Silverclaw

A Healer's Actions

Anya stepped off the boat, Ariadne on her wrist and Princess pacing at her side. The Council Elders took one look at the circlet on her forehead and the sword at her hip, and, as one, knelt to her, Glenfell moving with them. Anya immediately strode over and helped Dievra back up, Ariadne flying in the air next to her.

 'Please don't do that, Dievra. I may have accepted this responsibility, but I don't know how to handle it. I'm going to need you and the other Elders even more, now.'

 Dievra stood, her eyes wide with surprise. 'But... You are Queen of the Elfish race, now.'

 'And I am only fourteen years old, Dievra! Yes, I can wield a sword, ride a horse, write a song or poem, but I have no idea how to lead a nation.' Anya smiled round at them. 'And that's where the Coucil Elders can help, more than anything else. You can teach me how to lead our people so that we are not just the same as we were before, but also stronger than ever. So please, I don't want you as my subjects, but as my friends and my teachers, until I am strong enough to lead our people as well as I can.'

 Okril carefully stood, and bowed to Anya. 'You have no need for lessons on leadership, Majesty. You are already a fine leader in your own right. Look about you, Majesty, and you will see the truth. You have your own ancester, the former King's younger brother, and your own friends who protect you as carefully as they would a priceless gem, and that is precisely what you are, Majesty. Not only that, but as you come into your own, you will shine all the more brightly, and I for one cannot wait to see that happen!'

 Anya smiled. 'Thank you, Elder Okril.' She looked around at them all, happiness shining in her eyes. 'The Silver Lady told me something before I left Her home. Glenfell did not fail his Rites of Passage.'

 Shock rippled through everyone there, including Glenfell himself. One of the Elders stepped forward.

 'Majesty, how can this be...? That could only have happened if... If the Silver Lady's brother...' She fell silent, as she realised what she was saying.

 'If the Silver Lady's twin brother interfered, yes. And that is precisely what happened. He caused the bird Glenfell was riding to throw and then attack him, when they were out of sight of everyone there to witness his Rites of Passage. Glenfell, the Silver Lady asked me to do this, and I am in complete agreement with Her, in that you have more than earnt what I am about to do.'

 Striding over to Glenfell, she reached up with her right hand and placed it over where Glenfell's eyes should have been. Silver light billowed out from Anya, surrounding her and Glenfell before dying away, revealing that the cloth that Glenfell had always kept tied over the old scars were gone, and blue, slightly slanted eyes stared at her in shocked amazement. She lowered her hand, smiling, as Ariadne let out a trill of happiness. Glenfell lifted his hands, staring at them. 'Anastasia... why...?'

 'You're family, Glenfell. The Silver Lady and I don't know why Her brother would do such a thing to you in particular, Glenfell, but this is what you truly deserve. A gift of sight, for the gift of life. Without you, I and my family would not exist, Glenfell.' She smiled up at him happily, and a smile started to spread across his face.

 'You all look exactly as I thought you would.' His gaze jumped from face to face, taking them all in. Suddenly, he started laughing, and, grabbing Anya's hands, he started whirling her around the clearing. Anya laughed with him, his happiness infecting not just her, but the Elders and Anya's friends as well, until all of them were dancing happily around the clearing. Other elves came, having heard the infectious sounds, and, seeing Glenfell with his healed face and Anya with her circlet and sword, questioned them about what was happening.

 On hearing the tides of what had happened with Oakfall, and Anya's new title, a cheer went up. Anya was swept up and borne away, but before the elves disappeared with her, she looked back and caught Darian's eye. In an instant, he was following, signalling to Iris and Amelie to stay and enjoy themselves.

 Darian had to fight to get through the milling, dancing elves, and when he finally caught up with Anya, it was to find that Flowena was already with her, creating a cloth of silver dress for her that trailed behind her. Her hair had been freed of the ties that had held it up, and was now held back by just the silver circlet with its star sapphire in the centre of her forehead. The dress also had deep blue trimmings, and it had been worked into the embroidery rapidly appearing on the bodice and around the hem of the skirt and sleeves. Darian had no idea where the elves could have found such jewellery so quickly, for in addition to the circlet, Anya now wore a matching necklace, earrings, bracelet, ring and, to his amazement, an armlet as well, which had been engraved to emulate a pouncing snow leopard biting the tip of its own tail.

 Darian gaped at the sight. Other than at the feast the year before, he had never seen Anya wear a dress before, and the way the cloth fell revealed just how much she had grown in the last year. As he watched, Flowena stepped back, smiling, and curtsied deeply to Anya as the heedle that had been working on the bodice broke its thread and returned to Flowena's tailor's kit. Anya laughed, and hugged her, then whirled around happily, revealing the silver silk slippers that hugged her feet.

 Darian grinned, and walked over. 'Majesty, are you ready to face your people?' He bowed, and then looked up at her. 'I believe they are already cooking the food for a feast.'

 Anya laughed. 'Darian, don't be silly! Call me Anya, as you always have.'

 He shook his head. 'I can't. If I did, your subjects could take offense.'

 'I will take offense if you don't, Darian.' She tilted her head at him, exasperated.

 Finally, he relented. 'I'm sorry, Anya, but you truly do look like a Queen. I suppose that Iris, Amelie and I are now technically your guests. Sir Garin will laugh when he finds out.' Darian chuckled as he held out his arm to her. 'Guardians who are the guests of the one they guard. It sounds... odd.'

 Anya took his arm, then held her own up for Ariadne to sit on. 'Not really. If you think about it, all those who protect others that are not their family members could technically be called guests of the one they guard, especially as the one being protected could send them away if they wished.'

 Darian made a face. 'We've barely been here a year and we're already speaking in riddles, Anya! We sound more like the elves with every day!'

 She laughed at that. 'True, but think what riddles we would miss if we hadn't come, Darian! And what fun, as well.'

 'Only you would call our lessons fun, Anya.'

 By this time, they had reached the Coucil's Glade again, and the music fell to silence as head after head turned to face them. Anya was about to walk through the crowd with Darian when a male elf suddenly ran up to them, panting. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

 'Majesty...! News... from the human... realms...' He clutched at his chest, trying to calm his breathing, and Anya immediately called over a glass of water as Ariadne took to the air. Kneeling next to him, she placed the glass against his lips.

 'Slow sips and deep breaths. My Uncle helped me cope with shock in just such a way once, not long before I came here. Now, tell me what news you bring.'

 'War, Majesty! The neighbouring kingdoms have declared war on your mother, Queen Melissa, and Lord Jason Ristarl has taken her army to their side of the borders!'