The bell tolled thrice. Its metallic sounds vibrated through the night air till it reached Lord Wolf as he sat within the palace at Lindavale, the capital city of Lyric. With a heavy sigh, Wolf rubbed his blood shot eyes and once more reread the missive he had just penned to his wife at Wolf Keep.
My beloved Wenn,
Dear Lady, how I do miss thee. Thy presence alone would be a great comfort in these times. My work here has taken far longer than I did think it would. My original plans of finding a successor to the throne has not born fruit as I had hoped. The different races quarrel and fight amongst themselves as to whom shall rule. Only my title as Prince Regent has given me the power to forestall the civil war which does threaten to break upon this land. There has been no word of the Dark One since Dark Wolf Keep fell, yet I do feel he is about and perhaps is the reason for the bickering I see each day in court. My brother has always been one to work from behind the scenes and this has his touch in it, I am sure.
At this time, I do not know when I shall be able to return to you, my lady wife. I fill my days and nights with work yet my thoughts always return to you and the lad. I wonder how much he has grown? A hand’s breadth at least, I would wager. I have given much thought of late as well to Simon and the cookie incident of which you informed me. It would seem that for whatever
reason or in whatever way, that the lad's "gift" has returned. I wish I could be there to instruct him in the training that he requires but alas, I fear I shall not be. You will need to find a Magi to train him or to at least begin his training. His Lordship Rannis, or the hunter Kavin would be good choices in this. You will need to speak with them both and negotiate an agreement.
When you speak with Kavin, please inform him that with the current situation and workload, I have been unable to complete the study of his sword. I will be penning him a missive within the coming week to inform him of what I have found to date. Likewise, there is a portion of the library which I wish for you to give him access. To the left of the long table against the back wall of the library is a small blank wooden panel. Place your hand upon it and a segment of the shelving will open a doorway for you and he alone. Within he will find the tomes of magical working, spells, cantrips as well as a history of magic which I have gathered through the ages. Instruct him that me may copy any spell that is within the "blue" books. All others are not to be touched and to
this he must swear.
How are you my beloved? How grows our child within you? I know this separation has not been easy on you, Wenn. I do wish there were another way. I think of you always and hope that all is well with you, Beloved. With luck, I shall be returning within a fortnight. Please send news of the happenings of the Keep and of Camelot but mostly of thyself and my big boy. Know that my heart and life are yours, Wenn, and shall forever remain as such.
By my loving hand,
Lord Wolf
Of Wolf Keep
Prince Regent of Lyric
Knight of Camelot
Father of Simon Wolf
Husband of the Lady Wenndolyne
Sitting back in his chair, Wolf once more sighed and sprinkled sand on the missive to dry the ink. After the ink has dried, he rolled the missive and sealed it in wax with his personal seal and set it with the others awaiting a page to see them on their way. Turning slightly he smiled and reached across the table top for a small wooden box which always sits there.
Wolf lifted the lid, revealing a small teardrop crystal on a silver chain nestled within purple velvet. With a youthful hand, which belies his considerable age, he lifted the crystal out of the box by its chain. It hung there and slowly started to spin. A soft light began to form deep within the crystal and the facets reflected the light of the room back outward in a many colored rainbow hue. Wolf watched as the glow brightened til it filled the crystal then in a voice, which was warm and soft
he uttered, "Show me."
An image formed slowly within the light. As the image cleared it was of a room, a bedchamber, far from where the Ancient Wolf sat. Lying within the bed, covers haphazardly kicked about was a beautiful lady with hair of red. Wolf swallowed, finding it hard to do so around the swell within his throat, "Wenn......"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wenn finally found a comfortable position for sleep, a thing more rare and precious as each day and night passed. Outside the window of their bed chamber, the moon began to set for the coming of day. In these wee hours, in the still, cool space between night and morning, Wenn awakened softly, certain she heard her Love's voice speak her name. "Yes, my love?" Her own voice, though quiet with sleep, startled her a little and she turned over in the sprawl of bed covers to prop herself on one elbow, fully expecting to see him... but she was alone there. She was frozen for a moment, looking at the cold empty space where he might be by now, even if the pack had business with him. Her hand reached out to his pillow where his weary head had not rested in more days than she cared to count.
Rising from the bed with some effort, she crossed to the window and gazed at the waning moon. Her hand went idly to gently rub her belly, rounded as it was 'neath her nightgown. Her other hand floated up to catch a tear before it slipped from her right cheek. The moon began to waver in her sight, so she closed her eyes against it.
For two days Wenn went about daily business as necessary but without joy. Each night as she lay in pale light coming through the window, she hoped to awaken to her Love's true voice and each morning she opened her eyes to find the solitude again. She stayed away from the firehall for it only reminded her of how much she missed him... seeing him step through the doorway, his soft kiss to the back of her hand, his sweep and twirl before her sets her gently to her feet again, the sparkle of love for her in his forest emerald eyes.
Without meaning to neglect him, she had been avoiding crossing Simon's path as well. She could not answer the lad's question of when his father might return, else she would answer it for herself. Seeing his bright blue eyes echo her own sadness was more than she could bear. She only asked of Jaede if he was well and behaving for her, trying to cover her true heart with a smile as they sat for a meal and make otherwise idle conversation.
As dusk descended on the third day, Wenn donned her cloak and nodded to the Chamberlain, leaving the great hall and walking out to the stables. She quietly approached the stall of her winged NightMare. Large ice blue eyes greeted her, almost with a twinkle. "Nae, my friend we shall travel not this night. I come only to visit you and see that you are pleased with your accommodations." The midnight black hair and mane shimmered with blue fire as the mare nodded and nuzzled Wenn.
The mare very gently nudged Wenn's tummy, noticeable now, even through her cloak. Wenn managed a smile to her "Indeed, I do carry Wolf's child and..." She turned her head sharply, hearing hoof beats approaching on the path toward the Keep. She then shook her head at her silly reaction, having forgotten for a moment 'tis not a rider she awaits, but the silent padding of a white arctic wolf or his familiar howl of greeting in the night.
Finishing her visit with the mare, Wenn returned to the great hall even as the rider made his way from the keep again. She absently hung up her cloak as she looked with an arched eyebrow to the Chamberlain who was smiling more than usual to her.
"Good evening, m'Lady Wenndolyne" He bowed with his usual decorum while seeming to hide something behind his back.
"Arin, you wear a sneaky grin. What have you there?" Wenn watched as the Chamberlain presented her with a soft smile and a rolled parchment. She immediately recognized the seal and leaned in quickly to kiss the Chamberlain's cheek, taking him quite by surprise, then rushed to the library without another word, closing and locking the door behind her. Wenn paused a moment then and went back out to the hall to call to the Chamberlain, "Oh, Arin! We should have had the messenger wait for a reply!"
Wenn looked very worried but the Chamberlain retained his smile. "I paid him a retainer to do just that, m’lady. He asked if he might be permitted to tend his horse in our stables while waiting."
Wenn sighed relief "Yes. Yes of course. Anything.” Already her thoughts were on the scroll again. She stepped back into the library, mumbling a quiet “Thank you, m'Lord Chamberlain." But he heard it and grinned, "Yours in service, m'lady." as he returned to his other duties.
Wennolyne sat at the large desk after lighting another candle, for the night had now fallen completely. She broke the wax seal from the rolled parchment. Her delicate fingers were trembling as she read Wolf’s words, written in his fine strong hand.
She read the missive twice through before leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes. Her mind raced through many thoughts, wanting to join him, wanting him home, the Dark Wolf, Simon, Rannis, Kavin, blue books... her mind was awhirl of all he said though overwhelmingly she heard the hollow echo... another fortnight... with luck.
Wenndolyne sighed heavily and yet knew it would serve neither of them to have him worry should she fully speak her mind in her reply and so, she told him what good she had to tell and left the rest unsaid.
~~~~~
Min Feill Sha`naigh,
Of course I miss you and wish with all my heart that I could be there to comfort you, but as you have said it is safer for me here, especially if the dark one may be about. I have duties that keep me busy and of course Simon, who sends his love. I think he shall not have grown so much as you suspect... but he is busy drawing pictures of the treehouse the two of you wish to build. He is anxious to start it but for now I think he is content to await your return. He knows I can be of little help in this and to be honest, I think he may be grateful for that, wanting his father's hand instead.
As for Simon's magic, we've had no collections of pastries appearing mysteriously of late so his awareness may have helped on that score. I shall indeed speak with Rannis and Kavin about training and mayhap I can help too. I do recall every word and sensation of the night you taught me how to take the hawk form. Perhaps Simon can be persuaded to try a shift to some bird of his liking. He still seems skittish of the wolf form but not to worry, my love, he will take to it in time. I certainly have grown to appreciate the value and even sheer freedom of it. I miss our midnight runs, but then, I am hardly in any condition to race just now.
That brings me to our unborn child. I am doing well considering my girth and yet it is not so much as others in the same predicament. Yes, I am jesting at anything that may seem complaint for I do feel so warm and close to you, carrying your life within me. I have a project of my own in this regard. I had been uninspired to start it but came across a hobby horse carved beautifully from fine cherry wood and decorated here and there with bright splashes of paint, ribbons and cording. It has spurred me to begin working on the nursery at long last.
I know you wish to hurry your business there and return but I also know you cannot bring yourself to leave until the task is done right. Please worry not for we shall manage here. Perhaps I can raise Simon's attention from his treehouse drawings long enough to write his own words to you. But for the meantime I wanted to get this on its way and with it I send all my love, my
heart... but then you have this with you always. Mind you never forget it.
By my hand,
Wenndolyne
Lady of Wolf Keep
Mother to Simon
Wife of Lord Wolf
~~~~~
Wenn stared as the ink of her words dried even as her face grew wet with tears. She then folded the parchment neatly, making a pocket of sorts and filled it with a few dried rose petals of various colors, still fragrant. She tied the small parcel with an amethyst satin ribbon while regaining enough composure to walk out and hand it over to the Chamberlain for the courier. She then could not face any more of the day. The sentiments she did not express to her Love weighed heavily on her and she retired early. It was some hours thence before sleep finally took her.
(..)
