Those Violet Eyes

Getting help

Arwen 

I wake up with a start like someone has hit me with a hot poker in my heart. Grabbing at my chest all I can hear in my head is Everly's cry “Please hear me, my love. We need you. We need you now” the desperation in her voice rips me apart. Jumping out of the armchair I had fallen asleep in. The book I had been trying to read before I fell asleep hits the floor with a thud. The sound like a gunshot in the deadly still room. I spin my head from one side to the other, looking around like a mad man trying to find her, then realizing I’m still in my study. It's still very dark outside the windows, the trees softly swaying in a gentle breeze. How can the world be at peace, when it feels like it should be in chaos? I start frantically pacing around the room looking for Everly, she sounded so close. She must be here. I must find her. The feeling of fear rising in my blood, I don’t know if it’s mine or hers. Draining me of warmth, cold fear making its home inside me, swirling in my gut and spreading through my bones. I’m still pacing as I glance down at the book now laying open on the floor. It takes me a few seconds to register what I’m seeing. It’s a drawing of a circle with runes running around the edge of it. I had flicked through the book earlier and hadn’t seen this page then, did it just appear. 

I stop in my tracks to pick the book up. My eyes don't want to focus and I feel a little lightheaded. Stopping myself for a second, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Pulling yourself together somehow. "You are no good if you lose control” My father's words run through my mind. A flashback from when I was little comes over me. Whenever I would start to lose my temper, normally at my older brothers. My father would stop me, bring himself down to my level, making me stop and breathe. He was always right, even if it was hard for me to admit it at the time. I let out a slow breath as I open my eyes. Lifting the book up to my face slowly, it feels almost alive in my hands. I'm worried I might spook it and the page will disappear. Closing my eyes again and sucking in a deep breath before I look down on the old worn pages. As it all comes into focus, I see a list of ingredients and instructions. On the other is the drawing of the circle and how it's made. There are runes all around the circle. Some I know, some I have never seen. I rummage through my desk for a piece of paper and pen to copy the pages down, just in case the pages disappear again. Reaching down I pull so hard on a drawer that it flies out, spilling the contents all over the floor. Cursing myself I grab the first pen I see off the floor. With shaking hands, I copy the pages the best I can. I mess up a couple, scrunching the paper up and hurling it at the bookshelf on the other side of the room. I manage to get a good copy, so I shove it into my pocket and round my desk in a split second. There is only one person I trust to help me. I don't look back as I sprint through the castle. 

The night air is cold, it hits my face like tiny razors. Making me draw in a deep breath, burning my lungs with its chill, though I don't let it slow me down. I push forward into the night. Edrahils house is just outside the castle walls, but right now it feels like it's a million miles away. The only sound in the dark courtyard is my foot hitting the cobblestones. The gatehouse finally comes into view, this spurs me on, I feel like I'm actually flying as I speed past through the gates. Grateful for my long legs for the first time in my life. The guards at the gate are in shock as I run past them. Unsure if they should stop me or come with me. Not wanting to leave their posts they call after me. I don't have time to answer, I am focused solely on getting to Edrahil and finding Everly. They start to run after me but stop as we round the corner and I literally jump the front gate as I speed toward the door of Edrahil home. Looking a little lost at my odd behaviour the two guards leave me and head back to their posts. I just don't have the brainpower to deal with them right now. I start banging like a mad man on Edrahils door. Within a minute the door flies open and I think if it had been anyone other than me, I would have copped a black eye, for my troubles. He looks pissed, but I don't care. I push past him into his front room, where I start pacing again. I don't notice I'm muttering to myself until he comes to stand in front of me, grabbing me by my shoulders. Finally, his words hit my ears and sink into my brain, it's almost like there is a fog in the way.  

“Arwen, what in the name of the gods is wrong?” I've never seen Edrahil  look so worried before, his pale green eyes are full of sadness.  

“It's Everly...Edrahil, I need to get to her, I need to get to her now!” I pleaded with him, suddenly it felt like the weight of the world was on me. I slumped into an armchair. He came and sit in the chair next to me.  

"How do you know? How do we get back? the last gate was destroyed” Edrahil asks trying to process everything I've said. It's only now that I really look at him. He looks bone tried. I hadn't noticed before, and I feel bad that I haven't seen this till now. Edrahil is the same age as my father, but unlike my father, he has lived a hard life. Growing up the son of a cook in the castle he was always fed and warm, but that’s where the benefits end. From a very young age, he was put to work, cleaning and lifting heavy sacks for his mother. One warm summers morning he was on his way to help in the stables when he came across my father, prince Kyrenic. My father had stolen some old worn-out clothes and was pretending to be a servant to get away from his teacher. Edrahil wasn't fooled by my father's disguise, everyone knew the face of the prince. He played along with the lie for the whole day, enjoying having someone his age to talk to. They shared stories about themselves, it was an instant and lifelong friendship. When my father became king the first thing he did was promote his dear friend. He was at my father's side every day since. That was until the Wildlings started attacking. Life changed quickly for everyone then.  

Looking over at Edrahil's tried face now, I can see all the scars from the battles he has won, and the pain of the lives he could not save. It weighs heavy on his soul, but he would choose no other life. I let out a breath as I explain about my dream and the book. Digging through my pocket I pull out the pages I copied to show him. 

“I need your help Edrahil and I need it now” it comes out sharper than I intend, I don't mean it to. He looks up from the page his eyebrow raised. My nerves are completely shot like I've been hit by lightning. All my whole body is buzzing with dread. I run my hand down my face to try and gather my thoughts before I lose my mind. 

"What do you need from me” there is a kindness in his voice, in this moment I am just his godson and he is my uncle. Not a prince or a general, just a man asking for help. I try to smile a little, it doesn't reach my eyes nor does my mood lift.  His face softens and he puts his hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. 

“Thank you. Now, do you know what any of this means?” I ask pointing at the rune circle. Trying to change the subject and move forward before my anxiety starts to take over again. My chest feels tight and my heartaches. 

“I'm sorry my prince. I don't, but Aemma might” before I could say anything he was up and off down the hallway. A minute later he comes back with a very sleepy looking woman behind him. Aemma is Edrahil wife. She is a sweet soft-spoken woman with a caring face and a warmth to her, but don't be fooled, she is also amazingly clever with a sharp wit. My father once told me how at school she had made a teacher cry after he had tried to insist, she was wrong. She wasn't. 

"Lady Aemma, please forgive my manners. I did not realize the time before I woke your husband” She waves her hand at me, rolling her eyes as she does. Her brown hair is crumped from sleep and she is wearing a long sleeve pink floral nightgown that comes all the to the ground. She tries to run her fingers through her hair to get it out of her face, but her fingers get stuck in a knot. Shooting her hair a dirty look, like it has a mind of its own and she's not impressed. Shaking her fingers free before grabbing the whole lot and twisting it into a bun. She holds her hair like that as she looks around for something to secure it with, her eyes light up for a split second when she sees a pencil on the side table. Grabbing it with her free hand she pushes it through the bun holding it in place. Hair now under control she turns to me.

"Prince Arwen, firstly would you please stop calling me Lady, it makes me feel old. And secondly, whatever reason the two of you have in waking at this time must be important, so out with it so I can go back to bed” I can tell she is tired so I don’t push my luck. I just hope she will be able to help me.

"Lady.....I mean Mrs Aemma. I need help to open a gate. I think this book has the answers I need but I can't read it. Could you please have a look at it for me?” I feel like a small child asking a teacher for help, but afraid to get in trouble for it.  She crosses her arms across her chest and gives me a hard look before her eyes start to soften. I know she wants to tell me off for calling her Mrs instead of just her name, but I just can't help myself. So, I look down at my feet for a second. I hear her huff, then feel her warm, soft hand on my cheek. Looking back up to meet her eyes. 

"Sweet boy how could I ever say no to you”  I feel a warmth wash over me as she smiles at me. Handing over the paper so she can look at it. As soon as she unfolds it and glimpses what is on the page her head snaps up, looking back and forth between Edrahil and me. Her eyebrows pull together, she starts to mumble as she makes her way to a small bookshelf on the wall. Not looking back at either of us she takes out a small black covered book, before heading out the door and into the dining room. Edrahil and I follow along behind her like lost puppies. 

Aemma is already seated at the table by the time we get into the dining room writing on my piece of paper. We both pull out a chair and sit quietly while she writes, flicking from her book to my paper and back again. 

"There is a lot that can go wrong with opening a gate like this Arwen. Are you sure you want to do this?” Aemma finally looks up from her work. Worry was written all over her face. 

“I have to find her” This is all I can get out looking down at my hands. I am the General of the biggest army in my world, but I have never been more scared than I am right now. If Aemma can't help me I just don't know what I'll do.