The Gathering (12 page)

"I can't take it."

Alia laughed and leaned over, hugging Jerry and Liam, which made Liam blush.
 
Alia watched Ian approach and marveled at the young man he had become.

"Oh, Ian, look at you."

Ian started to turn red as Alia swept him into a hug and he waited to shake hands with Sean.
 
Grant moved forward.

"So where's my godson?"

Alia shook her head and shrugged.
 
Then from behind her came Brian.

"Right here, Sir."

The boy held out his hand and Grant Turner took it and laughed, then pulled the boy into a hug.

"How are ya, Kid?"

"Good, Sir."

Ellen smiled and held out her arms for Brian to give her a hug.
 

Vivian had gotten all the Crystals settled into their areas and had now returned to retrieve the most recent guests.

"Your majesty, we must get the Paulists to their quarters so they can rest and set up."

Alia turned around and shrugged.

"I guess she's right.
 
We'll catch up later."

Grant Turner leaned over and kissed Alia's cheek.
       

"Absolutely!"

He then turned to help Ellen back into the wagon and lifted himself up as well.
 
Jerry and Liam were saying hello to Brian, but turned when they saw their uncle getting back into the wagon.

"Uncle Grant?
 
We're gonna go with Brian, ok?"

The president of St. Paul's nodded and waved them off.

"Don't be late for dinner," Ellen called after them.

He turned to Alia and Sean.

"I'll keep this one," Grant Turner motioned to the back of the wagon and the continuous squeals from inside.
 
"I don’t think we could pry them apart if we tried.
 
And oh, yeah, Levine and his tribe are right behind us.
 
You've got your work cut out for you Chancellor."

Vivian turned and sighed.
 
She rested her chin on the tops of her fingers, deep in thought.
 
She then clapped twice and in a flash, two young men stood by her side.

"Boys, wait here for the Israelites to arrive.
 
I’m showing the Paulists to their quarters."

"Yes, Chancellor," replied the young men in unison.

Sean and Alia looked at the rigid young men and smiled.
 
Within fifteen minutes of the Paulists entering Lia Fail's gates, they heard the next wagons approach.
 
Sean walked out first with several of his soldiers, who had now arrived, and helped to calm the horses.
 
The soldiers moved to the side of the wagon and placed steps alongside.

Aaron Levine stepped lightly down the steps and in a few giant strides was grasping Sean's hand in a firm shake, which became a hug.

"How are you, Aaron?"

The men back up and looked at each other.

"I'm great!
 
You?"

Sean smiled and put his hand around Aaron Levine's face, and grasped it firmly with the connection of an old friend.

"Me, too!"

"And just in case you wondering, I'm fabulous, too!"

Sean looked around Aaron to see Lorraine Levine walking towards them.

Sean bellowed. "Hello, Gorgeous!
 
Still married to this beach bum, I see."

Lorraine jumped into the arms of Sean as her husband watched, feigning a wounded ego.

"Someone has to be," Alia said as she walked towards her old friends and was grabbed into a warm embrace by Aaron.
 

David dismounted from his horse and walked over to greet Sean and Alia as Ian had.
 
Alia looked at him.
 
He might have only been seventeen, but he had grown into quite the young man in the last six months.
 
It always struck her how much the children changed and how everyone else stayed the same.

"David, you're taller."

David smiled and shyly stepped forward to let Alia hug him, and he then stuck out his hand to shake Sean's hand.
 
A defiant voice came from behind David Levine.

"I'm taller, too."

"Yes, you are, Rachel."

Rachel smiled and ran to Alia, as her mother looked on.
 
Lorraine leaned into Sean and whispered.

"She's a bigger smart ass, too."

Sean laughed and stood cross-armed, watching.
 
Joe Levine popped his head out of the wagon and everyone could see he had just woken up.

"Are we here?"

Lorraine shook her head.

"Yes, Sweetheart, we're here."

"Cool."

Joe jumped out of the wagon and ran towards the group.

"Hi, Mrs. Stark.
 
Where's Brian?"

Sean nudged Joe.

"That way about fifteen minutes ago with Jerry and Liam Turner."

"Cool!"

Joe turned to his mother who merely waved him off and reminded him about dinner as Ellen Turner had reminded her nephews.
 
Rachel asked about Rebecca.
 
Alia touched Rachel's face and moved her hair aside.

"She just rode in with the Paulists and Hannah Turner.
 
There's your best bet."

Rachel turned to her mother.

"Same rules for you, Girlie."

Rachel jumped back on her horse and trotted into the camp looking for the Paulist quarters.

"And don't neglect putting your horse up,” Lorraine yelled after her daughter.

The greetings continued until Vivian's assistants stepped forward and began to remind Alia that the guests needed time to rest.

"Well, it would appear as though everyone's being ushered to their quarters so they might rest and prepare for the evening festivities."

Aaron kissed Alia's hand.

"Then we'll follow these fine young men and get our people settled."

They walked back to the wagon and got in.

"See you at the bar, Sean," yelled out Aaron.

“Damn straight!
 
Wait till you try my new ale!”

Sean laughed and waved as the wagon passed.
 
He then leaned towards Alia.

"Did you know many rabbis before the War?"

"No."

“Me neither, but I get the feeling they weren't quite as…festive as he is."

Alia smiled and shook her head, as she watched the wagons role into the barren.

She turned to Sean.

"I’m going to go and get changed.”

Sean nodded and replied.

"I'm gonna check with Duncan and Janeen and make sure that everyone is getting settled and that they have everything."

She smiled at him and turned towards the castle.
 
As she walked she looked up to the sky and there against the blue of the morning was another lone raven.
 
It circled and hung above the city.
 
Alia smiled and walked to the castle, grateful to see the bird.

The raven landed and watched until she entered the hall.

15

Slowly through the rest of the morning, wagons arrived at the Fail.
 
The bustling energy was electric and everyone was busy helping one another.
 
Alia was glad for all the kindness she was seeing from her meeting hall window.

"Your Highness?"

Alia turned around.

"Yes, Vivian?"

Vivian was shifting in her tightly laced shoes, obviously uncomfortable.
 
Alia sighed.

"What's the problem, Vivian?"

"Well, President Merganser has requested an audience with you."

Vivian attempted to avoid the gaze she knew was now directed at her, but eventually she raised her eyes to meet the queen's and was immediately sorry.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness.
 
I told him I would check your availability, but I didn't confirm anything."

Alia shook her head and crossed her arms.

"It's not that, Vivian.
 
I told him just this morning that I wouldn't have time for several days.
 
Just tell him we'll try to fit him in later in the week.
 
I don't think I can take his advances for the time being.
 
He's such a jackass."

"Who's a jackass?"

Alia turned to see her daughter, Sara, walk into the room.

"Who else?"

Sara pondered briefly by looking at the ceiling and tapping her chin with her finger.
 
She then snapped her fingers and pointed at her mother.

"This early in, I would have to say…a Crystal."

"You're so clever, Daughter."

Sara shrugged and smiled.
 
She walked over to Alia and hugged her.

"Don't worry, Mom, they'll be gone soon enough."

Alia lifted Sara's face and looked at her seventeen-year-old.
 
She had Paul's eyes, deep blue and thoughtful, always so gentle.

"Why aren't you outside shopping?"

Sara smiled.

"Coeli and I are going out later.
 
Besides, they aren't really set up yet."

Sara stepped away from her mother and sat on the bench.

"I didn't mean to interrupt, so go ahead and finish what you were doing."

Alia looked over at Vivian, who was waiting patiently.

"Is there anything else, Vivian?"

Vivian realized that she did not have any more news, good or bad, to tell Alia, so she quietly shook her head and excused herself.
 
Alia lifted her arms and turned to her daughter.

"There you go.
 
You've got me all to yourself."

Sara smiled.
 
Alia sat down on the bench next to Sara and they looked out the window.