Woven Fates - The War

In the beginning….. “It has begun.” Selene the Moon Goddess declared as the Deities stood before her. “It has begun.” The Earth Mother confirmed. The four of them looked at each other sadly. The Prophecy and the War that had consumed both themselves and their people for so long was now upon them. It would be both a beginning and an end. All four of them looked beyond the river where they stood to the cave the Fates called home. They had been called upon again, but this would be the first time they had been since Francesca took the mantle of the Water Fate. Although she should not remember them, they all felt nervous. The Fates' memories were always removed when they took their mantle, but none of the deities knew if any of the past Fates had ever had power such as Francesca possessed. “Just to be clear, has anyone done anything to upset them this time?” Moraddin asked, looking directly at Selene. “I have not even spoken to my children in the longest time. I no longer have a vessel to speak through.” Selene reminded him. They all looked at Selene sadly. They were aware of the close bond she shared with her children and how hard it had been for her to not communicate with them regularly. Instead she had focussed all of her attentions on helping Bastian and Valentina. The deities all looked at each other. “I speak to my children to comfort them, but that is all. I do not even offer advice. I have noticed a resurgence in my power though, and I am hearing more prayers and blessings." The Earth Mother noted. “I have noticed this too,” Selene replied. “My people trouble me. They are angry and seem to be forgetting me. The Elves are a prideful group and their king having a Fae queen and halfling children does not sit well with them. They turn away from me in droves and follow mystics and false prophets and thus far Ailwyn has done nothing. As we know, we can not interfere, but they can’t possibly expect me to sit back and watch them self destruct.” Freyr muttered. “Robert and Lydia are trapped in the Fae castle so they can not speak with them. Once the word gets out that the Prophecy has been set in motion, they will become impatient for things to change, although I don’t know what they expect to happen. His children have been born. We can not change that.” The Earth Mother agreed. “Maybe Everly can help? She is Elven, and she is now the Dwarven queen. Maybe she can help them see sense?” Morradin asked. “May be worth a try.” Freyr agreed. “We can't have them joining Hadley.” "Everly and Merridy would have either birthed many of them or at the very least, birthed their children. Maybe they will listen to her." The earth Mother murmured thoughtfully. Selene shook her head. “The very idea that they would rather see Hadley crush their king and royal family than accept Stella saddens me. How did we let it come to this?” "Because we can't interfere with fate," the Earth Mother replied. "No matter how much we may want to." “Let’s just get it over with.” Freyr muttered as she made her way towards the cave. "If we must." Morradin grumbled. They walked to the cave with purpose, each of them wondering if this would be the time that they would be found guilty of interference and simply cease to exist. It was something they all really struggled with because they simply couldn't see that the other side was being held to the same expectations. They stood at the entrance and awaited the call to enter. They were nervous, they were always nervous when it came to meetings with the Fates. None of them had ever understood the imbalance of power the Fates held. They had created this world and its people and yet they still answered to the Fates. In fact, they had often wondered how the Fates had even come to be - they had certainly not made it happen. “Enter!” The voice of the Fire Fate echoed throughout the cavernous entrance. The four Deities stepped forward into the cave and took their now familiar places before the Fates. Selene and Freyr had to stifle giggles when they saw Francesca. They weren’t sure what they might expect but she was still tiny. The scene before them was pure comedy. The stone seat was entirely to big for her, but the cave did not have soft furnishings, so it wasn’t like she could sit on a cushion. She wriggled constantly, trying to find a comfortable way to sit. “You have news for us?” The Fire Fate began. The deities all looked at each other and shrugged. “What news of the Prophecy?” The Air Fate prompted them. “Oh, you didn’t know?” Morradin asked, confused. “Of course we knew you imbecile,” Francesca muttered angrily. The deities all looked at each other. Francesca’s reaction was not in keeping with how the fates reacted. Their usual blank and impartial facade wasn't present on Francesca's face. “What news do you seek if you already knew it had been set in motion?” Selene asked curiously. “The Magician and the Warrior. Who are they?” Francesca asked. "You don't know?" Freyr asked. Francesca glared at her angrily. “We have no idea.” Selene shrugged. “I think you lie.” Francesca accused Selene. “I think you do too.” Selene smiled sweetly. “Watch yourself.” The Air Fate spat menacingly. Selene stopped and stepped forward. For the first time she saw it. Their eyes, like opaque orbs, had a small tinge of black in the corners. She bowed her head. “With your permission I will go and walk amongst my people and find you the news you seek.” Selene offered. “Hmmmm.” Francesca said thoughtfully. “I would also like the whereabouts of the Daughter of the Prophecy. We all know that you know who it is.” “I'm not sure who this 'we' is of whom you speak, but the Prophecy has just been set in motion. Those involved have not become apparent yet.” Selene smiled graciously. “And yet you knew it had been set in motion. How is that possible if you do not know who is involved?” Francesca asked. "How is it that you know it has been set in motion but do not know any further details?" Freyr was suddenly emboldened by her own curiosity. “We felt it.” Morradin bowed his head and moved to stand before the Fates. “We felt a shift in the world's energy. We could only surmise it was the beginning of the Prophecy.” “You are the most unconvincing of liars,” Francesca mused. “You will return in one week with the names of those involved in the Prophecy or I will strike you down where you stand.” “Respectfully, it is not a Fates' place to know all that is happening from others, it is the Fates place to see for themselves.” Freyr joined Morradin and Selene. “Saying respectfully first doesn’t make your comment any more respectful.” Francesca spat angrily. Freyr bowed her head. "I think what she is trying to say is that a Fate should be able to see and yet you cant. You don't find that odd?" Selene asked looking from Francesca to the other two Fates. "You dare question me?" Francesca raged, standing on her stone throne. Freyr and Selene again had to stifle giggles, the scene before them so outrageously ridiculous. “We will do all we can, as always.” The Earth Mother promised as she bowed and began to move away. “Leave. You have one week to return to us with the information we seek.” Francesca dismissed them. They all backed out of the cave and walked down to the river. “Selene!” Morradin seethed. “What?” Selene shrugged innocently. “You did this! You are the one that made them take Francesca as a Fate and then you stand there antagonizing her and making our situation worse!” Morradin muttered. Freyr laughed out loud. "Oh Morradin lighten up and tell me that wasn't the most ridiculous scene you have ever witnessed. Morradin looked at her and tried to hide his smile. “And how was I to know this would happen anyway?” Selene asked. “It’s not supposed to happen. Now the question we should be focussing on is: Can she influence fate? The reason their memories are wiped is so they cant, but she still has her memories, which realistically means she can influence things.” Freyr was wringing her hands in despair, her mood suddenly darker. “It means she will see everything as it plays out.” The Earth Mother muttered. “So she can't fore warn anyone but she can keep people up to date with what is happening to help them anticipate their next move.” Selene said thoughtfully. “And yet, she doesn’t know who is involved in the Prophecy? She doesn’t know the Magician or the Warrior? That doesn’t make sense.” Morradin shook his head as if trying to clear it. “I am confused.” “The first question is, who is she working with?” Freyr spoke carefully. “The only one who makes sense from what we have seen is Sabrina.” “So maybe she doesn’t know who the Magician is because Sabrina is hiding it.” Selene continued. “Which means Sabrina is more powerful than we imagined.” The Earth Mother added. “I think we need to tell William and Olive. They need to keep an eye on this.” Selene declared. “Selene, you’ll get us in more trouble.” Morradin whined. “Morradin, you need to grow a pair. This is not the same situation anymore. Francesca is controlling fate, not seeing that we adhere to it. We need to fight back!” Selene explained. Morradin bowed his head. “ OK.” he said quietly. “Well, we don’t need to worry about the Fae castle, it's impenetrable.” The Earth Mother smiled. “With all the pregnant women inside, we can relax a little.” “Not all. Isabella is still at Hadleys castle.” Selene grimaced. “And Everly is still at the Dwarven castle,” Morradin added. “Everly is pregnant?” Freyr asked. “Just, but yes.” Morradin smiled. “I should like to see her if I may. I need to talk to her about the traitors amongst the Elven community.” Freyr spoke to Morradin. “I would also like to deliver my congratulations. I know she has waited for this for some time now.” Morradin nodded. "You must not upset her though. We are doing everything in our power right now to keep her safe and calm." Morradin warned. "Of course, she is my child to and she deserves this so much." Freyr smiled. "Ok, let's go." Morradin nodded again and they disappeared. “I think we might go see Olive and William.” The Earth Mother began, smiling at Selene. “Sounds good to me.” Selene smiled as they also disappeared. “Sabrina.” Francesca hissed through their mind link. Sabrina had been distracted watching her children Elijah and Clara play. “What?” Sabrina replied. “The deities have been to the Cave. They know I am not a Fate!” Francesca replied. “Don’t worry about it. What can they actually do?” Sabrina smiled as Elijah got up to go outside and find Wyatt. “Good point.” Francesca agreed as she broke the link.