Caeli sat on one of the higher ledges in the moth nest, resting her back on the circular openings that allowed the moths access to the outside.
She had mounted Argenti nervously but excitedly.
The first few moments had been graceless to start but the moth quickly became intuitive of her desires and Caeli found it was quite like the horses she had ridden growing up in the village.
She felt her muscles as they recalled the years of horseback from her youth. She swayed with the moths' movements as they rose into the air.
Before she knew it, she had ridden Argenti to the top of the nest and settled in the large hole to enjoy the view of the forest.
After a clumsy dismount, and a deep sigh of relief, they had settled.
She pulled the night air in heavily before bending her head back over her journal.
She felt a shift in the air and the smell of cinnamon.
Einar always smelled of cinnamon although she had never been able to discern why, or how.
Without lifting her head she smiled.
"Good evening lord Einar.", she said as she finished writing her sentence. She lifted her head to meet his gaze.
"Good evening Caeli.", Einar responded with a smile of his own. "I am impressed. Not many take to the moths so quickly."
Caeli chuckled and looked to her right where Argenti rested on the ledge outside of the nests trunk.
"We had a few bumps in the beginning but we made it.", she said patting the moths soft mane.
Einar chuckled and took a seat opposite of her in the large circular opening.
"I think we should talk.", Einar said, his demeanor suddenly serious.
Caeli's brows rose and she closed her journal.
"What is it?", she asked worriedly.
"You'll be meeting Fate very soon.", he said softly.
"That's a little cryptic Einar..", she said slowly, her reflexive response causing her to recall what Lynx had said the other day. Her response giving her a sense of recall, of having heard this before.
Einar shook his head.
"Fate is someone, not something. Or I suppose I should say, she is something that became a someone. Fate is actually Fate. She was manifested by the goddesses long ago and given a corporeal body. The goddesses sent her to help guide the Five. She once attended the Reconciliations when the Five ruled the world, long before the war with humans.", he said with a sigh.
Silence fell over them, so heavy that Caeli thought she heard it thud.
Then it stretched.
"When?", she asked simply. Her stomach felt as though it had twisted itself into a painful ball.
"My lord is attempting to offset the date and has been advocating for your health as the reason. He's doing his best to put it off but the others are insistent.", he said.
"But why?", Caeli asked in confusion. She wondered what he meant by "the others" but told herself, *One thing at a time.*
Einar turned to meet her stare.
"There is some who believe your existence is linked to prophecy. This has been cited as the purpose for the first Reconciliation in many years.", Einar said solemnly. His graveness almost made comedic by his outrageous words. It took Caeli a moment to realize that he was being perfectly serious.
Caeli stared back in surprise before throwing her head back in hysterical laughter.
She dabbed at the tears in her eyes, continuing to chuckle despite Einars' expression.
"I am serious Caeli. Serious as death, as serious as the plague that has taken so many of your kind. There have been reports that you may be entwined in a prophecy that could mean great prosper or great despair for the Folk.", he said desperately.
Caeli stopped and became serious.
*Me?*, Caeli thought incredulously to herself.
"And who believes these things?", she asked.
Einar shook his head.
"I only know that the rumors originate in the continent of Ausia, from which you are from. I am unaware of the exact evidence provided but I do know that this calling would not be taken seriously if not for good reason.", he said darkly.
Caeli swallowed hard around the stricture in her throat.
She had always had a great respect for magic and its world. It was one of the few things she continued to carry with her after she went to live with the couple she now knew not to be relatives. She recalled the various stories her mother would tell her, ones laced with metaphor and underlying lessons. Occasionally very dark lessons of betrayal, interference, and greed. She had heard enough and lived enough life to know that wherever "prophecy" or Fate were involved, sadness and regret were soon to follow. It never did anyone any good to have knowledge of the future.
If it were true, that her life and fate were steered by prophecy, she could not begin to imagine the consequences should something go wrong.
"What do I need to know?", she whispered, looking out across the castles estate. Her mind had made an automatic shift from hilarity to resolve. Whatever her Fate, she would face it. For this was what she had set out to do the day she left the village, and do it she shall.
Einar sighed heavily and rubbed his face with his hand thoughtfully.
"A functional understanding of Folk Court, fluency in Old Folk language to understand the callings of the meeting and greetings to the others, a bit of knowledge of the royalty of Folk history and the status of those therein, and, ideally, the ability and skill to protect yourself when in danger.", he said finally. "It wouldn't hurt if you had a basic understanding of some critical survival skills but we don't have much time."
Caeli's eyes stung and her bones ached.
She hurt because she had taken for granted the comfortable life she had adopted since arriving.
She hurt because she wasn't sure she was ready, or even capable, of what lie ahead.
She hurt because she was already tired and broken and the journey had hardly begun.
She took a deep breath and steadied herself.
She closed her eyes a moment before opening them to meet Einar's gaze. Steel having replaced the hopelessness that had entered there.
"Then we should resume immediately.", she said hoarsely.
Einar smiled sadly and nodded in return. All too aware of the dark circles under the small woman's eyes. Of the way her limb hung limply more often than the other. Of the callouses on her hands, formed from years of hard work. Of the sharp edges of her cheek where the bone lie just beneath, made more defined by her trials and tribulations.
"Take the evening, enjoy your friends, bid them farewell in the morning. Upon their departure, we begin once more. For now, rest.", he said. He patted her shoulder before leaving.
Caeli turned her face to the glowing trees above.
She wished her mother were here to talk to.
She closed her eyes and recalled their days together cleaning the cottage, making dinner, laughing and singing as they did so.
A single tear fell down her cheek as she turned back to her journal.
—————————————————————————
She met with Brego and Aurum for a picnicked lunch on the royal grounds.
She embraced them excitedly and insisted on an update on their lives in Ausia.
Aurum, who taught as a professor, explained that life was simple but sweet. The two fit in well with the locals and the food was heavenly.
Brego worked as a hired hand to whomever sought his help, horses were in rare supply in Ausia and not many magical creatures were comparable, at least not the sorts living in the secluded refugee village just at the base of the mountain. He often hauled goods or moved machinery for the local merchants and farmers and made quite a good amount of money doing it.
She laughed and she cried, she told them stories of her life in the forest and with the inhabitants of the castle.
"So this Raven…. Do you trust him?", Aurum asked hesitantly, avoiding eye contact with her.
*Perhaps if I look away she will not see the hurt buried within.*, Aurum thought sadly to himself.
"I…. I'm not sure. He truly hurt me before. My heart had shattered that night when I realized his transgressions. But there is something about him. I think he genuinely cares for me. Past that, I've not been able to determine much else. Rehabilitating a limb while also preparing to meet Fate will cause one great distraction I suppose.", she chuckled sadly.
Aurum nodded and turned to her.
He placed his tail on her hand in worry.
"Just be careful, will you? You've a way of barreling head first into things.", he said with genuine concern, recalling Callon, Ysera, and the Cheshire spirit.
Caeli smiled with tears in her eyes.
"I miss you both already."
The three embraced and finished their lunch before making their way back to the castle.
How could her friends ever forgive her when she eventually must make her journey to discover her past? She would not be able to guarantee correspondence with them, let alone even returning in one piece.
The best she could do at the moment was enjoy them and let them know how much she loved them.
It would have to be enough for now.