The Gathering (93 page)

"I think we already are, El."

"Totally!!"

Sam and Coeli ran over and Sam grabbed Elian in a giant bear hug as Coeli walked over to Albion.
 
He smiled.

"How are you doing?"

"Ok, you?"

"Ok.
 
I guess I have to work on forgiving myself, but dad says that comes with time."

Coeli took his hand.

"They got to all of us, Albie, one way or another.
 
Just remember all the good you did… you saved me, Chelsea and…"

"Me."

Hannah walked up behind them and smiled.
 
Albion looked at her and blushed.
 

"Thanks, but I think it's the other way around.
 
You guys saved me."

Coeli leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"See you in six months."

Albion nodded and watched as she walked back over to Sam and they embraced.
 
He felt his heart skip, not because he had feelings for Coeli, but because he longed for the first time in his life to know what it was to love a girl.

"Albie?"

He turned back around and looked at Hannah.
 
She moved her hair behind her ear and looked up at him.
 
She had never realized how blue his eyes were.

"Thanks, Albie."

She leaned over and hugged him and then kissed him on the cheek.
 

"See you in six months."

"Yeah."

Albion watched her wander over to Chris, who held her close and nuzzled his face into her hair.
 
Hair like threads of gold, he thought.

"Ready, Son?"

Albion looked at his father and nodded.
 
The members of Crystal Shade walked slowly through the gate of Lia Fail.
 

The remainder of the day, the guests of Lia Fail left, saying their goodbyes.
 
St. Paul’s, Bethel Israel and Pasadena waited until the others had left, giving them time to say goodbye.
  
Alia watched her children as she and Sean said farewell to their friends.

Coeli had walked Sam to his horse.

“I’ll be back in two days, Shay.”

“You promise?”

Sam laughed.

“Yeah, I promise. “

“Besides,” Sara began, “if they don’t, I’ll keep yelling at this one until they do.”

Scott smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, she means it.
 
We’ve got two days, Red.”

The boys laughed as they mounted their horses.
 
Not far away, Tanner held Chelsea’s face in his hands.
 
He sighed and kissed her.
 
Tears rolled down her cheek and he softly wiped them away.

“C’mon, Chels… I’ll see you in a few days.”

“You’ll be busy and forget all about me.”

“Seriously?”

Tanner smiled and held Chelsea against him.

“How could I forget you?
 
I love you.”

Chelsea pulled back and smiled.

“I love you, too.”

Lily Hearst looked at her daughter and then cleared her throat.

“Ahem, Chelsea, we have to go.
 
Tanner, we’ll see you in a few days, then?”

Tanner nodded and kissed Chelsea again, then watched as she walked to her parents’ wagon.
 
Corey walked up behind Tanner and grabbed his shoulder.
 
They smiled at one another and Tanner patted Corey’s chest.
 
Corey nodded and walked towards his family, turning slightly to see Rachel behind him.
 
She waved again and smiled as she wiped a tear from her face.
 
Corey smiled and rubbed his eyes.

Chris kissed Hannah’s cheek and jumped off the Turners’ wagon.
 
He stood next to Kaley, and they watched as the Turners and Levines began to ride out of the village.
 
Ian had started to ride out, but turned his horse around and rode back to Kaley.
 

“I’ll be back on two weeks.
 
Miss me?”

Kaley smiled.

“Of course, I will,” Chris responded.

Kaley smacked her brother and nodded.

“What he said.”

Ian laughed and rode back towards the wagons, but looked over his shoulder.

“I love you, Kaley Stark!”

“I love you, Ian Turner.”

Brian and Rebecca ran outside the gate and waved at the trains as they moved northward.
 
Rachel, Joe and David waving back at them from one side as Liam and Jerry waved from the other.

Slowly, the Stark children made their way back to the castle.
  
It would be another six months before some of them saw their friends again, and they wiped their tears as they walked through the front door.

Alia stood on the wall and watched the wagons move slowly through the afternoon sky.
 
She looked down at the forest, and then walked down the stairs.
 
She motioned for the soldiers to open the gate and then she walked into the trees.

“I'm here, Alia.”

“Where?”

“Here.”

Alia walked slowly into the clearing and there was Schepta.
 
Alia marveled at her size.
 
She had grown overnight.

"You're bigger, Young Lady."

Schepta smiled.

“Mmm, my mother has always said that I am my father's daughter.
 
Do you also think so, Alia Stark?”

Alia smiled.

"Most definitely, Schepta.
 
I’m sure he’s so very proud of you.
 
I take it you are the new leader of your people?"

Schepta nodded.

“And we'd like to stay here, if that's all right with you.
 
We like it here."

Alia nodded.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Alia walked over to Schepta and buried her face in her mane as she had done with her father.
 
She felt the unicorn almost purr.
 
She stepped back and Schepta nodded.

“I shall leave you two to talk.
 
I'm sure you have many questions.”

"What are you talking about?
 
Schepta?"

Schepta turned and walked out of the clearing.

"Do you have any questions, Alia Stark?"

Alia froze.
 
That voice.
 
She knew that voice.
 
She had heard it many times.
 
Slowly, Alia turned and before her stood the goddess.
 
She looked different than she had in Alia’s bedroom or in her cell.
 
Now she stood before Alia in a long flowing gown, her long, red hair hung to her waist and her black eyes were gentle and loving.
 
A giant raven landed on her shoulder.

"Any questions at all?"

"I… uh… uh… did you really mean…"

"Yes, this magic has always been meant for you.
 
Tanner and Sam, well, they are the only ones who know for sure if they can handle the power, but I believe they can."

"Who is he?
 
The Shape… he acted like he knew you… intimately."

"He… he is an old acquaintance.
 
He had traveled through time and space all for power he thinks he deserves.
 
Will he return?
 
Yes, most likely, but next time, I think you'll be ready, don't you?"

Alia shrugged.

"I hope so… my Alisha, Colleen… Frank…my babies… Paul…"

"They are all well.
 
For those who have gone on before you, they are not alone.
 
Fear not the journey of death, Alia Stark, for it is only the beginning of another adventure.
 
I'm afraid my time grows short."

Alia furrowed her brow and looked up at the castle.

"My children, will they be all right?"

"Well, as of now, yes, all thirteen of them will grow with Gaia to be strong and healthy… continue to raise them in the shade of Yggdrasil."

"Thirteen?"

The goddess smiled and leaned forward.
 
She laid her hand on Alia's stomach and whispered.

"Thirteen."

Alia sharply inhaled and began to smile, then stopped.
 
Her eyes grew troubled, but the goddess was stepping away.

"Wait… please…are they…?"

"They come from love, Alia… as all of your children have."

Alia held her belly gently in the palms of her hands and felt tears slide down her face.
 
The goddess turned and walked towards the trees.

“Although you may not see me, nor hear me, you will always feel me… I am a part of you Alia Stark.
 
Live well.”

Alia watched the goddess fade away until finally her messenger took flight.
 
He flew into the bright blue sky, circling overhead.
 
Alia walked slowly back to the village, back to her new life.

Epilogue

The gray spring morning slipped wet and cool over Lia Fail.
 
Sean Lantry walked to the lead wagon and laid his hand on Tanner’s shoulder.

"Are we almost ready?"

"Yeah… just waiting on passengers now."

Sean smiled and shook his head as Sam and Scott walked up behind them.
 
Scott tipped his hat forward and watched the water that had gathered from the rain slide forward in a delicate stream.

"You need us to do anything?"

Sean turned.

"You wanna get the girls?"

Scott shook his head and smiled as Sam crossed his arms in front of him.

"We were told to get out, so I don't think we're the best choices to go back in."

Tanner laughed, and shaking his head, walked around the wagon and up the stairs.
 
As he reached for the door, it flew open and Brian, Brandon and Lisa ran out, pursued by Rebecca, her hair dripping and wet.
 
She had grown several inches and had started to develop in the last six months.
 
The baby fat around her face was gone and her new long hairstyle and silver framed glasses complemented her long features.