Chapter 121: 120. Entreated

By the end of the third day my mood about as low as it could get. I was so sure I'd hear from Taralynn, I was positive something would happen. Instead I'd dragged my girlfriends and our other companions on this long uncomfortable trip and it felt like the whole thing was going to turn up empty.

And while Padraig and Laoise might not care, they seemed happy enough to be out on an 'adventure' with the Great and Powerful Tegan Vale and they enjoyed visiting Duma Dé, I felt really bad about Siobhan. She'd volunteered to accompany me at the potential cost of her job.

I was also still worried about Elise and Susan back home. I could only hope the cops weren't harassing them, but while I was here there was nothing I could do to help them. And even if I was there, I couldn't really help them without breaking my rules and messing with the human authorities.

Once again it felt like there were no right answers.

As it grew darker, I made another decision that I hoped wouldn't get me in too much trouble. I decided to stay alone atop the Duma for the night. I focused on my ring, and on Kelly and Keira as I sent them a brief message.

"Staying here tonight. See you all in the morning."

"Be careful!" Kelly responded through the ring. After a minute or so she added, "Siobhan says it's a bad idea."

Keira's message came a moment later "Stay safe, we'll wait up for you."

As it grew darker I became more aware of the chill in the air, and realized I should have brought a blanket or something. I could have gone back down and got one then returned, but for some reason I felt that wouldn't be a good move. Maybe the others wouldn't want me to climb back up in the dark. Or maybe I'd lose my resolve and join my girlfriends in our tent.

So I stayed where I was, sat on the cold hard ground as I tried for the hundredth time to contact my ancestors.

I had no way of knowing how late it was. Without any view of the stars there was nothing but darkness, and apart from the constant light breeze that played with my hair there was no sound either.

Then at some point, the darkness was broken by dancing lights. I blinked as I looked around, and realized the pixies had come out of hiding. They were flitting about at the edge of the plateau. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of them dancing in a huge circle around me. It struck me I was basically trapped now atop the Duma.

I tried not to let myself get too worried. They were keeping their distance, and I figured as long as I didn't bother them they probably wouldn't bother me. That theory only lasted a minute or so, when I noticed one of the small points of light broke off from the others and started flitting inwards towards me.

As it approached, the point of light wobbled left and right, up and down, but its course inevitably brought it right up in front of me. It finally settled on the ground before me, and as it did so it resolved into what appeared to be a very small person with wings.

The pixie stood about four inches tall. I couldn't tell if it was a man or woman. It occurred to me that perhaps pixies didn't even have binary genders. I had no idea how pixie age worked either, but in human terms I'd guess this one looked about eighteen. They had shoulder-length metallic blue hair, bright purple eyes, and perfect unblemished alabaster skin. They didn't have much of a bosom, but what I could see of their figure hinted at a slight narrowing of the waist and subtle hips. The pixie had four dark translucent red wings, who's shape reminded me of dragon-fly wings.

The pixie wore a knee-length tunic-like garment, made of what looked like dark green silk. They were barefoot and their bare arms and legs appeared smooth and supple, but I could also see some lithe muscle under their skin. The outfit had an open back so as not to obstruct the wings. There was a belt over the tunic, and tucked through the belt at the pixie's left hip was a sword. It was a slightly curved single-edged weapon, like a miniature samurai sword.

I stared down at the tiny person as they looked up at me. I had no idea what to expect or how to react. I knew to be respectful, and I knew I wasn't supposed to stare at them but considering this one had approached and revealed themself to me I figured it would be wrong to look away or try and ignore them.

The pixie stared up at me for a few more seconds, then to my shock they bowed. As they straightened up they said "Greetings, Tegan Vale of Clann Brádaigh. I am Tempest Merryweather. Did your companions not warn you against staying here alone into the night?"

Their voice was as androgynous as their appearance, but it was clearly audible. And while it didn't sound like a high-pitched squeak or anything, the pitch was on the high side which I assumed was due to their small size.

I got over my shock after a moment or two and bowed my head, "Greetings Tempest Merryweather. I was warned, but our time here is short and I haven't been able to achieve my goals yet. May I ask, how do you know my name?"

Tempest smiled, "On your first visit here you told the whole world your name."

Their expression became serious again as they continued, "Some would think you a fool to ignore the warnings. Or perhaps some would see it as bravery. What do you think? Are you brave, or foolish, to spend a night alone atop the Duma Dé?"

"I would say neither," I replied. "I'm not here seeking fame or fortune or glory. I just want guidance. I spoke with my ancestors once before, and I'm hoping to do so again."

The pixie tilted their head to one side and gave me a curious look. "Why come here? Taralynn did not die here, her ashes were not brought here. This place is not part of your clann's land, nor is it under your protection."

I blushed slightly but answered, "When she appeared to me the first time, it was here. This exact spot. And I know the Duma Dé are important to the Gods. I know there are lots of stories and myths about them. And I believe this Duma is important to Taralynn for some reason. Or maybe all of them are? But this is the one she chose as our meeting place, the first time she spoke to me. Not her home, not her castle, not anywhere on her own lands, but here."

I shrugged as I finished, "So this is where I've come to seek another audience with her."

Tempest smiled, then seemed to look past me, over my shoulder. Then they bowed again.

When they straightened up, Tempest was still looking over my shoulder as they said "My Lady you were right. She is clever for one so young."

My eyes widened as I turned to look. Standing there a few paces behind me was my great-grandmother. She looked exactly like she did the first time I met her.

I scrambled to my feet while being careful not to accidentally disturb the pixie, then faced Taralynn and bowed to her.

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"Lady Taralynn," I said as I straightened up again. "I've come to ask for your guidance."

I sighed as I continued, "Things have gotten out of hand. The king wants to control me and exploit the gift you gave me. He's put me in a position where I'm a fugitive both here and on Earth. And his son tried to have me killed, because I refused to marry him. I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt anyone, I don't want a war. But I also don't want to control people. I just want my quiet peaceful life."

Taralynn watched me quietly for a few moments. I couldn't read her expression, I couldn't tell if she was angry or upset or amused or anything else.

When she did finally reply, her tone seemed to carry a hint of disappointment. "Sometimes we can't have what we want, Tegan. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, or do unpleasant things. And sometimes we have to fight, for our safety and for what we believe in."

I sighed, "It's not fair. I'm being manipulated all over again into doing stuff I don't want to do."

"Tegan when has anyone ever told you the world was fair?" My great-grandmother frowned at me as she asked "Tell me, have you ever considered the king's point of view?"

"How do you mean?" I asked. "He wants me to marry into his family, so I'll be under his thumb."

"And he has every right to do so," Taralynn stated. She sounded almost like she was giving a lecture as she went on, "He is king, you are one of his subjects. He even relented when you refused to wed his son, and offered you his daughter instead. You've declined his invitations and you've disobeyed his orders. You ran off and exiled yourself to another world to avoid your rightful duties. You've brought dishonour to your parents and your clann. To the king, and to many of the royal court Tegan, you are nothing more than a petulant child who's actions began with dishonour and have now ventured into treason."

She concluded, "That is what I mean by the king's point of view. In his eyes, in the eyes of his courtiers, King Cathal has been gracious and obliging, while you've been rude, dismissive, and disrespectful. It is no wonder he's become impatient with you."

My face was pale and I had a cold feeling in my stomach as my great-grandmother's words sank in. I gulped and asked, "Are you saying I should just give up? I should submit myself to the king, and just do whatever he wants?"

"No Tegan," she stated. "But I am saying that you will not convince the king to change his mind because he does not believe he is in the wrong."

Taralynn sighed and added, "Like a child cowering in her wardrobe or under her bed, you believe that hiding from your problems will resolve them, that they will go away on their own if you avoid them long enough. In truth it's only making things worse, for yourself and your family and your loved ones."

I blushed again at that comparison. She was right, and I felt foolish for not seeing it before.

"I'm sorry," I sighed. "But I still don't know what to do. The only way I can think of to placate the king is to just give up and let him use me. I understand what you said about him being king and me being his subject? But that's not how I was raised. I don't believe someone should have that kind of power over anyone, to dictate who they marry and decide what to do with their life. Whether a parent or the king of all Otherworld, those decisions shouldn't be made by anyone else. I think it's just plain wrong."

I added, "And the thing with the prince, he sent an assassin to Earth to kill me, just because I wouldn't marry him?"

Taralynn was quiet for a few moments as she looked at me. I realized that Tempest Merryweather was still here too, they'd moved to stand a little to my left, and were watching and listening to the whole conversation.

Finally my great-grandmother responded, "That brings us back to what I said earlier, Tegan. Sometimes we have to fight for our safety, and what we believe in. If the prince threatens you, threaten him back. And you have strong ideals that challenge the status-quo, yet you've done nothing to uphold them. You've simply gone into hiding and complained that the rest of the world doesn't agree with you."

She kept her eyes on me as she stated, "The time has come Tegan for you to decide what's more important. Is your freedom to choose your own path worth fighting for? Is your safety and security worth defending? Or is it more important for you to remain passive, even at the cost of your freedom, and perhaps the lives of your family and friends?"

Taralynn shook her head, "You have avoided the problem long enough child. You cannot run from it or hide from it anymore. If you continue to do nothing, you will certainly lose everything."

I sighed again, "So what do you think I should do? I don't want to start a war, I don't want to drag my family and my clann into battle against the king and the rest of Otherworld. And I couldn't live with having so many deaths on my hands."

"Then don't go to war," she replied, stating the obvious. "That leaves you two other options. Surrender and submit yourself to the mercy of the king. Or take advantage of the gift I gave you and confront King Cathal yourself, and if needs be, end him."

I felt a chill go through me as I thought about that. Yet I knew she was right. It's what Keira said right from the start, it's what I'd been avoiding, but it was either stand up and fight for what I believed in, or surrender.

I gulped and asked, "So how would I even do that? Just march up to the royal court and challenge him or something?"

Taralynn looked at me with a little smile and suggested, "Why not invite him to meet you at one of the Duma Dé? After all, the legends say they're meeting places for Gods and kings. There is one some thirty leagues west of the royal palace."

"I'm not a king or a God," I pointed out. "And you said as far as the king's concerned, I'm just a petulant child."

My great-grandmother still had that smile on her face as she replied, "I understand Tegan. But if you're going to confront King Cathal, I believe that is a meeting the Gods would like to witness."

Before I could respond to that, she changed the subject and asked "Tegan when we last met you learned that I gave you my gift. Have you ever wondered where I got it from in the first place?"

I was surprised by the question, and shook my head "Uh no, not really?"

Taralynn's smile widened slightly, "Then let me tell you a story..."

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