Chapter 11: Salvation
Days passed without Dane's realization. His recent discovery made Ephenia's absence negligible. However, progress felt slow, even with the help of the twins. Attacks by creatures dubbed Omens further slowed discoveries as he and the other clerics would battle them back. Pharamund pointed out the slowly increasing ferocity with which the Omens attacked. More and more requests and reports would come to the Order telling of brutal killings by these creatures happening more and more frequently. Taking this data, Dane tried to add it to the concept of the Ultimate Darkness, but clarity still eluded him. Darkness in its most basic form resulted from pain, sorrow, fear, and anger left in a person's soul when they died and seeped into the world.
"Then what is the Ultimate Darkness?" Dane would think, pouring over texts, tomes, scrolls, and albums. Pharamund and James helped search dozens upon dozens of books chronicling history from the First Epoch when words were first written to the present in the 19th Epoch. Dane enlisted the twins' help to speed up the search, all of them gathered in the small library within the cottage. After weeks of work, all three formed the primitive theory that Ultimate Darkness was the culmination of sorrow and pain from a particularly atrocious event or period in history.
As Pharamund climbed a bookshelf ladder, the shelf began to tilt. Orchid covered her head when she saw it falling, appearing across the room. Lotus braced himself for impact, but when nothing happened, he looked up in awe to see the shelf and its contents floating in the air around him. After helping Lotus set the bookshelf upright, The Twins could only stare at one another in awe.
"It appears that in your human form, you have awakened powers from your forest spirit days." Orchid'd eyes lit up as she began dancing from one foot to the other.
"Powers? Like what?"
"Such as your ability to teleport or Lotus's ability for telekinesis."
"That sounds like so much fun! What else can I do? Can you teach me?"
"Ya, that sounds awesome!" Lotus chimed.
"I can only assume you have powers and abilities beyond what I could ever teach you, seeing as you were once forest spirits. You may simply need to remember your powers."
"Wait, we had powers before we became human?" Lotus asked.
"We could be more powerful than you?" Orchid squeaked.
"There is the possibility. Your alteration by the Darkness may have suppressed your memory, even as a human."
"Then can we get our memory back? I don't want to blow myself up." Lotus asked.
"I can attempt to teach you, but I don't know how well it would help you. First, let us continue our search." The twins disappointedly read on, periodically making books float or turning the pages without touching them. Their search through human history revealed more than Dane was prepared for.
The Elfin Hunts: elfin kind slaughtered by the thousands, driven to the point of near annihilation in hopes of finding magic by 'extracting' it from them. Only a few hundred remained in the town at the bottom of Haim's tree. It was there they found sanctuary and protection by the deity himself. If elves had any resentment towards humans, they did an excellent job hiding it.
The Darlaus Crusades; blood-soaked campaigns against any, human or not, that opposed or refused to convert to the church of the Great Mother Minerna. These crusades only stopped when Minerna herself came and disintegrated the High Deacon and declared that anyone using force in her name would be met with the same fate, resulting in the shift to the present teachings.
The Cleansing; an event Dane heard of but never thoroughly researched. It was a systematic eradication of Sylph and Nymph fairies seen as threats when humans moved into their forests. Now only a handful remained of the once playful race, including Dr. Long's widow, Felicia, their daughter Keni, and the Queen of Arentia.
The Mage Gatherings; a decade-long failure that brutally forced kidnapped children to learn magic, which at the time was misunderstood. This practice often resulted in their deaths due to the forced mishandling of magical energies and spells left behind by elves and fairies.
And finally, The Battle of the Raegonian Slave Trade; After three decades of the practice going unchecked, Empress Victoria of the 6th Epoch decreed all the slaves were to be freed and returned to their homes at the expense of the owners. When this decree was ignored, the Empress sent her forces to ensure the Raegonians would return to their homeland. Instead of a joyous release, every owner throughout Usoria killed every single Raegonian man, woman, and child in their possession.
When the owners were brought before the Empress to answer for their atrocity, their only reply was their unwillingness to 'waste hard-earned money on sending some menial chattel home. Burial would be cheaper.' The Empress imprisoned them all, stripping the families of their wealth and status. A well-protected gravesite now stands at the base of the Zakuman Mountains in the northwest region of Al Neth, guarded by the residents of the Lionheart Castle.
Dane sat in silence, the air becoming heavy around him. Some accounts of the Slave Trade were from angry plantation owners jailed for the 'economic assistance' they provided to the world. The despair and rage Dane felt simmering in his soul was almost too much to keep under control. Many families who were a part of this era still existed.
Dane wanted to seek retribution against those families for the atrocities committed. However, he reasoned that the current generation was so far removed from the event that there would be no justifiable reason to do so. Additionally, none of the Aurora knew what the current generation was like, nor were they sure the families knew about their heritage.
"It is not our place to pass judgment. Our mission is to fight back the demons created from events such as this." He thought as he closed the book and walked to the window, watching the construction of the new Aurora Chapel. Looking back to the book, Dane thought about when he had first begun this journey, talking with his father, Maxus.
"You said that this research would take you to some very dark places. So far, it seems that you haven't even touched on them."
"The dark places that I spoke of do exist, Maxus. I was only too raptured in the Light Menodora and I created; I didn't want them to exist. Now the world is becoming all the darker, and I am forced to see it as it truly is, and what contributed to it." Knowing of the darkest sides of humanity, he could begin understanding the Ultimate Darkness. Through it, he could harness its power for the Ultimate Light. Visiting these sites, while dangerous, could provide him with a much clearer understanding and accelerate results.
Ariel watched her Mirror for what seemed like only minutes, realizing that many days had passed on Usoria. Time flowed much differently in the temple, and she cursed herself for forgetting that fact. Finding the person to take Dane's place needed expediency. The thought made her pull her arms around herself and imagine her life in her Usorian vessel with Dane. She pulled her arms tighter, imagining that he held her close and kissed her neck as he stood behind her. She missed that; she missed him.
She thought back to the previous months, walking to the Hall of the Green and watching the memories she had made. It was a rough journey, to be sure, but the two of them had built love out of that journey. She would do anything to ensure that Dane would stay safe.
"Of course! Why didn't I think of this before!" she thought, returning to the mirror and applying a new thought to see what may happen. As before, the two paths of time still existed, but the way to peace and triumph seemed more assured. However, there was a problem that would make the entire idea moot if not resolved.
"Goddess Ariel, what troubles so?" A Monk of the Green asked, reaching up and removing his smiling mask.
"Good Monk, tell me. Can a mortal be brought to the Temple of Time?" The monk thought for a while, holding his chin as he thought until a Monk of the Blue came up and removed his mask.
"Bringing a mortal to the Temple would mean their certain death. Mortals are bound by the time of Usoria; there is no way around that. A hundred years could pass in Usoria, and it would be but the passing of a few minutes to us." Ariel cradled her chin, staring hard at the mirror of time once again.
"There has to be a way," she muttered.
"What is this that I hear about you wanting to bring a Mortal to this temple?" asked a firm but kind voice. The monks immediately donned their masks and bowed low while Ariel turned around to see her mother Minerna shifting her massive white wings behind her.
"Mother!" Ariel called, happily hugging her.
"It is good to see you as well, my child. Now, as I asked, what is this I hear about bringing a mortal to the Temple of Time?" Ariel stepped back and motioned to the mirror where time split.
"Have you found a way of eliminating this Disaster in its entirety?" Minerna asked while looking over the Mirror more closely. Ariel shook her head with a heavy sigh.
"I have found a way to avert it, but..." Minerna turned to Ariel, pulling her lips to the side with an understanding smirk.
"This aversion requires a mortal, does it not?" Ariel nodded her head, walking to the mirror beside Minerna.
"Yes. The path to peace requires introducing another mortal to rid the world of Darkness. Someone other than Dane. He can learn its intricacies, but he does not have the ability. The power he needs is more than he could muster or channel." Ariel pointed back to the mirror where a boy and a girl with silvery blond hair dressed in form-fitting white robes stood before the split in time. Lowering her brow, Minerna put her gaze back on the mirror.
"I'm sorry, Ariel, but I fail to see what a mortal has to do with these children."
"With every action introduced before now, the disaster would only accelerate or delay. By introducing one of these children, peace will be achievable, but I must be the mother." Minerna stepped to the mirror and watched the children more closely.
"What I see here are demi-deities. How would you achieve this? And who would you choose?" Ariel breathed heavily, lacing her fingers before her.
"I would choose a human by the name of Dane…"
"The White Mage?" Minerna interrupted.
"You know of him?" Ariel asked in surprise. Minerna grinned knowingly and chuckled softly.
"I may not visit often, but it does not mean I neglect my children or the happenings of Usoria." She said, stepping away from the mirror.
"The White Mage has won you over?"
"He has. This plan MUST work. I cannot bear to see Dane destroy himself because of this task. The problem lies in the child; my body must be the one impregnated, not the vessel I use to walk in Usoira." Ariel explained. Minerna walked to a balcony overlooking the world far below, zeroing in on Ariel's Usorian body, still asleep in the cottage bedroom.
"For that to happen, he needs to come here. Unfortunately, his life is bound to Usoria's time; he would die as Time flows differently here. And going down to Usoria in this form would mean dire consequences for the world." Ariel sighed, half expecting a lecture about how Deities and Mortals shouldn't mingle, let alone conceive a child together. Minerna's lips curled faintly into a smile, leaning against the railing and sighing contentedly.
"Then it appears your path is clear."
"M-mother?" Ariel looked up in surprise. Her mother, the Supreme Goddess of all Usoria, The Great Mother as the Usorians called her, was perfectly calm about her wanting to have a child with a mortal?
"Why do you agree with this so easily? The monks here have told me numerous times that mingling with humans was forbidden!" Minerna smiled knowingly.
"And yet you created the vessel Ephenia to contain your consciousness in Usoria, which in turn has affected Dane and you in numerous ways. But if this path is what is needed, then it is what shall be."
"But how would I make this work? So much of who I am remains here in the temple so as not to warp the world if I go there as myself. That is not acceptable for something so intimate!"
"Then you must form a contract with him. To put it in human terms, you would marry him."
"But..but how would that..."
"A contract with you would allow your White Mage to come here without any repercussions, giving him a small portion of your power to withstand your presence and the difference in Time's flow."
"Aren't you even a little concerned that I've fallen in love with him? With a mortal?"
"There are things that I find concerning, chiefly that he is human. However, I can see how this human brought you out of your depression as well as you rescuing him from the darkness in his heart. You both were each other's salvation." Ariel bowed deeply, then embraced Minerna tightly.
"Thank you, mother. I will tell him immediately." Ariel sprinted to her room, closing her eyes to once again use her body far below. Minerna's smile slowly faded as she looked back to the Mirror of Time. Ariel's plan would bring peace, but as the Monks of the Blue had stated, there would be a tremendous cost of regret and sorrow to come.
"Ariel, I can only hope that your heart won't be the death of you." she thought, turning to leave when a Monk of the Red stood in her path.
"She is following the path perfectly, goddess, and is slowly becoming her old self again. I am surprised, however, that her revisiting the accident in Margata did not facilitate her reawakening in full."
"It was thanks to the wards placed by Nexus, and the insistence to not mingle with mortals that she didn't." Minerna answered flatly.
"Should I continue to maintain her oil lamp? Or let it go out as she is closer to discovering the truth on her own?"
"We must maintain it, good monk. This future requires it." The monk bowed and left, while Minerna sighed heavily and vanished back to her home.
Dane and Mars exited the coach with silent reverence, leaving instructions to wait for their return. Mars kept quiet as they trekked over the barren lands serving as a monument of the Darlaus Crusades. A mass grave for millions that perished in the name of a deity. Every weed, flower, or blade of grass had been stripped from the ground, never again to grow, making the air heavy and stale. Finally, Mars broke the silence.
"Master, are you certain that coming here was the best option? The Omens are strong in their own right. But you are about to step to the very center of something far more powerful. Omen is not a strong enough word to describe it." Dane turned to Mars, his face sallow and downtrodden.
"Sites of atrocities hold the greatest and blackest of Darkness. If I am to overcome all darkness, I must know how to overcome the strongest parts." Mars nodded in understanding, but a significant part of him still didn't want to proceed, forcing himself to follow until they came near the field's center. A wave of pale blue light shot over the ground with a gentle tap of Mars' staff. As the wave spread out, all sound save for the breeze faded into silence, and the ground quivered under them. A massive shadow began to pull from the earth; runes and lines of purple light pulsed to life on its body. With the sound of cracking stone, its eyes opened, focusing on Dane.
"Why do you disturb me?" the shadow asked, its slow voice deep and breathy. Mars shifted his feet, adjusting the grip on his staff while the color faded from his face.
"I have come to release you of your torment," Dane replied, remaining still and facing it with stern bravery despite the cold sweat running down his temple.
"Release me? You dare assume that you can sate my anguish?"
"I can attempt to understand. In doing so, I can heal the wounds left behind from…"
"You know not of the pain and mourning that is my very being. You who have lost nothing." The shadow interrupted. Dane's pulse quickened, and his throat tightened.
"I have lost. Greatly. I overcame that loss by finding one that could help me. I now come to help you." The shadow lowered itself, training a large eye on Dane before narrowing.
"You are one of they who site Minerna. You are one of they that ordained the reason I exist." The shadow growled. Its fingers curled, digging through the ground to form fists. Mars shifted his footing, training his staff forward until Dane looked back and shook his head.
"I may cite The Great Mother, but I have not come in her name to vanquish you. I come on behalf of the people that still live here in this world; to heal you." The shadow slammed its hand down and roared. Black streams washed over Dane and Mars, instantly bringing them to their knees, sobbing uncontrollably. Their flesh became rough with bumps making their limbs refuse to move as their hearts raced, threatening to burst out of their chests.
"You claim to have dominion over me, yet you refuse to know the depths that drive me. I am more than the fear and hatred of those slaughtered by the Knights of Minerna; I am also the hatred, anguish, and resentment harbored by those that lived after succumbing to the church's demands. I have existed for centuries and will not be sated until all those who claim the name of Minerna to be good are no more." Dane fought through the overpowering emotion within him, finally able to look up and face the shadow, barely able to speak through his sobs.
"And then what will you do? Once humanity has been cleansed of that which you despise, you will still exist, and you will not be sated."
"Then I shall reach for she that is the cause of my pain!" The shadow growled, reaching to the sky with ragged claws.
"And then what?! What shall that accomplish?" Dane scolded. The shadow looked down to him slowly, narrowing his eyes to slits within his head.
"What of you? You claim to heal the wounds within me, yet what will change? I am but one part that stems from the very nature of you humans." Dane willed himself to fight back the sadness and fear racking his mind, pulling himself to his feet. Behind him, Mars lay on the ground weeping, unable to overcome the mental assault.
"And what nature would that be?" The dirt and ash clinging to Dane's face streaked, creating trenches as tears streamed down.
"The inherent need and perception of being better than another."
"There is some good in wanting to be better! I want to be better than I was yesterday!"
"Be that as it may, you can't deny that you also need to be better than those that came before you. You perceive yourself better than they. You need to be better than those around you. You perceive yourself better than those around you. You need to be better than what I am the culmination of. You perceive yourself better than I. As long as these two elements of humanity exist, there will always be those that will feel the backlash, furthering the problem you seek to remedy." The shadow put its hands to the ground and began pulling more of its body from it.
"I exist because thousands were slaughtered by those who perceived themselves better than those around them. The fear felt, the anguish, the pain, the tears, would never be resolved even as the life faded from them. Those who remained would harbor that pain until their dying breath, further feeding me. You claim to want to heal me, yet you refuse to see that you are no better than those that came before." Dane gripped his staff as hard as he could, light exploding from the top of it. The shadow instantly reeled, putting up its arms and hands howling in detest. Dane's tears and fear vanished, allowing him to speak with a powerful note.
"I do not come here to vanquish, to belittle, or to erase you from the past we humans have cultivated! I came to heal! Your pain, your existence is rooted in fear and grief. I am here to offer you the Ultimate Light of healing! Your suffering is ended!" Dane boomed, holding his staff forward as the light intensified, making the Aurora Crystals blaze white. The Shadow lunged at Dane when a beam of light burrowed through it. The shadow howled in pain as it reeled, once again reaching for him. Again, a blast of light erupted from the staff, cutting through the shadow's arm and burning it from existence. With pain-fueled rage, the shadow pushed past the light, biting down hard on Dane's hands and wrists, still holding his staff.
Dane shrieked as the shadow's fangs began to burn his flesh. Dark-colored muck weaved through his skin as though it were roots. Feelings of grief and fear began to infect his mind once more, forcing him to his knee.
"I will not be forgotten so easily!" the shadow seethed, clenching its jaw harder onto Dane's hands. Dane howled through clenched teeth as the shadow's fangs burrowed further into his flesh.
"You will not! But I cannot leave you here to infest the world any longer!" Dane gathered what little mental fortitude he had left and ignited the staff once again. Beams of light pushed through the creature's head and body until, finally, the beast turned to ash. Dane dropped the staff, unable to maintain his grip as the inferno of pain racked his arms. Looking down, small veins of darkness reached up to the middle of his forearm. The holes in his hands where the shadow had bitten smoldered ash as blood fell onto the lap of his white garb.
"Such power. Such pain. I don't have the strength to face another creature such as this. The Aurora could face the sites of these atrocities together, but as the creature said, that would only solve a small part of the much greater problem. Facing Darkness of this magnitude head-on isn't the answer. There has to be another way." His thoughts were interrupted as his vision narrowed and his head became heavy.
With the creature gone, Mars finally regained himself in time to watch Dane fall over.
"Master!" He clawed his way to him as he tried to run. But Dane had already fallen unconscious when he reached him. Mars bandaged Dane's hands, tearing apart his robe as bandages and tied the staves to his back. He then hoisted Dane over his shoulder and trekked back to the coach, hoping he would make it in time as the smell of rotting flesh began to waft from Dane's hands.
"Please hang on, master."
Dane awoke to the sight of Ephenia seated next to him, carefully pulling the dark substance from his arms and hands, where it dissipated into ash.
"Ephenia, when did you return?" Dane asked, squinting hard when he felt a wall of ache throughout his body.
"You've been unconscious for nearly a week." She answered softly. Dane lifted his head, noting that severe scars remained where the Shadow had bitten him, appearing gaunt and pale compared to the rest of his skin. Ephenia took his hand into hers, running her thumb over the back.
"What did you do that would cause such a wound? I can't even fully heal them." Dane relaxed back to the pillow, his head spinning.
"I went to the mass grave of the Darlaus Crusade and faced the totality of pain gathered there."
"Please don't tell me you faced it alone!"
"No, I didn't. But it was much more powerful than I anticipated. Where is Mars? Is he alright? He accompanied me, but the power of the Omen overwhelmed him."
"Mars is well, completely unharmed. When I returned, it was he that brought you home." Dane sighed with relief, the tension in his being melting away. Ephenia encased Dane's hand, holding it for a while before speaking with a heavy heart.
"Why did you go to the grave of the Crusades without consulting me? I could have warned you of its strength."
"If I am to heal the world's Darkness, I want to know that I can face powerful Darkness. But as you said, I was not prepared for its potency." Dane sighed. Ephenia leaned over him, putting her hands on either side of his head and touching her forehead to his.
"You fool. You complete and beloved fool. Why must you attempt such dangerous tasks while I am not here?" she asked, the both of them saying nothing, listening to one another breathe.
"You may not see your life as a rare thing, but I do. Does that mean nothing to you?" Dane was about to answer when he felt the pat of tears on his face. His vision focused, and at that moment, he wavered. Dane wanted to rid the world of darkness for Menodora and now for Ephenia, but what good would it do if he could no longer share it with her. Weakly he reached up, struggling to curl his fingers and wipe her tears from her eyes.
"Why would a goddess of time weep for me? Am I not just a moment in time for you?" he asked, putting his hand to the side of her head. Ephenia leaned into his touch before kissing his wrist.
"I may be a goddess, but you have filled a void in my soul, a void that I have felt ever since the Great Beginning. That is something I will not give up."
"Ephenia, I am a mortal. I don't know if I could withstand living forever. And if you come to Usoria, even as Ephenia, I can only imagine the problems that would cause."
"I know. Therefore I have a proposal. Would you accept a contract with me? It would allow passage to the Temple of Time and see me for who I truly am. There is much more that I want to speak with you about, but for now, will you accept my contract?" Dane often wanted to solidify his relationship with Ephenia in marriage. But the fact that she was a goddess within an avatar's body kept him from ever pursuing that path.
"A contract? To become your bishop?"
"No, nothing so simple; it is much more than that. I would ask you to be my husband." Dane pursed his brow, narrowing his eyes in thought.
"Wouldn't that be considered taboo? A goddess and a mortal?" Ephenia chuckled softly, leaning closer to him.
"My mother has her concerns, but she has given her consent." Dane smiled, unsure if it was out of excitement or concern. Ariel was the only deity he hadn't seen directly., and even though he had technically known her for some time, it was still awe-inspiring and nerve-wracking to see a goddess who wanted to marry him. But he accepted.
Three more days passed before Dane was strong enough to embark, explaining to the other Aurora members that he would be gone for some time. Ephenia traveled with him for a while, her pseudo body disintegrating into the breeze with a kiss. She would no longer need it as Dane would be able to come to her temple whenever he wanted to see her. As he traveled, Ephenia's instructions played over in his mind.
"Go to the city of Eline. There you find a small chapel for me. Inside, there are six small columns in the main hall. I will leave my contract within the third pillar on the right side. Speak 'Ephenia,' and it will come out for you. Sign it and speak my true name, and it will then come to me. Climb Haim's tree, and there will be a doorway leading to my temple waiting for you." The chapel had been easy enough to find, entering quietly to not disturb those in counsel or prayer. As he neared the column mentioned by Ephenia, a priest came up to him with a smile and a slight bow.
"Hello, friend. What troubles have you brought before Ariel? Do you require counsel?" the priest asked kindly. Dane chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Thank you, but no, Fatri. I come for something left by the goddess herself." The priest tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
"Do you mean the Scroll of The Past? It was left here by the goddess since the beginning of Ariel's order." Dane turned his attention to what appeared to be an anciently weathered parchment resting in the hands of a statue of Ariel.
"No, Fatri, what I seek is right here."
"The column? I'm sorry to say, but there are no inscriptions on it, nor has it been touched by the goddess." The priest adamantly explained.
"We shall see," Dane smirked, leaning in closer to the marble, whispering Ephenia's name. The priest sighed and readied to explain again until the marble of the column began to ripple and glow. Those in the chapel instantly fell to their knees, whispering prayers in earnest. A young man near the front ran from the chapel shouting to the city that a divine sign was given by the goddess herself. A delicately glowing scroll appeared from within it, dropping into Dane's hand, leaving the flabbergasted priest stuttering for words.
"Ho-h-h-h-how di-did you…" Dane said nothing as he unfurled the fresh parchment, revealing fine golden calligraphy explaining the extent of the contract that was to be made, ending with 'I await you my love.'
"Is…is that a contract of the goddess Ariel?" the priest asked with awe. Dane sighed, reminded that he was among those that had very likely never seen a deity, or even realized that Haim walked among them. With an understanding nod, he reached into his sleeve and pulled the quill from his journal, neatly singing his name across the bottom of the parchment. After carefully rerolling it, he held it to his lips with a kiss before whispering Ariel's name, watching as it vanished. Dane placed a few coins in the priest's hand before leaving all in awe-stricken silence.
Two weeks passed before Dane reached the top of the tree where he was greeted by Haim with a congratulatory handshake and a knowing smile.
"It looks like you kept your promise, White Mage." Dane nodded to him, seeing the golden doorway resting on one of the branches. He was about to walk through the door, when a thought struck him.
"When I first talked with you, you said that Nanahuatzin and Ariel couldn't walk among humans because of their power. Ariel told me that it was forbidden to mingle with humans, and yet you are here doing so for millenia." Haim cradled his chin in thought, his eyes zipping back and forth.
"As far as I am aware, our mother said nothing of the sort. At least, not to me. I can only assume Nanahuatzin hasn't walked amongst humans simply because the notion hasn't crossed his mind. Pity really." Dane lowered his brow, nodding his goodbye to Haim and stepping through. He found himself on a polished marble floor surrounded by fountains of sand.
"Welcome to the Temple of Time, beloved of the goddess." A voice said, making Dane snap his attention to a tall but slender person dressed in a green robe and white smiling mask.
"Hello there. I am Dane, the…"
"The White Mage, yes. Our goddess has spoken at length of you. Follow me. She eagerly awaits you." They were joined by two creatures made of breastplate armor, green fabric-like flames fluttering from the waist and plume of the helm. Dane made sure to take in everything around him, marveling at the fine detail and intricate simplicity of the entire building. When they neared a door, the monk stood aside.
With a breath to calm himself, he pushed the door open and entered. Before him was a room decorated with delicate white fabric. In the center was a circular bed where a young woman sat, brushing her red hair. Massive white wings spread from her back, held as if encompassing her like a blanket. Her simple white dress hid her feet, folding over her shoulders in stunning sky blue.
"Ariel?" Dane called to catch her attention as the door was shut softly behind him. His voice made her set her brush down, turning to him and standing. The silver crown upon her head held back her hair to frame her young face, her eyes shining like pools gold.
"Dane. My love." She breathed, quickly walking to him and embracing him, pulling her wings around the both of them. Dane returned her embrace, still having not completely realized that this woman within his arms right now, was the very woman he had come to love. All the same, it slowly became natural to him and the strangeness of it all faded away. He reached around her waist, pulling her firmly to him as he met her eyes and pressed his lips to hers.
