so much about her, she wanted Dare to have no part in her quest, not if his life could be lost as a result.
‘I know,’ Syanne sighed heavily. ‘However, I am accustomed to seeing him place himself in danger. I cannot say the same for you.’
‘I will be fine,’ Arianne assured her. ‘Once Celene is on her feet we will continue. She has proven to be an able protector. We have a long way to go to cross the Frozen Mountains.’
‘The Frozen Mountains?’ Syanne looked at her worried. ‘In your condition?’
‘I will be able to manage,’ Arianne said firmly. ‘I have to.’
‘Those mountains are cursed,’ Syanne frowned, her anxiousness for Arianne’s welfare compounded now she knew where the young Queen of Carleon was headed. ‘There have been many dark tales spoken of it.’
‘What sort of tales?’ Arianne asked, wondering if she really wanted to know. It was not as if anything that Syanne told her would change her mind to go there.
‘Stories of travellers crossing those mountains disappearing, never to return,’ Syanne stated. ‘Something dwells there that feeds on the flesh of elves and men. Do you really want to risk the danger?’
‘I am already in danger,’ Arianne returned, ‘and I grow more so the longer I am kept from completing my quest. I have no choice, my Queen. My son’s life hangs in the balance.’
Syanne let out a deflated sigh and resolved to say nothing more, because it was clear Arianne was not going to be deterred from her course. In her place, Syanne did not know if she would act any differently. There was nothing she would not do to protect her children and she could not expect Arianne to do any less.
‘The Queen of Eden Halas is at your service Queen of Carleon,’ she said finally. ‘Whatever you need, we will provide it if we are able.’
‘Thank you,’ Arianne embraced her warmly, grateful for Syanne’s help.
Whether she would think herself capable of facing whatever lay in wait for her at the Frozen Mountains when she finally arrived was another matter entirely.
*******
Syanne was correct, Celene was eager to leave by the time Arianne finally found her at the Hall of Healing.
‘I hear you have endeared yourself to the healers,’ Arianne chuckled.
They were in a room not too dissimilar to the one Arianne had spent the night in, except this one provided a spectacular vista of the forest, with its tall, wide trees that resembled pillars holding up the sky. The Yantra river seemed to flow with less fury, as if it were meandering past them stealthily for fear of waking up the sleeping giants. The trees revealed the spread of the elven community with platforms and steps constructed at midsection, far from the ground but not quite reaching the peaks.
‘They fret too much’ Celene frowned, even though the poultice applied to her shoulder was pleasantly soothing. She would never admit it though. ‘They have that in common with the human healers.’
‘Human healers would have tossed you out the door by now. Elves, fortunately, have more patience,’ Keira declared as she stepped into the room behind them.
‘You will be happy to know that they consider even you more pigheaded than Dare,’ Arianne said sweetly.
Keira uttered a short laugh at that. ‘Well, that's quite a feat. You should be very proud.’
Celene gruffed and eased back into her bed, taking a deep breath of the aromatic air of the Hall of Healing. She was the only occupant at present, which accounted for why the elven healers were all agog with excitement at having a patient to tend to. Still, she was not so stubborn that she did not recognise the care they had given her. For someone who was poisoned by a spider's venom, she had slept well from the incense they had burning in her room which left the scent of cinnamon in the air and lulled her into a pleasant sleep.
‘I should be ready to travel in a day,’ Celene assured them both. ‘I just need today to let my shoulder recover.’
‘We will see,’ Arianne said, committing to nothing.
‘We cannot afford to wait,’ Celene pointed out, not about to be talked into lingering longer.
‘No we can't, but you still need your rest,’ Keira threw in. ‘You need to protect us, and you're in no fit state to do so at the moment. This is as much for our benefit as it yours.’
‘Exactly,’ Arianne said. ‘Another day will not make any difference. Celene, my need is urgent, but I will not have you kill yourself on my account. Take the time to rest and we will be off again soon.’
The Lady of Gislaine despised being fretted upon by healers, no matter how injured she was. Most of her injuries often took place during combat and she abhorred being reminded that she had been bested in battle by having others fuss over her injuries. The only good thing that had ever come out of her visit to one of these places was Ronen.
What chaffed her even more was the fact that after all those years hearing Dare talk of Eden Halas, she was finally within its borders to see for herself, but was unable to do so because she was confined to this bed.
‘Fine, fine,’ Celene conceded defeat. ‘I will stay here if there is no other alternative, but I cannot promise to be pleasant.’
*******
‘How are you enjoying our city?’ Keira heard someone step onto the balcony behind her.
Keira glanced over her shoulder and saw that it was King Halion, who they had met briefly the night before. While he had Aeron's dark hair, his features were more severe than his beautiful youngest son. He was very much the King, and he wore he wore a tunic of blue silk and a long coat with a gold trim. A gold band adorned his head.
‘It is beautiful, my Lord,’ Keira answered, reminding herself to mind her words. This was not Dare who appreciated being addressed the same as when he was a wanderer. This was an elf who had been King for thousands of years. ‘A true marvel,’ she complimented.
He took up position next to her and stared into his city, a small smile of pride crossing his lips as he surveyed the landscape. ‘When I first came there was nothing—just the trees. I had not intended to stay. I was travelling south and just so happened to stop here for rest, but once I did…’ He peered past the railing to a particular spot next to the river, a place that seemed to have more sun that most due to a break in the canopy overhead. The clearing was small but the extra sunlight allowed the bloom of white flowers across the short grass. ‘I stood right there and looked out into the forest and knew this was the place to build a home.’
‘Intuition is a difficult thing to ignore,’ Keira commented. ‘Sometimes a place feels right, even if there is no sense to it.’
‘Agreed.’ He threw her a sidelong glance. ‘That is why my intuition tells me there is more to you than meets the eye. There is something about you that is unfamiliar and odd. If you were not with Arianne, we would not have allowed you into the Veil.’
Keira stiffened and shot a look at the King, wondering how she ought to respond. ‘I am sorry for your discomfort. You are not the first elf to react this way. I’ve been told it’s because of the desert burrowers. It left something inside me that is dark and seems to bother only you elves.’
‘Indeed’. He eyed her suspiciously, not entirely convinced. ‘No matter, you are here and Arianne trusts you. I will put my faith in the Queen of Carleon if not you. In any case, I would know what is the reason for Arianne’s journey. Dare and I may disagree on many things, but even I know he would not send his wife without an appropriate escort on a journey that has so far yielded peril.’
To lie to him seemed extremely discourteous after the hospitality shown to them, but telling him the truth was breaking Arianne’s confidence. Arianne’s quest needed to continue for all their sakes. ‘It is not my place to say why Arianne chooses to travel. If you need an answer, you will need to ask her.’
Halion frowned but did not appear all that surprised by her answer. ‘You do her a disservice by keeping her secret. It is not safe for an elf woman, especially one who is Queen of Carleon, to be wandering about the wilds with only two women as her companions.’
‘One of those women fought at Astaroth,’ Keira reminded, ignoring the derision in his tone. ‘Surely that’s safe enough.’
‘I mean no offense to the Lady of Gislaine, but I would be remiss in my duty to her mother if I did not inquire why Arianne is so far from home. Balfure was not the only evil in Avalyne. There are far meaner things that creep in the deep places of the earth and some closer than we think. The destruction of one terrible being can sometimes is usually followed by another eager to take his place.’
‘Do you know of another?’ she probed, wondering if the King had intelligence that he was keeping to himself.
Halion smiled faintly as if he knew what she was about, but admitted nothing, unwilling to part with anything unless there was there was an equal exchange to be made. ‘Not exactly, but if your lady intends to travel the wilderness alone, she should beware of what lurks in the shadows or,’ he stared at her pointedly, ‘in the light.’
*******
Celene had never met Aeron's brother Hadros, but she had heard enough of him to know that she would not much like him when she met him. She was proven correct when he stepped in her room in the Hall of Healing after Arianne had left and she had sent one of the elf maids trying to tend her wounds to fetch her clothes instead.
‘I am told that you wish your clothes so that you can depart,’ he remarked as he eyed her trying to get out of bed. Upon seeing him, Celene retreated back to bed convinced that he would only try to stop her if she continued her present course.
Like Halion, his hair was dark and it hung about his shoulders either loose or in a braid. His features were not as fine as Aeron's and to her he seemed older, though it was difficult to say for certain with elves. His tone however was patronizing, and that immediately brought out the worst in Celene.
‘Only when I am forced to stay in bed over injuries that are inconsequential to me,’ she retorted, waiting impatiently for her clothes to arrive. At the present, she was clad in a simple white shift and felt all the more self-conscious for it.
‘You are still injured. You should rest,’ he pointed out, standing by the door with his arms folded. His gaze was one of reproach, like she was a child, and upon further thought Celene supposed she was in comparison to him but she did not like being reminded of it.
‘I was injured,’ she corrected him, ‘but I am well now and I need no other treatment. What healing I required after Eden Halas will take place en route, I do not need to be in a bed for that.’
‘You are travelling with Arianne,’ Hadras stated firmly. ‘She requires protection from what lies in the wilds of your world. If you are her only protection then you endanger her by your stubbornness.’
Celene bristled at the accusation. She did not like this elf nor the assumption he made that she would place her own needs above that of Arianne’s. ‘As I am a guest in your father's kingdom, I will try not to take offense by that remark.’
Hadras showed no repentance at her statement.
‘I merely state the obvious,’ he said haughtily. ‘If anything befalls the Queen while she indulges in this foolishness then we will all suffer. Does that not warrant you behaving sensibly?’
‘I am behaving sensibly,’ she retorted with some petulance. She knew there was a kernel of truth in his words, however, but she was not about to admit defeat just yet. ‘I will leave nothing to chance when it comes to Arianne or her baby’s safety. I am injured, yes, but the one to best judge how I will be capable of tolerating those wounds is me—not you.’
‘This will not do,’ Hadras looked at her coldly. ‘She should have a proper escort, not a…’ He faltered when he saw that he was about to say something unforgivable.
‘A woman?’ she accused, and then realised that was not what he intended to say. Not woman, she thought, eyes narrowing as she understood. Human.
‘Hadras,’ Arianne’s voice filled the room and they both turned to see the Queen of Carleon returning to the room with Celene’s travelling clothes in her arm. ‘I think that will be all.’
‘I was…’
‘I am well aware of what you were doing,’ Arianne replied with such glacial hardness to her voice that it was easy to believe she was a Queen. ‘I thank you for your concern and bid you to leave us. Celene and I have much to discuss.’
Hadras appeared as if he wanted to respond, but since much of his conversation with Celene had been heard by Arianne, there was little he could but to withdraw. It was just as well for Arianne, as she did not think that Celene would have been able to restrain her displeasure for much longer.
Keira brushed past Hadros at the door as he was leaving. The elf gave her a look of distaste as he passed that made Keira wonder how Aeron had managed to be so different from his father and brother.
‘What was that about?’ she asked, stepping into the room and noting the tension.
‘Just Hadros being a dolt,’ Celene snorted, flashing them a look of annoyance.
‘Somehow, I'm not surprised,’ Keira shrugged and then declared, ‘I think we need to leave sooner rather than later. The King wants to know here you're going and I don't think he much liked it when I refused to tell him.’
‘They all know that Dare would not simply let me leave Carleon when I am with child, at least not without what they consider a proper escort.’ Arianne sighed, recalling Syanne's reaction to her news.
‘Well, they're not wrong there, but I have a feeling if they find out what we're really about, they're not going to be too happy to let you leave alone.’ Keira stated this as a certainty.
It was concern for Celene's welfare that had kept them here, and it was unfair burden to put on the Lady of Gislaine. Arianne's fear for her babe did not make her forget how Celene had saved both their lives, and she did not wish to aggravate Celene's injury by leaving prematurely. ‘You need at least a further day's rest.’
‘I shall be fine,’ Celene assured her, even though Arianne was right. Despite her bravado in front of Hadros, her shoulder ached and she could not lift her sword until it healed better. ‘Once we're away from here, we can camp at the foot of the Baffin before we cross it and I can rest then. Although I do not blame them for their concern, their insistence to know may do more harm than good. We do not know by what means the Enemy's agent keeps watch over you. If he does not know we have left Sandrine, then we must press that advantage.’
‘I know,’ Arianne nodded in full agreement. ‘You must forgive Hadras and the King,’ she explained as Keira helped Celene dress. ‘They believe that the world is a dangerous place for elves and no place is safe for us except behind the Veil. I sometimes think that if Halion had this way, we would all withdraw behind it and never emerge again.’
‘I suppose,’ Celene shrugged as she sat on the bed and pulled up her breeches with one hand. ‘I see now why Aeron describes his family so little.’
‘I don't think they're so bad,’ Keira retorted helping Celene remove the shift she was wearing. ‘I think they're just over protective. Be fair, they're not behaving any differently than Dare or anyone else at Sandrine would. It is unusual for a Queen to be travelling the way you are. It wouldn't be right if they didn't ask questions.’
To that Arianne could not disagree. She noted the injury on Celene’s shoulder as she slipped on her shirt. ‘Are you certain that you are fit to continue?’
‘I am fine,’ Celene assured her. ‘I am not about to singlehandedly fight Balfure or an army of Berserkers, but I am certainly fit to ride. I can heal on the way.’
‘I will trust you on that,’ Arianne stared at her critically. ‘With everything else that is happening to me of late, the last thing I would require is for you to drop dead from exhaustion or some other malaise because of your stubbornness to aid me in this quest.’
‘If it soothes you somewhat, I will not drop dead—I will faint gracefully from exhaustion.’
Keira rolled her eyes and shook her head at Celene's obvious stubbornness, but had decided to give up trying to argue with the warrior of Angarad.
‘Thank you,’ Arianne retorted sharing Keira's resignation as Celene grinned. ‘That gives me a world of comfort.’
*******
Despite the ambivalence of her husband, Syanne had been true to her word and furnished Arianne and her companions with fresh horses and supplies for their journey northward. At their farewell both Halion and Hadras had been present, voicing their reservations about this mysterious journey that Arianne was taking with such scant protection into the wilds of Avalyne. Fortunately, Syanne was able to exert what influence she had over her husband, and the trio were allowed to go on their way without further interference.
Nevertheless, Arianne was sad to say goodbye to Syanne, for she suspected it would be some time before they were able to see each other again. If her quest was successful and the baby was born unmolested by the Enemy’s machinations, then she would be bound to Sandrine ind