Calyx weaved through the labyrinth, spotting the petite form of Seraphina. It had been too long since she had seen her old friend. Seraphina was on her knees, pulling out carrots from her garden. She rushed over and Seraphina looked up, likely hearing the crunch of her footsteps upon her stone pathway.
"Calyx!" she gasped, rising quickly to her feet and brushing her soiled hands against her skirt.
Glad to finally see her, Calyx embraced her. They had formed a strong friendship when she had been living at The Great Willow Tree with Aaron before he took up a guardian post at the village of Delsni. The three of them had been inseparable when they all lived here before Calyx and Aaron departed.
Seraphina had stayed, offering her services as the palace healer. All the Elvish nobility and socialites would seek her out, because her skill set was highly recommended and she worked miracles. However, Calyx strongly believed that they also took her expertise for granted and never paid her accurately. Seraphina had that sweet kindness to her -- an authentic vulnerability that made a person wish to protect her from the evildoers and ill intentions of those that wished to exploit her.
When they eased apart, Calyx realized Seraphina was crying. She chuckled, once again drawing her in for another embrace.
"I believe you may have missed me, dear friend."
Seraphina nodded. "I miss all of you when you are all gone. I have not seen Aaron in ages. You and Dante come back sparingly." She sighed, looking down at her hands. "Sometimes, I feel like I am watching my life pass by me."
"Do not speak like that. You are still young. You have plenty of time to explore the world out there--"
"No teasing," she chuckled. "We all know I would not survive as well as both you and Dante do. I am not a warrior."
"But you have more than enough knowledge of knowing how to survive," Calyx pointed out. "I believe you would fare quite well out there once you got used to the change."
"I fear I shall be always stuck here. I-I do not wish to be left behind as usual." She shrugged then. "Although, Lady Crystobelle did allow me with the accompaniment of those she trusts to retrieve these flowers to help you with your illness."
"Is that what she had meant when she said you would have worked something out?"
Seraphina nodded, stooping low to grab her wooden bucket of vegetables. She walked toward her cottage and Calyx followed her inside. Not wanting to be in her way, she sat down at the table, which was littered with bottles of this and that. She could not name the ingredients nor would she even attempt that endeavor.
"I apologize for the mess," Seraphina told her. "I had been creating potions. Nobody truly visits me other than to obtain something."
Calyx eyed her friend curiously. Was Seraphina in a bout of depression? The usually happy and bubbly personality had faded into a grim outlook on life.
"Are you quite well?" she asked.
Seraphina stiffened then sighed. "I must sound ungrateful." Calyx shook her head and Seraphina walked to the open front door. She peeked outside before shutting it. "Lady Vylot has visited me a considerable amount of times during Dante's visit back here. I am most likely just twisted up inside about that."
Calyx's eyes widened at that. She knew of Seraphina’s longstanding affection for Dante Elderys. They both knew that an Elvish warrior of his age and position would most likely select a mate equal to his stature. Unfortunately, Seraphina’s parentage was unknown. Even though Dante held a soft spot for her friend even Calyx doubted he felt anything beyond familial affection.
In the world of Elves and immortals, age only measured wisdom, but even so, Dante possibly viewed Seraphina like a daughter or perhaps a little sister. From a variety of prior visits, Calyx was well aware of how Seraphina witnessed Lady Vylot wormed her way into Dante's arms and attention. Calyx knew all too well the agonizing pain of unrequited emotions as her thoughts traveled dangerously to her childhood best friend.
"I wish I could tell you something that could ease your pain," Calyx whispered.
Seraphina glanced over at her, brushing away her tears with her fingers. "Here I am crying over impossibly fanciful things and you are actually dying--"
"Everyone still bleeds. It makes no difference between the both of us. We both suffer and we both bleed from it. Mine just happens to be a fatal wound."
"Stubborn wound."
"Stubborn heart," she corrected.
Seraphina paused before she blew out the breath she had been holding. "I only wish it did not hurt so much."
"The pain reminds us that what we feel is true and authentic."
She watched as Seraphina give her a weak smile before she started to tend to the vegetables she harvested. It was bittersweet to relate to one another's pain so well. She hoped that she was wrong. Perhaps, the bond between Seraphina and Dante changed, she just had not seen them personally together to make a fair call, but she was not going to persuade Seraphina to follow her heart if she did not truly know if there was a chance of happiness for her.
It was very rare for her and Dante to be at The Great Willow Tree at the same time. More often than not, she would run into him outside of The Great Willow Tree. Although, Aaron had seen them together multiple times before he had left to take up his post at Delsni and swore there was something brewing between Seraphina and Dante. Until she witnessed an exchange between them herself, she was not going to encourage her dear friend.
~
Seraphina replenished her sleeping draughts and herbal tonics. She had told her that the flowers that were needed were called Lilies Of Celeste. Lily Of Celeste was a magical plant that can heal the rarest of ailments. The problem was that it bloomed during the moonlight in the Crystalline Forest. It was a two month journey there and back. Lady Crystobelle told Calyx that Dante and his men would accompany Seraphina to retrieve the plants. Calyx promised to return a month before the dark season.
It was a week run with mandatory nightly rest from The Great Willow Tree to Silverd in her wolf-hybrid form. The journey to Silverd was uneventful to her relief and when she arrived at the stone walls of Silverd that enclosed the castle town. She should not have been surprised to see it was bustling with people already.
“Welcome to Silverd,” a Woodlands Elf greeted heartily as she approached the entranceway. “We have been awaiting your arrival.”
Calyx swallowed, eyeing the crowded village square as she passed through the gates. “All are here for….?”
“You. The cause.”
Startled, she looked at the elf. “How did you know it is me?”
“The Queen’s scroll arrived a few days by a hawk,” he told her. Wide eyed, he watched a hawk soar down from the sky and pointed to it. “She says Herculean is your Elvish soul shadow.” She glanced up with a smile and her Elvish soul shadow immediately swoops down, landing on her outstretched arm. The elf snorted. “If that is not confirmation then I do not know what is. Come, Lord Kilburn awaits you.”
She nodded her head. “Thank you."
“It is a pleasure,” the elf chirped. “I am Novak.”
“Calyx.”
Novak smiled, turning momentarily to her before looking up at the fortress. “It has been quite exciting these past weeks after Priestess Alethaliyah made the announcement,” the elf continued. “Word is spreading and allies are forming. We believe the High Alpha of Pearl will be sending people. In fact, there have been sightings of the eldest prince of Pearl returning to Tempest Elysium.”
Shocked, Calyx stopped. “Wait. Who?”
“The eldest prince,” Novak said. “Xavier actually witnessed Theodavian and the Elite Guard return. There was a feast held in their honor two weeks ago.” He looked at her and paused for a moment. “Are you well? I believe it is a great thing to have the eldest prince of the Lycans to return. There is speculation that he and his men will be the ones sent by the High Alpha. All of them are mighty warriors. They have guarded the gateway with diligence and would make a powerful ally for the cause.”
Theodavian was back?
He was here in Tempest.
Calyx glanced over at Novak and recognized the disappointed confusion on his face. He did not understand her trepidation and fear. Greer's words burned into her mind.
*“... until he returns and you must be ready to face the truth…if he is true like I know he is, he will find you again and you must not deny him. It will only hurt you both.”*
She sucked in a breath before forcing a smile.
“The more the merrier,” she said with a shrug.
Novak smiled and then continued to lead her through the village to the fortress. Inside of her heart and mind, Calyx had always knew it was inevitable. Theodavian had finally returned and she knew it would not be long until their lives were once again intertwined. As she looked down upon her finger, the ring shimmered and she hoped it would be enough to keep the truth and the secrets at bay.
Her mate had returned to Tempest and he was heading for her.