The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (2 page)

Ann'wn looked back up at the high snow-filled gap in dismay, “The easy portion, Highness?"

"I hope you like to camp in snow, Force Leader. Enjoy the water it makes though, as it will be the last for a while.” She looked up at the sky, “And look. The clouds come. It will begin to snow on us, this eve."

Ann'wn thought she heard The High Queen chuckling to herself as she walked away from her, but thought she must have heard wrong.

They made camp for the eve, preparing shelters against the eve's cold and snow. The High Queen called her great raptor to her as Ann'wn sent out scouts, both looking for any signs of approaching danger. When the camp was finally well organized, Ann'wn and Meera practiced their lessons, Sam and Sele’ practiced their powers, Sle'nel’ practiced with her new bow and arrows, and The High Queen once again readied her powers to her. As The High Queen meditated, Shr'dler'in, her Healer, sat close by, waiting to help her exit at the correct moment. While she waited, she watched Ann'wn practice, admiring her strong ease and well-defined muscles.

After many moments, Ann'wn walked over to The Healer, “How does she command all these meditations? I can barely master the first three of them."

Shr'dler'in nodded her understanding to Ann'wn. She was secretly pleased Ann'wn was near her, “And each one grows in their difficulty. Our Queen has learned these from when she was Sele's cycles. But it is not easy, especially with her new great powers. Thankfully, she is well focused.” She looked up at her, “Sit down, Ann'wn. You look exhausted. Would you like me to provide you with a back rub? Your shoulders look well over-used this turn. You must have been practicing the Master's skills this late eve."

Ann'wn sat, not responding, but neither moving away from the massage The Healer provided her. After a short while, Shr'dler'in could feel Ann'wn beginning to relax.

"You do this well. Do you do this for our Queen?"

She laughed, “Is it your affair, Force Leader?” She liked the feeling of Ann'wn's strong shoulders.

Ann'wn felt much improved, realizing that she wanted The Healer to continue to touch her. She liked the feeling of her.

"There. I think that will help you to sleep better this eve, Force Leader."

"Thank you, Shr'dler'in.” She quietly thought to herself,
I can think of something that could help me to sleep even better this eve
, but instead, asked, “How long will our Queen be in these meditations?"

"She has yet to reach to the end of them, and then she must return through them, so she has a long while as yet."

Shr'dler'in had sat down, leaning against a tree. Ann'wn sat next to her, wishing The Healer could feel as she felt about her, “Rest for a while. I will waken you if you tell me what signs to look for in our Queen."

The Healer agreed, telling her what to look for, then settled in against the tree and Ann'wn, sleeping. As the moments passed, and unaware she did as such, Shr'dler'in eventually laid her head on Ann'wn's lap. Ann'wn covered her with her cloak against the chill of the eve, finding that she loved the tender moment. Ann'wn liked the feeling of Shr'dler'in laying on her, so remained as quiet and unmoving as she could so that she wouldn't waken her. She wondered if she dared hope that they might one-turn come together.

Sele’ and Sle'nel’ came over to sit with Ann'wn and The Healer until their Queen exited from her meditations. When they arrived, they saw the two asleep.

"Quietly, Sele'. Check on your Aunt."

Sele’ went over to The High Queen and touched her gown, sensing her High Queen's meditations. She let go and returned to Sle'nel', “She is in her third and ready to exit soon, Birth-Mother."

"Does she need The Healer for this?"

"I can help her."

"Good. Then do so, quietly. I will begin to prepare these two for the eve. They are tired."

Sele’ helped The High Queen leave her meditations. San'lr'in’ then called a guard to help Sle'nel’ complete the camp for Ann'wn and The Healer. When the guard had set up the shelter over the two, The High Queen dismissed her as Sle'nel’ gently lay Ann'wn down next to The Healer. All three quietly left, pleased in their conspiracy.

In the early morn, Ann'wn woke to the feeling of someone's arm wrapped over her. Yet mostly asleep and enjoying the warm and close feeling, she moved back into the one near her, not yet thinking. As Ann'wn moved, Shr'dler'in stirred somewhat, moving closer into the smell and comfort she was holding, thinking it a perfect fit. As was a habit of hers when with a lover, Shr'dler'in had her arm over her eve's sleeping partner and was lightly holding her partner's breast. When they both stirred, Shr'dler'in grasped Ann'wn's breast a little more firmly, causing Ann'wn to moan at the pleasurable feeling.

Yet without thinking, and yet with their minds fogged from sleep, Ann'wn rolled over and kissed her eve's sleeping partner. The kiss was returned fully for a moment, then Shr'dler'in woke to her complete senses. She jerked back as her eyes stared widely at Ann'wn.

"Ann'wn! What are you doing here?” She shook her head, trying to clear it of sleep, “I am sorry, Ann'wn. My sincerest apologies. I should have touched you not so inappropriately."

Ann'wn also jerked wide-awake when Shr'dler'in had done so, equally surprised at what had just occurred. She rose quickly, “No, Shr'dler'in. It was my fault. Please accept my apologies. I was just reacting to the feeling."

They broke down their camp, Ann'wn wondering who had prepared it for them. She heard Shr'dler'in laughing quietly to herself.

"Why do you laugh, Healer?"

"You are a good kisser, Force Leader. This knowledge of you surprises me. Thank you for keeping me warm during the eve."

Ann'wn blushed, wishing she could kiss Shr'dler'in again. Wishing she was yet being held in her arms. Softly, she said, “In truth, Healer, it was my pleasure."

"What did you say, Ann'wn? I could hear you not."

Ann'wn, yet blushing and well frustrated with herself, went up to Shr'dler'in. She stood directly in front of her, looking at her.

"What is it, Ann'wn? Have I upset you in my carelessness?"

Ann'wn, having always focused on being a warrior, didn't know what to do with the feelings she was experiencing with Shr'dler'in. She had never prior felt as such.

"I ... uh ... I mean ... I too ... I mean ... Thank you for the...” Finally, she said, “By the Mothers, our Queen is correct. I am a coward."

With that, she pulled Shr'dler'in to her, embracing her tightly. She kissed her fully, unable to control her desire and need. Shr'dler'in was shocked, but found her body willingly moving into Ann'wn's deeply passionate and searching kiss. It was everything she had for long-prior thought it would be. After a long moment, Ann'wn pulled away, stared into Shr'dler'in's eyes, touched her cheek tenderly with her hand, then turned and left.

Sle'nel’ watched quietly and unnoticed from a distance, smiling to herself.

The Healer stared at her as Ann'wn walked away, wondering what would now occur between them. She sighed, assured that it was no more than a brief accident.

As The High Queen had predicted, it had snowed on them through the eve. Ann'wn frowned as she looked up at the pass, seeing that it was yet snowing up on the mountain, and heavily so. She knew this turn and eve would be cold and most difficult for them.

She went to An'ther'on, “Have some of your guards break the path for us. Have them leave now.” She pointed to where she thought they would halt for the eve. “There. Have them search for shelter. And have The High Queen's shelter prepared for her if they cannot find any caves or overhangs."

They began their journey in the early morn, but later than usual, and well after the sun's rise, Ann'wn giving An'ther'on's guards the moments they needed to be well in the lead. Finally, when all was prepared, Ann'wn had An'ther'on and Uthrn lead the journeyers, while Meera, Sam and a few of the Private Guards guarded the rear. Ann'wn had most of the Black Guard out on patrols, searching for any danger that might be coming their way.

The turn was long, while the path remained deep with ever-deepening snow. They trudged their way through the steep pass, moment by moment, with no reprieve from either the snowstorm or the intensity of the upward path.

As the eve came, they halted on a slightly widened-portioned of the path, making camp in the most miserable of conditions, and making all to share tents. As soon as they made camp, all went directly to their tents, well exhausted from the turn's upward journey. Ann'wn watched with a saddened sigh as The Healer went into a tent with The High Queen's attendants.

The morn provided no release from the snowstorm, but Ann'wn made them to push on, hoping for better conditions once over the pass. The path up to the gap's ridge was now even steeper and more winding, heavier with snow than their prior turn's journey. In some places, the path became nothing more than a narrow ledge, with no room for error. On one of the ledges, An'ther'on indicated that everyone needed to dismount so that they could walk the ledge instead of ride it.

At after-midturn, as they neared the gap, The High Queen called Ann'wn to her, “You must have An'ther'on's guards return. They know not the way. We will travel as a group from here. In a short while, I must look for the tunnels."

The tunnels were a well hoped-for sighting, so the thought that they may not find them shocked Ann'wn into depression.

"Will they not be able to see them, my Queen?"

She shook her head, “I fear that even I will miss them, and I have been this way prior. They are well hidden. And in this snow, I am not certain they can be seen at all."

"Perhaps Mor'inl’ knows the way, Highness?"

She shook her head lightly, “No. It was far long prior, and I was alone."

It began to snow even heavier as they re-started their journey up to the pass. Ann'wn was watching The Healer from behind, wondering what to do with her new-found feelings for her, but also wondering what to do about her own undesired relationship with the High Counselor. All she really knew was that she wanted to lie in The Healer's arms this eve, and for many eves after. As they continued to trudge up the path, she studied The Healer, admiring her beauty. Her body shivered uncontrollably as she thought about the feeling of The Healer's soft hands upon her body.

How have I been so blind as this? How could I have long desired this woman yet never seen it? She is beautiful.

They had entered onto a series of steep and slippery switchbacks, and everyone was now forced to walk instead of ride. Trudging through the deep snow step-by-step, they spent the remainder of the after midturn arriving to the top of the switchbacks. They had hoped to be able to re-mount and ride the horses after the switchbacks, as the trail widened, but the snow was so deep that they had to continue to walk. The High Queen had moved to the front, trying to recall where the tunnels began. She knew she had few moments prior to the sun's setting. After that, they would once again be forced to build camp out in the open.

"Can we not help, Highness?"

They were in a small valley high up on the mountain, in the gap area. There were many huge boulders on each side of them that well hid the two mountains’ sides, so the tunnels couldn't be seen.

"They are on the right side ... I think ... or did I come from the wasteland side? Yes, this must be so as there was no snow. But then I would have entered through the mouth of the ... yet I recall well the switchbacks we just achieved. The caves must be around here, behind these boulders.” She turned around while scanning the area, “Have your guards look upon the walls of each of the mountains, behind the boulders. But then, a rockslide could have covered the entrance to them.” She looked frustrated, “My apologies, Ann'wn. It is the best I can do. It has been since my youth, overly many cycles prior."

Even if they had hundreds of guards with them, the length of the pass would require more of the sun's assistance than they presently had. Ann'wn knew that luck was all they had at the moment. Like all the others, Caitha had also begun helping in the search, humming to herself as she did so. She wandered around fairly aimlessly, but remaining close to the mountain's side when she saw that she had frightened a small animal. She watched it go to the mountain's side, then disappear. She followed its path behind some boulders, then suddenly saw the opening. It had been, as The High Queen had suspected, partially covered over by many rockslides over the cycles.

She walked back to Meera, “M'Love, I have found the opening to a tunnel."

Meera just looked at her in total disbelief, “You did? How? Where?"

"I frightened a little animal, and I watched it disappear into the opening as I followed its path."

It took great effort to clear the entrance just enough so that the horses could enter, but they were all well motivated to get out of the increasing snow, including the horses. After they were all regrouped inside the cave, Ann'wn began to give orders to build camp for the eve.

The High Queen interrupted her, “No, Force Leader. We must continue. Travel until the first fork in the tunnel. Take the right fork. Then to the second fork. Again, take the right fork. We will then come upon a large area where there are many available paths. That is where we head for the eve. There is water there, and some interesting features. Tell the Sorcerer Women to light the way for you. We can ride the remainder of the way."

As they were traveling through the tunnel, Sle'nel’ rode next to San'lr'in', “These tunnels, my Queen. They are in my memory."

The High Queen nodded, finally removing her hood, “I would be more surprised if they were not. These tunnels are the site of The Realm's most terrible battle between the Elves and the R'kin'dles during the first High Queen's reign. It was in this battle that both sides lost all their forces. Caitha might know of this story. It is considered as one of the saddest moments for The Realm. And the battle should never have occurred. It was after this battle that D'klr'dil must have given the first High Queen your staff, as this was the last battle of its era. After hearing Caitha's story of D'klr'dil, that part of The Realm's past now makes some sense, as no one could ever explain to Me why there was sudden peace after so much hate and war. Overly many were lost during that era. The Mystics nearly wiped themselves out at that moment. I hope that we never face such a battle as this.” She shivered as a chilling foreboding ran through her.