Chapter Twelve - The Grove
Arwe stood in a defensive stance, hands raised and pulsing with energy. The Madar was circling her, furious magic rippling over him as he glared at her.
"Bitch," he spat before appearing behind her and bombarding her with another blast of light. Without conscious thought, she rolled out of the way and shot him with her own projectile, her instincts and training taking over.
He stumbled back from the force of her blast and she saw she'd hit him in the shoulder, his shirt blooming with blood. His face was twisted in a snarl and if he'd looked murderous before, he now looked almost feral.
She pulled out her knives and held them up, feeding her power into the blades.
"What are you doing?" she shouted, dropping her cloaking spell to allow her magic to roar out of her freely.
The Madar whipped his arm down to his side, a sizzling rope of magic dropping from his hand. He lassoed it around his head and Arwe barely managed to avoid it as it came down at her with a crack.
She'd stumbled as she dove, hitting her head on the floor. She felt blood gush down her face and sting her eye. She was overwhelmed, still reeling from the turn turn of events. There was a Madar and he was attacking her.
Just as she drew back to throw her knife, aiming at his arm, the door exploded in a cloud of dust and shards of wood.
Godric stood in the center of the room, covered in debris as he gripped the Madar by the throat, lifting him physically in the air. His fangs were out and his eyes were nearly black with rage and bloodlust.
Eric burst in behind him, fangs bared and a curved blade in his hand.
"Wait," she gasped, seeing the murderous intent in her bonded's eyes. "Don't kill him."
Godric growled, his aura rippling through the room in a wave of dark fury. The Madar twisted in his grip, gurgling red foam from his mouth.
"We need to interrogate him." She tried to stand but fell back down with a wave of dizziness. Her head was throbbing and her vision had become slightly blurry.
Godric released his grip on the man's throat, holding him around the chest with one arm and crushing his hands together with his other. Arwe thought she heard bones breaking.
The Madar gasped in ragged breaths, his head hanging limply.
"Who are you?" Arwe demanded, switching to her native tongue. "What quarrel do you have with me?"
The Madar didn't respond, only sneered at her with bloody teeth. Eric stepped closer, towering over him and letting out a growl so deep and inhuman it made Arwe break out in goosebumps. She couldn't see Eric's face from her position, but she saw the flash of fear in the banshee's eyes.
"My bloodmother asked you a question," he said softly, raising the blade of his sword to the man's throat.
The attacker didn't respond, instead shutting his eyes and starting to mutter in a strange, manic cadence.
"What the fuck is he doing?" growled Eric, looking briefly over his shoulder at her.
The Madar lifted his head abruptly and looked right at her. His eyes were glowing with such a fierce white light that it burned her retinas. She felt terror freeze her limbs, everything around her slowing to a crawl.
As more and more beams of light started shooting out of the Madar with unstable intensity, Arwe realized she had mere seconds to act.
With her head wound, she didn't trust herself to safely Blink Godric, Eric and herself out before the coming disaster, so she scrambled to her feet with raw determination and sprinted with all her strength towards the vampires.
LET HIM GO NOW NOW GET ERIC NOW she pushed at Godric, her command so strong in her panic that he immediately complied, shoving the Madar across the room and pulling Eric closer in one fluid motion.
She tackled them with a burst of magic, channelling every last shred of her energy into a protective dome around them.
"What—" started Eric in shock but never got to finish his sentence.
"For Malinor," came a thunderous voice behind them right before the room exploded in light.
She felt searing heat push against her dome, debris raining down on them as the room disintegrated from the blast. Her magic was roaring out of her like water out of a burst dam, streaming into her protection until she felt it start to flicker and gradually grow weaker.
She didn't know how long she held it, every atom of her being focused on keeping her magic flowing and the men beneath her safe. The last thing she saw were Godric's eyes staring up at her in horror before everything went black.
... ... ...
The bedroom was dark, illuminated solely by a small lamp on the side table. An almost oppressive silence filled the room.
Godric sat with his head in his hands, sheer will keeping him from collapsing with exhaustion.
Nestled on the bed next to him, looking fragile and pale, was Arwe.
The vampire replayed the scene from two days ago for the thousandth time in his mind.
After Arwe had impossibly tackled him and Eric to bear the brunt of the blast, Godric watched the unnatural light in her eyes burn with a frightening intensity as her magic flowed around them. The longer she held it, the faster he saw it flickering out and fading.
The room was disintegrating around them, fire and ash raining down like an apocalyptic storm - he barely noticed any of it as he watched the light leave her eyes with growing horror.
He'd tried to reach her through the bond, but all he heard through it was a wordless roar - the sound of her raw power unleashed. It was a terrifying sound; inhuman, ancient, beyond his understanding. There was no Arwe there.
Abruptly, the dome vanished without a trace and she collapsed on top of them, her body going limp. Everything around them was decimated, thick smoke beclouding the ruined room as sections of the ceiling collapsed to the ground. All the windows had been blasted through and a part of the outside-facing wall was nothing more than a gaping, smoking hole.
Ignoring his progeny's cries of distress, he gathered his bonded in his arms and bit into his own wrist, dripping blood into her parted lips.
When nothing happened, he struggled to reign in his panicked rage, his helplessness and terror. At least she was breathing, though shallowly.
Pam appeared in the ruined doorway, her face stricken, followed closely by Amos and Isabel. They all stared in wordless shock at the scene, at the still smoldering wood and twisted furniture, the motionless woman in his arms.
Godric could hear the alarmed shouts of other guests from inside the villa and knew he needed to act.
"Get us out," he barked, his power snapping furiously at the group.
It seemed to spur them into motion and Amos whipped out his phone, arranging for his driver to pick them up and take them to a safehouse.
In a blur of speed, the group fled the destroyed room and packed into the car, hurtling through the streets with a reckless velocity. While in the car, Godric ripped Amos' phone out of his hand and dialed a number, still holding Arwe to his chest.
"We need your urgent assistance, Dr. Ludwig," he barked as soon as the doctor picked up.
"I'm busy, vampire," came the disgruntled voice of the dwarf.
"I will double, triple your pay, whatever you want - just get here. Please," he added, something of his anguish slipping into his voice.
Later, they all stood around the bed as the tiny doctor examined Arwe's prone form, casting strange runic diagnostic spells over her.
Finally, she turned to them and shrugged, not one for empty platitudes. Godric felt his undead heart break at the gesture.
"I don't know how to help her, vampire. She is no creature I have ever seen. She is alive, though for how much longer, I can't say."
She packed up her instruments and turned to the Celt, an uncharacteristically apologetic look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry." And with that, she disappeared into thin air.
They'd decided not to move Arwe and to remain in New Orleans until her situation changed.
Amos avowed to increase protection around the safehouse and to personally stand guard over the family. Pam had tucked blankets around Arwe, cleaning the soot from her face and brushing out her hair, her snark noticeably absent.
Eric had gone on with a manic intensity about their next steps, desperate to find a way forward, until he was silenced by a cold glare and a barked command from Godric.
As for the Celt, he'd kept vigil over his bonded throughout the night and day, ignoring his bleeds and only sipping on blood when Pam delivered it to him.
He felt hollow, and beneath the emptiness inside him was a chasm of despair so large he felt it would swallow him whole if he allowed it to.
So he waited and watched her pale and still face, needing to see her eyes moving beneath her lids, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. As he sat in the darkness with dried blood caking his neck and cheeks, he felt the new, foreign magic inside of him coil and twist with his distress.
Since bonding with Arwe, the new magical presence at the center of his being had become a stranger he'd needed to acquaint himself with. He'd never mentioned it to his lover, but the new, strange magic had initially filled him with a deep disquiet. It was not in his nature to trust things he didn't understand. The power had felt foreign and invasive, like a wild animal suddenly made to live inside his body.
Over time and with Arwe's guidance, he'd changed his approach and worked to accept that it would now forever be a part of him. He stopped resisting it and trying to control it, as Arwe had shrewdly observed during their first training. Over time, the energy began to feel more integrated and natural, reacting to his emotions and thoughts as organically as any other part of him.
Feeling it now, he thought of its source - the mysterious being of light and power hidden away on a mountain in a distant world.
He closed his eyes, turned his face up and prayed.
He prayed to Orsa, who gave his Arwe life. He called on the magic gifted to him by his beloved and asked for guidance, for deliverance.
His new power swelled warmly within him and something shifted and opened in his mind. The dark room fell away.
Opening his eyes, he found himself standing in a lush, green grove. Ancient and twisted trees surrounded him like sentinels. Impossibly, there were beams of sunlight filtering in through the branches and he slowly outstretched his arm, reaching into the light. It felt warm and real.
He breathed in the sweet smell of decaying leaves and fresh rain, as well as some underlying, ineffable scent that awoke an almost-forgotten memory. It was the smell of his home from his human life.
Awestruck, he realized he was standing in the sacred grove of his tribe.
"Hi," came a voice from behind him. Godric whipped around, his fangs snapping down with a hiss.
"You can't actually kill me here, you know. This place isn't real," said the man with a wry twist of his lips and a sparkle of challenge in his eye.
Godric paused, taking him in. He was tall and slender, with long dark hair and familiar golden eyes.
"Sen?" he asked carefully, retracting his fangs. The Madar grinned and nodded, his expression brightening.
"You must be Godric," he said jovially, coming towards him and grabbing the shorter vampire around the shoulders. He squeezed him in a hug, unbothered by how Godric had gone completely stiff.
"Orsa," came another voice from behind them and they turned to see a female Madar standing at the edge of the grove, looking disgruntled. She was tall and thin, with the same coloring as her siblings. She looked Godric up and down, her eyes mistrustful.
"This is my sister, Era," Sen announced, unnecessarily sweeping an arm in her direction.
After finding his voice, Godric nodded at her. "Era. I've heard so much about you."
This seemed to mollify her slightly and she inclined her head, though still keeping a careful distance.
"Now all we need is the ol' grump himself," Sen remarked lightly and a moment later was thwacked upside the head by an even taller Madar that had appeared out of thin air next to him.
Godric recognized instinctually that the new arrival was the de facto patriarch of Arwe's clan, and though she hadn't spoken of him as often, he knew she had a great depth of love for her eldest brother.
He bowed humbly to Ele, a hand on his heart.
"It is an honor to meet my bonded's kin. I am Godric, and I come to you for help."
This was met with a pregnant silence and he saw the siblings exchange a look of concern.
"Speak," Ele commanded.
"Arwe was attacked two days ago. By a Madar." He decided not to waste time on further context. "He self-imploded and Arwe protected my progeny and I with a dome of light. She collapsed after that and hasn't woken."
"And where were you when this attack happened?" asked Ele in a dangerously soft voice, his eyes glinting. Godric felt the man's magic crackling between them, heavier and darker than Arwe's.
He bowed his head, shame rearing up inside him.
"She left our group to use a restroom and was lured by this Madar into a room. I didn't know of it until after he attacked her and I sensed her fear through our bond," he said, voice flat.
He looked into Ele's cold eyes and added quietly, "I will never forgive myself for not protecting her. Please help me save her."
Era had started worrying her bottom lip, throwing her oldest brother impatient looks as Godric spoke.
"Enough, Ele. We know better than anyone that we can't always protect the ones we love. We need to focus on Arwe," she snapped, stomping over to Godric with determination and pushing past a pale and silent Sen.
Era fisted her hands on her hips in a gesture so familiar it almost made him smile.
"You said she cast a dome of light? How long did she maintain it?" Her tone was steady and assertive.
"Two minutes and six seconds."
Era paled and ran a hand over her face, shooting her brothers a worried look.
"She's expended a lot of her energy, perhaps even almost depleted it. A protective dome requires a massive amount of power, we normally never perform them alone," Era continued, brow furrowed with stress.
Godric's heart sank at her words, suddenly viciously impatient for more information, for a plan. He reigned in his emotions and looked at Era imploringly.
"What can be done?"
Sen stepped forward, his face set in determination.
"We will come to you. She needs other Madar to heal her with our light, especially her kin."
The Celt shut his eyes, relief flooding him. Finally something concrete.
"We'll be flying from Dublin, it's near the entryway to Malinor. Where are you right now?" Era asked.
"New Orleans. But it'd be safer if we travel back home to Shreveport. Is it safe to move her?" he asked, feeling completely out of his depth. Era nodded, biting her lip.
"Yes, it should be fine. Just be gentle and keep her hydrated."
Sen was bouncing on his heals, rearing to go. Godric gave them Eric's address and the Madar assured him again they would arrive as soon as possible.
"Come on, Ele, there is no time to waste," called Sen, already turning to leave. He paused at seeing his brother's hard expression.
"You said it was a Madar. Did he say anything? Wear anything unusual?" Ele asked, his steely gaze still trained on the vampire.
Godric shook his head. "His clothing was unremarkable. He called Arwe a 'bitch' and screamed 'For Malinor' right before he killed himself."
Era looked strained and she pulled urgently at her older brother's sleeve.
"Brother, there is no time for this now. Come with us," she implored.
"I need to find out who this Madar was, who he was working for, if anyone. This cannot wait, Era. I also have Malinor to protect," Ele said quietly, a note of regret in his voice.
His sister stared at him in shock and pulled away from him, spinning on her heel and walking away.
"Let's go, Sen!" she barked and the two disappeared from the grove, leaving them alone.
The Celt stood silently before the tall Madar, every muscle in his body tense with wariness.
"Take care of her, vampire. Or I will rip you to shreds," he said softly, a promise in his golden eyes.
Godric inclined his head and when he looked up, he was back in the dark New Orleans bedroom.
... ... ...
Arwe was sitting on a stone bench in her family's courtyard, a petunia in her hands.
The sun was shining and the wind was mild and sweet - a spring breeze.
She couldn't remember why she was here, if she was waiting for someone. The courtyard was quiet and she let her mind wander, feeling relaxed and content.
She was home.
There was a sound from behind her and Arwe curiously turned towards it. A figure dressed in a cream silk gown was walking down the path, a golden circlet on her crown glinting in the sunlight.
"Mother," she said happily, reaching out a hand. The beautiful Madar smiled and entwined their fingers, settling onto the bench next to her.
"My daughter," she greeted warmly. Her voice sounded strange, as if coming from a great distance and yet still perfectly comprehensible.
"Are we waiting for Father?" Arwe wondered, looking around herself vaguely.
She noticed then that the courtyard did not stretch towards the villa as it should, but ended abruptly in a hazy wall of light. Turning to look more closely around her, she saw the wall encircling the whole yard.
Aine was smiling gently at her and shook her head.
"Father is not here, my love. It's just us."
"Alright."
The two sat in comfortable silence, their hands clasped. Arwe suddenly heard a sniffle and turned to look at her mother in concern.
"Are you crying, Mother?" she asked, reaching up to wipe a tear from her face. Aine took her hand and kissed it, her golden eyes brimming with emotion.
"I've missed you so much, my love," she whispered. Arwe furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Why, Mother? Aren't we both home?"
Aine laughed softly and wiped her eyes. She was nodding, her gaze warm as she took in her daughter.
"You are home, child. I am so proud of you for your bravery. You have decided to walk your own path and it has lead you to great happiness."
Arwe smiled uncomprehendingly, pleased that her mother was proud of her. She wasn't sure why, though.
Aine continued after a moment, taking both of Arwe's hands in her own and turning to look at her seriously.
"I am proud of all of you, of your love and loyalty to each other. Era and Sen are coming to you, my love, and Ele is protecting you in his own way. You are strongest together. Never forget that."
Arwe sensed what her mother was saying was very important and she nodded slowly.
"I will see Era and Sen?" she asked, eyes lighting up. Aine nodded, stroking her cheek.
"Very soon. You face a great danger and you must work together to defeat it. Not just your siblings, but your vampires."
Her mouth fell open, staring at her mother in shock.
"My vampires?"
Aine smiled, tucking a tendril of her hair behind her ear. "Yes. Godric."
Hearing the name, Arwe's magic swelled happily and rustled her and her mother's hair. Aine laughed in delight, taking the petunia from her hand and putting it behind her daughter's ear.
"I only wish I could meet him. Perhaps one day he, too, will be embraced by Orsa's light."
Arwe nodded, suddenly feeling sad.
"Don't leave, Mother," she begged quietly, squeezing her hands. She felt her breath hitch.
"I am not gone, my daughter. I am in the sacred light. We will meet again one day."
The two women sat on the bench for a while longer, basking in the Malinor spring.
... ... ...
At first, there was only energy. It filled everything, every part of her. Distantly, she became aware of her limbs - they prickled with a strange internal heat.
Then came pain.
She could hear a sound, a low keening that grew in intensity until it crescendoed into a wail. She thought it was coming from her.
As the pain grew to an almost unbearable level, she realized that she could see.
Two blurry figures were standing over her, enshrined in light.
She felt strong and gentle hands wrap around her shoulders and next came her sense of smell. Something earthy and crisp, like winter air.
Focusing on the soothing scent and the cool feeling of the hands, she instinctually knew not to resist the light and allowed it to race through her body, alighting every nerve and cell.
"You're ok, Arwe," came a voice and it sounded familiar. It was someone she loved. "Just a little longer."
The light seemed to gather in her chest and expand, bursting through her like a wave. She rode it out, pain mixing with euphoric energy that seemed to go on for an eternity.
Slowly, hazily, the world came into focus.
The room was full of people. Two figures were standing directly above her, their golden eyes shining with tears. Behind them was a tall blond man and a smaller woman, wrapped around each other and staring at her with red streaks down their cheeks.
She tried to speak but her voice cracked, and a cool hand smoothed her sweaty hair from her face with an aching gentleness.
She tilted her head back and saw softly chiseled cheekbones and a soft, full mouth. Green eyes, rimmed red.
"Godric," she whispered, trying to reach for him. Her arm felt like lead.
He shushed her and gathered her into his arms, kissing her forehead and turning his mouth to murmur against her temple. The melodic rise and fall of his voice was indescribably soothing and though she couldn't make out his words, she felt his relief flooding her.
The pain had faded to a dull ache and her head felt heavy. She realized she was incredibly hungry.
"Can…" she began, her voice hoarse. The tall woman lifted a glass to her lips and she sipped messily, water spilling down her chin. She felt sluggish and slow.
She tried again, "Can I… have some food?"
This was met with relieved laughter and the blond disappeared with astonishing speed from the room, returning a few moments later with a bowl. He handed it to the tall woman with golden eyes and she sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully lifting a spoon to her lips.
"She's a bit disoriented. That's normal. She should regain her memory in time," said the amber-eyed man, running a hand over his face. He looked exhausted, but was smiling at her. She smiled back.
Arwe ate the soup, carefully swallowing despite the pain in her throat. She looked at the thin woman feeding her, at her sharp cheekbones and eyebrows frowning in concentration.
"Era," she said with sudden clarity. Her sister's worried expression cleared and she flicked her nose playfully. Arwe laughed and reached out her arms for a hug. She felt her sister's magic wrap around her like a familiar blanket and she sighed happily, resting her heavy head on her shoulder.
"Do you remember me, sister?" asked the dark-haired man.
She looked at him for a long time, taking in his slender nose and golden eyes, his dark hair tumbling over his shoulders. She sniffled, reaching out a hand to him.
"Sen," she said, voice thick with emotion. Her brother sank onto the bed and embraced both his sisters, and the trio stayed wrapped in each other for a few long, quiet moments.
Godric shifted behind her and she became aware that she was nestled between his legs. Her heart swelled at having all her loved ones so close.
She looked up at Eric and Pam and curled her fingers at them with a tired grin.
"Come here, children," she said and a moment later the vampires joined them on the bed, Eric's long arms easily encircling the whole group.
They laughed somewhat tearfully at the awkward group hug and she felt the Viking cup her jaw, his thumb running gently over her cheek.
"Welcome back, mum," he joked, though his eyes betrayed his relief.
She felt Sen vibrate with laughter and he shot her an amused look.
"Mum? I didn't realize you were with child last time I saw you, Arwe," he teased, his golden eyes lingering on the Viking.
"He's my giant baby," she giggled, wanting to send him a wave of her magic but feeling it twist sluggishly inside her instead. She frowned.
"My magic…" she mumbled, confused and upset.
The group disentangled themselves from her and she fell back into Godric's chest, sudden fatigue making her feel limp.
"It'll come back. You almost used it all up saving your vampires," Era assured, giving her an inscrutable look.
Arwe rubbed her forehead, trying to remember the last few days but drawing a frustrating blank.
"I did?" she wondered, disoriented.
Godric sighed into her hair, his hands clenching slightly at her sides.
"You almost died, Arwe." His voice was soft, pained, with something else under the surface - a hard note.
She leaned back to stare at him in shock.
"I think… I met Mother," she said quietly, looking to her siblings. They looked taken aback and she saw them regard her almost carefully.
"Arwe… you must have had a dream," Era said softly.
She shook her head, knowing with a strange certainty that her conversation with her mother had been real.
"I was lost, Era. I know that now. My light left me almost entirely - it went where all Madar go when they cross over into Orsa's light. She was there. Mother was there," she said with conviction.
Sen was looking at her with a cautious hope.
"What did she say?" he asked tremulously.
"She said she was proud of you. And that we need to stay together."
Sen looked up at the ceiling, blinking back tears. Era had closed her eyes and was nodding slightly.
"Sounds like Mother," she murmured.
Arwe suddenly yawned hugely, feeling utterly spent. As she fought to stay awake, she looked around at her family, Madar and vampire, and felt a deep contentment unfurl warmly in her chest.
For now, in this moment, all was well in the world.
"Sleep now, my love. I'll be here when you wake," Godric told her, helping her settle against the pillows.
"Stay," she implored, grabbing his hand.
"Always."
The group left the room, bidding her goodnight and shutting the door on the couple wrapped around each other on the bed.