Caeli woke and stretched leisurely before wincing and retracting her extending limbs, the pain in her shoulder only having improved in a minuscule amount. Each small movement of her bad arm, no matter how limited, still ensuing a searing hot pain that she could not seem to get used to.
She carefully sat up in her bed, realizing she was still dressed from before but a blanket had been pulled up to cover her.
"Did you do that?", Caeli rasped, her voice raw from having just woken. She reached out and scratched Bats chin who happily panted and wagged his tail in response. "Thank you kind sir.", she laughed.
Her smile faded as she took a mental inventory of the condition of her body.
The shoulder continued to throb, her body continued to feel drained. Her muscles ached and revolted against any movement she made.
She sighed heavily.
*I suppose I had better get used to it.*, she thought to herself.
She carefully threw her legs over the side of the bed, the slit in her dress having opened wide, the right shoulder having fallen down from her insistence on sleeping on her "good" side.
She slowly stood and made her way to the washroom.
She splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the gold plate above the basin.
Her hair was long and disheveled from sleeping, her two dark eyes were discernible but with no great detail in the mirror.
She had always known that she was no extraordinary beauty but had always thought herself handsome enough.
A strong jaw, large almond shaped eyes, and long hair. And thank the goddesses that her teeth had always been in good shape.
But she had to admit, she enjoyed the white hair. For all of her other traits, she looked much like the people she was born from. It was enjoyable to have such a unique feature for the first time in her life.
Tanned skin, long dark hair and eyes were all traditional characteristics of the central Ausians.
Despite this, her aunt had always been clear on the "manly" features that her niece possessed that made her so undesirable. According to her aunt, if it wasn't for her "bad attitude" and her masculine qualities, she might have been married and with children. As was expected.
Her aunt would go on endlessly that she stood with "too much arrogance" and that coupled with her lithe muscles and her masculine jaw, that she scared all of the possible suitors away.
Caeli turned her face to the left, then to the right, observing herself.
She could agree that some of her features were not what most desired in a "feminine" woman but by no means did she think that she looked like a man.
With a weak shrug of her good shoulder she turned to look at the large tub in the washroom.
She wanted desperately to wash and change her clothes.
She stood silent for a few moments, playing out the scenario of doing these things on her own inside of her head.
After serious consideration, she decided it would be mortifying to be found naked and stranded, hours later, if she was unable to complete the task due to her weakened state.
With another heavy sigh she slowly made her way back to the room where Bat lounged on the end of her bed.
"I will never again take for granted the ability to do as one pleases, when they please, especially those things that are possible with a healthy mind and body. Never again.", she chuckled sardonically at the gargoyle.
Bat's tail wagged hesitantly.
"I suppose I should ask for some help.", she said rubbing her neck nervously with her good hand.
All of her life she had been the helper, the worker. It felt strange to have others assist her so much.
With a deep breath, and all the strength she could muster, she rang the bell at her bedside. No noise was emitted but moments later, a soft knock came at the door.
Caeli continued to stand beside the bed. In the minutes before the knock, she had been unable to decide if she should use some of her energy to return to bed, or expend even more to make it to the chair. Her indecision resulting in her awkwardly standing halfway between the two, still a disgruntled mess from sleeping.
"Please, come in.", Caeli rasped hesitantly.
Lynx entered the room to find Caeli standing a few feet from the bed and her hands stiffly at her sides.
She laughed to herself.
"How can I be of assistance my lady?", she asked warmly.
She watched as Caeli carefully shifted from one foot to the other. Taking a breath as though she meant to speak before snapping her mouth shut.
"I am sure you'd like to clean up and change for the day. Am I correct in my assumption?", Lynx asked with a laugh as she moved towards the large wardrobe.
Caeli winced.
"I apologize Lynx, I find this all to be.. very difficult.", Caeli said sheepishly. "Before I was too exhausted, my mind grasping for sense. Now that I am feeling better, the idea of asking others to do for me, that I would typically do myself, is difficult."
Lynx snorted with more laughter.
"I would be more concerned if you didn't my lady. Your hands and body tell me of a life of work not luxury. You are also considerate. Is it so difficult to ask for assistance?", Lynx asked curiously.
Caeli stood silently before nodding.
"Well, let us get you set for the day then. Raven asked that we take another day off, insisted upon it this evening, so we had no intention of seeking you out for your rehabilitation exercises today. I suppose we hadn't considered the difficulties you still face with daily tasks. I'll be sure that either Calliope, or myself, come by in the mornings to assist you. Then you won't be put in a position where you need to ask.", Lynx said gently.
Caeli's eyes widened.
"Lynx, please don't trouble yourselves-", she began before Lynx shook her head. She laid the dress she had taken from the closet on the bed before moving to stand in front of Caeli.
"It is my pleasure. Truly. Now let's get you proper so that you may enjoy the night. It is quite beautiful today.", she said smiling. She placed Caeli's good hand in the crook of her arm and lead her to the washroom.
Once she was cleaned and dressed, Lynx assisted her to one of the cushioned chairs, taking a seat opposite of her.
"Since I'm here, I thought I'd offer to show you the royal grounds. I doubt you've made it much further than the small fountain in the side garden and I think a bit of fresh air would do us some good.", Lynx said encouragingly.
"I would thoroughly enjoy that, so long as it does not interfere with any other plans or work that you have for the day.", Caeli said, honestly.
Lynx swatted a dismissive hand in the air.
"My work now is only to be by your side when you wish it. And I'm happy for it. My new assignment has been significantly better than my last. Running a whole castle, and the workers therein, is a lot of work", Lynx said.
Caeli raised a brow at that.
"Is Einar not the head butler of the castle?", she asked hesitantly, not wanting to bring offense against her new friend.
"He does the best that he can, but in our masters absence, I took over much of the domestic responsibilities of the castle. He acted as king in our masters stead during his disappearance. He had, well has, very little time for matters relating to the actual running of the castle itself. At first, he attempted to delegate as many tasks as possible. Once it became apparent that the lord was not to return anytime soon, I took on much of the work Einar used to be in charge of.", Lynx said with a heavy sigh.
Caeli turned her gaze downward to stare at her hands.
"I am sorry to hear of everyone's hardships. I cannot imagine the heartache and the work that you all have experienced in his absence.", Caeli said quietly.
Lynx stared at her in confusion.
"It's quite alright my lady. No need to be so upset on our account. It is our duty, and our pleasure, to serve our kingdom.", Lynx said, attempting to comfort the girl.
Caeli slowly shook her head and looked out through the balcony doors.
She watched as a breeze rustled the leaves of the smaller foliage surrounding the castle.
"His absence was prolonged because of me. His lord found me during my travels and whisked me away to the past. I believe his affections were deep, his interest captivating. We stayed there, in the past, in midnight, for quite some time. If not for me, he might have returned to you all sooner.", Caeli said softly.
Lynx reigned her surprise.
"He took you to the past?", Lynx whispered.
"Yes. A place and time in the past. Every hour that passed, unchanging, presumably the same hour repeating itself. He perpetuated the night in a time long before my own. That is where we officially met. That is where we came to know each other. It is also where I named him. He believes it revived him to his former state.", Caeli said sadly.
Lynx sat in stunned silence before coming to kneel before the girl.
She gently grasped and firmly squeezed Caeli's hands.
"My lady, if not for you, he may never have returned. Our kingdom lost, our people in danger.", Lynx said with commitment. Tears began to well in her eyes. "Thank you, my lady. If not for you, this kingdom may have fallen, unprotected. It's people and peace in jeopardy. Thank you.", Lynx said softly, her chin quivering.
Caeli lifted her good hand to the woman's face and caressed her cheek.
"Please, do not cry. I couldn't stand it.", Caeli said softly, realizing she meant it.
Lynx leaned into her caress.
"If only you understood.", she said with a stuttering sob.
"Then make me understand. Open my mind Lynx, help me see the whole picture. For I am lost. And I fear it is in part due to my lack of knowledge.", Caeli said with a heavy sigh.
Lynx sniffed and nodded. She stood and returned to her seat.
"Ever since the war began between Folk and humans, relations have deteriorated. I am told that the only remaining places where Folk are treated like citizens are in the capitals of each empire. The black market trade of Folk has been on the rise. Worse now than it had been before. I am told that Coruscare recently eliminated a village because of this very reason.", Lynx said. She halted, then spun her gaze to Caeli.
"My village.", Caeli said in a whisper.
Lynx slowly nodded in agreement.
"It was indeed a rural village of Ausia. It was said that a large operation of black market trade was moving through the village. Folk children stolen and harvested for pieces and parts to be sold. Some being sold as servants or entertainment for those who had the money and means.", Lynx said sadly, the thought crushing her heart.
Caeli's brow furrowed.
Did Adair realize what was happening?
She couldn't imagine that he was a part of it, but she also couldn't argue that she knew him well enough to know.
He had always kept his distance, particularly in front of other villagers.
She had considered him a friendly acquaintance. Even so, he didn't seem capable of such horrendous acts.
"Unfortunately, the situation has always been so. At least for as long as I've been alive. But before you heard rumors here or there. Over time it's become as common as the sun rising on your land. It was said that Coruscare detected a large Folk child trade in your village. Folk children placed with humans to be raised as human children but treated as slaves. That apparently was the case for years. Coruscare discovered that in the last few years, Folk were being murdered. Dismembered. Their pieces and parts sold. His anger was fierce. He is known as a good and benevolent ruler, but once his anger is incited, it cannot be escaped.", Lynx said matter-of-factly.
Caeli's heart raced.
She had always know that Coruscare had been responsible for the destruction of her town. His reasoning had been of great interest in the time it had been happening, but once she had been ran out of her village, her own future had been a bigger concern.
"How absolutely horrific. Abhorrent.", Caeli said with a grimace, feeling bile rise to the back of her throat.
Lynx nodded with a furrowed brow in agreement.
"If not for the masters return, I feared that future for my people. We are safe, we are hidden, by the grace of our lords power. If not for him, the Forest, although deep, would be penetrable. Our lord casts this kingdom into a different dimension, hence the sky you see. Perhaps dimension wouldn't be correct. He hides us in the past.", Lynx said.
Caeli turned in shock to stare at the woman.
"Perpetually? At all times?", she asked incredulously.
Lynx nodded.
"My lord is the most powerful of the Five. He is the first. He allows time to work on his people, but it is slow moving. The average life span of someone who lives in the Midnight Kingdom is easily 200 years.", she said.
"Then WHEN are we Lynx?", Caeli asked, rising carefully from her chair to open the doors of the balcony and stare at the "sky" of her surroundings.
Lynx followed her and stared as well.
"You don't know? You haven't realized?", Lynx said with a small chuckle.
Caeli shook her head, still gazing in awe.
"It's the first year, year one. The first year after everything was created. It is the birth place of our lord. Once it was all darkness, once the goddess finished creating all things, it became a forest. So deep and dark that few were able to reach it over thousands of years. Even before our lord perpetuated our time in the past. This is where, and when, our lord awoke when he first became and first was placed on the surface of this world. If you approach the barrier you'll see it more clearly. It encloses the castle and villages, a piece of the present preserved in the past. The barrier remained, as did our position in the past, these are the only reasons we believed our lord had survived after his disappearance twenty years ago.", Lynx said with appreciation, the gravity of what she said not lost upon her.
She had been raised with the story, always one of sadness and beauty. Her love for her master only growing at knowing it's truth.
"Incredible.", Caeli whispered. "How?", she asked absently and to no one in particular.
Lynx laughed again. This time a bell like giggle.
"Like I said before, he is the First. The Beloved One. The Cursed One. His power beyond comprehension. It makes his benevolence all the more humbling, for if he wanted to end this worlds existence, he certainly could. And not all of the strength of the other Five combined could stop him.", Lynx said contently, as though she were discussing the pleasant weather. "So you see my lady, you brought him back to us. That makes you our savior. I understand more now than ever why the lord feels for you the way he does."
Caeli could hardly believe what she was hearing.
She had watched Coruscare demolish her city in a handful of sweeping fire, and yet he was not the strongest. Perhaps not even by half.
Caeli clenched her teeth.
So how had she, a simple human with some small amount of magic she had never been aware of, restored this immensely powerful creature?
Aurum had told her that the power of the naming was a reflection of the Namer's power.
She knew then, more than ever, that there was more to her story.
And it was her goal to find out exactly what that was.