The Whispering

  I knew one day I would meet Tharin’s aunt, I just didn’t expect it to be on this day. I also imagined she would be dressed in big beautiful gowns, diamonds and gold jewelry placed ostentatiously around her neck, fingers and wrists. Instead, she is dressed in black slacks and a pretty white top, with flowing sleeves. Her shoes are soft ballerina flats and the only jewelry she has on is a gold ring with the biggest sapphire stone I have ever seen. She holds onto the hand of the man standing behind her, who I am guessing is her husband, Alorn’s father.

  When she sees me, she quickly gets up and with hands extended rushes over to me.

  “Lily, thank you so much for coming,” she greets. She gives me a warm hug before leading me back to the table.

  Mellis’ dad pulls a chair out for me and I nod my thanks as I sit. Alorn’s mom sits back in her seat, and her husband places his hand back on her shoulder. For a moment, no one says a word as they stare at me – assessing me silently.

  “I am Bi’irea,” she introduces, “and this is my husband, Lodus. We are Alorn’s parents.”

  “I know, it’s nice to meet you,” I answer awkwardly, not sure what to say to Alorn’s parents.

  “I’m sorry you have to go through all of this on your wedding day,” she apologizes.

  I blink at her blankly. Wedding day?

  “Excuse me?” I ask, leaning in.

  She shakes her head, flustered as she says, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. And we had plans for a wedding befitting a queen back at the Oak Tower. But my brother has told me of the urgency to have you and Tharin wed immediately.”

  She stops and cocks her head at me. “You look surprised, Lily. I was told you were aware of what is happening.”

  “Um, yes,” I stutter. “I am aware, it’s just that with everything going on it slipped my mind.” I force up a smile, hoping she doesn’t notice my reluctance.

  Bi’irea leans back and looks to her husband and brother. “Perhaps you can give us a moment?” she asks politely.

  The men bow and take their leave. When he reaches the door, Colsea stops and turns to me. “When my queen is done here, I have something for you. Call me when you are finished.”

  He bows to me again and then leaves. A nervousness I haven’t felt in a long time comes over me and suddenly I feel sick. There was something in the way he said ‘something’. I almost jump out of my chair when Bi’irea takes hold of my hand.

  “Relax child, it is only us here now. Tell me what worries you?”

  “Do you have the time?” I ask, with a nervous laugh. “Sorry. There’s a lot going on and I’m just trying to keep up.”

  “Understandable. Right, back to the point of this meeting – your wedding. Unfortunately, your wedding dress was left behind at the tower. I took it upon myself to have a dress from your mother’s closet to be used for your wedding. I hope that’s okay with you?”

  I am speechless, so I just nod and she continues.

  “I got your measurements from Tharin before he left to bring you back. All of Senestra’s dresses were too long and a bit loose for you so based on what I learned from him, I made some adjustments. “

  “You didn’t take my mom’s wedding dress apart, did you?” I ask, not happy that she would touch something that would be so important to my mom.

  “Ah, Senestra didn’t have a wedding dress. She married your father when they were out scouting one morning. My brother was with them and under the moon and stars Thilthen presided over their wedding, as they wanted. She married John wearing old boots, worn pants and a jersey. She told me it was the most beautiful day of her life.”

  I smile, knowing it was exactly how my mom would have wanted it.

  “Anyway, I did find an elegant gown worn by the past queens of the Willow. Wait here,” she says, getting up.

  I watch her disappear behind a wall, leaving me alone. I look around the room and find it hard to believe my father used these suites. Unlike the suites at the oak, the walls here are of a soft and light wood. The furniture is also made of the same light wood but not large or bulky. Everything about this room and the others I have gone through are all about simplicity, elegance and openness. In this room there is only the table and four chairs, including the one I am sitting in, along with a sectional sofa with a coffee table and a buffet along the wall. The walls are bare except for the far wall where a huge collage hangs.

  Something about the collage pulls at me and I find myself standing in front of it, my eyes glued to a mini portrait. Is that me? It’s me or someone that looks exactly like me. Could this be my mother when she was my age? At least that’s what I am thinking, but something tells me it’s not. A force beyond my control lifts my hand to reach for the mini portrait, a deep need to touch the face staring back at me.

  “Lily?”

  I jump, turning to face Bi’irea standing near the table. In her arms she cradles a green gown, simple and elegant. Green must be a favorite color in this realm. But unlike the gown I wore at the Seating, this one is the color of spring grass, lush and appealing and invoking in the beholder a desire to touch it and remember days of childhood past.

  “Come here and let’s put this on, shall we?” she urges kindly, holding the dress out.

  I nod, walking away from the portrait but stop, turning back to the collage, asking, “Who is this?”

  Bi’irea moves to stand by my side, the dress still in her arms.

  Taking a closer look, she answers, “That is Tileanith.”

  I stare at the portrait again. “She’s the first Healer? She looks just like me.”

  “Actually, you look like her. You are the spitting image. Those who remember her are taken by your striking resemblance of her,” she muses, staring at the portrait.

  I scan the other portraits and find a small one of my mom. I notice every one of them have similar features to Tileanith, but none who look exactly like her as I do. At a closer look I realize the dress she is wearing is the exact dress Bi’irea is holding.

  As if reading my thoughts, she says, “Yes, it is the same dress. Every queen, with the exception of your mother wore it at their wedding.”

  “But you said there was a wedding dress at the tower for me,” I ask, confused.

  “Yes, because you would have been queen to the Oak Clan and to the Realm of Velesi.”

  Perplexed, I say, “So this is Julia’s dress. This should be hers to wear?”

  Bi’irea shakes her head patiently. “No. Julia would only be queen because of her marriage to Tolan. The dress would not have been offered to her to wear. This dress is the heritage of the Healers, children of Tileanith and the Unnamed Sidhe.”

  “I see.”

  “Come on, let’s get you dressed,” she says, turning from the collage.

  I follow, asking, “Is the wedding now or are we just trying on the dress?”

  She turns to me as she continues to walk toward the bedroom. “As soon as you dress, we will meet Tharin and the others in your mother’s garden.”

  My steps slow as the realization that I’m about to get married hits me full force. My senses seem to go numb as Bi’irea’s voice becomes distant and mumbled. I follow her to the shower area and see a tub already drawn and ready for me. I do as Bi’irea instructs and start to undress, pulling the band from my hair to let it fall free.

  “Quickly, Lily,” she commands gently and I am startled to see two young girls moving about the room.

  Mistaking my slow reaction as embarrassment, Bi’irea says gently, “There is no time for modesty, Lily. Come now, finish undressing and get in the tub. Osasae and Pynia will help you bathe.”

  “No,” I answer with a small smile. “That’s not necessary, I’ll be fine. I could use some alone time.” I change my mind. “Actually, can you send for Julia? She’s my maid of honor. I want her here with me.”

  Bi’irea bites her lower lip. “I am sorry, I did not think of that. Maybe we can find a dress for her. She is tall enough that we may not
have to make any adjustments to one of the gowns.”

  I nod and wait until they leave the room before completely undressing and stepping into the hot tub. The water feels so good I sink under, letting it heat my cold bones. I hear movement and then a loud thump. I resurface to find another tub waiting next to me. I wipe my face with my hands and squeeze the access water from my hair looking around. Whoever brought the tub is long gone.

  “Hey,” says Julia from the entrance.

  Without hesitation and a look of desperation, Julia quickly gets undressed as she moves to the tub. She settles in with an “ah” expression and disappears underwater as I did. I’m already shampooing my hair when she finally reappears.

  She grabs for the soap, asking, “How you feeling?’

  I shrug at her, continuing to wash my hair.

  “I’ve been thinking,” she says slowly, “about what you said to me at Mirnuk’s, about our dreams.”

  “What about them?” I ask, sinking under to rinse off my hair.

  When I reappear Julia is staring at the water.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “This water,” she says, puzzled.

  “What about it?”

  “It’s still clean.”

  I look at my own tub and she is right. I have already bathed and rinsed my hair out and the water is as clean as it was when I first stepped in it. In fact, it is still nice and hot. I shrug and lean back, enjoying the heat.

  “Like I said, I was thinking about our dreams,” she continues. “I said my dreams have changed because they now involve Tolan, but you didn’t say anything about yours.”

  I keep my eyes closed. “I guess they’ve changed, too, because you used to be in them, remember? We were going to go to college, do some traveling and start a business. And in between all of that you were going to be a world class mixed martial arts champion and a marine biologist; and I was going to be a famous archeologist. And if that didn’t work out we were going to start our business.”

  “Okay,” she answers hesitantly, “that was then, what about now. What are your dreams now, Lily?”

  I sit up, turning to her. “Does it really matter now? I’m getting married as soon as we walk out of this room, Jules. I’ll be a queen for an entire realm, taking care of people who need a queen by their king’s side to rule them. So, I ask you...what dreams?”

  “Lil, I don’t think Tharin would...”

  I don’t let her finish. I get up and step out of the tub. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Lily, wait.”

  I turn to her with a small smile. “It’s okay, Jules. I’m okay. I gave him my word and I’m not going to go back on it. Really, I’m okay.”

  I dry and wrap the towel around me, using another to dry my hair. When I walk into the bedroom the two young maids are there waiting for me. I send them away, refusing to let my last hour of independence be dependent on others to dress me in my own wedding gown.

  On the bed is the dress, and next to it is a soft gold dress for Julia. It is chiffon with a satin underlay. It is beautiful and I know she will look gorgeous in it.

  Julia comes in drying her hair and makes her way to the bed. She looks at the dress but doesn’t pick it up. Instead she turns to me.

  “Hey,” she places a hand on my shoulder. “I just want you to know that I’m here now and always.”

  I nod and hug her. We dress quickly without saying anything else. When we’re done we stare at the mirror and then make a face at each other.

  “Maybe you should call someone to come and do our hair,” suggests Julia.

  She crinkles her nose and we start laughing, and some of the tension disappears. Before I can call for the two maids they reappear suddenly at the door. Without prompting, they make their way over and start working not just on our hair but our make up as well. Their ministrations put me at ease even more as their gentle fingers work their magic on my overwrought psyche.

  Julia stands beside me in front of the double doors leading out to the garden area. I hold onto her hand tightly as a constriction around my throat threatens to prevent me from taking another breath.

  I turn to Julia, asking, “Where’s Marilyn?”

  Julia pats my hand trying to calm my nervousness. “She’s inside, waiting with everyone else. Are you ready?”

  I nod, taking a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet you inside,” she replies as she pries my death grip from her hand. I give her an apologetic look and take another breath. I wait until she is inside and then I turn quickly to make a run for it, but I don’t get far. Alorn is standing between me and freedom.

  “You look beautiful, my queen.” A crooked smile appears on his face, knowing what I was about to do. He takes my hand to his lips and gently kisses it.

  I shake my head. “I can’t do it.”

  Placing his hands on my shoulders he stares at me, locking my eyes to his.

  “Yes you can, Lily. You can because you made a promise. You can because you love him.”

  I do love him. I take a deep breath and pull my shoulders back. I start to smile when I realize something.

  “Why are you here? Did you know I would have second thoughts and run?” I ask.

  “Yes. And, I am here,” he says as he takes my hand and places it around his arm, “because it is my understanding that in Pathen it is customary for someone to give the bride away. I was hoping you would allow me the honor.”

  The tension I felt earlier eases as I hug his arm. I look up at him and quietly say, “Thank you.”

  I hold fast to Alorn’s arm as the guards pull the double doors wide open.

  ~ * ~

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ~ Tharin ~

  As the doors open I catch my breath and I can’t take my eyes off Lily. Her beauty unmans me as she walks down the aisle with Alorn to stand by my side. Yet, I can’t help but notice there is less joy on her face than I would have liked to see. In fact, there is a sadness to her that breaks my heart. I know she loves me, but the memory of what she confided when she thought I was Tolan nags at me. She told me she wanted a choice.

  Alorn steps up and places Lily’s hand in mine. With a serious look on his face, Alorn nods before stepping back to stand next to Tolan, Ziri and Mellis.

  I look down at Lily as Ka starts the reading from the Book of Binding. In truth, I hoped this moment would alleviate some of my sorrow after father’s death. Instead I sense nervousness, fear and that damnable sadness radiating from her. Even the smile she has planted on her face can’t hide it.

  “Lily, are you all right?” I nudge gently.

  She doesn’t look at me but responds with a slight nod of her head.

  I glance to the side of us at Marilyn who is quietly weeping, which I don’t understand. Julia is absolutely gorgeous standing next to her and she too looks on with unshed tears. Maybe that is why Lily looks the way she does; perhaps weddings in Pathen are a sad event for women.

  “Lily, will you look at me please?”

  She lowers her head, hesitating, but when she does finally look at me the uncertainty of this moment is there, in her eyes.

  “I can’t stop this, but I promise I will give everything and anything to make you happy,” I mean every word.

  “I know,” she answers, turning back to Ka.

  I sigh inwardly, wanting only to get through the ceremony and get her alone. Something has shut her from me and I’m going to find out what.

  I follow Ka’s instructions and place my mother’s ring on Lily’s trembling finger. I watch as she slips my father’s ring onto mine, sealing the contract between our families. Ka finally makes the final request and I lean down and gently kiss her, but she wraps her arms around my neck deepening the kiss. When she pulls away she looks at me with determination as if she has made up her mind to take whatever will come her way. Somehow that really irks me.

  I offer her my arm and together we turn to the small audience of attendees as
husband and wife. Two cushioned stools have been placed before us and we kneel on them as Ka moves between us. In the ancient tongue of the Sidhe he begins the coronation of the realm’s new king and queen. My uncle and aunt, the two surviving siblings of the late king, approach. Each holds the crowns of the Oak Clan. Bi’irea places the crown once worn by my mother on Lily as Colsea places my father’s on me. Ka walks between us, his hands over each of our heads and continues speaking in the language of our ancestors. The energy that passes from his hands to me is so strong my head come up slightly as I am gripped by its power.

  Ka’s energy connects with mine and I realize he is not only passing energy based on ceremonial rites, but he is passing on the core of his powers. I glance up at him and he lowers his head in a quick, knowing nod. He is giving me what I will need to hold the realm together should he and the remaining two Ancients perish. I have what it takes to destroy the realm because destruction is easy; keeping an existing realm breathing is the hard part.

  “And Lily?” I ask.

  “No,” replies Ka. “You inherited the power of the Lunar blood. Lily has the power of the Healers. You destroy, she heals.”

  There is a reason I seldom call upon the energy of the realm and it is for this very reason – because I can destroy. When we were younger I strove to learn how to heal as Tolan has always been able to do so easily, but I can only self-heal like everyone else in our line. When I was four seasons along, in a moment of anger, I rocked Velesi and created a crater so large, the entire realm felt the quake. That crater today is the Gastah Lake.

  Ka steps back to allow us to rise and I reach for Lily’s hand. She takes it without hesitation keeping her eyes forward. The ceremony comes to an end and we stand to the applause of the small group. I didn’t expect any of the royals to attend as I know they are busy tending to their own crisis within their gates. However, there are few dignitaries here in their stead.