Queen of the Wild Magic—Chapter 8
"Just try it again!" Morgana demanded impatiently, lighting another set of candles with the wave of her hand. Addy could tell that the honeymoon period was over. This was the Morgana she had been expecting.
Addy sighed, and squinted at the set of five candles blazing before her. GO OUT! She thought painfully. JUST GO OUT! The candles taunted her by dancing upon their wicks even brighter.
"Seriously," Morgana fumed, "it can't be that hard! Really." She crossed her arms and deferred to the black-haired fairy lounging in the corner of the empty palace hall. "I thought you said she had magic?"
"Oh, My Lady, she does. She most certainly does!" Theosfain exclaimed, jumping up and joining them.
She tossed back her streams of ebony hair with one hand. "I've seen rats that had more magic than what she does."
If Addy hadn't been so utterly desperate to learn magic, she would have told the witch exactly where she could shove her 'rats'. But she had to endure the sarcasm, the taunts, the humiliation. She had to learn to control her powers and to use her abilities. There was far too much at stake.
Grinding her teeth, she closed her eyes, did her best to try and wipe out Morgana's insults, and concentrated solely on putting out the candles.
Again, nothing happened.
What am I doing wrong? She wanted to scream with frustration, to rage and cry. "I can't do it. I don't know why, but I can't." Addy did her best to keep the emotion from her voice, but she could hear it there, betraying her.
Theosfain stood near her, a small understanding smile upon his thin lips. He had not failed in his promise to never leave her alone with the witch Morgana. His small encouragements and reassurances were the only thing keeping her going. He looked at her sympathetically.
Morgana frowned in disgust, her sea-foam eyes no longer bright and sunny. They had turned a stormy grey long ago. For the first few times they had practiced, she had maintained the sweet, friendly charade. But as it became clear the Addy was no student of magic, she had started to revert to her old ways. She was harsh and biting, and Addy could feel the anger starting to seep from her skin. How long before Morgana decided she'd played nice for long enough?
"Perhaps we are simply going about this all wrong," Theosfain stated. He paced the chamber in long, elegant strides, the glow of his skin misting changing colors as he passed by the rainbow windows. "Lady Addy does not have the magic of the Old Religion. What she has is different. The Wild Magic is by its very nature unpredictable. Maybe what she needs is to learn spontaneity."
Suddenly, the anger was gone from Morgana's face. It was replaced by a strange look Addy couldn't quite place. Like joy, but not quite, and far more sinister. "Of course. Fairy, you are absolutely right! I've been trying to teach her to use a power she does not have." She spun on her heel. "Addy, you brought me back from the dead. That is no easy task, so you must have some ability, however small. Give me a moment to think." She waved them off like they were flies buzzing about her face.
Addy and Theosfain watched in confusion as Morgana muttered and whispered to herself, occasionally shaking her head and once even stamping her foot. After nearly ten minutes of this, she stopped her pacing and rushed quickly back to the dais where Addy and the fairy waited.
"Did you figure it out?" Addy asked, with only the slightest bit of sarcasm in her voice. She hated feeling indebted to her.
Morgana was all smiles again. "I believe I have it." She motioned to Theosfain. "Can you capture me a small bird?"
"A bird, My Lady?"
"Yes, just something small. To practice on." She said and walked away, lost in thought.
Theosfain shrugged and sent for a nearby guard. He explained what was needed and the fairy guardsman ran off. Only moments later, he returned, rushing into the hall with a tiny creature in his hands. Theosfain thanked him and took the bird. He held it out to Morgana.
"Perfect." She admired the birds striking coloration. Pinks and yellows, striped with bright green. She met Addy's bewildered stare. "Addy. I want you to picture a bird just like this one in your mind."
Addy wasn't sure what she wanted or where this was going, but she did what was asked. Closing her eyes, she pictured the same bird, strange colors and all.
"Now, I want you to change something about it. Some important detail, so you will be able to recognize that it was your bird. Maybe give it two beaks or an extra wing. Understand?"
Addy was trying to focus, but her thoughts were as scattered as her emotions. Of course I don't bloody well understand! And who would give a bird two beaks? That just seems cruel. Come on, Addy. You have to do this! Give it an extra something. Right. She saw it in her mind. It wasn't pink and yellow any more. In her mind, the bird was exactly the same except for the fact that it had no color. It was now black and white. She nodded slowly. "I see it."
"Good. Now, I want you to bring the bird in your mind to life."
"What?" Addy asked, eyes flying open.
Morgana placed a hand on her hip. "Close your eyes, concentrate, and bring your bird to life. I'm sure you'll figure it out." She said as if she weren't asking Addy to do the impossible.
Gnashing her teeth, Addy grumbled under her breath. "Bring it to life? Pfft. How am I supposed to do that?" Well, how did I do it before? Before, she had always focused on one thought, until it forced the magic through her. So why couldn't that work now? She took a deep breath and thought about her black and white bird. As she concentrated, she began to notice that she could still hear the heartbeat of the earth. That, in fact, she had been hearing it non-stop since she had arrived. It was like a soft, endless drum. She drew out a breath on one beat, and exhaled the next. She felt her thoughts become clearer, her emotions steadier. Life, she thought, tugging at the force of magic beneath her. It rushed through her, like a pipe ready to spew forth water. Her breath caught and her eyes opened.
Hovering in the air, just in front of her was a bird. A black and white bird.
Morgana clapped her hands together and laughed. "You did it! You created life from... nothing! This is... I mean that was great!" She rubbed her hands together and peered at her hungrily, like a cat waiting to devour a mouse. "What else can you do?"
Theosfain came to her rescue. He cleared his throat and proclaimed, "My Ladies, you have been working so hard today already. Perhaps you would like to take a small break and refresh yourselves. Then, you can start anew in a little while."
Addy breathed a huge sigh of relief and quickly followed Theosfain out of the empty chamber back to her own room. She caught up to him just before her doorway. Glancing around to make sure she was not followed, she whispered. "Did you see the way she was looking at me when I made that bird appear? It was like all her Christmases came at once. I don't trust her, Theo. She's up to something."
He nodded weakly. "I know. But we've watched her movements and studied her words. We can find no reason for alarm. I know she is harsh, that she seems cruel. But that is simply the manner to which she has been accustomed. And she is helping you, My Lady. You must admit that."
"Yes. I suppose. Although I'm not sure I'd call her berating me for not being able to make a chair levitate helping."
"You are making progress, though. That must please you."
"Yes. I'll admit, making that bird appear was easier than before. I can feel the magic now, within me. I know where it comes from and how to draw it out." She trembled a little at the memory of it. It was a powerful force she controlled, and the true extent of what she might be capable of was just starting to occur to her. She had made something from nothing. And why stop at small birds? She could create any creature she could dream up. She shuttered as she recalled the last such creature. It had killed Merlin. No, she was done creating life for fun. She would not do it again.
As if reading her thoughts, Theosfain patted her sympathetically on the arm. "I know you have concerns about Morgana, and about returning home. You shouldn't worry. Soon you will have control of your magic. And as for Morgana, I will not let her harm you," he moved so close that she could see all the details in the tiny feathers laced into his unruly black hair. Addy backed away, unsure of what he was implying. Did he fancy her?
"Um. Thanks, Theo. I- I think I should, uh, go." She said, and slipped quickly through the door to her room. She closed her eyes and clutched the bedpost. Never in all her life had she felt so alone and miserable. I need to get out of here. I need to go home. I need Merlin.
Author's Note-
I've left Addy in a pretty miserable place. Who are her friends? Who can she trust? And will Merlin save her soon enough? Keep reading!
Next time: What should be a quick journey back to Cardiff is interrupted by some unforeseen happenings. And remember, one will go, one will stay... So, who's destiny is it to save Addy and who's to save the world?
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