Chapter FIFTY-FIVE: Unredeemed-TALIA
...
The Oracle and the Dreamer arrived in the Oracle's quarters in the High Realm.
Talia fell to her knees beside the reflection pool in the middle of the room; she dare not look at herself, and waited for what the old woman had in store. The Sun Priest arrived, unhappy to be there, but profound relief in his eyes.
"I left Dameon with Armaiti as soon as I was called, your grace," he announced, sounding overjoyed from finally seeing his son again. "He was not awake yet, so I dare not move him. I would like to return to him once more..." Aydan looked at Talia knowing something was dreadfully wrong. She did not move and only whimpered. He went beside her and kneeled as well.
"Another misconduct, Sun Priest...This time the Dreamer had a part," the Oracle said apathetically. "I hear you used your magic again for the ill purpose of letting the Dreamer walk in a place of mayhem and destruction."
"Oracle, it was for good reason. I am the only one responsible," Aydan said trying to take full responsibility; also, very relieved that this was not over the King of Thais.
"No, you both had a part in this. Do not deny it," the Oracle stated firmly.
Talia nodded from her place. She knew now they were in trouble.
Aydan stood up on his feet. Seething, in disbelief, that the old woman would not accept it was only his doing.
"Oracle, I asked him for help," Talia admitted without delay, not wanting Aydan to take the full blame. "It was his spell that allowed me to walk the world again...I asked him so I could try saving the King and Queen of Thais...and their child."
"It is impressive that the Sun Druid performed such a powerful spell...However, you almost woke, Dreamer, and now the dreams are filled with years of nightmares to be rid of," the Oracle went on, but still inquired more. "Now, is this the first time you have let the Dreamer walk the lands of the waking realm?"
The Sun Druid sighed, annoyed, and looked away not wishing to answer the old woman.
"...No, I have been to Aveyond as well...It was years ago and only one time," Talia spoke faintly for him, wanting the truth out; not wanting Aydan to attempt covering up any of it.
The Oracle was awestruck, but in disbelief at the Sun Druid's craft, "I have never heard of the this...this enchantment you speak of. Explain yourself, Sun Druid."
"I created the spell all on my own, your grace. It is of my own invention. The Dreamer took no part," Aydan added.
"It was reckless at best. Had it failed the Dreamer would have awoken instantly...There would have been no time to have her go back to the Dream after all the calamities we have faced recently. Had she awoken today, the Dreamworld would have become a nightmare realm and many of the living would have been...altered into wretched, twisted beings," the Oracle revealed. "In times of peace, there would be time to restore the Dream, but not had she awoken now—"
"—Then I shall help her extinguish them, your grace, as I have helped all this time since the birth of our son and before," Aydan interjected, seeing how the Oracle's words were affecting Talia immensely.
"Now...this is not a punishment for the Dreamer, but it will seem like it... You, Dreamer, must clear out all the nightmares. You must stay as long as possible, even if it takes years to rid the Dreamworld of the horrors it is plagued with... I am afraid, it will come at a personal expense as you will get to spend less time in the High Realm...It is your duty as the Guardian of Dreams."
Talia began to weep hard again.
"THIS IS PUNISHMENT! DO NOT PUNISH HER OLD WOMAN!" Aydan suddenly growled so loud the still water in the reflection pool began to violently swish around. Weeks of harsh sentiments from his imprisonment still lingered. "IF I HAVE THE POWER TO SUCCESSFULLY TAKE THE DREAMER TO THE REALM, IT SHOULD BE PERMITTED!"
Talia rose to her feet, trying to pull herself together. She had never seen him so livid.
"Aydan, please...It is my duty...This is a consequence of what...what we did...I almost woke several times while I was in Thais...I saw the snowfall from my Sleeper's eyes," Talia choked; she realized this also meant less time with Dameon. He would not be able to spend time with her in the Dreamworld any longer as it was not safe anymore for the young boy. "I...I suppose our son will have to spend more time with you, Aydan..."
"I shall be there as always, Talia. I shall end the nightmares by your side. I shall be at your side forever, my love," Aydan spoke warmly, meeting her gaze. Their eyes locked and tenderly drifted to each other's lips.
"—We need to move on to your punishment now, Druid of Light," the Oracle revealed, interrupting the next moment. She caught the Sun Priest's eyes, now full of abhorrence—glaring at her with despise. "I am assuming since the Dreamer released you from my dungeons, that you are no longer are in danger of losing your position as Sun Priest."
Aydan sighed with relief, but waited on Talia to confirm that she no longer wished him away.
"Aye, I no longer wish him gone...I do not believe I ever wished separating our son from one of his parents...I only spoke out of outrage at the time," Talia stated, implying the Princess of Thais at the same time, in her words.
"So...is the love potion debacle forgiven?" the old woman prodded carefully.
"Yes—" Aydan said. "No—" Talia said, at the same time. The Oracle's hand went to her wrinkled forehead and shook her head over the disagreement.
"You lied to me, Aydan...You used magic against me," Talia said, with much pain from disappointment in her eyes. The disapproval still fresh even after weeks of finding out about the love potion. "I do not know if I will ever forgive you for it..."
Before the Sun Druid could speak further, the Oracle continued: "So be it. You, Guardian of Light, Sun Druid, Servant to the Sun Gods, will not be forgiven for the reprisal you committed against the Dreamer, Druid of Dreams, Guardian of the Dreamworld...It seems you have misused your magic twice, according to my count. You created a deceptive mortal potion and used it on my immortal Priestess of Light...You then risked the stability of the Dreamworld by sending her to the waking world in peril of waking her in the Dream and freeing the nightmares...You have left me no choice... I am stripping you of half your sun powers, effective at once."
With a gesture of her old hands, without even holding a staff, a quick sphere of hazy light surrounded the Sun Druid and then disintegrated.
"NO! YOU CANNOT TAKE WHAT IS MINE!" Aydan protested enraged by his punishment, roaring. "I WORKED FOR MY MAGIC! YOU CANNOT TAKE WHAT IS IN MY ESSENCE!"
Talia winced. She held her hands over her mouth in disbelief. She looked away towards the water in the reflection pool again and noticed it did not shake this time—the water was still.
"I NEED THEM TO HELP THE DREAMER OR IT WILL TAKE HER YEARS TO HEAL THE DREAMLANDS! YOU HAVE DIVIDED MY FAMILY, ORACLE!"
"You must also spend a considerable amount of time in your Shrine, Sun Guardian," the Oracle said unaffected by his outburst. "It is your duty as well."
"YOU PUNISH ME FOR SPEAKING MY MIND, DO YOU NOT? FOR BEING CAPABLE AND USING MY POWERS," he fumed with a wrath that he could not hold back. "THAT IS THE TRUE REASON FOR YOUR RETRIBUTION, IS IT NOT?!"
"Aydan, please...We will figure this out...For our son, PLEASE! You must accept we have our duties to the gods and the goddesses of the realms first," Talia said very much upset, but somehow calm. He heeded to her words, after a moment, but the outrage did not leave him.
"Talia, it is wrong that we follow these rules. We are capable of much more than this. It is wrong that you will be burdened...That our son will have less of us...I resent this greatly, more than you will ever know..." Aydan said still glaring at the Oracle.
Talia quietly held back. She wished more than anything to reveal what plagued her as well, but knew she could not speak of word of it, even as it broke her where she stood.
"Bah! This punishment is not permanent. You speak as though you do not have eternity to redeem yourself, young Sun Druid. The Dreamer's duties are much more difficult in times like this. Your powers will not help her this time," the Oracle mentioned, now wanting to also settle things down after a long night.
"I am sorry...I must return to the Dreamworld," Talia said abruptly, not wanting to delay her duties any longer. The sooner she went the Dream, the sooner she could find Tailor in the Dreamworld and tell him she would not be returning to them. She knew she would have to start clearing out the nightmares as well. "Please go to Dameon...and tell him I love him," Talia spoke feebly to Aydan, trying to refrain from more tears.
"Aye...I will, my love. I will go to him at once, " he said as she went on to open a portal to the Dreamworld.
Before she went away, he gently grabbed her arm, pulled her close and softly kissed her forehead.
"My love, have you forgiven me?" he uttered, not wanting to wait until the next time he would see her to ask.
Talia shook her head, sadness and anger over her face.
"I will give you all the time in world to forgive me, Beloved," he said as she let go and went to her portal for the Dreamlands.
She was gone.
..
Aydan knew he would have to work hard to regain much of his power...He needed to help Talia in the Dream, go to Aveyond much more frequently to serve the sun gods, raise their son, and most of all, make up for the lost Chosen One when the Demon would one day return.
He remained alone with the Oracle now. Tired and wanting his son to be at his side, but still with final words to say to the Oracle:
"...I know naught what I must do to redeem myself, but I will regain what you have taken from me," Aydan said frigidly to the Oracle. He attempted to open his own portal several times, but failed. His power were not strong enough. All of a sudden, he felt the Oracle's bony hand on his side, but it seemed to be a more empathetic touch than usual.
Her eyes were white, but rapidly went back to normal.
"I hear you have passed a Judgment for the sun gods, young man," she announced.
"I do not know what you are referring to, Oracle," he denied, anxiety taking over his tone.
A burst of sunlight flashed in his eyes. The Oracle took note.
"I do not know what it was over, and I will not ask...The gods have agreed with the Judgment and you must enforce it...But, I fear it was Judgment I do not agree with...I ask you to be kinder and show mercy...That is all," the Oracle finished."I believe your son is waiting."
"Yes, of course... I will go to him at once," Aydan said, shook by her knowledge. He was able to open a portal as usual and left immediately.
...
Special Scene
The Sun Druid arrived at Green Rock Temple in the early morning. His son just waking up. The boy jumped up to meet his father—never wanting to left him go—after he was gone for so long. Armaiti assured him the boy was welcomed anytime and gave the boy a merchant's pass if he ever wanted to come back and learn the mortal arts of trading someday.
Father and son stepped out of the temple. Light misty rain water was gently falling as the early sunlight swept the rocky green valley. He held his son, enjoying his time with the boy after so long of not seeing him. He swung the boy over his shoulders to give him a good view of the valley and mountains.
Dameon pointed at something far in the cliff side between the tall apple trees that he wanted his father to pay attention to.
"A knight!" the boy cried. From the child's point of view, he could see a man in armor climbing up, struggling, holding a small weight in his arms, appearing lost, all while trying to read a small scroll and then running through the trees. A large colorful bird followed them through the apple trees.
The Sun Druid looked, but saw no one.
"Yes...it was just night time, my son...A very long night, indeed."
The Sun Priest, shrugging it off as nothing, immediately left with his son for Aveyond.