Peace. She had never given the word much over all thought. She had never known a time of war. Not until recently. With avenging angles, the a war that raged with her new found family.
She had known sorrow. She had know grief. But battle was different somehow. So many lives on the line. There must be good angels on their side. She had to believe that not all angels were like the ones she had known.
She sat by the window, looking out over Nosgoth. They had decided to stay until the wedding date was set. Many had gone back home, but they were all just a short portal trip form being back here. She found it interesting to spend her days in the castle. She had never spent much time in any. GreenStone Castle had been the first she'd seen. Nosgoth had its own flavor about it.
She loved to walk the gardens. Often Jade would walk with her. Azura and Angel would often come with their mother. Totting along easily beside them. The twins were beautiful. Azura was fair, her skin the color of porcelain, her hair the tone of a ravens wing and slightly touched with curl like Darkmere's. It reached to her shoulders. Her eyes were pale blue, but one day Cadaria knew they would hold as much beauty and power as Jades own blue eyes.
Angel on the other hand,was a little less fair of skin, as if the sun had already touched her. Her hair was a deep rich auburn like Jades own, straight down her spine. Her eyes were that golden Alcar color that Cadaria knew so well.
They could be warm as liquid gold,rich as topaz, and burn with an inner fire. Azura wore a pretty dress, of azure blue. While Angel wore a tunic and little bloomer like pants. Their own styles were there already. Jade walked with a deadly grace her eyes never wavered far from the two girls. They were safe Cadaria knew, but Jade was protective. Yet she trusted them with those of the alliance.
There were times Cadaria would wander the castle. Peer in to the rooms. Many were bedrooms used by many of the members of the massive family. Many of the rooms were used permanently by close nit family. Kahn and Audrey, Raz and Aldaya, Anala and Gabe. There was the old nursery which most of the children had out grown but many would fill again.
The children all had their own rooms now. There was a lovely old study, which she assumed was the king's. The grand library drew her over and over again. The kitchen and dinning area were worthy of the castle and the company that was kept there.
The lounge was warm and wonderful with its many places to sit and the warm fire. There was a throne room. It was not unlike the one in GreenStone, yet this one seemed darker. Not in a sinister way, but in a way that spoke of the king and his power.
She had walked the near by woodlands with Drake. She had a long stroll one day out of the line of the castle, down the unmarked path. She was a bit surprised by her company. She didn't know Lori and Georg well. But they made a lovely pair. There had been some fuss about Lori going on such a walk, but she had argued that if Drake who had been at death's door could do it so could she.
They chose to walk a while then they would meet with a carriage to ride to the coastal town of Amefel. The trip would take most of the day. But Cadaria found the company very nice. Lori and Georg spoke with such passion about the sea. They spoke of their travels, where they had been and where they would go for a while longer before their child was born.
Cadaria wondered if the child would be born at sea. It would be fitting. They spoke of their love. Something that had bloomed from childhood and found them again after years apart. It was a wonderful yet somber tale. They both had sorrow in their past, but their future was nothing but joy.
Amefel was not what she expected. It was a massive port town. The streets were cobble stoned, the houses were far grander than what she had seen in her head. She had imagined small buildings lining the sea, as the dock was in Rhydin. But this place was lovely. The houses were large, housing many people. They grew smaller as they walked.
There were shops here, they sold things grand of the lands around them and the sea beyond. Lori got Cadaria talking about her dress choices, and what kind of decore she would want. Drake and Georg seemed very easy with one another, talking of the sea, then wedding plans.
Cadaria had seen ships from afar, but never up close. The Falcon stood before her. Her sails down, her crew off. But still it, she was a grand ship. She had never stood upon a deck, nor looked up a mast at the crows nest which seemed to float high above. Lori showed her the galley, and crews quarters. Cadaria peered in to the captains quarters and imagined many a night the two of them had shared there.
She walked the dry deck, and wondered how anyone could sail the seas,deal with the rocking of the ship and all that water. Georg promised that one day he would take them out, on a little sail around the bay. Cadaria wasn't sure shed ever find her sea legs,but she could marvel at it all.
She was growing found of Nosgoth. She walked the lands alone one day. Around the lake that shared her memories of the first time she had been with Drake. She wandered to the little cottage that Lang and Hera kept. She sat with them at lunch and tried not to blush when Hera suggested a party for her,something with dancing men who'd be half nude. When Lang offered his dancing prow less, Hera hit him in the shoulder.
Kane was a handsome young boy. He was barely five and already he seemed fierce. His hair was darker than his mothers,holding its fine, yet it had touches of Lang's light tone in it as well. His eyes were a strange mix of Hera's cyan eyes and Lang's own eyes. Kane would have a bright future here, or any where he dared to go.
Cadaria found comfort in the Wizards Tower. Which was white and rose from the ground as if it had risen naturally. Vanessa and Rune had welcomed her on one of her longer rides around. Cadaria had gotten accustomed to walking, but she found that ridding was freeing.
Rune was the teacher, the white wizard, that seemed to reflect Ghallon. Though Rune wasn't his son, they shared much in common. They both loved their mates with a fierce loyalty. Vanessa was in Cadaria's mind one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen.
And as a mother she seemed to mold, like shed been born for it. The love in he eyes for her children, was mirrored in Rune's eyes. Nathan and Zoe were not yet a year old. But already they were beautiful. One day Nathan would steal young girls hearts and Zoe would break young men's.
Yes she could be very much at home here. She pondered what home had been to her. Rhydin was where she had landed. Where she had taken root. Where her life had changed forever. She didn't miss the city. Though she had grown accustom to it. She missed the manor some, the place she had known as a place of work then a place of war, then at last a place of joy and love. Perhaps the love was there all along.
They would go back eventually. Back to Rhydin and the manor. She had a job there, students to teach. Drake had work there as well. It was his home, even though his family was here. They would come back to Nosgoth, go to GreenStone. Go to Crendia and see Sim'Tahl.
And some of their family would come see them in Rhydin. Those able. Jade, Hera, Lang, Dark, Shea and Victor. Those were the only ones who went to Rhydin, though they hardly ever did, their bonds to the city had been cut and new bonds had been forged. Stronger ones.
As the sun broke in the East she watched it rise. She could be happy here. It wasn't a errand thought. Rhydin held her students, and the manor. But Nosgoth, the allied lands held a family. Something she didn't know. At one point in her life she had once had that, but that life was gone from her memory. She looked back at Drake now as he slept soundly. She could see her locket about his neck. Once she had fought for what ever secrets it held inside of it,she had nearly died for it. Drake would have died for it. For her.
This was her place with him. This.. these people who'd shed not known before were her family. None of them blood, but family was thicker than blood. These people would fight and die for one another. They loved each other, and at times fought each other. But that was family.
Yes she could see her self here. Many years down the road. Along side these others who aged so well that none would be able to tell years had passed. That was if the children hadn't grown up all around them. It would be a happy home, a place full of faces she knew and trusted. Of friends she could go to for anything at anytime. She would never be alone again in pain or sorrow,in joy or the pure undiluted happiness of the day.
She would be surrounded by powerful women. Women who were as beautiful as they were powerful. By men, whom were handsome and rogues by the lot of them. By pairing of wonderful couples who's love shined brighter than ten thousand suns. By children who would grow up,well protected, well respected and well loved.
She wondered if she stayed in one of the places, if she too would want to settle. Bare a child or children. The notion scared her some. She knew how to care for a child, but she would worry for that child or children. There were so many dangers, and though her past was littered with dead angels. She knew some day there may be more. There wouldn't be another Luca,or Ava. But she would always be a fallen angel, one with a tie to her past.
She looked at that locket. Slowly she rose walking to Drake. Careful not to wake him she unclasp it from around his neck. She held it in her hand. It was such a tiny thing, not much larger than a coin. Old and tarnished, it held something within it. She had never been able to open it. Not in all her years of trying. Luca had wanted to destroy it, shed been cast out for it. But then if she had not been cast out she would have never met Drake and never be his soon to be wife.
She traced a gentle finger over the surface of the small heart. Perhaps it was better that it was closed. She had her own life now, as much as she wished she knew of her mortal past she would not replace a moment of her time. She was going to put it back on to Drake. Her symbol of her own love for him. Something he had carried with him, to protect her, then as a token of his love. As she bent down to re clasp it she felt a sudden heat in her palm. She looked down tot he locket. It seemed to glow.
Then as if some spell had been lifted it slowly opened. "Oh my goddess." She spoke out loud. The little locket lay open in her palm. She starred down at it. Her own face was mirrored in a picture of a woman yet it was not her. This woman. She starred in to the eyes of a man. Who's pictures was on the other side of the locket. The picture was greatly faded with time, in black and white. She could barely make him out, his hair was dark, his eyes seemed light, his face was full of a smile for the woman. These were her parents, she knew some how, her mortal parents.
As she stood there looking at the two, faded over time. She tried to recall them. But couldn't. Yet the woman's face was familiar as her own, and that light in the mans eyes, it was more than the light of love. It was something else. Cadaria dropped the locket.
The two looked at each other with love. With passion the woman's eyes full of knowing. That had been taken before she was born. Cadaria knew that. A flash of something came to her mind. She stood in a field of golden wheat. The sun was setting, she had run there on small legs. She could see herself clearly.. a small girl, with raven hair and green eyes. She had run in to the wheat, after watching a star fall. Yes, that was it.
Blinking her eyes she pressed her hand to her temple, and looked at the locket on the floor. It still glowed. The fallen star had been no star at all. She remembered now, shed run in to the wheat and seen them. Her mother and father embracing. All around them light seemed to dance. She watched as the locket that lay on her floor now was draped around her mothers neck. Her father was a shadow in her memory, yet his dark hair, his light eyes, his smile stood out. As did the wings. The wings of an angel that sprouted from his back.
All at once she felt faint. She looked down at the locket and meant to bend down to pick it up. But before she could bend one inch the fainted right over Drake on to the bed. The locket remained open and glowing on the floor.
Drake had been sound asleep as Cadaria removed the locket from around his neck, but started to stir at her words. Waking up the very moment that she passed out onto the bed, getting him to sit up and look down at her. "Cadaria?" Softly as he brushed some hair from her face, but she didn't stir as she laid there. He was just about to shift to face her, until he spotted the glow from the corner of his eyes.
Looking in that direction, he spotted the locket laying open on the ground. Causing him to just stare at it for a long moment, before carefully slipping out of bed to pick it up. Now looking at the faded picture that was there, with him taking note of how much she looked like her mother. He took note of the male in the picture as well, guessing that these were her parents. Slowly closing his hand around the locket, as he closed his eyes. Using a touch of magic to mingle with the pulse that was already flowing through it. The picture in it, would slowly start to be repaired and once it was repaired. He looked at it again.
"You two will be happy to know that you daughter is alive and well. She is happy and loved very much, and will always remain so for as long as I have breath left in my body." Slowly closing the locket, and replaced it around his neck. He then moved back to Cadaria's side, and carefully scooped her up into his arms. Cradling her now, as he moved to sit in the chair by the window, while looking down at her. Not saying a word as on hand caressed her hair.
