Chapter FORTY-THREE: Preparing-TALIA

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More than two weeks passed…

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"Mammy…" Talia heard the voice of her son somewhere in the common room, but remained planted despite his calls.

She rested unsuccessfully with her back to her bed post, staring out into the void that was her old room in the western towers. Torn, broken, and numb, she blinked slowly, taking in shallow breaths through her mouth because if she inhaled the scent of the room, it still lingered of fresh roses—roses he thought she had not seen him burn to conceal his feelings from her all those years ago. She wondered how she could have been so blind then and not seen how he was so impatient.

It seemed like even though she had moved back to her old quarters in the castle, to get away from memories, she had only encountered more of them no matter where she went. Not to mention, Dameon's constant tantrums to get his father back, all served as reminders of how things had been before everything fell apart. She, of course, had told Dameon that his father 'might' come back, unable to tell him a lie, particularly the one she wished she could: that he was dead—well, at least to them he was. But she couldn't lie. No, not like he had done thousands of times to her; she would never do that to her own son.

ALL of it had been a lie, she reminded herself over and over. The stupid man knew how much she needed truth; how much she had given to him; but he—he hadn't kept his promises. He had been deceiving her all along. How could she not have seen it? Or did she?

Talia moaned heavily as she raised her knees to rest her head. She wished for a moment that she could take the lie and live with it like many in her place would, but something inside paralyzed the possibility of ever trusting him again; of ever getting over the lie or even parts of it.

Despite the difficult days that had followed, she had in fact, realized that at least he had really told her the 'truth' about when he had given her the love potion: it was pink, not green like the soothing potion he had given to her when her grandmother passed. Still, it did not excuse the rest of his lies.

She couldn't trust him now, and the thought of trusting him, or anybody else's lies—ever—caused her more strain. "Why?..." Talia pondered softly, then feeling angry at him all over again for the same reasons, in the same cycles of frustration and disillusionment.

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After a minute or two of sitting so long hunched over, her back had become stiff. She stretched her arms out like wings ready to flutter, and sat up to the edge of the bed, aware that she would be hearing Dameon call for her again. Though, the effort of moving anymore seemed unbearable. She hung her head, wishing she wouldn't have to move or do anything again.

As she looked down at the messy floor with heaps of clothes and books she had thrown from rage, she looked down at her hands; mostly, she looked at her left, wondering what had happened to her engagement ring. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen it, but if she had it now, then all she thought of was destroying it or tossing it into an abandoned well somewhere where no one would ever find it.

Suddenly, Talia stirred her head from side to side, remembering what had happened weeks ago. The last time she had had it was when he had purposed to her; also the same time when he had 'supposedly' given her love potion again.

She jumped up quickly, strangely wanting to find it and hold it again. She shuffled a few things on the night table nearby, shuffling to the side hair potion Trinity had made for Dameon (who inexplicably had a bad hair cut…little did she know it was her doing), and she pushed aside several bottles of now spoiled goat's milk the Star Priestess had also brought her since she refused to eat.

"Mammy!" the voice of her flustered son wailed again now that he had noticed his mother was up. "I want daddy!" he cried hopelessly, then ran to the door and began to pound on it with all his might. "Daddy! I want dada-a-a-a!"

The sight broke Talia's heart. She followed him and tried grabbing him, but he tip-toed high enough to grab the door handle and wouldn't budge.

"Dameon…your mother wants you to come with her, please…We…we need to get ready to go soon," Talia tried explaining.

"No-o-o-o-o! NOOOooo!" Dameon's cries continued until he finally let go of the handle. Instead, Dameon embraced his mother's knees, cooing a sad fit.

Talia patted his head gently, avoiding his eyes, fearing she would cave in herself.

"Daddy…" she heard him heave quietly before she heard a knock at the front door.

At the sound of another even harder knock, Dameon peeled his eyes in anticipation that it was his father this time and ran over to be first at the door. Talia hurried to answer it, thinking it was early, but sure enough, Trin was at the door.

"You meet now, Dreamer," Trin said hurriedly. "I won't be joining you tonight. I have been summoned to handle some affairs by the Oracle."

Talia looked into Trin's eyes full of alarm. By her expression, she knew something terrible had happened on top of the already grueling tumult that was occurring everywhere. "What…what is going on?"

"I haven't time to explain," she said as she went in to help Dameon get dressed. "I'm afraid I cannot watch him as I promised, sister."

"But, but…He can't come with me to the gathering. It is not a place for a young child, you know that. What about Leana?"

"I am sorry, Talia. I wish I could take him with me or to Leana…Well…she is at the moment, away for her duties," Trin explained and nudged him kindly. "But I am not certain of the risks involved for my own tasks tonight. I am afraid it is you, Damie, and the Druids of the World that will all be meeting. Who knows, the boy might learn something—Isn't that right, young man?" she tickled him until he smiled, but he quickly began to cry again. "Da…da…ddy!"

Trin stopped playing with him, realizing that she was only provoking him to cry more.

"Ooh, what daddy? It's only your mother and I. I don't see any da…" Trin trailed off, preventing any further berating she was about to say. "Well, I must go, but I can take you to the gathering... unless, you want otherwise?"

"No, let us go. I need the company," Talia spoke feebly. She beckoned Dameon to follow.

As they left, he ran up to the orbed-staff that had fallen to the ground, and tried dragging it with him, but he gave up as soon as Talia hastily picked him up. He rested his head over her shoulder, watching the door shut on it.

"Really, I should have thrown it into the trash where it belongs," Trin muttered annoyed, but bit her tongue again, and quickly changed the subject. " I have not asked…but have you been feeling well, Dreamer?" she asked carefully. "I mean, with the bad dreams, that is. I'm sorry that they cannot stop."

Talia waited to answer as they reached a grand white door with pillars and cravings of gods and goddesses decorating the exterior. A tear ran down her cheek. "No. I…I still see them dying in their sleep…They…they just die like stars extinguished by day...I feel so helpless!" she burst into tears, but dabbed them away so her son could not tell.

"I am sorry I asked after everything that has happened. It is simply absurd that this is happening to you, but you must be strong in the Dream," Trin encouraged, then looked down, before awkwardly hugging Talia. "There... You might make me cry ice, and that is certainly painful as it sounds. I must go now, sister."

Talia bid farewell, wondering what she meant by 'crying ice,' but the massive door soon opened for her.

Dameon slipped out of his mother's arms and ran ahead when seeing several men and a woman dressed in druid robes, hoping to see his father among one of them. Talia grasped his hand quickly, making sure that he would not run wild again. Though, he did not try to run again after realizing that none were dressed in red and green robes as his father.

They all froze in place as the door closed behind Talia. The Druids of the Isles fell silent, staring at their Dreamer and her child.

Clearly, they had been speaking about her. Talia knew, having heard her name and his mentioned by one of them as she had come in. And obviously they had been gossiping too.

Talia grimaced and pulled Dameon closer, knowing they were following her every move and likely recalling everything that had happened to her; though, she would have preferred otherwise, especially since their eyes were full of pity and lament for both of them. But having pity did not mean that they should mind her private affairs and speak of them openly, of all things.

All the druids nodded respectfully as Talia paced closer to join them. They assembled into a large circle in the medium-sized room that only contained one lit torch and an opening on the opposite end that lead to a different corridor she had never seen before.

"Just in time, dear," Vata said nicely, hoping to uplift everyone's grim moods. "We haven't much time before we must all go back to our shrines…The Oracle cannot join us tonight. She has been called away. You know how things are these days, dear," his enthusiasm faded as he finished speaking.

Talia looked around suddenly aware that the Oracle was not there, also realizing that she did not know most that were present. Yet, despite not knowing them, she could see their friendly expressions as well as their obvious sympathetic stares that had annoyed her a moment ago. The expressions soon turn to restless despair and concern. Something seemed terribly wrong, she noticed.

Her eyes veered to a tall dark lady with startling blue eyes and violet hair, the Druid of Wisdom, Daena, whom she had met once through Leana because of duties at the Moon Temple in the north of the realm. And of course, she knew Druid Vata from so long ago.

Vata cleared his throat to speak further, "Uh, um…I assume that you know that this is quite rare for all of us to meet here, but it is urgent that we do. We need to meet with you to make some quick decisions…regarding the demon, Ahriman."

Talia cringed at the name, unable to stop blaming herself for what was happening. She felt her son's hand in hers; grief settling in even further.

"Me? Are we not winning? I mean what makes you think I can do anything about Ahriman…Have I not failed one too many times before?…" Talia whispered the last sourly. She would cry, but her eyes were dry from so much misery already.

"Please, my lands are nearly ruined!" a gentleman with pasty green hair and pastel green and lavender robes suddenly yelped.

"There, there, Vohu Manah! We are all under attack, or at least...most of us," a gentleman with deep crimson eyes and dark robes spoke. His red eyes glanced at a man in green and golden brown robes with striking reddish hair, who seemed rather unconcerned with the other's troubles.

"Please! Let us not get into whose land is better. We are all at risk for more attacks, you two," Daena budded in.

"Who said I mind it?" the red eyed druid went on. "I sort of like the darkness, and the chaos only adds a touch of 'red' to my lands," he smirked halfway. "Of course...I understand how the rest of you feel...those of you that mind the mayhem."

"Okay, all of you, let us not start just yet. The Oracle was clear to have us discuss matters when everyone arrives and Eith—" Vata paused as a flame swelled outside the circle and a woman with loosely bundled white locks and green and black robes appeared.

"Eithera, there you are!—I am sorry, Dreamer, I have not introduced you to everyone," Vata turned to look at Talia and Dameon, which still remained vigilant for another druid. The old man began to point at the others. "All of you be quick and kindly introduce yourselves. We may leave as soon as possible, once we finish here."

The first druid in pastels spoke first, eager to get a move on things, "I am Vohu Manah, the Druid of Music."

"I am Rashnu, I am Keeper of Darkness. But do not mind my appearance, I do not bite," Rashnu flashed his red eyes and smiled at Dameon, who cowered away. Daena nudged him hard for that.

"I am Armaiti, the Druid of Agriculture. I have heard much about you, Talia, from the Sun Priest..." Armaiti explained, but with everyone glaring for mentioning the priest, he trailed off. "…If there is anything I can do, let me know," he added sympathetically.

"And we have met already through Druid Leana a while before…" Daena said upon her turn. "May wisdom fill you tonight, girl," she spoke carefully as she looked straight into Talia's eyes. Talia kept her eyes on her, but then Eithera began to speak.

"I am Eithera, Druid of Strength. I would say more, but we are in a hurry and I must get back to my temple—Some of us want to win this war," she murmured to the others.

"Yes, yes, Eithera. We all want this to be over and done with," Vata added somewhat curt. "Now that we have all gotten acquainted…Dreamer, may you allow us access to gather at your shrine in the Dream?...Normally we would in...Aveyond, or in the Oracle's quarters, but under the circumstances, I think it is proper to meet there."

Talia nodded her head, picking up Dameon and holding her staff out to teleport to the Dream, but Vata began towards a small passage in the wall that began to glow.

"Very well, please follow me," Vata said as he led them down the narrow passage in the center of the room. After a few steps downward, in the center of the next room, was a statue of a goddess: the Dreamworld portal that once stood in Faiara.

Talia froze in her steps. Dameon looked around the room to see if anything flew around in the large space, expecting to see fairies.

"How? How did this get here?" Talia huffed in shocked breaths, wondering if her mother Nino had been found after Faiara fell nearly two weeks ago.

Silence fell again.

"Well?!" Talia wailed. "Is there any news on Faiara or the fairies?"

"Dreamer…I am afraid that the fairies have been displaced. Many have perished, some are simply unaccounted for, perhaps, taken for what the Gods only knows…But, the ones that saved the statue... died shortly after bringing it here…I am sorry. It will be up to you where it goes once the violence has subsided," Vata said apologetically.

Talia squeezed her son tightly, already having anticipated that she would never hear from her mother again. It seemed almost surreal that she had found her mother only to lose her so suddenly. Although there was some hope, it seemed unrealistic that she would ever come back, and even more unreal that Faiara was completely wiped.

After a few moments of stillness, some of the druids had walked ahead and touched the statue. Talia stood back not wanting to move; however, she suddenly felt a gentle hand patting her shoulder. Druid Armaiti, obviously oblivious to her mother's loss, spoke to her. "Well, there is always a place for it elsewhere. The Western Isle might just be perfect for it."

"Well...we'll see…" Talia said meekly, attempting to smile. "I am happy to hear that most of it remains intact."

"Yes, I too am pleased. I suppose the Demon has no interest in taking over the High and Lowlands, but it is certainly quite safe for now," Armaiti said encouragingly.

With some good news, Talia finally smiled; at least not all had been destroyed.

Armaiti continued to chit-chat and tell her of the pleasantness of the country. It all seemed extraordinary to her.

"I have never heard of such a place…Clearwater."

"The water is as clear as the name implies. And if one travels down to the middle of the lands, one can find an excellent trading service, which I personally do business with. So if you have anything of say...a certain someone to sell, I will be happy to sell it for you through a dealer. And I'll have to take your lad to pick a gift sometime as well," Armaiti said as he patted Dameon's hair.

"Thank you, I will keep that in mind," Talia said as they moved closer to touch the Dreamer's statue.