Valhala
Chapter 23
Dreams of the Past?
*****************************************
Devin knocked on his lovers door quickly "Alec, Alec come on, we must go lover, it isn't safe here any longer" he said softly through the closed door, his long black hair partially covering his chiseled facial features and piercing green eyes.
Alec opened the door quickly, wearing only a pair of black silk breeches, his brown eyes wide with fear "What do you mean Devin? Who's betrayed us?" he asked walking quickly to his dresser to pull a shirt on.
Devin shook his head "No one, but Brighton has had a vision. We must leave the palace at once, never to return."
"But..."
Devin silenced him with a kiss "No buts my love, quickly we must go" he said pulling Alec out of the room and down the castle halls towards the main entrance. There waiting for them were two people a young boy, barely out of puberty with straw blond hair and wide curious blue eyes, and a young woman, caramel skinned with long curly black hair. "Hope, I've brought Alec" he stopped and looked at the young man "Niko, what are you doing here?" he asked softly.
"You aren't leaving without me" he said crossing his arms.
"Niko, you don't understand what's going on here" Devin replied walking over to the young boy.
"I DO understand Devin. Bri told me to be here. So there" he said sticking his tongue out.
Devin shook his head wearily "Speaking of, where is Brighton?"
**********************
"You are sure about this Brighton?" the queen asked pacing her private chambers.
"Never more certain your majesty, I've seen it all. If Devin and Alec don't leave all hope of the future is gone. Besides, you know Devin and Alec's relationship will never be accepted here. There is a time, far in the future when they will return to save us from our greatest peril ever, and their love, strong and true, will be accepted and cherished. For now, we must leave. I have seen it more than once your majesty; Devin, Alec, the young page Niko, Lady Healer Hope and I must leave and travel far from here."
"But what about the heir, Devin must take his place on the throne" the queen protested weekly.
"Milady queen, you know very well that Devin would never be accepted on the throne being shay 'a' chern, not to mention being in love with someone of no noble blood. And you have 2 younger sons, either of whom would make excellent rules of Valhala" Brighton replied matter o factly.
"Promise me you will take care of him Brighton, you have practically grown up together and I trust you with this task" she said, tears falling from her eyes.
"I will, as long as you keep this legend alive among the rulers. When Valhala nears its greatest peril, 5 will appear in the time of Savril, One with healers touch so true, One with Sight and eyes of blue, One with mindspeech and knowledge so sure, One with the mage gift and love so pure, One with the fire and the blood to rule, These 5 shall stop the evil that rules, From the stormy skies fire will purify, uniting souls that were once one, Royal blood flows in a river of sorrow, Extinguishing the fires within for a brighter tomorrow, Releasing the soul of an unrequited love, to fly to the heavens, on the wings of a dove, to be with one's eternal love, Love...Hate...Betrayal...and Confusion all will join to end this conclusion."
"I shall summon the scribe..."
"NO!" Brighton interrupted her sharply. "Forgive me your majesty, but you must not write this down anywhere. This is only for the rulers of Valhala to know. Not the royal family, not the consorts, not the heirs or royal children. Only when a ruler is crowned may they be passed on the knowledge of the legend. That is the only way to keep it safe. Promise me your majesty please" he said bowing.
"If this is what must be done to save our kingdom, you have my word Brighton, I will only pass this knowledge one my heir has been crowned. But what if one should die before a new ruler is crowned?" she asked.
"I do not know your majesty, but this is the way I have been shown by the Star-Eyed One, and one does not cross the chosen path of the goddess" he replied.
"So be it, you have my blessings Brighton and my the Star-Eyed One bless you and show you your way" she replied kissing his forehead. "Now go and take care of my son and his love."
"Fare thee well your majesty" Brighton said bowing graciously and turning to leave the queen alone in her private chambers.
"Zhai'helleva Brighton" she whispered softly as he walked out the door. *trans/wind to thy wings*
**********************
Brighton walked up the stairs from the lover palace to find Devin, Alec, Niko and Hope waiting patiently for him in the entrance hall. "Keren'sel my friends" *trans/bright be the day*
"Fi'zhai Brighton, where have you been?" Devin asked nodding his head in greeting. *trans/warm winds-greeting*
"I had some unfinished business to wrap up. Shall we go?" he asked motioning to the door.
"Why is Niko here Bri? It's too dangerous" Alec said looking over at the youngster out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm NOT too young. Stop treating me like a leeka'el!" Niko replied hotly. *trans/male child*
"Stop acting like a leeka and I'll stop treating you like one" Alec retorted. *trans/child*
"Stop it both of you!" Hope cried stepping between them "Hai'yasha! You'd think the both of you were leekas the way you two are fighting. Niko is here for a reason, same as the rest of us."
"Hope is right. Niko is here because of the vision. He is to come with us away from Valhala. He is in danger here" Brighton said quickly.
"From what?" Alec asked.
"I don't know! I just know that we are to leave Valhala through a portal to the south. Now can we please go?" Brighton cried frustrated.
"Alec, ashke, please stop fighting. Let's go, ok" Devin said putting an arm around him and embracing him quickly. *trans/beloved*
Brighton led the way out of the palace complex and through the field of horse companions. "I'm gonna miss my alsh'sha" he sighed looking towards one of the horses that were grazing along the fence. *trans/soul-sibling*
"We'll all miss our companions" Hope replied softly.
Once they crossed the field they entered the forest and headed to the circle clearing. (AN: Same clearing Bri and Kida used to practice) Alec looked around wearily "Are we all ready" he asked softly. A chorus of 'yeses' was his reply. "Alrighty then" he said and started concentrating on the node under the forest. A bright blue light gathered around Alec and came together in front of him in the form of a gaping arch. "Come on y'all" he said gripping Devin's hand.
"Wait, we should all hold hands so we don't get separated in the portal" Brighton said grabbing Devin's other hand and Niko's hand.
Once they were all linked together they made their way into the portal. Suddenly there was a loud ripping noise and the walls of the portal began to shrink in and expand violently, nearly throwing everyone off their feet. "Stay together" Brighton yelled.
"Alec what's happening?" Hope shouted desperately trying to keep her hold on Niko's hand.
"I don't know" he cried looking around. "I think something ripped the walls of the portal."
"Alec your slipping" Kevin yelled as he started to loose his grip on his lovers hand.
"Devin!" Alec shouted desperately trying to regain his hold.
"No!" Devin shouted before everything went black.
Devin awoke to the sound of his name being said "Alec" he whispered softly.
"No...its Brighton" he paused "Are you alright Dev?" he asked.
Devin slowly sat up and looked around "Where...where's Alec...and Niko and Hope?" he asked quickly.
"I...don't know"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Devin cried.
"I don't know...last thing I remember is you screaming and then everything went black. I woke up and found us here...and I don't know where here is" Brighton said shakily.
"No, we have to find them!" Devin shouted.
"I'm...I'm sorry Devin" Brighton whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The dreamer awoke with a start "Oh my goddess" she whispered slipping on a tunic and skirt. She hurried down to the queen's chambers wondering if the queen was awake. "Could it be?" she asked herself. "This could ruin everything" she muttered knocking on the entrance. To her surprise she was admitted moments later. "Your majesty, I must speak with you of a dream" she said curtseying quickly.
"A dream?" Savril replied.
"Yes" she said and related the contents of her dream to Savril "Do you know anything of this?" she asked after she finished.
Savril sat down in her comfort chair "The legend was handed down crown to crown for generations. I never dreamed" she said quietly.
"Then these strangers are Valhala's deliverance from the wrath of Ikichka."
Savril looked at the dreamer curiously "Tell me my dear, how is it that you have come to have such a prophetic dream? Dreamsight is not one of your gifts if my memory serves me correctly" she said not hiding the suspicious note in her voice.
The young woman cast her eyes downward "For...forgive me your highness, I did not mean to deceive you. I had not mentioned it before because I rarely have such a dream. The last time was...well it was before" she stopped biting back a sob.
Savril quickly dismissed her notion "I am sorry hon, I did not mean to accuse. You have done a great thing. Now we must prepare for this peril that awaits us. Thank you, and go et some sleep" she said dismissing the woman.
"Yes your majesty" she replied curtseying again. After she left the queen's chambers she said quietly "I must get to my father. This could be very bad."
*********************************************************
AN*The ancient language is Tayledras found in Mercedes Lackey's Novels of Valdemar.
**********************************************************
Next Chapter
Contents
Home