Chapter 31 Travel
The night before we leave, I load the wagon with our belongings.
Mostly clothing and food as I didn’t know how long this journey would be.
After studying the map, we think it will take about five days, if the weather stays good.
We also must travel through a forest which I am most excited about.
I always feel the most at home in the woods.
After everything is packed, I crawl into bed and wrap myself in a blanket.
Aylin doesn’t join me tonight as he is still working on the final details of our departure with the Inn staff.
I know he will be going to bed soon, but my body has been exhausted the last couple months so once I am comfortable in bed I fall into a deep slumber.
“Celest, please help us, time is running out,” that voice is the same one I hear every night. I feel so connected to these people already and the grief I feel for them pulls at my heart.
“I’m coming, Olly,” I call out into the darkness.
I can feel her all around me, but I can not see her.
“Please try to stay strong, I will be there soon, we leave in the morning,” it’s the same vision night after night.
I don’t think she can hear me, but I call out to her, “Please be strong for our people!”
“Celest, Celest, wake up, are you okay? It’s time to get up but you’re sweating and tears are running down your cheeks. Honey please, wake up!” Aylin is lightly shaking me as I open my eyes.
“Yes, I am okay. I just had that dream again.”
I say as I am wiping my eyes. “I hope I’m going to be able to help my people Aylin, I know this is my purpose, but I know nothing about them. I don’t know why this is happening to them.”
I put my face into my palms and sob quietly.
I can feel him rubbing my back, “I know that I have a responsibility to everyone. I am just so scared that I am going to mess everything up.”
“I don’t think you are going to mess everything up Celest.
We thought all the witches and warlocks had passed away, but they have been waiting for you to arrive.
You are a part of their prophecy, and the Goddess created you in her image.
You are going to be amazing. I know you’re scared Celest, I am too.
We will get through this together. He pulls me against his chest and strokes my hair with his hand.
“We have to go, let’s shower and get on the road, we have a long few days ahead.”
I nod slowly, wipe my face and climb off the bed and out of Aylin’s arms. He was right, the shower is exactly what I needed. It helped calm my nerves and I was ready to get on the road in no time.
Aylin, Archer, Jurgen, Aylin's second in command, and I loaded up into the wagon for the journey.
Pulling out of town was surprisingly somber.
This is the only place where I felt like I was at home, and I was scared that I wouldn’t be back, at least not for a while.
The first couple days of our journey were uneventful.
The scenery was breathtaking. I watched as we went over hills and crossed bridges that went over rivers.
I listened to birds chirping as they flew overhead and water splashed and gurgled as we rode by brooks, streams, and rivers.
We drove through a meadow, and the air was crisp and smelled of flowers and fresh dirt.
I watched butterflies float among the wildflowers and a white bunny with the most stunning green eyes hopping in and out of a mushroom circle.
Small conversations were taking place in the wagon, but I could not focus on anything besides the nature around me.
“Can we stop for a minute please; I need to stretch my legs,” I asked and we pulled over.
Aylin stood by the wagon as I walked straight towards the bunny.
“Hello there,” I quietly called out to it and I walked straight up to it.
I found myself sitting on the ground and reaching out to it.
“Hello, Queen Celest, I have been looking forward to meeting you.”
The bunny spoke to me in my mind and I was surprised.
Mind linking with Aylin and my pack has become second nature to me now, but I was unaware that I could link with other creatures, though I did link with Vervain.
“My name is Florian; I am this fairy circle's guardian. I know it is not your time to visit my lands, but when it is, I will be waiting for you.”
I didn’t respond, just nodded my head and Florian hopped over to me and laid in my lap.
I stroked his very soft, fluffy fur as I closed my eyes and held my face up to the sun.
I was so at peace here as I listened to the soft voices all around me.
“It’s her, look mommy.”
“Look, it's the Queen.”
“I want to go say hi.”
Many little voices all around me were all excited to meet me. When I opened my eyes, it was just me and Florian in the meadow. “Who can I hear Florian?” I asked through my mind.
“It’s the fairies, my Queen. They are all very excited to meet you. Once you have the power to see them, you must come back and find me here. They too have prophesies about your return. Please, your highness, don’t forget us, we may not have a dire need for your help right now,
our elders speak of the days you will be needed.”
Florian stood from his position and rubbed his nose against mine and then pushed his forehead against mine.
“We will be waiting for you,” he jumped off my lap and back into the fairy circle.
For a second I saw little lights floating all round the meadow and then they were gone.
I walked back to the wagon with the biggest smile on my face, and without a word I climbed back into the wagon and rested my head against the wall as we drove away from the meadow.
Fairies, I thought to myself. I will be meeting fairies!
All my life I thought all these mythical beings were just that, mythical, but my life has changed so much and now I know they are all real.
Aylin rested his hand on mine and smiled at me as if to say, there is so much about our world that you don’t know, I couldn’t help but smile at him.
My life has been getting better, and this was just the beginning.
We reached the forest on the third day, and the sun was starting to set. “I think we should stop here for the night,” Aylin said, “it will take us a little while to set up the tent and fire Celest, do you want to walk around the area or rest in the wagon?”
“Walk please, but I’ll stay close no need for someone to follow me. I’ll look for some small sticks for the fire.”
“Okay, just please don’t go too far,” Aylin smiled. “Nature looks good on you, you seem so happy out here.”
I jump down from the wagon, “I am so happy Aylin. This experience has been amazing and now that summer is here everything is alive. I will stay close enough to always see the wagon, okay?” He nodded and I walked away.
I walked into the forest and took in everything that I saw.
The trees stood strong and tall with small flowers or leaves, and the ground was still damp from a weirdly placed summer rain.
I could hear my group speaking behind me as I continued to walk around our area.
I was picking up small sticks and tree bark as I walked.
I bent down, grabbed a stick and as I stood up, I saw eyes looking at me.
I jumped back slightly but when I blinked the eyes were gone.
I kept looking but I couldn’t find what was looking at me.
“Hello? Is someone out there?” I did not get a response.
I must have imagined it; I thought and shrugged.
“Celest, dinner is ready,” I hear someone calling to me.
As I turn to walk back a tree branch brushes my shoulder and a blue flower with white veins floats down into my hand.
I pull it to my face to smell it and it smells so sweet.
I’m not sure why but I close my eyes and whisper “thank you,” then walk back to camp.