Those Violet Eyes

Opening the gate

Arwen

It doesn't take us long to get to the waterfall. The crystal blue waters of the ponds sparkle in the midday sun. Tiny rainbows can be seen around the water falling over the top of the falls. Birds sing all around and the trees gently rustle as a soft warm breeze drift around. There really is something about this place. It's so calming but ancient somehow. Energy floats around the small clearing, it calls to me. Tells me to come closer, to stay awhile. It feels like home, more than any castle ever has. I close my eyes and breathe deeply. Cool earth and warm flowers fill my nose. I'm lost in this moment when I feel a small hand on my arm. 

“It's almost time Arwen” Aemmas soft voice brings me back. 

She has drawn the rune circle in the soft earth in front of the pool, around the outside edge are candles and bowls of sage.  

“I've written a detailed description of how to make the circle in your diary and given a copy to Hastos. Now you have to say this incantation while inside the circle. You should feel a pulling sensation as the spell starts to work” Aemma shows me the page in the dairy before tucking it into my backpack. I can hear the worry in her voice, I rest my hand on her shoulder trying to reassure her. I can't help but notice how small she is as I tower over her. Her fingers interlocked and held to her mouth. I know she is on the verge of tears. I try to distract her 

"Tell me again how I get us to Everly house" Aemma goes over how the gate works with me again. She has done this about ten times now but I want to have this down pact. It's not just my life in my hands when we step into this gate. I never go into battle having only gone over a plan once. No, I need to go over every angle, plan for every outcome. I did not become the General just because I was the king's son, no I'm good at what I do, and there is far more at stake this time.  

"Thank you Aemma. It's time to go” I say to her with a small smile, she gives me a small one back and moves away to find her husband. I turn to my men, my softness gone. I stand at full height, shoulders back, eyes hard. They feel the change in my aura and move to stand in front of me, awaiting their orders. I go over the plan with them, their attention unwavering. When I'm done, they give me a small nod and I know they have got it. They move off walking around Hastos who was standing behind them. Rubbing his hands down the front of his shirt, he looks like he's going to throw up. His blonde hair falling over his eyes, blowing it out of the way as he nervously looks up at me. 

“I didn't get to say goodbye to my grandma" he stutters looking down at his feet. I forget he is still really a child, a child who has had his world turned upside down the last few years. I ping of guilt runs through me for putting him in more danger, till it hits me. 

"Hastos come over here and sit with me” I pull him over to a moss-covered rock, then ask him. 

"Did I tell you that I ran away and joined the army when I was your age?” I start but he cuts me off. 

“Prince Arwen sir, I'm sorry but I'm not built for war, I'm built for books” he holds one up to show me and I can't help but chuckle a little at the look on his face. 

"Hastos, you are here aren't you?” I question before adding. 

“If you were built just for books, you would still be with the elders, would you not?” I see the realization dawn on him. 

“You are built for greatness Hastos. You have more power inside than you know. You got it?” I stand pulling him up with me. I raise my eyebrow at him when her doesn't reply. 

“Yes, prince Arwen sir” I just laugh at his half-hearted attempt to humour me. 

“It's time, are you ready for an adventure?” I squeeze his shoulder and give him a cocky grin. I feel the familiar feeling I get before a battle. A mix of excitement and nerves. Electrifying my blood. I steer him towards the circle. Edrahil is already standing in the centre, Aemma off to the side with a tear running down her cheek. My other three men are adjusting their packs and stepping over the circle careful not to disturb the soil. Hastos and I too step over the circle carefully taking our place inside. It only just fits us all, any larger and it may take too much energy from me, the energy I'll need for the return trip with Everly and the baby. 

I close my eyes, bracing myself. Holding my hands out just in front of me, palms up like Aemma showed me. Slowing my breathing and trying to clear my mind, it's harder to do than I had thought it would be. Images of Everly flash before my eyes, her smile shy at first then taking over her face, lighting her from the inside. I try to shake my head to clear the vision, soon I will see that smile for real. I tell myself as I begin to feel a pulling sensation, starting in my feet. It slowly moves up my body, like pins and needles. Not painful but intense in its own way. Building and climbing until my whole body feels like it's on fire almost. The smell of burning sage fills my nose, distracting me slightly. Aemma must have lit it. Focusing again on the tingling feeling inside me as I slowly start to whisper the words needed to open the gate. The second time I say it, it's a little louder, a little clearer. I keep repeating the words over and over until it feels like the world is spinning too fast. I try to keep the vision of Everly's home in my mind as my mind spins out of control. A bright blue light flares up in front of my eyes, but I do not open them. Soft whispers start all around me, like hundreds of tiny voices telling me what to do, in a langue long forgotten. They mix with the sage smoke, swirling around me. I can't break my concentration now, it's almost done. The pulling feeling in my chest is becoming unbearable, I don't know how much longer I can hold it. Just then a warm feeling washes over me, the small voices go quiet till just one whisper in my mind telling me to open my eyes.  

Blinking my eyes open there right in front of me is the gateway. Shimmering like water. A Soft blue glow coming off it. I have the sudden urge to touch it but stop myself. It is only big enough to fit one person at a time. I turn my head slightly to the left, catching Edrahils eye. He nods and makes his way to the doorway, stopping for just a sec to smile at his wife. One hand over her mouth to stop from crying out, she lifts the other one and gives him a small wave. I have never felt loss before, till I met Everly then had to leave her. I get it now, I am suddenly filled with so much more respect for my men leaving wives behind.  

My three men follow closely behind Edrahil, without a look back. They have already said their goodbyes back in town. Now they have their mission nothing will waver them. As they pass through the gate its surface reforms like they are moving through thick smoke. Once through we can't see them from our side. I feel Hastos stiffen beside me as he realises it's his turn. I push my shoulder into him, it's enough to get him moving and he steps through the gate.  

Now it's my turn. I pull all the power I have to my centre as I move towards the gate. Aemma did warn me this would be the hardest part, getting myself through the gate. I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders as I push forward. Each step is harder than the next, but I make it. One last push and I step through the gate, it feels like being underwater, ice-cold water. I suck in a breath. Just as fast as it hits, it's over and I step out onto soft grass.  

It's nighttime on this side of the gate. The air is cold and damp like rain is on its way. The moon is full, covering everything in a soft white glow. It takes me a few seconds to clear my head as it's still spinning. The smell of sage smoke hangs in the air around us. I feel like I've been hit with something hard, everywhere. Raising my hand to the back of my neck, squeezing it and rocking my head from side to side. Trying to relive the ache in my head and neck. I'm busy moving my head around when it dawns on me that we did it, we got through the gate. A gate I made. Like a fog lifting my years in the army kick in and I start to really take in my surroundings. I curse myself for not being focused from the start, it's not like me, but opening the gate has really drained me. 

My men are spread out creating a semicircle in front of me, my back is to a large hedge line. Edrahil is beside me looking at his feet with a strange look on his face. I follow his eyes. There on the ground is Hastos, curled up like a child holding his stomach. I feel a tiny bit sorry for him, but not enough to help him. So, I nudge him with my boot. He groans and rolls to look up at me. I lift one eyebrow in a silent question. He waves one hand at me still clutching his stomach with the other, before quickly turn back around and throwing up on the ground. Grossed out by the sight and sound I turn my face to look the other way. I feel Edrahil step back to get out of the way, swearing as he does.

I chuckle a bit before I can stop myself and Edrahil shoots me a filthy look, before turning his attention back to his boots. Checking them for splashes. Hastos finally catching his breath, wipes his mouth on his sleeve then tries to apologise but Hastos waves him off. Silencing him with a look. I lower my hand down and Hastos gladly takes it, I pull him to his feet. He goes to talk to me, but I place my hand over his mouth before anything comes out. Listening to our surroundings. We are tucked away in the back of a large garden away from any visible houses. 

As I look around, I can't help but smile to myself. I know this garden. I looked out over it from a bedroom window ten months ago. Excitement washes over me. I did it, I really did it. Somehow I have managed to open a gate to the exact place I had hoped to. Everly home, well her Aunt Lilys home.

I'm just about to tell Edrahil when a light flashes our way. We all back, back deeper into the undergrowth so as to not be seen. 

Who is this?  

Where are they? 

Is Everly safe?