"Don't worry," says the woman, "I'll visit her later."
"Come on sister!" asks Ceres." You've just arrived! If it's not now, when?"
"Don't you think it'll be too emotional?" replied Amara. "We're both fragile now."
"Nonsense Amara!" Ceres replied. "My mother really misses you; you know you're the one who understands her the most. She knows very well you're here, and you've seen her every year! Don't break her heart, ¡let's go!"
The women initiated her journey towards the inside of the fortress, riding the beautiful white horse, who came to them with a whistle from the golden princess; the same horse once given by her mother, upon her sixteen rimerians. She missed being in her kingdom, she dreamed of standing with her people again. For even if Aramordt had fallen, a home dwelt among the people.
The sisters went across and inside the surroundings of their parents' new castle, the Refuge of Aramordt. They passed through it all. Every step they took was slower, for the brightness of the marvelous city born only from the chaos and shadows, meant something for their future steps. Steps, that now were shining their path; reflecting at them, with people who made a round of applause as they passed by. Astonished, at the miracle of seeing them together. Fighting side by side, as it once was, as it should've kept. Their image filled the natives' hearts with hope, in the face of great adversity. And her beautiful smiles were that light of the bright horizon they all needed. Guiding them towards triumph; towards the right face to confront this endless war, just as people dreamt princess would bring back the gold sands of their ancient kingdom, until they took separate ways, for their journey needed different paths. But right now, it was one. The same fears, the same joys. The same dreams
They reached the final rooms; the highest upon the castle. The daughters then, after a singular entrance of woods and royal flowers, found the Abode of Leyra. A beautiful dome was suspended at the top of the great refuge, where the view of the entire region was carefully glimpsed, and the battle was observed perfectly.
The princesses went in since the entrance remained open on the day. And amidst a beautiful purple seat of roses, was the queen of all nations; the daughter of all parades, the sister of all glades, the duchess of all forests, Leyra Aramordt.
"My daughters!" exclaimed the woman, hugging her daughters. "I missed you so much! How are you? Amara, thanks to all heavens you're finally here!" "I missed you too, Mother," exclaims Amara.
"You're not going away anymore!" exclaims Leyra. "I tell you the same thing every single year. We need you here! Come on, let's get you something to drink, shall we?"
The golden daughter examined the beautiful dome and saw the widest view she had ever seen in her life. The whole desert was visible; the vicissitudes of the region were clearly portrayed; just as clear, as the colossal battle displayed at the forefront.
"Wine?"
"Mother come on," exclaims Ceres. "We're here to talk to you."
"Well, we can drink and talk," exclaims the queen. "It was a tradition in Anaís to drink with your daughter when the sunset presents itself." "Where is my father?" Amara asks.
"Oh, my baby," exclaims Leyra, "your father is still at the front; you know, his favorite place. I guess, he's going to cross the night there, once again. The enemy is unbearable, is unstoppable. Too many Glonds*, too much energy. Zaura's power is second to none. Hence, I'm celebrating! Because tonight is my last night in here. Tomorrow, I will return to war, and I don't believe I'll return."
"I know these people are asking you for this," asks Ceres. "But do you think you should do that, Mother? The last time was too dangerous."
"Well, I'm a dangerous queen, my daughter," Leyra answers. "I won't let your father fight this without his beloved by his side, not while she's still alive. I'm actually, enthusiastic about this because of him. His cause is still present, and his fire burns more than ever. He is truly inspired."
"It's the right time, then."
"So it seems, Amara," exclaims the queen. "But enough about the war, tell me, my daughter, did you get something to Ada?"
"Indeed, Mother," responds Amara. "I was with her all day. She can't stop talking about your stories!"
"She is a very good girl, incredibly intelligent," says Leyra. "She's more quiet than usual, though; keen to distance. You must be closer to her."
"I try to," exclaims Amara. "You act like you don't know what my duty is."
"Is there a duty more valuable than your daughter's company?" asks Leyra. "I have had no problem in taking care of her, she is doing fine, but something is missing in her. She still cannot project her powers." "Do you think it's something serious?" Amara asks.
"It shouldn't be something for us to worry about," Leyra answers. "She is a girl who has grown up with so much pressure. War is not the best place for her own goods to flourish."
Amara lowered her head, with the de saddest gesture. Leyra grabbed her declining jaw, and lifted it up, gently.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, my daughter," Leyra says. "You are giving the best you can."
"These are not the conditions I wanted for her," exclaims Amara, through her tears.
"I know daughter; I know," responds the queen. "I didn't want this for my granddaughter either, although, she is destined to be our greatest treasure. A foreseen sound of hope, since the light seeks her, and she seeks the light. She's destined to be something big. If we do not go through this pain, we will not be able to know the vision of our fate. We must be vigilant. Only for the best, looks Elgoneth."
And suddenly, as soon as the older sorceress said the name of the deity, Amara lost her clear sight; quickly felt the weakness in her knees, and her eyes got too bright. The light was losing her among the currents of matter, and her spirit was floating in mysticism and nostalgia along the rhythm of the creation of everything.
The golden daughter passed out; and between the hole of an incandescent light, the consciousness of the women caught itself back to the currents of reality, with the help of a bridge acting as the sweetest voice.
"Amara?" says the queen. "You have the light in your eyes, do you feel good?"
"I just need to sit down, Mother. That's all."
Ceres and Leyra went down to the second level of the dome where there was a small room. Here, Leyra slept when she returned from the great battle. Amara then stayed in bed with her mother.
"I'm going to leave," exclaims Ceres. "I think you'll both be better alone." "It's okay daughter," responds the queen.
Once Ceres closed the door, Leyra turned to Amara, for she could tell she was feeling better.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm better, Mother. Thanks," responds Amara.
"You lost it when I said my father's name," exclaims the queen. "You've been seeing him lately, haven't you?"
"He shows in my dreams," responds Amara. "I think he's trying to tell me something."
"I believe the same," exclaims Leyra. "But I think it's more personal than you'd consider. At times, is at the end of the road, where the answers can be found."
The queen of the forests bowed her head and directed her concern towards the abyss of the war, towards the final battle. She got up and approached her balcony, in the cold wind of the treacherous and late afternoon. Amara got out of bed and stood right next to her mother. Something was out of place.
"What's wrong, mother?" asks the golden daughter.
"There is something I need to tell you, Amara," Leyra answers. "I think you're the one who needs to listen to it. I need to tell someone, about this. But it may not be to from your liking."
The golden daughter took a deep breath; she swallowed the bitter syllables. She knows her mother pretty well. Her throat was gnawing with fear. Her mind craved impatience. She knew exactly, what she was about to discuss.
"Rita was here, last night," continues the queen.
"Here? In your sacred dome?"
"We weren't talking in here," the queen replies. "Upon the smallest mound you see below us, there is a small lake, with a twisted nature. I know she herself spawned, for there is no way it could be made by any nature other than dark magic. That is where she appears, on the waters." "From them?" exclaims Amara.
"From them, and above them," answers the queen. "It's a portal from the Kingdom of Ashes, up to here. It's an impure energy, Amara, I've seen it. Around them, it is where she is willing to have a dialogue. On the cold sand of this lost mound, and poisoned desert."
"Well then, tell me, Mother. What are you waiting for?" exclaims the golden daughter. "What happened?"
Hence the queen of the northern realm took a deep breath and started her telling. For at that same time, in the same place, but the night before, a fellow conversation was taking place:
"Granny, it's late! Isn't it?" Ada asks.
"So it is, sweetie," Leyra answers. "You should rest; tomorrow is your big day! I can't believe you're going to be six!"
"Why not? I'm already a big girl, granny!" the girl answers. "And I want my mom to see how big I am!"
"I am sure she will be impressed."
"What do you think she will give me?
"I have no idea, sweetheart," the queen answers. "But if you don't fall asleep soon, I won't be able to take you to your father, and receive whatever she'll bring you with a giant kiss."
"Well, it's okay granny. I'll go to bed now!"
The girl quickly turned from the balcony where she was talking and descended the hidden stairs. Below them, was a secret camera, where her little room made by Leyra was; Ada could not sleep, and when she was looking for a book among the queen's library, she found one that caught her attention. A tale about a foreigner.
She held the book and decided to go upstairs instantly, since she wanted her grandmother to tell her about it; holding the excuse of trying to sleep, and the fantasy of dreaming in her mind.
Reaching the main level of the delicate dome, she noticed her grandmother was still sitting on her balcony but heard a sudden sigh, which made her ears sharpen. It was a soft breath, inviting her to get closer to it.
The whisper seemed to come from the main entrance to the small dome; slight currents of wind touched her hair, and in loss of the notion came present. At that moment, the girl heard three knocks on the wooden door, sharp, rough, and intense.
Ada approached, and her innocence led her to open the door slowly, as she tried to see who was behind it.
"Hello, sweetheart," whispers a soft voice. "Have you forgotten me?"
The little girl remained silent. Astonished, before the darkness that approached her. She didn't even dare to blink.
"Don't be afraid, I'm not here to hurt you," the being continues. "I'm here to talk with your grandmother, do you know where she is?"
The girl took a few steps back, and with her sharp eyes, pointed with her trembling hand behind her, pointing towards the distant balcony.
"Thank you, my girl," says the mysterious woman. "You have grown a lot, and yet, your heart remains noble. Good for you, my niece."
The girl remained in the corner; her little instinct told her to run downstairs and leave, but she was petrified, she couldn't even move.
The black hooded woman entered the dome, and in her first steps, took a deep breath, as she stroked the girl's hair. For a brief moment, a stained heart felt a touch of empathy, and after eighteen years, she offered her blessing to the little girl, the most divine and sacred act among the Raen. This would become her second in her lifetime, and the final one.
"Get away from her!" the queen shouts. "Ada, I told you to go to sleep!"
"It's okay, Mother," answers the strange woman. "I'm just giving you the blessing."
"Next time, look at your hands first, Rita."
The white energy emerging from the woman of the shadows dissolved in the presence of a bluish power that gushed from around the girl's head and body. The blessing vanished in the air, not entering the soul appropriately; rejecting power, and causing it to disappear in streams of cold air upon them.
"Go to sleep Ada, I will not tell you again," exclaims the queen. "And if you want to speak young woman, it'd be better immediately."
Leyra turns and walks towards the balcony, Rita then leans in and kisses the girl on the forehead. She pulls out an amethyst crystal from her pocket and hands it to the little girl.
"It's an amulet for good luck, Ada," exclaims Rita. "The best from the rocks of plasma. You may think I'm a monster, and your grandmother is an angel. But always remember, not everything looking good, is that good. Not everything bad, that bad. It's a matter of knowing how to be steady in balance, and generous in energy."
The girl held the glass with both hands, and the woman turned her gaze to her forehead. She walked easily towards the balcony, while the girl hid behind the pilaster, peeking at a distance, the next to follow.
"Ada has an energy field that protects her from all impure energy," exclaims Leyra.
"Do you think I didn't notice that?" answers Rita. "Still, I thought it would work. It is a blessing after all, don't you think?"
"What kind of blessing do you think you can offer? If these hands of yours are the name of an impurity these kingdoms have never seen before."
"I didn't come here to argue, Leyra," Rita replies. "I just want to see how this war is going, along with the sweet company of my pretty mother, shall we?"
The women jumped impressively from the balcony; one behind the other. Rita reached a nearby mound, where small streams of opaque waters were found. The queen subtly put herself beside Rita. And between the cold and explosive night, both saw upon the distance, the exhaustive battlefield between lights, energies, and dimensions inexplicable to the eye.
"This is endless, right?" exclaims Rita.
"I'm tired, we've given everything we possibly could," says Leyra. "Argôn and I, we—we just can't go any further. We never expected this. It's strange to wonder, this is what Elgoneth was preparing us for, after all these years."
"So, where is he, now? Now that, you know, you need him?" exclaims Rita sarcastically. "Fighting some sort of injustice?"
"You know the answer to that question," responds Leyra.
The queen then stopped talking in a smooth way. She looks at Rita in her eyes and returned her gaze to the wide parade of the nocturnal. "You're a witch now, aren't you?" asks the queen, rhetorically.
The princess of the darkness did not say a word. She just smiled, and stood quiet, as she stopped looking at the queen, and joined her in the ponder of the night.
"What are you planning to do, Rita?" asks Leyra. "What are you going to do with her?"
Rita looks behind her, for she foresaw the energy surrounding her. In the distance, hidden in the shadows of the balcony, was the little girl. Quiet, and attentive. The curiosity invaded Ada, but when Rita finds her gleaming blue eyes, the child returns to the mystery of the shadow; distanced, unattainable."She must survive," responds Rita. "I can't guarantee that, nevertheless." "I know," responds the queen.
"Could you do that for me?" asks Rita.
"I'll do the best I can."
"I want to ask you something," continues Rita. "All this time, you knew about Mihalis didn't you?"
The queen did not respond.
"You were the only one who could have known," continues Rita. "You look through his heart and yet, you didn't tell anyone. Why?"
But the queen just closed her eyes and stared at the nothingness invading her mind.
"You wanted him to kill me right," says Rita. "You wanted me to lose."
"I've learned through the years, that some things are better off the table," exclaims Leyra. "Sometimes we can influence, and create our reality, but sometimes we don't have any control over this complexity. I didn't know what was going to happen. First it was you, then Mihalis. Argôn loved you both so much, he was so happy with what we had. I've never seen him happier. He loved his family, and he loved what we created. I didn't want to tell him anything, because I didn't know what exactly I was going to tell. I had no idea what was going to happen. Everything was confusing, everything was a paradox. When I pushed, it seemed I was incorrect. But when I let these things go, they tried to whisper to me, I was right. I just wanted things to happen, the way they were meant, and to support Argôn as long as I could. I was devastated, I've always felt things before him before his feelings, before his vision. So you know, the chaos just happened, and we didn't really witness it. We came back, and then war instantly started. We move on and try to fight for our people, for our family, for our lives. Elgoneth keeps us blessed, so we keep up going."
"How can you be so soft?" asks Rita. "How could you keep being hopeful?! I killed thousands of your people! I destroyed your annoying kingdom, I overthrew Aramordt! I screw everything you both built all these decades! I killed all your pride, I killed all your home, I killed your only grandson, I killed your faith, your glory, I killed all your dreams, and you still behave like this?!"
"No. You know what you did?" asks Leyra. "You killed my youngest daughter."
The princess of the ashes smiles, and after a few moments of silence, she turns around and starts leaving.
"I'm going to come to the war soon," says Rita. "You know what that means?"
"What does it mean to you?" asks the queen.
"The end," responds Rita. "Deliver this message to my father. I don't want him to make me hurt him."
The black robe flew over the gelid winds of the night; over the sight of the northern queen, who assimilated the messages between the thin lines. Codes of old that came from within the depths of an eerie voice; the voice of the princess of darkness. The latter then starts to leave the scene but suddenly stops her horrid walk, as her mind reminded her of something, and turns around one last time, before entering into the shadows of the spring.
"You're still my mommy," exclaims the princess from the dark. "You know that right?
"I don't know who you are anymore, Rita."
• •
The story vanished as briefly as Leyra said the ending to her middle daughter, who was still stunned by the event from the dark night before.
"What a cold act," Amara replies. "Why do I feel like she's inviting death?"
"Don't say that," Leyra exclaims. "We must find a way to solve it."
"Mother, there's nothing to resolve!" responds the golden princess. "That is not your daughter! This evil is insatiable, and it won't stop growing. This cannot continue any further. I will not allow her reign of whims and terror to torture us anymore! Someone must end this! I'm going to do it myself, and we'll see if she will put her dishonored hands again on my daughter!"
"You're more aggressive, Amara," replies the queen. "This is not your way."
"These days at Eldrįner, have already changed me, Mother," says the golden princess. "I know it is not what you support, but it is the right energy to fight and overcome the malice that's taken over these lands."
"But aggressiveness shouldn't play against you," Leyra continues. "For this, it is important to have your spirit in balance."
The queen stopped holding her daughter and went to her mirror. The woman sat down and gently began to stroke her hair.
"Tell me, my daughter," exclaims the queen. "How are things with your husband?"
"He's fine, he's just a little distracted," Amara replies. "He's a bit attached to me lately, and Mother, after what happened to Mihalis, I—"
The golden princess stopped, for the words in her mind could not come out of her mouth.
"It's just that, what was left in my heart, is death," says the woman. "It ceased to exist. I'm only alive for my daughter, and my purpose for her. I don't know how to open these feelings anymore. And I still love him, Mother, it's just that I need distance. I don't know why he's so intense now."
"Well, what did you expect?" Leyra answers. "He sees you once, every fifteen cycles."
"Yes, but... Mother, he never acted like this," responds Amara. "I don't understand why now. This time, I need my space, I need myself, I need him to understand. He has been more invasive. And he wants me to have more empathy when it should be the other way around."
"Amara," exclaims Leyra, "when a man meets the right woman, he becomes a light immediately. He needs to shine for life; he needs to share, to give you his brightness, like a valve, which cannot fail to show its brilliance. Listen, he needs to bloom. He needs to, so his spirit may rest in peace. And sometimes, certain men have to live without being able to access that share, for a long time; without the presence of this woman. It is the most difficult task. The bravest of tests."
"He has endured a time," the queen continues. "He has shown his light in his own things; he has found inspiration through you, through your daughter, through victory. He dreams of triumph; he dreams with bringing glory. But my daughter, he needs you. You must understand it. You are his rock and his greatest strength, and if he does not feel you by his side, he is weak; vulnerable, and exposed. He doesn't know where he is going. He does not have a north anymore."
"Talk to him, and be fair with him," she continues. "Is the least you could do. Eros could offer his life for you, my daughter."
"I know, Mother," says Amara. "I will try to fix things."
"Excellent! I know it will all end well, you'll see," exclaims the queen. "And remember, about these visions you've been having, Elgoneth is not sending you these messages without a major purpose; they mean something to you, and it's your duty to figure them out."
"I will, my beloved queen," exclaims Amara.
"Abundance is what prevailed before in the eyes of this kingdom," exclaims Leyra. "Look at us now. It's hard to understand what happened, and what will. We must be closer together than ever. We must choose compassion for one another. Otherwise, we will not be able to handle this."
"It's what worries me, Mother," says Amara, before closing the door. "What if we can't stop it? What if she is too strong for us? What if she is too strong for me?
"Thinking about failing is not an option for you, my daughter," responds the queen. "Let's think, you won't fail yourself. Relive the fact, that you have become stronger. Let's believe, you will succeed, at the hands of fate. We still have hope, because we still have you. And if you have come this far, it's because Elgoneth wants you victorious through this. Let yourself be guided by him and you'll make it in that battle."
"And as for the war," continues the queen. "Your father is not alone; he never is. He has me, he has his family, he has thousands of warriors, and his dragons at his command; a relic for the light. We are fighting a worthy battle. We have resisted more than expected, and in large part, it has been because of Erin's impressive voice of leadership. Your sister is a true goddess."
"So I've imagined it," says Amara. "I saw her thunder shining throughout the region, the same day she arrived."
"She is a gift, Amara. She is guiding us in this battle, and you must take advantage of that, from Eldrįner. I know you can beat her, my daughter. You have to trust in yourself."
"My father still disagrees with this, right?" exclaims Amara. "He must be mad at me."
"That's right," exclaims Leyra, "but I'd be worried if he wasn't. I know you well, Amara. I know how strong you are. You will do it."
"Thank you, Mother,"
The woman then left the place. Descending the endless stairs of the dome, she realized it was quite late. The sky was about to darken completely. Under the great dome, she left the castle and headed towards Zone A, where her family home was. Upon the outskirts of the refugee.
In the outside stable, Amara began to place a pair of new weapons on her horse. She was arranging all her armor, but she did not intend to say anything to anyone, for she felt unusually uncomfortable in the face of the place. Suddenly, a closer thought appeared in the scene. An anxious man.
"I knew I'd find you here," exclaims the man.
"Really?" replies Amara. "Why is that?"
"It's normal, always meeting you at the end," exclaims Eros. "Instead of facing the situation, as we all adults do."
"Eros, liste—"
"But it doesn't matter, it's fine," the man continues, "I understand that you want to go. But I will not allow it this time."
"What the hell are you talking about now?"
"You're not going anywhere!"
The couple argue strongly. Amara lost control and started punching Eros in the chest, while the latter shouted to stop doing it. The golden daughter went wild and started throwing spells of fire at her husband. He managed to grab her, tried to shudder her down and hold her violent arms, destroying the columns of wood with blasts of fire, all around the place. A mess was taking place, until the man held the princess tight by the arms, and smashed her back against another column.
"Amara stop now!" the man said. "You're not going to leave, because I'm not going to let you go! It's over! This is your home and I am your husband! And you'll have to kill me first if you want me to let go of this! I love you, woman! Don't you understand?! I want you here with me! I need you here with me!"
The woman understood the pain living inside her beloved; he was broken. But she was broken too. She sympathizes with him and tries to calm him down.
"I'm sorry, Eros," the woman exclaims. "What you want me to give you, no longer exists in me."
"I'm going to get my robe," exclaims the woman. "I think my time here, is over."
Amara breaks free of Eros and heads home. Angry, the young woman only wanted to look for her divine robe, given by her father several rimmers* ago, while Eros still followed her. Arguing along the way.
They enter the house; get the Robe of the King, and leave her home again. It was too late, and under the light of the star about to hide, they began to argue more intensely. It was a nostalgia, facing the neglect.
In the midst of the fight, Amara sees behind her husband, the silhouette of a little girl, peeking out the door, in the distance. She then removes the man from the front, and heads towards the girl.
"What are you doing here?" exclaims the princess. "It's getting dark already, you should rest."
"Mother, are you really leaving?" asks Ada.
"Yes, my girl. I'm so sorry," says the woman, hugging her. "But listen to me, this will be the last time I will leave. This will be the last time I will be away from you. Mommy must change something important, and when I return, I will return forever. Nothing is going to separate us anymore, and we will be together, forever."
"You promise, Mother?" Ada asks.
"I promise, my daughter," the woman replies. "I'm going to tell you something when I return from the elves' forest, I will bring you the most beautiful white butterfly in all of Eldrįner. I will offer her life to you, for having been brave, and strong, and she will be my promise fulfilled. For she will bring you light, splendor, and goodwill throughout all your life. You only have to resist a few more days, my girl."
The woman kisses her youngest daughter on the forehead and reassures her promise. They both smile and amid a cold tear, Ada remains silent.
The woman rises from the ground, where she is kneeling. She heads her gaze forward, towards her beautiful white horse. She looks at her loved one worried and also offers him a hug. A hug that came from the heart.
"This is my destiny, Eros, I can't help it," the woman exclaims. "This will not change until I change it myself. I'm not asking you to understand me, I'm just asking you to support me."
"Amara, I can't support this. Not anymore," exclaims the man. "Remember, whatever you must suffer, I'll suffer it too. And it's hard to do this without you. We need you here. I need you here."
"Then, we already know what it is," answers the golden princess. "I still believe in you. But this battle of ours is personal, it's individual. And if we want to fix this, we shouldn't be together. We can't. Not anymore."
The woman climbs on the stirrup of her white horse, while her husband carries the tearful six-year-old girl by his arms, crying upon her mother's departure.
"Burn a lime* for me, my daughter," said Amara, "and ask for us. Ask for courage, ask for abundance, ask for faith. Ask for clarity, ask for hope; for our victory, for our glory, for our love. Your requests are carefully listened to by life. And well received by Elgoneth."
"What happens if we lose, mommy?" asks the girl.
"We will win, my daughter," exclaims the woman. "Together, we will win. That's for sure. This will be, our most beautiful story. Our most beautiful witness."
Amara then set out on her way, and with her horse, headed back to the great Summit of Deoleom; she went all the way up to it, ascending, while her husband and daughter saw the mythical princess in the distance, at the final fall of dawn. The sunset was at its best splendor, but upon the miles ahead, the shadows had already eaten the forests' shade.