The rest of the villagers stayed behind to solidify and reinforce the sandbags placed down that day. It was going to be work that would last till late into the night. The marchioness and her daughter headed back for the evening, since it wasn't proper for noble ladies to work late into the night. They made their way home. Arwyn wasn't much in the mood for talking. Her mother was silent for once as well. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Just an intense silence that they for some odd reason relished in for the moment. They both had a lot to deal with; things that they were trying to process. Arwyn, the book snug in her bodice, had her thoughts swarming around its possible contents. She wasn't able to read it when she was working. Too many people were watching, and the way the villager had handed it to her, the book appeared to be of a taboo subject.
Marchioness Lovelace's face was serious, her blue eyes deep in thought. She was trying to figure out a fool proof plan to make sure Viscount Maylock took his duties more seriously. There were a couple of ways that she could put him in his place. Some of the ideas she came up with had somewhat possible successful outcomes. The most successful route would be to put Arwyn there and assign her as their financial advisor.... Maybe not, if Arwyn were to have the immense powers she would be requested at the capitol right away. To be a financial advisor at this time would hinder Arwyn's success...Especially since she wasn't even aware if her daughter had any aspirations in the direction of taking on the title. For this specific situation would require a few months of dedication to have any success come to fruition. Arwyn had started to show more interest in reading and learning about the property management and duties of the Marques jobs the servants did, and even assisting her with a couple of things to do with land management. 'Could Arwyn be interested?'
The ride home was a quiet one. Both ladies busy with trying to figure their situations out. Arwyn's mother hadn't mentioned the crow sitting beside her daughter. The crow was nestled into the folds of the jacket that Arwyn hadn't worn all day. It was a peculiar sight under normal circumstances, however this night, it was not unexpected.
The moon bright and pink. Sytra's brilliance was emanating the whole land. A soft glow from the sky kept the details of the land visible even though it was blanketed in the shadow of the night. Arwyn could see the trees and the random farm in the distance, not really any color, but she could tell the shape and tell the details were there. It was a clear night. Arwyn sat up and peered out the window a little harder. It was as if she could see more clearly in the night than in the day. 'How stunning.' She thought. Intentionally avoiding thoughts on her scare in the woods.
That night, Arwyn skipped dinner when they got back. She was too exhausted and too curious to sit through a meal.
The book was so heavy on her conscious it was as if it would burn right through her undergarments if she didn't get to it right away. Once in the safety of her room; after Merida insisted on bringing soup, and changing her into a night gown, she was finally convinced that her lady was well for the night and left her alone. Arwyn was safe to view the book.
It's cover was worn leather, so thin that it seemed as if under duress the binding would tear. In faded gold lettering the title barely legible. It read "We Came From Shadows." Arwyn was delighted. The book itself though worn and used, was well taken care of. From the looks of it, more than a few generations had passed this book down. A family heirloom. Arwyn mentally noted to pay him back ten-fold. It is not wise to let a debt to go unpaid after all. Getting the pillows aligned on her bed, Arwyn snuggled in and gently laid the book on her lap. Caressing the edge of the cover she lifted it open, the pages were made of what seemed to be a parchment made with something of a rough substance that was unlike paper. After admiring the material she began to read.
Alone, the shadows dwell doth I
One to calleth are nay
The circle it seems nev'r
Ceases in the midst to end
Wonders mine mind
Far, with all that I must err'
the dirt quiv'rs, trees trembleth
and the mountain shakes
in mine own restlessness
In silence and darkness
Fourth, bringeth mine companions
will'd with clay from the beds of riv'r
from beneath the trees, merit soil
Frosty wat'r derived of bottomless springs
I commandeth those folk to liveth
Breath, mine own creations doth take
I commandeth yond those creations doth as those prithee
Nay my companions can do not
I begeth and pleadeth with those folk
Mine own cry's, upon soulless creatures doth fall-
Arwyn paused for a moment trying to figure out what she had just read. It was as if she was reading a story of creation. It seemed as if it may have been the story of this world, or some of it anyways. It was sad, so far, a tale that made Arwyn's heart ache. She read on.
Cries of reiteration echo alone in the shadows layeth I
Blistering like the sun, what for I, care for a mortal's heart
Taunting its loneliness shared with none in the sky-
Arwyn had to stop again. The writing style changed, not by much but enough for her to realize they might not have been written all together as is if two different generations… She continued.
Yearned have I for the companionship, a warm embrace, as if I a child in its mothers' arms
Longing for such that I am overcome with bitterness
Towards the corpses lifelessly breathing
Wallowing in pity my want blank and impossible
Yet in my pale mood, twinkling in the sky so bright Catcheth mine eye
Brilliant lights shimmering mockingly a joyous temperament
How I dare to ponder and at such wonder per chance
"Children of lodestars come my surface hither to
Shall I shelter you and keep you safe with all my offerings-
I will you my trees and rock to use as you please and feed you with my water and greens and my darkness shall cloak you in truth
Where shall be known by all that I am yours and you are mine"
There were none to jump down from the sky, yet one loneth flickering faint light whispered
"If were I to accept your offer, shall we always be together? To no longer be embraced by the shadows isolated to our own thoughts?"
"Be it so"-
Arwyn stopped there. She had to process what she had already read, furthermore she was starting to fall asleep. Not due to the content of what she was reading, but because she had been so exhausted and worn out. She gently closed its pages and the cover. She had to put it away where Merida wouldn't find it so easily. Arwyn had to think hard and try to filter memories still fuzzy to her. There was a secret compartment in her desk beneath the drawer there was another drawer secured with a puzzle lock. Arwyn arose and walked over to her desk. She fiddled with the lock for a moment before opening the lone small drawer, barley big enough to hold the book. It was empty and nothing was hidden there. She placed the precious book inside safeguarding her most valuable item.
Arwyn slipped into her bed and finally slept.
It was not a restful night. Her dreams were full of terror and suspense; flash backs from her memory as Gwen, and flashbacks of Arwyn's childhood, mixing and whirring together. Through all the confusion, a light in the shape of an outreaching hand, held out to her in mercy. Arwyn reached out and for some reason no matter how close the hand seemed she could not reach it. Could not grasp it. The disarray and chaos reverberating stronger now till the shadow monster from the forest was all that was left facing her "You must finish what you started!" a hissing schlurr of noise coming from the terrifying creature caused Arwyn to start awake in her bed, drenched in sweat. It was early morning, the moon deafening from the window, yet the sky starting to turn a pale blue lit her room up quite a bit. She rolled over and tried to get sleep with what little time she had left.
"Damn mountains." She mumbled. "Damn Emoce." She cursed.
"I can hear you, my child."
Arwyn sat up again. Emoce was nowhere in sight.
"I am wherever I am" There was a moment of silence, Arwyn just looked around, unprepared for another shock. "I see that you still have yet to figure out your answer what you seek."
Arwyn glared at the air. "I am well on my way!"
"Oh yes you are, for you have a key that is most important."
Arwyn was taken aback. "Is it the book?"
"Nay my kin, though that is also important. You have had a run in with the answer, or part of the answer you seek-a chance meeting one would say".
The shadow monster flashed across her mind. Goosebumps began to run across her arm. It would not have crossed her mind as such were it not for her strange frightening dream she had.
A thought came to Arwyn, she touched her forehead. "What did you do to me when you touched my forehead?" She waited for a response, there was none. "Emoce?" She called, frustrated and peeved that the goddess arrived so suddenly and left in the same fashion.