3.

3.

As the Third Sun was starting it's final descent into its Home, Shoden felt the void and its shadow begin to rise up in his heart again and he felt a shiver creep down his spine. Somewhere in the trees that surrounded the road, an owl questioned who was there. Shoden tried to keep the thoughts of the Devil out of his mind, reminding himself that he was safe here on the road. But these thoughts wouldn't leave his mind. 

    Soon, the Third Sun was down and the night was dark, with only the millions of stars and the Lesser Moon to show the way back to Lillith. With the passing of the Third Sun came the rustling of trees and the chattering of woodland animals. Shoden felt his hand reach into his pocket and grasp the butt of his father's ancient gun. Lillith was only two miles away, but that seemed worlds away as Shoden tried to swallow back his fear.

____________________________________

    Shoden stared with an expression of surprise and quiet awe at what he saw before him. 

Between two groupings of trees at a bend in the road was a small clearing that was brilliantly lit by the Lesser Moon. Sitting in the clearing, against a regal pillow that was cushioned a rock, was a beautiful woman. She was younger than the High Priestess and her blond hair flowed around her as the wind blew. Her eyes were shut and her mouth was in a loose smile. She was obviously thinking of something calm and wonderful. Her hands were resting on her stomach and she was twiddling her thumbs gracefully in small arcs around one another. 

    A loud cry from something in the trees, followed by the flight of many dark birds made Shoden cry out in surprise and fright. The shout echoed in the trees and more birds flew. The woman in the clearing opened her eyes and looked, without any surprise or fear, at Shoden. Her smile dropped a little as she saw the look of fright on his face.

    "Hello, young one," she called sweetly. "Come over here and join me."

Shoden was about to walk towards her when he remembered the thought earlier that day: The Devil can take many shapes... But somehow, he didn't know how, this was different. There was no look of evil in this woman's lovely eyes. She seemed pure in her gentle beauty. He slowly walked off of the cobblestone road and into the clearing.

    As the boy approached, he saw the woman more clearly and realized it was the Empress of the North. Her dress was the regal blue and purple and a small crown rested on her head. She smiled up at Shoden and patted the grass next to her.

    "Please, sit," she said, soothingly.

    "I didn't mean to disturb you, your highness," Shoden said as he bowed his head and sat.

The Empress shook her head with a small laugh. "Please, no need for formalities, young boy. You may call me Isabella. And what may I call you?"

    "My name is Shoden, your - Isabella."

    "It is nice to meet you, Shoden," The Empress leaned forward and kissed Shoden on his forehead. As she did Shoden felt an sensual emotion rise in him. Not a feeling of lust, but something deeper. A certain loving, cared-for feeling of compassion. He looked at her and smiled lightly.

    "What brings you on the Road tonight, Shoden?" she asked, taking his hand in hers.

    "I am traveling back to the city of Lillith. I was in the City of Arc."

    "Seeking advice from the High Priestess?" The Empress asked.

Shoden nodded.

    "What troubles you, Shoden?" she asked, putting her hands over one of his.

Shoden looked into her eyes and realized that he could tell this woman anything that troubled him and he did. When he was through the Empress had her hand to her chest, in a gesture of sympathy.

    "I'm very sorry for your loss, Shoden," she said quietly. "I do have news, however."

    "What's that?" Shoden asked.

    "I was traveling today, like yourself. I was meeting with a man in the City of Lords and I was on my way back to Castle Lioness when I had a vision. Something told me that I must stop here tonight and wait for the one to whom I was to share my vision. There's not a doubt in my mind, Shoden, that you are that person."

    "What was your vision, Isabella?" Shoden asked.

    "I saw two deaths and a birth. All pertain to you, Shoden. I am not sure of the deaths, but the birth is that of the one known as the Character. He will be born from another world and will help you in your journey. He will be your Guardian."

    Shoden felt his heart leap. Was this Character the kind of Guardian that Grimwall had mentioned in their discussion the evening Shoden had arrived in Lillith? He had a feeling it was.

    "When will I meet him? This Character?" He asked the Empress.

    "Soon," she said. "But first, you must endure the two deaths. Only if you can do that will the Character be born into this world."

Shoden nodded and looked back towards the road. The night and the grim news of the deaths chilled his very core. He looked at the Empress, whose eyes bore a comforting stare.

    "You are scared, aren't you, Shoden?" she asked, soothingly.

    "Yes," He said softly.

The Empress took Shoden into his arms and held him to her chest.

    "I will stay with you tonight, my child," she soothed, her voice a gentle lullaby that calmed Shoden's heart. "Sleep well, Shoden, and tomorrow we will go on our own journeys."

    Shoden felt as though he were against his own mother, Erin Briggs, as he had been when he was young and was scared of a thunderstorm. She had always held him to her chest, where he heard her heartbeat and fell asleep to its rhythm. He felt the Empress' own heartbeat now, a steady thump-thump rhythm that quelled the void and its shadow in his heart, at least for now. Her breath on his neck was as motherly as anything could be and, as a young child against his mother late in the night, Shoden slept soundly and well. 

_______________________________________

    "Shoden,"

His mother's voice spoke from beyond his closed eyes. He smiled and cooed, "mom..." He opened his eyes slowly and at first did see his own mother's face in front of him. Soon, though the face turned into that of Isabella the Empress of the North. She smiled sympathetically.

    "It's morning," she said gently. "Are you ready to go?"

Shoden sat up and looked around. The sky was bright and cloudless. The Lesser Suns stood halfway to the top of the world and shined brightly on the trees and road. How this had seemed scary and monster-filled during the night made no sense to Shoden now, and, in fact, embarrassed him slightly. 

    He smiled at the Empress and said, "yeah."

Isabella stood up and replied, "It was nice meeting you, my child." She pulled Shoden to his feet gracefully and embraced him.

    "Thank you, Isabella," Shoden said and then corrected himself. "Thank you, mother." For that was what the Empress was when Shoden needed one the most.

They smiled at one another and went their separate ways: the Empress to Castle Lioness and Shoden to Lillith.