*WARNING: mentions of torture and blood*
The entrance to Kha'vera had a foreboding and ominous presence. Its entrance was a black abyss that seemed to swallow the light around it. The air emanating from within was damp and musty with the scent of death and decay.
Tieran stepped into the cave with Ivelle close behind. The short dark passageway opened to reveal carved structures, like cells of stone and metal. The sound of dripping water echoed off the cold stone walls, creating an eerie and unsettling melody. The ground was rough and uneven, making every step a challenge.
He had been here once before. To visit a liar. Someone who had gotten close to him and betrayed him. Their name was etched in his memory like a scar that would never heal.
Ivelle led him deeper into the mountain. She stopped at an open gate and waited. Tieran looked into the small cave, his personal torture chamber. He entered the cave and the gate banged shut behind him. He heard Ivelle's receding footsteps. The silence was almost deafening, when suddenly, cries and voices echoed throughout the small cave. A searing pain shot through Tieran's head as the wails grew louder. His Spirit Root shirked causing him to drop and clench his teeth. His muscles began to tense and quiver. His body spasmed as the wails grew louder and louder, expanding the folds of his mind causing his back to arch as he screamed.
~~~
Lily paced her room, it had been five days since she saw Tieran. Had he forgotten about her? Was he waiting to hear whether she had read the book or not? Somehow, she felt hollow inside and her skin crawled, as though something was wrong.
Noises outside her room caused her to run and open the door. Servants were running back and forth. Lily caught one by the arm,
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Lord Tieran has returned from Kha'vera, and he's not looking good," the servant replied.
"What do you mean? Is he hurt?" her breathing picked up and her chest tightened.
"Lily," Eiden suddenly appeared. The servant quickly left, "You should be in your room,"
"Eiden, where's Tieran?"
"He's fine. Please go back in your room," She would have believed him if he didn't have a panicked look in his eyes. Her lips trembled and she ran past him down the hall. He called after her, chasing her, but she kept going, following after the servants until she arrived at the room where they had gathered. She looked down at the floor at the splatters of a bloody trail that led to the bed where she saw Tieran, bloody and pale.
"Bear!" she yelled and ran to his side. Scratches ran down the lengths of his torso and arms. His hands were bloody with broken and bleeding fingernails, as though from clawing at hard stone. Sweat condensed on his entire body as he shivered slightly. "Willow Bark," she said.
"What?" a servant asked as he hastily wrapped a bandage around Tieran's arm.
"Where is the doctor?" another yelled.
Lily turned to Eiden, "He has a fever. I need Willow Bark. It's a herb. It's the only medicine that works for him,"
Eiden hesitated. Lily would know the best way to heal Tieran as she had done it before. He could trust her. He nodded, "Anything else?"
"Um," she sniffed, "Tea tree and, um, Calendula, for his wounds,"
"I'll be back,"
"The rest of you, you need to leave!" she said.
"Excuse my asking, but who are you?" the servant asked.
"Leave!" Dana yelled from the door. The servants all turned to her.
"My lady,"
"Go!"
They quickly bowed and left. Once they had gone, Dana carefully made her way to her brother. Tears streamed down her face as she knelt by his bedside. She looked up at Lily, "Help him. Please,"
Lily nodded as Eiden dashed into the room holding several jars and salves.
"We need to clean the blood of him," Lily said, her hands shaking as she reached for the bowl of water and some cloths. She handed some to Eiden and Dana and together they wet them and began cleaning Tieran's body.
Lily's shoulders ached. Eiden had taken Dana to her chambers to rest as she was on the verge of collapse. Apparently she had fasted the five days that Tieran was gone, which made her weak. Eiden had suggested that Lily get some sleep too but she had to keep going. Tieran's fever hadn't broken yet.
After cleaning him up, she had made a poultice with the herbs and used the additional salves to dress his wounds. She removed the cloth from his forehead and soaked it in the bowl of water. She wrung it out and turned back to Tieran. His eyes were open and he was watching her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked with a hoarse voice.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, "What happened?" she asked. Tears began to pool on the edges of her eyes.
He licked his dry lips and closed his eyes. "A little trial and tribulation, you could say," he opened his eyes to find tears falling down hers.
His mouth twitched in a smile as he reached up to wipe the tear from her cheek. His hand was hot against her skin.
She sniffed, "You have a fever. Your Spirit Root is damaged," her voice cracked, and she took a shaky breath, "You're in worse shape than when I first met you," she wailed.
Tieran had to suppress his smile. She didn't hate him. All this time he thought that Lily would fear him and hate him for who he was, and yet, here she sat, tears in her eyes, nursing him back to health again. Like nothing had changed.
Lily gasped for air as she choked on her tears. Her shoulders arched forward and she bowed her head. Tieran reached behind her head and pulled her closer, resting her head on his chest.
"My heart still beats, little fairy. I'm not going anywhere," she whined and hiccupped against his chest. The steady thumping of his heart beat against her ear.
She pulled away and wiped the tears from her swollen eyes, "I'll take care of you, Bear," she mumbled. This time he allowed the smile to crawl onto his face as he nodded subtly. She began dabbing the sweat from his forehead with the cloth in her hand, and continued to sniff.
~~~
Across the El'qua'ir river, Kind Fjord sat on his throne with his council standing around a large ornate table in the center of the room. The council room was grand, with a high ceiling. The walls were lined with wood panelling, and the room was illuminated by tall, narrow windows that allowed shafts of light to pierce the space. Along the back wall, shelves, that held ancient tomes, scrolls, and mysterious artifacts, stood.
"Lord Tieran has returned," King Fjord said, "Our spies have confirmed it,"
"His reappearance poses a threat to our kingdom. We must take immediate action," Lord Hollis said.
"How did he get free?" Lord Rayne asked, "As I understood it, the Lady Ashera sealed him in the mountain off the Whisperwoods,"
"Someone must have released him," Fjord said.
"Can we not consider a more diplomatic solution?" Evrin asked, "Perhaps we can negotiate a peace treaty or an alliance,"
"Tieran is a man of revenge," Fjord said, "There is no negotiating with him,"
The doors to the council room slammed open and Lady Sirelle stood at the entrance.
"Sirelle," Fjord leaned forward in his seat.
"My lords," she exclaimed, "Unfortunately, the return of Lord Tieran is the least of our concerns," She walked to the table, book in hand, and laid it on the surface, "There has been another prophecy," she said, "I am afraid this time, darkness will be coming to us,"
Lady Aliessa picked up the book with her brown slender fingers, "Earth? What do the mortals have to do with this?" she looked up at Sirelle.
"It's no secret that the mortals descend into chaos every now and then. Perhaps they will have another war soon," Rayne leaned his hand against the table in disdain, "You know how petty they are,"
"If we are going to prevent this prophecy from coming true, we need to help them," Sirelle said.
"Help them? The mortals?" Aliessa laughed, "Lady Sirelle you jest,"
"I do not," she replied firmly, "The last time we were laid back about a prophecy we lost the Water Fae. Or did you forget that their entire tribe was wiped out by Lord Tieran?"
"Perhaps we should go to earth," Evrin said, "Send someone to observe them,"
"Perhaps you can go, Lord Evrin," Hollis said.
"Yes," Aliessa smiled, "And, Lady Sirelle, don't you have an apprentice who can accompany him? You've taken her many times to earth have you not?"
"Um,"
"It's settled then," Fjord said, "Let us move on to the next topic on our agenda,"
Sirelle exhaled deeply. Evrin walked to her side as the rest of the council continued.
"Lady Sirelle," he greeted once again.
"Lord Evrin," she bowed her head.
"I've been meaning to ask where Lily is. I haven't seen for her for weeks now,"
She cleared her throat, "I'm afraid Lily is gone,"
"Gone?"
"I returned to Tree Mansion a week ago and found the place deserted. I fear she may have gone in search of me," Evrin's forehead creased with sudden worry, "Do not fret, Lord Evrin, Lily is a smart girl. She'll be back soon,"
He nodded, but couldn't help but wonder how she was doing.