The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (30 page)

Sle'nel’ shivered at the feeling, afraid of being touched, but needing and desiring to be touched. The feeling of her lover's lips upon her hand took her breath away.

She fought to maintain her balance, “You look most tired, My Love."

As San'lr'in’ kissed Sle'nel's hand, she could smell her aroma. She closed her eyes and breathed it in. The aroma was so familiar to her that it was comforting, yet so recently distant from her that it fully awoke her senses and desires.

Unknowingly to both of them, The Healer and Caitha had slipped out the tent well prior to this moment, well pleased with themselves.

"I have had other concerns."

Her mind now her worse enemy, a memory of Sle'nel's tortures returned to her. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at her Elf.

"What is it, my Love?"

San'lr'in’ bowed her head, “I am sorry, My Elf. This never should have occurred."

Without thinking, or she would have resisted the moment, Sle'nel’ moved closer to San'lr'in', touching her shoulder, “Cry not. We will all recover. You couldn't have prevented as such. At some moment it would have occurred, and even you cannot control all the moments."

San'lr'in’ cried silently, “I am so very sorry, Elf. The visions of your tortures make Me see My weaknesses. Never should you have been so hurt and abused as this."

Sle'nel’ moved closer to her Queen, and in their grieving over the ordeal, they held each other. For many long moments, they comforted each other in their sadness, slowly moving away from the distance.

After they had cried their long-held tears, they finally began to move slightly back into The Realm, moving their emotions to a more tolerable point. They held each other quietly, resting somewhat from their long-involved burden, when Sle'nel’ became shocked at her Queen's condition, “Your breathing is labored."

"I am so deeply tired."

Sle'nel’ was surprised at the statement, never hearing her Queen speak so openly as this, “You need sleep. You carry your burdens overly. Come. Lay down beside me."

They laid together, San'lr'in’ barely able to remain awake. But, needing closeness more than sleep, she held Sle'nel’ tightly to her as she breathed in Sle'nel's most comforting of scents. As San'lr'in’ began to drift off to sleep, Sle'nel', amazed at herself, placed her Queen's hand gently onto her own breast. Since the tortures, she thought that she never wished to be touched in this area again.

Becoming instantly awake, The High Queen gasped quietly, not knowing what to do, but well knowing what her body wanted from her. She held Sle'nel's breast softly, cupping it in her hand. Exhausted, she let the feeling of urgency go, thinking that Sle'nel’ just wanted to be closer in their feeling. Suddenly, The High Queen felt Sle'nel's hand on her breast, searching, needing, exploring.

When San'lr'in’ didn't respond, Sle'nel’ became hesitant, “You don't desire me?"

San'lr'in’ couldn't catch her breath. Her hands were trembling, “Most certainly I do. With no question. But I am afraid that you don't desire Me. In truth, I am afraid I will hurt you."

Her voice quivering, Sle'nel’ quietly said, “I need to know you desire me. I need to know you yet need me. I ... need ... you."

San'lr'in’ moved close to Sle'nel', “I am afraid that I over-desire you, My Elf."

She kissed Sle'nel’ slowly and softly, but with great emotion and need. She brought Sle'nel’ fully into her embrace, kissing her so passionately that Sle'nel’ had no choice but to know of her Queen's great desire.

Only when she heard Sle'nel’ moan slightly at the pleasure of it, did she halt.

"I will not break, my Love."

San'lr'in’ held her tightly, but her body was now trembling, “I wish not to harm you in any fashion. And I am afraid My touch will repulse you."

The moment between them was more serious than any other had been for them, but Sle'nel’ needed help in forgetting her torments, and The High Queen needed help in bringing her feelings back to her. Sle'nel's shoulder and knee yet gave her many moments of pain, but she felt her lover's trembling hands and instantly forgot her own concerns. Her instinct was to comfort her lover.

With the greatest of truth, Sle'nel’ responded, “Never could this be so."

Their quiet, slow and careful explorations of each other over, they fell into a deep sleep for their first moment since the rescue. Sle'nel’ awoke first, having more rest than her Queen over the prior turns. Before opening her eyes to the turn, she sensed the moment, trying to place herself into her surroundings. She felt her Queen's even breathing, then became aware that her Queen was yet holding tightly onto her, as if afraid to let go. Sle'nel’ began to move carefully away, needing a moment outside, and needing to have the attendants bring food for them.

In her sleep, San'lr'in’ said, “No!"

"Shhhh ... Sleep, my Love. I will return in a moment only."

She managed to move quietly away from her Queen without waking her, and managed to rise, although yet well-pained from her wounds. When completed with her tasks, she returned to the tent, slipping quietly back into her Queen's arm. Although now in greater pain than prior, the comfort she felt as her Queen moved her arms around her even more tightly was far greater than her pains. She rested in her Queen's arms, falling back to sleep, and upon this moment, her tormented visions were gone.

The High Queen finally woke, “You are already awake, My Desire?"

Sle'nel’ laughed quietly, yet in some pain, “I have woken three moments prior to yours, My Love. You were exhausted."

The High Queen had already sensed Sle'nel's pain, so moved her hand to her shoulder and knee, and removed it. She then looked into her lover's eyes, “Thank you, My Elf. Never have I felt so lost. So alone as—"

Sle'nel’ moved her finger to her lover's lips, “Shhhh ... I know. I as well was afraid. We were overly afraid to even share our feelings with each other. This has not been an easy moment."

The High Queen looked so sadly at Sle'nel’ that her heart seemed broken. Rather than speak further, Sle'nel’ held her Queen, then kissed her, trying to help both of them move apart from their fears and tormented memories. As they kissed, Sle'nel’ felt her Queen's tears. As they touched, San'lr'in’ felt Sle'nel's tears. As they held desperately onto each other, they finally began to heal, together.

For two turns they slept, held each other, and began to move slowly back into The Realm. Upon the second turn, after the attendants had left, Sle'nel’ informed Ann'wn that The High Queen would be coming back into The Realm. Ann'wn asked for an audience.

For two turns, the entire camp hoped and waited. When the announcement came that The High Queen was returning and had agreed to an audience with Ann'wn, the tensions rose. No one, including the attendants, knew of what had passed between their Queen and the Elf, except that the food that had been provided had been eaten. This in itself had been a good sign, but since no noises had emerged from the tent, and since no one had been allowed inside, they could only guess as to the outcome.

Ann'wn knelt and bowed her head, “My Queen."

"Tell Me."

Ann'wn took quick note that her Queen was yet well distant, with no smile or softness upon her face, and that her voice was but an echo, “The Healer and Caitha are doing well and are ready to ride, Highness. The camp awaits your command."

"The Dark Sorcerer's guards?"

"They have all been dispatched after they were convinced to tell us all they knew. They knew very little, my Queen."

The High Queen showed no emotion. After a moment, she asked, “The Young One we found in the Grandmother's dwelling. How does she fare?"

"She improves slowly. Ern'seln’ has taken her under her care, along with the Young Supreme Sovereign, Highness. It seems a good match for the moment. But she hasn't spoken up to this moment, not even how she is called. She seems to trust Ern'seln’ well enough."

The High Queen listened attentively, but offered no comment, knowing fully that the Young One had indeed spoken—to her.

"When do we leave, my Queen?"

"In the morn."

"Yes, my Queen."

"I assume you searched through the Dark Sorcerer's cave."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “Yes, Highness. We picked up the broken staff. It awaits your decision."

Quietly, but almost spat out, The High Queen responded, “Burn it."

"As you say, Highness."

The High Queen turned away, an indication the meeting was over, “My Queen?"

She turned and looked at Ann'wn, then nodded.

"Is there anything I might do for you, my Queen?"

She saw that San'lr'in’ remained rigid. Tense. Then saw her Queen sigh and close her eyes. After a brief moment, The High Queen looked at her, blinking slowly, yet showing little emotion. As she answered, Ann'wn heard for the first moment in all their moments together, her voice sound hesitant, “Have patience, Force Leader. I am trying."

Sle'nel’ had been on the side, listening and watching. As she heard San'lr'in's response to Ann'wn, she came over and held out her arm to her lover. San'lr'in’ looked at her briefly, then held out her own arm toward her, taking Sle'nel's hand as she came close.

Ann'wn saw the great effort her Queen was giving, “I am here for you, my Queen, as you need."

She turned back to Ann'wn and replied in a whisper, “Thank you."

Her response had stunned Ann'wn, but she tried to remain as normal. Never prior had she heard as such from her Queen, “Will you be attending the eve meal, my Queen?"

Sle'nel’ and San'lr'in’ looked into each other's eyes. Sle'nel’ nodded, yet looking at her Queen, “Many have already requested as such. She has accepted the request."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “Your guards will be pleased, Highness. By your leave."

She nodded only.

The High Queen left her tent, looking back to Sle'nel'. She held out her arm and softly said, “Accompany Me to the eve's meal, My Desire?"

Sle'nel’ looked into her Queen's eyes, seeing some hesitation in the moment. Neither was strong enough to truly endure facing all the others, but knew the moment must occur. Sle'nel’ nodded slightly, touched her Queen's cheek, then placed her arm upon her Queen's.

Having little to do except practice their warrior skills while they had waited through the turns, the guards had built a temporary but quite solid long table, complete with chairs for The High Queen. She was fully surprised as they were led to their eve meal, but said nothing. She sat at the head of the table, as was the expected custom, and found herself pleased in being able to sit at a real table once again. As was custom, The High Queen sat first and all the others followed.

She looked at her Elf and spoke quietly to her only, “This table is a pleasure."

Sle'nel’ sat, glad to be off her knee, and also gladdened for a real chair, “I also miss home.” She was pleased that her chair also had arms on which she could lean, as well as rest her arm that ached from the severe shoulder wound.

The eve's meal was served with great formality. The guards, scholars and sorcerers had all helped find varying foods from the forest, and the cooks had prepared a most excellent meal. San'lr'in’ was surprised in the display and provision of the meal, feeling almost as if they were back in the Valley.

She touched Sle'nel's hand and softly asked, “Do you miss the Valley, My Desire?"

"We need to complete this journey, my Queen. It has been overly long."

"Have patience, My Elf. We leave for El'fs'nd'lle in the morn."

San'lr'in’ was yet well distant from The Realm, but fully noticed how hard her guards and travelers were trying to make the eve seem as if in the Valley. Many guards were acting as musicians, supplying background music for the meal. Some were serving the meal, trying to be as The High Queen's attendants, but making overly many mistakes, much to The High Queen's amusement. And others were being light amusements, such as mimes or jugglers.

She turned to Ann'wn, who was sitting close to her left side, “Thank you, Force Leader. This is a most unexpected and enjoyable eve."

Ann'wn blushed, “Your guards felt that you have endured the rough living overly long, my Queen. Although they thought you have been excellent in this regard, they thought that you could use a moment back in the Valley."

"Give them My most generous praise, Force Leader."

"Yes, my Queen. They will be pleased at this."

After the meal, San'lr'in’ sat back into her chair, quietly observing all her companions. It felt as if many moons had passed since she had attended to her companions, so now took note of them. The Young One had grown noticeably since her powers had been removed. While yet young, San'lr'in’ saw that Sele’ now seemed far older in her actions.

Her eyes met with the young girl she had saved from the Grandmother's dwelling. Quietly acknowledging their understanding, the Young One bowed her head to The High Queen. After a short moment, The High Queen returned the quiet gesture,
Thank you, Young Seer.

She saw that Mil'der'in and Fon'elnn’ had become quite close, and thought it a good pairing. She saw that Sam had become as one among all the guards, sorcerers and scholars, seeing her sister a most excellent of politicians. And she saw that her Healer and Ann'wn were yet quite new in their relationship with each other.

"My Queen."

She turned, startled at the voice. She looked down at who was bowing and kneeling to her, “Rise, Sam'r'in'thel'ineln'. What may I do for you?"

Sam held out a sword for her Queen, and held another in her other hand, “I would like a contest, Highness, to show you what I have been learning. I think you will be most pleased."

San'lr'in’ thought she might move away from such moments with others, when Sle'nel’ touched her hand, “She has worked overly hard for this moment, for you."

San'lr'in’ felt she had no choice in the matter, wishing to remain quiet and distant in her chair, but relented.

She rose, took the sword, felt its weight, then raised her sword and waited. Sam did the same. Movement after movement, The High Queen allowed Sam's sword movements to take the offensive, in order to learn of her new powers.