Chapter 21
Lauren and her entourage returned to Librarius in a triumphant mood. They went straight to the dining room and celebrated their success by stuffing their bellies.
Evandalyn and the professors joined them. "It is so good to see that you were able to vanquish the witch and Harpy King. Solving those problems has softened the pressure on me as the Keeper. You are so strong and you have so much support, I think I can take my leave and go get the medical help I need." She looked Lauren straight in the eyes. "You can handle things until I return and then I will be able to continue your training and back you up when I get back."
Lauren didn't let on to the truths she was taught by her Grandmother and Grandfather. "I am happy we were able to prove ourselves to you. We need you here, but we need you here whole. I love you."
This was the first time Lauren openly told her she loved her. It was a wonderful touching moment that Evandalyn never wanted to forget. Suddenly, a bright light came down from the heavens. Two beings floated down in the light and landed on the open porch leading to the dining room. Everyone turned. The doors opened and two heavenly beings entered. "Hello, Evandalyn."
"Hello, Father." He moved close to her and gathered her into a hug. Evandalyn returned the hug and hid the single tear that tried to fall down her cheek. "It is so good to see you."
"And you." Her father replied.
"Father, this is Lauren Williams. She will soon be the Keeper of the Keys. Lauren, this is my father, Oliver." She didn't feel right leaving the other heavenly being out in the introduction, but she didn't know who she was.
"I am happy to meet you. This lovely lady is my bride, Bea. I am no longer a widow. I miss Deliah but I have been given another love."
The light had finally settled and the lady turned to face Evandalyn completely. "Hello, Evandalyn." Beatrice said.
Evandalyn looked shocked. her breath caught in her throat. "You...How? What is going on here?" Beatrice gave her a hug. "Let's go somewhere more private to talk about all of this." Evandalyn agreed quietly and they left for her room.
Oliver sat on one of the couches on Evandalyn's patio and everyone joined him. Beatrice sat next to Oliver, Evandalyn and Lauren sat across from them on the other couch, and Edmon and Demeatral sat next to each other on a lower couch. Gerald, Levi, and Cartrell sat across from the two royals.
"So, before we get into the family business, I must ask, Where did you banish the Harpy King and the witch to?" Evandalyn asked.
"Well, they are in a book. I haven't gotten to a place in my mind where I can just kill or vanquish beings, so I put them in books. I can keep up with them that way. No one can get to the books I use for, well, since I don't have a better word, jails. They're not in the same books and they would have to figure out that they are in books to be able to use their powers in any way. Their lives write the stories in the books and pages add as their story goes on."
"Wow. That is a wonderful way to imprison someone. A prison they don't even know they are in." Oliver said.
"They can even win the battles they are fighting or take over the world they are in. They will be able to learn what they are doing is wrong and maybe learn a lesson. It won't effect this world and they will be content in their lives." Lauren said.
"That is a satisfactory ending for them," Evandalyn said. "I think we have delayed enough. Now, explain how you are married to my childhood best friend?"
Beatrice blushed and looked at Oliver. He smiled and then looked at Evandalyn. "I know it might seem strange but we have loved each other for many lives. She was exiled to Earth for a while and when she gave up her mortal life, she returned to the heavens. We are and always will be together."
"That hasn't explained everything, but I will leave it alone for now. It seems you can't go into details, right?" Evandalyn didn't wait for a reply. "At any rate, if you hurt her, I will hurt you."
"Believe me, I would never hurt her. I am glad you are not pushing for an explanation. I believe you will remember everything once you have healed." Oliver said.
"What is the agenda up to us leaving to get you healed? I know you won't want to just leave." Beatrice asked.
"No. I want to complete a few sessions with Lauren and there has to be a ceremony. I want to spend some time with my team once more before I leave as well. Can I have this one week before we leave?"
"That would be fine." Oliver said. "It would give us a chance to get to know Lauren and her team as well as get to talk to some of your teammates. I would like to know if there is anything they can tell me about how your condition has affected you so that your healing will be easier."
Tosh and Cosh worked hard to prepare for the ceremony. Evandalyn's and Lauren's sprites hurriedly moved around to decorate and placed everything in its proper place. They recruited Lauren's bears and wolves as help and things went smoothly. The center hall streamed with gold and silver. Flowers, balloons, and candles were everywhere. Tables were set around the hall and a dance floor sparkled in the middle. The head table was on a raised dais. Valentine chose the music and Ezra created the playlist. Everything would be ready for the ceremony in two days.
Lauren spent her time in her classes and training with Evandalyn. In one particular training, Evandalyn walked Lauren to the middle section of their spire. "I am about to show you something you may only know because you are going to be the keeper. Only keepers and their closest guardians can enter this space. The guardians know about it because of the potential of them having to take your spot if tragedy happens. Choose who you would want to be your emergency successor carefully." With that, she opened the door that wasn't there and walked inside.
Lauren gasped. "This is huge! How in the world is this in here? Wow. I would have never guessed that this huge library was here!"
"Yes, I know. That's how it is supposed to be." Evandalyn replied. "This is not a typical library. It is a magical library. Within these books lies creation and destruction, light and dark, good and evil. They are the only books from which imagination flows. It is why I was shocked when you said you placed the Harpy King and the witch in books. To do so you had to create the books. You need to move those books into this library so no one can get to them."
"You mean all of these books were created like these two books?" Lauren took out the books and held them out. Immediately they were fitted with lock straps. Lauren lost hold of the books and they flew to a shelf.
"Most of them. Not many of the keepers were able to create beings or control the flow of creation in order to allow humans to create new creatures they dream up, but it seems that you do. You are going to have to be careful with your gift. I will teach you how to control it before I go."
"Okay," Lauren replied. She was glad to let Evandalyn take her through the process of creating a being and controlling her power to create. She was going to miss the time they had together.
Lauren decided to finally try to create an alicorn. She was successful when she did it in her mind, now she felt ready to try it in the real world. The success was actually an accident but since she did it in her mind she wasn't as afraid. "It was good you practiced in your mind first. We really don't need you creating nightmares." Evandalyn observed. "Remember to take your time and follow all the steps I taught you. Don't skip any steps and infuse positivity and love throughout the entire process."
So Lauren took some soil and clay and created a horse-shaped figure, adding wings and a horn to it. She placed Levi's essence in it and then put it in a globe of her magic for it to develop. Evandalyn and Oliver blessed the creation and it was left to grow. Lauren created eleven more and then ran out of energy. She set the globes in one of the empty rooms in the Keeper's spire.
"That was good work. I believe you will have beautiful alicorns soon." Beatrice praised.
Oliver and Beatrice hung out with Lauren and her team during the training and spent time walking through the castle and surrounding city. It was peaceful and the time flew by. They also sat in on a few of Lauren's training sessions. Beatrice even showed Lauren a few of her tricks. The joy on her face as she performed with her whip one day was pure ecstasy. They had a happy time in the days before the ceremony. Then the day of the ceremony was upon them before they knew it.
The family was dressed in gold and silver silk clothing. Lauren loved being able to be near her family, even if she couldn't let everyone know that they were really family. Soon. They would tell everyone soon. Evandalyn entered her room wearing a diamond crown. Its crystals sent rainbows across the room when the sun hit it. She was so beautiful. Lauren wore a small circlet of diamonds low on her hair. It was braided into her ponytail and hung down her back. The gold and silver underdress she wore was covered by the iridescent drape that presented her as the keeper's heir. "Come sit with me," Evandalyn said.
Lauren did as she was bidden and then she took Evandalyn's hand. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. A little nervous but okay. I am just thinking about the near future for both of us."
"I know. Things are really about to change. It will be okay. I know I can handle things while you heal and you will be strong again. There is no way you could be such a wonderful teacher if you weren't worth your healing." Lauren said.
"I know. It has just been so long since I have been home. I don't know how people will receive me." Evandalyn stared for a minute and then changed the subject. "Well, anyway, I must give you the rest of your jewelry."
"Am I supposed to wear all of the jewelry at all times?"
"No." Evandalyn said with a laugh. "If a piece of jewelry glows, you should wear it for your safety. They can tell if you are in danger or if you need to be balanced."
"Okay. Good to know." Lauren walked closer to the jewelry and they all glowed.
"But for today, this ceremony, you will wear them all. They have to be attuned to you."
They walked to the center of the seventh spire with their arms linked. Lauren looked around and saw so many people. She had never seen that many people in one place. "Wow. I didn't know there were this many people in this realm."
"These are the representations of all of the realms, not just this one. Every realm must witness your crowning. Any realm that does not come could be forgotten in the future. Remember, human imagination created most of the realms and the creatures within. If they do not accept you and you hold the keys of imagination, no more of their kind will be created and they will be forgotten. You are that powerful and that important to everything."
Lauren knew her responsibility. She was ready. She laid her hand on Evandalyn's and they stepped forward to the center of the hall. "Today, I turn the Keys of Imagination over to my heir. Lauren Williams, will you accept the keys and the responsibility that comes with being their holder?"
"I take the responsibility and swear to protect them. I will honor the responsibility with love and care." Lauren responded. With the reply, power surged through them both and they rose to the sky like twin stars. A ring of light glowed around them and linked them. The crown of diamond floated to Lauren and the Keys appeared in her hands. Fireworks shot from both of them and everyone bowed in reverence.
"We honor the Keeper of the Keys." Everyone said as a group. With that the ceremony was over and the feasting and dancing began.
The joy that filled the hall was palpable. Everyone was happy. They danced, ate, and sang the night to oblivion. Lauren woke up the next morning feeling different. She could feel the energy flowing through her and it settled calmly. The crown was removed from her head and sitting on a pedestal near her bed. She realized she was in her room. Edmon, Demeatral and Evandalyn were with her. "Good morning." Evandalyn said. "I would not leave until I was able to say goodbye."
"Already? This is so quick." They embraced. "I will truly miss you." A small tear formed at the corner of her eyes. "I will bring you great honor and serve in my position with love. I want you to know that everything will be okay."
"I know. I trust you. I am still scared. I know I have to do this but the fear is strong."
"Would you like some of your team to go with you, or for us to at least get you to your father's house? We could depart from there instead of from here. I would love to see your heavenly home."
"I think I would like that." Evandalyn replied. "I have never been this afraid in all my memory."
"You will be fine. We are here for you. I do want to give you a gift." Lauren touched the side of Evandalyn's head. A small light shined in her ear. "Can you hear me?" Lauren said in her head.
"Yes. I can hear you in my head."
"You will be able to contact me at any time. No one will be able to block our connection and if you close your eyes, you will be able to see me and I will be able to see you. I hope that helps you feel safer."
"It does. Thank you. You have helped calm me. We must not tell anyone of our connection."
"No. It must stay a secret. I just love you too much to let you go yet. I might need your guidance."
"Good. A secret it is. Now, let's get a small group together and get me to my father's house." Evandalyn said.