Those Violet Eyes

Welcome little one

Everly 

It’s been twenty-four hours since I gave birth, and my friends have been wonderful. Quietly potting around making me food or holding baby as I doze. My tiny house is so full of love right now. Aunt Lily just missed the birth by minutes but has been here since, cooing over her grand-baby. Sitting in an armchair next to my bed she softly sings to my son as she cradles him close. I lie on my side in bed, with my hands tucked under my cheek watching her. My heart so full looking at two of the people I love in the world, getting to know each other. I’ve tried to sleep, but though I’m tired I just can’t drift off for long. All I want to do is stare at my son, every little part of him. Lots of eager hands pop up to hold him when I feel sleep trying to take me. Even Lee held him for a little while, he gently introduced himself as Uncle Lee. He sits telling my son how he will teach him to ride a bike and play any sport he wants to learn, before giving the baby a kiss on the forehead and passing him back to me. 

“Have you thought of a name?” Aunt Lily asks, not taking her eyes off my tiny bundle. Rubbing his curls as she hums to him. 

“To be honest, No. I just can’t bring myself to do it” I sigh and she looks up at me, a sad look coming over her. 

“I’m sure he would be happy with any name you pick” I know she is right, but it doesn’t make it any easier. 

“You still have time, love. You don’t have to name him right away” she adds as she goes back to rubbing and humming. 

I look at my son all wrapped up in my Aunts arms. His soft red curls running through her fingers. I have no idea where he gets the red hair from, neither does my Aunt. There is so much missing from my family history and from Arwen's side, it could be from either. His big bright violet eyes are unmistakably from his father, which both makes me happy and breaks my heart at the same time.   

“Hey Eva, this box was stilling on your coffee table, do you want me to put it away somewhere?” Lee askes quietly carrying in a small cardboard box. I had totally forgotten about it. 

“No, I’ll take it thank you” I say holding out my arms, sitting up to take it. Lee passes me the box and heads back out of the room. I just hold the box for a minute just looking at it. 

“You don’t have to open it now love. When you are ready” Aunt Lily gives me a small smile and reaches out for my hand. I put my hand in hers and she gives it a gentle squeeze. 

“No, I want to open it. It’s just that I’m nervous for some reason” I honestly answer. Aunt Lily lets go of my hand and I start to unfold the top of the box. 

In the top of the box is a cream baby blanket, made from the softest wool I have ever felt, it’s like holding a cloud. I can’t help but hold it up to my cheeks and smell it, it smells softly of lavender. Not wanting to put the blanket down but eager to see what else the box holds I reluctantly set the blanket down next to me and move on to the next item. The next couple of items are an old-fashioned cream dress and a matching bonnet set. I set them down on top of the blanket. I then pull out a bundle of letters tied with a purple ribbon. I hear Aunt Lily gasp a little and look over to her, she has one hand over her mouth and a tear running down her face. 

“These are letters I wrote to your mother while she was living with your father, she must have kept them all” Aunt Lily sobbed and I handed her the buddle of letters. 

“Then these are yours not mine” I gave her a little smile and she hugged the letters to her chest with her free hand. 

Looking in the box, there were only two more things left. A large envelope on its own and a velvet bag. All of a sudden, my nerves were back. I almost didn’t want to pick up the last two items. My hand hovers over the two items unsure which one to pick up first. Finally, I pick up the bag. Slowly I open the drawstrings on the top and reach inside. As soon as my fingers touch the object inside, get a flash vision. I see a bonfire in a forest. I can smell the smoke and undergrowth. I drop the bag back into the box. My hand is quickly over my mouth as I try to hide my gasp. 

“Everly what’s the matter?” Aunt Lily looks startled at my reaction. 

“Nothing, it was nothing” I shake my head and reach back into the box. Picking up the bag I slide it item out. Closing my eyes, waiting for another vision but nothing comes. I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I open my eyes to see the most beautiful bronze choker. It looks almost like lacework the bronze wire is so fine, it twists and swirls like ivy.  Right in the centre is a bright red ruby, like nothing I have ever seen before. I bring it up and put it on my neck. The ruby sits right in the centre of my collarbone. It should feel cold against my skin, but it doesn’t. It feels right. Running my finger over the ruby I turn to show Aunt Lily. When I do I notice her eyes are wide and she is white as a ghost. 

“Aunt Lily, what is the matter?” I reach out to hold her hand but she pulls away before I can. 

“I’ve seen that before, but it’s not a necklace” She whispers, I must look confused cos she waves me closer to her, I shimmy across to the edge of the bed. She gently takes the necklace off me and places it onto my head, it now sits perfectly on my head. The ruby now sitting in the middle of my forehead. 

“It’s more than just a choker, it’s a crown” She explains sitting back in her chair. She points at the bag again. So, I pick it up, there is something else in the bag. Emptying the bag into my hand, I find a simpler necklace and a ring, both have bright red rubies and look like they are made from bronze ivy. Turning them both in my hand. I have never seen anything as beautiful as these three items in my life. 

“I remember when your mother came home wearing the necklace,” Aunt Lily tells me as she points to the necklace still in my hand. 

“It was a gift from your father. It wasn’t long after that, he gave her the ring. It was her wedding ring. They had got married in secret. I think he comes from money and his family weren’t too happy with him marrying just anyone” She adds looking away at the memory. 

“Aunt Lily, who was my father?” I whisper looking at the ring. 

“To be honest I never got to meet him, she left with him right after they got married. All I know is his first name, that’s it. It’s Adran” Just as she finished the tiny bundle in her arms started to wiggle and fuss. 

“Oh, I think it's time for this little guy's feed,” Aunt Lily said as she passed him over to me. Before she kissed me on the cheek. 

“It does look good on you” I didn’t understand what she meant for a second until she pointed at the crown, I had forgotten I was still wearing. I take it off and put it back into the velvet bag as she walks out the door. I’m lost in thought for a second until my son reminds me, he is hungry with a cute little cry.  

Arwen 

As I pace around my study for what feels like the millionth time, my mind keeps jumping back to the vision of Everly holding my baby. It has to be mine, right? Why else would I be getting visions? The shock of red hair on the baby's head did throw me a bit, but that could be from her side. I stop my pacing as I concentrate on the vision, replaying it over and over in my mind. I have done it countless times in the last twenty-four hours. I don’t even know if my child is a girl or boy, it wouldn’t matter to me either way, but I long to know. I wonder if she has named the baby. My heart hurts just thinking about the distance between us.  

A loud knock on the door shakes me from my daydream. 

“Come in” I bellow, starting to pace again 

“My Lord” Edrahil stated as he enters, closing the door behind him. I sit down behind my desk to stop myself from wearing a path on the stone floor. I gesture for Edrahil to take a seat across from me. 

“Have you had any luck?” I asked, trying not to take my foul mood out on him

“At first, the Elders turned us away” I banged both fists down on my desktop, rage building inside me. My eyes start to glow a darker violet and the ground starts to shake. “My lord, I do have good news” Edrahil announced trying to get my attention. Stopping myself, by counting to three and letting out a deep breath. Slowly the shaking subsides. 

“I’m sorry, please do go on” I apologize, sitting back in my chair. 

“Like I said, sir. The Elders did turn us away, but just as we were about to leave a young apprentice come to us. He said he knows how to get you back to the girl, but we will have to do it soon as she may be in danger. He wants to meet you in two days' time” Edrahil finished before I could but in again. Happy there is someone willing to help me, but disappointed it's going to take two days. I thank Edrahil and dismiss him. He has his hand on the door to leave but turns back to me. 

“Who is this girl? And why do you need to find her my prince?” I would not have answered these questions had it been from anyone else, but he is like a father and a friend to me. I let out a big sigh. 

“She is my everything” Is all I can say, to which he just nods and walks out the door closing it behind himself. 

I sit quietly for a moment taking in what Edrahil has just said when it dawns on me. The apprentice had said, Everly was in danger. Any calm I had left in me just went out the window. Now how was I meant to wait two days? When out there somewhere my love and my child could be in danger and they don’t even know it. I stand up so quickly that my chair fly's backyards and hits the wall. This is going to be the longest two days of my life.