I sat there for several minutes in confusion. My dream had seemed like reality, and I shuddered as a tendril of breeze drifted across my bare shoulders.
Sighing, I left my bed and closed the shutters to the dawn. I quickly dressed and then splashed my face with cool water in an effort to still my nerves. I had many questions for nurse, and as I sat at my vanity table I tried to organize my thoughts as I awaited her arrival.
Presently, I heard a knock at my chamber doors and before I could bid the caller enter, nurse slipped in with a breakfast tray.
“I have come as I promised Addfwyn.” She said with a smile. “I found Taryn in the kitchens and advised her that I myself would care for you today.”
She placed the tray on a table and latched the door after a cursory glance down the corridor.
“Let us greet Dawn in all her glory, for it is not often that The Morning Star graces us with her presence for this long. She has taken the better part of an hour to herald Aine’s travels across the heavens today.” She announced as she drew aside the curtains and opened the shutters I had closed soon after waking.
While she stood at the window with her arms folded around herself, I admired her ageless grace and beauty. She gazed out of the window, concern marring her otherwise unwrinkled brow. Her platinum hair was wrought into a thick braid that tumbled down her back, and her cheekbones stood high beneath a pair of eyes that mirrored the sky at daybreak.
Anneth was almost as old as the world itself. There were few who knew that she was one of the blessed ones, a child of the earth, Daughter of Aine's thought and song. The creators themselves brought her to life at the beginning of the ages when A’ilthyr was new. Whatever she intended to teach me was imparted to her by the Great Creator Aine herself. I barely had time to contemplate further when she turned and fixed a steady gaze on me.
I knew that as a healer, Anneth had the ability to repair all manners of hurts and illnesses. She was also an empath and a seer. These too, were gifts from Aine and Maghnus. I knew that I was being appraised, and since I had nothing to hide, I allowed her to search my soul. I could feel her taking measure of my entire being. I felt a deep sense of calm radiate from the very center of my body as she did so. After a few moments, the calming sensation disappeared and a wave of panic swept over me. I gasped with shock when she withdrew from her search.
“ I am sorry, Addfwyn. I did not intend to delve too deep into your thoughts. Something troubles you.” She said solemnly. “I have not discerned what it is, for I would have you tell me when you are ready. Your mind must be at ease before we begin your lessons.”
I could not respond, for even though I knew that I could trust her, I had not the stomach to put what I had seen into words. Although Eleri was my sister, I was scared of her. So I continued to stare out the window in silence until I was ready to tell Anneth what was on my mind.
**************************
It should have been a simple thing to tell Anneth what I had seen and of what visions danced through my dreams. Yet, I sat there mindlessly picking at the fruit and grains that were on my breakfast tray. I knew I was avoiding the inevitable, so I took one last bite of my apple and turned to face Anneth.
“In the course of one night I have seen things that haunt my nightmares, and I have dreamt of things that speak of fables.” I said. “I wish to learn what you will teach me, so I will tell you what troubles me Anneth. However, it will be no easy task to set my mind at ease.”
“Very Well.” She said simply. She declined the seat I offered her, and waited for me to speak.
I took a few minutes to gather my thoughts before I spoke. I began with watching Eleri sneak out of her room. I told Anneth of how I followed her, and described the glade along with everything I had witnessed in great detail. I then told her of how I had spied upon Eleri and Father. Narrowed eyes and a slight wrinkle in her brow betrayed Anneth’s otherwise impassive expression when I described what transpired between them. By the time I had finished recounting my dream, the sun was well on her way to the middle halls of the heavens.
“And that,” I said with an exaggerated sigh, “ is what is bothering me Anneth.”
Anneth did not immediately respond. I had been studying her intently the entire time I was speaking, but could not determine where her thoughts might lay. There was nothing I could do but wait, and I was eager to know what she thought.
After a few moments she turned away from the window. The sun was pouring so brightly through the window behind her that I had to look away from her when she finally spoke.
“As you know, I cannot interpret dreams with certainty. It is almost impossible to discern whether a dream is a memory, hope, prediction or message. Any of these is a possibility.” She began. “So, let us begin with what is certain.”
RagDoll posted at 10:05 PM
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The Frog Princess: Part III**************************
I did not wait to see what happened next. I ran down the halls towards the healing rooms. I found Anneth, my childhood nurse, seated next to the bed with a book in her hands. She was the only one Father allowed to tend to my mother. She smiled as she saw me enter the room. She rose and offered me her chair.
“I was just about to find a new book.” she said as she stood. “It appears as if you could use some rest. I shall be back shortly.” She pressed a small silk wrapped object into my hand. “Just in case your mother should need it before I return.” she added before she left the room.
I dropped the tiny packet into my pocket and sat on the bed next to my mothers sleeping form. Her skin was translucent and pale. It seemed to be stretched painfully across her frail skeleton, rendering her veins and arteries easily visible. One could almost see her blood as it ran its course through her body. Her eyelids appeared paper thin, and her once rosy cheeks were sunken and colorless. She looked like a wax doll instead of a great Queen. A far cry from the strong matriarch she once was.
After a few moments, her eyelids fluttered open. She smiled wanly and motioned for me to come closer to her. Her voice was tiny and faint. “Addfwyn, it is time, and there is much for you to learn…”
“You need to rest Mother.” I said as I drew near to her, more than a little alarmed at her words.
“Yes,” she murmured, “I myself am too weak to teach you. Anneth will teach you as much as she can, in what little time is left.”
“Mother, are you feeling worse? Should I call for the healers?” I was on the verge of hysterics. “I shall find a cure for you myself, I swear it!”
“No, Addfwyn.” She sighed deeply. “I am not feeling worse, but I fear I am not feeling any better. I am tired. Just promise me you will learn all you can from Anneth. She taught me all I know.”
“What do you mean, Mother? What is it that I must learn?” I puzzled over her request.
Mother sat back against her pillows and let her eyelids close. “I am too weak, and I dare not tell you here. She will tell you everything.” She opened her eyes once more before she fell asleep. “Listen well, and let none learn of your knowledge, not even Eleri.”
I sat there for a few moments, thinking over what she had said. After all that I had seen this evening, there was little chance of me confiding in my sister. Not that I ever did, anyhow. I found it strange that Mother should mention it. Just as I was about to search for Anneth, she quietly slipped back into the room. Before I could say a word, she ordered me back to my chambers for much needed sleep.
“I know what your mother has told you.” She said. “I shall come to you in the morning when your father relieves me of my watch. His Highness would not leave her side if I were not here.” She sighed as she claimed her seat next to Mothers bed.
I could only nod dumbly in response. I gave her a quick hug before I made my way back to my rooms.
That night, I found no rest. Disturbing dreams haunted what little sleep I found. I could not find comfort as I tossed and turned in my bed.
In my dreams, I found myself back in the glade surrounded by briars. I was standing in the center of the pond, but the water barely skimmed my ankles. The hem of the white gown I was wearing dipped into the water, and it’s edges fluttered gently in the ripples of the waters surface. As I stood there facing the smooth boulder, a mist began to emanate from the pond, and crept outwards until the entire floor of the glade was filled, leaving only the tips of rushes and the very top of the boulder to peek above it. As a chorus of frogs began to sing at my feet, I searched in vain for its source among the crawling mists. I was afraid to move, lest I trod on one of the singers.
Soon, the song took on a melancholy air, and a strong sense of grief and pain began to clutch at me. As quickly as the mists arose, they began to dissipate, revealing a massive host of frogs at my feet. They were an assortment of colors, shapes and sizes. For some reason, this did not surprise me, and my eyes were drawn back to the boulder. Two large frogs, larger than any I had ever seen before, sat in the middle of the boulder. Tiny crowns adorned their heads, and a retinue of several frogs surrounded them.
As I continued to watch, the singing stopped, and the frogs to my left moved to create a path that lead to the base of the boulder. I barely had time to wonder at the depth of the water before half a dozen bright green frogs carrying a lily pad with what appeared to be the lifeless body of a bullfrog made their way up the path.
As soon as they reached the base of the boulder, the mists reappeared and the entire company of frogs began to change. Where once stood a myriad of amphibians now stood a stately court of elegant lords, beautiful ladies and magnificent soldiers. The lily pad was now a stately bier bearing the body of a warrior.
The Queen rose from her seat upon the boulder and made her way to the base of the boulder. With tears in her eyes, she drew the body of the warrior to her and placed her now glowing hand upon his chest. Instinctively I knew him to be the very frog that Eleri had used in her sick ritual. To my amazement, the warrior I had thought dead, rose from his bier and clasped the Queen to his chest in a great hug before falling to his knees in front of her.
“I have failed Mother.” He said quietly, his head hung low.
The King had now made his way to the Queens side. “Rise, my son. You are still alive. All is not yet lost, for your sister still lives.”
All three then turned towards me, for the first time acknowledging my existence. With a start, I recognized the warrior as the captain of our Royal Guards. My face must have been the picture of shock, for he came forward and bowed low before me with a smile.
“I am ever at your service, Your Highness. Learn your lessons well, and beware of your sister. It all depends on you now.”
The King and Queen continued to smile kindly, although the Queens cheek was still stained with tears. She looked strangely familiar and I could not place my finger on the reason why.
Before I could respond, my vision began to blur, and the mists began to swirl. The King raised his hand in farewell. “Look for your champion, when the time is right Young One.”
‘Wait!’ I wanted to cry out. ’What do you mean?’ But it was too late. The Frog Court had disappeared and I awoke in my own bed, alone.
RagDoll posted at 2:11 PM
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