The Witching Hour

Ch. 17

Avalonna

"Mother... How could it be you?" Avalonna choked out as tears started to cloud her vision. After all these years she had thought she had moved past all these extreme emotions over her mother's death, but seeing her again in person bright all the memories and emotions flooding back.

"Your spell, my darling girl," Meredith said softly with a smile. She looked as if she hadn't aged a day since Avalonna last saw her and there were no wounds or flaws to be found.
"It has allowed me to use some of the magic in my soul stones to return to you. I have missed you and your brother so, so much." She said as she paused to restrain herself from getting too emotional.

Avalonna smiled and ran to hug her mother but her arms went right through Meredith as Avalonna suddenly felt like a cold breeze was in the air.

"Mother, you're still..." She started.

"I am a ghost, Val. I am not physically in this world, but magic has allowed me to manifest my spirit here today. Before we move on, may I ask... who is the boy?" Meredith said with a slight smirk and raised eyebrow as she pointed to Drow sleeping on the bed.

"Mother!" Avalonna replied as her cheeks burst with red and she suddenly grew warm.

"It is fine, I know you are 21 one now. A fine age to have certain friends." Meredith replied with a soft laugh.

"I do not believe my relationship with Drow is why you are here, mother." Avalonna said with a slight smirk. Deep down she missed having the opportunity to have moments like this with her mother, just being a normal girl and talking about such common things. Lydia was nice and loving of course as Avalonna was growing up, but it wasn't quite the same.

"Ah, yes, quite true." Meredith replied.
"I am here to help you on what to do next I believe."

Avalonna nodded then her heart almost stopped as she remembered the news of Eversong.

"Mother... Connor and Lydia are dead. The Red King ordered all of Eversong be burned down because he knew magic was there." Avalonna managed to say while holding back tears.

Meredith looked saddened and floated over to Avalonna. She put her hand just over her daughter's shoulder.

"Val... I can not tell you exactly what has happened to your brother, it his destiny and I can't interfere. However, just know you will see him again soon." She said with a hopeful smile.
Avalonna smiled back and wiped away her tears.

"Now, let us being." Meredith said while folding her hands.
"How exactly did you summon me? You shouldn't have had the energy to do that without the 13th Council's guidance." She said.

"Drow helped me. He's a shapeshifter and quite knowledgable, you'd approve." Avalonna replied with a hint of a smile.
"He taught me a spell to use his energy to replenish mine and then taught me how to summon you with the soul stones."

Meredith's expression began to change and grew more serious. She looked at Drow and then back at her daughter and sighed softly.

"Avalonna...do not use that spell again. No matter the reason." She said sternly.

"What? Why not mother?" Avalonna replied taken aback.
"It made me feel quite wonderful and allowed me to speak to you."

"I know my darling, but a witch does not only has supernatural and natural spells. They also have white and black magic. The white magic is healing and creative and protective. A witch's black magic is why they are usually the villain in all those children's stories I used to read to you and Connor. Black magic is destructive, dangerous and corruptive. The more you use it, the more you will want to keep using it, which isn't always a good thing." She said as she floated closer to her daughter.

"White magic can bring a person from the brink of death while black magic can destroy a kingdom. Black magic has it's uses, as it is what you channel for offensive spells, but using it solely for your own purpose will corrupt you. They murdered innocent witches, what would they do to an evil one?" She said, trying unsuccessfully to embrace her daughter.

Avalonna nodded and understood what her mother had meant. However, somewhere deep down she did not exactly see the problem in using black magic. To her it seemed like just another aspect of a witch's powers to control and use, not one to hide away. The witches were defensive and almost wiped out for it, what if they had used their magic for offense?

"Yes, mother." She said and sighed to herself quietly. She knew not to go against her mother's wishes.
"I won't use it anymore."

"Thank you, Val." Meredith replied with a smile.
"There is a way around that spell if you still need more energy in the future. You can absorb the energy from the plant life around you, instead of from intelligent creatures."

"Really? That seems like a great alternative." Avalonna said, smiling.
"I will use it, but what do you think of our plans for battle with the Red King?" She asked.

Meredith thought about it a moment before answering.
"The Red King and Queen must be stopped, I just wish there was some other way besides having my children do it. I regret I couldn't be there for you growing up, for you dealing with all this." She said sadly.

Avalonna held her hand up to her mother's and gave her an accepting smile.
"It's ok, mother. I know it wasn't your fault."

"Thank you, Val." Meredith said continuing with a small smile,
"If you can get the dwarves to help, then that will be a great accomplishment. Perhaps you and the witches of the Council can come from the north while the dwarves attack here from the west. If Connor's destiny comes true, you will have aid in the east as well."

"That would be ideal, and with their enemy Pandune their only escape to the south, we would have The Red King and Queen trapped on all sides of the capital." Avalonna added.

"Yes, the Council shall help you master your powers and teach you new spells and techniques. However, to truly defeat the Nitehardt's you must truly know them. You have to find out what drives them, why they are who they are. When you gain this knowledge, you can use it against them." Meredith added.

"That is hopeful news, mother. We will try our best, I know they have mysterious pasts but I am sure we can find something to use against the Nitehardt's." Avalonna replied.

Meredith nodded slowly.
"I am just afraid of how much blood will be shed and at what cost will victory come. There is no reasoning with the Red King and Queen at this point, they have murdered too many innocents. You don't know what fighting an army is like, and not even I know what secrets the Nitehardt's may have hidden in their castle." Meredith said somberly.

"We will be alright, mother." Avalonna said.
"Connor and I, we will get stronger in magic and fighting. We will win... we must win." She said, breathing slowly and sitting on the bed next to Drow.

"I hope so, my love. I have the upmost faith in both of you. I believe I must go now, this prolonged spell is starting to become too much for you." Meredith said.

"No, mother. I am fine." Avalonna replied wearily.
"I just need some food or water is all."

Meredith smiled and looked down at her daughter lovingly.
"We both know that is not true. The power comes from the soul stone, but it is your spell that keeps them activated for so long. I must go before you and your Drow are both depleted of your energies."

Avalonna sighed and looked down before getting up and attempting to embrace her mother again.
"I will miss you. I love you mother." She said quietly.

"I will miss you too, my daughter. Tell Connor... well on second thought, I shall wait. I may see him soon enough anyway. Just know that I am so proud of you two, and love both of you with all I have." Meredith said, looking into her daughter's eyes once more.

Avalonna smiled and felt tears come to her eyes, but this time she was able to remain steady.

"Good luck on fulfilling your destiny, my daughter, remember I will always be with you." Meredith Bishop said as she turned into a flash of pale green lights that glowed until Avalonna was forced to shield her eyes. When she looked back her mother was gone, and it was just Drow and herself in the room once again.