The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (61 page)

Sle'nel’ nodded.

The Healer and San'lr'in’ worked together to instill some healing and anti-swelling spells into Sle'nel', then they both helped her to displace the remainder of her pain. San'lr'in’ could see the improvement in Sle'nel's face muscles almost immediately.

San'lr'in’ was grateful, “Thank you, Healer. How fares Ann'wn?"

"Resistant. She wants to feel the pain as a reminder, she says. Why must all I attend be as stubborn as this?"

Sle'nel’ looked frustrated, “How stupid is this?"

"And she will not allow me to clean the wound further."

Sle'nel’ stood and looked at her Queen, “We can alleviate this issue. There is an entire lake out here, good for such cleansing. Come, my Queen. Let us help Ann'wn to take a cleansing bath."

She offered her hand to her Queen, and San'lr'in’ took it, wondering as to her meaning. All three of them went to the first island. Ann'wn saw them coming and knelt as The High Queen approached.

"High Queen."

San'lr'in’ well noticed that Ann'wn was yet using her more formal title rather than using her usual of ‘My Queen'. She ignored it, hoping the issue would tend to itself, “Rise, Ann'wn. The Healer tells me that you resist her tending."

Sle'nel’ looked at her Queen, and winked.

As Ann'wn was responding, The High Queen and the Elf kept moving her closer and closer to the lake's shore. When they were at the shore, Sle'nel’ asked her, “Why do you not soak your wounds, and cleanse them?"

Ann'wn looked at the water, then to her Queen and Elf, “But, my Queen, I—"

They picked her up and threw her into the water.

Sle'nel’ removed her boots, then jumped in after her. The Healer yelled after her, “My Elf. You shouldn't go into the water.” But she knew it was overly late to say it. So she sat, knowing she would have to tend to her wound once again, when she had completed her Elfish ways.

San'lr'in’ just laughed, looking upon the both of them. Sle'nel’ knew the water was overly cold for The High Queen's back, so said nothing about her coming in with them. Instead, as Ann'wn righted herself, Sle'nel’ just pushed her back under the water for a quick moment, making her Queen to laugh further. Ann'wn finally stood in the shallow water, soaked, hearing The High Queen laugh, and gladdened for it. She turned to her Elf, then splashed her.

For many moments, they played in the water, splashing and dunking each other, hoping to lighten their Queen's mind for a moment longer. When Sle'nel’ grew tired, she returned to her Queen. The High Queen didn't think Sle'nel’ would ever do as such, so was surprised when Sle'nel’ leaned strongly against her, embracing and kissing her, but making her soaked as well.

San'lr'in’ looked down at her now soaked gown, then to her Elf, “You are feeling improved, I see. Perhaps we removed overly much of your pain."

Sle'nel’ took her Queen's hand, laughing, “Come. Let us change you from your soaked gown.” She led her off, but said over her shoulder, “Come Healer. Come Ann'wn. We are hungry."

The Healer tended to Ann'wn's neck and ear as they waited for The High Queen and Sle'nel'. As she gently applied some potion to it, Ann'wn closed her eyes, relishing in the soft touch.

The Healer saw her close her eyes, “Does it hurt, Force Leader?” She didn't think it should, so was surprised.

Ann'wn shook her head lightly and looked at The Healer with a teasing look, “No, Healer. Your touch hurts not at all. I was just wondering if you would like to provide this touch on other parts of my body."

The Healer saw the glint in Ann'wn's eye, and while she ever hoped they could be together, she knew Ann'wn was no more than a typical warrior, ever wanting someone new in the bed. She pinched Ann'wn's injured ear a bit.

Ann'wn's leer changed immediately to that of surprise, “Ow! That hurts. Why did you so as such?"

The Healer smiled her mischievousness, “Oops. My apologies, Force Leader."

When they had all finished their meal, and The Healer had re-tended the Elf's wounds, they were once again left alone.

Sle'nel’ was yet exhausted from her wounds, the sword fight against her Queen, and the healing of all her wounds. The High Queen wanted just to lie in her lover's arms, also well tired from the recent events.

Ann'wn and The Healer left them, walking the path together, “The Elf is a brave one."

Wanting to be much closer to The Healer, Ann'wn attempted to keep the conversation moving forward, “You speak truly. Stronger than I had prior guessed. How do you fare these turns, Healer? You have much to do these turns, with all our injuries."

She looked at Ann'wn, wishing the statement had truly been out of concern over her. Knowing otherwise, she responded, “Humph. What? Are you going to quit becoming injured, Force Leader? I know your body better than you do."

Ann'wn laughed, knowing the statement to be truth, but wishing it was in a more personal fashion, “And I thank you in highest truth for your most adept healing. It is not without notice."

The Healer blushed, embarrassed, “You tease. But now I must leave. I am close to perfecting another potion for The High Queen's back pain. Until later, Force Leader. Be kind to your wounds."

Ann'wn was sorry to see her go, “Until later, Healer."

The High Queen and Sle'nel’ lay next to each other, slowly removing each other's garments. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked upon her lover with tenderness, sadness, yet desire, “How did I live without you for all these prior cycles?"

Sle'nel’ shrugged, touching her lover's breast tenderly, “It makes me all the more welcome now, my Queen."

"I thought you were going to call me San'lr'in'."

Sle'nel’ looked at her with an impish grin, “There is something purely decadent in knowing that I am about to lay with The High Queen."

The High Queen nodded, touching and teasing Sle'nel's breasts, smiling wickedly at her, “I understand, as there is also with knowing I am about to lay with The Realm's only Elf."

Sle'nel’ woke first, feeling tired, yet fully satisfied. She looked at her Queen, studying her as she slept. Never prior had she felt such contentment with another, or such love. She removed some hair from The High Queen's face, then lay still, enjoying the peace of the moment. The High Queen sensed her movement, yet slept soundly. Sle'nel’ moved closely into her, feeling her warmth. As she lay waking from their long undisturbed eve together, she listened to the sounds of the lake, of the animals about it, and sensed some movement coming toward them. She guessed that it was late morn, and guessed that they had slept for longer than any prior moment given to them. They had gone to bed prior to even the sun's set, and Sle'nel’ sensed that it was now well after the morn.

She listened as she heard the footsteps, silently rebelling against them, hoping it was the attendants only. She covered the both of them, then closed her own eyes and settled in, hoping that whoever it was would quickly leave.

"High Queen. Jandra."

She opened her eyes, recognizing Caitha's voice. Whispering, she replied, “Caitha? Why do you come?"

Caitha smiled down at Sle'nel', “The others are cowards, as we suspected. There is an urgent message from the leader of the Mungardies. She would like to negotiate a temporary truce. Will you awaken The High Queen for me?"

Sle'nel’ could feel that San'lr'in’ had awakened, and was now just listening. The High Queen opened her eyes, looking at Caitha, “Why is it that our storyteller and singer of songs is the only one with a brave heart?"

"I have nothing to fear from you, my Queen, like the others do. Good morn. Would you like your attendants to bring in the food and your garments?"

"Tell Me of the message, Caitha."

"That is all I know, M'Love. A small party of Mungardies came to the town this morn asking for you. They carry the message, but told Queen Erthrn this part of it only."

"A temporary truce only? Why should I waste My moments on such a thing? She just desires more moments to rebuild her forces. So it would seem I have made her fearful of what we might now do."

She looked to her lover, then back to Caitha, “Caitha? Would you mind waiting on the first island for just a little while, until I think on this for a moment?"

"Your attendants wait across the lake, my Queen. Call me when you would like them to help you."

San'lr'in’ rolled over onto Sle'nel', resting upon her, kissing her, “I quite like this. But I like it better when we are reversed."

She moved back, as Sle'nel’ lay upon her. They rested in each other's arms for a moment, Sle'nel’ kissing her now and then.

"How many more marks did you give Me last eve, upon My neck?"

"They are not just upon your neck, my Queen. I am well offended that you know this not.” She began touching various parts of San'lr'in's’ breasts, stomach, and neck. “Here is one. Two. No, three. Wait, four. Ah, here is another. And yet another."

The High Queen was laughing, “You are worse than those wretched creatures in the small shallow warm lakes."

"You seemed not to mind prior eve."

San'lr'in’ smiled, “In truth, you make Me wild and desirous of you by doing such."

"Are you going to meet with the leader of the Mungardies?"

"Not for a temporary truce only. Why waste our moments?"

"Will she not become angry?"

"So? It will also make her all the more afraid. She will counter with even more, such as a half-cycle truce, or a full-cycle truce. I think she now tries to push Me."

"Should I call Caitha back so you can deliver this message?"

"I will have Caitha bring Erthrn, Ann'wn, Meera, and your former lover. I think it is the moment to give your former lover an important task. One in which she should be quite well prepared for."

"Would you like me to call in your attendants to dress you?"

"I will have Caitha call them to us, and then return to you. They will have to deal with our needs this turn. I am well tired of tending to everyone else's needs for the moment. It is the moment for Me to tend to you, only."

Sle'nel’ touched her cheek, “You always do, my Love."

She delivered her message to Caitha, then returned quickly to Sle'nel', shedding her cover as she entered the bed. She moved into her now resting Elf, feeling her softness and easy breathing.

The High Queen turned to her, looking tired, “There are some rewards for being High Queen. Feeling you next to Me is one of them."

It took some moments to gather Sam, Meera, Ann'wn, and Erthrn together. By that moment, Sle'nel’ and San'lr'in’ had returned to sleep, so were re-awakened when the small group had finally arrived. The attendants came directly behind them, knowing that they might as well disturb The High Queen now instead of later.

As Sam entered, she became somewhat surprised and embarrassed to see Sle'nel’ in the bed with The High Queen. While she was well used to Sle'nel’ no longer being hers, it was difficult to see her in bed with her sister. Sle'nel', yet sleepy, simply rolled onto her side away from the group, covering herself even further. She cared little what they had to say this turn.

The High Queen looked upon her lover, seeing her turn away from her former lover and the others, laughing quietly to herself. As they all entered, they knelt and bowed their heads, “High Queen."

Never prior had any of them seen The High Queen so less than formal. She rose, covering herself with one of the covers as she did so, “Good. You are finally here. Erthrn. I would like you to take The Highest to meet with this leader of the Mungardies. She is to serve as our ambassador, or some such title, and as Assistant to The High Queen. Sam'r'in'thel'ineln', I would like you to tell the leader of the Mungardies that she wastes our moments, and that if she would like a truce, she is going to have to deliver much more than her current offering. Be firm, and allow for no softness in this. Can you do this for The Realm?"

Sam was surprised at her new role, but well pleased that she was to be her sister's messenger this turn, “I can do this for you. You would like me to appear strong and displeased by her current offer. What if she offers more while I am there?"

"Tell her that I will have to think about it and will get back to her, but that I have been well displeased at her first offer."

Meera bowed her head, “My Queen. I think she will ask for the children to be returned."

"I expect as such also, Warrior Woman of Woden. But it will not be so. I would rather unleash D'klr'dil upon her once again. Give her no measure. Give her no hint of what you think. And My sister, beware of her tricks. Erthrn, you will need to see to this. And all of you, take many guards and be well prepared for battle. And be warned: Say nothing about our Elf. Even if she mentions it. Let no sign appear that an Elf now lives in The Realm. Where has she agreed to meet?"

"At our border."

"Good. Be cautious. Say little. Do less, and give nothing away. Return to Me upon the completion of your mission. Ann'wn, I expect you to bring them all back safely to Me. And My Sister, I expect you to remain as firm as you believe that I would."

"As you say, it shall be so, my sister."

They bowed, then exited the island dwelling. San'lr'in’ laid back down and moved into her lover, “Where were we, My Love?"

Throughout the morn and midturn, they slept, grew intimate, and ate their meal in the bed. By late midturn, they had decided to rise and wait for the group's return. Sle'nel’ was sitting at the lake's side, petting and touching all the animals that came up to her, while The High Queen sat once again upon one of the chairs near her.

"Even the fish come up to you, My Love?"

Sle'nel’ laughed lightly, “So it would seem."

"Look over there. The lovers come to you."

Sle'nel’ looked across the lake and saw that the two lovers that made their haunting cries throughout the eve were indeed swimming over to her. She petted their heads lightly and scratched the back of their necks.

"And this has occurred throughout your life?"

"As far as I can recall. Except there were none such as these in Woden. Mostly just the ducks and all the barnyard animals. Also, the occasional bird, but none such as yours."