The Call Of Shadows

Epilogue

Zena cried out in the pale morning light that shone through the curtains in her room. She leaned forward in bed and clutched her stomach, tears streaming down her face. Rokan grabbed her free hand and stroked her hair. "It's gonna be ok, you'll get through this. You're both going to be fine!" He said fiercely, hoping that his voice would break through her fear. "I promise, you are not in this alone!" He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers as she leaned back in exhaustion. "I'm so scared-" She choked out. "I'm so scared!" She repeated, "I just want her to be safe!" Rokan hushed her gently, and continued to stroke her hand. "I know my love. And she will be. She has the best people of both kingdoms looking out for her." Zena screamed again as she forced herself to be laid back down and instructed to push. "Please help me!" She sobbed, "Please let her be ok!" It wasn't but three minutes from the time she began to push, until the time her daughter at last entered this world and announced her presence with an unholy screeching.

Rokan sniffed and sighed deeply, beginning to laugh with the joy of hearing his daughter for the first time. Zena smiled through her tears and reached her arms out wide as she got her first look at the girl she was soon to raise. "Hi my sweet baby..." She chuckled and wiped the tears away from her face, turning to look at her husband. "She has my eyes Rokan, look!" He placed one hand gently on the newborn's cheek, "And she has your ears too! Just look at how tiny she is!" Her lips trembled as she held her child, and Rokan kissed her forehead before asking her what her name was to be. She looked longingly at her for several moments. "Elora." She said matter of factly. "Her name shall be Elora."

"What happens now?" He asked tentatively, "Have you been able to speak with Caldern yet?" Zena paused in her smiling and closed her eyes. "I have," She said quietly. "And he said that we can raise her without the burden of the truth until she's ready to hear it. But we're going to have to tell her who she is one day...and I don't know if I'll be ready to let her go." As Elora began to settle in her arms she let herself live in this moment. She had a long life ahead of her, and she wanted to make sure she would remember every moment until the time came for her to take her place. For now she was just her daughter, but one day would have a great host of people to rule as Elder. And she would do everything she could to make sure she was ready. 

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At the very edge of the Suicide Sea, the Isle of Light rippled in anticipation of the inhabitants to come. Events had been set into motion that could not be altered in this lifetime- indeed, nor in the ones to come. The guardians of the third realm nodded in approval from the safety of the wood. The scales had been tipped back towards the favor of natural things, and the magic at last began to settle around them. Eons of prosperity and peace, of magic and myth were coming to an end. The winged man with white eyes looked onward with lips twitching in the briefest of smiles. "The call of shadows did not overtake them this cycle." He said almost proudly. "Come Enoch, there is much to prepare. The bones of prophecy have been unearthed. Let us rest while we can."