The Storm Rages On
Chapter Fourteen
Courage, Part Two
"Alúvelin!"
Valanda's frantic call echoed throughout the cavernous room, dissipating into nothingness. Desperately, she searched for signs of her daughter's presence. The two had been together as they entered the chamber, but when the brilliant light that overwhelmed them faded, Alúvelin had been nowhere to be found.
"Alúvelin! Where are you?!" Heart pounding, Valanda moved deeper into the chamber, holding her breath, fearing the worst. A door ahead of her opened, beckoning her. She rushed toward it, praying that she would find her daughter on the other side. She crossed the entryway and—
She was home, in the ancient fortress of her people, standing in her bedchamber.
"What . . . What is this?" Valanda whispered. "How did I get here?"
Astonished, she studied the room's furnishings. Everything was exactly as she remembered, down to the last detail. She picked up the familiar hand mirror resting on her night table, holding it gently in her arms. The weight was the same, as were the detailed carvings formed into the handle. Valanda inhaled sharply, not daring to believe what she was seeing. It was as if the past thirty-two years had never happened.
A bright giggle rang in her ears. Startled, she spun about, looking around the room.
"Who's there?" Valanda asked, her hands glowing red with flame as she cautiously moved forward. "Show yourself!"
The bell-like laugh sounded once more. Valanda frowned, her eyes studying, searching for whatever it was that made the sound. "Stop hiding and show yourself! I mean it! Show me who you are, or I'll—"
"Boo!" A small figure burst forward from under the bed, its sudden appearance causing Valanda to shriek in surprise.
Calming herself, Valanda looked at the figure. It was a young girl, not much older than five. Her long red hair ringed her face, accenting the brilliant smile that threatened to leap right off the child's countenance. But it was the eyes that drew Valanda's attention. Eyes of purest blue, icy, familiar.
The girl laughed, clapping her hands. "Mama! Mama! I scared you! I scared you!"
Valanda's heart stopped beating momentarily, her breath catching in her throat. "'Mama'?" she whispered, not daring to believe. This is impossible. It cannot be! Shaking her head, she moved toward the girl. "What . . . What is your name, child?"
The girl giggled, her beautiful voice warming Valanda's very soul. "Mama, you're silly! You know it's me! Alúvelin!"
Alúvelin? Valanda stepped backwards, her knees buckling, sinking to the floor. Her hands trembled as she reached out to touch the girl . . . her daughter.
"Alúvelin?" she whispered, running her fingers through the girl's flowing locks. "Is . . . Is it really you?"
The girl folded her arms, pouting. "Mama, you're acting very strange. Are we not playing anymore? I scared you, now it's your turn! You promised you'd play with me! It's our favorite game!" The girl suddenly cocked her head, her eyes filling with concern. "Did . . . Did I make you mad, Mama? Do you not want to play anymore? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"
Valanda threw her arms around the girl, pulling her close, holding her small body to her chest, tears freely flowing down her face. "No, my little Alúvelin! I'm not upset! I . . . I'm so happy!"
Alúvelin frowned, concerned by her mother's unusual behavior. "Mama, you're crying! I knew I made you sad! I'm sorry!"
Valanda brushed the tears from her eyes, letting her daughter step back slightly, looking directly into her beautiful, blue eyes. "No, adamera. I'm fine. Everything is going to be just fine now."
A mischievous grin formed on young Alúvelin's face. "So, does that mean you still want to play?"
Valanda laughed. "You bet! You'd better hide, because I'm going to find you and scare you!"
"Will not!" The little girl took off, running out of the room at top speed.
I don't know how this is possible, Valanda thought, but this is the greatest gift I ever could have received. If this is a dream, please, don't let it end!
"Mother! Mother, are you all right? Where are you?"
Alúvelin searched the empty chamber, hoping that one more pass would reveal her mother's location. She frowned, concern flooding her mind. We were together when we entered the chamber. Where could she have gone?
Frustrated, she sank to the ground, rubbing her temples, trying desperately to calm herself, to remain calm. "Mother!"
"Daughter?"
A familiar voice broke the silence. Alúvelin stood, turning toward the center of the room. A woman stood there now, staring directly at her.
"Mother!" Alúvelin rushed toward the woman, relief flooding her mind. "Mother, what happened? Where did you—"
She froze, staring at the woman, not comprehending. "Who . . . Who are you?"
The woman standing before her was most certainly not Valanda. This woman was older, in her late forties. Though she was still beautiful, she bore the type of beauty that comes with age and wisdom, rather than with youth and vigor. Several small streaks of gray ran through the woman's hair. But her eyes . . . Her eyes were the purest shade of green Alúvelin had ever seen. The eyes were unquestionably—
"Daughter? What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" The woman moved toward Alúvelin, her eyes full of hurt, of pain at not being considered familiar.
Head spinning, Alúvelin backed away. "Who are you?" she asked again, her voice trembling.
"It's me, Alúvelin," the woman replied, holding out her arms. "It's your mother. Valanda."
No! It can't be!
The woman claiming to be Valanda moved toward Alúvelin once more. "Are you all right, Daughter? You're trembling! What is wrong?"
"Stay back," Alúvelin whispered. "You're not my mother. This is some kind of trick!"
"Alúvelin, how can you say that?" The woman looked Alúvelin directly in the eyes, taking her hand. "Don't you know me? Don't you remember me raising you? Caring for you?"
"No," Alúvelin shook her head. "No, you didn't raise me. You didn't! You were . . . You were . . . I mean, wait . . . What . . .?"
Her memories were all jumbled inside of her mind. Remember? She used to play with you when you were a child. Remember all the fun games we would play? We used to sit by the fire for hours, reading books, telling stories. It was so much fun!
But . . . But she wasn't there! a voice countered. Was she?! I . . . I can't remember . . .
Suddenly, Alúvelin opened her eyes, smiling at her mother in recognition. "Mother! How did you find me down here?"
The older Valanda embraced her daughter. "When you didn't return on schedule, I knew something was wrong. I came as quickly as I could. Thank goodness I did. You've been wandering down here for days, lost, confused." She brushed a stray lock of hair from Alúvelin's eyes. "Why did you come down here, anyway? What was so important?"
Alúvelin frowned, trying to remember. "I . . . I don't know. All I know is . . . is you're with me now. And . . . And that's all that matters!"
Older Valanda smiled, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "That's wonderful," she said. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
"Alúvelin? Alúvelin, where are you?!"
Valanda wandered the halls of the fortress, searching for her young daughter. Oh, she has gotten very good at this! she thought. I'll have to make sure she doesn't get to hide anymore after this!
A small flurry of scurrying feet caught Valanda's eye. She turned quickly, bending down as she did so.
"Oh, no, you don't! I found you! I found you!" She scooped up her daughter in her arms, spinning her around, holding her high above her head.
Alúvelin giggled with glee. "Again! Again, Mama!"
"All right, all right," Valanda said, setting her daughter on the ground. "Just give me a moment. I've had so much trouble finding you that I want to just look at you before you run off again."
"Mama!" Alúvelin protested. "I wanna play!"
"Just a few more minutes, adamera," Valanda said. She kissed her daughter on the forehead. "I love you, Alúvelin. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, Mama," the little girl replied. Her eyes suddenly gleamed. "Tell me about Papa again. Please!"
Valanda sighed, memories flowing into her mind. "He was a very handsome man, adamera. Tall, blonde hair, blue eyes just like yours. He . . . He came here for a few days to speak with your grandmother. And while he was here, we . . . we fell in love."
She leaned down, her eyes directly before Alúvelin's. "But he couldn't stay. He had his own people to worry about. And your grandmother, she . . . she and your Papa didn't exactly get along very well." She took her daughter's hand. "But we knew, your Papa and I, that our love was too beautiful not to make something just as beautiful from it. So, before he left, your Papa left me a wonderful present." She took her finger, touching Alúvelin's nose. "You! He left you right here so you could grow strong." She held her daughter's hand to her abdomen. "And, when you were ready, you came out so we could be together. Forever!"
"Really?" Alúvelin's eyes were wide, full of excitement. "Will I . . . Will I ever see him, Mama?"
Valanda laughed. "Maybe someday, adamera. Maybe someday."
No, she won't. She won't because Isarn is dead!
Valanda shook her head, wondering where the strange thoughts had suddenly come from.
"Mama, are you all right?" Alúvelin asked.
"I . . . I'm fine, adamera. I'm just . . ."
Fight it! Don't give in! This isn't real! You know this! Don't let yourself be fooled!
Valanda closed her eyes, rubbing her temples, confusion running rampant through her mind.
This feels so real, though! she thought. It's everything I ever wanted! I have my daughter! She is young! We can start over, do this again the right way, the way it should have been! It's not too late!
NO! The rational part of her mind grew louder. Don't you see? This is a trick! You're giving in! Stop it! Fight back! You know that no matter what you do, you can never undo the past! Your daughter is an adult and there's nothing you can do to change that! If you stay in this delusion, you'll go mad! Fight it! Fight it!
"Mama! Mama, I'm getting scared! What's wrong?"
Valanda opened her eyes, crying out in shock.
They were now in Alúvelin's bedroom. The girl lay on her bed, her face deathly pale, her eyes dull, her hands cold.
"What is this?" Valanda whispered, terror filling her heart. "What's wrong?"
Alúvelin looked at her, her eyes silently pleading for help. "Mama, they say . . . They say I'm sick. That I'm going to die. Is . . . Is it true?"
NO! Oh, God, please, no! Don't make me watch this!
Valanda took Alúvelin's hand, holding it tightly. "It's going to be all right, adamera," she whispered. "Mama's here. Everything . . . Everything is going to be just fine. I promise!"
It's not real! It's not real! Don't let it affect you! He's desperate now, trying to make you give in! Don't! Fight back! Fight back!
The young girl suddenly began coughing violently, blood spewing from her mouth. Valanda cried out in horror, taking a nearby cloth, soaking up the crimson liquid.
"Mama," Alúvelin whispered. "I . . . I'm so cold! I don't want to die . . ."
It's not real! Valanda told herself, shutting her eyes. It's not real! It's not real!
With a final coughing fit, Alúvelin suddenly became still, unmoving, her eyes staring steadily at the ceiling.
"NOOOOOOO!" Valanda screamed, throwing herself on her daughter's small, lifeless form, not caring whether what she witnessed was real or not. She looked to the ceiling. "This is cruel!" she screamed. "This is horrible! What am I supposed to prove? What do you want?!"
The room around her swirled, melting into a sea of liquid color, like paint blending on an easel. Valanda screamed and screamed and screamed in despair as the colors overwhelmed her mind—
She opened her eyes. She was back in the chamber of rock, the only sounds filling her ears the steady drip of water from a nearby stream and the sobs that racked her own body. Forcing herself to her feet, she steadied herself, turning toward the exit, moving as quickly as possible out of the room that had brought her a cruel taste of the life that should have been her own, but now never would be.
"Come, Daughter!"
Older Valanda gestured toward the door from which Alúvelin had entered the chamber. "We must hurry. There are so many things to do before your big day tomorrow."
"Big . . . day?" Alúvelin asked hesitantly.
"Of course! Have you forgotten? You are to be wed tomorrow, Daughter."
What? That's not . . . Wait . . . Oh, of course! Memories flooded her mind, memories of wedding planning, of dispatching invitations, of countless related activities.
"I'm sorry, Mother," Alúvelin said. "I completely forgot for a moment. I guess . . . I guess I've just been so distracted lately that my thoughts have been a little scattered."
"I've noticed that as well," Older Valanda said. "Thank goodness I am here to keep you on track. What would you do without me, Daughter?"
"I . . . I don't know," Alúvelin said. "I guess . . . We've always been together. Haven't we?"
Older Valanda frowned. "Daughter, now you are beginning to worry me. Have you hurt your head on your little adventure? You are acting very peculiarly."
"No," Alúvelin said. "I . . . I just . . ." She paused, looking at her mother who had stopped before the door. "What's the matter?"
"Alúvelin, hurry. You need to go back now. You're going to miss everything!"
Alúvelin stepped forward, then suddenly stopped, a twinge of doubt ringing in her ears. "Why don't you go ahead, Mother? I'll be right behind you."
Older Valanda looked at Alúvelin, her eyes narrowing. "Daughter, I insist. Go ahead. Leave this wretched chamber at once. There is no time!"
The warning sound in her ear was growing louder. This isn't right! You know that! Don't listen to her! Don't! Don't!
"What . . . What is my fiancée's name, Mother?"
Older Valanda looked at Alúvelin in astonishment. "You mean . . . You don't know?"
"I'd like to hear it from you," Alúvelin said. "Please, just tell me his name."
Her mother shook her head. "This is ridiculous! We are wasting precious time, and—"
"His name," Alúvelin said sternly.
Older Valanda stared at her, not answering. Understanding, clarity descended upon Alúvelin.
"You can't tell me, can you?" Alúvelin said. "You can't tell me because there is no wedding. None of this is real! These memories, this life . . . Nothing about you is real!"
"Daughter, I will not be spoken to like this—"
"No!" Alúvelin looked at the woman, her hands blazing with flame. "You are not my mother!" she cried. "My mother was not there for me when I was a child. I did not know her growing up. And she is not older than me. Not anymore! Whatever you are, get away from me! Now!"
A sneer appeared on Older Valanda's face. "You stupid, stupid girl! You could have accepted it! You could have lived out your days in blissful ignorance, happily dwelling within the confines of your own mind!"
"I'd rather build a relationship with my real mother, the woman who sacrificed everything for me, thank you very much," Alúvelin spat. She looked at the ceiling. "This challenge is over! You have lost! Now, GET OUT!"
Older Valanda cackled with glee as she vanished, Alúvelin's flame dispelling the illusion.
Alúvelin forced the tears of despair, of longing, that threatened to overwhelm her back into her eyes. Breathing deeply, she turned to the door that had just opened on the other side of the chamber, eager to reunite with her real mother, eager to put the accursed chamber of illusions behind her once and for all.
AN: This was a great chapter to write. More to come!