The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (43 page)

"Your knee and shoulder hurt."

"I used them overly during our fight."

San'lr'in’ looked at Sle'nel', admiring her. Sle'nel’ saw her do as such, “What are you staring at so intently, San'lr'in'?"

"You, My Desire. You are so beautiful."

"You cannot yet think as such, truly?"

San'lr'in’ rose and placed her hand out in invitation, “You are the most beautiful one in all The Realm. How could I ever tire of this? Your hair shines like the dark velvet eve. You eyes hold Me as if I were in a trance. Would you honor Me in this dance? It is a slow one, and I will be gentle."

Sle'nel’ saw that her Queen's eyes were sparkling in their delight of the eve, and of everything that seemed to now be going right in The Realm. She placed her hand into her Queen's, rising, as she looked at her lover with great interest, “You seem most pleased with The Realm, at this moment."

San'lr'in’ smiled lovingly at her, “With you in it, how could I not?"

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Ann'wn was kneeling with head bowed to The High Queen, “Highness?"

She turned and looked down upon her, “Rise, Force Leader. Tell Me."

It was the early morn, and all the camp was excitedly busy in their final preparations to El'fs'nd'lle. At long last, their journey's mission was to be achieved, and all were now preparing themselves in their finest garment available to them for the procession that was to occur. Ann'wn had come to her Queen with a report, but noticed that The High Queen looked other than excited, over what she could only guess.

"The High Priestess has agreed to ride in the procession, Highness. She is arriving as we speak."

She sighed and looked at Ann'wn, not fully focusing, saying nothing.

Ann'wn saw that her first guess was quite wrong, and now saw that her queen looked deeply concerned, “My Queen? Is all well?"

She blinked slowly, then refocused, “I am sorry, Force Leader. My thoughts are elsewhere.” She sighed, “Have her ride next to Mil'der'in in the procession."

"Yes, my Queen."

"When will the Private and Black Guards take their final leave?"

"In two turns, Highness, after they are assured that you are safely inside El'fs'nd'lle and that no enemies await you outside the gates. Since The Highest of Woden will be leaving at the same moment, some of them will accompany her as far as the Valley."

"I assume we will have enough guards for our return to the Valley."

"Yes, Highness. We will make it so."

"The Mungardies?"

"They have remained quiet, but I sense they are planning something. They are overly quiet."

She nodded, “Have them carefully watched. I want their battles halted, Force Leader. They wish to rule this Realm, most strongly. We will focus all our attentions on them upon My return to the Valley."

"As you say, Highness. We are prepared to do as such."

She sighed again, “Are we arranged for this morn's adventures?"

"Not quite yet, Highness, and your attendants await your presence so that you may also be prepared."

"Mil'der'in gave Me a troubling report this morn."

Ann'wn waited, not wanting to rush her.

She sighed yet again, unable to control her frustrations, “She tells Me that she believes not that she should be the Valley's Queen, and the Counselors wish no replacement for Me. What are your thoughts in this regard?"

Ann'wn was surprised, as The High Queen seldom asked her opinions in such matters, and she also didn't think this was what was causing her queen such concern, “I can fully understand their view, Highness. You cannot be so easily replaced. Although I would prefer no change in this regard, the High Counselor could most likely be persuaded otherwise, my Queen."

"Why do you prefer that I remain as Queen of the Valley?"

"Your forces have all been combined, Highness, and would have to be reconfigured. You must have your own forces as High Queen, as must the Queen of the Valley have her own forces."

"Is that a compelling reason, Force Leader?"

"It would depend on who you desire as Force Leader for your forces, Highness. I may not be the one to speak with in this regard, if you wish me not as such."

She stared at Ann'wn for a moment, fully exasperated, “Why would I be asking such of you if I wanted not your opinion? Quite obviously, Force Leader, you are to remain My Force Leader. Surely you must realize this."

She was pleased, “With all respect, my Queen, I cannot assume as such. It is not my privilege to do so. But if this is so, Highness, all that I can say is I care not which choice is made, as I remain fully in your service. The remainder can be considered quickly. Mil'der'in would make a good Queen, if that is your choice, and like any other, could be persuaded if you made well known your desire."

She sighed and looked away, “Is nothing simple?"

"My Queen?"

She looked back to Ann'wn, “Forgive Me, Force Leader. I am fully distracted, and shouldn't be. I gave you an audience, yet I remain elsewhere. Do you require anything else of Me?"

"Will the Warrior Woman be remaining with us now, my Queen, or will you be sending her with The Highest?"

"She is ours, Force Leader, and is directly under your command. My sister may desire the Warrior to travel to Woden with her, for a short transition of her force leaders."

"Yes, my Queen. I could have her travel with The Highest to Woden, and remain with her until our arrival. She could then leave as we do. When are you planning your visit to Woden, Highness?"

"One moon after our return to the Valley. Given how our plans seem to alter considerably, however, your guess would be as good as mine."

"Yes, Highness. We will return to the Valley, and then wait for the correct moment."

"And given that My Counselors will once again be most frustrated with Me, I suspect that I will be ready to leave well prior to even these plans."

Ann'wn smiled gently, “I understand, Highness."

"Come, Force Leader. Walk with Me back to the camp to where I must now endure the incessant tongues of My attendants."

Ann'wn held out her arm for her Queen. The High Queen placed her arm on top of her Force Leader's, “Tell Me, Force Leader. How many cycles has it been in which you have been My Force Leader?

"Nine, Highness."

"As many as this, then?"

"Yes, my Queen."

She looked at Ann'wn with a glint of mischief in her eyes, “Are you ready for nine more, Force Leader?"

Ann'wn smiled and blushed, “Even more than this, Highness."

As they returned to the camp, Meera awaited them. She knelt and bowed her head, “Highness."

"Warrior Woman. Rise. Tell Me your report."

"The High Priestess calls for you, my Queen."

Ann'wn noticed that her Queen didn't sigh at this report, an unusual moment, “Tell her it will have to wait until after our entrance into El'fs'nd'lle. I have no moments for her, as I must prepare. Inform her that she will ride alongside the High Counselor.” She halted, then added, “Oh, and inform her that we are most pleased in her acceptance. And that she does us great honor. This should be enough."

Meera knew that this would do little to silence Sume', but would carry her Queen's orders to her, “Yes, Highness. As you bid."

The High Queen looked at her carefully, “You approve not of this response, Warrior Woman? But I understand. Have Sele’ taken to her. That should entertain her for a while longer."

Meera smiled, knowingly, “Yes, my Queen. I am most certain that Sele’ will take her role seriously in this regard."

"Tell the Young One that her Queen needs this of her. Consider it part of the learning experience for her."

As San'lr'in’ entered her tent, she saw that Sle'nel’ was almost prepared. Upon most moments, she yet found herself surprised in the beauty of her lover, and that Sle'nel’ yet caused shivers within her. This moment was no different, “You look stunning, Elf. Is your mind as well-prepared as your wonderful Elfin body?"

Sle'nel’ smiled lovingly, then looked down at her new garments, “It is of Elfin material. The Queen of the Waters had them delivered for me, for this moment. What do you think of them?"

"The Elfin garments are quite unlike anything we wear in the Valley. But they suit you well. They fit almost as if they were your skin. I quite like how it displays your body. And the cape is extraordinary."

"And you? What will you be wearing?"

She smiled and placed her arm around Sle'nel's waist, bringing her to her gently, holding her close, ignoring the question, “I never prior thought that this moment would arrive during My reign, but to also hold you close to Me is an even greater surprise."

Sle'nel’ blushed a little, grateful for her Queen's love, “Thank you, San'lr'in'. While I never could have thought of a place such as El'fs'nd'lle, this love that you give me is even more the astonishing."

San'lr'in’ could sense that Sle'nel’ was anxious in regard to this moment, and was pleased in it, knowing that it completely removed her mind from thinking of her tortures by the Dark Sorcerer.

Sle'nel’ looked at her, “San'lr'in'? Are you not at all anxious in this moment?"

The High Queen looked surprised, “Should I be? Is this not the glorious moment in which The Realm has long awaited?"

"Yes, but we know not what will occur, in truth."

"But I do. I know that the Elves will now be restored to their rightful place in The Realm."

"Will they effect your reign?"

"Most certainly so. While they will provide continual challenges to My commands, they will also provide the strongest of loyalties. They are not easy, but are worth the strain. But enough of this. I must prepare."

Sle'nel’ was always surprised as to the physical strength of her Queen, yet thinking she was as soft as she looked. San'lr'in’ held Sle'nel’ tightly, yet in a most desirable of fashions. It was one of the reasons Sle'nel’ felt safe in this union. She touched her Queen's face gently, then kissed her.

San'lr'in’ returned the kiss fully, then stepped back slightly, “My Desire. I must remove Myself from this moment, or we will never get this procession prepared."

Sle'nel’ left San'lr'in’ to her preparations, taking the last remaining moments to prepare Mor'inl'. After the unspeakable tortures the Dark Sorcerer had inflicted on her, Sle'nel’ had begun taking greater solace in the quiet moments with the animals, especially when San'lr'in’ was otherwise engaged.

As she placed the decorations onto Mor'inl', Sam came up to her, “Good morn, our most treasured Elf. Are you prepared for this most grand of moments?"

She turned, looking into the beautiful blue eyes she had prior loved. While Sle'nel’ looked at Sam most lovingly and gently, Sam noticed that Sle'nel’ seldom smiled anymore, “Highest. Is all well?"

Like San'lr'in', Sam didn't answer the questions she thought unimportant, “I have but thought much on this moment. If, while we lived together in Woden, someone had but told me that these events were to pass in our direction, I would have thought them as most crazed. Now, here we stand at the gates of a future we couldn't have but even imagined."

Sle'nel’ nodded lightly at the comment, thinking the same. She said nothing as Sam continued, “After the moment that caused you to leave me, I but wished that we could return to our past moments in Woden. This journey has removed me far from this thinking, and now I find Woden so distantly removed from all this ... “(comma deleted) she gestured all about her with her hands, “...that I can make but little sense of anything, let alone our own roles within The Realm."

Sle'nel’ shrugged in understanding, “I gave up attempting such. It seems a useless endeavor, as you say. It would seem that The Realm knows our roles, and just leads us toward them."

Sam placed her hands on Sle'nel's shoulders, “I know that I love you, Sle'nel', and should have acted on this feeling far sooner, but I see in truth that our paths, while often verging together, are on separate journeys from this moment."

Sle'nel’ took Sam's hands into her own, holding them softly, staring at them for a moment, then looking into Sam's wonderfully blue eyes. She spoke so softly that Sam strained to hear her, “Woden needs you most desperately, Sam. I can think of no other who could lead Woden into the future it has long been denied. But I am truly pleased that I was able to spend with you what few moments we had. I think of them often, and they give me pleasure."

Sam nodded, “As do I. Often. Which causes much trouble between Uthrn and me, but that is but another tale. And this is not why I have come to you this morn. I have come to but tell you how very proud I am of you, and to tell you that I know that even if San'lr'in’ were not now your lover, I can see that I would yet but need to give you up to The Realm. This is most evident, even to me. Your role is great in this realm, and we never even knew of such. You are, at this moment, facing a future long denied to you. This is your realm, Sle'nel'. I have long prior but believed that this realm was Woden's, but in truth, this realm was for the Elves. You need to see this as truth, and to act as the Elf that The Realm now needs. You were Second of Woden, and Highest while I was but gone, and now it is your moment to be that most capable leader once again."

"Sam. I know not what to sa—"

Sam placed a finger on Sle'nel's lips, “You need say nothing, while I should have long prior said this to you. This is your role, Sle'nel'. Had the Spirit Mothers of the Falls not kidnapped you, you would have been raised to know of this role. The only difficulty you face is in the surprise and unknowingness of it. Now you must act as if this were the role you have long prior known to be correct. I cannot undo what the Dark Sorcerer did to you, but you must not allow it to dampen this moment for The Realm, you, or all the Elves prior and yet to come. Many great prior ones, perhaps more than we can but guess, hoped for this moment and tried most desperately to bring it forward. And their efforts are finally succeeding.

"All will look upon you now as one who stands apart, Sle'nel', which is but something you long wished to avoid. But it is so, and you must now see this as truth. No longer can you hide behind Woden, the Valley, or even San'lr'in'. You stand alone in this realm like no other, and you must face this, as The Realm needs you to do so. You now must embrace being the leader of the Elves until such moments when they are once again a force. If I were yet your Highest, I would command this of you. So I say this as your prior lover, and as your friend. The Realm but needs you, Sle'nel', to now step forward and take this role. You are this role, and it should be but easy for you. Many have fought to prevent this, but above all else, think only on those who have given their lives to arrive at this one moment. Many lives have been lost for this, and they gave them willingly. Never forget this part, Sle'nel', as that is one thing I have learned while being The Highest of Woden. No matter what has occurred to me, and no matter how overly difficult it is to often face Woden, many of Woden gave their lives so that peace would continue. I must lead it with this in mind, and now so must you, for The Realm."