1: Aftermath

Chapter 1 of "A River Trembles"

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea. You really need to catch up to make sense of A River Trembles. Go on, save this post and go have a binge read. You deserve it.

26th June, 1814

Eyes closed, I leaned against the white-washed wall, reclining in a wicker chair. Autumn will soon be here and I intended to soak up every bit of the sun’s warmth until then. It eased the pains in my bones.

A shadow blocked the light.

Blinking, I saw an under-dressed, golden skinned man with incredibly long black hair, reaching almost to the cuff of his breeches. I knew Llyr would come take his revenge some day. I wondered it had taken this long.

“You have come to kill me at last,” I said.

25th April, 1814

When I regained consciousness, I lay on the softest bed, light as a cloud, but cosier. The calcified sand ceiling glowed golden in the light. I was safe, in Caer Morgana, and either in Llyr’s or my grandmother’s home.

My side burned. I shifted to ease the tug on my flesh and gasped as pain knifed through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, remembering my last moments above water: the confrontation with Jasper, refusing to heed his pleas to give him the Greal, his violent betrayal, flinging myself overboard with the last of my fading energy, screaming Llyr’s name.

:Eidothea?: Llyr knelt at my bedside.

I opened my eyes, relief washing away the recalled horrors. :You found me.: I drank in his handsome features, the furrow in his brow, the fresh scar, no more than a scrape, on his left temple, the warm glint of his bronze torc half hidden under his long dark hair. Safe, I was safe.

His hand stroked mine. He nodded. :You need to lie still and rest. Your healing has been slow. You’ve been deep asleep for days.: He bit his lip. When he thought again, the words stumbled out. :I very nearly lost you.: He squeezed my hands.

It hurt to move. :The Greal?: It had been at my side in a cloth bag but my vision had warned me Jasper would claim it.

Llyr’s gaze would not meet mine. He stared at the soft coverlet. :It is lost, Eidothea. Sunk to the deeps of Môr Hafren.:

:Lost?!: I winced, knowing at once I had broadcast that across the entire dreigiau môr city. I reduced my focus to Llyr. :Lost? Are you sure?: Disbelief mixed with relief. At least it was not in Jasper’s possession.

:As soon as you are well, we’ll use the ring to look for it. But for now, it is lost.:

I stared at him. Had it all been for nothing? I frowned. Something felt off. :Llyr?:

:Would you do me the favour of broadcasting what I just said in suitably horrified tones? I will explain everything soon.:

:I am upset!: I broadcasted. :You think we can find it again with the Grealseeker ring?:

His smile did not quite reach his eyes. He gave my hands another squeeze. :Thank you. I am so sorry I gave you that shock. The Greal is safe. It is here with you.: He reached out to the bedside table and brought the Greal into view.

I sagged with relief at the sight of it shining in the orbs’ glowing light.  Somehow I had changed the vision’s ending. It was not lost and it was here, not in Tregallas’ hands.

Llyr placed it at my right hand, farthest away from him as if he understood without my speaking how fiercely I would protect it. My fingers curled around the cold metal. The ring against my breast warmed at the connection.

I frowned. :You did that on purpose. To throw others off the scent. The Tregallas family—: I faltered. Jasper’s betrayal hurt more than the sharp ache in my side. I choked back tears.

Llyr took my hand again. It felt like he would not let me go. I was glad of it and yet terrified how I might sink in his esteem once he found out about the betrayal, about Jasper. :Forgive me,: he said. :Tregallas has allies in the caer. We needed to give you time to heal.:

Ceridwy strode into the room, her silver torc flashing in the light. :Is that why? You think I cannot fend off the curious, my son? You’ve created more questions about the Greal. Not the least being that now the entire caer knows the Greal has been found and lost again. Every draig môr will be scouring the ocean floor for it.:

:That’s worth it to throw our enemies off the scent.: Llyr regarded his mother, stony-faced, though his warm hand squeezed mine.

:Elin Grealseeker will be here within the hour.: Ceridwy’s attentions turned elsewhere. :Ondine is on her way to check your wound. Her gift for healing is quite strong for one her age. I will hold off your grandmother for another day but you best have your stories straight for her. With the Greal, we need to be careful how we reintroduce the Chosen Court to Caer Morgana. Your grandmother is likely to be an ally but she will have her own agenda.:

Ondine entered, her bronze torc a charming accent to her pastel blue robes and long ebony hair. Ceridwy left, beckoning to Llyr to follow.

He ignored her. :My mother has her own agenda also,: he whispered to me.

Ondine tapped his shoulder. :Enough of your sweet nothings, brother. Leave us while I tend to her.:

Reluctantly, Llyr’s hands slid free from mine and he rose. :I will return as soon as Ondine is done.: He limped away, pausing at my startled cry.

:You are hurt!:

He nodded. :We will speak more of what happened later. I will mend.:

Llyr left the room. I turned an anxious gaze to Ondine. :Is it true? He told me he heals quickly.:

Ondine grinned ruefully. :Boys, always hiding their hurts. It makes it so difficult for me to gauge how to heal them.: She folded back the coverlet and then my robe to reveal my wounded side. :Today is the first day he has been able to move on his own. He insisted on remaining by your side. We had to make a bed beside yours.:

Turning my head, I saw a second narrow bed, less than a hand’s breadth away. I let out a slow breath. Llyr had been hurt because of me.

:Before I start…: Ondine pulled an item from a small bag at her waist. :You held this so tight, I thought it might be important. What is it? I’ve never seen the like. Is it magical?: She handed it to me, her dark eyes wide with wonder and curiosity.

The button. His button.

The dark brown fabric looked out of place in here in Caer Morgana, so dark and dull when all around shone in pearlescent and pastel hues.

I sucked in a breath and snatched it from her. The pain branded in my palm leapt to my heart. How I wished Jasper had not betrayed me. If my destiny were other than the Chosen Court prophet, I might have even married him, and then possessed all the things my aunt wanted for me.

Ondine patted my clenched fist, a proud smile on her pretty features. :It knew it was important. Shall I thread it onto your necklace for you?:

I nodded my thanks, glad she did not ask for explanations. I huffed a laugh, fingering the button before surrendering it.

Marriage, a normal life, were no longer my goals. I should have trusted my gut, my intuition, especially when he started talking of the glory days of Arthur Pendragon returning. But I had trusted my heart instead.

Heart pounding, I struggled out of the nightmarish dream to find the room in darkness. My arms pinioned at my side, I sent a panicked cry: :Llyr!:

:I’m here,: His lips pressed against my shoulder. :You were having a nightmare.:

He relaxed his grip on my limbs. I breathed easier. :Are you not hurt? Should you not—: I shifted away, but he held me close.

:Almost mended,: he murmured. :Stay. This is nice.:

I wanted it to be nice, but the memory of Jasper’s arms surged into my mind. I elbowed him to make space between us. :What happened after I fell off the boat?: I asked, to cover my momentary repulsion. He was not Jasper, I reminded myself. Llyr is my friend, my saviour.

He watched me sit up. :I would very much like to know what happened before that.:

Silent, I waited him out. I did not know how to tell him, how to even show him my shame of trusting, of loving, when everyone else warned against it.

Llyr rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. :You fell in, blood everywhere. I reached you the same time that Tregallas brat did. If it hadn’t been for Cychwr, we might not have escaped. Shall I show you?:

I nodded. Through his eyes, I saw myself become draig môr, but still sinking, a boneless weight. My shortened arms clutched at the grail within its bag.

Someone dove into the sea, the water splitting white at his entry. Copper scales shimmered along his length as he jack-knifed and headed for us. Jasper? Was he draig môr? Did he lie about that too?

Another draig môr intercepted him and the sea roiled with their writhing battle. Llyr supplied the identity of this second draig môr: Cychwr, his friend. I glimpsed a hint of silver amongst his indigo scales.

Llyr called to others for help, speeding us away from the fierce duel. The greal’s hard edges pressed against Llyr’s flesh, holding both the greal and I against him. He ducked below the advancing formation that came to our aid.

Above us, the ocean quaked. He glanced up. The arrowhead formation dissolved, punched through by a different group of dreigiau môr, who sped toward us.

He fled, but my non-responsive body slowed us down. I felt each slash against his tail, his midsection. Again and again, he called for help.

:We were outnumbered,: he thought to me. :And too slow. If it weren’t for Cychwr—: Llyr rolled toward me, arms seeking comfort, encompassing my waist. His long dark hair fanned across his back.

I reclined, returning his embrace. :All could have been lost.: My chest tightened. :I nearly ruined any chance of success but you saved us all. Thank you.: I buried my face against his chest and sobbed out my heartbreak.

His arm tightened, but he let me cry. His lips pressed against my hair.

Thoughts of being safe with Llyr cracked time and time again with the visceral memories of Jasper and his embrace, Jasper and his mouth on mine, Jasper and his betrayal, leaving me with a shattered heart and broken body. I cried until I exhausted myself, the tears banked within my aching chest.

I found words again. :How are you? Your injuries?: I remembered his limp.

:Healed,: he murmured. :Alas, my friend Cychwr hasn’t fully recovered either. Are you well enough to meet with him?:

I was not sure I wanted to see anybody, least of all someone who had put themselves in harm’s way for me. No, it had not been for me, but for the Greal. :In the morning?:.

Llyr agreed. :Will you tell me what happened? How came you to be so badly injured?: he asked. I tensed. :Why don’t you want to tell me?:

I kept my face hidden. :It will hurt you.:

He heard the pain in my thought. :I will bear it. I need to know how Ladon Tregallas came to be aboard your ship.:

I bolted upright, twisting to look down at him, gasping at the sharp pain in my side. :Ladon Tregallas?:

:He followed you into the water,: Llyr reminded me of the coppery draig môr who had pursued me.

It hadn’t been Jasper. I felt a brief surge of gratitude. Blinking at Llyr, I stuttered. :I … I never saw him. It was his brother, Jasper… He stabbed me. In the vision, he took the Greal from me, but I hung on to it. I backed away so fast a button from his waistcoat came off in my hand. With what strength I had left, I toppled over the railing.:

:A vision?: Llyr cut in. :How?:

Shaking my head, I could not, dare not, answer. As his prophet, Llyr knew I saw things, but the way I had found out, while locked in an embrace. I could not tell him that. :I trusted Jasper. He helped me find the Greal… and then he betrayed me.:

:Tell me,: Llyr murmured, a touch of steel in his thought. :You knew he was a Tregallas. Why is the betrayal such a shock?:

:Llyr, please.: I rolled away from him, curling into a ball. How could I tell the monarch of the Chosen Court that he was saddled with a prophet who refused to heed her own visions?  How could I tell him, who had loved me for years, that I’d fallen for another, and an enemy besides? :I cannot. The betrayal hurts too much.:

Llyr stroked my back. :It makes me fear what you are hiding from me.:

‘The end of our friendship,’ I thought. To him, I said, :I will tell you soon. I am too ashamed to speak of it now. Please, let me rest.:

Llyr conceded, murmuring, :I know you wish to protect me, but you keeping this secret from me is hurtful too.:

:I know,: I whispered back. :It hurts me too, and yet it doesn’t feel right to share my pain when it is so raw…:

Cychwr visited in the morning. Llyr had left my bed and sat on the narrow bed next to mine. :This is one of my dearest friends,: Llyr said by way of introduction as Cychwr entered.

Pulled back in a simple queue, Cychwr’s dark brown hair came to his shoulders, much shorter than any other draig môr’s. Burly and broad-shouldered, even the pastel blue robes he wore did not diminish his muscled strength.

Cradling his arm, Cychwr sat next to Llyr. Bandages and a sling engulfed it, leaving his upper arm bare.

My gaze gravitated to the ornate tattoo, an anchor twined in ropes and roses. It seemed a very Above Sea thing to find in Caer Morgana.

Llyr noticed my stare and coughed, drawing my attention.

:Apologies.: I bowed my head. :It is not as if I have never seen a tattoo before. The design is remarkable. You are the first draig môr I have seen with one.:

Cychwr shrugged, his cheeks reddening.  If I had met him Above Sea, I would have thought him a fisherman or a sailor for his eyes crinkled from staring into the wind and sun. :Our ancestors were proud to mark their skin. This … this was not by choice.:

I sensed a story but one not readily shared. I changed the subject. :Thank you for coming to my rescue, mine and Llyr’s. It would have been a challenge to retrieve the Greal from the Tregallas family.: My stomach churned as I thought of what I might have to do if that had happened, assuming I even survived. Flatter and cajole Jasper or his brother? I shuddered.

:It is an honour, M—: Cychwr glanced sideways at Llyr. :Miss Eidothea. Is that the correct honorific? Llyr hasn’t told me your last name.:

:Pendyr. But Miss Eidothea, or simply Eidothea will do.: I smiled. :It is very kind of you to visit me, especially when you are still healing.:

Cychwr shrugged. :Our future is at stake, M— Miss Eidothea.: It was kind of sweet how he stumbled over my name. :Besides, wherever Llyr goes, I follow.:

Llyr grinned. :Don’t make me sound like the sole troublemaker. I have followed you plenty of times.:

I regarded the two of them. :Ah, so you both cause trouble? Should I be worried?:

:Too late for that.: Llyr smiled.

Ondine drifted in. :Oh, you are awake!: she said to me, her ready smile upon her lips. Her gaze fell upon Cychwr and her smile faltered, her suddenly serious gaze examining him.

:Have you been taking care of him too?: I asked her, recognising that expression as a healer’s. :He seems worse off than I.:

:She saved my arm,: Cychwr put in, sending her a brief, shy glance.

Ondine blushed and sat at the foot of my bed. :It will take time, but Cychwr will fully heal. You should have seen him when he was brought in.: She sent me an image of Cychwr crumpled, covered in blood that floated in wide ribbons behind him and the two dreigiau môr who carried him in. Other wounded dreigiau môr trailed in behind him.

I gasped, my stomach churning. :This was no mere skirmish.:

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