Chapter 13
Question. So many questions. The meeting with Leventavia brought about so many revelations and questions. Lauren really wished Evandalyn was with her so she could gain clarity. Then it came to her, she should have used discernment to find clarity. She didn't though. Now she wished she could talk to Evandalyn even more. She knew there was nothing she could do about it right now, no matter how much she might have wanted to. She laid down settling in for a good night's sleep.
Would she ever know peaceful sleep again? Lauren found herself back within the castle, in Evandalyn's room. "Hello, my sweet girl."
"How did I get here?"
"You must be asleep, and you need me. What has your mind so worried?"
Lauren told Evandalyn about the dream, revelations, and questions that came to her from the day of talk and travel. Then waited for Evandalyn to respond.
"So much to digest. I should have known that Leventavia would open up those old wounds. What do you want to know about first?"
"We can talk about family business later. I want to know about the dream."
"That seems to be real, like it's happening now. There have been reports of unicorns going missing but that was several years ago. Maybe you are the key to finding them. Tomorrow, take your team to the mountains on the other side of Indus and find the chapel. You can free the unicorns or else you would not have been given the dream." Evandalyn took Lauren's hands. "I will tell you everything about anything when you are back here."
"I know," Lauren replied. Evandalyn gave Lauren a hug and disappeared into the wisps of the atmosphere. Lauren slept well for the rest of the night.
The next morning, Lauren gathered everyone together, including Leventavia. "I have had a dream about lost unicorns." She announced.
"Yes. We lost some unicorns 10 years ago but even our seers couldn't find them." Leventavia said.
"I believe I know where they are and how to get them back." Silence. Then shock filled the room.
"Well then, let's go get them." Edmon said with confidence.
Plans were made and before noon the team was ready to go. Things changed as they stepped outside the manor. There sitting in the middle of the courtyard was a lion and a huge dragon. Children played with the dragon as if he was a slide and a swing. They were petting the lion's mane. It was a beautiful sight to see these strong creatures being so gentle.
Glad to see the extra help, they began the rescue mission. Lauren was told by the dragon that she would be riding with him. It's hard to argue with a dragon so she did. It was safer for her and who doesn't want to ride a dragon?
It was easy to find the chapel in the mountains. The gold dome shone bright like a beacon. The unicorns on the ground surrounded the chapel, unable to move closer to it. Lauren could see the opalescence of a barrier and raised her hands, immediately, the barrier was gone. The unicorns of Lauren's entourage went into the chapel. A lion's roar influenced the dragon to land.
Once on the ground, Lauren and the now-human dragon entered the chapel. They went down a steep staircase and then found the room. The dragon tore off the door and inside hundreds of unicorns lay in several different states of consciousness.
"They have been drained of their power," Leventavia exclaimed.
Lauren joined her. "What can I do?" She questioned out loud. "Think." Lauren settled her mind and thought about empowerment. She closed her eyes and began to meditate on empowerment. In the eyes of everyone there, she began to glow and admit heat. The room became warm and soothing power filled the room. The unicorns roused and began to look healthy again. Edmon and Demeatral watched Lauren to make sure she didn't overdo it. The glow intensified and the room brightened. Slowly but surely, every unicorn was healthy and up, ready to leave the chapel.
"I can't believe you healed them all!" Leventavia's pronouncement brought Lauren out of her meditative state. She looked around with a pride of knowing she was able to solve a problem and help these few people. She smiled.
"Let's get them back to Indus and sort this all out," Edmon suggested.
Back in Indus, the unicorns were checked out medically and magically. They separated into families and were sorted by home. Only 20 were from Indus. The rest, numbering 276, were from a lost community south of Librarius called Doctrium. "She came down into our community and snatched us all because we did not have a barrier to protect us. Our leader had just died, and the new leader had not been named. In the tween times, there was no barrier. We have no home now." The elder unicorn said.
Leventavia spoke up, "Ridiculous. You can all stay here with us. We have two barriers here. I have mine up of course and the Keeper has a barrier up as well."
"So then why were there 20 of Indus with us?"
"I don't know, but I will sure up the barriers and expand the area so that you can all fit comfortably together. Your people will have to agree to be under Leventavia and honor her as your Matriarch." Lauren said.
"Our Matriarch died, and her heir was killed by the witch that took us since our magic is tied to our matriarch. She declared herself our matriarch and started drawing our magic even though we did not accept her. Will accepting Leventavia break her hold on our magic? She is still right now trying to pull our power. If we were not in your barrier, she would."
Leventavia answered the elder's question, "Yes, it would cut her off completely. She can't touch you through the barrier unless you want her to."
The elder was quiet for a moment and then spoke up, "We will join your civilization."
"Are your people telepathic? Lauren asked after watching the elder.
"Why, yes. We find it easier than trying to gather everyone just to get an answer. The ability will be added to the civilization once we join."
"Let's do this now and then sure up the barrier so we can be done with this witch. By the way, what is your name? Leventavia asked.
"Tressa." The elder replied. "You know the witch will come soon since she will not be able to pull our power."
"Then we should really get this done, then, now shouldn't we," Lauren said.
Lauren, Leventavia, and Tressa moved to the center of the courtyard where again a dragon and lion played with the children. The play halted as a multitude grew and crowded the space. Leventavia started the joining speaking loud and clear, "I give of myself and accept you in this joining. I will protect you and provide for you. We are now one."
The crowd answered in unison, "We give of ourselves and accept you in this joining. We will empower you and share our lives with you."
Leventavia grabbed Lauren's hand and said, "We join with you, our Keeper. We pledge ourselves to you." The crowd repeated the pledge. Sudden sparks came from everyone and joined into a giant ball of sparkle that landed in Lauren's hands. Lauren raised her hands into the air with the ball in her palms. She went into a meditative state and without knowing it she levitated off the ground to the top of the barrier's invisible dome. The ball rose from her palms several more feet and then shot out to create a second dome of protection that covered a larger area. It magically built several more houses and other buildings for the new members. Fruit trees and vegetable gardens also magically appeared. Once done, she fell from the sky and was caught by a strong golden dragon.
"It's beautiful to see your work," Gerald said. She smiled at him and then blacked out.