Ella
sat beside the fireplace in the palace. It had been a very long time since
she'd last picked up a needle. Now, she looked at the work she was doing. It
was...adequate. The sound of rich laughter behind her, and a kiss on her cheek,
made her turn with a smile.
" Stop laughing, Char," She smacked him playfully," You know you
couldn't do it any better."
" It's not the work, love." He said softly, the he grinned,"
It's your face while you're doing it."
She made a small cry of protest as he mimicked her determination.
" Stop it Char!"
She made a feeble attempt through her laughter to throw the frame at him, when
suddenly she gave a startled cry of fear and dropped it.
" What's wrong?" Char's eyes darted up.
Ella stared at her hand with a look of utter shock, and he rushed to her side.
The entire frame was soaked with blood, running down the side onto the carpet.
" My god..." He looked at Ella's hand in alarm. But she was fine.
" It's a sign, Char. Something's happened." Her eyes turned to the
frame," Something's happened to our son."
" What?"
" L-look!"
Char hesitantly followed the trail of blood up to the center of the frame. His
face went completely white.
" I'm sending for the Captain."
As they rushed off to the barracks, the blood from the frame slowly stopped,
and began to suck itself back into the fabric. It came from the heart of a
partially finished child.
******
There were no sounds of battle...of clashing swords, or dramatic background
music. Only a soft grunt as Edvi slit each guard's throat with his sword.
Jordyn winced behind him.
" You could at least give them the decency of a fair fight." She
murmured. What was she saying? Since when did she care if ogres fought fair?
Edvi turned, and she could see that, despite how young he was, they reflected a
very tired old wisdom. He had such beautiful eyes...
" You've listened to far too many travelling minstrels."
As he picked his way around the ogres, Jordyn looked around.
" It's odd they didn't pick a fight." Jordyn murmured. " Do you
think we actually surprised them?"
" No. We're expected." Edvi frowned.
" You mean they just put them out here for us to kill!" Jordyn looked
horrified.
" Most likely. Sort of a cocky way of saying ' Since you'll die before you
know it here, I'll give you something to amuse yourselves'."
They continued to walk, and Jordyn stole a shy glance in Edvi's direction.
She'd never really noticed much about him. Just a detail here and there. But,
now that she had a chance, she saw someone far different from the person she'd
known. For one thing, he was actually much taller than she'd first suspected.
Not a great deal more, but enough so that her head came just to where his chest
was. When had his eyes grown such an emerald shade of green? When did his hair,
with those infamous bangs, suddenly become an annoyance that she wished to
brush aside? And when did he suddenly become muscularly slim instead of just
lanky?
Jordyn chided herself. He was exactly the same as when she first saw
him...only...better..
He seem to feel her eyes on him, and turned. She blushed, and started towards
the entrance.
Was she falling in love?
The hope that built in her mind, came crashing down so abruptly that she nearly
protested aloud.
' He wouldn't love you. He wants an Elf, remember?'
True.
' After all, how can you love one who's tormented you so much in the past.'
Sparks of his voice came back to her, filling her with a deep sense of
solitude.
Her mind suddenly twisted in it's place. Something was wrong.
' He can't love you. You are different.'
This wasn't right. She could hear a voice in her mind.
' He won't love you. HE CAN'T LOVE YOU!'
No stop. Why could she hear a voice? She tried to open her mouth to scream, but
realized with a dull horror that she could no longer feel any part of herself.
' He will not love you,' The voice murmured,' Not as long as I AM HERE!'
*******
Edvi took a deep breath as he followed her. His heart gave a little heave of
regret as the darkness of the unlit castle enveloped them. He shook his head.
What did he care? It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her before. Golden blond hair,
pale ivory skin...but part of him ached at not being to look into her eyes
forever...
He stopped as he ran into her. Why'd she stop?
" Jordyn, what are you doing?" He hissed.
Suddenly, she turned around, and to his complete and utter shock, slapped him!
" Half-breed. Be gone!" She growled, then turned to walk on slowly.
Edvi felt those words more than her physical blow. She'd never cared
before...and why so abruptly? He raced towards her, but part of his mind
retreated, cowering in the back of his head like a puppy first beaten.
" JORDYN!"
The angry, hurt half of him felt he needed retribution, some retort that would
make her feel the pain he did. But, then there was the Elven half. It was calm,
and demanded an explanation for this sudden change in attitude. And yet another
part felt that he should just leave. If she wished to die, LET HER. But, his
human side would see none of it.
" JORDYN STOP!"
******
Where was she? Jordyn looked around her. She could see out of her own eyes, and
hear her own voice, but she couldn't say or do anything. WHY?
" Who are you?" She murmured.
" Stupid girl. You know me well. I've been with you since forever."
The voice cackled.
" Calamarais..."
Jordyn shook, or at least her mind shook. Her body continued to walk on,
oblivious to Edvi. Edvi...Jordyn curled up as she remembered the words that had
come from her mouth. Her fingers caressed her own lips. How could she have said
those things?
' He deserved it.'
NO!
She whirled around more. Where was it?
******
Edvi continued to follow after Jordyn, who's eyes had gone from full of light,
to dull as a smudge on glass.
" Jordyn, I know you didn't mean what you said."
" I meant every word of it." She said coldly," Leave me
alone."
" I can't." Edvi looked up helplessly," I love you,
Jordyn."
******
Jordyn felt she could weep for joy.
' I love you too.' She tried to say.
But, something kept her from her own body. Suddenly, instead of reciprocating,
Jordyn found herself running away. Wait!
******
Edvi followed breathlessly, his own heart torn out of his chest.
" Don't you love me, Jordyn?" He asked finally.
" No."
But she wouldn't look him in the eye.
" Don't you? Tell me..." He said.
She seemed to be having an inner struggle, gritting her teeth and closing her
eyes. Suddenly, she whirled on him, and tried to hit him again. This time, he
caught her by the wrist. She screamed.
" SHE WON'T LOVE YOU! NOT AS LONG AS I LIVE!"
Edvi's face went white.
Jordyn's eyes narrowed. " My mother will never love you. And neither will
I!"
But, Edvi knew. The Calamarais had tried to cover it's mistake, but he knew.
" Let her go."
" Leave me alone! I have a mission!"
Edvi grabbed Jordyn by the neck, pushing his sword close.
" I will not leave you, until you LET HER GO!"
Jordyn was silent. But, as Edvi pushed the sword a little harder, she suddenly
grinned wickedly.
" You can not kill me, you pitiful half-breed. I am not a part of this
body. Only she will die."
******
" Why do you do this?" Elar shouted for the hundredth time, as the
woman concocted another brew. " Is all this really for some reason so
petty as not being invited to a party? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!"
The woman stopped in her creations. Slowly, she turned around, and a wavery
gauze fell away from her. Elar backed away in horror. She was so old!
" Yes...I do disgust you, don't I?" The lady cackled. There were
women who were fat, but who could still look beautiful. She was not one of
them. Evil had warped her pudgy face terribly.
" Who are you?!" Elar said finally.
" Who am I? Well...let's see...Once upon a time, I was a wealthy woman. I
fell in love with a man. He had a daughter, born with a curse. I married him,
and his daughter became my own." She looked up darkly," And once upon
a time, I had two daughters of my own."
Elar felt a sudden dread. He'd heard the story of his mother's life enough...
" Dame Olga?" His voice broke into a whisper.
" THAT'S RIGHT," Dame Olga growled," Once upon a time, I had
everything! But, then, YOUR wretched mother took that away from me!"
" But, why......she was your daughter! You had everything she had..."
" No! I was banished. I and my two daughters! I can almost see that little
witch, sneering at my pain. SHE TOOK MY CHANCES AWAY FROM ME! SHE MARRIED THE
PRINCE INSTEAD OF MY DAUGHTER!!!!"
Elar suddenly began to understand...
" You did all this...because my father wouldn't marry your
daughters?"
" NO! I did this, because he didn't marry them! And because he didn't
marry them, BOTH OF THEM LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL..."
"...Silver Hill...that sign."
" That's right." Dame Olga smirked in satisfaction," You were
going in the right direction. The hill was further ahead. But, I shielded it
with magic. So you found the grave of my beautiful daughters instead!!!!!!"
Chapter Seventeen :: To Come To Terms
"
My beautiful Hattie...Olive..." Dame Olga tore herself from her work to
glare at Elar. " I knew it was all your mother's fault. She took away what
was rightfully mine!!!!!!!"
Then her tormented screech turned to a high cackling laughter.
" But I wouldn't let that hurt me. No...I convinced my sisters to help me.
The fools. They agreed to helping me kidnap the child."
Elar turned aside.
" You evil woman! I can't believe this!!"
Her laughter turned more sinister.
" Of course you can't! You're a prince! What do you know?"
******
Jordyn....no....Calamarais stormed onward. Suddenly, she stopped, hunching
over. Edvi ran behind her, but was thrown back, as she suddenly stood up
straight. Something uncurled from her back in a misty spiral, a gigantic spirit.
" A faerie!"
The faerie was connected to Jordyn, and loomed over her head.
A/N: If you can't imagine this, think in terms of Ah! My Goddess...how the
angels are.
" CALAMARAIS! Leave Jordyn this instant."
The woman laughed.
" I will do no such thing! She is mine! My host! MY BEAUTIFUL energy
blooms from her sorrow."
With that Calamarais continued to walk on. Edvi stopped to heave a sigh of
frustration.
" What more must I do," He murmured desperately," Jordyn's found
her love. Why won't Calamarais die?"
" You've proclaimed your love, boy, but she hasn't yet." A raspy
voice murmured. " It has to be mutually proclaimed in order to
count."
Edvi whirled around.
" YOU!"
" RIGHT!" The wolf-man grinned. This couldn't have been the same man!
" What happened? You look.....younger...."
" Of course. Thought'd you be rid of me so easily, huh?" The man
laughed uproariously, shaking girth that wasn't there. He frowned down at
himself, flexing his muscles," hmm...I must thank you. I haven't seen this
body for a long time."
The young wolf-man reached into his bag and brought out a sword.
" Here boy. Something I've been meaning to give you."
Edvi reached out to touch the sword. It rang clear as he swept a few arcs in
the air.
" Thank you." He said with a bewildered look.
" You're welcome." The man grinned.
Edvi continued to gape, as the man sped after Jordyn...wait a minute, he should
be doing the same thing! With renewed strength, he raced after the two figures.
******
" YOU!"
Calamarais sneered down at the Wolf-Man.
" I THOUGHT I'D KILLED YOU, RAENON!"
Raenon smiled wryly.
" You nearly did. I was lucky this young man was here. He finished the
process, but with an ordinary blade. I WAS REBORN!" He said, nodding at
Edvi.
" You will stand down," The woman cried," Or I will kill this
girl!!!"
She struck out at Raenon, only to find Edvi grasping Jordyn's wrist.
" Leave my love alone."
" HAH!"
Jordyn pulled back and swung her arm out again, only to find it caught once
again in Edvi's grip.
" Jordyn, wake up." He said softly," I know you're in
there."
Suddenly, Calamarais the spirit formed a sword with her arm.
" I WILL KILL YOU! THEN NO ONE WILL LOVE YOU!"
She reached to plunged the dagger into Edvi's breast, but something inside her
ripped at her until she gasped in pain.
Raenon grinned.
" You made a mistake threatening Edvitalon."
Jordyn's body mirrored the Calamarais's pain, hunching over as a battle fought
inside.
******
" You'll stay away from Edvi!" Jordyn hissed, her 'hands' clasped
around Calamarais's throat. Calamarais screamed, throwing Jordyn aside.
" Get away from me!"
" I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU AS LONG AS I LIVE! IF I HAVE TO I'LL KILL ME TO
TAKE YOU ALONG WITH ME!"
******
Calamarais/Jordyn straightened with a look of rage.
" BACK AWAY OR I WILL KILL HER!"
" You can't." Raenon laughed," There isn't another fit host
within three miles of you."
" Why you..."
Suddenly, Calamarais laughed. Her eyes glowed with a fearful light.
" It's done!!! I am finally FREE!"
Her spirit slowly pulled itself free of Jordyn, who fell down lifeless. Edvi
rushed to her side, shaking her frantically.
" Jordyn??!! JORDYN??!!"
Her life seeped further and further away, and Edvi only cradled her tighter,
trying to stifle sobs of rage.
" Jordyn, please...don't leave!"
Slowly, he pulled her head close to his, and whispering into her ear.
" Pitiful fool," Calamarais sneered," Perhaps I should stay and
watch the fun."
" She can still kill you." Raenon murmured.
" Oh, please." Calamarais cackled," I've sapped all her
strength. What makes you think she has enough to blink, much less
speak??!!!"
But, even as Calamarais cackled violently some more, Raenon cast a sad, knowing
smile at Jordyn. Slowly, Edvi felt her stir, and heard her whisper something
very softly.
" I love you, too, Edvitalon."
" Jordyn."
Even as she fell back into unconsciousness, Edvi watched in delight as
Calamarais screamed, her body filled with dark light.
" Goodbye!" Raenon grinned, waving at the quickly dissappating
Calamarais.
But, Calamarais only grinned through her pain. " His sorrow will be a fair
price for my defeat!!!"
With those words, Jordyn's breath was stopped, and Edvi couldn't restrain his
grief as her hand fell limply to her side.
" JORDYN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
******
Elar heard the wail of grief from his place hidden just beneath an archway in
his tower. Merlis stood beside him.
" Did you hear that?" He turned around to peer down the hall.
" Yes," Was her immediate reply.
They'd managed to escape, only because Dame Olga had left the door unlocked.
Something had distracted her as she'd been looking for the key. She wasn't much
of a kidnapper.
" Come on, Merlis."
Elar turned to go, but saw Merlis hesitate.
" What's the matter?"
" Elar, I-" She looked frightened," What if we get caught? I
don't want to end like Gwenalene did. I still remember-"
Elar put a reassuring hand on Merlis's shoulder.
" I won't let her hurt you, all right?" He smiled," She couldn't
even remember to lock the door. How's she going to catch us?"
Merlis smiled, but she felt less than reassured. That woman wasn't very smart,
but her cunning would never allow her to leave a door unlocked...they were
expected...
******
Edvitalon held Jordyn for a very long time, whispering frantically, anything he
could think of to make this all a lie. Finally, Raenon pulled the boy to his
feet.
" She's gone for now, Edvi. We must finish our job."
" ..." Edvi fell back to the floor," I won't leave her."
" YOU MUST. My daughter is still running about this castle causing mass
havoc! You must leave now and finish her off."
" I WILL NOT DESERT JORDYN!" He growled," I will not betray her
that way."
" THE GIRL IS DEAD, EDVITALON!"
" HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I-" Edvi's voice faltered," Nevermind. GO
WITHOUT ME."
Raenon fell silent, watching the boy looking miserably disheveled, and totally
dead inside.
" And...would you give your life to get her back again?"
" Absolutely." Edvi said without hesitation.
" I see." Raenon gazed at her body for a moment.
" That's why I will not leave!"
" You needn't leave her. She'll come with you."
" What?"
Suddenly, Edvi felt Jordyn take a great gasping breath. Her eyes flew open, and
she bolted upright, clutching her head.
" CALAMARAIS!" She blurted, looking about wildly as though she'd
woken up from a frightful nightmare.
" Jordyn!"
**
It was like waking from a nightmare only to find yourself in a dream.
Bewildered as she was, swept up in Edvi's embrace, Jordyn hoped it would never
end.
" Don't ever do that again to me, you hear?" Edvi seemed on the verge
of tears.
" Someone's getting soft on me," She said half teasingly.
" I've lost a lot of treasures before, but this time I couldn't bare
it."
Suddenly, he pulled her close, and spoke softly.
" Now, tell me the words I've waited to hear..."
" But, I've already said them."
" You said them to Edvitalon," Edvi frowned," How many times
have I told you NEVER to call me that?"
Jordyn blinked, then laughed as he pulled her to her feet.
" I love you, Edvi."
He answered her with a kiss. If there's such a thing as pure heaven, Jordyn
felt it now. All that loneliness, all that sadness, all of it had led to
this...
" I hate to break this moment up," Raenon dryly commented," But,
there's still my lunatic daughter."
Jordyn blushed red to her ears, and started to walk purposefully towards the
next door. Edvi smiled at her back.
" Thank you, Raenon."
" Eh? For what?"
" You brought her back for me."
" Me?" The Wolf-man laughed," I did nothing of the sort! No, it
was you that did it boy."
" How could I..."
" Wake up! You're a half-elf!"
" What's that got to do with it?" Edvi turned stiffly to follow Jordyn,
only to stop as Raenon caught his arm.
" If you would only look past your hate," Raenon replied," And
seriously see your family's ancestry, you would understand what you should be
proud of Edvitalon."
He put a hand up as Edvi protested.
" NO! No, you will not tell me NOT to call you that. It is your given
name. Edvitalon, " Two Halves of Power". Live by that name, half-elf.
You'll see it has its advantages."
No more words passed between them, and Raenon released his grip so that Edvi
could catch up with the love he'd lost and regained.
" That boy still has much to come to terms with..."