Earth Child (Romance Novels of The Fae Realm) (13 page)

            Seeing their opportunity the Earth Fae dropped to their knees, burying their arms elbow deep in the earth.  The ground started to shake and a large and deep trench appeared behind the advancing Shadow Fae, effectively cutting off their retreat.  A few remaining Shadow Fae were still visible under the protection of the trees, until the Fall Fae began their work on the trees.  The trees with leaves immediately started to turn color.  Air Fae brought forth a strong wind baring the leaves and exposing the shadows to sunlight.  Angry shouts could be heard as the Shadow Fae forces were separated.

            A small company of the ceffyl gard found themselves on the wrong side of the trench and the Shadow Fae took no time in jumping on them, hacking them down.  It was too much for some and they shed their horsy skin transforming back into their fae forms.  My heart leapt into my throat as I recognized Cerus among them.

            “No!” I screamed and took off down the hill.  I could hear Root calling for me to come back, but nothing was going to stop me. 

            I had promised to keep Cerus safe, and it was one promise that I was planning on keeping.  Shadow Fae tried to block my path, but each one to stand in front of me was soon dispatched by my staff, a vicious down-strike to the head opening the skull of one, a side-strike breaking the ribs and legs of another.  Those that I couldn’t defeat with my strength I sent flying through the air, carried on powerful currents aided by my powers.  Nothing was going to keep me from my target.  I passed the rumbling crosses, carrying their passengers to safety.  With a wave of my hand I sent them flying up the hill toward Root and the safety of the Fae village.  Still I pressed on, get to Cerus the one thought that was going through my head.  I had almost made it to the trench when a familiar figure stepped into my path.  I came to a skidding halt.  Jariah.

            “Hello Alexa.”

            “Jariah” I noticed the skin around his throat was red and angry, reminders of our last encounter, “been to any good dances lately?” I taunted him.

            He screamed and advanced his short sword raised high above his head.  I shifted position and thrust my staff deep into his belly, emptying his lungs of air.  Whirling I brought my staff down across his back, knocking him to the ground.  I didn’t wait for him to stand, quickly jumping on his back, grabbing fistfuls of hair and bashing his head into the ground.  With more strength than I thought he possessed he rolled, dislodging me from his back.  Now our positions were reversed and I hastily threw my arms up to deflect Jariah’s erratic blows.  Bucking my hips I sent him flying over my head, scrambling to my feet, scooping up my staff and turning to face him once more.

            “Give up Alexa.  You will never win.”

            “You’re wrong Jariah.  I will win.  We will win.  Shadows only exist because of the light.  It is our time to shine and your time to die.”

            Once again we clashed, his sword chipping at my staff as blow after blow was deflected.  Ours was a deadly dance, each fighting with the knowledge that only one of us would survive.  For every strike and thrust that I landed, Jariah was there, landing blows, his blade slowly cutting and nicking at my flesh.  Sensing my fatigue he jumped, grasping his sword with both hands, screaming as he brought the blade down with all his strength on my head.  I brought my staff up just in time, dropping to my knee under the force of his blow, snapping my staff in two.  Laughing Jariah raised his sword once more.  I grabbed pieces of the now broken staff and thrust with all my strength sinking the wood deep into Jariah’s chest.  Shocked stumbled, dropping his sword and looking at the stout pieces of hickory protruding from his bleeding chest.  He fell to one knee, then to the other, before finally slumping backward his eyes staring empty at the sky above.  I had killed him.

            I felt a hand heavy on my shoulder.  Spinning to my feet I turned, coming face to face with Garreth.  “It was a clean kill Mother Alexa.  There is no shame in his death.”

            I nodded.  The sound of battle all around me reminded me of my promise.  Without saying a word to Garreth I raced off into the melee once more intent on finding Cerus.  He was badly injured, his left arm hanging limp at his side as he tried to fight off the advancing Shadow Fae.  They were driving him further and further back, hoping to push him off the edge of the trench so he’d fall to his death below.  I had no weapons at my disposal.  All I had were my powers.  Reaching out to the forces of nature around me I opened my eyes and focused them on the Shadow Fae on the other side.  I would not use my powers to kill them, doing so would corrupt my magic.  Instead I focused on using nature to push them back allowing the circled ceffyl gard a chance to rally and flee.  Strong winds buffeted them from all sides, sending the smaller ones flying into the air and to the depths of the trench, their screams echoing off the sides.

            I gathered the clouds, pulling lightening from the sky to crash at their feet, dislodging dirt and blowing them apart as if I’d thrown a grenade.  The ceffyl gard rallied seeing their enemies on the run, quickly cutting off their escape.  I raised a land bridge, just wide enough for me to cross and hurried to Cerus’ side.  He was pale, his clothes stained with blood.  Dropping to his knees he lay motionless on the muddy grass.

            I skidded to a halt next to him, “Cerus!  You hang on!” I screamed to deaf ears.  I could see the life slowly fading from his eyes.  No!  He wasn’t supposed to die like this.  I had promised his mother that I would keep him safe.  I had promised and I had failed.  Feeling helpless I watched as his last breath left him.

          “NO!” I screamed in anguish.  There had to be something I could do.

           Frantically I looked around.  So many lives had been lost this day.  It wasn’t fair.  It wasn’t right that they should die and I should live.  I reached out with my powers, drawing all the energy of the elements around and into me.  The power was overwhelming as it blazed through my body.  My gaze fell upon Cerus’ still form.  I brushed his hair off his face, so peaceful in his death.  Gathering all my strength, all my power, all my love I lowered my face to his and pressed my lips firmly against his.

            Immediately the power coursing through my body found its release and a great blinding light radiated outward encompassing all in its path.  Sightless and exposed the Shadow Fae fell as one, their abusive powers ripped from their bodies, leaving some broken and dead while others just collapsed from the strain.  The eight Fae tribes rejoiced, knowing they had won the day.  Rising to their triumphant cries I felt Cerus’ lungs fill with air under my hand and saw his blue eyes snap open, focusing on mine.

            “Alexa?” he asked me confused.

            “Tell Grace I kept my promise” I whispered to him before collapsing into oblivion.

*          *          *          *

            I found myself in a peculiar state, not really awake, not really asleep, just aware.  I was aware that my people had won and were finally free of the threat that the Shadow Fae presented.  I was aware the Cerus was alive, although he suffered from a dislocated shoulder and a broken arm he would live.  I was aware of my parents and Sam taking turns sitting around my bed as I convalesced.

            “You were amazing Lex.  I finally understand what people mean when they say ‘behold the power of mother nature’.  They’re talking about you Lex.  So come back.  Use your power and come back to us” Sam pleaded.

            “Lexi, I’m still not ready to say goodbye.  Please Lexi, please come back.” Nancy cried.

            I wanted to shout to them,
I’m here!
  But every time I tried I would find that I was lost, that I didn’t know how to get back to them or how to tell them that I loved them and I was glad they were safe.  Some part of me was keeping everything locked up and all I could do was drift in my awareness.

            “I don’t know how she survived,” I heard Calefacto’s voice, “That much heat and power flowing through her would have killed a normal Fae.”

            “She’s not a normal Fae,” said Zephyra, “She’s half human.  Perhaps it was her human side that saved her.”

            I strained to hear more, to rise closer to the surface of being awake, but it was no use.  I was pulled back into oblivion.  I could hear someone calling my name.  The voice was unfamiliar, but it was definitely calling out to me, and this voice was stronger than all the others I had heard so far.  Turning deeper into the oblivion I followed the voice to a large door.  Once more the voice called out to me.  With shaking hands I opened the door and stepped into a perfect summer meadow.  There were wildflowers blooming everywhere, a forest of tall dark pine trees ringed the open space.  Standing in the middle were a man and a woman, their hands clasped tightly as they watched me approach.  The closer I got, the more I recognized them.

            “Hello my darling,” my mother greeted me.

            Tears started streaming down my face.  “Mother?” I asked her.

            “Yes my dear.  It is so good to see you.”

            “Hello my little princess,” the man said.

            “Father?” I asked once again.

            “We’ve been watching you sweetheart.  All this time watching over you and now here you are” my mother smiled wrapping me in her arms.  She smelled of sunlight and fresh cut grass.  Once she let me go my father held me close, his beard scraping against my cheek.

            “Is this heaven?” I asked confused.

            “Of a sort” My father answered, “It is our heaven, you are just visiting for a bit.”

            “Why can’t I stay with you?”

            “Because it’s not your time yet dear.  My beautiful Alexa.  You’ve grown into a wonderful woman.  I am so proud of you.”

            “Mom, I want to stay with you.  Please, dad, let me stay with you.”

            “I wish it were that simple princess.  Just know that we have been with you and will be with you always.”

            “Cherish your time with the Fae.  You are stronger than you know.”

            “I love you mom,” I squeezed her with all the strength I possessed.  “I love you dad,” I said turning to him.

            “We love you Alexa.  We’ll be watching over you, and we’ll be here waiting for you when it’s time.”

            “How long must I wait?”

            “Wake up now Alexa.  Wake up,” my mother whispered to me.

            “Wake up Alexa,” my father repeated.

            “Wake up Alexa.  Please wake up” only this time it was Cerus’ voice calling to me, it was Cerus pleading for me.  “I need you Alexa.  I love you.  Please come back to me.”

            I opened my eyes.  Cerus was on his knees by my bed, his head resting on the side, hands clasped in front of him as if in prayer.  With a shaky hand I reached out, letting my hand fall on his head.  His eyes snapped open and locked onto mine.  Tears were running down his face.

            “I love you too Cerus,” I whispered.

            Shouting with joy he jumped from the floor and ran to the doorway, “She’s awake!”  His cries drawing Richard and Nancy, Sam, Terrestria, Calefacto, and Zephyra into the room.  There was much laughter and celebration.  Soon news of my recovery spread throughout the compound and more and more of my friends rushed to greet me.

            The next few days were spent regaining my strength.  A large banquet was being planned in my honor.  There we would recognize all those who had sacrificed their lives in the Shadow War.  Sam and my parents would be there.  The presence of humans was something that the fae were gradually getting used to.  I hoped that this would mean I would be able to go home from time to time.  Before the banquet I would be formally crowned as Mother Earth and take my place on the Earth Throne.

            Cerus visited me every day.  When I was recovered enough to move about we began taking long walks around the compound.  I visited his mother who held me so tightly that I wasn’t sure if I would ever breathe again.  She thanked me for keeping my promise and I jokingly told her that I did it for me and not her.  The more and more time we spent together the less I could picture my life without him.  I was surprised when she brought me a small cedar box.  Embedded mother of pearl showed the outline of a unicorn standing before the figure of the Mother seated on the Earth Throne.
            “This belonged to your mother,” she told me handing over the box.  Inside was a beautiful silver bracelet, a single moonstone shining from its center.  “It’s an arwydd stone.  They are very rare.”

            “It’s beautiful.”

            “An arwydd stone is always linked to another.  This one is linked to a ring that Cerus’ father owned,” reaching into her apron pocket she withdrew a simple velvet pouch, dumping its contents into Cerus’ open palm, “If ever you are threatened or need help, you simple touch your stone.  It will signal it’s mate and help will always find you.”

            I took the bracelet from the box and slipped it onto my left wrist.  It was cool against my skin.  Touching the stone in the center and it began to glow, warming itself.  Soon the ring in Cerus’ hand began to glow also.  “Thank you.  I will treasure this always” we embraced once more and continued on our walk.

            I visited the Earth tribe, giving messages of comfort and hope, promising that we would rebuild their village.  I walked among all the tribes, being amongst my people, each day connecting more and more to the fae.  Sometimes we just walked together in silence, enjoying the sounds of a bubbling brook, or basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun.  It was on a walk like this, the afternoon of the banquet, that Cerus removed his shirt and showed me his tattoo.  They swirling colors were complete, all portions of the fae tribes represented and the diamond in the center was colored in, and shining brightly like the horn of a unicorn.  I remembered what it meant.  He was free to marry.