14: You Called?

Chapter 14 of "A River Trembles", Book Two of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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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.

Plans to announce the Chosen Court’s presence are made. Eventually. Eidothea and Llyr escaped for his lessons about the Chosen Court. Eidothea apologised for hurting him. She gave him a braided metal armband to conceal his mark. Eidothea found out that the robes they wear have pockets. Except hers.

A few days later, Llyr visited. His sleeve swung free of any bandages but I caught a glimpse of copper beneath the translucent material. We sat in the atrium and spoke of Chosen Court matters all the while skirting around the topic of how deeply a prophet and monarch must trust each other.

He still refused to let me past the barricade he had fortified around himself. I sensed his presence but not one squeak of thought or emotion trickled out past his wall.

:I would like us to be friends,: I told her. I could almost forget how much it hurt losing her to another man. Almost.

:Then let your barrier down, just a little bit. I sense you—:

I wanted to give her what she asked for, not that I felt ready to feel her shame and heartbreak again. I focused on the wall I’d built between us and found it implacable. Not even a crack to let a whisper through.

I shrugged, hiding my confusion with a cool look. :We’re not ready for that, Eidothea. We need time.: Maybe the spell would wear off in time, maybe I had somehow keyed it to my own anguish and when it faded…

And if it didn’t? Maybe Maeve would have the answer.

A week later, I returned from my final fitting for my jewellery piece to find my grandmother pacing in the vestibule.

:Where have you been?: she demanded. She grabbed my arm and gave me a little shake. :I sent someone to fetch you—:

:I must have returned by a different way.: I gently extricated myself from her grasp. :What has happened?:

:The Esteemed has asked for you again. Is your piece finished?:

I held up the package.

:Wear it.: Once I put it on, hooking clasps with her help, Grandmother hurried us out the door.  We moved swiftly through the Royal Quarter. She remained by my side. One guard shepherded us to the next, until at last the steward took over. We reached a small drawing room.

Grandmother whispered to me, :These are not public rooms. What is he thinking?:

The Esteemed entered, beaming at our bows and crossing the room to take us each by the hand. :Elin Grealseeker, I will not keep you from your search but I will borrow your granddaughter for a few hours.:

Grandmother bowed and backed out of the chapter, leaving me alone with the Esteemed.

:Let us walk and take refreshment,: the Esteemed said. :I have a lovely garden to stroll in.:

He held out his hand and I took it. He drew me near, but not too close. We walked in silence into a sunken garden. The palace walls rose around us, with balconies and windows looking out onto the verdant space. Someone had planned and pruned this garden into a sprawling beauty. The air seemed laden with the scent of roses, impossible in this underwater world.

On a low table, a tray laden with a bottle and glasses awaited us. He took the bottle, handing a glass to me and taking another for himself. :Shall we?:

We walked further into the garden, side by side.

:You sent me a message.: The Esteemed’s tone suggested disbelief in my daring.

:Was that not appropriate?: I asked. :I am still learning dreigiau môr ways. There is something I need to tell you. I was not brave enough to do so last time.:

The Esteemed’s dark eyebrow rose. :There are other, appropriate, channels to seek an audience with me. I am curious, but let us walk a little further to where we shall not be disturbed or overheard. Shall we to the grotto or the solar?:

Both intrigued, but I decided on the grotto.

:Good choice,: he murmured. :Forgive me for taking so long to respond to your request, Eidothea, but your thought came while I was in a meeting.:

I winced, realising how intrusive thoughts could be. That had to be why messengers were so often sent from house to house. :I am grateful you could make time for me. Do you have a lot of meetings?:

:The Council meets monthly but the smooth functioning of this city requires closer and more frequent attention.: He saw my grimace. :It isn’t as dull as it sounds.:

The path descended amidst clumps of boulders. The light grew dim. We stood in an enormous alcove, seaweed and other flora descending from the ceiling in long strands.

He poured each of us a drink. I sipped. A fire blazed down my throat and into my belly. I gasped and choked. :Is this not from Cyntefin? It seems stronger.:

:Yes, it is rather potent. Only a small batch is made each year.: The Esteemed downed his glass in one gulp, making a satisfied sigh. :You almost get used to it.:

Facing him, I swallowed a small mouthful. It still burned but this time the sensation was pleasurable. My heated skin thrilled at the cool caress of our watery atmosphere.

The Esteemed’s fingertips grazed my shoulder, bumping against the metal straps of my jewellery piece. :You are following the fashion trend. Lady Angharad commissioned several pieces. She refuses to be outshone.:

:One piece is enough for me, Esteemed: I held out my glass. Now that I faced him, I discovered I did not know how to proceed, without offending, without making him angry. Maybe alcohol would smooth the edges.

He refilled it and his own. :You may call me Emrys when we meet in private. The piece is very pretty … as are you.:

:Esteemed?: I blinked, startled. Had my choice of grotto meant I agreed to some sort of assignation? What rule of dreigiau môr society had I missed? I gulped the alcohol unwisely, hardly noting its fire.

He hid a hand behind his back, looking away. He swallowed the contents of his glass. :Forgive me, I’m a little out of practice.: He considered my pink cheeks and my gaze peeping up through my lashes at him. :You’ve had two men declare your love for you, recently as I understand it. How many more must have complimented you prior to that. Why are you so shy?:

I bubbled a laugh, feeling a little unsteady and definitely tipsy. :Very few have complimented me. None before Llyr or Jasper, in fact. That I somehow became betrothed twice in the space of a month is nothing I ever expected.: I did not add that neither were real engagements.

The Esteemed retreated a step but not before he had refilled our glasses. :Forgive me. At your age, I expected a little more experience. The one time I visited Above Sea, before I assumed this role, women married quite young.:

I considered the beverage, glinting in my glass even in this poor light. :I had my mother’s background to content with, and green scales should I come into contact with sea water. Marrying a fisherman was out of the question. We kept to ourselves and even my aunt could not make grooms appear out of thin air. Any eligible male was either already married, off fighting in the wars, or too old.: I downed the glass. I rather missed those innocent days.

The Esteemed drained his glass also. :I hope you do not consider me too old. I am but ten years older.:

That was why he had asked my age. :Veritably ancient.: I chuckled at his crestfallen expression. :I am teasing, Esteemed, but you must understand that after two disastrous relationships, I am not ready to embark on another.:

:If you are comfortable with teasing me, then you must call me Emrys.: He held out the bottle. :Another?:

I extended my glass. :This is delicious, but heady stuff, Estee— I mean, Emrys.:

He smiled, filling our glasses. :To delicious headiness.:

We clinked glasses and drained them.

Emrys swirled his glass by its short stem. :I knew I needed this, and, I must confess, to make you a little less guarded.:

:I hope it makes it easier for me to say what I must without becoming inter…intelligible, unintelligible.: I covered my mouth with a hand. :Oh no, it may be too late.:

:I hope not.: Emrys took my glass, placing it alongside his and the bottle on a nearby flat rock. :For neither of us have yet said what we want to say.:

I tilted my head. :You wanted to say something too?:

He nodded. :When Gorawyn, my consort, died, everyone expected I’d soon find another consort, one who would give me children, but I’ve had no interest in anyone else since. This will sound strange, but I had a dream. About you.:

:Est—Emrys.: I stared at him and my gaze turned to one of examination. Was it possible he had a Chosen mark also? How would I find it? His purple robe covered him from neck to toe. :What did you dream?:

Emrys stepped closer, taking my searching gaze as encouragement. :I don’t wish to make any demands on you. Your heart needs to heal as mine did, but in my dream, you were at my side, wearing a crown. In time, I believe you will become my consort, my queen.:

My vision spun. I grabbed his arm for balance, falling into his ready arms. :I already am.: I pulled aside the jewels that concealed my Chosen mark, setting the grotto ablaze with blue fire.

Normally, I’d end a chapter here but as A River Trembles is much longer, being sourced from various primary sources, I have elected to not make you wait for another week for Emrys’ reaction. Are we having fun yet? Let me know via comment or like or restack what you think of the series so far?

.The jewelled piece snagged on my robe, and in dragging it down, bared my shoulder and more.

Emrys staggered back, shaking his head as if I had stunned him with a physical blow. :What? How?:

I sank onto a nearby rock, unsuccessfully attempting to pull up my robe. :This is what I came to tell you.  I am the monarch for a new Chosen Court. I will not be your consort, but your Queen.:

He stared at me, his horror visible on his face. Knees buckling, Emrys slumped against a boulder opposite. :You mean to usurp me?:

I waved an open palm of negation. :No, no. I am new to this place, like you said. I cannot even begin to do this without you.:

:Without me?: he scoffed. :You have your Chosen Court. Who is your prophet? Llyr?:

Some instinct warned me not to say anything but my inebriated expression must have given me away.

:So it is Llyr. I should have known when Angharad said Ceridwy was at fault for the rumours.:

:Except they are not rumours, are they?: I thought quietly at him. :This is why I wanted to tell you before any public announcement. You don’t need an audience.:

:Your concern is touching.: Emrys straightened. :This is why I dreamed of you. I thought it was my heart awakening again, but no, it was the Lady sending me warning—:

:Warning? The Chosen Court is a gift of the Goddess.: The alcohol had dissolved any polite facade. I tugged at my robe but in remained hopelessly entangled. My skin prickled. :How on earth did you dream about this?:

Emrys lurched toward me. :I see truth in dreams not just in other’s words. They aren’t very clear. And weren’t again obviously.: His hand clamped down over mine, obscuring my mark. :He grimaced, his face close to mine. What am I supposed to do with this information? You’ve erased my vocation in one sentence.:

I gazed up at him, trying not to think about the heat and weight of his hand on my skin. :I did not want this,: I managed. :I have no choice in this either.:

:There’s always a choice.:

:Is there?: I challenged. :Not when this is the alternative.: I showed him the vision, the apocalyptic one that haunted Llyr for years and myself recently.

To his credit, he paled but betrayed no other response.

:How can I not?: I pushed.

His gaze did not meet mine. :It must be a mistake, just a nightmare…not the truth…: As he spoke, he gently untangled my robe from the piece of jewellery and restored my modesty. Finished, his gaze met mine. :You should go.:

Still I hesitated. :Emrys…:

:Esteemed,: he corrected. :What did you expect, Eidothea? That I would be joyous at your news? Get out of my sight.:

I obeyed with alacrity, sobering as I stumbled through the gardens. Had I somehow misspoken? Misstepped? Had Ceridwy been right to make this public before informing the Esteemed?

Despite my grandmother’s curiosity, I said nothing about what had occurred in the grotto. She could not help me now.

The Esteemed’s response came two days later. Grandmother took one look at the bristling spears at our door and turned to me. :Eidothea, what did you do?:

There seemed no point in explaining that I had gambled, had trusted yet again … and lost.

Midway to the Royal Quarter we met Ceridwy, Llyr and Ondine, likewise surrounded by guards. We merged into one party, surrounded by the purple-sashed guards and their spears.

A deep voice sounded. :The court seeks justice against those who would commit treason.: I heard its reverberations outside of my head. Everyone in the caer received the message.

I closed my eyes. Maybe I should have let Emrys seduce me first. Would he be kinder, more forgiving, if I had? I thought it at Emrys.

The side of a spear slapped across my back. I stumbled forward. Only the guards marching in front stopped my fall. Dismayed, concerned thoughts filled my mind from the others with me. None came from the Esteemed.

:No private communication!: blared the guard who had hit me. :You are all under arrest for treason.:

Straightening, I glanced at Llyr, catching his worried look. Seeing I saw, Llyr’s features became unreadable, like stone.

By the time we entered the Royal Quarter, a crowd swelled around us. We passed through the gigantic dragon-sized metal doors and into the Great Hall, already more than half full. Those who lived nearer to the Royal Quarter had traveled ahead of us. Among them, Ladon Tregallas smirked at us.

Guards held open a pathway through to the dais where the Esteemed and his sister waited, both on thrones this time. When we reached the front, each of us bowed. Ondine seemed on the verge of tears and I wished I could send her a comforting thought.

:Sister,: intoned the Esteemed. He wore the ancient gold crown in addition to his golden torc. :You have brought charges of treason against these people. I recall we saw two of them but recently. What is your evidence?:

:Ceridwy ferch Heddwch and Elin Grealseeker have both sought to foment the people against the position of the Esteemed, by spreading malicious gossip. Even after her own son denied he was the Chosen Court monarch, they continue to insinuate that the Chosen Court has returned.:

I watched the Esteemed as Lady Angharad listed the witnesses who would come forward to testify against us. He seemed utterly at ease. His grey eyes met mine and I wished I could read minds. Was he truly bringing about our demise?

My eyes widened. The upwards twitch of the Esteemed’s lips, swiftly banished, confirmed it. This was going all according to his plan. Had he chosen to accept his new fate? Believe in the dream he had? Believe in me?

I side-stepped to stand close to Llyr. My hand slipped into his. :I think this is going to work out,: I dared to whisper to him.

Lady Angharad leapt to her feet. :No private speech! You have been repeatedly warned! Eidothea Pendyr and Llyr ap Peredur dare to conspire in front of us! Guards! Kill them!:

The royal guards behind us responded, lunging at the two of us with their spears.

:No!: I threw myself in between Llyr and the spears. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ceridwy knock Ondine out of the way, standing above her fallen form. I thrust out my hands to ward them off, as if that would stop the spears piercing me at any moment.

This was the end.

The guards tumbled backward, crumpling to the ground. My mark blazed blue around my pearl jewellery piece. The crowd retreated, hands shielding their eyes from the blinding light.

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