Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Thirty-Three

I stand motionless in the meadow, reality sinking in as the warm breeze tousles my hair. I am alone. The tunnel, which just moments ago was the path we all took together, now appears as a gaping void in the rockface behind me. There is no sign of my friends, no sound except for the wind fanning through the grass and a distant family of birds harmonizing in song.

Panic rises in my chest. I rush back to the tunnel entrance and peer inside. “Theo?” My voice echoes into endless darkness. “Lenna? Alyndra?” Only silence answers. I desperately search for footprints, broken stems, any sign they passed this way. But the soft loam underfoot remains undisturbed .

I slump down beside the tunnel mouth, heart pounding. What magic is this? Some illusion cast by Ruvyn to confuse me? I wrack my brain trying to understand what sinister force drew me here to stand alone. If this is a trap, why leave me unharmed in a tranquil meadow?

I am torn between appreciation of the idyllic surroundings and the growing panic swelling within me. A faint melody reaches my ears. It’s a woman’s voice, wordless and haunting, ascending and falling in pitch like the peaks and valleys of the mountain range. I turn towards the sound. At the edge of the meadow stands a small cottage, smoke drifting lazily from its stone chimney. The haunting song seems to emanate from within.

My feet slide against the dewy grass as I cautiously approach the quaint cottage. My hand trembles as I reach for the wooden door, and the melody abruptly stops. I hold my breath and give a hesitant knock, wondering who or what awaits on the other side.

For a long moment, only silence answers me. Then the door creaks ajar slightly and a pair of bright green eyes peer out from within.

I take a hesitant step back as the door swings open, revealing a cozy interior glowing with firelight. A young slender woman with bright ginger hair, much like my own, now stands in the doorway.

I stare in bewilderment at the woman before me. High cheekbones, a pointed chin, and large emerald eyes set above a smattering of freckles. She smiles like Meemaw used to, and her nose is buttoned like mine.

“Mother?” I whisper in disbelief.

The woman’s eyes fill with tears. “Rosanhi,” she says, her voice cracking with emotions. She reaches out and pulls me into her arms. I stand frozen, unable to comprehend how this could be real. I pull back and search her face, looking for some sign of trickery. But all I see are her kind eyes and loving smile. Meemaw’s smile.

“How… how is this possible?” I ask with trembling lips as hot, salty tears spill down my cheeks. I embrace her again, breathing in a scent of lavender and feeling the warmth of her arms. Could it truly be her? Could she have somehow been returned to me by whatever magic lies within this mountain?

My mother pulls back and looks at me tenderly, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. “Oh, my dear Rosanhi. I know you must have so many questions.” Her voice is melodic and soothing. “Come, let’s go inside where we can talk properly.”

She turns and heads into the cozy cottage, beckoning for me to follow. I step over the threshold, my mind spinning. The interior is simple but homey, with a crackling fire, faded quilts, and dried bouquets hanging from the rafters. My mother sits at an old wooden table and gestures to the chair across from her. I sink down slowly, still half convinced this is some vision that will vanish in a moment .

“You’ve grown into such a strong, beautiful young woman,” she says, eyes shining with pride and sadness.

I stare at her, emotions swelling within me. “I don’t understand how you’re here. Meemaw said you died in childbirth. Your letter to her said so.”

My mother nods somberly. “It’s true, that was my earthly fate. But my spirit moved on to a realm beyond the physical world. A place not fully part of the mortal plane, yet still connected.” She reaches across the table and takes both my hands in her own. Her skin feels real and warm. “This meadow exists between realms,” she continues.

I gaze at my mother in wonder, trying to comprehend how any of this is possible.

“Between realms?” I ask. “So, you’re a… spirit?”

She nods, a sad smile on her lips. “When you entered the Tunnel of Whispers, your power of translocation allowed you to cross into this mystical place between life and death. Here, spirits like myself can take temporary form.”

“And my friends? Where are they?”

Her smile turns to an expression of concern. “Your friends did not make the same journey as you,” she says gently. “Only those born with the gift of translocation can enter this realm.”

My heart sinks, realizing I truly am alone here.

“But worry not, time flows differently in this realm. You may return to your friends once our visit is done.”

I let out my breath, relieved to know I could go back .

She squeezes my hand, her eyes glistening. “I have watched over you every day. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

I look down, tears welling up. “I don’t feel that strong. There’s still so much I don’t understand about my powers, about being Destinara with Theo… about Mikyl… so much uncertainty.”

“You underestimate your strength,” my mother says gently. “You’ve endured more than most could bear, yet you face each new trial with courage and an open heart.”

I smile weakly, my mother’s words only providing a small comfort against the storm raging within me.

“I know you still have many unanswered questions,” she continues kindly. “I wish I could stay here with you always, but our time here is limited. Ask me anything, while we have this chance.”

I ponder her words, thinking of the endless mysteries surrounding my birth and her relationship with the King. “What can you tell me about my father?” I ask tentatively.

My mother sighs deeply, a faraway look in her eyes. “Your father was a complicated man,” she begins. “He was the Elven King, bound by duty and tradition. And yet, beneath the crown, he was just a man who wished for more.”

She takes a moment to compose herself before speaking again. “After our initial meeting in the Forest of Thereah, we found ways to meet in secrecy. At the time, your father was only the Prince of Edwardian. There were immense feelings between us, but we never acted on them. We—may have—flirted some, but we always knew it couldn’t work,” her eyes take on a glaze of longing as she speaks. I can tell she really loved him. “It wasn’t until the start of the Great War that his father died, and he became King. Once the Elves started moving into Quillyan, I had no choice but to take up employment as a lady-in-waiting for his wife, Queen Lirea. He would find excuses to summon me privately, just so we could talk. Our conversations started off innocently enough, but as time went on, they became more intimate, and we could no longer deny what was between us.”

She pauses, gazing into the distance as if reliving a distant memory. “He was gentle and kind when we were alone, not at all the stern monarch he appeared to the world. And oh, how he made me laugh!” She lets out a giggle with closed eyes, tipping back her head. “He had a spirit of mischief about him, always playing little tricks and telling silly jokes.”

A soft smile touches my mother’s lips at the memory. “But a relationship between Elves and Humans was forbidden. Not to mention the fact that he was The King.” She pauses another moment, seeming to gather her thoughts. “When I became pregnant with you, we had to keep it a secret or risk upsetting the royal lineage. The Queen would have had you killed… and me locked in Malon.”

I squeeze my mother’s hand, overcome with emotion. “There is so much more I want to tell you,” she says. “But our time here grows short. ”

I gaze at my mother, trying to memorize every detail of her face, there is still so much I want to ask, so much I need to understand. But our precious time together is slipping away. “Please,” I beg, “just a little longer.”

My mother gives me a sad sympathetic smile. “I’m afraid I cannot stay, my sweet… sweet daughter. But know that I will always watch over you. And someday, when your time comes, we will meet again.”

Tears spill down my cheeks as I cling to her, not wanting to let go. “Give your father a chance,” she says. “He does love you. He wanted you. The love a father has for a daughter is something that surpasses all understanding. It’s a profound and unbreakable connection,” She holds me close, stroking my hair.

“Be strong, Rosanhi,” she whispers. “Trust in your heart. It will guide you through the darkness.” I feel her begin to fade, growing transparent in my arms.

“No, please!” I cry out, but she is already gone. The cottage around me begins to disappear along with the meadow and I find myself back in a cave, alone once again.

I fall to my knees, sobs wracking my body. The encounter was but a fleeting dream, over too soon. And yet, the comforting warmth of my mother’s embrace and the scent of lavender still lingers.

“Rose! Where are you?” Theo’s voice trickles into my foremind with urgency and panic .

“I’m… I’m not sure. But I’m alright. Stay where you are, and I’ll find you.” I quickly respond.

Closing my eyes, I focus inward, sensing for Theo’s energy. His presence resonates like a beacon in my mind, guiding me forward through the winding tunnels. My foot catches on a rock, and I stumble, throwing my hands out to break my fall. I hiss as my palms scrape against the rough cave floor. The pain helps to sharpen my focus. The tunnels twist and turn, but I let Theo’s essence pull me along the correct path. His relief floods our connection when I finally emerge from the darkness.

“Rose!” He rushes forward, sweeping me up in a crushing embrace. “Thank the Gods, I thought I lost you.”

Theo holds me tight, his breath warm against my neck. I cling to him, the lingering ache in my heart easing in his arms.

“The tunnel, it took me somewhere else. I saw my mother.” I say softly.

Theo pulls back, searching my eyes with concern. “Your mother? How is that possible?”

I shake my head. “I don’t fully understand it. But it was her. She spoke to me, held me…” My voice breaks as fresh tears threaten to spill. Theo cups my face gently. “You don’t have to explain now. Let’s just find Mikyl and get out of this mountain.”

I nod, suddenly feeling the cold and the dampness pressing in all around us. Theo keeps an arm around me as we make our way through the twisting passages back to our companions.

Lenna jumps as we emerge into the larger cavern, her face drawn with worry. “Thank the Gods! Are you alright?” She comes over to check me for injuries, brow furrowing at the scrapes on my hands.

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Physically at least.”

Emotionally—I’m still reeling.

Alyndra gives me a quick hug. “We should get moving. I don’t like being down here.” She eyes the looming darkness nervously.

Eulee’s wet nose nuzzles against my thigh, and I can’t help but smile. I scratch the top of her head with rapid movements. “She says she can smell your mother on you,” Theo translates, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“How would she know what my mother smells like?” I inquire with surprise and interest. Theo simply shrugs in response. I grin at Eulee, “Sounds like you have some explaining to do when we get home, little miss.” Her tail wags wildly and she licks my palm with zeal.

We gather our things and press deeper into the mountain, guided only by lambent torchlight. The path stretches on endlessly, passing through massive caverns and narrow crevices alike.

The overpowering stench of sulfur assaults my nostrils, causing me to break out in sweat. The air is thick with the pungent odor, making it difficult to breathe. It seeps into every crevice and lingers on my tongue like a bitter taste. I can practically feel the acrid fumes burning my skin. “We must be getting closer to the center,” I mutter to the group, wiping my forehead with a sleeve. “That has to be where we’ll find Mikyl,” I add, trying to quell the nervousness in my voice.

Alyndra scoffs from behind me. “And Ruvyn,” she spits with disdain.

The sound of grunts and snarls echoing from an opening in the rocky wall ahead, beckons us forward. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as we cautiously approach the source of the light and unsettling noises. Theo takes the first look, and his eyes widen in horror as he takes in the sight before him.

“It’s an army of Obscuro Elves,” he finally says.

I push past him to see for myself. A seemingly endless army of Obscuro Elves stretches out before us, marching in the direction of a grand and otherworldly castle standing tall amidst a sea of dark molten lava. The Fortress of Silence. The ground shakes beneath their footsteps, their war cries filling the air with a chilling intensity. My pulse thunders in my ears as I realize the magnitude of the threat before us—thousands upon thousands of merciless enemies, ready to unleash their fury at a breath’s notice.

We are hopelessly outnumbered. This army could decimate the Human realms unopposed. Theo’s fingers clasp mine with steely resolve, his features etched in staunch defiance. “We have to stop them, no matter the cost,” he proclaims, his tone laden with grave intensity.

“We’re going to need a damn good plan,” I say. “And we need it now.”