The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (75 page)

Sle'nel’ couldn't recall San'lr'in’ ever having used her name, so knew well her serious intent in the moment. She shrugged slightly, “It matters not, San'lr'in', and this is truth. What would it matter if I were yet in Woden? If this battle is lost, Woden will also become as such. I would rather be at your side than have remained as ignorant in Woden. I wouldn't give one moment of our union away, Lover."

San'lr'in’ brought Sle'nel’ to her, embracing her tightly. After a moment, she removed herself from the embrace, then placed her hands on Sle'nel's shoulders, “Listen well, Elf, as if I die in this battle, you must force yourself to turn away from that moment so as to save the others. Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n, most of all must be saved. This is your charge, Sle'nel'. I cannot be foremost on your mind. You must turn yourself willingly away from Me, as of the beginning of the battle."

"But I thought I was to fight at your side."

"I have great need of your sorcery, and this is truth, but you will not be at My side, Elf. You will fight from elsewhere. We must use every power and spell against this one, all at the same moment, but not together, as we could be overly easily defeated in this fashion. The further apart we remain, the more difficult we make it for the Wizard."

"You are going to prevent my sensing of you?"

"I am sorry, Sle'nel'. It must be as such. If I fall in this battle, it would be better for you not to know, as you must remain fully in the fight. Your senses must remain fully on The Realm's future leader."

Sle'nel’ held San'lr'in’ to her, speaking softly, “My heart will know, my Love. Regardless of what you believe will be so, my heart will know. But why do you believe so strongly that you will not survive this battle? Is that not giving in to the moment?"

San'lr'in’ looked dead-on into Sle'nel's eyes, “I know it feels as such, My Desire, and that it feels like I have given in. In truth, I know how much this will take to defeat this Wizard. In all the realms about us, far off into the skies, this Wizard defeated them all. We are nothing in comparison to all those who fought so desperately against her. But know this to be truth. She has met her match in Me, My Desire. If I must die, then must she."

Sle'nel’ woke in the overly early morn to San'lr'in's thrashing about the bed, “You sleep not?"

The moon's shine shone brightly through their windows, casting lightness throughout the room. San'lr'in’ leaned her head on her propped-up hand, gazing down at her lover. She spoke her need quietly, “I wish to enjoy our last moments prior to our departure. I need to be with you."

Sle'nel’ began to move gently into the moment, but San'lr'in's need was more urgent and desperate. She moved between Sle'nel's legs, capturing the moment firmly, aggressively seeking a lasting closeness, together. No matter Sle'nel's need, San'lr'in’ prevented her any release, pushing their desires to the point that Sle'nel’ could only gasp her need, “Please, San'lr'in'."

The sun had begun its turn's journey as Sle'nel’ and San'lr'in’ finally held each other tightly in their single moment of release. After a few moments of resting, as Sle'nel’ yet lay slightly winded from their exertion, The High Queen kissed her softly on her cheek.

Sle'nel’ looked at her lover, seeing that her eyes were moist. Ever prior, Sle'nel’ had been able to make any moment more light for her lover, but this moment was more difficult than either knew what to do with. Sle'nel’ breathed in deeply, trying to restore calmness to her. She touched San'lr'in's cheek, then smiled, “You ever amaze me, Lover."

In an effort to regain her self-control San'lr'in’ closed her eyes for a moment. She reopened them, then also smiled, “Then I am pleased."

They held the moment quietly between them, unmoving, studying each other, when finally Sle'nel’ said, “Amaze me once more, Highness?"

"Surely you cannot mean that you need more touc—"

Sle'nel’ shook her head, “No. Not this. Amaze me by returning to me."

"Ever remember, Sle'nel', I love you, and most strongly so. If there be but a thread of possibility, I will do your bidding."

As they prepared for the morn's meeting, then departure, San'lr'in’ sat down next to Sle'nel’ on the edge of their bed, holding her hand, “My Desire. I have something that I must share with you.” Sle'nel’ listened to her lover's tale, in full saddened disbelief of what she was hearing.

The High Queen had called all her close council together for the morn meal. Ann'wn, Meera, Caitha, Erthrn, Fon'elnn', The Healer, Mil'der'in, Sume', An'ther'on and Sele’ were all in attendance, waiting for their High Queen.

When San'lr'in’ had finished telling Sle'nel’ mostly of what was to occur, they went to the morn's meeting. As they ate their morn meal, all eyes were fully upon their Queen, wondering as to her plans. Even Sle'nel’ hadn't guessed as to her lover's full intent until she had been told of such.

During the meal, San'lr'in’ told them her battle plan, “Queen Erthrn. You will need to hold the left flank, ensuring that..."

The morn extended into the late after mid-morn, San'lr'in’ giving each one their roles and responsibilities for the battle.

"And where will you be, Highness?"

San'lr'in’ turned to Ann'wn, taking a deep breath, then sighing, “In the Keep, Force Leader."

They all gasped at her words, fully surprised. Erthrn gained her voice first, “In the Keep? How can this be as so, Highness?"

"How do you plan to enter the Keep, my Queen?"

"You cannot do this alone, Highness."

She ignored their comments and questions, “We must all tend to our own roles in this battle, My Most Treasured Council, as it will take our strongest efforts to defeat this Wizard. I called you together this morn as you are The Realm's strongest powers and leaders. But none of you can do as usual, which is to worry over your High Queen. This cannot be as so. You must tend to your own duties."

"But my Queen, it is my duty to watch over yo—"

"No, Force Leader. In this battle, this is not so. I command your full attentions to the battle. I will be elsewhere, far from your oversight. Not one of you can risk your moments on Me, or on each other."

They began to argue with The High Queen, when suddenly, surprising all those now about her, San'lr'in’ knelt before Sume'.

Sume’ looked down on her, fully shocked, “What are you doing? Kneel not before me."

The High Queen held her great red stone out to Sume', “I request a great favor of you, High Wizard Sorcerer."

Sume’ wondered what San'lr'in’ was doing, when suddenly it came to her. Her eyes widened, “You cannot do this! Your heart is not healed enough for such as this."

San'lr'in’ looked up, “Only you can do this for Me, and it must be done. I must have this power."

"It will cause severe, irreversible harm."

The Healer suddenly pieced together the conversation, “No! You cannot do this. I cannot allow this to occur, High One. She is correct. You cannot recover from such as this. Even with a strong heart, this is overly dangerous."

Sele’ nodded, “You are all correct. She needs this power, but it will cause great harm."

Sume’ shook her head to her sister, “Why do you think you must give yourself to The Realm in this fashion? By the turn, all our powers grow. Surely, this will be enough."

Sle'nel’ came to her, “Do you care so little for the feelings of those that love you, Lover?"

San'lr'in’ sighed, then rose, “I am in full awareness that not one of you can know why I now request this favor, but you must try to understand. The Realm needs Me to have this power. There is no other choice. I wish not for this, but it must be so. We must not lose this battle or all will be lost, forever. All that we have gained will be lost, in but one short moment. I do this not for glory, My most favored in all The Realm. I do this as it is My vow. And My vow includes you. And there is no other way in which to win this battle."

Sume’ looked at her, “I cannot allow this to be so, San'lr'in'. We cannot have come this far to have it end this quickly. I have great powers now. Together, we will defeat this Wizard."

Sle'nel’ touched her lover's cheek, “You know fully that we cannot allow harm to come to you, Lover. We cannot willingly do as such. You taught me that we always have alternatives."

San'lr'in’ looked sadly at all of them, sensing their desperation. She sighed deeply, holding her patience firmly to her. She spoke softly and slowly, ensuring that every word was made clear, “All that you say is truth, yet it is not the whole. I ... am ... High ... Queen. Above all else, I must stand firm."

She turned her eyes to Sle'nel', staring fully at her, “I cannot allow My desirings to command Me at this moment, Elfin Queen."

She turned to her Healer, “I am vowed, Healer, to tend to The Realm. And this you, more than most, know fully."

She then turned to Ann'wn, “I am High Queen, Force Leader. These are My vows. As are you, I am vowed to The Realm."

She then went to Erthrn, looking deeply into her eyes, “My most favored Queen of The Realm, you know like no other of what has been entrusted to My care."

Moving to her High Counselor, she touched her shoulder, “High Counselor. You know of what I must now do. Beyond all in this room, you know the burdens of My vows."

Then she turned her gaze back to Sume', “I am High Queen, High Wizard Sorcerer. Hear My plea. Help Me to fulfill My vows.” She pleaded, “Help Me to defeat this Wizard. I cannot do so without this power placed deeply within Me.” She hesitated, then added, “Please do this for Me, so that I may save My Realm."

The Healer knew that they were going to give in to her Queen's request, “Is there a way that this may occur while we can also protect your heart, High One?"

San'lr'in’ went to her and placed her hand on her cheek, “This is it, Healer, or I would do as such Myself. The High Wizard Sorcerer will allow for as much caution as available, while I cannot."

"Are your powers not enough?"

She turned to her Healer, touched her lightly on her cheek, then returned to Sume', “Do this for Me, High Wizard Sorcerer. I beg of you. I must have these powers placed within Me. The Realm needs as such. I cannot survive against her without them. I will have but one moment to win against this Wizard. It cannot be as it was against the Dark Sorcerer. I cannot go one-to-one against her powers, or I will lose. I must catch her completely unaware. This is that power. She will not be able to sense it, as she knows not of it."

Sele’ looked at her Aunt, “She will be the most powerful High Queen The Realm has ever prior known, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer. And she will need to be as such against this Wizard."

Sume’ looked down at Sele', “You think I should agree to her request, young Future Supreme Sovereign? Are you not concerned for her life, Young One?"

Sele’ looked around at all of them, slowly moving from one to another, weighing her words carefully, “Our High Queen will most certainly die in this battle without these powers, Aunt High Priestess."

The Healer was angered at the moment, “And she will most certainly die with these powers, as well. Is that not also correct, Young One?"

Sele’ bowed her head for a moment, then looked at The Healer, “The High Queen is unable to know if this is as certain, Healer. But she knows fully that if she is to place these powers within herself, by her own hands, she will most certainly die by battle's end."

"And you? Are you able to know if the High Wizard Sorcerer places these powers within her, if she will die?"

Sele’ laid her head down on the table, wishing she also had more powers so she could answer the question, “No. It is but a guess only."

The High Queen knelt back down in front of Sume', “I have no more moments, High Wizard Sorcerer. Already many moments are lost to us. You either must decide for this, Sister, or I will place these powers within Me, alone. Either way, it will be done. I must have these powers."

Sume’ had never prior felt at such a loss, “You ask overly of me."

San'lr'in’ smiled slightly, her eyes beginning to twinkle, “Trust Me, Sister?"

Sume’ laughed quietly for a brief moment, “Surely you jest."

"Trust Me, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non. Trust that I know what I ask of you."

Sume’ placed her hand lightly on her sister's head, desiring anything that would remove this moment from her, “Left to me, I would not do this. I do this only for you, San'lr'in'thel'ineln', only because of who you are. But I will do so only on two conditions."

The High Queen waited.

"Live."

"You also ask much of Me, High Priestess."

"Live, and return to us. Agree to this, and I will grant your request."

San'lr'in’ thought on her sister's words, then nodded, “I vow that I will give My every effort to your condition. What is your second condition?"

"Take this power in well, San'lr'in'. Prevent it from injuring your heart."

She hesitated, “It will become My heart, so I know not how to do th—"

"I can displace the transfer, Highness."

She looked to the voice, “Are you certain, Young One, that you wish to do as such?"

Sele’ bowed her head, “For you, Highness."

Sume’ began the spells and chants needed to transfer the great red stone of power into The High Queen. The transfer, as they had now learned, would be a most amazing one—the Great Red Stone of Power would now become The High Queen's heart. None thought it possible, but thought that if their High Queen asked for such, it must be so. San'lr'in’ moved into her meditations so that she could distance from the pain that was about to occur, and Sele’ stood close by, waiting to help her Queen.

Sume’ felt herself move away from The Realm, calling to forces she never thought possible. She focused fully, knowing the enormity of the moment if she allowed her sister to be harmed. The spell came to her as it unfolded, and as if she had known it her entire lifespan.

After many moments of chanting the spell, she bent down, holding the Great Red Stone of Power near her sister's heart. She saw that San'lr'in's eyes were watching her, but sensed that she was as far from the moment as possible. As Sume’ nodded her head to Sele', Sele’ placed her hand over San'lr'in's heart, then placed her other hand on the stone. For a brief moment, Sume’ chanted yet another spell, helping Sele’ to displace San'lr'in's heart as they moved the red stone within her. Slowly, Sume’ motioned the stone into The High Queen's chest. Sle'nel’ watched with great concern, now seeing that Sele’ was in great pain, Sume’ also was struggling, and her lover's face showed the extent of the unendurable agony.