The Mating of Souls

Aedric and Snoe experience 'Aleiryid' the Elven mating of souls.

28.

The Mating of Souls

 

He had of course heard of Aleiryid : ‘The joining of souls’ or ‘The mating of souls’ as some translated it.   Yet it was something very mysterious and almost supernatural.   Something that happened in ancient tales to legendary, larger-than-life people.   He had heard it said that the joining was something indescribable, but that those united in it shared a bond so deep and profound that when one spouse died, the other followed within days.   It was said to be the deepest, most satisfying union possible.

 

Tales abounded of one member of an Aleiryid pair that resisted the joining, only to drive the other one insane with longing.   It is said that several times, Aleiryid bound a couple that were married to someone else, and always the previous marriage was ended as the couple hungered for each other.

 

Even the children of an Aleiryid couple were said to be greatly blessed with intelligence, wisdom, great health and beauty.   But Aleiryid was sometimes feared and dreaded and many Elves did not want some mysterious condition to determine who they were to marry.

 

He had never known anyone who went through the condition; though he now knew that Snoe’s parents were one such couple.   They seemed to greatly desire being with each other and looked at each other with such deepness of love that it had puzzled him.

 

But as Aedric and Snoe fell asleep finally, listening to the Elven music playing from somewhere nearby, locked snuggly in an embrace, both young people found the Mating of Souls flowing over them.

 

It wasn’t at all what Aedric had thought it would be like.  He had imagined some sort of intense sexual or at least physical reaction flooding them both in their sleep.

 

Instead it was an amazing dream.   They both were sitting - in their bedclothes- in a clearing in the middle of a blizzard.   Though they sat in the deep snow and chilly air, they felt warm and comfortable.   Glancing at each other, they grinned, finding that their thoughts flowed together and nothing was kept from the other one.

 

They sat looking at each other and marveling at the snow as their minds flowed together without any words passing between them.   He knew what she knew, how she thought, what she felt.   She had all of his deepest thoughts and desires.   They were completely bare with each other and to both of their amazement, they thrilled with the exposure to each other.

 

He laughed at her incredible sense of humor that she so seldom shared with anyone.    She understood his torment over his father and gave him insight and compassion on it.

 

They sang together for a while and then danced in the snow.   He felt absolutely no embarrassment dancing before her.   They lay back in the snow and told very intimate embarrassing stories about themselves.   They shared fears and dreams as it continued and never had either one felt so whole and complete.

 

But finally it ended and Aedric opened his eyes, turning immediately to her, smiling.

She was gone.

For a moment, Aedric panicked, wondering frantically if it had all just been a wonderful, glorious dream.   But he could see where she had laid and her perfume lingered in the air.

 

Getting to his feet, he could tell that it was nearly dawn, for a half-light filled the chamber as he threw a heavy cloak around him and went to find his bride.

 

The palace was already astir as he rather meekly hurried down the hallway.   Servants all bowed to him, making him feel rather silly as he certainly didn’t feel like he deserved any respect.   He pushed the door open to the main audience chamber and was surprised to find it full of many of the men from Westmark, donning armor and discussing important matters.

All eyes turned to him as he entered and all of them, to his dismay, bowed as if he was some great and powerful leader.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.” Eleazar greeted him, looking up from a map with a smile, “How are you this morning?”

“I’m well, Duke Eleazar, but please don’t use that title with me - I am quite sure that very soon you will be a King far more worthy of the title then I am.”

 

Eleazar frowned slightly as if the thought worried him, “Alright, Aedric, then.   How are you this morning?”

“Well, I was looking for Snoe.”

 

His eyebrows arched, “I assumed she would still be with you.”

“She was gone when I awoke.”   He tried to not sound worried, but to his embarrassment, he sounded so unsure of himself that the Duke actually grinned.

“Don’t worry, son, she hasn’t left you.”

“I know, sir.    After last night I just thought… I mean, after what we dreamed…” He turned red-faced trying desperately to convey his meaning.

“You spent the entire night dreaming together, didn’t you?”  He asked with a gleam in his eyes.

“Yes, sir.   But it wasn’t just dreams really… It was something… more.”

“Aedric, believe it or not, I actually understand what just happened and how you feel.   Aleiryid is something beautiful.”

“Yes, it is.” He agreed, then, glancing around to make sure none could hear him, he leaned in and whispered, “Sir, we didn’t… um… we didn’t… consummate our marriage.”

“You didn’t?   Why?   If you don’t mind me asking.”

 

Though Khord had told them not to share his visit with the others, for some reason he felt that he absolutely had to share the information with the Duke, so he quickly told him about the Watcher’s visit and his instructions.

 

“Well, that is a surprise… to some degree - as I’m sure it was to both of you.   I’m… sorry it ruined your wedding night.”

“Duke, to be honest with you, I’m actually glad it did.   I think it was better that we went through Aleiryid first.   It makes everything seem… different.”

“Aurei and I actually went through the Mating of Souls first as well.”

 

Aedric shook his head, “I can’t believe I’m actually having this conversation about what happened last night with you!”

“Aedric, you are now officially my son-in-law, and therefore you are family.   Actually, Aurei confidently told me last night that the two of you wouldn’t… have relations… until after you have completed your quest.”

“She did?!   Did Khord visit her too?”

“No - she does that sometimes - she just knows things.   It is rather spooky until you get used to it.   Anyway, I wasn’t too surprised when you told me this.   I was concerned how this change in plans affected both of you, but when I heard that you both experienced the fullness of Aleiryid last night, I was delighted.”

“It was wonderful, but I am somewhat alarmed that she was gone this morning.”

 

Before Eleazar could reply, both of their attentions turned to a trio of women coming into the room.   It was Matron Zeatt, Duchess Aurei and Snoe; all three of them still wearing their nightclothes with big warm wool robes wrapped around them.   They glanced around the room for a moment and then Zeatt found them and pointed.

 

The three women hurried over to them.   Zeatt looked rather tired, as if she had not slept much the night before.   Aurei carried her baby in her arms and had a very satisfied smile on her lips as she followed Snoe up to them.

 

Snoe immediately went to her husband and joyfully embraced him, kissing him briefly on the lips, which caused Aedric to blush around her family.

 

“You were gone when I awoke,” He said tenderly, smiling down at her lovely face.   Her red eyes glowed so brightly that he could almost not look into them.

“Sorry, but I had something urgent  to do.” She told him with excitement in her voice.   From Zeatt and Aurei’s expressions, they knew what that task had been and had apparently assisted somehow.

Aedric looked over at Eleazar, but he shrugged.

“What did you have to do?”   He asked his new bride, marveling how beautiful she was, though he had stared at her all evening with the same amazement.

 

Snoe grinned and pulled his hand up, “Open up your hand.”

He complied and she held her closed fist over his hand.

“When I woke up this morning, I found myself so happy and complete that I begin thinking about how I didn’t want the feeling to end.   But that made me think about what I would do if something happened to you.   So I have a gift for you, my love.”   She opened her fist and a gold ring dropped into his hand.

 

“A ring.” He said, pleased at the gift.

“Not just any ring.” Snoe said, taking up the ring and slipping it on his finger, “It is an Autocaster ring.   It was Leah’s own.”

 

Aedric gasped, “Your sister’s Autocaster ring?!   No, I can’t wear it!”

“It is yours now, my love.”

“No, it’s not right!   She died because of my father!   I don’t have any right to wear her ring!”

Aedric looked over to Aurei and Eleazar, then to Zeatt, desperate to reassure them that he did not want to dishonor the dead girl’s memory.

 

To his surprise, Aurei and Eleazar were smiling.   The Duchess touched his arm, “Aedric, it was MY idea to let you have her ring.   Snoe wanted to have a new one crafted, which is much more difficult now than it was when Leah’s ring was created.”

“But Duchess, it was her ring!   I can’t-“

“Yes you can, Aedric.   Please!   I think it would be most appropriate - a fitting tribute to her, by allowing some good to come from her ring.”

 

Her words made him consider it, and then he nodded humbly, “Alright.   It is an honor to me.   I will consider it my most precious gift.”

 

He turned to his wife, taking her hands in his own, “Thank you.”

She beamed at him, satisfied with success, “I wanted you safe.”

 

Zeatt yawned behind her, “Excuse me, Your Highness.   She came to me very early this morning, almost frantic, and I was quite scared at first until I heard her reason.”

Aurei nodded, “Matron Zeatt spent several hours recharging the Autocaster, at my suggestion.   It also made me think about the rings that Aranthi and Sirya left behind.   They remain unused, due to the pain I still feel at the loss.   But this morning, your Queen made me reconsider this, Aedric.”

“How so, Duchess?”

“Well, all of my children possess Autocasters, but it occurred to me that some of our friends don’t possess such powerful magic.   Your foster parents and their children, Aedric, all wear Autocasters of their own.   But I have seen your fondness for your cousin, Lord Matt, and I know he will certainly serve his King very well, so I have decided to give him and his sister the other two Autocasters.”

“Duchess, you are extremely generous.   They will be greatly honored.”

“The spells cast into the rings had to be different then those we usually place on them.   I will let Matron Zeatt explain this.”   She turned to the Bishop of Yesh.

“Aedric”, Zeatt began, “I searched through the tomes of history written by Archmages Kinzer and Drake, looking for more information about the Valley of Helios or about the wizard himself.   Much of it we already know and have discussed, but one thing I learned was that the Archmages both stated that the tower of Helios - once entered- will prevent anyone leaving or summoning anything into- the tower.”

“So it is magic proof?”  Snoe asked her great aunt.

“In a sense, yes.   You won’t be able to teleport into it, or out of it, apparently.   So, the usual spell that would bring a critically injured person who was wearing an autocaster out of the tower, would not work.”

“We’ll be trapped there if something happens?”   Snoe wondered, looking quite apprehensive.

“No, but magic won’t be able to get you out of there quickly.   Therefore, I felt that a trio of healing spells would be most logical to place within the three rings of your sisters.   Please remember that your other autocasters still have the teleportation based spells in them, and while the healing part of these spells will still work, I doubt they will remove any unconscious, injured person from the tower.”

Snoe and Aedric nodded, both reflecting upon the information for a moment as they realized that magic would only help them so much.

“Thank you, Matron Zeatt.”   Aedric said, turning back to Aurei and Eleazar - his in-laws, he suddenly realized, “It sounds as if Helios’ tower is going to be an extreme challenge to us.   I hope we won’t have to use them.   I will do my best to make certain everyone is as safe as possible and I swear I will honor the gift of the rings of your daughters. ”

“Aedric, this Kingdom has long been one of Westmark’s strongest allies, and now that we are united with Lady Mathlyn’s family through marriage, I feel responsible for them as family.   I hold family as the most important bond we can experience in this world, after a relationship with our Lord.   I am quite certain all three of my daughters would whole-heartedly approve of this use of their rings.”

 

“Well, I can tell you, Duchess, that it is I who am much honored to be allowed to even be considered as part of this family.   I was blessed by you even before this by your kindness to me and my mother, as well as your friendship with Aeric and Alis.   I reaffirm to both you and Duke Eleazar, my loyalty to your cause, which is certainly a righteous cause.    I know in my heart that very soon we will be bowing before both of you as our King and Queen - of Marksylvania, or Northmarch… or whatever.”

 

Eleazar patted him on the shoulder, “Aedric, you will not owe me any fidelity, as we shall - if Yesh wills it- both be equals as Kings.”

“Sir, I owe you fidelity as the father of my wife and soon as High King of this area.   It is something that would please me greatly; as I’m sure it would all of the Sylvan people, to have you as master of all these lands, rather than Redburr or the Emperor.”

Those listening to Aedric’s words all vocalized their agreement, and it was Eleazar’s turn to look uneasy at the idea.   Aedric smiled at his uneasiness and leaned in close, “Don’t worry, sir, you’ll get used to it.”

 

“If it is Yesh’s will.   But before we can determine that, we have quests to complete.”

“Duke, if it is agreeable to you and the others, I would like to begin these quests today.   With winter setting in, it would probably be most logical to start as soon as possible.”

“I agree, Aedric.   In fact, I was speaking to Lady Mathlyn earlier, and this was her thought as well, though she said that the decision was certainly yours.”

“Can we be underway by early afternoon?”

“I think so.   I will make arrangements with my people.   I imagine you will want to address your people before proceeding as well.”

 

Aedric looked a bit frightened at the thought of ‘his people’, but he nodded, “Yes, I imagine that would be best.   I wish it was possible that we could leave the women behind for this quest.”

“What?” Aurei, Snoe and Zeatt all said together.

“I just wish all of you could remain behind in safety.   But I realize that at least some of you must accompany us.”

“Of course we’re accompanying you!” Snoe snapped, her eyes flashing, “You know I’m supposed to go with you!”

“Yes,  I know this.   I just wish I could keep you here out of danger.”

“So I could go crazy worrying about you!”  She replied, frowning, but her eyes shown no malice.   She took his hands in hers and they stared into each others eyes for a long moment that grew rather awkward for the others around them.

Aurei turned to Eleazar and he  silently mouthed the word, 'Aleiryid' to them.   Both nodded, seeing the intense looks the newlyweds gave each other, which pointed to the extreme bonding of their souls to each other.   It was alarming and wonderfully beautiful to see the two young Elves lose themselves in each other’s eyes.   They wore looks of complete satisfaction, which Aurei and Eleazar understood from their own soul bonding.

 

But both of the Dullerms suspected that their daughter’s bond with the young King might be actually deeper then their own union of souls.

 

Finally, Eleazar cleared his throat and Aedric and Snoe both blinked in surprise, as if they had been overtaken by a pleasant daydream.

“Sorry, sir.”   Aedric said to Eleazar, blushing as Snoe embraced him tightly.

“I understand, Aedric, believe me.    I don’t think either one of you could be apart from each other for long.”

“No, never.” Snoe replied, looking up happily into the face of her husband.

“Aedric, why don’t you and your Queen meet with your people and tell them of our plans, and we will gather together in the front courts at noon.”

“Alright, Duke.   It feels so odd to be so affectionate with your daughter while in your presence.” He confided to the half-Drow.

“Wait until you are the father - that isn’t easy either, but I am growing quite comfortable with it when I see the two of you looking at each other that way.”

 

Aedric and Snoe just smiled at each other and hurried out of the room to assume their new roles.

 

***

 

An hour later, the new King of the Sylvan Elves, with his new bride seated on her throne next to him, addressed his people from his court.    He pleasantly surprised all of the Elves with his straightforward and simple plans.    Queen Mathlyn would serve as his steward, while he, Snoe, and Mattleos were away on their quest for Helios’ tower.    He suggested that everything stay as it had been under King Travin, until he had time to meet with the nobles of the court and make any needed changes.

 

The talk turned then to some rather trivial courtly matters, and Mattleos excused himself from the King and two Queens, so he could make provisions for the journey.  Since King Travin was now dead, it had been decided that Mattleos would join them on the quest to Helios’ valley, leaving the remaining Sylvan archers in Westmark to continue to supplement their forces.

 

As he rushed into the stables, minutes later, he nearly ran into Amala, who was leading her handsome Elven warhorse outside for saddling.

“Lord Mattleos.” She spoke flatly, nodding politely as she started past.

“Lady Amala, I need to apologize to you for my behavior last night.” He said to her, but she just shrugged and continued on leading her horse.

“Don’t worry about it.” She said.

“It was improper of me.   I have no excuse, really.   I heard a noise in the training chamber- as it is near my quarters- and was greatly surprised to find you there at that hour of night.”

“It’s no big deal, really.   I’m not mad about it; I was just a bit… emotional… last night.   I shouldn’t have said anything.   My mouth gets me in a lot of trouble.”

“No, no, you were right in rebuking my actions.    You are a lady and now a Princess and do not deserve to be observed like a washer woman beating her laundry in a river.”

 

Amala snorted, “A ‘princess’!   That is a joke!    What lady would practice with swords in a next-to-nothing gown in the middle of the night?!   It was really stupid for me to do something so immature.   I deserved to be humiliated.”  She tied her steed to a hitching post and then stomped off to find her equipment to load upon the horse.   He watched her go for a moment, but then ran to catch her.

“You shouldn’t feel humiliated.”

“Mattleos, I was doing drills in a ridiculous see-through negligee that some of your people brought to me when I stupidly told them to find me something lightweight to wear.    I wouldn’t wear such a gown like that if I was locked up tight in my own room alone!   It was like wearing a spider-web!   But I had another one of those damn nightmares that I have sometimes, and like an idiot I thought I could get some rest by going into Elven sleep.   I’m so stupid!”

 

She flung a saddlebag down in frustration and began unfolding a saddle blanket as she fumed.   Mattleos was almost at a loss at what to do or say.

“I’ve never seen you like this,” He finally stammered.

“Well, you’ve never seen me then, at this time of the month.” She snapped back.

“What time of the month?” He asked, realizing what she meant only after he had blurted out the question.  She just lowered her gaze on him with a ‘Are you serious?’ look on her face.

“To make it worse, I have to start a three-day ride in the snow!    I’m sorry, Lord Matt, but I’m really in a rotten mood!”

“We could postpone the quest until you… um… recovered.”

 

Amala laughed at the thought, mimicking the voice of a royal herald announcing, “The Quest to the Valley of Helios, of the utmost importance to all of Westmark and the Sylvan Kingdom, has been postponed for two days, as ‘Princess’ Amala is having her period and is too crabby to ride!”

 

Mattleos was too unsure of her mood to laugh at her mimicry, but apparently his confused expression was misunderstood by the Drow girl as embarrassment.

Amala slapped her forehead in frustration as she chastised herself, “Shut up, you idiot!   Yesh, preserve me, if I don’t die from embarrassment here I’m going to be locked up as a crazy woman!”

“Amala… uh…”

“Lord Mattleos, please, if you don’t mind, would you just leave me alone?   I’m really going to make a fool of myself right now, and my name is probably mud around here anyway, so I’d appreciate it if you would just let me get my equipment ready…alone.”

“Alright.   I’m sorry I bothered you.”    He bowed respectfully and turned to walk away.

“Lord Matt,” Amala called after him, frustration evident in her voice, “Forgive me for my awkwardness.”

 

Not wanting to cause any more problems, he just nodded and raised a hand to indicate he’d heard her as he walked away.

“Stupid!” He heard her say to herself, followed by the sound of her palm smacking her forehead.   It was an expression he felt right then that he could have applied to himself.

 

 

Reviews

[Elina]

"...and told very intimate embarrassing stories about each other." I think, possibly, that it would read better if you changed the end to "...stories about themselves." ?
"Sorry, but I had something urgent I had to do." This is only a personal preference, really, but you may want to take out a "had." Perhaps "...but there was something..."

[Eddie Davis]

Thanks, Elina, I think your ideas are better.