"Big brother, let's play hide and seek!"
The little girl suddenly approached her older brother, and she jumped on his back from behind. The boy was not ready for this sudden 'surprise attack' so he lost his balance, and the both of them ended up on the floor.
"Lina! Are you alright?!" The boy asked his sister, trying to help her stand up.
The girl just giggled in response "I'm fine Gil! Don't be crazy like these servants!"
Lina smiled at Gilbert radiantly with the bright sparks in her dark brown eyes. It was exactly the same expression, as their mother had, when she was happy.
"We are all just care about… you…" Gilbert said with a sad smile.
He was already twelve, and he was old enough to understand that it is not exactly the truth. All these servants who were surrounding Lina, to guard her and fulfill her every whim, cared not about the girl before his eyes, but about the existence sleeping deep within her, the Fell Dragon Grima.
"Anyway, where are your people? It's very rare to see you alone."
"It's great, isn't it?" Lina exclaimed with enthusiasm. "I can see the world without anyone blocking it out before me!"
"Yes, but it's somehow strange. Normally they are all around you."
"They wanted to speak with mum about something, so they left me alone for a while."
They are bothering mother again… - Gilbert was thinking with chagrin.
The servants started to speak with their mother very often lately, despite the fact that they never paid too much attention to her, and she was avoiding them as much as she could. This new situation was worrisome for Gilbert; he was not sure about the Grimleal's intentions. After all they were all servants of Grima, the monster.
The boy reverie for some time, but finally Lina's voice awoke him from his thoughts.
"Are you okay, Gil? You suddenly became sad."
The boy met his little sister's worried eyes, and he quickly started thinking about some excuse for his sudden change of mood. He didn't want to trouble Lina.
"It's because…" He said slowly. "…you scared me very much!"
In response Lina just smiled.
"It was my plan, silly!" She said, laughing at him.
"Hey! It's quite rude of you, you know?" Gilbert made a serious and strict face to chaff a little with her. But when Lina saw it, instead of telling him something in riposte, she got frighten that maybe Gil doesn't like her anymore because of her silly pranks that she was doing to him so often. So she decided to apologize to him.
"Don't be so upset Gil, it was just a joke!" The little girl embraced her brother with her small hands.
"Don't get mad at me, I'll be good, I'm sorry okay?"
Gilbert couldn't help but just smile at her benignly and return her embrace. He wasn't mad at her at all, he just wanted to turn her attention from his problems, but in the process, he accidentally disturbed her.
"Don't worry, I'm not mad at you sis…"
"You're not?" Lina asked raising her head to look at him.
"Of course I'm not. I don't know how to be mad at you; after all you are my favorite sister!"
"But I'm your only sister, so it doesn't count." The girl frowned.
"It's just a small detail." Gilbert replied, and he stroked his sister's hair as his mother was usually doing.
"But anyway, why are you here? Do you need something from your big brother?"
"Oh! That reminds me." Lina grabbed both of Gilbert's hands. "I came to play with you brother! Come on, let's play hide and seek!"
The boy got whirled now; he had no as much free time as his little sister. Every day the servants of his father pressured him to study about dark magic, because some time ago they discovered his natural talent for dark arts.
Well, his great abilities were not so surprising for the Grimleal, after all both of his parents were great sorcerers, and their son has been a genius in the matter of dark magic. It was easy for him to learn it, so it was no problem for the boy.
But what's the worst, the Grimleal forced him to study about Grima, and Gilbert hated these lessons they were serving to him. Many things, about the Fell Dragon, were causing thrills all over his body. According to the Grimleal, the goal of their master is to exonerate the world of all vitiation, and sins… But to accomplish it, Grima have to destroy the world first, and then recreate it as something new. They believed that when it will happen, the world will finally be free of greed, jealous, pride, and false, and then the new era will begin.
The idea of destruction scared the young boy, he was afraid that in this process many people might die. Even good people… His mother… Charles… and what will happen to Lina if she will become one with Grima?
The thought about his loved ones was the most freighting for Gilbert. He also knew that Grima's believers hates all mankind, and they are blaming humans for all evilness in the world.
This fact was a paradox for Celia's son, because for him the Grimleal were evil themselves. There were assassins, murderers, sadists, and other criminals among them. So in his opinion they had no right to judge humanity especially that they were the same… no, probably even worse sinners then the other humans. Something was definitely wrong with those who are worshipping Grima and Gilbert knew it from the start.
"You know…" He finally replied to Lina." I have many things to… do. My teacher told me to read a book about the origins of dark magic, and train some spells with him later on, so I don't think…"
"Don't worry about it!" Lina interrupted him. "I can tell your teacher that I ordered you to play with me, and then he won't be angry at you."
Smile appeared on Gilbert's face - she was right. If his sister ordered him to do something, who is he to disobey her? His magic teacher did not dare to say any word of criticism, because like the Grimleal are always saying. 'Lady Lina's words are absolute' so there was nothing to worry about, indeed.
Lina herself was not sure why everyone are serving her so heartily, why are they fulfilling her every single wish, and why are they so devoted to her. She suspected that it's just because she is still a child, and that's why they are so overprotective about her. She was still a small child, she was not aware of her meaning to the Grimleal, nobody told her yet. But for this little girl all this attention they were giving her every day was just amusing, and she liked it.
"Come on now Gil, let's play!" Lina grabbed her brother's hand and she brought him to the corner of the room.
"Close your eyes, and count to fifty, don't peep. I will hide and you will seek!"
"Yes, right away Lady Lina!" The boy answered her in the way the Grimleal usually does when they were taking orders from the girl, and he chuckled.
"Ha! Very funny". Lina said to him with a small smile on her face.
Then Gilbert started his counting, and Lina quickly left the room to search for a perfect hiding.
She came to the largest chamber in the house, and she started considering every, small furniture in that room as a potential hideout.
The first thing that she thought of, was to hide under the table, but the tablecloth was simply too short, to cover up Lina completely. Mother's wardrobe was large enough for the girl to go inside, and close the door behind her, but on the other side, the wardrobe always crunched very loudly and these sounds might reveal Lina's position. There was also a cabinet, but it was too poky to stay in it for a long time, curtains were too obvious hiding, and bookshelves and clock doesn't count.
Lina started thinking intensively, and suddenly a new idea came to her mind. Who said that she have to hide inside of the house? She decided that she will hide somewhere in the garden. It was a huge area, full of flowers, bushes, and other big plants everywhere, and her brother will never find her there.
She quickly run to an exit, and soon she was in the center of her mother's garden. Lina looked around. There were bushes of so many different kinds of roses in so many colors that the girl was not sure if she could name, all of these dyes. But mother always warned her daughter that roses have spines, so hiding inside of such bush isn't a good idea. Unless, someone is desperate, or a masochist…
After some time of wandering around, Lina saw just perfect hiding. It was a bush taller than the girl, consisted of very big leafs, in a beautiful bright green color. Seriously, one of those leafs was enough to cover Lina completely, so without any more thinking, the little girl jumped inside of that mysterious plant, and she was waiting patiently.
A few minutes later she saw her mother wandering around with the servants. Lina's mum was nervous, and the people around her were irritated as well. It looks like they started to argue about something.
"I can't allow this, Lina is still too young." Celia said firmly.
"Milady, please stop hindering everything…" One of the servants said. "Lady Lina is ready to come with us."
"She is just seven years old, SEVEN YEARS!" Her mother said irritated. "When you've came here to offer your service to Lina, you assured me, that she will stay under my care at least until her tenth birthday. And now you've suddenly changed your mind, just like that? It's unacceptable for me!"
Celia was clearly angry, and frustrated. The Grimleal looked at one another a bit lost, they knew that Lady Celia might be opposed their idea. But they never imagined that she will be so outraged. She should know that bringing master Grima to the world is their priority, and if his vessel is ready for her training sooner, than it was expected, it's even better.
The eldest of the servants, cleared his troth, and spoke up.
"That's true… we said that." He started slowly "But the situation has changed from then on… You see milady, Lady Lina is just… extraordinarily intelligent, and in fact she is a genius. We told you that she will go on her training when she will reach her ten, because we've been thinking that she won't be ready sooner… but she is."
"No, she isn't!" Celia shouted. "She's just a child!"
"Her age doesn't matter." The Grimleal female spoke up this time "She's clever enough to finally understand her true mission. Her abilities of adaptation are incredible, she has learned how to read when she was just three years old, and since then, she was reading, and reading every book she had seen. She already, knows our country's history very well, and she's able to cast some advanced dark spells."
"And that's not all." the other servant said. "She has a tactical mind. I was playing chess with her one day, and believe me, she was a hard opponent. She was able to predict my every move, and I nearly lost that match."
After these words there was a short while of silence, but then the old Grimleal spoke up again.
"Milady due all my respect for you, I cannot agree with your opinion. Lady Lina is not 'Just a child' like you're putting it. She is our savior, our only future, and she is more than ready to start her mission. So please, stop your pointless defiance."
Celia had no argument to desist those people from their idea of taking Lina to Grima's temple sooner than it was planned.
The mother also saw her daughter's great intelligence; Lina was somehow too young for all her knowledge. Even the girl's way of speaking, was too advanced as for her age. Celia was always afraid that Lina's great talents might one day become her curse, and it happened now…
The mother sighed. "I can't…" She finally said. "…I can't agree for this."
"Milady, you must let Lady Lina fulfill her destiny; there is no other way…" The old man said again. "I know that you are attached to your daughter, but there are things much more important, than your selfish feelings."
Celia was feeling offended by this man's words. This old fool dared to call her pure love for Lina selfish, and he was thinking that the mother is just 'attached' to the girl. He probably has no idea what the word 'love' truly means. But he's just a Grimleal, they have no feelings as a rule…She just gritted her teeth and she said nothing in response.
"Also, master Validar is ready to welcome Lady Lina in the temple with open arms at any moment. I can assure you that he will take good care of her."
"Yeah… I'm sure of it too…" Celia said it with her voice full of irony. It was exactly, what the mother wanted to avoid, for Validar to lay his hands on their daughter.
The woman knew that Lina's contact with her father would change her. She would learn the true about her connection to Grima, and the Grimleal, would brainwash her all the time.
The mother frowned in disgust. "You know? I've had enough of this conversation. Maybe we could return to this subject some other time? My head started aching; I'm going to take some rest, so excuse me…" She passed through the Grimleal, and she slowly departed from them. Nobody dared to stop her, but when she disappeared from their sight, they started to whisper something nervously to one another.
"We must ask master Validar to intervene on this matter. I think this is the best option, even Celia can't disobey him, no one can…" The old man said a bit louder than everybody else.
His words has ended the whispering. The others agreed on his idea, and soon the servants part their company, to return to their normal duties.
Now Lina was alone in her hideout. She, eavesdropped some parts of the conversation accidentally, and she was very, very confused. First because she found out that the people who served her, wants to take her to Grima's temple. She knew that many people of this city are the Fell Dragon's believers and she knew about the great altar of Grima, but until now she was not aware that those servants are from the temple. Until now she was thinking that they are just servants of her mother. And if they are from the temple then, why are they needs her there?
Mum was right, maybe she's smart, but still, she is just a kid, why they wants a child among them? And what is her true mission? The old man said that it's even more important than love on her mother, so what might it be? He also called her, Lina savior of the Grimleal and despite all her intelligence, the girl, was unable to figure out why did he believe so. She was just a normal human, like everyone else.
Well, she has a strange mark on her right hand. But when she was asking about it, her mother said that there is nothing to worry about, but she didn't say anything about this symbol.
Then she wanted to find out something about this mark in her books but in the end she did not found anything. But what if it has a meaning? What if it's something important? What if it would change her live forever?
For the first time in her short life Lina was feeling unsecure.
Just who is she? What did the Grimleal are expecting of her? She didn't know that, and this whole situation worried her.
When she was thinking about this, another problem hit her mind. She realized that the Grimleal wants to take her away from her mother and Gil. It's possible that if she will go to the temple, she might never be able to see them again. After all her father is the Great Priest of Grima, and she has never seen him, even once. He never came to see his wife, or children, Lina was only hearing his name from time to time, but she had no idea how did he looks like, or what kind of person he is.
Mother told her once, that Validar as the Great Priest can't just leave the temple whenever he wants to, and besides he is too busy to come and visit his family. He has so many duties on his shoulders, that he doesn't have even a short while for himself. Lina remembered that when she heard that, she was thinking that it cannot be true. She had a feeling that it was just an excuse, which her mother served to her to avoid further questions, so she never asked about it again.
But the absence of her father in their life always bothered Lina somehow… It's not that she misses him, or something. After all how could she miss someone she had never met? But she was always wondering what might be so important to that man that he can't even come and see his own family? Just what the Great Priest of Grima is doing in his life? Is it really forbidden for him to leave the temple? Or maybe he's just a big churl, who doesn't care, about his own children?
Lina didn't know the answer, but the possibility that the Grimleal might take her to the temple, and lock her inside of it for the rest of her life was scary the girl. She didn't want to go with them, she just wanted to stay with mother and Gil forever, but she was afraid that it might be impossible. The Grimleal pushed her mother so much… And when she left, they started plotting something against her. Clearly, they wanted to take Lina to the temple, but why? Just why?
Lina didn't know, she curled her knees to her chest, and she remains in that position for very long time.
Celia stepped into her bedroom, and she slammed the door behind herself. Then she fell on her bed completely overwrought. She nestled her face on the pillow, and she stayed in that position for a while. The woman started thinking about the way to desist the Grimleal from taking Lina away from this house, but no matter how much she was thinking about it, she had no idea how she could save her daughter from these people. She didn't have any argument to stop them. She knew that, that time will come someday, but she didn't know it will come so fast…
Celia was thinking that Lina will be with her at least for three more years, but it looks like the Grimleal won't allow it anymore. Their next move would probably be, to ask Validar for help…
If he will write a special latter with his signature and seal, where he would 'ask' Celia to send their daughter to the temple now, the woman would not have any other choice than to hand over Lina to him.
Celia suddenly shied, she couldn't even think about what would happen if she would disobey her husband's order… Then, they might kidnap Lina, or even kill Celia to take her out of the way; after all they do not have any use of her, anymore. This way or another the Grimleal will get what they wants, in official way, or by force.
The woman was growing more, and more desperate. This whole situation was hopeless for both - mother and her daughter and there is nothing they can do about it…
"That's right…" Celia mumbled to herself. "I can't protect my children forever; their father can do whatever he wants with them, while I'm helpless…"
The pillow suddenly became wet of tears; Celia heated herself so much in that moment. She hated her own fear, she hated her weakness, and hopeless of her entire live. She was pathetic; she was not even able to protect her daughter, even though it should be her most important duty as a mother.
"What should I do? What should I do?" She was asking herself over and over again, and suddenly a very dangerous and risky idea flashed through her mind.
Maybe if I would run… - She was thinking desperately- …If I would run away from here, together with Gilbert and Lina, then we could live somewhere together in peace and safety…
"I definitely advise you against it, if you would do something as stupid as that, you will almost certainly die. It's just way too risky at this moment…"
Celia froze for one second, it's been a long time since she heard that voice, it was more or less seven years since then... She slowly turned her head to face the owner of that voice. It was a shadowy person covered in black robe, with big hood on her head - the Hero of Shadow paid a visit to Celia again.
"It's been a long time, milady." Celia said, shedding her tears away.
"It's been some time since our last conversation, indeed." Lina admitted.
"So…?" Her descendent asked after a short while of silence. "What brings you here, Lady Lina?"
"Quiet silly question, do I have to remind you that I'm watching over your daughter ever since she was born, and you agreed for that, yourself?"
Celia cannot help but roll her eyes. "I remember perfectly, but I'm sure you know what I mean. Why are you here with me, and not with her?"
"You need me much more now, then little Lina ever did." The Hero of Shadow replied.
"What do you mean?" Celia asked in confusion.
"I'm here to calm you down, and to stop you from pursuing your crazy idea, that came to your mind just now."
"You mean the runaway idea?" The woman just wanted to make sure.
"Yes, that's what I mean…" Lina confirmed.
"But why you of all people, are opposed it? You told me yourself that it is possible to escape, from here… More even, you said that, it's my duty to take Lina away from here when the time will come, so we could..."
"That's true!" The ancestor of Celia suddenly interrupted her. "But I also said that, it would be possible only if your daughter would wish for it herself, and only then." The Hero of Shadow said firmly. "You have to understand something Celia, Lina is not ready to change her destiny yet. As you said yourself she's just a child. She even doesn't know about her bound with Grima yet, and first of all she have to find out about this. Then she have to grow up among these heretics, to understand all errors in their way of thinking, and the simple fact that they are evil."
Celia set her eyes on the shadowy woman, she already knew what Lady Lina was trying to tell her, but for her, as a mother it was still unacceptable.
"Are you suggesting…?" She asked weakly. "That I should hand over my daughter to the Grimleal without any objections?"
Lina sighed. "I know, it's hard for you, and I know how much you love little Lina. But yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to say."
Celia just shook her head in disbelieve, and tears came out of her eyes again.
"Why? Why did it have to be like this? Why can't I do anything to change it? Why can't I protect my own daughter?" She hid her head in her hands in hopelessness.
"What are you saying? You've already done more than enough." The Hero of Shadow affirmed her. "There is a chance to change the course of destiny, and it's all thanks to you. And besides, you provided your daughter with a great protection - you entrusted her to me, remember? I promised to you, and to little Lina, that I will protect her for the rest of her life, and I'm going to keep that promise. I swear to you, that I'll do absolutely whatever it takes to save Lina from Grima's influence no matter where she would be."
Celia just smiled sadly to her ancestor.
"Do you really think it would work? This whole plan of yours I mean, because for me it suddenly appears insane…"
"I see how it is…" Lina said taking off her hood, and smiling at the woman. "You started to doubt in me now…" She took Celia's head on her hands, and she looked directly into her eyes.
The mother started to wonder, how is this possible? Despite the fact, that this Lina was technically a spirit, Celia was able to feel her touch. Her hands were nicely warm, and surpassing delicate as for the legendary, brave hero of legends. But Celia stopped bothering herself about the things that concerned her ancestor long time ago. Lady Lina herself was a denial of all Celia's expectation of the famous Hero King's right hand.
What's more important, peace overtook Celia when she looked on Lady Lina's face, her eyes were so gentle, and full of feelings… good feelings. Celia finally calmed down a bit, and again, she clearly saw many strong resembles in this woman's face. Resembles to the face of her own daughter - Lina would probably be, looking the same way when she'll get older…
"Don't worry about her Celia…" Lina whispered. "And don't you, ever doubt in me. What I told you seven years ago was all true… My Liege made a selfish decision just once in his whole life… and he was selfish for my sake. But this decision was a great mistake with grave consequences… It never should happen, maybe if I would be just a bit stronger that day? If I would just dodge that fatal blow…?" She shook her head quickly. "No… That's all in the past now, I should focus on the present…" Lina sighed quietly. "Celia, let me correct this one mistake, that my Master committed because of my weakness … Just, please let me do this."
Celia just smiled sadly. "Of course I'll let you do that milady, but… it's just so hard for me… The awareness that I have to leave Lina with these fanatics, and heretics is arousing great fear in me… It's so risky when I think about it… Just what would happen if Lina will decide to be vessel of Grima? What if she would wish for destruction of the world, just like her father does? What if I'll never see her again?"
Lina just blinked a few times; she knew that such scenario is still possible despite all her efforts. But still, she believed that the little one, would be wiser than those brainless Grimleal, and one day she will find the right way.
"That's why I'm here..." She replied. "To watch over little Lina, and to guide her towards her life in the way that will lead her to the right decision. It's my responsibility, so don't worry about it for now. And, about your daughter's presence in your life… I guarantee to you that you will reunion with her again… Just be patient, and wait for the right time to come. And please, promise me…" Lina placed her hand on Celia's shoulder now. "…Promise me that you won't do anything stupid, okay? No objections, no tears and no runaway, for goddess sake!"
Celia knew, that she can trust this woman, and she knew that Lady Lina will be the greatest guardian for her daughter, and yet… It was so hard to let her child go alone to this temple full of dangerousness and evilness… But it looks like there was no other way than that.
"I… I promise…" Celia finally coughed out with shaking voice.
The end of chapter 4!
Thanks for reading.