Chapter Five
A/N: ALL PICTURES ARE ON WATTPAD. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DESCRIBE IT.
It was only a few days later when Perci was awakened from a sound sleep in the middle of the night. She sat up and just looked around, trying to see what had awakened her.
"Perci…" a whisper came. She gasped and turned towards the door of her room only to see no one there. She stood up and grabbed her robe, wrapping it around her and also summoned her trident to her as she slipped her soft shoes on.
"Hello?" Perci called out as she began to walk up the stairs to the main level of her home. The statues moved at her alert posture, turning their heads as she moved through the house, but didn't move more than that.
"Perci…" the whisper came again… this time from outside. Taking a deep breath she left the safety of her house and moved outside towards the water edge where she had sensed the voice calling her from.
She reached the beach and looked out across the water, loving the way that the moon set a lovely glow over everything.
"Persephone." Perci gasped and raised the trident in defense as she spun, only to see that Ulmo, Valar of the Sea, was standing there. She put her trident down as he gazed at her in amusement.
"Really? You almost gave me a heart attack, my Lord."
"My apologies, Persephone, but I have to have some fun where I can." He came to stand beside her and lifted his hands. In his hands, was the wooden box that contained three more globes.
"W-What's going on?" Perci stammered.
"We, the Valar, believe it is time for Atlantis to expand. You have proven to us and to the Eldar that this is a place of healing, of light, and Middle Earth has another stronghold of light because of it. You have welcomed those in need into your peaceful and day to day life. As such, we have deemed you ready to add another kingdom."
"Another kingdom? Why?"
"You will know why when the time comes in the future." He opened the box displaying the three beautiful orbs to her. He plucked one from the box before shutting the lid, the box disappearing back into her bedroom where it was kept. "Come." He disappeared into the ocean and Perci followed, immediately feeling strength fill her veins as she submerged. She followed the Valar with a sigh.
They emerged from the water and onto rocks, facing a bunch or waterfalls coming down the side of the mountain range. She looked back from where they had come from, and could barely make out Atlantis in the distance. The lined the edges of the river that they had same up to get to the base of the waterfalls.
"Where are we?"
"We are at the far edge of the mountain range surrounding Atlantis. Now, Queen Persephone, if you would?"
Perci took a deep breath before taking the globe and throwing it towards the bottom of the waterfall. In a short time, rumbling took place. Back in Atlantis, the Eldar were awakened and alarmed, emerging from their new homes to find the source of the rumbling but no one could find it.
Perci watched as a city emerged from in-between the waterfalls, the waterfalls and cliffs forming extra protection for the new city. Steps leading down to the base of the waterfall formed in front of them, two stone gargoyles on the end of the railings forming.
"Queen Persephone, I now pronounce you Queen Persephone of Atlantis and Avalon." He disappeared back into the ocean, not bothering to stick around her now that what he had set out to accomplish was done.
She stepped up to the base of the steps with a deep breath. Perci stopped before taking the first step though. She turned to one of the gargoyles. "Hello, may I come through?"
The gargoyle animated at her question. "Of course, your majesty. My stone brothers and sisters here are just like our cousins in Atlantis. We are yours to command, and your guards when you are in danger. You will find, however, Avalon to be a bit different than Atlantis. Atlantis came with wildlife but no citizens… here you will find that little wildlife was brought but citizens we have aplenty… but all are loyal to you."
"Thank you." Perci was about to take a step once again when the trees near her began to rustle. Turning around, she was met with an old sight: centaurs. Centaurs had begun to emerge from the forest on both sides of the river carrying bow and arrows. All of the males were extremely muscled and tattooed, the females were muscled as well but with no tattoos.
"Our Queen, we are the Fleetfoot tribe." The male centaur from the left bank said, his deep voice echoing around them.
"Our Queen, we are the Monterey tribe."
"And together, our tribes protect the forests where our homes are located. If you have need of us for any reason, you may call upon us." The stallion of the Fleetfoot tribe said. Perci inclined her head in thanks and it seemed that was enough before they all faded back into the forest, disappearing from view. Water rippling below her directed her attention to the river around her. Five different water beings emerged from the water.
Perci gasped and knelt down, not wanting to tower over them. The first being made completely of water rose until she was standing on the water. Perci noticed that the being also had wings made up of water as well.
"Queen Persephone, we are the water fairmentals - part of a race that makes up the four elements. The elements are and always will be on your side when needed." The distinctly feminine voice said.
A being with a fish head but a bipedal muscled body with a dagger at its waist and a trident in its hands moved forward.
"Queen Persephone, we are the Merfolk. We guard the outskirts of Atlantis and Avalon in the ocean and are the first line of water defense. We have villages for our kind under the water and will only come to the surface if summoned or if there is an emergency. We can fight on land as well as in water although our preference will always be the water."
A blue and green woman made up of water and water plants came forward. Perci knew what she is. A naiad.
"My sisters and I are naiads and we guard the rivers and riverbanks as well as are the healers for those of water."
Two different types of mermaids than moved forward. One more colorful than the other.
"I am a mermaid, and our race lives in villages like the merfolk, we are in fact neighbors. We - like the naiads - are healers. Very few of us are warriors."
"I am a siren. We use our voices to lure the enemies into a sense of safety before we strike. We fight with the merfolk and live in their villages and the mermaid villages."
"Thank you, all of you for coming and introducing yourselves to me. At a later time, I would like to visit your villages, if I may."
"We would be honored." With that the five water based beings disappeared.
Wow, Perci thought, not even starting to go up the stairs and already the new beings that Avalon brought with it amazed her. Six new species and she couldn't wait to meet the others.
Rustling from a tree or two again caused her head to turn once again to the forest. A woman emerged from the tree and another formed from a flurry of flowers until another fairmental - this one a brown one - appeared.
"We are the earth fairmentals and like our water cousins we are more elemental than a race."
"We are Dryads and we inhabit most of the trees around the base of Avalon. We, like the Naiads, are the healers for the four-legged creatures and two-legged." They then disappeared.
Perci stretched her senses out to see if any others were going to emerge but found nothing. So she turned back to the stairs and began to ascend. As she came closer, she saw that the city was several layers and spirals. Peaks stretching high into the sky. Gargoyles guarded each landing that she came to. Coming to the first structure that was the base, Perci was met with a wispy looking woman and a being made of fire and a being made of air.
"We are the fire fairmentals."
"We are the air fairmentals." And with that, they disappeared, not having to expand as their fellow fairmentals had already done so.
"I am a banshee, or a wailing woman. We can sense Death and as such, are the avatars for Mandos. We help spirits cross over and prepare the fallen for burials."
The banshee then turned and disappeared into a dark temple that was furthest away from the waterfall. Further up, she went, seeing the spires of the buildings and domes of others. She reached what she assumed was the middle and saw that two beings stood in her way. One was a woman clothed in golden robes and a white flower crown, and just glowed with light. The other was a long haired man clothed and cloaked in shadows, long hair flowing behind him, a black flower crown atop his head.
"Hello, Queen Persephone, we are the Fae." Both said at the same time. The woman's voice was filled with warmth, while the man's was filled with coldness.
The woman stepped forward. "I am Tatiana, Leader of the Light Fae."
"I am Adonis, Leader of the Dark Fae."
"Both of our peoples are protectors of the Lake of Avalon." Tatiana said.
"Lake of Avalon?" Tatiana motioned for Perci to follow her as Adonis fell into step beside their queen. They didn't move up into the city, no, they moved in towards the cliff until they reached a cave entrance being guarded by black and gold armored warriors that reminded Perci a bit of the Eldar warriors she had come to be around. The warriors did not bow to the leaders of their factions, although they did bow their heads in respect. They bowed deeply to Perci.
"What are you doing here?" Tatiana asked as she stared at her fellow light fae. Adonis didn't seem surprised to see his kin there. In fact, he had a small grin on his face as if he knew what was about to happen.
"Queen Persephone. I am Amadeus, Captain of the Dark Fae Guard."
"Your Majesty, I am Fandral, Captain of the Light Fae Guard."
"We are guarding the entrance to the Lake of Avalon." Amadeus said. He turned his attention onto Perci. "My Queen, the Dark Fae Guard would like to request for fifty of our numbers be allowed to join your guard."
Fandral turned to Perci as well. "My Queen, the Light Fae Guard would like to request for fifty of our numbers be allowed to join your guard."
Perci raised an eyebrow, slightly shocked. Adonis didn't seem fazed, having seemed to be expecting this. Tatiana, was extremely shocked.
"WHAT?!" She exclaimed. "What about the Lake?"
If it wouldn't have been disrespectful, Perci was sure that Fandral, Amadeus, and Adonis would have rolled their eyes. Perci could already tell she wouldn't get along with Tatiana.
"Tatiana, we have all sworn to protect the Lake of Avalon and we all still will be. Just a hundred of us will be protecting our Queen whom is just as important as the Lake. Even with a hundred Fae going to protect Her Majesty, that leaves us with nine hundred able-bodied warriors."
Perci could see in Tatiana's eyes that nothing was more important than the Lake of Avalon. Not even Perci. Perci probably ranked in the top five in her eyes. Perci narrowed her eyes on Tatiana. She would need to be watched, she could tell.
"I would be honored to accept whom would like to join my guard. But just so you are aware, I have a captain of the guard that you will all have to pass his requirements in order to join."
"We know, and none have any problems with that."
"Then, please, inform those that are joining me to be ready by noon today. I must return to Atlantis soon or else they will begin to worry."
Then Perci moved through the guards and into the cave towards this mysterious Lake of Avalon. She heard footsteps following behind her as they scrambled to keep up with her fast pace.
The cave opened up into a large cavern that had an opening at the top that was lined with trees. She could see dryads peeking their faces out from their trees to see what was happening. The lake was clear and Perci could see koi fish swimming peacefully through it. A tree stump with a smooth top was to the side that had two bowls. One of the bowls was empty while the others had empty vials on necklaces. She also could see the plant Altheas around the edges.
"What is this?"
"This, Queen Persephone, is the Lake of Avalon… or the healing waters." Adonis said coming up to stand beside her. Only the two captains and Adonis had joined her. Perci could sense Tatiana hovering behind.
"Healing waters?"
"The Lake of Avalon can cure and heal many ailments. They can even fight the poison of Morgul blades better than Altheas."
Perci's eyes widened in awe at this.
"When our warriors go to battle, they each get a vial filled with the water either to heal themselves or heal a comrade. If it is not used by the time that they return home, the water from the vials are returned to the Lake. All of Avalon are aware of it, and are free to use it." Amadeus explained.
"Incredible." She whispered softly. She knelt down and dipped her hand into the water. She ignored the protest from behind her as she closed her eyes to sense the water. Perci pretty much submerged her very soul into the waters of the lake to become as familiar with it as she possibly could at this moment. Once done, she stood and turned to Adonis. "Lord Adonis," she ignored Tatiana's gasp, knowing that Perci acknowledging Adonis's status of lordship officially made him of a higher status than Tatiana. "May I take a vial of the water with me?"
"As far as we are concerned, the Lake is yours as well as it is apart of Avalon, and Avalon and Atlantis are apart of you."
He moved over, grabbed a vial, and knelt to fill it. Once it was filled, he put a stopper on it and handed the necklace to her. "My Queen."
"Thank you, my Lord… now if you'll excuse me, I have the rest of Avalon to explore before I leave to return to Atlantis."
"As you wish, my Queen."