The Dragons Egg : XXXII : The Stone Circle : Eveline : Draft

XXXII

The Stone Circle

Eveline

“Out of all the rooms in this great school, I knew I would find you here,” Edward said as he entered the great library and found Eveline in a heap upon the floor, a book in her hand, her auburn hair now loose and flowing down her back. Her back was to him and did not move as he entered, a little concerned for the young woman he had come to adore as a daughter. The sun was setting and the bankers lamps were on, filling the library with a gentle glow. He came to her and, his knees cracking, sat down beside her glancing at the title of the book. “The Prince?”

“Thought it was appropriate,” Eveline said quietly, her face pale and swollen indicating to Edward that she had been crying.

“Have you been in here for all these hours, alone?”

“I needed a little space before dinner,” Eveline replied as she turned a page, keeping her eyes on the book, afraid that if she were to lift them to her tutor that the days pains would come rolling off her tongue like melted butter.

“Why Machiavelli?”

“I figured that if you want to learn about war, leadership and strategy you have several books to choose from; The Art of War, The Iliad, Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Caesar’s Meditations and The Prince,” Eveline placed her index finger within the book and looked up at her tutor. “And not forgetting the Bible.”

“And what has frightened you so much that have pertained to read the whole of The Prince before sunrise I wonder?” Edward mused as he picked up a volume of the Iliad and turned it about in his large hands. “Fear? Anxiety? Or the impending war that you shall find yourself in?”

“All of the above,” Eveline returned without a smile. “Alsandair gave me some displeasing news and though I cannot speak of it to anyone, it has shaken me to the core and left me feeling alone and unsure of myself.”

“You are sure you cannot speak about what you have learned?” Edward pushed gently as he folded his arms and observed the young woman, so rigid and tired looking.

“I wish I could speak of our conversation for I am sure you would be most helpful in helping me to not only figure out what it means but in helping me to come to terms with the knowledge,” Eveline said with a sigh, the golden light of the lamps catching her fiery golden eyes and locks of loose curls. “But I am bound to secrecy if I am to keep those I love safe.”

“Shall we then speak in hypothetical terms instead?” Edward returned with a slight smile and frown, watching carefully Eveline’s troubled eyes.

“Please,” she whispered as she closed the book in her hands shut and turned to face her tutor. “Say you were to see into your future and are given two outcomes, one being bad the other good. Now you know that you have two paths before you but then you encounter a certain someone who leads you to believe that the only outcome is bad, in fact worse than you had previously imagined and incredibly complicated…” Eveline looked into her tutors grey eyes and caught herself a moment before ploughing on. “Say there is a bond between my son and another here on this earth, another who is the true face of the murderer within these grounds…Oh it’s too complicated even when I try to simplify it!”

“Even if Alsandair has declared your future to be damned and the future of others to also be damned, you are yet to stand before the forked road,” Edward said with a raised hand. “Grasp the opportunity that he has given you in giving you such knowledge, for now that you have it you can manipulate its content. When you find yourself before the forked roads of your future, choose wisely.”

“I thought my son safe in the gardens,” Eveline whispered, afraid that the shadows would whisper in the wizard’s ears. “He is not and there isn't a thing I can do about it.”

“Does someone have a key?” Edward asked, his voice now also low.

“Worse,” Eveline whispered in return, her eyes darting about the library. “A great and terrible stone that my grandfather is protecting will be stolen very soon, its power when digested into the body is so great that whoever digests it will have the power to open the gates of Eden and find my son…I cannot say anymore.” Edward sat back and simply gazed at Eveline, a little confused and a little relieved.

“But you have the keys? You can open the gates?”

“No for some obscene reason, I cannot open the gates,” Eveline sighed heavily and let her body fall back against the body of the shelf behind her. “There is one man who can, he lives in my world and when I find him in the end, I must give him the keys but to do so…I…I must…die.” Edward’s eyes nearly popped through his skull at her words. Eveline stretched out a hand and grasped his own, her fierce eyes, unblinking and unwavering as she saw the pain wash over him. “It is the only way.”

“You’re sure of this?”

“Absolutely.”

“You would be right in saying that this whole matter is very complicated,” Edward said with renewed energy in his voice. “But my advice to you remains the same. You have yet to talk down this path and so you may be able to divert yourself, if you keep your eyes focused and on alert.”

“I would be drawing arms against fate itself.”

“Then you must do so, if you are to die for you son, then do not let it be in vain.”

“It is not only my son I would be leaving behind,” Eveline said with emotion as she wiped a tear from her eye. “I would be leaving the man I love, the man I have crossed the universe to find, the man I have left my marriage for.”

“Galean is no fool, he will understand in the end,” Edward said with love and understanding. “Love overcomes all obstacles, even death” At his words, Eveline threw herself at her tutor and wrapped her arms about him, crying into his shoulder and wishing he would come home with her. He was the father she had been deprived off, the teacher she had needed for so long and the friend she had come to count on for so much. She clung to him as a child to their parent and cried quietly, his hand gently stroking her long hair. “It will be alright Eveline, I have hope for you and I have hope in the decisions you will make.”

“Even if I keep none to myself?”

“Even when you have no hope in yourself, that is why it is imperative that you surround yourself with good friends and allies, they will help to carry the burdens and lighten your shoulders,” Edward said with a soothing voice. “When you have no hope left, they will gladly dispense of their own and give it to you willingly.”

“Are you sure you don’t wish to come with me,” Eveline teased as she sat up and wiped her eyes. “I know, it was a joke.”

“You will do fine once you find your footing, you will flourish and those following you will flourish under your light,” Edward said as he fixed his tie. “Now, come, no more reading Machiavelli, you have a long night ahead of you and need to eat and prepare.” Again cracking his knees, Edward came to his feet and held out a hand. Taking it gladly, Eveline arose from the floor and straightened her dress. “Now you cannot return to your world in a dress, Olivia has put out some practical clothes on your bed, you may as well go now and dress before dinner.”

“I never intended on returning in a flimsy dress, what if I fall into the sea?” Eveline said with a smile as lifted her assortment of books with a wave of her hand and trailed her into her arms. “Oh God, what if I fall into the sea?”

“You are gifted with magic, you will surely survive,” Edward smiled broadly as they exited the library. Eveline turned away from her tutor and made her way back to her guest room in which Bran was situated on the rim of the window. Eveline dumped her books down upon the large bed and found to her right, the clothes set out by Olivia.

“Bran you look so solemn, your day can’t have been as bad as my own surely?” she said aloud as she picked up a heavy black chainmail shirt and frowned. Bran turned his black eyes to Eveline and with a great swoosh changed into his angelic form.

“Something is coming,” he said darkly. “I can feel it.”

“Nothing ever worries you,” Eveline said as she looked up into his handsome face. “What could it be that you fear?”

“I wish I knew,” Michael said with feigned frustration. “When I close my eyes I can see a gravestone…and in the air I can hear a woman’s cry.” At the word gravestone, Eveline turned from the angel, a sudden flash memory of her near death experience in Bath filling her head.

“A great darkness is most certainly heading in this direction, but we have known this for some time?” Eveline said as she picked up a pair of leather trousers, her eyes on Michael who was pacing to and fro, his long fingers in his hair.

“This is different, this is darker.”

“Is it possibly for a deeper shade of darkness to curl its arms about the gust of darkness that heads in this direction, collecting and mauling anything in its way?”

“Yes…” Michael murmured as he stopped by the great arched window and looked down into the courtyard. Eveline looked at him, this time with great anxiety, for he never openly worried or became agitated.

“Michael,” she said as she dropped her trousers and made for him, lifting her wide eyes and observing his clenched jaws for a moment. “Should I be worried?” Michael, the reflection of the rising moon in his blue eyes, turned his gaze down to her.

“You must stay close to me, do you hear? Until we can reach these stones and return you to your home, we are all vulnerable to the wind that sweeps from the east,” he said darkly. “Hurry you must change and ready yourself, I have packed you’re travelling bags for you.” Eveline looked to her bed and found two large leather satchel bag in waiting, with a large sword and a small sword lying against them, in their sheaths.

“Thank you,” she muttered. “I should probably change now.”

“I will find Olivia and bring her to your room so that she may fix your hair,” Michael said as he turned on his feet and abruptly left the room, leaving Eveline behind, feeling distorted and stressed. Soon enough she had changed into her black leather trousers, black boots which covered her lower calves, the heavy black chainmail shirt and a red wine tunic that fell to her thighs. Standing before the large mirror she was surprised at her reflection. She had attached the leather belt about her waist and tucked her swords into either side, and was amazed to find herself looking like a medieval warrior. Knocking on her door, Olivia entered.

“Now you look like a warrior!” she said with a smile as she swept into the room closing the door behind her. “Michael is standing guard outside.”

“I look a little bit ridiculous, don’t you think?” Eveline said aloud as she sat down before her dressing table and handed Olivia her gold plaited brush. Taking the brush, Olivia began to attend to her long, thick hair.

“You look as you should,” Olivia said with knowing eyes, meeting Eveline’s gaze in the mirror. “Michael is a little on edge, don’t you think?”

“Little being the operative word,” Eveline said as she tied the thick leather laces at her chest. “He feels something ill in the air.”

“That isn’t too surprising, is it?”

“No, but usually he is so calm about these kind of things,” Eveline said as Olivia handed back the brush and began to plait her hair. “The hours seem to be passing like days.”

“It won’t be long now until you’re ready to leave,” Olivia said with watering eyes. “Oh don’t mind me, I will miss you that’s all.” Eveline caught Olivia’s hand.

“And I you.”

It didn’t take Olivia long to pliat Evelines hair and when she was done, she walked over to a large armchair and lifted up a red cloak.

“Here you best put this on for warmth,” she said kindly as she draped the cloak over Eveline’s shoulders. “The brooch was my mothers, I wish for you to have it in remembrance of me.”

“It is beautiful!” Eveline said with a smile as she touched the dragon brooch, encrusted with yellow jewels.

“Have you packed the ring, letter and all the other items you are to bring back with you?”

“Yes, they are in my bags along with my books, maps and other practical necessities.”

“Well then you are ready,” Olivia said as she opened her arms. “Let’s go and eat!”

*

Dinner had passed peacefully, and the friends reencountered their adventures together, the wizard quiet and observing of Eveline. After their meal, they all made for a large study in which a great fire was blazing. For the next few hours they simply enjoyed each other’s company, Michael standing by a large window, his blue eyes glued to the outside world and Alsandair smoking a long pipe in silence. When the clock struck midnight, the company departed ways and made for their rooms in which to sleep a few hours before sunrise. Eveline, Michael and Alsandair stayed in the study, their minds too preoccupied to sleep. Her cloak upon a chair, Eveline took up a map of Calnuthe and Meer and studied it a long while before her eyes closed and she fell into a dark sleep, the embers and heat exhausting her. When she awoke, she found the wizard looking down at her.

“It is time,” he said simply. “Come we must make for the stones before the sun rises.” Eveline yawned and when she brought herself to her feet, found the rest of the company standing still, their eyes locked on her. Michael had her bags and Olivia her cloak.

“It’s really happening,” she said to them with a strange nervousness chilling her bones.

“Yes,” Matthew said with a nod. “Come we must leave now.” Collecting her cloak and flinging it over her, Eveline took her bags from the sombre Michael and placed their over her shoulders and with little light about them, followed the great wizard, his golden stars creating a small circle of light about him. They walked through the dark corridors until they met with the night air. Quietly, Eveline walked alongside Edward and Olivia, her heart pounding and her legs a little weak. The air wasn’t cold, it was humid and she could smell the beautiful fragrance of the summer flowers and seasoned trees. They passed the great cathedral and made their way through the gardens until in the distance she could hear the sea. To the horizon a small slither of light appeared, casting its slight luminosity over a dozen great standing stones. Eveline shivered as she gazed upon them. They formed a great circle and looked to be a least twenty feet tall in length. To her left she heard the morning birds chirping beautifully and soon she found herself standing within the great circle. Her companions were standing outside of the circle and in between the stones, filling the voids with their figures. Her hands trembling, Eveline looked to the wizard.

“What happens next?” she asked as he cloak danced about her legs gently.

“When the sun rises it will create a direct line of light between these two stones here,” he turned and pointed to the great stones behind him. “And the two stones that are located behind you. When the light fills the voids, you must close your eyes and find the place in which you are travelling too, does that make sense?”

“Yes,” Eveline answered with trembling lips.

“It is as simple as that, so do not fear the light,” Alsandair said with kindness. “And Celestine, remember what my words.” Eveline nodded as she looked about her, her eyes dancing over her friends.

“I’m scared,” she said to Edward.

“Good, remember you should worry when you fear nothing, for that is when you are most dangerous,” Edward replied with knowing eyes. “Focus on Galean.” As he spoke, Michael unsheathed his sword quickly.

“Get down!” he cried out as a great noise erupted in the air. Eveline turned her eyes and as the light of dawn began to course over the lands, she saw her husband lying on the ground. Beside him stood two great knights. At once, Michael and Alsandair ran across the stones and made for the knights who now began to run towards Eveline at full speed.

“Theodore!” Eveline cried out as he came to his shaking feet and found her gaze.

“Eveline wait! I’m here!” he called out as the knights and their opponents now fought one another, great specs of blue and white light filling the air about them.

“Theodore what are you doing!” Eveline cried out as her husband ran through the circle and came to her, taking her arms wildly. “How?”

“I had to find a port key! You wouldn’t think I would simply let you walk away from me do you?” he said with flashing eyes. “You can’t leave me behind! I am your husband!”

“Theodore!” Eveline began as her friends tried to keep their places, the great fight between the knights and her guardians increasing. Eveline turned to Edward. “Run!” she cried out with so much energy that her voice positively boomed. “Do not wait for me! Run!”

“We won’t leave you!” Edward returned, his eyes filled with fear.

“Please, I need to know that you survive!” Eveline cried out as she unhooked herself from Theodores grasp and ran across the grass to her friends. “Please you cannot fight them, they are beyond you all!” Edward looked to his friends.

“She is right Edward!” Matthew hollered, his eyes turning to Theodore. “Do not trust him Eveline…please do not trust him, he is not what he seems!”

“He is my husband, what can I do?” Eveline said with a shrug as she left her friends and ran towards the thickening light. Once again she faced Theodore and looked into his eyes. “What have you done?” she said darkly.

“I didn't mean to,” Theodore stuttered quickly, his body out of breathe. “There was no other way…” Behind him ran Michael at full speed.

“Get away from her traitor!” he cried out, his great sword drawn and his blue eyes murderous. “You brought them here! You made a deal with the devil!”

“No, you wouldn't do that, would you?” Eveline said quickly as the light began to take a hold of her body. Theodore looked into her eyes wildly.

“There was no other way!” he said uncontrollably, taking her arms once more, the tips of his fingers edging into her skin. “You cannot leave me for him!”

“Im not leaving you for anyone!” Eveline fought back as Michael’s presence closed in.

“You murdered an innocent woman!” Michael said accusingly.

“None of this would have happened if you and your God hadn't turned their backs on me!” Theodore cried out with such rage that Eveline was petrified. His blue eyes back on her, she took a step back.

“Theodore…” she said under her breathe. It happened so fast that Eveline barely had the time in which to process the moments. The light of the sun caught a hold of her body and in the blink of an eye she closed her own eyes and searched for Calnuthe. The air about her began to spin and when she opened her eyes she caught sight of Theodore, clutching onto her arms tightly, his own body swirling about in time along with her own. As she spun round and round and round, the light of the sun changing and erupting into a rainbow of colours she noticed that her husband was losing consciousness. “Theodore!” she screamed through the noise, watching as his eyes began to close. With her own hands, she caught a hold of him and brought him to her body and wrapped herself about him, not wishing to let go. Soon she felt them break through a barrier of some sort and about her a great white light moulded them together and flung them through a dark coldness. She felt herself fall, her eyes closed shut out of fear and soon she crashed into a great ocean of freezing water.




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