Crown of Destiny

“Do you mean to take her with you when you and Kaliq ride out into the Cosmos?” Ilona asked quietly.

“Nay! She was suppose to remain here on Belmair with you,” Lara replied.

“She is not happy here,” Ilona said.

“She is safe here!” Lara retorted.

“Let Kaliq speak with her,” Ilona suggested. “She has always respected him.”

Lara agreed. “Ask my daughter to come and visit me,” she said. “I sense the time is drawing near for us to depart Belmair. While it has been a glorious interlude I feel the tug of my destiny as I have never before felt it, Mother.”

Ilona nodded. “Aye, I am beginning to see it hovering around your head like a crown. I will tell Marzina to come and see you soon.” The Queen of the Forest Faeries stood up and, bending down, kissed Lara’s cheek. “Farewell, my daughter. I do not think I will see you again.” She drew Lara up and hugged her hard. “You were crowned by destiny even before your conception, Lara. You have matured into an amazing, powerful faerie woman. More formidable than even your mother. I am proud of you. John Swiftsword would be proud of his daughter, too.” Ilona kissed Lara on both cheeks this time. She tipped her daughter’s face up smiling into the eyes so like her own. Remember us, my darling. Goodbye! And then she was gone in her burst of violet smoke.

Lara was crying when Kaliq found her. She told him what had brought her mother to see her, and of how Ilona had bid her a final farewell.

“Aye,” Kaliq agreed. “It is time, but then you knew that.”

“But you must speak with Marzina,” Lara said.

“I will,” he promised her, kissing away her tears.

Marzina came, and together she and Kaliq walked out into the spring gardens.

“You know what I must do, don’t you?” Marzina said to him.

Kaliq nodded. “I do.”

“This is my fate. It is my destiny, Kaliq. I am not wrong, am I?” Marzina asked.

“Nay, you are not,” the Shadow Prince told her. “You father conceived you on your mother through deception. He was angry, hurt and disappointed. Even a Twilight Lord has feelings, it seems, Marzina. When we manipulated the Book of Rule to make your mother the female with whom he would mate we did not consider those feelings or that he might actually fall in love with Lara. But he did. His actions were a desperate attempt to get her back. But Lara loved Magnus Hauk, and she was of the light. The Dark Lands could not contain her. When your birth followed immediately upon that of Taj Hauk, believed to be your twin brother, Lara, after some initial resistance, accepted you, and she has loved you ever since.”

“She did not want me?” This was something Marzina had never known.

“She was shocked and startled by your birth,” Kaliq explained, “and Lara realized immediately who your father must be. She was afraid at first that you would be evil as your sire was evil. She quickly understood that if you did not get all the love that a helpless infant should have you would be harmed. You have never disappointed her, Marzina. Your dark side reveals itself only in your recklessness. What you must do, however, is not reckless, though some will say it is. What you are going to do is brave, my daughter.”

His two words honored her. Her eyes moistened. “I cannot tell her,” Marzina said.

He understood. “Just visit with her, and then bid her farewell. We go soon and shall not return to this part of the Cosmos again. I am cloaking Belmair to protect it.”

“Aye, you should. My brother is a greedy creature, Kaliq,” Marzina remarked.

Kaliq chuckled. Then he grew serious. “Never believe that you know him well, Marzina,” he advised her.

Marzina shook her head. “Nay, my lord, I will not.”

“Go and see your mother now. When she asks if we have spoken, say yes. Whatever else you say to her is your concern.” He brushed the single tear from her cheek.

Marzina’s violet eyes met those of the Shadow Prince in complete understanding. She stood when he did, and put her arms about him, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Kaliq of the Shadows, for your friendship and guidance.” Then, turning, she went off to find her mother.

Seeing her daughter entering Nidhug’s hall, Lara arose and went to greet her. “I am so glad you have come,” she said. “Our time here grows short.”

“So said Grandmother. I have come to say my farewells. Did I tell you, Mother? My new Fairevue has been magically constructed to exactly match my old home on Hetar. That way my servants and I had to change nothing. It is all as before, and the view is even lovelier than Hetar. The sky is a perfect shade of blue, and I see nothing but sky and trees from my house. Aren’t Belmair’s twin moons glorious?”

“Have you spoken with Kaliq, Marzina?” Lara asked her daughter, getting directly to the point. “His wisdom is great. I hope you heed it.”

“I have always listened to Kaliq, and even heeded him when I thought I knew better, which of course I didn’t,” Marzina said with a smile.

“I know you are fond of Kolgrim,” Lara said. “You are of a similar age. He is charming and fascinating. He is powerful. Your mortal siblings are gone, but Dillon is your older brother. He is your kinsman, too. You have your grandmother, your uncle, Nidhug, Parvanah. You will not be lonely here. And they are of the light, Marzina. You need this light to overcome your father’s blood.”

Lara’s voice was loving, but Marzina could hear the desperate edge in it. It saddened her, but she forced back the very unfaerie-like emotion. “Mother, I know I have everything I need here on Belmair,” she said. “You must concentrate upon what lies ahead for you and Kaliq. Do not fear for me. I know what Kolgrim is. I always have, despite his charm and fascination.” She laughed. “I believe that is why he actually likes me. I am the one creature who knows who he really is.”

“If that is so then surely Kolgrim fears you, as well, Marzina, which makes him doubly dangerous toward you. Kaliq will wrap Belmair in a protective cloak shortly, and all here will be safe for eternity. Knowing you are here with your kinfolk is a relief.”

Marzina kissed her mother’s cheek. “It is the cloak of your love wrapped about me, Mother, from wherever you may be that will always keep me safe,” she said. “It has always been there, and it will always be there for me. Now I must go, for if I remain I will become weepy.” Marzina’s image began to shimmer with light. You will be in my heart forever, Mother. Farewell! And then she was gone in her familiar haze of pale violet smoke, the tinkling of bells that had so often been associated with her sounding in Lara’s ears as the youngest of her children disappeared from her sight.

Kaliq was by her side. It is time, my love, he said to her.

I know, Lara responded, and she did. It was time.

We will escort you for a short distance, Nidhug said to them.

They walked from the hall out into the garden that separated the two castles. There Dillon, Cinnia and their seven children, who had come to bid them their farewells, were assembled. Dasras stood patiently waiting for them.

“I leave Verica with you for good,” Lara said of her staff of wisdom. “Your grandmother gave him to me long ago. Listen to his counsel for it is wise, Dillon, my firstborn.” She kissed his cheeks, and he hugged her so hard Lara almost lost her breath. “Don’t you dare cry!” she cautioned him for she herself was near tears. She had not thought it would be so hard to depart them all when her destiny called. Lara pulled quickly away from Dillon to kiss her daughter-in-law, Cinnia. Then she bade each of their seven children goodbye. But when she came to their third-born daughter, Gormangabis, she stopped, unbuckled her sword and scabbard and handed them to the surprised girl. “Did you think no one knew your talent for weaponry, especially swords, descendant of Swiftsword,” Lara said with a smile. “Where I go I have no need for Andraste, but one day you will. You will venture forth and she will be your companion. Andraste, old friend and companion, greet your new mistress!”

I greet Gormangabis, daughter of Dillon, granddaughter of Lara, great-grandchild of Swiftsword as my new mistress, Andraste said in her deep singsong voice. But then the head of the sword turned back to Lara. Farewell, Lara, daughter of Swiftsword and Ilona. We have fought well together. I will not ever forget you. Go always in the light!

I will, Andraste, Lara said, realizing she would miss Andraste, too.

Dasras pawed the ground snorting impatiently. Laughing, Kaliq and Lara mounted him. She leaned forward, taking the stallion’s reins firmly in her hands, Kaliq behind, a single arm about her. Then Dasras began to move,