Chapter One - Part Two
By Darrell Walker
Darrell Walker's Homepage
Aerinn dreamed, tossing and turning on his bed, moaning softly. His body was entwined with his blankets. Finally, he rolled of the bed, not even awaking when his body hit the floor....
...The music called him, drew him as surely as her beauty. She didn’t hear him approach, wrapped up in her song as she was. He took a moment to admire her unnoticed. His eyes hungrily memorized every line of her face.......Aerinn cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the silent emptiness of the forest. Her eyes rose to his....
...She looked at him accusingly, scorn and contempt twisting her face,"What have you done, Aerinn? You swore an Oath to me. You have forsaken your people, and for what? For me? I can never return your feelings. You're not even human; you're a lost spirit, damned for all I know! No, Aerinn, you have forsaken your people, and you have forsaken me. I could never love a man who would take another man's body!"
Aerinn just stared at her, his body numb, his mind unable to comprehend the reality of what was happening. He tried to think of some defense for his actions, but could find nothing but guilt and confusion. After all he had gone through, she would only reject him if he could ever find her again....
Aerinn started. He was back in the forest, walking toward Selene, about to talk to her for the first time....
...Aerinn cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the silent emptiness of the forest. Her eyes rose to his....
"Hello there." Aerinn's heart leaped as he recognized her inflections. She had not the speech of an Englishwoman.
"Good afternoon, my lady," Aerinn said in Gaelic, taking a gamble. "Might I join you for a moment?"
The lady smiled at him warmly. "Of course, please sit down...."
Whitegold smiled to himself in his sleep, sensing that his old friend's dreams had taken a turn for the better. He usually didn’t interfere with the Prince's dreaming, but Aerinn had a great deal to face tomorrow; he was going to need his wits about him.
Whitegold let his massive eyes drift shut again, slipping even more luxuriously and deeply into his slumber, listening to the heartbeat of the world beneath him, aware of the tumult of voices around him. The voices of the Dream.
The din of voices intimidated Aerinn more than he would have liked to admit. He shifted nervously between his two troll bodyguards. Kor’s eyes moved to Aerinn, flicking over the sword at his side. Aerinn sighed, did they really think he'd try to fight his way out? Aerinn drew a deep breath and looked out over the large mass of assembled Fae.
He stood in a large park. Faeries of all kiths swarmed everywhere between the ancient trees, talking, socializing. They acted as if it were a party. His mother and father stood on the large wooden dais that had been erected earlier that morning. King Stormbringer was the epitome of royal majesty and power, while Queen Elnora was serenity made flesh.
It seemed all the Fae in the city had come to King's Grove to see the fallen Prince. Aerinn laughed at himself bitterly. At least someone was being entertained by all this.
A warm breeze swept through the grove, carrying with it the scent of summer. Aerinn closed his eyes and let the breeze wash over him, carrying him away....
"It is such a beautiful afternoon!" Selene gazed rapturously at the deep blue sky.
Aerinn had been busy staring into her eyes, drinking in the sight of her. He had to bring himself back to the moment and recall what she had said. "It sure is," he said softly, smiling at her.
Selene blushed. "So, I've told you about my family. What about yours?"
"My family? My family is very far away, but they are well. I come from Ireland as well."
"You do? I don't notice the sound of home in your speech."
Aerinn smiled, "I've traveled a lot. One tends to pick up a rather interesting accent after wandering the world."
"You've seen the world?" Selene laughed, "Are you serious?"
"Well, no, I haven't seen the _whole_ world, but I've seen the parts that interest me."
Selene sighed wistfully. "I wish I could travel like that, but this move to England was the most I could manage."
"Why can't you travel?"
Selene laughed bitterly. "There are so many reasons. Father would not allow it for one; he would say it is improper for a lady to go traipsing through foreign countries. Then there's money, which I have none." She looked at Aerinn, "I do not have the resources that you obviously do."
Aerinn chuckled, "What makes you so sure I have money? I own nothing except that which I carry, and the forest is my home."
Selene smiled, "I wasn't talking about the money, Aerinn. I know what you are." She laughed at his surprise, "Oh come now! I know the legends, and surely no man looks as you do!" She reached up and stroked his delicately pointed ear gently.
Aerinn tried to talk around the sudden lump in his throat. His voice felt strained, "So what is it, exactly, that you think I am, if not a man?"
Selene smiled warmly, and Aerinn relaxed visibly. "You're an earth-spirit, of course. A watcher. You watch the forest, that is your purpose."
Aerinn smiled at her, "It's not just the forest I watch anymore, Selene. I watch you now as well...."
The sudden silence around him brought Aerinn to his senses. The crowd was perfectly silent, perfectly still. Not a bird chirped, not a leaf rustled. Time itself seemed to have stopped. Reluctantly Aerinn brought his eyes up to his parents.
The King and Queen shone with majestic grandeur, their faces beautiful and powerful. Light seemed to come from their very pores, illuminating them in pure Glamour. Even Aerinn was awed at the sight. After a seemingly endless moment, Stormbringer spoke, his strong baritone carrying through the grove and reverberating off the trees. Not a single Fae there missed his words.
"It is a sad day this day. A day when a King must punish one of his subjects, a day when a father must chastise his son. My son, Prince Aerinn, has been repeatedly caught associating with humans in a most improper manner."
There was a soft murmuring in the crowd as those informed told those uninformed exactly what the King met by "improper." Aerinn saw more than one look of outrage, of disbelief. Aerinn felt his face burn in shame; it took all his force of will to meet the crowds gaze, to not look at his feet, or the ground, or the sky, or anything other than all those disapproving faces.
"As you also know, I have been lenient on him. Time and time again I have let his misjudgments pass. Just a few weeks ago, travel to Earth was forbidden, the trods deemed unsafe. We have lost more and more trods and freeholds every day, the result of what our sages call the Shattering."
A chill seemed to sweep through the crowd, and Fae hugged themselves and tightened their cloaks as if to keep out the cold. Many faces drained of color, and more than a looked as if they might faint.
"I found out yesterday that Prince Aerinn has disobeyed my direct command, not once, but countless times. He has used a Moon-Trod to travel to Earth, with no regard for the rest of us. He has risked us all, risked Arcadia itself for this selfish lust of his for some human woman."
An angry grumble moved through the crowd. _How quickly they turn,_Aerinn thought.
"Normally, the punishment for such treasonous behavior would be death, but it is forbidden to lay a hand against royalty, and even I, as King, cannot bring about the execution of a Prince. I have decided on a different sentence." The crowd hushed in anticipation. There had been countless rumors flying through the city all morning, but no one knew for sure what was about to happen.
"Aerinn is to be ceremonially stripped of his title as Prince, and his rights as my son." The crowd stood in shocked silence for a moment, and then chaos ensued as each tried to determine from his neighbor what was going on. This was unprecedented. Very few lords were stripped of their titles, and never had such a thing been done to a Prince.
Stormbringer grimaced at the noise and motioned at Morgonn impatiently. The wizard hurriedly cast a cantrip, and when the King spoke again, his voice boomed like thunder, shaking the very ground beneath them. "There is more. Aerinn will be banished from Arcadia. He will be sent to the world he so loves, and there he will make his own fate.
Fae talked to Fae worriedly, fear in their eyes. Arguments began, and some started to get violent. All knew that banishment meant almost certain death, for the banality on Earth was too strong for all but the most powerful of the Fae, and even they could only stand it's corrosion for a limited time. They stared at their Prince in horror. Aerinn was well-liked by the people, loved, and though most disapproved of his behavior and thought he should be duly punished, none had dreamed the punishment would be so severe.
"Let this be an example to you all. These are desperate times. The first cold winds of Winter have blown over our hearths. Everywhere the eternal flame is snuffed. The Dream is fading, and we will be taken with it unless we take precautions. My son has committed the highest offense known; he has risked the very Dreaming itself with his foolishness. In desperate times as these, such behavior cannot be tolerated. Bring him forward."
The trolls motioned with their halberds. Aerinn sighed and stepped up to the dais, kneeling at his father's feet. He heard a sound from his mother and saw her out of the corner of his eyes, fighting off her tears. Aerinn spoke loudly enough for the crowd to hear, "I come before you, my King, a humble subject. I accept your judgments of me and wish only to bear my sentence with dignity and honor. I await your pleasure."
Stormbringer favored his son with a grimace. "Stand up." As Aerinn regained his feet, Stormbringer motioned to Morgonn. "Initiate the binding."
Morgonn stepped to the front of the dais, facing Aerinn. He stretched his arms out to his sides and began chanting in along-forgotten tongue. A rustle went through the crowd as Glamour streamed toward the wizard, passing through all the Fae present. Aerinn gritted his teeth as the wizard began the Binding. Morgonn’s chanting rose in volume steadily, until all on the dais could hear his words. Aerinn shuddered as he recognized his True Name amongst the gibberish. He felt the Glamour move towards him, felt it bind his will and Dan to the will of the wizard....
Everyone, even Stormbringer himself, gasped as the Glamour around the Prince flickered and died. Stormbringer rounded on Morgonn. "What has happened?" he demanded.
A look of shock and fear strained Morgonn's face. He swallowed hard."I don't know, my King. The Cantrip failed. I can't bind him," he said the last with awe in his voice.
The crowd shifted, the murmur growing to a dull roar. Morgonn was the most powerful wizard in the realm. The idea that he couldn’t bind someone was impossible to imagine, but it was happening, before their very eyes.
Stormbringer whispered to Morgonn harshly, so no one beyond five feet would hear. "That's impossible!"
"Yes, it is, my King," Morgonn replied just as softly, looking at Aerinn uneasily. The Prince just stood there, looking confused. "But it has happened. I suggest you try the Binding my King, the Glamour will respond to you."
"Very well." Stormbringer placed himself before his son, looking at him sternly, then he began to chant. The ground quaked and thunder rumbled as the very elements themselves responded to the will of their King. Glamour passed through all present, taking a minuscule bit from each to add to the power of the Binding.
Aerinn felt the Binding clamp onto his soul like a set of iron manacles. He dropped to his knees with a groan, a dull ache spreading through his body. He shivered to his core, knowing his will was no longer his own.
Stormbringer smiled in satisfaction. "Open the Gate, Morgonn."
The crowd followed the procession through the trees, moving in little clumps, talking excitedly. Aerinn walked between his troll guards, his heart between his feet, barely aware of his surroundings. His thoughts were filled with Selene. He would never see her again; he knew that now.
Stormbringer brought the procession to a halt before a huge oval gate crafted of silver and gold. The gate appeared to be two winged-serpents twined about one another, forked tongues flicking out of their open mouths.
Morgonn stepped before the Gate, and prepared himself for the powerful magic he would have to weave. Aerinn felt his throat constrict as the wizard raised his arms, hanging his head back, looking into the sky.
At the back of the crowd, to one side, people began to shift, a murmuring carried over the still air. Aerinn and the other Fae at the gate watched as the crowd split, opening a path. A man strode towards the gate, and as he passed, every Fae bowed low in reverence, placing their foreheads to the ground.
The man was tall, broad-shouldered with gleaming white hair, hanging in waves down his back. It was impossible to put an age to his face. He looked to be young, barely a man, but his gleaming silver eyes held wisdom and power. His skin gleamed as strange silver color, it seemed almost metallic. The man wore flowing robes of the finest silk in colors of brown and green.
Aerinn went to his knees in reverence. Morgonn bowed with respect, Elnora curtsied deeply, lowering her gaze. Aerinn's troll guards both saluted the man, then bowed low. As the man's eyes moved to King Stormbringer, the King himself bowed low in respect and homage. "You grace us with your presence Great One."
The man's handsome face broke into a quiet smile. His voice was deep and rich when he spoke, "I had to come, my King. My friend is in need."
Stormbringer grimaced. There had been much excitement at Aerinn’s birth. It was said by the Seers that his son was Favored of the Dreaming. Stormbringer and his wife had been very proud, but they had not realized the full implications of Aerinn's Dan until the day he met Whitegold. Stormbringer still winced a little at the name. Aerinn had been very young, and had not understood what his new friend was. He had grasped one word, Whitegold, and had chosen that for his companions name.
Whitegold was a product of the Dreaming, much as the Fae. Most of the creatures and monsters in Arcadia had been created by the dreams of humans and Faeries. Whitegold was a dragon, but he wasn't just any dragon. Whitegold Dragons, also known as Arcadian Dragons, were living manifestations of the Dream. Their origin couldn't be linked to a dream, or even many dreams. No one knew where they came from; some said they were older than the Fae, but few actually believed that.
The fact of the matter was that Whitegold Dragons were wise, and very, very old. They lived forever, and there was not much that could destroy one. They were also rare; it was generally accepted that there were only seven still in the Dreaming today. Arcadian dragons worked together with the Fae, but preferred to deal with Faeries on a one-on-one basis, so they usually picked a worthy Faeries their companion, speaking to the rest of Arcadia through that very fortunate individual.
Most Arcadian Dragons chose Kings and Queens of the Realms of Arcadia, though a few chose Princes and Princesses. For a King or Queen to be considered worthy of such companionship was a great honor; for a Prince or Princess it was even more esteemed. A Prince or Princess having such a companion was guaranteed the succession. Now Aerinn's Whitegold had showed up, and if he demanded Aerinn's release, Stormbringer would be hard-pressed to refuse him.
The crowd had settled back down, and now watched the proceedings silently.
"I have heard of my friend's transgressions," Whitegold stated with his powerful voice. "I understand our King's reasons for exiling Prince Aerinn, and I acknowledge my King's wisdom and authority in the matter."
Stormbringer sighed in relief.
"However, Aerinn is my friend, and I have Chosen him. I do not regret that Choice, even in lieu of present circumstances." Whitegold looked to Aerinn, and Aerinn blushed, unable to meet the Dragon's eyes. Whitegold caught the Prince's gaze and held it, smiled a small smile reassuringly. "I will accompany the Prince on his voyage."
The crowd rose as one, exclaiming disbelief. Stormbringer silenced them with a gesture. "That is impossible, Great One. The banality of Earth will not accept you. It will slowly tear you apart, and even one great as yourself will not survive it's undoing forever."
Whitegold bowed his head. "I know this, my King. I will therefore wait for Aerinn in the Dreaming."
"Whitegold, no." Aerinn walked up to his friend, looking at him pleadingly. "I do not regret what I've done, but I won't drag you into this. I will survive or perish on my own."
"I am your friend, Aerinn," Whitegold said softly, "and I will do for you what you would do for me. Give me your sword."
Aerinn blinked, then pulled Arbingsol out of it's scabbard and handed it to the Dragon. Whitegold held the sword aloft, and began to chant, pulling Glamour from the earth, from the very air around them. He began to work the magic into the blade, weaving, changing, empowering. Morgonn's eyes widened. Elnora gasped, not believing her eyes. Whitegold finished his work, and handed the blade back to Aerinn.
Elnora grabbed Whitegold's arm, her shock making her bold. "You can’t do that!"
"Can't do what, my dear?" Whitegold asked mildly, widening his eyes.
"That!" Elnora pointed at Arbingsol. "What you just did! It’s's...it's impossible!"
"Impossible for you, my dear, but not for me." Whitegold then took Elnora by her shoulders and spoke softly in her ear. She nodded dumbly, amazement clear on her face, then retook her place at the King's side.
"This sword will no longer be known as Arbingsol, for that is the name of another. From this day hence the blade will be called Soulguider."
Aerinn nodded solemnly and sheathed Soulguider.
Stormbringer motioned to Morgonn. "Let's finish this."
Morgonn called the Glamour, directing it into the Gate, awakening its power. Slowly the air inside the Gate began to ripple, to shimmer. The trees seen through the Gate on the other side undulated and swayed, then faded as the Gate awakened, it's surface shimmering like thick water.
Banality poured from the Gate in a wave, bleaching color from the park, taking the collected breath of the gathered crowd of Fae away. Morgonn quickly summoned a shield of Glamour and placed it over the Gateway, keeping the banality from passing through.
Stormbringer stepped before Aerinn, the Glamour responding to his ceremonial words. "Prince Aerinn Moonwater, Anarmoesse Lunlanesque, Knight of House Fiona, on this day, in the presence of these witnesses, and by the will of a King of Arcadia, and under the watchful eyes of one of her own, you are charged with endangering the Dream. Risking that which is with you so strongly. You are absolved of your nobility. Your Princehood is revoked, and all but your most rudiment of affiliations with our House are severed. You are lost, both to the Dream, and to your own. You are hereby banished from Arcadia, doomed to walk the Earth as best you can. May the Dreaming be with you, and may you follow your Dan with dignity and honor."
Aerinn shook under the assault on his Faerie soul, the horror of having his very Name used to alter his being. Whitegold watched sadly, silently. Morgonn smiled a small smile to himself, caught the Queen's eye and nodded. She smiled a small smile, looking a little comforted. Stormbringer noticed none of this.
Aerinn walked and stood before the Gate, gazing into the maelstrom within it's depths. He would lose all he was when he exited on the other side.... A hand gripped his shoulder comfortingly, Whitegold smiled down at him. "You don't have to do this, old friend. I don’t expect or require you to. Find another...someone more worthy."
"I have chosen you, Aerinn, and I shall stand by my decision. I will wait for you in the Dreaming."
Aerinn took a deep breath, looked one more time at his beloved Arcadia. Elnora ran forward, throwing her arms around him. Aerinn held her tightly, crying with her, her tears breaking his heart. "I'll be alright, Mother, I promise..."
"I know you will, my son, I know you will." The words might have sounded convincing had she not been sobbing brokenly.
Aerinn squeezed her hard. "Promise me you will forgive Father, please."
Elnora sighed. "I am sorry, Aerinn, but I can't."
Aerinn held his mother for minutes more, but it didn't seem enough time had passed before the trolls were prodding him towards the Gateway. Kor nodded to him. "Hold to your heart, Aerinn. Never forget the fire that burns with in you. You have my respect." The massive troll bowed low, bringing a murmur from the crowd and a frown of disapproval from the King.
Aerinn turned towards the Gate, turned towards his fate, and stepped through....
Aerinn looked around him in confusion, not really aware of anything but the pain tearing through his body, through his very essence. He didn’t know where he was, he didn't know who he was. All there was was the pain.
He tripped over something, looked down to see a blond-headed human, lying unconscious at his feet.
"Take the body, you fool!" a rough voice shouted from somewhere. "You're being undone!"
Aerinn looked at the poor human in disgust. As if he would ever do such a thing.... An image of a beautiful woman flashed in his mind. "Selene..." Aerinn moaned. He couldn't leave her, he couldn't.... Aerinn's capacity for thought was quickly being eroded away. He moved towards the body, flowing into it like water down a drain....
Aerinn stood up, looking around him in confusion. His thoughts were blurred, he couldn't remember anything very well. A course unshaven man walked up to him. "Almost thought we lost you there!" He spat on the ground. "What the hell were you doing, smelling your flowers." Aerinn didn't know what the man was talking about, so he decided to ignore him.
A low humming sound brought Aerinn's gaze to the Gateway. The sound slowly rose in pitch and intensity, building to a shrieking wail. Aerinn thought he could see something inside the Trod. A large serpentine creature of the purest white....
King's Gate exploded in a burst of Glamour, momentarily pushing back the banality. The banality retaliated, converging on the Gate, rushing in with the sound of a thunderclap, throwing the two men from their feet.
Aerinn climbed shakily to his feet, his head throbbing. He gingerly touched his hand to his temple; it came away stained with blood. He looked at the smoking, twisted remains of something. Something that had originally been made of gold and silver. He shrugged. It obviously important.
Aerinn wandered away, hoping there was a town nearby, someone to tell him who he was. Someone to recognize him.
Lying amidst the rubble, Soulguider glowed fitfully, flickered, then winked out of existence.
Stormbringer stared at what was left of the Gateway. Had Aerinn made it. He turned to Elnora, she was crying, sobbing wretchedly. His heart went out to her. What had he done? He reached for her, "Elnora, I'm so sorry--"
"Don't touch me! Don't you ever touch me!" Elnora shrieked at him. She looked wildly at the assembled Fae, looked toward Morgonn, then disappeared in a flash of Glamour.
Morgonn smiled to himself. Things had gone just as he'd hoped. His plan had worked perfectly....