The Goddess's Chosen

Ireland Bound

We decided to stay with King Artowynn for a week to help everyone rest before we set out again, but mostly because we could see how anxious Varwen was about leaving his newly healed brother. We wanted to give him some time to make sure that his brother was back to 100% before leaving. We all took this time to do different things. The first day, Ava insisted that we all go shopping, so we did, and we all got a whole new wardrobe and luggage carriers. Clara and Camden barely left their room, apparently the wolves had the libido of an energizer battery. Ava and Varwen got closer and became more acquainted, we didn’t see much of them either. Rachelle took to reading some of the books we bought and learning about some of the elven flora that King Artowynn had brought with him when settling in the human realm, and as for me and Gabe, we practiced our powers together every chance we could. We tried keeping them from intertwining again, but it was almost like our powers were drawn together. Sometimes our training sessions drew large crowds that would ooh and ah whenever we would blow something up or cause giant storms. My companions, as well King Artowynn and Barwen, wanted to see the elemental spirits, so I was granted permission to let them loose and “play,” as they put it, first it was one at a time and then together. Alya and Vodnik worked best together, causing more monsoons. Hestia and Alya caused massive purple fire devils, or fire spouts. Cybele preferred working with Vodnik as they were always close, being earth and water, they could cause massive floods and mud slides. Not surprisingly, Vodnik and Hestia did not like working together, they didn’t dislike each other, but as their powers were opposites, it made it more difficult. Cybele and Alya worked together occasionally, but only for growth and seed dispersal. They worked together to create forests and jungles by Alya spreading the seeds that Cybele would toss into the air. Alya, amused by my companions, and thankful that we let them out to have some time to play, agreed to let them ride her. She enjoyed diving straight down and scaring the hell out of them. During this weeklong break, I did not have a single dream of Hecate, and it was worrying me. I found it hard to relax and rest when I was worried about what was happening to her. When the week was over, I was overjoyed to be getting back to saving the supernatural world. King Artowynn informed us that he had word that the Faery kingdom was in Ireland, near Lough Neagh in the Ballyronan national forest. He told us that there was a small mirror-like pond in the middle of the forest surrounded by mushrooms, and that to enter the Fae realm, that we would have to walk into the pond, and imagine entering the faery kingdom and only a select few who want something bad enough can find the pond to begin with. Rachelle had asked how that kept mundanes from entering the fae realm, and King Artowynn shook his head and said, “It doesn’t, mundanes enter the fae realm all the time and are never seen or heard from again.” He told us that the fae are tricksters, and will tell you anything to keep you there, feeding off your essence. He said while that may make the fae seem evil, they really aren’t. They can manage without someone's ‘essence’ or life force or whatever, that it is enjoyed, like a delicacy, but they only feed from the willing. They give the subject anything and everything they could ever want in return for this, so it was more mutually beneficial. He implored that we be careful, because the fae have a way with words and can be very cunning and persuasive and can use their light and see what a person's inner most desires are, and that is what we had to ask for. He told us that the fae never do anything for free and that there will be a hefty price for something so valuable. He also said that it would be unlikely that they would have us complete a quest or mission, like the Elves or the wolves, and that one of us would have to make a great sacrifice. I knew that it would be me to make the sacrifice, but the question is, what would it be, and would I be able to make it, and I suppose that that is why they offer the deal. At the end of the week, we were to catch a plane to Belfast national airport, and then take a boat across Lough Neagh to the Ballyronan Marina, and a car will be waiting to drive us just north to the Ballyronan national forest. It would be a hike to the middle, and we would be on our own.  

   On the day we were meant to leave, we all piled into a suburban that King Artowynn lent us. We were not meant to stay so long, so the chauffeur that Alpha Jonas had sent us with had gone back to his regular job. So, we all packed in our luggage and piled into the suburban and Varwen drove us to the airport. The flight took about fourteen hours. We slept most of the way which helped with jet lag. We opted to get a hotel for the night when we got there because it was nearly 10 PM. We stayed at a small hotel near Lough Neagh. It was beautiful, the hotel had a private beach of sorts. I couldn’t sleep, so I walked down and watched the water, it was incredibly peaceful. I was lost in thought until I heard Gabe’s voice speak out. “It’s gorgeous. This whole country is beautiful. "I nodded my head in agreement. “It is truly something else. You can almost feel the old magic radiating around you.” I said, watching the small ripples on the water's surface, caused by the light blowing wind. I could feel this pulsing of magic, coming from either the center of the lake, or the other side, where the forest with the Fae gate was. It was almost calling out to me, daring me to follow it. “I can feel it too.” He said, taking a seat next to me in the sand. I had taken my shoes of and was wiggling my toes in the sand. “How are you holding up?” He asked, looking at me like he is deep in thought. I hadn’t told him of my concerns for Hecate, but I thought that maybe I should open up to him, at least a little bit, so I told him everything. That I hadn’t heard from her in over a week, that I was worried about what the hunters were doing to her when she couldn’t protect herself. When I was finished, he was looking out at the lake, nodding his head. “I get it, I would be, and kind of am, worried too.” He said. Then he took my hand. “We will find her and save her. I promise you we will.” I let him intertwin e his fingers with mine, and I leaned my head on his shoulder. We sat in silence, watching the water and feeling the pull of magic for about an hour before we went inside to sleep. Our room situations had changed a bit, with Clara and Camden being in the same room, and Ava and Varwen now having a room together, Me, Rachelle and Gabe all shared a room, with me and Rachelle taking the beds, and Gabe said he would be fine on a cot. We snuck into the room, being as quiet as possible so that we didn’t wake Rachelle up, but when we got halfway into the room she turned over in the bed and said “I hope you used condoms, “before rolling back over and continued snoring lightly. I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing and crawled into bed and fell into another dreamless sleep. 

   The morning came too soon, and we were all still very tired. Once we were all up and dressed, we went downstairs to the lobby for a complimentary continental breakfast. I gave the woman at the counter my mother's credit card and told her to keep charging it until I say otherwise. Varwen said he would help pay for the rest of our trip, be it for supplies, food, and the boat and car rides. After we all ate and packed essential items like food, water, bandages, and flashlights, we went to the docks and caught the boat that would carry us across Lough Neagh to the Ballyronan Marina. The boat ride was quick, taking only about an hour. The boat ride was pleasant, but I wanted to get to the other side and continue. All these breaks were making me anxious. When we reached the marina, the seven of us unloaded from the boat and walked towards the road, and there was another large suburban like vehicle waiting for us. We climbed in and the driver began driving without asking where we were going. I noticed on the boat ride over and now being on this side of the lough, that magic feeling was so much more intense, no one else seemed to be as affected by it as I was, but I could tell that they noticed it as well. The car ride was only about 10 minutes or so, and with every passing minute, the feeling grew stronger and stronger until I could barely stand it. The feeling was almost suffocating. It was all around me and I was having trouble keeping my bearings, yet I could tell where it was coming from, it was as if my mind was focused on one thing and one thing only, finding the source. Once the car stopped, the driver spoke, his accent was very thick Irish, and I almost couldn’t tell what he was saying because I could not concentrate on anything other than following the source of the magic pull. “Alright lads and lassies, this is where you get out, be careful, the fae seem to be extremely interested in attracting you lot.” I looked at him with a puzzled expression on my face, and he smiled a sad smile. “Oh deary, they want you something fierce, don’t they?” He looked around at my companions, “They can feel the pull, but not like you.” He said, looking back at me. “You lot keep an eye on her. They fae don’t like no for an answer, and they are calling to her with a ferocity I have never felt.” He said to my companions before tilting his cap and getting back into the car and driving away. Gabe grabbed my hand instantly, and I could almost feel the call of the fae magic lessening. “I’ve got you, Cas.” he said, and squeezed my hand. I gave him an appreciative smile and we all began walking into the forest. I tried to concentrate on anything other than the magic pulsing that was pounding in my head. I looked at Clara and Camden, they were inseparable, holding hands, but Clara kept giving me worried glances over her shoulder. Ava and Varwen were also holding hands and whispering back and forth, with both giving me concerned glances as well. Rachelle was walking beside me and looking uncomfortable as she was the only unpaired person in the group, so I reached over to her and grabbed her hand, and the pulsing quieted even more. It was like their touch was grounding me and keeping me from getting lost in the magic. We walked this way for a while, with me guiding them, following the pull of the magic. Every now and then, I would need Gabe and Rachelle to let my hands go, so I could tell which way it was coming from. They were reluctant, especially when they realized what their holds meant to me, but I assured them that as long as they were right with me, that I would be fine, I would only need them to let me go for a second and once I knew where to go, they could hold my hands once again. We walked for hours, until I could tell the sun was fading. We had stopped for a break to eat and drink and rest our aching feet, Gabe and Rachelle never leaving my side. No one really talked, we were all listening to our surroundings and feeling the magic. I could tell that they were getting tired, the magic seemed to drain us, and we all wanted to quit, but I knew we couldn’t. “We are close, I can feel it.” I said, pulling Gabe and Rachelle to the front of our pack. We walked for about another ten minutes, and all I could think of was how I wanted this to be over, I wanted my companions to be able to rest, I wanted to rest myself. I wanted to save Hecate and go home to rebuild my village. Soon enough, we came to an opening with a large mirror-like pond surrounded by tiny tan mushrooms. “WE FOUND IT!” I shouted, right before my vision darkened and I fell into a set of sturdy arms.  

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“My daughter, I am sorry I could not come to you sooner.” Hecates voice rang out, and my eyes sprung open. “GODDESS!” I shouted and ran to her and threw my arms around her torso. “I am glad to see you, as well, my child. I know you have been worried.” her beautiful Greek accent filling my ears and making my eyes tear up. “We haven’t much time, the hunters are moving me. Apparently, your attack on the Death Valley camp and the capture of their sergeant made them extremely nervous.” She said with an airy chuckle. “You are about to enter the Fae realm. My Irish sister, Áine, rules over the fae, and while they are not evil creatures, you must be wary, they love their tricks and double speech.” Hecate warned me. “I will be careful, Goddess, I have my friends and they will help me.” I said, sitting up straighter. I noticed the feeling of the magic was no longer there, and I could think again. “You can feel them calling to you, can’t you?” She asked, her expression softening. “They will ask you to give something up, but make sure you can live with the price of what they ask of you.” She said, moving my blonde hair from my face, behind my ear. I nodded. “I must go my child, take care, and keep your friends close, the fae realm is not for the faint of heart.” She said, then she disappeared.  

   When I awoke, I could see all my friends anxious faces standing over me, I was lying on something, or someone, warm and soft, yet sturdy. Gabe had caught me when I fell, and he now held me carefully in his lap. “Cas?? Oh, my goddess, Cas, I was so worried!” Clara said when she noticed that my eyes were opening. “I’m ok, really. Hecate called me to her. She is ok, but she says the hunters are moving her. I am worried that we are running out of time.” I said, sitting up. I offered Gabe a smile of gratitude and stood up with his and Camden’s help. “Well, we are here, are you ready?” Varwen asked, getting down to business. “As ready as I will ever be.” I replied, and all seven of us linked hands and walked slowly into the cool water.