LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
"We don't know that for sure," Jason interrupts. "And even if it is, at what cost? We give up our identity, our history."
As we debate in hushed tones, our son Eden approaches us, his eyes darting nervously between us and Elowen.
"I don't mean to interrupt," he whispers, "but mom, dad, I think we should trade the scepter for our freedom. I'm tired of this place. He expresses, sincerity evident in his voice.
I glance at Jason, we seem to agree with the kid. It's time to go from here. I then take a deep breath, steeling myself for what we're about to do.
"You're right, Eden. It's time we find our way back home." I tell our son with a heavy heart though.
Jason's eyes widen, a mix of worry and reluctant acceptance crossing his face. He knows as well as I do that our son's well-being comes first, even if it means sacrificing a piece of our past.
Turning back to Elowen, I force a smile.
"We've discussed it, and we're willing to... to trade the scepter. But we need guarantees. How can we be sure this Lady Arianrhod can truly help us?"
Elowen's face lights up, her earlier shyness replaced by excitement. "Oh, you won't regret this! Lady Arianrhod is the most powerful enchantress in all the realms. If anyone can send you home, it's her."
"But," Elowen adds, her excitement dimming slightly, "she will require proof of your sincerity. The scepter must be presented to her directly, in person."
I exchange a wary glance with Jason. This complicates matters.
"And where is Lady Arianrhod now? Still at the council's venue" I ask, trying to keep the apprehension out of my voice.
Elowen's eyes sparkle with a mix of reverence and mystery. "No, she goes to the council's venue only when there are matters of extreme importance. She resides in the Floating Castle of Avalon, beyond the Misty Veil."
Jason tenses beside me.
"The Misty Veil? It sounds like another treacherous place, where many who enter never return." He expresses, his voice tinged with worries.
Elowen nods solemnly. "The journey is indeed perilous, but I can guide you. I know the safe paths through the Misty Veil. It's indeed a treacherous landscape of shifting illusions and hidden dangers, but I've traversed it many times on errands for Lady Arianrhod."
I feel a knot forming in my stomach. The thought of dragging our son through yet another magical gauntlet fills me with dread. But what choice do we have?
"How long would this journey take?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Elowen furrows her brow in thought. "An hour at most if we don't encounter any…complications but three to four hours if the weather is icy and we don't meet on the way..."
Jason lets out a low whistle. "I don't know but going through a perilous mist with a child in tow: That's quite the ask."
I nod in agreement, but then I look at Eden. His young face is set with determination, his eyes bright with a mix of fear and excitement. Sometimes I forget how resilient he can be. Just a few days ago, when we were still at the palace, he was terribly sick but now he looks like the healthiest and strongest kid in the universe.
"Okay, let's do this! Let's go to lady Arianrhod, trade the…prop, then return to our world," I say powerfully to particularly encourage Jason who seems to have forgotten he's the Alpha King, the superior werewolf of the dominant South pack.
Jason's eyes narrow, a flicker of his Alpha authority returning.
"You're right. We've come too far to turn back now." He says as he kneels down to Eden's level, placing a strong hand on our son's shoulder.
"Are you ready for this, little wolf?" He then whispers to our son.
Eden nods vigorously, his small chest puffing out. "I'm ready, Dad. I'm not scared."
I can't help but smile at his bravery, even as worry gnaws at my insides. Elowen watches our exchange with a hint of admiration in her eyes.
"Very well," she says, her voice taking on a more formal tone. "We should leave at once. The Misty Veil is most stable during the early hours of dawn."
As we gather our meager belongings, I notice the sky beginning to lighten. The stars fade one by one, giving way to a soft pink glow on the horizon.
Elowen leads us out of the cottage and down a winding path through the forest. The air is crisp and cool, filled with the sweet scent of morning dew. Under different circumstances, I might have found it beautiful.
As we walk, Elowen explains more about the journey ahead. "The Misty Veil is a boundary between realms," she says. "It's not just fog, but a magical barrier that can confuse the senses and lead travelers astray. Stay close to me at all times."
Jason nods grimly, keeping a protective hand on Eden's shoulder. Our son's earlier bravado has faded somewhat, replaced by a quiet determination. I can see the tension in his small frame.
As we approach the edge of the forest, the mist begins to thicken around us. It swirls and eddies, taking on an otherworldly quality that sends a shiver down my spine. The trees thin out, revealing a vast expanse of shimmering fog that seems to stretch endlessly in all directions.
Elowen pauses at the threshold, her eyes scanning the misty landscape before us. "Remember," she says, her voice barely above a whisper, "the Veil will try to deceive you. Trust only what you can touch, not what you see or hear."
With those ominous words, she steps forward into the mist. Jason and I exchange a look, silently communicating our shared apprehension. But there's no turning back now. We follow Elowen, with Eden between us.
The moment we enter the Misty Veil, the world around us shifts and blurs. The solid ground beneath our feet seems to undulate, and the mist swirls in hypnotic patterns that make my head spin. I blink rapidly, trying to clear my vision, but it only makes the disorientation worse.