Beyond the Veil of Yonder (Book 1)

30. Niamh concludes her story

In the liminal space between life and death, a maiden's voice wove into William's feverish dreams. He had never heard anything like it before—so tender and melodious it was. The words of the song were in an unknown language. 

When William briefly clawed his way back to consciousness, bright sunlight and flowers danced as vibrant spots before his eyes. Occasionally, he caught sight of an ethereal maiden with golden hair, radiating a soft glow around her. But William thought it was all a fever-induced delusion.

He called out for Edward, fearing his brother was dead. When he tried to stand, the radiant maiden moved closer, whispering in her gentle voice. A warm light enveloped her, and golden sparkles radiated outward. This sight brought William comfort, and he once again surrendered to slumber.

When he finally awoke, he found himself in a bed in an unfamiliar house. His injuries were meticulously dressed, and the pain had significantly eased. The initial confusion melted into awe when the ethereal maiden from his dreams approached. Her vivid green eyes met his.

"Where is Edward?" William asked, dreading the worst.

The maiden gave him a luminous smile. "Fear not. Your friend is alive."

"And who might you be?" William watched her, marvelling at her otherworldly appearance.

"I am Niamh, the daughter of King Eolan," she replied. "You're in Iorlainn, the kingdom of the fairies."

The wounded knight looked at her with fear and disbelief, noticing the delicate point of her ears and the subtle radiance of her skin. Was this another fevered dream?

But to his astonishment, this realm was real. Once he regained enough strength to stand, he was led to Edward. Though still pale and weak, his brother was very much alive. When he saw William, a faint smile crossed his lips.

Soon, a deep romantic connection blossomed between Niamh and Edward, much like the vibrant flowers that bloomed in the fairy gardens. They got married and decided to make their home in the magical land of Iorlainn.

Though William was happy to see his brother settled, he knew his own path lay elsewhere. Once fully recovered from his wounds, he left the wondrous kingdom of the fairies and set off on a solitary journey back to Aradon, resolute in his commitment to duty.

༺ ✧ ༻

The brutal war between Aradon and Valtharia had lasted over ten years, leaving both armies battered and exhausted. With their resources depleted and their people impoverished, the once-great kingdoms were shadows of their former selves. The conflict had brought nothing but suffering to both sides, with countless lives lost and families torn apart by the ceaseless struggle for dominion.

Unexpectedly, King Hartbert of Valtharia extended an olive branch to his adversaries. In a gesture of goodwill, he conceded some of the disputed territories and started peace negotiations with King Oswald of Aradon. Both monarchs, weary from the seemingly endless cycle of bloodshed, were eager to find a resolution that would allow them to restore their kingdoms and heal their people from the wounds of war.

After months of tense parleys, the two kings finally reached an agreement. They forged a tenuous peace that, at least for a time, quelled the violence. This precarious truce brought a great sense of relief to the people of Aradon and Valtharia, who had grown desperate for an end to the hostilities that had ravaged their lands.

But while the peace treaty brought a measure of respite, the underlying tensions between the two kingdoms continued to simmer beneath the surface. King Hartbert, though outwardly committed to maintaining peace, was secretly harbouring ambitions to strike back at Aradon and reclaim the lands he had been forced to relinquish. His desire for vengeance was as strong as his cunning and patience, and he bided his time, observing any sign of weakness in the Aradonian defences.

Unbeknownst to King Oswald, Valtharian spies had infiltrated the Aradonian court, gathering intelligence on the kingdom's military capabilities and the state of its people. King Hartbert's knowledge of his enemy grew, and he meticulously planned for the day when he would once again march his armies across the contested borders and exact his revenge upon the Aradonian people.

Over time, the fragile peace between Aradon and Valtharia persisted, but the spectre of war still loomed over both kingdoms. While their people struggled to rebuild their lives and mend the scars of the past, King Hartbert's thirst for vengeance grew with each passing year. The future of both kingdoms hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of a sword.

༺ ✧ ༻

As Niamh finished her story, a heavy silence enveloped the room, broken only by the crackling of the fire and the distant chirping of crickets. Elizabeth sat still, her eyes wide and tears streaming down her face. She mechanically wiped them away, then took a sip from her cup, the liquid now cold.

Niamh looked at her with concern. "I'm sorry. I had no idea this story would affect you so deeply. I shouldn't have told you all this."

Elizabeth sniffled, speaking through her sobs, "No, Niamh, it's okay. Thanks for telling me. I... now I get it..."

"Get what?"

"Never mind." Elizabeth forced a weak smile.

"How will you sleep now?" Niamh regarded the girl with sympathy.

"Don't worry about me. You're right, though—it won't be easy to forget. Who could be cruel enough to hurt innocent children?"

"It's a horrific crime," Niamh said, her voice heavy with sadness. "And the murderers were never found."

"And what about that lord who wanted to marry William's mother? Could he have been involved?"

"It is possible. But Cathleen never mentioned his name. With the war, seeking the truth in Valtharia became nearly impossible. It is also likely that the culprits were mere robbers, considering the theft of the precious amulet and other belongings."

"It's—" Elizabeth's words trailed off as the door creaked open and Edward appeared in the doorway. She turned her teary face to him.

"Elizabeth?" His brow raised in surprise. "Is anything wrong?" Edward looked at Niamh inquiringly, but she remained silent.

"No, everything's fine," Elizabeth quickly reassured him. "It's just late. I should go."

Elizabeth fled to her own house, where she could cry freely and reflect on William's painful past. Then she suddenly remembered her laughter in the garden—she had laughed in his face. It was so heartless. Her crying turned to muffled sobs as she pressed her face into the pillow, which quickly became wet with her tears.

Her unintended laughter might have offended him, and now he probably had a poor opinion of her. She had longed to learn about his past, but when it was revealed, she struggled to understand the swirling emotions she felt for him. These feelings overwhelmed her like an avalanche, making it hard for her to fall asleep.

----------------------------------------------