The Prince's Visions

Chapter Thirty

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor." -Psalm 91:4

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Eilonwy

Rain pounds the window pane of the Healer's Wing as I look out of the cool glass sullenly. I wince harshly as lightning rips through the black sky, thunder booming so loudly that I feel it like a drum in my chest. I turn out of habit to check on Estrith in order to see if maybe the noise has somehow broken the magic that keeps her unconscious, but she remains completely still, the only signs of life being her chest rising and falling softly.

I jump this time as thunder claps deafeningly once more. My heart races in my chest as I try to calm my breathing. I have never been good with storms. In Alabama, many times we had tornadoes touch down near my home, so even the smallest of storms was enough to throw me into a full blown panic attack. Apparently, being an elf does not make you immune to panic attacks. In fact, my sensitive ears hurt worse with the thunder than they ever did in my past life.

I clutch the soft fabric of the gray shawl Arwen gifted to me this morning in my fists and pull it tighter around me. It has been storming all day, and the cool winds that blow in from the rainfall make the castle even colder than it usually is. I furrow my eyebrows as I look out of the window at the vast expanse of blackness. There is something about storms that always puts me on edge. It is as if the earth is sending out a warning that something bad is soon to take place. Maybe this is God's way of confirming my fears. There is something dark on the rise, and we all must be prepared.

I stand, flinching once again at the sound of thunder, and I slowly walk to Estrith's bedside. The lit candelabra sitting on her nightstand casts an eerie glow across her pale, chalky skin, and I fight back a shiver. I sink down onto the edge of her bed, taking the shawl from my shoulders and tucking it over the many blankets that already lie across her chilled skin. I stroke the tangled curls that frame her face tenderly, wishing more than anything that I knew how to help her.

I open my mouth and begin to sing to her, a song that is deserving to be heard by the pure heart of little Estrith, unlike the vile song sung to her by the mysterious lady in the garden.

"If you love me, dilly, dilly,

I will love you

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly,

And the lambs play

We shall be safe, dilly, dilly,

out of harm's way."

My voice fades at the end as I stop singing, my eyes filling with tears. I stare at her for a moment as silence rains down upon us before I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. A single stray tear falls from my eye, sliding down my cheek slowly until it drops onto her porcelain cheek. I pull away from her, dabbing away the annoying moisture that continues to build up on my lashes. I must stop with this crying. Crying does not solve anything.

I release a shaky breath as I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to reign in my emotions. Thunder rumbles loudly again, and I open my eyes. I gasp, shooting up from the bed in alarm. A strange golden aura surrounds Estrith's body as she lies motionless on the bed, and its warmth seems to fill the whole room. I stare wide eyed at the scene unfolding before me, having no idea what to do. The golden color is very light and transparent at first, the beautiful and mesmerizing color outlining the shape of her body like a blanket. It begins to become brighter and brighter and gains a slight glittery sheen to it that reminds me instantly of what I think a fairy's glow would look like. The light becomes brighter evermore until I have no choice but to turn away and shield my eyes. My body shakes in fear of what I have done. Have I hurt her once more?