Woven Fates - The War

To Our Successes

“Jaime, Everly.” Morradin arrived in the library in his human form.

“Shhh, inside voice.” Everly smiled sweetly as she covered her ears.”

“Sorry, I always forget. I have need to speak to you both,” Morradin said quietly.

Jaime sighed. “Is this about the elves and their damn uprising?” He asked. “Because I am just about talked out over that situation.”

“I’m not going to lie to you both, I would be much happier to leave this to the goddesses too, but there are long term effects from this situation that we must face. We are in a difficult situation in that some of our leaders can not participate in talks. Robert is in the Fae castle unable to leave, Lachlan and Todd are on the quest so that leaves you two and Ailwyn.”

“Well, ya may not like any advice I have to offer. I’d execute the bloody lot of them for treason.” Jaime spat.

“Indeed I feel the same way. We have all grown tired of the elves and their spiteful, pride filled ways, but on the cusp of a war it seems like folly to further isolate those opposed to Ailwyns family. Many are soldiers and warriors we would lose to the other side. We can’t afford to lose numbers and we cant afford to add to theirs.”Morradin argued.

“You know what they ask of Ailwyn do you not?” Everly asked quietly.

“I have heard only talk.” Morradin replied.

“They wish for a full blood heir. That Ailwyn and Stellas children not be able to rule because they are half bloods.” Everly held her belly protectively. “It could just as easily happen to any of us.”

“They are demanding Ailwyn take an elvish wife or many elvish wives and that Stella be seen as his last wife. They demand that Stella and the children leave the castle and take up residence in the city or the woods. They also demand that Ailwyn perform his husbandly duties to ensure heirs.” Jaime began listing the elves demands.

Morradin shook his head in anger and sorrow. “Do you think my people will do the same?” He asked Jaime.

Jaime sighed deeply. “If the elves get their way, yes. I think they will. I also think that our two nations will not recognise Todd as king of the Werewolves, not if there is one other heir of full werewolf descent who has a werewolf mate. And then there’s Robert. None of his daughters has a Fae mate.”

“This is just the start but all we need is for the elves to win and spread the word and our great nations will fall one after the other to their prejudice.” Everly sighed sadly. “I do all I can for our people but I know, deep down, I will never be accepted as their queen. As Jaime’s mate, yes, but their queen, no.”

“Well, I will not take another wife!” Jaime roared angrily. “And neither should Ailwyn. I am not saying his people have to follow him blindly or accept his every decision but if they want to carry on about bloodlines, he is the only one who can lead with the royal bloodline.”

Everly sighed. “That’s not true Jaime.”

“What do ya mean it’s not true? The mans been my brother for over 100 years, ya cant tell me it aint true woman!” Jaime blustered.

Morradin and Everly glanced at each other.

“What don’t I know?” Jaime asked suspiciously.

“Jaime, Ailwyn is one of a set of twins. His sister was taken away at birth and raised by another family. My mother was the late queens midwife. She told me on her death bed in case the information was ever needed. I have kept an eye on her from afar for a long time.” Everly said quietly.

“Does Ailwyn know?” Jaime asked.

Everly shook her head.

“Does this twin sister know?” Jaime looked from Morradin to Everly.

“That I can not answer.” Everly shrugged.

“Yes, she does, although she is not sure whether to believe it. Somebody who worked in the castle found out and took the information to the twin. Her name is Allira.” Morradin confirmed.

“Do you know where Ailwyns army sits?” Jaime asked.

“Divided at this stage. If Allira was to stand up and come forward and challenge Ailwyn there would be an uprising. A decorated warrior or a general perhaps would be seen as an acceptable king if his bloodline was pure.” Morradin answered.

“So the fact that their king has served them for well over 100 years, has seen them prosper and has gone out to lead them into battle time and time again instead of sending them out like a coward is not enough for them?” Jaime was now turning red with anger.

“He could sit behind castle walls and eat and drink during a war as long as he kept the bloodline pure.” Everly shrugged.

“Then the elves are idiots, because they will not find a finer king, pure bloodline or not.” Jaime growled.

“They are full of pride and self importance, this is true, but we can not question their ways. Their Goddess Freyr, despairs of their attitudes, but there seems to be no guiding them to the contrary.” Morradin shrugged.

“And if my people turn against me?” Jaime asked quietly.

“When your people turn against you.” Morradin corrected him.

Jaime glared at him angrily.

“I’m sorry Jaime, I’m afraid this is a whole other storm brewing. Nobody will escape it. Even the werewolves who do not have a kingdom.”

“What is the best way forward from here?” Everly asked.

“We need to have a meeting. Previously we were at the mercy of the Fates but a situation has arisen and we need to discuss this with you all. We are throwing caution to the wind and going against their threats for there is great need.” Morradin replied sadly.

“As if a war wasn’t bad enough.” Jaime grumbled.

The Earth Mother took her human form as she approached the castle walls. She shivered, the castle that had once been full of laughter and love held a smell of death. She watched as the roots from the trees sprung up from the ground and began to weave their way up the wall around the grounds, making a staircase for her to climb. When she reached the other side Olive was sitting on a rocking chair, a pot of tea and some freshly baked biscuits sitting on a table beside her.

“Earth Mother.” Olive greeted her with a smile.

“Olive my old friend, how are you?” The Earth Mother asked, as she took a seat next on the other side of the table.

“Tea?” Olive asked, pouring herself a cup.

“Always.” The Earth Mother smiled. “You know?”

Olive nodded her head wisely.

“How do you live in this place?” The Earth Mother asked, screwing up her nose.

“Only out of necessity. Watching over my grandson and great grandson takes the horror away.” Olive shrugged.

“You know why I am here I’m guessing?”

“Not entirely if I am being honest. I saw you with an angry child, but I felt something had changed. I know the Prophecy has been set in motion so it isn’t that.” Olive began.

The Earth Mother sighed. “We fear there will be an uprising before the War. We need you to keep an eye out for folk who do not belong. We would also ask that you and William act as facilitators for a meeting to be held with the kings of the three kingdoms. As you know, none of the werewolf descendants can be there.”

“How goes their quest?” Olive asked. “We have not seen them in five years.”

“Fruitless thus far. The men are equally frustrated and determined. They have rallied around Jonas, and I am incredibly proud of his transformation. He is desperately in love with his son, so much so that he agreed to having a phone so he can take videos and photos for when he is away.” The Earth Mother smiled. “I thank you for that you know. The way you and William reached out to him just as he was falling in love with Valentina. The timing was perfect.”

“We have carried the burden of guilt for so long for what happened to Jonas. We are grateful for the opportunity to appease our conscience.” Olive smiled.

“And he so loves having nephews. Even Todd has taken to calling him Uncle Jonas now. Those boys are saviours.” The Earth Mother smiled.

“And how fare the boys and their mates?” Olive asked.

“Well, you know about Will and Em.” The Earth Mother began.

“Baby number four on the way. We are as excited as the day we met Wyatt.” Olive sighed.

“Miranda and Lachlan are on baby number three. So, so in love it could melt your heart. Liam and Laura are also on number three. Liam has scored children and siblings all at once. He has the family he never had. Todd and Amelia still only have the one, but she is just divine. Amelia was able to successfully shift after the birth and is now completely in tune with her wolf. Mack is now eight and his training is coming along at an amazing rate. He can outrun all of the soldiers he trains against and is proficient in every weapon. If he continues at his current pace, he will be the finest warrior any realm has ever seen. He now has two other siblings that do not show his aptitude for training.” The Earth Mother smiled.

“And you know of our additions?” Olive asked.

“I believe Isabella and Sergio are on baby number three now?” The Earth Mother asked.

“Yes, Isabella has about eight weeks to go. I have birthed her other two babies and will be present for this one. I have also been present at the births of Sabrina’s two children with Carlos. Wyatt now lives with us permanently and Eva has moved in with Sergio and Isabella, hence the addition.” Olive pointed to the house next door which now had a second storey added to it.

“Olive, Sabrina is one of the reasons I have come here tonight. We believe she may be working with Francesca.”

“Is Francesca not a Fate?” Olive inquired curiously.

“No, not in the true nature of the position she is not. She has managed to hold on to her memories and it would seem her powers. She has control of the other two Fates.” The Earth Mother began. “We saw the sign of demons in their eyes, just a tinge in the Fire and Air Fates but Francesca’s eyes were fully black.”

“Because a war wasn’t enough to deal with.” Olive muttered.

“I don’t think this war is going to be as cut and dry as we thought. We were planning for us against the vampires, but I do not believe that will be the case. It will be us against the vampires, the traitors and the demons and our only hope will be to keep those three groups separated.” The Earth Mother murmured.

“What has become of this world that everything has to be so hard?” Olive asked thoughtfully.

“We were ignorant.” The Earth Mother replied quietly. “Ignorant and arrogant. We thought we would create our races and they would all love each other and revere us. We gave no thought to temptation or pride. We did not believe our people capable of the betrayal that we have seen.”

“You gave them life, but you also gave them choice. We know at least half of the time those we gave life will not choose well. Then it’s up to us to choose if we will let them fly or fall.” Olive smiled. “This was more than you ever could have anticipated. The scourge was not of your doing. You can not take the blame for that or what others have done since, though the roots of this demonic possession need to be found.”

“I find solace in the many successes.” The Earth Mother raised her cup towards Olive. “To the successes.”

“To the successes.” Olive agreed as she held her cup up too.