The Guardians of Time

Chapter Two: Time

***Edin, Present Day***

The little man rushed through the hallways of the castle, moving quickly to answer the queen's summons. When her telepathic call reverberated through his skull, she sounded desperate.

Something was wrong.

At a run, he made it to the throne room in seconds, darting in, his fingers glowing with green sparks, ready to defend her. To his surprise, the room was quiet, empty, save it be for Queen Emelia. She was facing away from him, standing in a double doorway that lead out onto a veranda. Realizing there was no immediate danger, he relinquished his magic and the sparks vanished. Slowly, he approached her.

Her normally waist-length black and gray hair was pulled up tightly against her head, held in place by her beautiful amethyst crown. He moved beside her and could see her bright blue ocean colored eyes looking out over Bower Valley below. Her arms wrapped around her midsection in a hug, as if she were cold.

He was silent as he stood beside her, waiting for her to acknowledge him. He looked at her and was taken aback by the visage before him. The way the warm winds played with her earrings and danced in the cloth of her purple gowns only accentuated her royalty.

The smell of the castle gardens moved in the room around them, summertime blossoms releasing torrents of their fresh, floral fragrances. The little servant took a knee as he got close enough to his queen.

"My most loyal assistant." The queen's voice was deep with feminine rasp, both sultry and hypnotizing.

"Your highness, how can I be of assistance?" He replied.

She turned slowly from the beautiful view and looked down at him, smiling and motioning for him to stand. Even at his full height, his chin barely made it above her slender hips.

He followed her as she seemed to glide across the room where she sat on the end of her large four poster. In the sunlight, the little assistant recognized the sparkle of tears that slid down her cheeks. In an instant, his face darkened, and he was at her side, grasping her hand.

"Emelia, what is it? What's wrong?" He asked, sudden worry pushing away formality.

She turned to look at him and her lips spread into a smile.

"Oh, it's been thirty-three years to the day that I left my son on earth. I miss him terribly."

"I'm sure the prince is fine. Have you not checked on him lately?" He asked, patting the top of her hand.

"I have looked in on him every day that he's been gone. I've watched his birthdays from here. His successes, his failures. His heart breaks. When they moved him to California, my heart hurt for him, watching him leave his friends. It was fortunate that Jenice and Kathryn were able to follow." She cried openly.

"Well, let me take you to the Seers. We can scry him together." He stood and offered his hand. She smiled and shook her head.

"I have looked at the timeline today, my old friend. He isn't there. His life spark is...fuzzy."

"The prince is dying?" He asked her, shocked.

"I don't believe so. I saw something else today." She said, brushing aside tears. " The evil king that killed my husband. He's returned, and he's out for blood. I angered him when I stopped him from taking our planet all those years ago"

"The evil king has found the prince? He will be killed."

"It is time." She smiled.

"Time?" He furrowed his brow.

"Jakoba, do you not see? Stenos has returned. Ayden's very life dances in and out of the timeline, his powers are awakening. I have spent many years, many tear-filled sleepless nights waiting for this very day." She sat on her bed and looked out toward the valley again.