Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth. Wishing doesn't make it legal though. Too bad.
The Labyrinth's Chosen
Chapter 28
Angel lay awake that night thinking. She was looking about the room carefully, for she was staying in King Tinirau's room and she was trying to memorize every detail.
So much had happened today, some of it good and some of it bad.
She wanted to talk to Brendan but she didn't want to interrupt him doing anything like sleeping. Just because she couldn't sleep didn't mean he was awake. Truth be told she was a bit scared to use the gift that he gave her, if only because she didn't really know where she stood with him.
But then laying here a couple of hundred miles away, she realized that she missed him... a lot.
Even though she only saw him once a day and usually while he was with Triana, Angel found that she relied on those short meetings to keep her sustained. She had begun to feel a deep sort of longing in her heart to win the tournament. She felt confident that she at least getting somewhere now, her spells all of the sudden were much easier to manage and creating spells was now done with ease as well. Add her crystal magic (which we have yet to explore) and Triden (ditto) and her magic morale is better than ever.
Feeling a little bit better about her situation she relaxed a bit and closed her eyes, but when she did so, she did not notice Triden emitting a soft glow.
At first all Angel dreamt of was the ocean, the vast seemingly never-ending blue of the life sustaining element. Such dreams were not unusual for the young fae princess for she often dreamt about the wind as well. Both were very soothing to her and helped her not to concentrate on her problems and get real rest.
Something, however, began directing her dreams although she was not semi conscious like she was when Tinirau entered her dreams. This was totally different.
It was a setting the princess recognized, just outside king Tinirau's Throne Room, a woman and a man stood next to each other. The man, Angel's mind recognized, was the Chancellor Aurel, a much younger version anyway, and the extremely beautiful woman next to him was a slightly younger looking version of the High Queen Lysithea.
Lysithea looked nervous and scared, emotions that Angel had never seen on her face before. The Ocean sprite next to her just smiled gently.
"Do not be nervous. Although we sea people have not seen the Fae in thousands of years they are very good people and will not harm you in any way." Aurel said gently.
"I am nervous to meet your people, but it is a good nervous. I was surprised to be chosen as an Ambassador to meet the people of the ocean. It is a great honor you have shown me by inviting me here." Lysithea said solemnly, but it was not said in a rehearsed way, the princess had meant every word she said.
Aurel just smiled at her, "it is almost time for you to perfrom, Princess Lysithea."
"I see. Very well then let us go in." she said with a small voice.
Together they walked past many nobles and courtiers who stood or sat near the sides of the gigantic throne room. All of them either smiled or bowed gracefully to her and nervous as she was she returned each gesture right back. And when she stood next to a white pallet next to an exquisite looking blue pearl harp, Angel realized that just being next to the instrument alleviated some of Lysithea's fears.
She looked toward the throne and realized that the king was not there yet.
Feeling a bit nervous once again she addressed the crowd in the fae language.
"I am not sure you understand me, but while we wait for the king to arrive I will play you a fae child's lullaby. I sincerely appreciate you giving me the honor of being the first fae to visit your precious kingdom."
Aurel translated for her quickly although she knew that at least a few people had understood her.
She carefully lay on the white pallet and positioned herself accordingly to play the blue harp. Lysithea took a deep breath, leaned her head forward so her long black hair covered her face and closed her eyes.
As she began to play, Angel's mind focused in on what Lysithea was wearing. It was a beautiful sharp emerald green dress that had long skin tight sleeves with green bells at the wrists and it had a deep plunging neckline that showed her collarbones and the curves of her breasts. The woman truly was incredibly beautiful and Angel had no trouble believing that many men had been after her hand in marriage.
She became deeply immersed in what she was doing and did not hear or see a door open behind the blue throne and a man stepped out. King Tinirau waved a silent greeting to his court and slowly made his way down the short flight of stairs to stay in front of the woman playing the harp.
Lysithea was turned away from him and her long black hair cascaded over her face and all around her, so it was obviously his intention to wait until she finished her song. As he slipped into the melody however, he closed his eyes and relaxed while listening to the beautiful sound of the harp.
Slowly the lullaby came to an end and Lysithea opened her eyes only to find a man standing where no one had been the moment before. She started violently at his sudden appearance and fell of her pallet.
Everyone in the court gasped and took a step forward asking the princess in a strange language if she was ok. Of course, she did not understand their words but the meaning was clear. They were concerned for her welfare.
The eye of Angel's mind watched as she smiled at all of them and said in very soothing tones, "It is alright, I am fine. Thank you for your concern."
Lysithea then stood up before the man in front of her eyes cast down and then dipped into a perfect curtsy. Her eyes traveled up and the princess's eyes met with the kings'.
"You must be His Majesty King Tinirau. I am most honored to make your acquaintance." She said in fae.
The king spoke back in fae in halting manner he was obviously still learning the language. "Princess Lysithea, we welcome you to our home."
Lysithea waited for him to say more, she already found that she loved hearing his voice but when it was certain he would say no more she just said, "Well then let me play for you."
He just nodded mutely and made his way back to his throne and the two stared at each other the whole time Lysithea played.
Angel woke with a start.
'What a weird dream.' She thought drearily.
After taking a couple sips of water, she laid back down again to try to sleep but this time no memories of the past haunted her.
O
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"Angel." A voice spoke behind her. She was now currently in the library in Cian Aglaia reading with Triden curled up in a ball taking a nap beside her.
She turned around to look, "Brendan, I didn't see you when I came back. Where have you been?" she asked curiously, trying hard to act like it didn't bother her that he had not been here when she returned from Neptune.
"I popped back to the Labyrinth with father to handle some things. How was your trip?" he asked, he was a little disappointed that she did not seem to care that he had been gone.
"Fine, I suppose. I did a lot of thinking about things and I think I have a good handle on what is expected of me." Angel said slowly.
"Really? A trip to Neptune and suddenly you know what you want out of life?" Brendan said sardonically and then gave a bitter little laugh.
Angel frowned at him.
"I want to win the tournament if only to prove myself to the Fae. What do you want Brendan?" she asked boldly.
The prince looked at her sadly, "What I want doesn't matter Lina." He said softly.
"It matters to me! I need to know! If I win I could chose another woman to wed you. Who do you want? I may be able to give you that happiness at least Brendan." Now tears were falling and Brendan got to his knees in front of her chair at the sight of them.
"Angelina, look at me."
Well right now she didn't want to look at him, how could one person cause so much confusion and distress?
"Lina, please look at me." He said in his most desperate tone.
Her heart just melted when he called her by that stupid nickname.
She looked at him and wiped away a few tears.
"I … I could live with being your husband. So, if you win, choose no other woman for me." He said in a low husky voice.
Okay, not quite the answer she had wanted but oh well.
She just nodded okay and the prince and princess embraced.
O
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Angelina did not answer the door, and Damon found himself face to face with Clytia.
"Oh, ah, Lady Clytia is your mistress here?"
Clytia who had felt so hopeful the moment she opened the door and found out who stood there, felt her heart drop painfully from her chest to her stomach.
"I am sorry Sword Master. I have not seen the princess since yesterday. I will tell her you were looking for her though. I presume it is for resuming sword lessons?" she asked in an almost monotone voice.
To say she was disappointed would be an understatement, but what had she been expecting? This was the man who was trying to make sure that Angel won the tournament to be married to another man. She should be grateful.
"Yes, for sword lessons. Honesty, it may be better this way I am extremely tired." He confided to her sullenly.
"How is your mother doing?" Clytia asked changing the subject.
"Fine." He smiled at her, "she had a rough time there for a while but she is doing much better. I just haven't gotten much sleep lately."
"You need to rest or else you'll get sick and then what will we do without our Sword Master?" she jested lightly, she hoped he wouldn't catch on to the fact that she was just trying to prolong his visit, she wondered idly why he wasn't getting any sleep though. Hmmmm.
Damon did know why he hadn't gotten any sleep though he would not tell the tiny sprite before him. Every night while he was away he had thought about her and sifted through the possibilities of them being together and still he could think of nothing.
Something of this must have shown on his face for Clytia looking extremely concerned asked, "Is there something else bothering you milord?"
One look at her face and he knew she would haunt him forever.
"No, Lady Clytia."
"Damon, I am not a fae noble, you do not have to call me lady." She said almost irritated.
"But Clytia, you are more noble than most of the women in Lysithea's court. Besides my heart demands that I call you Lady." And with that he took her hand and gave it a swift kiss on the back and without another word left.
Eyes wide and heart pumping wildly, Clytia stood in the doorway for five full minutes before regaining her wits and closing the door with a bit of a smile on her face.
O
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Before the suns were up Brendan snuck into Angelina's rooms with a bundle wrapped in his arms. When he came upon the princess's bedroom he quietly laid the bundle on a side table and crept up to the woman's bedside.
Silver hair was every where, she was currently lying on her back with her mouth wide open as she slept. It was extremely cute to him. Gently he shook her awake, calling her name softly as not to startle her.
"Angel, hey wake up. I have a surprise for you this morning." He said whispering.
She woke easily, "Wha… Brendan what are you doing it's…" she looked around the room then sighed, "I don't know what time it is but the suns aren't even up yet." She whined half heartedly.
"Here put these clothes on and wash your face and your teeth quickly and meet me in your second room when you are done." He gave her an excited smile and practically bolted out the door.
Sighing in resignation she did as he asked and met him in her second rooms within ten minutes.
"You'll need to change your appearance slightly Lina." He said as he looked her over critically.
It was then she noticed the kind of clothes he was wearing regular brown trousers and a soft vanilla colored billowy tunic. Ok, how it is possible for him to always look good!
"Alright, where are we going Brendan?" she asked rather crossly, it had to be 6:00 in the morning and he was playing games?
"We are going out and that's all I am going to tell you." He told her slyly.
She glared at him horribly for a minute and then trudged out of her rooms.
The prince just smiled.
Today was going to be a great day.
O
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After altering Angel's hair to brown and giving her green eyes and then changing his own hair to blond and turning his eyes to a fancy blue color and even altering his cheekbones a bit, Brendan snuck Angel out of the palace and out through the gates and walked down the hill that led to the villages that sat on the plateau behind the palace.
This peaked Angel's interest and rightly so, she had not once set foot into the villages since she had been brought here. She had often heard of the place referred to as the Four Villages of Cian Aglaia and according to Lysithea roughly fifty thousand fae lived there. Honestly, it could very well be considered a small city but villages they were called.
Finally they arrived down a cobbled street where there were beautiful small huts, houses and shops. Brendan who was still walking in front of her headed into a bakery, Angel looking around quickly entered after him.
"Good morning!" she heard a woman exclaim at Brendan from somewhere nearby.
"I have not seen you in a long time, Krys. What good fortune too, I am getting everything ready to take out to the fields. You can help me." The woman was saying in fae.
After giving the store a quick glance she looked up to find a blond haired fae talking to Brendan.
"Yes, Senti, I am here visiting for a while, me and Lanai here," he said nodding to Angel, "can help you if you will give us free breakfast at the festival grounds."
But the woman wasn't paying attention to him.
"She is so beautiful! Don't tell me she is just your friend, hello there dear, how are you today?" the nice lady asked her in fae.
"Oh, Senti she does not speak our language, so far she only speaks common tongue." Brendan amended immediately.
The woman looked at him strangely and then shrugged, then repeated what she said in flawless English.
"I am fine, thank you." Angel said with a smile.
The lady was charmed, "Oh and what a pretty smile she has as well. Goodness, the two of you make such a lovely couple." She said.
"Oh we are not…" Angel started.
"We just got engaged." Brendan said lightly, "it's an arranged marriage of course."
Angel just looked at him shocked, and then saw the wink he gave her and relaxed, this was just for fun, just pretend.
Then reality hit her.
'This sucks.' She thought bitterly.
She soon forgot about it though, the fae woman apparently had no one to help her take her stuff to the Four Villages Festival that was happening today and she was so happy that her good friend 'Krys' and his 'fiancé' came to help today. She promised them free breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of their help.
Three hugely loaded up carts, three horses and two hours later the three of them were setting up a large booth at the grounds while tons of other vendors did the same. While their parents worked, some of the children of the villagers played nearby eyeing the bread, sweets and pastries Senti had made when they passed by.
Angel had a lot of fun with Brendan and Senti, they talked about the beautiful weather, the festival and to Angel's dismay the rumor of the new heir to the ancient village's home.
"Of course, I heard the child is frightfully beautiful. In fact, a lot of the nobles who stop by my shop said that the princess was too beautiful. I think that they cannot stand the fact that someone other that their peers, that isn't pure fae, can make them look so bad. I can't wait to see her, what about you Krys?"
"I have already met her." 'Krys' said boldly.
Angelina stiffened visibly and turned to look at Brendan in disbelief.
"And I can tell you, "he continued now looking directly at Angel, "her beauty is not exaggerated."
Silence.
The two looked at each other oddly, Angel trying to find the meaning in his eyes and Brendan trying to give it.
What an uncomfortable moment for them? Meanwhile, Senti just looked at Brendan impressed.
"Well spit it out boy what is she like?"
"I am not going to ruin it for you Senti, you are just going to have to wait and see." Brendan admonished lightly.
Senti gave him a dark look and when that didn't work she just rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath.
When everything was ready Brendan and Angel grabbed two pastries and left to see what else was going on.
There were so many tents and booths in so many different colors everywhere. There were places to sell, buy or trade, and lots of beautiful clothing and jewelry of different types were everywhere it seemed. Games were being played by children and adults alike, some of the most delicious smelling cakes and candies filled their nostrils at every turn and most everyone was waving and smiling at them as though they had known the two strangers their whole lives.
Such a content feeling stole over Angel and she never wanted it to end. Here she was with Brendan, just enjoying a nice day out without having to worry about training or magic or even trying to fit together the enormity of the destiny fate seemed to have lain out before her.
After their delicious lunch back at Senti's booth, Brendan took Angelina away from the crowds to a beautiful secluded blue long grass covered hillside that naturally overlooked the ocean.
After playing games and eating things he felt that maybe they should have a rest from all the excitement. And so in the long grass they lay, Brendan's ability with earth keeping all of the creatures and bugs away, and Angel using her magic to keep them somewhat comfortable with a soft breeze.
"So, did you have all of this planned?" Angel asked the prince while she took in the rays of the suns.
"I did. You needed a break and so did I."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. You, ah, do this a lot? Come down to the Villages disguised as Krys?" she asked hesitantly, she wasn't sure if this was too personal or not.
"Yes," he said smiling slightly, "I like to get away sometimes and the common folk here are very nice. Easy going people like them are hard to find in the Labyrinth or even Hephaestus. I think that is why so many fae who are not elemental magic users live here."
"Oh." Angel said stifling a yawn, "That is cool." But she really did notice the difference. They really were nice. The nobility had some work to do on their attitudes but other than that everything in Cian Aglaia was fine for the most part.
"So, what do you think of my cousin?" Brendan asked, it escaped Angel's notice, however, that he tensed up after her asked this question.
"Honestly," she said tiredly glancing at him with one eye, "I can see how you two are related, that arrogance must be hereditary."
"Oh, ha ha." Brendan said darkly.
"Actually, I don't like him…at all." Angel said truthfully, "there is just something about him I don't like."
"So, you don't trust him?" the prince asked.
"Well, no it is not that I don't TRUST him, its more of a he knows something I don't and that scares me. Most of my life I have been told that I am the one in control of my life you know. Now I am confronted with becoming a Queen and finding out about prophecies. How do you deal with that? I thought I was just a normal human girl." She finished closing her troubled eyes.
Brendan who was lying on his side facing her just nodded, more to himself than to the woman before him.
He agreed with what she said but then he had been told to stay away from her by the very person they were currently talking about, and still he felt that he was doing nothing wrong.
"Are you still mad at me for lying?" Angel asked in a small voice obviously changing the subject.
"No, Lena, I can't possibly be mad at you for long but I did try to protect you from Triana. Guess that didn't work though."
"Well she is not able to hurt me anymore."
"Why is that?" Brendan asked interested.
"I think I have my full power now." She answered quietly.
"I have too." Brendan confessed.
Both of Angel's eyes opened wide at this statement.
"But I thought you had to have a traumatic or enlightening experience to get your full potential in magic?" Angel asked quickly.
"So then what was your 'event'?
"Seeing my father alive again." She said though clenched teeth, her blood was boiling at the thought. "What was yours?"
"It was seeing you in so much pain at that time." He said softly and with this he lay on his back and closed his eyes.
Angel just sat up and watched his face for a few minutes, disbelief etched on her face. Then without another word she lay down and closed her eyes and after a few minutes she reached over and grabbed Brendan's hand and once he intertwined his fingers with hers she nodded off to sleep.
O
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AN:
Very sorry you guys. I really have had a rough couple of weeks, but I did want to update before I go on my cruise. Alright, any questions? I will answer them to the best of my ability. Thank you so much for your continued support I know you guys have better things to do than read my story so again thank you.
WickedGame: Thank you for the input. I know it is moving slowly but I did add a little romance don't worry there will be lots more I just have to place it right. (: I hope you liked this last chapter. Thank you for the review!
Faithslayer1985: HAHAHA I KNOW what happens to them! Ok enough with me being evil, I am glad you are interested. Thank you for the review!
Pruning shears: excellent question! I am not telling you the answer though. It would ruin part of the story. I think I just gave you an answer though… oh well. Thank you for the review!
Demonic Symphony: You have totally made my year by saying that! When I first started this I thought it was a terrible idea for a story. I am glad I wrote it anyway! (; Thank you so much for your continued support!
Lady of the Labyrinth: I honestly believe that anything is possible. I hope I didn't offend you or anything with my last answer I did not mean to sound short but I was trying to hurry so I could go to sleep. Sleep is important to me. (Important to Angel too, ever notice how I start a lot of the chapters with her sleeping? There is a reason for that.) Anyway, thank you for your review and I hope you liked the last chapter!
Ox king: hope you liked this chapter!
All right you guys, I have started the next chapter already and I will be working on it on my way to Fort Lauderdale, FL, I have thirteen hours there and thirteen hours back, so hopefully I will get some work done. Thanks again for your support you all.
Cereberus
