THE FLIGHT OF THE SWALLOW: RECONCILIATION
CHAPTER 5
Prophecy
The two elves led the way back to the main tent, where the horse they had provided waited so that Ciri could move.
Ciri was behind them, Imlerith had a pleasant conversation with his lieutenant. She noticed that the robust elf spoke up to the elbows, and Caranthir made a statement occasionally, it reflected a more serious tone. In a moment of silence, when Imlerith was quiet or winded for breath. Ciri ventured to speak to him.
"Hey Imlerith! Why did Eredin warn me about you? You are strong and would certainly kill ten weaklings together in a minute. But… the way he said it… I think there is something else"
Imlerith straightened up and walked exaggeratedly, even strutting around. He looked very funny and even did it on purpose. Ciri smiled when she saw him.
"Well… thank you very much for the compliment, I am honored that a special little dh'oine noticed. You'll see Zireael, actually he said it as a warning because ….I am a very festive and very happy man. With very exclusive appetites"
"Imlerith gets into trouble too often because of such heinous acts, debauchery, and outsized drunkenness that they sometimes get the Commander and me in trouble". Caranthir said, correcting his subordinate.
What !... What the hell! Incredible! They are not supposed to be: Bored? Ciri thought silently, surprised by the revelation.
―Oh come on Caranthir, I already told you it's not that, there are private and very personal events, just because someone's wife was scandalized, she put a noose around our necks for me and Eredin. Also …they should give our Commander a medal and forge him a damn statue. What do I know! He managed to restore libido to our elves. I know that you miss my parties, I have been more cautious for the same. The damn court is scandalized because I invite their servants too. Hey! They should thank me, they are distracted from their worldly labors and work better and more relaxed, and above all they become more fertile and healthy" Imlerith replied
Caranthir didn't say anything but he winced and grunted.
"By the way, you're never going to tell me why the hell did you run away that time? Did you witness something inappropriate? Look, you know the Eredin's tastes, possibly the situation got out of hand. And to be honest, I don't give a damn who he sleeps with or who he spends the night with, I don't give a shit what happens after he closes the door. As long as he's happy with it, it's profit. I know very well that he is dying to resume his visits, and he does not go out of prudence: by order of the court and the council. That's why I've kept a low profile, so that you and he can attend" The robust elf continued
Ciri bit her lips and was intrigued by the situation. Her ears were enjoying the conversation.
Caranthir was still straight ahead.
"Measure your words Imlerith, do not air personal matters." That's an order!
"Yes Sir! " Imlerith answered very forcefully. He looked upset.
The three of them were awkwardly silent until they reached the tent.
Caranthir took the reins of Ciri's horse so that she could climb up. But a guard from the tent called him by his name and interrupted the act. He headed inside the tent.
Imlerith raised an eyebrow as his lieutenant briefly disappeared.
Ciri approached Imlerith.
"Let me guess ... Eredin ... did he kill anyone?" True?. Ciri asked in a very low voice, but understandable for the elf to hear.
"My leader would not go to such extremes Zireael, don't worry about that, what happens is ... Imlerith paused briefly, meditating if it was correct to drop all that. In the end, it was very personal matters. He closed his eyes for a moment. "…is that Caranthir sees Eredin differently, he changed a lot when Eredin gave him his rank, he imposed many challenges on him. He became very loyal, so much. Eredin noticed when Caranthir started looking at him differently. The beauty of Eredin is unmistakable without a doubt, all the elves and servants wish him to die. I suppose Caranthir succumbed to his eyes too. And because of that, Eredin convinced Caranthir to attend one of my parties, to show him that what he felt was temporary and thus demonstrate his manhood to Eredin. From what I know Eredin locked himself in with a couple of girls and invited Caranthir to watch and participate...
Ciri's heart beat faster than usual when she heard all this.
"…then when I realized it, Caranthir stormed out… getting up to his boots on the road. I have asked both of them what happened and they have never answered me about it. I guess it must be a shame for them". Imlerith finished counting.
"Yeah Maybe" Ciri affirmed.
The true is that my commander will never grant Caranthir his wishes. So I am a bit sad about the golden boy's relationship status. But on the other hand…..". Imlerith watched Ciri carefully. "….My knowledge warns me for sure that very soon you will end up in Eredin's arms and I will open a bet for that."
"Ha!" Do not make me laugh. Well, you will lose the bet, I'm very sure". Ciri snorted in disagreement and very upset.
"Since we stopped hunting the dh'oine, Eredin goes and takes it out on the elves and servants to quell her darkest pleasures, he brought knowledge from your lands and implemented it first with the female dh'oine, and his curious experiments that raised the libido. He always wallowed with females of your kind. He always chose the filthy dh'oine females, chose them, and ran off with them for three days… three days! Zireael. He did what he wanted to them and then returned those half-dead, luckily our healers were there to clean up every mess he made. Until we were forbidden to hunt them.
"And I thought you were boring…. very elegant and refined. Bullshit!, I know very well that you are all Murd" …
Ciri did not finish the comment, considering that they helped her. She decided to shut up that feeling of anger that the Aen Elle actually produced in her.
"Mmm, bored? Perhaps the oldest and most traditionalists, we young people… we are very funny" Imlerith was smiling at her.
" But you Zireael…." Imlerith stepped back to get a better view of Ciri.
"You are the jackpot, you are very special for all the Aen Elle, for Auberon, your daughter of Lara, daughter of the Hen Ichaer. And Eredin is not going to overlook that little dh'oine, you are the temptation in person. Hahahahahahaha "
Imlerith ended with an evil laugh.
Ciri was intimidated by Imlerith's words and took the reins of the horse to get out of there.
Caranthir left the tent and told Ciri to come in, Eredin was calling her. Imlerith stared at her with the same smile as Ciri entered the tent with her eyes blazing and fury, Caranthir realized that and gave Imlerith a firm look, he was ready to reprimand him.
Ciri entered the tent, walked slowly admiring every corner and every decoration, analyzing and learning more about the Dearg Ruadhri. One of his subordinates called her and led her to Eredin. He was sitting on a large desk and sitting in a chair that seemed to be more like a throne. Wow, Wow look at him he has to make up for his big ego. There was something behind him that caught her eyes, on a shelf a small glass box, a horn of a Unicorn.
"Zireael I have bothered to call you because ... I want to collect that debt"
Ciri felt a hole in her stomach but she kept her gaze steady and was still annoyed by what Imlerith had said.
"Do you see this? I just got it from The King. I don't know what nonsense you told him but he's going to have a dance tonight. And I hate those events so….I will allow myself to go on this ... ... occasion". Eredin held up a royal scroll, laying it on the large desk.
"Without rodeos Swallow ... I want you be my couple!" Eredin ended up looking at her with those cold eyes that characterized him.
Ciri had no remedy and preferred to pay her debt like this, she was afraid that the elf would make a request more difficult for her to accept.
She continued to keep her gaze but no longer that anger that overwhelmed her. She crossed her arms.
"So….Yeah! You are able to look for a nugget of gold on a pile of manure. Ha! you are cynical when asking me that"
Eredin raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"What the hell are you talking about?" The elf answered her.
Ciri was also surprised.
So ... "that" never happened? ... What happened on that hill? ... Hmm, I would like to know, maybe ... he tell me at that dance ... She thought.
"Forget it, fine, fine, I accept the offer." Ciri said and turned to leave.
" Hey! And you better regulate your damn manners if you have them! " Eredin told her before she left the tent.
Ciri stopped and clenched both fists and turned to answer him, her emerald green eyes shone with a spectral light and her entire body shone like that. Her eyes changed from green to white. She raised her fist, relaxed her hand and pointed her index finger to Eredin and said:
You'll defend with the sword what does not belong to you, but what is loaned to you!
You'll desire what has never been yours, and will love you like no one ever has before!
You'll love for what you thought was destined for you, but you'll bleed for what has been given to you!
You'll die for what you have always dreamed of, but it will never stay by your side!
And you'll be resurrected by the love that has been spill out, when the Light and the Dark ... have stay together forever!
Ciri woke up from the trance, and looked at her hand for a moment. It was trembling. Those were the few times that she went into a trance and she was only to drive away her enemies or prophesy something. She remembered what had happened in Kaer Morhen. She was frightened by her own power. At once the two guards guarding the tent rushed in with spears in hand. Eredin stood looking very seriously at Ciri.
"I …. so ... sorry." She said scared of herself and with tearful eyes she left the tent, crashing and making her way with the guards.
The Swallow ran out without even looking at Imlerith and Caranthir who also had the gun in hand. She mounted her horse and hurried out of the place.
The wind dried the tears and she cried non-stop. She was riding devilishly towards the royal palace.
Ciri spent the whole afternoon in her room, sobbed for a long time, and fell asleep. For her it was the best therapy she knew. Suddenly she felt a small hand touch her shoulder. The Swallow woke up and found it was night. The servant girl she had thrown to the ground was there again, along with two more elves girls. One of them had in her arms a beautiful dress along with a small wrapped piece of paper. A letter perhaps? And the other girl was carrying in her hands a small box that she opened for Ciri to see. It was a tiara, jewels and deep down a beautiful dagger. Ciri remembered that it was the night of the dance and she had to enlist.
She jumped out of bed and got into the bathtub, the servants rushed to help her, Ciri accepted the help and soaped, rinsed, dried and filled her body with aromatic oils. The servants were kind and gentle, Ciri thanked them all that time for the help she received. They combed and dressed her.
She looked at herself in a full-length mirror.
Ciri really looked beautiful, the servants blushed and murmured among themselves, with a big smile and illusion for the job well done.
Her hair looked splendid, they left it loose and long, it looked ordered and beautiful; it lightly covered her scar. The tiara on her forehead fitted her very well. It brought out the beauty of her face. The red dress with gold and a neckline with leaf-shaped details around it. She would definitely catch everyone's attention with tremendous revelation. The neckline was adjustable with a large clasp in the front, it adjusted a little and it was perfect. The sleeves were comfortable and very stylish. She took the necklace from the box and put it around her neck, it wasn't very flashy because the main star was her tremendous neckline. Now you will see what we dh'oine can do. It's my night, I'm Cirilla, I'm the star. She thought.
And Ciri kept looking at herself in the mirror. She still did not believe what she saw it. She remembered that brought her makeup, the eyeshadow. She reached into her backpack and felt the stone that the old woman had given her. It was the yīnyáng. She pulled it out and found it had been split in two. She had white in one hand and black in the other. The Light and the Dark.
"Oh, it's broke. It's a shame because it looked so pretty when everything is together".
She put the pieces back in the backpack and took out her makeup and put it on. One of the elves girls offered her a suitable lipstick from another box and Ciri kindly put it on.
She looked at herself in the mirror for the last time. She smiled
The eye shadows highlighted her emerald green eyes and the lipstick brought out her full, beautiful lips. Ready to kiss the person of her choice. Her smile faded as she remembered who she would be her couple that night. Eredin
The elves servants left and she waited a moment in the room.
She left there and go to the dance, leaving behind on the bed that little note that said:
"Zireael, fear not, what happened out there with Eredin; he himself found his prophecy, that will make him understand seriously and with more respect towards you. Please accept this humble gift from me. Enjoy tonight".
Avallac'h