Five
Her first sensation was that of soreness, encasing the whole of her body. The sight that greeted her eyes upon opening was unfamiliar. This was not the ceiling of the guest room she had been occupying for the past dozen days. A mural of the night sky and unfamiliar constellations glimmered down on her. Her brows furrowed and as she tried to turn her head to see further into the room and she realized that such a simple task was rather difficult; her head seemed to be filled with lead. The rest of her limbs did not even so much as twitch.
Her second sensation was the feeling of otherness, it filled the air with a strange sort of quiet vibration, an unidentifiable scent so diluted it was barely there. She recognised the feeling from long ago. From that eventful day in her life when imagination and reality mingled and magic rolled over her like thunder once fateful words were spoken. Panic set in. NO, no, no, not again.
"I see you are awake." A voice spoke quietly, intended to induce calm. A face appeared in her vision, pale with blue eyes peering down on her in concern.
"Who..?" Sarah's throat was so dry it was painful. The face disappeared and she could hear the swishing of soft materials, the sound of pouring liquid. Something cool was held against her lips, but she pressed them together firmly.
"Please, I mean no harm. It is just water. Drink," was said in soothing tones.
Sarah took in a small sip and then more. The thin woman in front of her had very light skin almost translucent and her hair was pale gold but what really stood out were her ears, slightly pointed at the top. "Who are you? How did I get here, wherever here is?" she finished her earlier questions.
"I am Gabriel, Advisor to the late Lady Winter. What do you remember last?"
Although she should have been more careful and suspicious Sarah felt she could trust the woman in front of her. Her natural born instinct for reading people had served her well in the past. Only once had she utterly failed in sussing out the intention of a particular being. She wouldn't let that incident colour her judgement now. So Sarah recounted what she could remember from last night while the one called Gabriel sat listening to her patiently.
"The creature that attacked you was a blackraith. It feeds on magic. Especially those untrained are easy prey," explained the light haired woman. "The lethargy you are feeling is the consequence of magic being siphoned of you. Your body not used to such a violent attack is now repairing itself. If we hadn't found you in time," she stopped there with a shudder; it was probably not advisable to tell the patient in her current condition.
Sarah was confused. "I don't have any magic. Why would it attack me?"
Wariness flittered across Gabriel's expression. "It is best we discuss the rest once you have regained your strengths," she smiled reassuringly. "Please rest now, Sarah. All will be explained later."
"Wait..." Sarah felt her questions had not been really answered. In fact she had a whole list more. She called me Sarah.
She wasn't made to feel like a prisoner, she could go where and when she pleased; no verbal restrictions had been laid upon her. She still felt weak and tired easily but at least she wasn't confined to the bed anymore. Every effort was made to make her stay as comfortable as possible. She had been awarded a complete wardrobe which was a necessity since she only arrived in her pyjamas but it made her feel slightly guilty. Each garment was brand new, she had ascertained rather quickly, fitting her like a glove and the materials were just exquisite. Everywhere she went the servants treated her with deference. Maybe it was within their culture to treat guests like that, but she wasn't even a guest, just a stray they had saved from certain death. Nothing made sense and she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
She looked at her faithful shadow to the right and sighed. Agatha has been assigned to watch her every step it seemed and Sarah was not ungrateful, for this place was enormous, if she didn't take care and got lost it would be months before anyone found her. The whole build was designed in white stone; endless corridors wide and high, winded through, of what could be only called a palace. A palace set into the face of the mountain itself, as she had found out on her first excursion outside her chamber and stepped onto the terrace. She stopped breathing, words failed her, when she realised how dizzyingly high they were situated, surrounded by snowy mountain peaks with a breathtaking view nearly across the whole of the underground it seemed. There was no need to hold her prisoner. She wouldn't find a way off this place by any stretch of the imagination.
"Ah, sleeping beauty has finally awoken." A deep voice rumbled across her senses, warm and teasing. Sarah's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't noticed the figure sitting languorously on the edge of the parapet. Hair black as a raven's coat framed a tanned face with stray locks failing to hide bright blue eyes and an easy smile was upon full lips. Unlocking his crossed arms he rose from his perch with the grace of a jungle cat. Memories assailed her of a childhood spend consuming stories of the old Greek and Roman myths like sweet candy. It was as if, Ares, God of War stepped straight out of her imagination. Sarah couldn't fight the rosy hue colouring her cheeks as he came closer, towering over her.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Sarah. I'm glad to see you mostly recovered from your ordeal." Up close those blue eyes were even more mesmerizing.
"You know my name." She was puzzled. "How does everyone know my name, when I haven't mentioned it at all?"
"I apologise, milady." He lifted her hand in his; steady gaze fixed on her face, and pressed a kiss upon her fingertips. "I should have introduced myself. I am Rangar, Lord of Summer."
Sarah smiled shyly. "I'm Sarah Williams, but you already know that." This was a face that laughed a lot, she decided by the crinkling of his eyes.
"I wasn't impressed when I heard a human had been chosen", he admitted freely, "but meeting you is pleasant surprise indeed."
"Chosen?" Sarah squeaked surprised, taking her hand back abruptly. "What do you mean chosen?"
"Ah...I've said too much," he smiled ruefully; she looked adorable even when confused, but he couldn't give anything away, it was not in his place. Gabriel might look fragile but she can be surprisingly scary when provoked. It was in his best interest not to reveal anything further. His curiosity was sated. "I have to return home Lady Sarah. We will have plenty opportunities to get to know each other in future. Farewell for now. "
Opportunities...future, just what is he saying? Every creature she came across had this knowing look which unsettled her. If she wasn't still feeling ill, she would have raised hell to get some answers.
She knew very little about the situation she found herself in, and from what she gleaned from her reluctant host; she was in Caras Mahe the dwellings of Lady Winter, a land mainly consisting of a large mountain range to the north of the Underground. She was told about the previous Lady Winter's passing and that the palace was preparing for the next in line. As fascinating the whole experience was, Sarah wanted nothing more than to return home. She hasn't seen much of Gabriel lately, but she was to take dinner with her later in the day and Sarah was determined to finally put a stop to all this evasiveness. She had tried to get some information out of Brimbalt but he was stubbornly silent on the matter, saying that he was only responsible for her health. She should concentrate on recovering after nearly being mummified; the consequence of being attacked by a blackraith. Brimbalt had elaborated further by painting a picture in grisly detail, she was certain was a ploy to avoid any further enquiries. As fond as she was getting of the old dwarf who was treating her in such a kind and fatherly manner, being kept in the dark was driving her up the wall.
It was only Gabriel and herself at the dinner table today, Grimbalt was nowhere to be seen. Sarah decided to not start the confrontation on an empty stomach; it smelled delicious and her appetite had increased lately, so they talked about trivialities while they ate. Once Agatha had cleared the table, Sarah opened her mouth to say the words she had carefully prepared.
"I suppose we need to talk about the matter of your return." Gabriel said startling Sarah into closing her mouth.
"Yes, that would be nice." Sarah said simply though her one brow was twitching slightly. "As grateful as I am for being saved," here she paused, "I don't understand why you did so in the first place or how you could have possibly known about the danger I was in."
The emotions playing across the visage of the fae facing her was reminiscent of a soldier preparing for battle. In any other circumstance Sarah would have been amused, but now she felt something heavy settle over her heart.
"I will need to give you a little of our history before I can explain further, Sarah. So please be patient with me." Gabriel walked across the room and stood at the window allowing the cooling night breeze to calm her frayed nerves. There was no telling of how the young woman was going to react to what she was about to tell her. Oh, how she wished she could go back to her library and burrow herself in books and scrolls. "As you already know Caras Mahe is the domain of the recently departed Lady Winter, Arisande whose power was as her Title suggests. She had ruled over this domain for close to two thousand years," Gabriel's eyes misted. "To be honest I never thought the poor soul would last this long after the death of her husband some five hundred years ago, but she battled on so courageously. Unfortunately and not for lack of trying they had not been blessed with children. We were so frantically looking for a solution. You have to understand, Sarah, the lack of an heir puts Caras Mahe and the power that comes with it in a precarious situation. No not only Caras Mahe, the whole of the Underground would be affected. We were in threat of war from neighbouring kingdoms at the merest hint of a weakness. While not anyone can simply take on the mantle of Winter, if someone should be powerful enough there are certain rituals and spells which can enable the transfer of the Title. After endless nights and days spend researching we finally struck gold when the Book of History wrote out a prophecy."
Until now Gabriel had been gazing at the scenery outside but now she turned to Sarah with a solemn look in her eyes.
Sarah felt her heart constrict with dread. She did not like where this was going.
"Four hundred years ago we were foretold of your coming, Sarah." The words fell from Gabriel's lips like a final judgement. "A human baby of strong belief will be borne above. Her destiny set in the stars; she will wear the crown of ice."
Up in the highest tower of the Castle, in a circular chamber a large mirror was fixed on one side of the wall, oval in shape, its edges gilded delicately with silver. Facing the mirror stood a figure in black, one arm extended towards it as if pointing at something in the distance. A tendril of magic, the barest hint escaped towards the glass pane and upon reaching its goal a tiny image appeared right in the middle, stretching slowly outward unevenly and with some difficulty. It slightly collapsed onto itself but then continued to cover the whole of the surface. The figure in front of the mirror tilted its head thoughtfully and stepped back a little, allowing the light from the only window to fall upon its features, revealing a wispy and untamed fair mane, a sharp nose and thin but sensual lips that opened slightly to mutter irritated. "Seems a journey to Caras Mahe is unavoidable."
The chair she sat upon crashed to the floor with a bang. "You can't be serious." She blurted out louder than she intended. "You've got the wrong person. I don't have any magic. I need to get home, back to my family, back to my life." Sarah gripped the table, her knuckles whitening while she fought to remain standing.
Gabriel winced, this is the reaction she had expected but it did not make it any easier. Sympathy shone in her eyes. "Please Sarah, you need to remain calm. You have just regained your strength. It will be of no use to anyone if you should fall ill again."
Gabriel righted the chair and pressed the despairing young woman down gently. "You have powerful magic contained within you. You must have had some unusual things happening around you lately that attest to that fact. Please think back carefully."
Sarah was if anything honest with herself. She could not deny the instances that made her think that she was losing her mind. Occurrences that had nothing to do with her stay in the Labyrinth. Her eyes looked pleadingly into Gabriel's own. "There must be another way."
"The magic you hold will be your destruction if you remain untrained. Already your body has started to change, the process begun long before you arrived here. I am sorry child, but even if you returned home you would not survive long in the Above."
