This is a glimpse into the future in Avalon.

 

Avalon

 

17 years later

 

My arm aches as I swing my sword. The sun beats down on us, heating our leather training gear to the point of melting. Years ago, my parents decided to set up a summer school for those of us not born as warrior fairies. It allows us to train with the sword, staff, and hand to hand combat. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch my mother, the queen swordplay with Samiel one of her most trusted friends and confidants. When my father is away at Tenebrosi, Samiel helps to run the training here at the castle with my mother.

Most of the students stop to watch the spectacle, we are all different fairies here and most of them have never seen the queen in real life before. Samiel laughs as he and my mother finish their mock battle then hug each other. Samiel claims victory with his hand in the air while taunting my mother. She just gives him a smile in return, I’ve often wondered at the bond between them. I’ve heard the stories of when mother first came to Avalon and Samiel helped her then lost her to the evil Connor but they don’t seem to care and have been close friends and allies ever since.

Picking up my sword, I ready my arm for another round of practice chopping the wooden pole in front of me.

“You look good,” mother says from next to me.

“Thank you,” I reply with a smile. “Maybe when father returns, I can have a battle with him.”

“I’m sure he will be delighted,” mother says with a laugh. I smile in return then start to whack my wooden opponent. She moves back toward the middle of the field where sounds of swords clang and fairies grunt with effort. The sound of screaming draws my attention, turning, my heart freezes at the sight. My mother is on her knees, cradling Samiel while pressing her hands to his chest. Blood gushes out fast, staining the emerald grass and mother’s hands.

“No, no, Samiel, stay with me,” she begs. “Help! Help!” She screams.

Rose, Samiel’s daughter, falls to her knees ashen faced. The sword she is holding drops to the grass, covered in blood, her father’s blood. Guards fly to my mother who is still crying and screaming for help, batting away guards when they try to move her from Samiel. Tears leak from my eyes as two glowing forms appear next to my distraught mother, to me they are my grandparents but to everyone else, the Goddess and her husband have arrived. They don’t take form, one glowing spectral cradles my mother in his arms, and gently lifts her to the sky as the other takes Samiel.

Guards help Rose to her feet and fly her to the castle just as four beams of light appear in the field. No one has ever seen how the royal family can appear in an instant until now. My father’s worried face searches the students until he sees me and flies over. Wrapping me in his arms.

“My baby,” he sighs, relieved. His lips press to my sweaty hair. “What happened?”

“My king,” Uncle Avery calls urgently.

Father releases me and takes to the sky with Uncle Avery and I’m left alone, shaking with sadness.

“Sister,” my brother’s worried voice penetrates my sadness. His strong arms wrap around me and I sob into his chest. “It’s okay,” he croons, as his wings wrap around us, just like when we were children.

“We should get her to the castle,” my cousin’s voice says softly from behind me.

“I know,” Rowan replies. “Can you fly?”

“It was awful,” I sniff. “Samiel.”

“It will be okay, the Goddess has him now,” he murmurs. “Hold on tight little sister.”

Clutching his waist, I keep my face buried in his chest as he takes flight. The castle is silent when we arrive, guards look pale and sad. House staff cry silent tears at the loss to our family. Many of whom knew Samiel from his time here with mother. Rowan, Dara, and I enter my parents sitting chamber. My mother is crying softly in my father’s arms, his face one of pain and sorrow. His eyes meet mine and he gives me a sad smile then presses his lips to my mother’s hair, comforting her as she mourns her best friend.