Chapter 7
Once they were all back in the royal chambers and the refreshments had been served, they sat and talked of Earth and Darien's family for a while. Soon the subject turned to Gaea and Athena and their arrival. He was very curious as to why she had come to restore their former enemy's home planet. Gaea told the story of her troubled childhood after her parent's death and the attack that almost killed her and Athena both. In the end he nodded and stood.
"If ever you are in trouble again, you call on us of Earth and the Moon Court and we will help you as best we can. I swear this to you, on my own life."
"As do I." Serena said.
"And I." Rini chimed in, squeezing Gaea's arm. They were all so sincere that Gaea almost cried, causing Athena to tear up involuntarily. Gaea went stock still with a dead look on her face as something evil passed over her. It was as if eyes were looking down upon her and all in company of her. She looked at Athena, oblivious to anything out of the ordinary.
"Gaea? What's wrong?" Rini asked, clearly disturbed at her friend's sudden change in mood. Everyone in the room turned to look at her.
"Nothing, just a headache, but it has passed. I get those sometimes. No worries, I'm fine now." Gaea managed a smile, but had to work to keep it there.
:Do you feel that?: Gaea asked Athena, making sure she shielded away from Rini's sensitive mind gift.
:Feel what? I don't…wait there is something. An evil thing has found us, do you think that it is our harassers?: Athena asked now aware of the presence.
:No, it is foreign to me. I have only felt it in a dream, when we were on Amitie. I think that it is best if we return home as soon as possible.: Gaea said worried now about her new home. Athena could sense her worry and smiled to herself. {She really is born to be Princess of Amitie. There's no denying it now. She's connected to the planet through her magic, just like Serena is connected to the Moon by her mother's love and her purity.} Athena was not so much surprise as she was in respect of her bonded. She had been born to rule, it was clear now. Athena shook her head. {I must inform the Queen and King of this new threat to our planet. They need to know. I think that I should tell Carra as well, she might have an idea of where it is coming from.}
"Athena? Were you listening? Can I?" Gaea asked, showing her annoyance openly.
"Can you what, Dearheart?" Athena asked, pretending she didn't notice the annoyance.
"Can I spend the night with Rini? Serena and Darien said it was fine. Please!" Gaea looked at her with such childish eyes that Athena felt sorry for her. She hadn't had real friends growing up, then again, she was forced to grow up at the age of 7, no wonder she wanted to make friends with Rini so bad. But she didn't have to worry about keeping Rini, but Gaea didn't know that yet. And it was not time to tell her.
"Yes, of course. I will be fine on my own tonight. It will be nice to have some privacy for once." She answered with a chuckle and a wink in Gaea's direction. Gaea and Rini jumped up and hugged smiling and laughing. They walked out of the room discussing what they were going to do that night. Darien and Serena sighed, shaking their heads as a page closed the door behind the 2 chatterboxes.
"Thank you. Rini had friends when we lived on Earth many years ago, but since then she hasn't made any here. I thin that this will do her some good. And the same goes for your Gaea." Serena said turning back to Athena, Darien nodded his head in agreement.
"Well, it is hard not to deny them anything. Their bond is so strong already, anything that would jeopardize that bond would most likely damage their minds." Athena said looking up at the three that nodded in agreement.
"I was going to ask you about that. They remind me of myself and her mother 10 years ago, truly their bringing from the future was not an accident. We were very surprised when we found babies on our doorstep at the age of ten. But we raised them well I see. Well I guess you mostly raised her, after her parent's death, I was so devastated that I could not gather that strength to call upon her to take her in. I scried her out one night and to see her asleep beside you, it made my heart ache, I could see the tear stains on her cheeks. But still she looked too much like her mother to bring her here to the Moon Court to live with me. I have wanted to apologies so many times to her, but I can't bring myself to do it." Serena said with pain behind her ocean blue eyes. But the tears had long been cried out, that Gaea knew without needing to be told. She sighed.
"If you had called on her, she wouldn't have know who you were. Her mother and father never told her about you. They thought her too young for such information. You know how the other Gods and Goddesses would have reacted if Gaea let it slip one day. They were planning on telling her on her 10th birthday, but they never lived to see her that old. I never told her because I forgot. I have been protecting her and raising her different form the outside world of Douleur that I forgot to tell her when she became of age. I think back now and wonder if I should have told her, it might have saver her a lot of pain." Athena said. {It would have saved myself pain also.} "But our bond has grown stronger because of everything, and I think that she is stronger because of it also." She finished.
Darien nodded. "I agree, Rini hasn't exactly had a great life either. She remembers why she was sent here from the future. It haunts her dreams, poor kid, and having a strong gift of empathy, Gaea should be able to sense it and help her. Does Gaea retain such knowledge?" Darien asked, now thoughtful, Athena thought for a moment and searched Gaea's unaware mind.
"She might have the knowledge, but not connect the fact that that is the reason for her arrival in her past." Athena said finally. She remembered dreams so strong that she had dreamed them to. Dreams of horrific scenes that she hoped weren't true dreams. But now that she thought about it, they might have been. {Hmmm, I wonder…}
"With your permission, I would like to scan Rini's dreams tonight. Being with Gaea might trigger something in side them both. But I would like your permission to read her dreams." Athena said startling Luna who had only been half listening to the conversation around her.
"You can do that? But you're not bonded with her." Luna said stunned.
"Yes, but I need her parents permission. I would be looking into her very soul, for that's where true dreams come from." Athena said looking at Serena and Darien. They were as stunned as Luna was. She could tell that all three of them were mindspeaking. She waited, trying her best to look indifferent. Finally Luna spoke.
"How can you do this if you are not bonded?" Athena looked at them and said simply,
"I insert my conscienceness into hers once she is asleep. It is like what you would do if you, Serena, were going to see through Luna's eye's, but instead of opening up your eyes you turn your mind inward. You look for the warmth of their soul and go towards it till you can hear or see their dreams and visions. Simple really." Athena said. She stood up and bowed.
"I must leave to prepare my self for dinner, unless you have any more questions for me?" Athena asked, hopping for none.
"Not at the moment. We'll see you in the Great Hall." Darien said, obviously the only one who had any room in their head to respond. Athena nodded and walked out. {I need some time to clear my head before tonight.} She thought as she headed down the hall past the gardens to the rooms she shared with Gaea that she knew would be empty and quiet. Suddenly she felt those evil eyes on her again. This time they looked upon her with such malice that it made Athena waver in her steps and almost fall over. {Thank the Elements that there isn't anyone in the hall to see this.} She thought as she looked around and found no one but the paintings on the wall. She heard 2 blood curdling screams in the back of her mind that she knew were those of Gaea and Rini. But she heard nothing with her physical ears. No one else would know that the 2 were in danger or hurt, even dead.
Once they were all back in the royal chambers and the refreshments had been served, they sat and talked of Earth and Darien's family for a while. Soon the subject turned to Gaea and Athena and their arrival. He was very curious as to why she had come to restore their former enemy's home planet. Gaea told the story of her troubled childhood after her parent's death and the attack that almost killed her and Athena both. In the end he nodded and stood.
"If ever you are in trouble again, you call on us of Earth and the Moon Court and we will help you as best we can. I swear this to you, on my own life."
"As do I." Serena said.
"And I." Rini chimed in, squeezing Gaea's arm. They were all so sincere that Gaea almost cried, causing Athena to tear up involuntarily. Gaea went stock still with a dead look on her face as something evil passed over her. It was as if eyes were looking down upon her and all in company of her. She looked at Athena, oblivious to anything out of the ordinary.
"Gaea? What's wrong?" Rini asked, clearly disturbed at her friend's sudden change in mood. Everyone in the room turned to look at her.
"Nothing, just a headache, but it has passed. I get those sometimes. No worries, I'm fine now." Gaea managed a smile, but had to work to keep it there.
:Do you feel that?: Gaea asked Athena, making sure she shielded away from Rini's sensitive mind gift.
:Feel what? I don't…wait there is something. An evil thing has found us, do you think that it is our harassers?: Athena asked now aware of the presence.
:No, it is foreign to me. I have only felt it in a dream, when we were on Amitie. I think that it is best if we return home as soon as possible.: Gaea said worried now about her new home. Athena could sense her worry and smiled to herself. {She really is born to be Princess of Amitie. There's no denying it now. She's connected to the planet through her magic, just like Serena is connected to the Moon by her mother's love and her purity.} Athena was not so much surprise as she was in respect of her bonded. She had been born to rule, it was clear now. Athena shook her head. {I must inform the Queen and King of this new threat to our planet. They need to know. I think that I should tell Carra as well, she might have an idea of where it is coming from.}
"Athena? Were you listening? Can I?" Gaea asked, showing her annoyance openly.
"Can you what, Dearheart?" Athena asked, pretending she didn't notice the annoyance.
"Can I spend the night with Rini? Serena and Darien said it was fine. Please!" Gaea looked at her with such childish eyes that Athena felt sorry for her. She hadn't had real friends growing up, then again, she was forced to grow up at the age of 7, no wonder she wanted to make friends with Rini so bad. But she didn't have to worry about keeping Rini, but Gaea didn't know that yet. And it was not time to tell her.
"Yes, of course. I will be fine on my own tonight. It will be nice to have some privacy for once." She answered with a chuckle and a wink in Gaea's direction. Gaea and Rini jumped up and hugged smiling and laughing. They walked out of the room discussing what they were going to do that night. Darien and Serena sighed, shaking their heads as a page closed the door behind the 2 chatterboxes.
"Thank you. Rini had friends when we lived on Earth many years ago, but since then she hasn't made any here. I thin that this will do her some good. And the same goes for your Gaea." Serena said turning back to Athena, Darien nodded his head in agreement.
"Well, it is hard not to deny them anything. Their bond is so strong already, anything that would jeopardize that bond would most likely damage their minds." Athena said looking up at the three that nodded in agreement.
"I was going to ask you about that. They remind me of myself and her mother 10 years ago, truly their bringing from the future was not an accident. We were very surprised when we found babies on our doorstep at the age of ten. But we raised them well I see. Well I guess you mostly raised her, after her parent's death, I was so devastated that I could not gather that strength to call upon her to take her in. I scried her out one night and to see her asleep beside you, it made my heart ache, I could see the tear stains on her cheeks. But still she looked too much like her mother to bring her here to the Moon Court to live with me. I have wanted to apologies so many times to her, but I can't bring myself to do it." Serena said with pain behind her ocean blue eyes. But the tears had long been cried out, that Gaea knew without needing to be told. She sighed.
"If you had called on her, she wouldn't have know who you were. Her mother and father never told her about you. They thought her too young for such information. You know how the other Gods and Goddesses would have reacted if Gaea let it slip one day. They were planning on telling her on her 10th birthday, but they never lived to see her that old. I never told her because I forgot. I have been protecting her and raising her different form the outside world of Douleur that I forgot to tell her when she became of age. I think back now and wonder if I should have told her, it might have saver her a lot of pain." Athena said. {It would have saved myself pain also.} "But our bond has grown stronger because of everything, and I think that she is stronger because of it also." She finished.
Darien nodded. "I agree, Rini hasn't exactly had a great life either. She remembers why she was sent here from the future. It haunts her dreams, poor kid, and having a strong gift of empathy, Gaea should be able to sense it and help her. Does Gaea retain such knowledge?" Darien asked, now thoughtful, Athena thought for a moment and searched Gaea's unaware mind.
"She might have the knowledge, but not connect the fact that that is the reason for her arrival in her past." Athena said finally. She remembered dreams so strong that she had dreamed them to. Dreams of horrific scenes that she hoped weren't true dreams. But now that she thought about it, they might have been. {Hmmm, I wonder…}
"With your permission, I would like to scan Rini's dreams tonight. Being with Gaea might trigger something in side them both. But I would like your permission to read her dreams." Athena said startling Luna who had only been half listening to the conversation around her.
"You can do that? But you're not bonded with her." Luna said stunned.
"Yes, but I need her parents permission. I would be looking into her very soul, for that's where true dreams come from." Athena said looking at Serena and Darien. They were as stunned as Luna was. She could tell that all three of them were mindspeaking. She waited, trying her best to look indifferent. Finally Luna spoke.
"How can you do this if you are not bonded?" Athena looked at them and said simply,
"I insert my conscienceness into hers once she is asleep. It is like what you would do if you, Serena, were going to see through Luna's eye's, but instead of opening up your eyes you turn your mind inward. You look for the warmth of their soul and go towards it till you can hear or see their dreams and visions. Simple really." Athena said. She stood up and bowed.
"I must leave to prepare my self for dinner, unless you have any more questions for me?" Athena asked, hopping for none.
"Not at the moment. We'll see you in the Great Hall." Darien said, obviously the only one who had any room in their head to respond. Athena nodded and walked out. {I need some time to clear my head before tonight.} She thought as she headed down the hall past the gardens to the rooms she shared with Gaea that she knew would be empty and quiet. Suddenly she felt those evil eyes on her again. This time they looked upon her with such malice that it made Athena waver in her steps and almost fall over. {Thank the Elements that there isn't anyone in the hall to see this.} She thought as she looked around and found no one but the paintings on the wall. She heard 2 blood curdling screams in the back of her mind that she knew were those of Gaea and Rini. But she heard nothing with her physical ears. No one else would know that the 2 were in danger or hurt, even dead.