~IC - Dreams~
Rowena fell into sleep, her body exhausted from the exertion, her mind whirling around. The time with Jack and Miracle had been amazing…both of her new lovers cared about her pleasure, and just enjoyed being with her. But even through her joy, a small fear niggled at her heart. Drew had raped her just for sleeping with Hush…what would his reaction be to this? She smiled a little at that, shaking her head. Not that she cared what he thought…but she knew him to be a powerful man, and she feared what he would do if pushed too hard. And then Hush…circling thought her mind over and over like a bird of prey. Her heart was torn…even if he did return…things would never be the same for them. She could nearly see the look in his eyes when he discovered what…and who…she had done. She couldn’t stand the thought of the look in his eyes.
She sighed softly, drifting off to sleep, body intertwined with Miracle’s and Jack’s, the only thought in her mind was that of Hush.
The Irish countryside stretched as far as the eye could see. She stood upon the rampart, watching everything around her. The small farms…the livestock… Turning her eyes she looked down inside the fortress. Watching the women washing at the well…the men sparring in the yard…the cooks children chasing chickens. She sighed softly, pain heavy upon her heart. The end was near.
Rowena pushed aside her sad face as her son ran up to her, balancing along the rampart and rushing into her, wrapping his arms around her in a warm hug. She smiled gently, pulling her wrap closer around her shoulders, looking into the eyes of her son, ‘Cailean…what have I told you about that?’ She could not believe how the years had flown by. Her son was nearly a man…16 already…a knight…and courting the woman who he wished to make his wife. The boy swept her up in his arms, spinning her around, laughing carelessly. The laughter of a man untainted by age and banality. ‘Oh mother…I have not fallen yet, and I never shall. I am immortal…I am invincible…’ Rowena smiled and shook her head, and uneasy feeling deep in the pit of her stomach. As she watched her son move over toward the wall, leaning on his elbows and looking out over the land, a vision swam before her eyes.
Cailean would fall. Rowena saw tides of change sweep over the land…and her brave son fell before them. She closed her eyes, trembling and clutching the wall. She saw the look upon her sons face. He faced death like the men of legend…screaming his disagreement and standing firm for his beliefs. She knew in her heart that she could not save her son…that she could not prevent the future from sweeping him under.
Rowena shuddered and Cailean turned to her, moving to wrap his arm around her. She turned her face, hiding the pain in her features. He kissed the top of her head and hugged her gently, ‘I wanted to tell you that I am going away, Mother.’ She blinked and looked up to him, startled. ‘Father has requested my presence at court…and…so I shall go. You should go as well, Mother. He needs his Vassals to stand strong with him…he needs his Barons and Baronesses to show their support.’
Rowena smiled softly and shook her head, ‘Moi Chroi…His Grace would not wish for my presence. I shall send an emissary, but I will not leave my Barony untended. There is…there is change upon the wind. I am needed here.’ The boy looked down into her eyes, concern flooding his face…Rowena was struck with how like her he was. She had taught her son well…she had raised him to be a good man, despite his fathers influence. ‘What is wrong, Mother? Have you had another vision…?’ Rowena laughed softly, despite herself, ‘You know me so well, my son. Do not trouble yourself with the visions of an old woman…You will go to your father, and you will help him with what he requires.’
Cailean smiled softly to her, concern still in his eyes. ‘Father…told me that he…plans to raise me to Count. He…well, we all know that Count Morgan is too old for the job…his County has been besieged for years, and he has done little more then hold it stagnant.’ The boy paused, looking to his mother and hesitating when he saw the fear in her eyes, ‘But perhaps he was just pulling my leg…you know how he is.’ Rowena winced and nodded slowly, ‘Yes, Cailean. I know him all too well. I cannot stand in the way of your future, my son…just…be careful. You know how much you mean to me…I cannot lose you, not again.’ Cailean laughed and gave a lopsided smile, giving her a kiss on the forehead, ‘You won’t lose me mother. Remember…I’m invincible. I will be home sooner then you think…and you’ll want me to leave again!’ He hugged her again, teasing to try to take the bite from the news he had given her.
Rowena stood in the same place and watched her son ride off, the morning sun rising behind her. The grass sprung green around the hooves of his steed, the spring flowers peeking their eyes to see him off. Her heart sunk as she realized that this was the last time she would ever see him. Rowena glanced into the yard, seeing his betrothed sobbing softly and waving after her beloved. The poor girl would never be wed to the one that she loved. She would never feel his arms around her.
Again, she stood upon the rampart, the bitter snow swirling her hair around her head. She had no more tears left as she watched the somber procession enter her keep. She gasped softly, biting her lip. Her beautiful son…the child that she had brought into this life with the melding of her soul to her husbands. He had drawn his final breath in service to his father, had given his life for what he believed. Rowena crumpled into a ball, and the tears came again, freezing against her face as they fell. She had been summoned to her husband’s side…her Barony was being handed over to one of his younger, stronger Vassals. She had lost all that she had worked for.
The world grew black as she closed her eyes and a soft voice murmured, ‘All things happen for a reason…what is meant to be, will be…you cannot stop the winds of change, Rowena…You will go to him…he will hurt you, but you will prevail. You will stand strong. You must stand strong for Cailean…for your husbands lands…for the future. You are my child, and I will protect you…’
As Rowena opened her eyes, she found herself returned to the all too familiar glade. She had seen Drew kill Hush in this place time and time again…and the pain washed over her body. She stood slowly and looked around, gasping softly as she felt a sharp pain run through her body. She glanced down and saw her stomach swollen in the end stages of pregnancy. The lower half of her white gown was already soaked in liquid, and she felt the child inside her struggle to escape, a contraction ripping through her body. She moaned in pain, gasping, and slowly opening her eyes.
Before her, stood Hush. The look on his face was one of pure hatred and anger. Rowena whimpered softly, sitting on the rock behind her. Hush took a step forward, his hands flexing, menacingly. He spoke quietly, his deep voice rushing over her, ‘You’ve betrayed me, Rowena. You swore…and you betrayed me. You are a descpicable creature.’ She shook her head, tears running down her face, ‘No…no…you left…you were gone…I didn’t…how could I know? You LEFT me alone…you LEFT me alone with Drew…you abandoned me…’ Hush stepped forward with an unearthly speed, his fingers tightening around her throat, cutting off her airflow, ‘You failed, Rowena. You failed, and now you pay.’
She shook her head, struggling, letting out a choked scream as another contraction ripped through her body, every part of her aflame in agony. He smiled to her…a cruel, heartless smile. The smile of a killer…the smile of a nightmare. He pushed her to the ground and stood over her, the roots of the trees snaking up to hold her hands down. She screamed…in pain, in terror…as he dug his fingers into her flesh…
She screamed, sitting bolt upright in the bed, gasping for air and sobbing. She curled into Miracle and Jack as they held her closely, comforting her, driving away the fear. But the fear did not leave her heart.
Her past…her future. Her Goddess spoke to her in her dreams, guiding her in the right direction. She did not understand what the dreams meant yet, but she would find the truth. The truth was buried in her memory, buried in the fey soul that burned inside her.