Daughter of Earth (Tales of the Guardian) (7 page)

     “My chambers are right through that doorway.” Olivia walked over and brushed a small satin cover to the side, revealing an arched doorway. “Or I guess my new chambers. Aldara says I am supposed to stay with you, even when you sleep so I will always be right through here if you need me. Does everything suit you, will this work?”

     “Will this work?” Emily gawked. She then grabbed Olivia’s hands, ran over to the bed and flung them both into the soft feathery pillows.

     Both girls squealed in delight as they fought their way through the mountainous material and fluff.

     “You’ll have to sleep in here with me just in case I need to be rescued from this bed.”

     Both girls laughed at the thought. Emily already liked Olivia and felt like they would become good friends. Each of them fought to sit up against the padding that threatened to swallow them whole.

     “I suppose it’s time to get you ready. They will surely release me as your guide if I can’t get you to the ceremony on time,” Olivia stated as she climbed from the bed.

     “I definitely don’t want to get you in trouble.” Emily followed her new friend from the mess of pillows and over to the bath.

     The water had already been drawn and decorated with flower petals. There was no plumbing like one would expect for a tub this size. Someone, or some people, must have carried steaming water into the chambers before Emily arrived.

     The water was a perfect temperature and carried a sweet yet potent lavender and almond scent that rose with the steam to engulf her nostrils.

     Olivia waited on the other side of the sash as Emily bathed, not wanting to intrude, but was ready with a long cotton-like robe when she got out.

     It was slightly uncomfortable for Emily to have someone else present while she bathed but Olivia had kept her eyes averted even when offering the robe and it made the unusual situation more tolerable for her.

     The young Guardian sat Emily down at the oversized vanity and immediately went to work brushing her long wavy hair.

     Watching Olivia through the crystal clear mirror before her, Emily wondered how she was going to do her hair. There was no blow dryer, or curling iron. No hairsprays or other products necessary to make her hair look nice. If Emily were to mention the absence of those things, Olivia would most likely not have known they existed.

      After she’d brushed her hair to the point where it was almost dry, she started braiding the top half of Emily’s hair. Her delicate fingers flew effortlessly over the wavy strands, creating an elaborate braid coming from both sides of her head. She then went to work on the bottom half of hair, still using her fingers, twisting and curling locks tightly then laying them against the robe to finish drying. Olivia had created loose spiral curls in Emily’s hair, more curl than Emily’s typical simple wave.

     Her guide went to the wardrobe and selected a gown on the end. It was a long deep blue robe with silver embroidery. A white triangular fabric sown in the middle created a full skirt effect. It fit perfectly, which made Emily wonder how the Guardians knew her size so precisely. The outfit was finished off with a silver sash cinched tightly just above her waist.

     When Emily looked in the full-length mirror beside the vanity she was amazed. The dress looked like something she’d seen women wear in movies featuring tales from ancient eras. Her hair was elegant and tasteful. She hardly recognized herself. She caught a glimpse of something shiny over the top of her head and then felt the weighty silver crown-like accessory Olivia carefully rested atop her hair.

The fitted metal piece was smooth and lay flat against her scalp, coming to a downward peak just below her hairline.

     “You look amazing,” Olivia said as she stepped back to fully admire her handiwork.

     “Thank you.” She turned around to glance at the dress’ backside. There was a slight train that flowed behind her. “Thank you so much.”

     She felt the part, like someone chosen to do something special. It was the little girl still hidden inside her who beamed at the reflection in the mirror. She had always wanted to look and feel like a princess and Olivia had just fulfilled her secret childhood desire.

     The realization of this filled Emily with such excitement, she threw her arms around Olivia, almost knocking them both to the ground.

     “We need to get going, it’s almost sunset.” Olivia looked out the window at the horizon. “We should hurry.”

     The two women swiftly headed toward the Gathering Stone and arrived somewhat winded, just as the sun started to touch the mountaintops.

     They took a loop so they would turn up from the back on the Stone’s south end. Everyone was already on the north side where the Elders normally addressed larger crowds of Guardians. But Alexander was not with the crowd he was there, waiting for them.

     As Emily approached he started shaking his head. This gesture confused her, she was almost certain he would have approved of her new look. But then she saw the grin forming at the corner of his mouth.

     “Just when I think you can’t possibly get any more beautiful, you prove me wrong,” Alexander grabbed her hand and kissed it.

     “I’ll need to have Olivia help me more often. I feel like a princess all dressed up like this,” Emily’s cheeks grew hot.

     “You are a princess,” he whispered as he pulled her closer. “Olivia didn’t do anything, it’s all you.” He rolled his thumb over her full pink lips.

     Emily felt weak in the knees; she always did when he was this close. She rose up onto her toes and leaned in giving him a soft kiss. “I’m so lucky you’re mine.”

     Cyreena came around the Gathering Stone showcasing a giant smile. “It’s time. Damarus would like to start the ceremony. I told them I knew exactly where you two were.”

     She raised her eyebrows, a simple gesture reminding everyone there she had the ability to see what happened in the past and present.

     They followed behind Cyreena closely as she led them around to the stairs on the marble platform’s east side. Emily had to raise her dress so as not to step on it as she climbed the stairs. She really was starting to feel like a character in a fairy tale.

      Upon reaching the top Emily noticed six large throne-like chairs carved from dark, dense wood. She assumed five of them were for the Five Elders, as they all had decorative carvings which seemed to go along with their abilities. But, the sixth chair, the one in the middle, caught Emily’s eye. It was different than the others, with areas accented in gold.

   There seemed to be no specific design to the carvings on it, as spirals, swirls and shapes mingled harmoniously all over. Emily wondered who sat there and then she saw the picture depicted in the chair’s center back. It was a dagger, the exact dagger from her dreams.

     The chair was for her.

     Cyreena ushered her over to stand beside the other four Elders. Alexander took a position behind Emily, and then Athos stepped forward.

     His address was brief; he opened the ceremony by telling all Guardians why they were there, even though they already knew.

     When he concluded his announcement Aldara moved forward, it was her turn to speak.

     “Brothers and sisters, this is a glorious day, a day which has been prophesied from the very beginning. The admittance of a Daughter of Earth into Eden means new life for our kind, it will bring about a new purpose and a new future. It is a time of renewal and revelation for all of us.”

     The crowd erupted in a cheer. Emily wondered if they all knew something she didn’t because nothing Aldara had just said seemed very clear to her. All the details were still so vague and she remained unsure exactly how she was going to fulfill this prophecy.

     Aldara continued once the Guardians had become silent enough to hear her. “The sun will set on this day, bringing to a close an era where Guardians and humans co-exist, yet remain separate. With tomorrow’s dawn, a new era will begin, one where we will eventually live together, and partake of all the substance and blessing of life united, as comrades and as friends.”

     Emily scanned the throng of Guardians before her. They were all excitedly yelling and throwing their arms in the air. She attempted to push aside her confusion and displacement; she considered for a moment what they must have been thinking.

     She wondered how it must feel to know the day was coming when they could finally live out in the open, and not have to silently watch and wait. To receive recognition for all the good they did. Emily remembered Alexander said he often felt isolated. How awful it must be to feel isolated for centuries or for some, possibly millenniums. The thought made Emily shudder.

     No wonder they were all so thrilled. They had been kept captive within Eden’s walls and invisibility’s solitary confines. And though Eden’s beauty could not be surpassed, they were in truth prisoners, slaves to their work, with no genuine freewill. Always having to answer to a higher calling to protect and guard someone else, with no regard for the value of his or her own life.

     She’d been so envious of Alexander, but did not even consider he might have actually envied her and her life. All his powers and abilities made it seem as though his existence was completely glorious and without flaw. However, all the abilities he had were to administer to another, not himself. Feeling like an eternal servant, always adhering to the will and dictation of a calling, did not appeal in the slightest to Emily. At least she always had a choice in things; nobody could take that from her. Yet, Guardians did not seem to have the same privilege.

     Yes, this was a glorious change that was coming. This new revelation, this epiphany for Emily, instantly altered her. She could feel her anxieties and doubts melt away. There was no room for such feelings, not anymore. She determined in that moment of clarity that no matter the task, she would do her part. She would help in any way she could to give these Guardians the freedom they longed for, the freedom they deserved. The freedom of choice most humans took for granted, and Guardians had never truly tasted.

     Aldara said a few more things and then turned to face Emily, snapping her from her thoughts.

     “It is time to take your place among us,” Aldara whispered.

     Damarus came over and took Emily by the hand and led her to the giant throne with the golden dagger. She slowly turned around to face the silent crowd. Matthias stepped over to her with a delicate crown made from intricately woven silver leaves. It was easy for him to place it on Emily’s head since he towered at least four inches above her. The crown slid perfectly over the flat metal piece she already wore, the prongs giving a click as they locked into place.

     Aldara motioned for Emily to take a seat in the wooden chair “I give you your crowned Daughter of Earth. She is now a leader among you, and should be treated as such, with the utmost respect and admiration.”

     Every Guardian let out a deafening shout which echoed off the nearby buildings creating a pool of joyous noise.

     It was all so mind-boggling, so unreal. Yet, it made sense.

     Emily had just found her purpose.

Chapter 6

     “Emily, get up! It’s time.” Olivia leaned down and whispered in her ear with no effort to contain her excitement, rather just the volume of her voice.

     She rolled over with a groan and attempted to open her eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight filling her room.

     “I feel like I just went to bed,” Emily groggily declared. “What time is it?”

     “What time is it? Well, I don’t know. We don’t use clocks in Eden. All I know is the sun has fully risen and that is when I was ordered to wake you. You have a big day ahead.” Olivia was grinning widely, as she held open a long soft robe for Emily to slip into.