The Dragons Egg : XVI : Time Reversed : Eveline : Preview

XVI

Time Reversed

Eveline

A light north-eastern wind swept it’s away across the bay of Peel, and the waves beautifully curled, crashed against the white sand, soaking the toes of Eveline, who stood quite still, her golden eyes cast out to the horizon. Summer was close, but in her heart Eveline felt the bitter chill of winter. It had been two days since her chance encounter with the magical door, in which she had seen two versions of her future that both included a son, who happened to be living within the same castle as she, only not as a babe but as a fully grown man who was in the eyes of many seen as a murderer. Since that night, Merlin and Welwyn had disappeared from sight, the druids unable to tell Eveline were exactly they were. She had searched the castle a dozen times, had eaten within the hall and had fervently asked her friends for their aid, but to no avail. Her son and the great wizard of earth had gone and she was at a loss as to what to do next. Common sense and a fear of the other two doors had kept her from fulfilling her curiosity, but as she stood with her toes arched into the cold sand below, she felt a yearning deep within, a yearning to return to the door and find out what the other two smaller doors had within. Her eyes heavy, she lifted her left hand and looked down at the small golden band upon her fourth finger.

“There you are!”

Eveline turned her eyes and found William striding across the bay, his face filled with merriment.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Edward is awaiting you,” William said loudly as he came to stand before Eveline, his golden hair dancing about in the light wind and his blazing green eyes aflame. “You have that look about you…”

“Excuse me?” Eveline returned with a flick of her brow.

“That look you had two nights ago, you remember?”

“I am simply deep in thought that is all,” Eveline said with a shrug. “I am allowed to think yes?”

“Oh god yes, by all means, but…” William stuttered as he folded his arms before him. “I am a professor and one of our many qualities is in reading our students body language and you my dear have all the signs of a women in fear…so please explain yourself?”

“You’re not one for tact are you Mr Talbot?” Eveline smiled softly as she scooped back a handful of auburn curls.

“Unfortunately no, I am too direct for my own good…maybe that is why the ladies adore me so very much,” William teased, his eyes unable to sparkle. “But do please try and explain just what is going on inside that head of yours.”

“If I tell you, you are to promise me to secrecy, yes?” Eveline asked seriously.

“Of course, unless your life is in danger, then I would be answerable to Heiden…and we know how that turns out.”

Eveline furrowed her brows in confusion.

“You were saying?” William said with a smile.

“Two nights ago after my lessons with Edward, I got lost on my way down to the hall with Bran…”

“Your new pet?”

“Yes my new pet…” Eveline sighed. “Anyway I found myself aimlessly walking down a rather narrow corridor when I saw a door.”

“Okay…”

“It wasn’t just any door, it was different,” Eveline went on to say as she studied Williams face. “It was larger than usual and had old English runes written over the arch in gold.”

“How strange…”

“Indeed, but what was stranger was that when I said the words aloud the door opened to reveal a further three doors within, smaller but all of which were also decorated with golden runes above the arches,” Eveline said, dropping her eyes to the sand. “The first door was engraved with a full moon and sun, the second had four large eight – pointed stars that encircled a large sun, which engulfed a crescent moon within and the third door to the right had only one symbol, which was a hand.”

“I think I may know of the door you speak of,” William said with a serious expression upon his face.

“You do?”

“I think I may,” William replied carefully. “When I was a student here some years ago, I remember an old priest telling me about the four doors of earth, all of which were positioned all over the world. These doors were so ancient and so powerful that only the four great guardians of earth could wield them, Merlin being one. I asked the priest about the door and what its purpose was and he said to me, that the one who could open the door would be able to walk between time and space. It strikes me that you have also maybe encountered this very door…”

“I think you may be right, it is for this very reason that I have been looking everywhere for Merlin, but he has disappeared without a word and has taken Welwyn with him,” Eveline said with desperation. “He has taken my son.”

“Your son?” William asked with a confused gaze. “I did not know that you had a son?”

“Neither did I, not until I entered the very last door in which I was faced with two versions of my future, both of which included my son,” Eveline said deeply, her eyes wide and urgent.

“How do you know he is you son and what prey tell did you see? Is that why you are afraid?” William pushed, now stepping closer to Eveline, all traces of merriment and joy gone from his eyes. Eveline turned away from William in shame.

“I cannot speak of what I saw, but I can tell you truthfully that Merlin is protecting my son,” Eveline said, her words laced with emotion. “In one version of my future, he is the child of my betrothed but in the other, he is the child of my half – brother.”

“I cannot pretend to know what it is you saw, but if you speak truth, then this man, this child, he holds the key to the future,” William said softly. “But why is he here? And how is it possible for him to be a man, when you have not yet given birth to him?”

“That is what I am trying to figure out myself,” Eveline said with a groan. “The only one who can give me the answers I seek has fled the island.”

“Well then, there is only one thing to do…”

“Which is?” Eveline asked aloud, turning her golden gaze to the young professor, who was now scratching his head in thought.

“You must go back to the door and find the answer,” William said with a nod of his head.

“I cannot go through the door…I am afraid of what I will learn,” Eveline said with a shake of her head.

“Eveline, I know that you fear what it is you may see, but don’t you think it is somehow strange that you and your son have somehow found each other? Don’t you think you should investigate?”

“But he is gone!”

“Eveline, let me speak with the others, we may be able to help if you allow us?” William said with desperation, his hands outstretched and shaking. “The axis of this world are changing, I do not believe for a moment that you and your son have met out of sheer coincidence; there must be a reason.”

“Will you come with me?” Eveline asked hesitantly, as she turned to her friend.

“I will come with you yes,” William said as he shook his head slowly. “I may not be allowed to enter the door, but I can certainly wait for you?”

“And you will help me to find my son?”

“I will certainly try my best,” William returned with sincerity. “I do not know why you didn’t come to us sooner…”

“I have placed you all in a dangerous situation as it is, I did not want to put you under further strain,” Eveline said with weary eyes.

“It is our job to look after you, we knew the risks involved,” William said with a seriousness. “You must trust us, we are strong enough to help you bare the troubles you face.”

“I am hesitant to put those closest to me in danger, especially after the events of this past year.”

“Eveline don’t you see...” William smiled tenderly. “You put us in greater danger when keeping us at a distance. How can we protect you if you won’t allow us? Eveline did not know how to answer her friend, but as she looked into his mischievous eyes, she understood the oath he and his closest friends had sworn.

“I am still a hundred steps behind everyone, and I am meant to be out in front, leading,” Eveline whispered softly, the sea breeze biting at her eyes. “I am paying the price of my own ignorance.”

“I think you confuse ignorance with enlightenment, don’t you?” William asked, his head slightly tilted to one side. “If you were ignorant, you wouldn’t be here learning now would you?”

“I suppose,” Eveline smiled. “When I return to my world, I am afraid that I will find myself quite lost…afraid that those who are awaiting my arrival will find themselves disillusioned.”

“You need to lower your expectations and keep yourself focused, your abilities and white magic have progressed rapidly since your arrival upon this island, even I am a little perplexed by how quickly you can learn spells and potions that would take a normal druid years in which to learn, you have to stop putting yourself down and try to believe in who you are and your destiny…”

“If you knew my future, I believe you wouldn’t be so coy about my abilities,” Eveline said darkly as she wrapped her shawl about her tightly. “I have the power not only to free the universe of the great shadow that ensnares it but I have the ability to take away all light…”

“We all have the power to do protect the light and equally to get rid of it, I do not believe you will choose the latter,” William said hesitantly as though not entirely assured of his own words or wisdom.

“We shall see,” Eveline said sharply as she turned on her feet and began to walk away. “Come we have work to do.”

*



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