It wasn't the garden this time. Her life was being played right before her, scenes playing like a slide-show in an old-time theater, grainy photos drummed up from memory flash quickly by.
Looking up at her mother, belly distended as she is pregnant with one of Murelle's brothers or sister. Her father leaning over her bed in the hospital telling her that her mother was dead. Her life growing up on the ranch in Wyoming, her close relationship with her Native American grandmother, learning herb-lore, how to garden and the ways of her people. Then her life as a transport pilot for the Federation, her main station in the Andromeda system, hauling folks all over the known galaxy. This brought her to Rhy-Din, quite by accident actually, her ship malfunctioned and she had to make a landing, crashing into a wooded thicket.
She was directed to the Stars-End Bar where she found a place to sleep and help until she could get funds to fix her ailing space-craft. She took a job as a bar-tender at the Stars-End bar and a certain customer caught her eye. He always sat at the same bar-stool and ordered ale. His brogue was almost Scottish in nature, his green eyes were kind. Llewyss GreyMantle. It wasn't long before she realized she was in love with the taciturn ranger, his idiosyncrasies, his perchance for isolation and long treks in the wild. In spite of his seemingly aloof manner, there was a warmth that burned deep within. Then the memory of her marriage to this ranger in grey and silver star broach, and the birth of a child. She now was in the garden, walking to the familiar gazebo, covered in morning glories, her grandmother awaiting her. As well as another. It was Llewyss. He did not have the marks of age on him any longer, the scars on his face gone. He stood as she walked toward them.
"Verna Melamin."
That was his elvish pet name for her. "Dark loved one." Murelle was not fair but dark skinned with dark hair, not pretty but a pleasant face with a ready smile.
"Llewyss!" Murelle cries happily she jumps up the stairs and wraps her arms about him. "I thought I'd never see you again!" For a long moment she savors the feel of his arms about her, but he pulls away.
"You must return. You cannot stay."
"But....Llewyss, my love?" Murelle felt the choke of tears again. He stroked her long dark hair.
"We have a daughter you must love. Don't leave her alone as you were as a child. You did what you were supposed to do. Killed that deamon and released my spirit. I will always be with you now."
Patrice stood now and kisses Murelle on the cheek. "Go back to Gwyn. She needs you, don't linger with the dead."
Once more Llewyss enclosed her with his huge arms and held her close. His lips found hers and she felt them as the vision fades away. She hears a voice in her ears.
"Lady Murelle, return to us. Gwyn needs you."
It was the queen. Murelle opens her eyes, blinking against the bright sunlight that shown about her. "I killed it."
It was more of a statement than a question. She wiped slime from her face with one hand.
"Ick." She says weakly.
Miles hurries to her side as elves arrive with a litter that had been constructed from broken spears and discarded tunics. Carefully they lifted her onto the litter, Miles hovering anxiously scanning her all the while.
"I'm okay Miles." Mure says a little amused. "I saw him. I saw Llewyss.? She felt the soft hiss of a hypo on her arm, almost immediately she fell into a deep sleep where dreams did not bother her.
Looking up at her mother, belly distended as she is pregnant with one of Murelle's brothers or sister. Her father leaning over her bed in the hospital telling her that her mother was dead. Her life growing up on the ranch in Wyoming, her close relationship with her Native American grandmother, learning herb-lore, how to garden and the ways of her people. Then her life as a transport pilot for the Federation, her main station in the Andromeda system, hauling folks all over the known galaxy. This brought her to Rhy-Din, quite by accident actually, her ship malfunctioned and she had to make a landing, crashing into a wooded thicket.
She was directed to the Stars-End Bar where she found a place to sleep and help until she could get funds to fix her ailing space-craft. She took a job as a bar-tender at the Stars-End bar and a certain customer caught her eye. He always sat at the same bar-stool and ordered ale. His brogue was almost Scottish in nature, his green eyes were kind. Llewyss GreyMantle. It wasn't long before she realized she was in love with the taciturn ranger, his idiosyncrasies, his perchance for isolation and long treks in the wild. In spite of his seemingly aloof manner, there was a warmth that burned deep within. Then the memory of her marriage to this ranger in grey and silver star broach, and the birth of a child. She now was in the garden, walking to the familiar gazebo, covered in morning glories, her grandmother awaiting her. As well as another. It was Llewyss. He did not have the marks of age on him any longer, the scars on his face gone. He stood as she walked toward them.
"Verna Melamin."
That was his elvish pet name for her. "Dark loved one." Murelle was not fair but dark skinned with dark hair, not pretty but a pleasant face with a ready smile.
"Llewyss!" Murelle cries happily she jumps up the stairs and wraps her arms about him. "I thought I'd never see you again!" For a long moment she savors the feel of his arms about her, but he pulls away.
"You must return. You cannot stay."
"But....Llewyss, my love?" Murelle felt the choke of tears again. He stroked her long dark hair.
"We have a daughter you must love. Don't leave her alone as you were as a child. You did what you were supposed to do. Killed that deamon and released my spirit. I will always be with you now."
Patrice stood now and kisses Murelle on the cheek. "Go back to Gwyn. She needs you, don't linger with the dead."
Once more Llewyss enclosed her with his huge arms and held her close. His lips found hers and she felt them as the vision fades away. She hears a voice in her ears.
"Lady Murelle, return to us. Gwyn needs you."
It was the queen. Murelle opens her eyes, blinking against the bright sunlight that shown about her. "I killed it."
It was more of a statement than a question. She wiped slime from her face with one hand.
"Ick." She says weakly.
Miles hurries to her side as elves arrive with a litter that had been constructed from broken spears and discarded tunics. Carefully they lifted her onto the litter, Miles hovering anxiously scanning her all the while.
"I'm okay Miles." Mure says a little amused. "I saw him. I saw Llewyss.? She felt the soft hiss of a hypo on her arm, almost immediately she fell into a deep sleep where dreams did not bother her.