Capítulo 526: Tears of Joy
Atop the regal bird, Aurora felt what flying was truly like for the second time. Unlike the dragon king, whom Aurora had ridden to reach the falling water from the Mystic Spires, the eagle on which she now rode was much smaller and covered in feathery down.
If the Empress concentrated, it felt like nothing was below her at all. 'What I wouldn't give to spread my arms and take flight like these majestic creatures!' She allowed the blissful thoughts to overtake her mind.
Aurora was so engrossed in the pleasurable experience that she did not see how high the bird was traveling to make the nose dive across the ice barrier. All of a sudden, she was free falling.
Aurora screamed, looking frantically to see if the bird was still beneath her. What was happening? Beside her the four other eagles were making the same perilous maneuver as a frigid wind hit them all in the face.
The memory of Reyan crossing the barrier the last time came suddenly to her mind. He could not fly while under its influence, only glide.
The same rule applied to the massive birds. Without the height, they would have crashed into the icy wall. As it was, they were playing a dangerous game trying to get through the strange magical interference before their height gave out.
If the eagles had miscalculated, the ground would win the deadly game and the Empress would be no more. Even with the wind whooshing past, she could still hear many screams of those around her.
Brinn and Jaymes seemed to be yelling with excitement; Gela and Frode were shrieking in terror. The others were either not screaming or not loud enough to reach the Empress's ears.
When Aurora thought the ground was about to become her grave, the eagle finally regained control of its flight and turned skyward once more.
A breathtaking view of the land of magic spread out before her. In the setting sun, it rivaled any view that the Aurora had ever seen. Her fear left as quickly as it had come.
'I never want to land!"
By the time the eagles reached the elven palace, Mairwen and her group had already been safely escorted to the city. It was growing dark, so it was very fortunate that they had made it to the haven of Ithel's protection.
Below, the flicking lights of the windows welcomed their guests
Under Brinn's guidance from the air, and Polymedes from the ground, the magnificent fowls landed in one of the palace's sprawling courtyards. The cohort all dismounted, greeted first by the smug smile of their final member.
"It took you long enough," Reyan teased.
"Yes, well we saw your ice of wintery madness leaving us a trail. You do like to rub in your victories," Brinn stuck out her tongue.
The cloaked man next to Polymedes pressed a coin purse into the satyr's hand. "You got them here."
"Pleasure doing business with you," the satyr made the purse disappear before the Guardian's eyes. "Now about that good word with the elves…"
"You'll get it. Take him away." The Guardian told the two elven guards. He turned to join the newcomers.
Forgetting decorum, Aurora ran to her son and threw her arms around her the man's neck. Behind her, the last of the guests dismounted, and the mighty birds took to the sky and sent a torrent of wind into the courtyard. It pushed mercilessly at the people below.
Alaron hugged his mother tightly. Partly to keep her from facing the gale-force alone, and mostly because he missed her affection.
"It is so good to see you," Aurora whispered. "Are you well?"
"I am well. We've been on quite an adventure." He looked over the Empress's shoulder and spotted a large white creature. "It seems you have had one as well."
The wind subsided and the two's private conversation ended as they separated.
"There will be time for talk later. First we need to greet our hosts."
"Protocol." They said together, laughing.
"Where is Mairwen?" Aurora searched the courtyard but could not find the dark-haired princess.
"She is with the Queen Mother. Queen Lanassa was insistent on having some time with the princess after she got cleaned up." Alaron had managed to escape the Queen Mother's attention by needing to watch Polymedes and welcome the eagles.
Now he would need to meet with his own group and come before the elven royals.
Alaron shook forearms with Alvar and bowed before Brinn. Zan and Nurlan both gave a small bow in deference to the fallen prince. The other three, unsure how to react to the cloaked figure, dipped their heads.
"Speak of the dead!" Brinn joked. "I'm glad to see you haven't met the Maker a third time."
"It was a close call, I assure you," Alaron's jovial tone held a little too much truth and he knew it. "I believe your brother is awaiting us."
On cue, a herald arrived with a message from his master. "King Ithel would like to receive his honored guests and family into the Private Chamber of Dignitaries. If you would follow me…"
"I know the way," Brinn started to argue, but Alvar placed his hand on her arm.
"Ithel is already forgoing protocol by not bringing us to the throne room. Surely we can be flexible." The handsome elf persuaded his wife with a winsome grin.
"Very well. Lead us to my brother…" 'It's not like I have lived here my whole life or anything' she left the latter part unsaid.
"Why would King Ithel forgo protocol?" Aurora whispered to Zan.
"It is very strange. Perhaps it is because we came by eagle, and he found some loophole, but my guess is that it has more to do with our furry abomination." Zan glanced at Gela. "The king might be anxious about what the unknown creature might do in court." The councilman wasn't sure what would happen either, to be fair.
The group followed the herald down winding corridors. The elves which served the castle moved aside, most able to hide their curiosity until their eyes fell on the bear-man. His overwhelming stench took hold of those who did not have any wind magic to protect themselves.
"If you would like to cleanse yourself, I was given permission to make a detour before we finish our journey." The herald offered when they came to a juncture.
Aurora weighed her options. "I shall leave that up to all of you."
"We will follow your lead, Your Majesty." Zan spoke for the others.
"A bath would be nice. We can gather in an hour, if His Majesty will allow it." Aurora compassionately dismissed her group. Servants appeared to escort all of the guests to separate quarters.
Fearful of being separated from the rest, Jaymes grabbed Brinn's hand. The elven princess understood his silent plea.
"Don't worry. We are not the monsters. You will not be forced to do anything you don't want to do." To the servant she said, "Please make sure the young man and his tutor are able to stay together. Anything they want, bring it to them immediately, even if it means summoning me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Your Highness?" Professor Frode had not heard the she-elf called anything except Brinn or Spymaster.
"Did I not mention I'm a princess? Oops!" Brinn's golden hand covered her grin. "Now you know. See you soon!" With that , she disappeared in a gust of wind.
The others disembarked less dramatically until only the herald, Aurora, and Alaron were left.
"I know you have no intention of taking the full hour. Shall I wait for you?" Alaron was sure his mother would not want to delay seeing Mairwen and the others.
Although Aurora did want to give the rest a chance to be clean, she also wanted a more private moment to reunite with her family. She appreciated that Alaron understood.
"I will be only a moment. Would you mind informing them of my imminent arrival? I know that Lanassa will want to stay, but maybe she will clear the room of everyone else…" Aurora hoped that this was true.
"It shall be done." Alaron vanished in a blur, not unlike the green-eyed elf before him.
Aurora shook her head. 'So much drama.'
She dipped her head at the herald. "My room?"
With the help of Lanassa's personal servants, Aurora was washed and ready in barely ten minutes' time. The elven helpers were not Anna, Bella or Candela, but they worked so beautifully together that the whole change looked like a dance.
In new court clothes, Aurora gathered her skirts and hurried along the corridor to the private chambers. After reuniting with Mairwen, she would have to explain Gela and the two other humans before they arrived to avoid awkward questions from the abrasive Queen Mother.
It would not be the easiest task, but at least their mission had been somewhat successful.
All thoughts of what she was going to say when she saw King Ithel and his entourage melted away as she entered the chamber where only three figures were waiting.
Before her a lithe female with dark hair was holding a giddy little boy with a cherubic grin. Next to them a Guardian stood with his hood around his shoulders. All three beamed almost identical smiles at her.
Seeing her children all together, Aurora fell to her knees. Tears streamed down her face.
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