The Dragons Egg : Epilogue : Celestine : Draft

Celestine

She could hear his voice in her head, calling to her.

Eveline! Eveline!

She had felt as though she had been asleep for countless centuries as she began to rouse herself, her heavy eyelids opening slowly. A gentle light filled the room in which she lay, and as she moved her legs and body, her side sore, she noticed a sleeping figure in the corner. He looked older now than he had done twenty years ago. His hair was grey and his skin aged. He wore a heavy robe of navy velvet and had both arms folded under his chest, his snores coming loud and deep. Her body aching, Eveline sat up and rolled her shoulders back and forth. She looked down at her body and saw Galean’s jewel upon her chest, the ring of Taer looped beside it on the chain. She was gowned in a white dress that was embroidered with silver flowers. Quietly she turned her body about and let her bare feet fall to the stone ground below. She was weary and weak. Her hair now hung loosely about her shoulders, the tips touching her waist. Rubbing her eyes with her hands she yawned lightly and looked across at Anvin.

“You have aged wizard,” she said with a smile as she brought herself to her feet. Cautiously she walked over to the man and fell before him, taking his hands in her own. With a yank he opened his eyes and blinked down at her.

“You are awake?” he said with surprise, his green eyes bright and fresh.

“It seems an age since we first met,” Eveline said as she searched his face deeply.

“It has been an age my Lady,” Anvin smiled down at the young woman, his right hand coming to rest on her cheeks. “Are you sure you wish to awaken, a great and tiresome journey lies before you.”

“My legs are weary, but awake I must,” Eveline said with furrowed brows. “War is coming and I need to keep myself hidden from the enemy until Galean arrives.”

“Galean?” Anvin whispered as he caught a glimpse of the yellow jewel, his eyes lifting to her own. “That is the jewel of his mother…how?”

“In time I shall explain myself, but first you must bring me to Maethilda, there is something I wish to give her,” Eveline said with a smile as she stood up and held out her hand. Anvin took her hand and stood up tall before her.

“Are you ready?” he whispered darkly. “Once you open these doors you will never be able to close them over again.”

“I am ready friend,” Eveline said with a nod.

“Come then,” Anvin replied as he led her slowly across the small chamber and to the wooden door. With a strong hand, Anvin opened the door and guided Eveline across the threshold. They entered a great hall, circular in shape. Eveline let her eyes run over all that lay before her. A large round table stood in the middle of the round hall, beneath a great wooden chandelier with small horns upon the top. To the left of the large table was a great fire, were large fur rugs lay before it and a few men stood together talking. The roof of the round hall was made of mud and straw and the walls had beautiful round windows. To her left a great arched doorway stood and to her right a group of elder women sat together sowing. Guards stood quietly in front of the doors, their spears beside them dutifully.

“Were is this?” Eveline asked as she looked up into Anvin’s eyes.

“You are in the city of Summe my lady, and this is my palace of sorts, although not as grand as any other palace in the north,” Anvin said with a slight smile.  Eveline let the rustic smell of burning wood fill her senses as she looked about. At the fire she noticed a young man.

“He saved me at the beach!” she said with excitement, wanting to stride over to the man and thank him.

“That is Aabe, my son,” Anvin smiled as he led her across the hall, by passing the great table. Soon they stood before the fire. “Aabe someone wishes to speak with you,” Anvin announced grandly. Aabe turned from the other men and stood before Eveline and with such speed as shocked Eveline fell into a bow, the rest of the men following suite.

“My lady,” he said softly, turning his eyes up to Eveline. “You look much better.”

“I feel much better,” Eveline smiled in return. “You may rise Aabe son of Anvin, there is no need for formalities just yet, I am still unused to them.”

“My lady,” Aabe smiled in return. “We here in Summe aren’t much for formalities either, despite my father being the High Priest of the North.”

“For that I am glad,” Eveline returned shyly. “I believe I have you to thank for saving me on the beach.”

“It was not only I that saved you my Lady, my friends also helped,” Aabe said as he bite down on his lower lip.

“Yes I remember,” Eveline returned, her eyes observant of the way the other men looked at her. “My eyes,” she whispered aloud.

“Are beautiful,” Anvin interceded as he waved away the young men. “Aabe perhaps you can bring Eveline to meet your friends, she wishes to see Maethilda.”

“It would be my honour but…” he looked to his father with quizzical eyes. “What of the crowds?”

“Crowds?” Eveline returned, her smile fading quickly. “What crowds?”

“The people of Summe have been standing outside ardently praying for your wellbeing these last two days,” Anvin said with a sigh. “I know you would wish to hide from them, but if they see you are well then they will disperse and give you space.”

“And Maethilda, she is among the crowd?” Eveline enquired, her body suddenly feeling light.

“No she is in the astronomy tower and has been since her return,” Aabe said with a slight smile.

“I see,” Eveline murmured. She could feel the eyes of Anvin and his son upon her and drew in a deep breathe. “Well then shall we find Maethilda?”

“Your sure you wish to reveal yourself so quickly?” Aabe asked Eveline with concern in his eyes.

“Do I look bad?” she asked with a smile.

“No, you look…” Aabe flushed.

“You look beautiful,” Anvin added with a smile. Aabe held out his arm to Eveline who took it gladly. “Aabe please reassure Maethilda that she has not dishonoured the rest of the wider group of pickets by disengaging herself with the game.”

“I doubt she will listen to me father, she is stubborn to the core Maettie,” Aabe answered in return.

“Then maybe Celestine can council her?”

“I shall try my best,” Eveline returned, still a little uncertain of her birth name. Her arm looped through Aabe’s, she was guided through the large hall and stood, her heart beating wildly as the guards opened the great doors. A strong ray of light hit her body with such strength that she felt herself sway. Beside her she felt Aabe’s strength and focused on her breathing as her eyesight acclimatised to the light. Lifting her gaze, she saw a mammoth crowd standing before the steps of the palace, many of them holding up beacons of fire and calling out her name. As the morning sun bathed Eveline in a great light, she stepped forward and the cries turned to silence. Eveline blinked several times and felt Aabe’s presence behind her. Her long auburn hair swept behind her and the light material of her fine gown danced about her ankles gently. For the first time in her life, she saw in the faces of the ordinary people before her, the meaning in her presence, the hope in their eyes distilled any resolution that she had in herself. For so many months she had fought with the prophecy and herself, but in this moment she felt aligned to the hope that filled the eyes of the men, women and children before her. Not only did she feel akin to these people, but somehow she could feel her parents standing beside her, their love and kindness wrapping her in a deep blanket of warmth. She had lost so much in returning to her home, her friends, her comfort and her husband. Standing in the sunlight, she felt a tear fall from her eye at the memory of Theodore.

Letting her hands relax she curled her lips and looked at the faces before her. Amid the crowd, she saw a familiar face and recognised Maethilda as she waded her way through the crowd, headed in her direction. Gently, Eveline lifted her hands and unclasped the necklace from her throat and cautiously she took the signet ring from the chain. Fixing the chain once again she took a step towards the crowd, her eyes on Maethilda. She looked weary and lost as she stood away from the crowd, her sea green eyes on her. Eveline held out her free hand and bid the young woman to come to her. Her heavy brows furrowed, Maethilda climbed the stone steps until she stood before Eveline.

“I have something for you, Maethilda daughter of Cathlen, Queen of Taer,” she said softly. “May I have your right hand please?”

“My hand?” Maethilda returned, lifting her hand up before Eveline.

“Your mother gave this to me and bid me to give it to you,” Eveline said kindly as she took the signet ring and rolled it across Maethilda’s index finger. “She told me to tell you that you were loved and that she regretted not one moment you both shared together and that if she were to do it all again, she would without hesitation.” Eveline saw the tears fall from Maethilda’s eyes as she looked at her mother’s ring.

“She loved me?” she whispered so quietly that only Eveline could hear.

“She loved you fiercely,” Eveline said as she bent her head and kissed Maethilda’s forehead. Maethilda wrapped her arms about Eveline and together they embraced, two orphans divided by time and distance, now together as one. Stepping back from Eveline, Maethilda smiled widely and fell before Eveline, kissing her bare feet.

“I vow to thee, my undying loyalty and honour,” Maethilda said aloud so the crowd behind her could hear. “From this day onwards and until my dying day, Celestine, daughter of Unyae and Elieor, High Queen and King of Calnuthe.” Eveline dropped a hand atop Maethilda’s head and watched as the crowd fell to the ground also and pledged their oaths to Celestine.

“I vow to you my undying loyalty and honour,” Eveline returned. “From this day onwards until my dying day, Maethilda, daughter of Cathlen, Queen of Taer.” With a smile, Maethilda lifted herself from the ground and smiled broadly, seeing the faces of Anvin, Aabe and Evalean, Sabia, Innis and Marina standing atop the steps.

“Shall we return to the hall and eat?” Maethilda asked as she stepped up and turned to Eveline. “I’m starving.”

“Me too,” Eveline smiled as she looped her arm through Maethilda’s and turned to face the palace of Summe. “God knows we will need to fill our stomachs before the next stage in our journey.” As they came to the top of the steps, Eveline turned to Maethilda with wide eyes. “My husband?”

“His body is being washed by the priests,” Maethilda returned softly. “He will be ready for burial in the morning.” Eveline merely nodded her head. “May I introduce you to my pickets?”