One Crown & Two Thrones : The Dragons Egg ( Book Two)

Chapter Sixteen - Time Reversed - Eveline

XVI

Time Reversed

Eveline

A light north-eastern wind swept it's away across the bay of Peel and the waves beautifully curled, crashed against the white sand, soaking the toes of Eveline, who stood quite still, her golden eyes cast out to the horizon. Summer was close, but in her heart Eveline felt the bitter chill of winter. It had been two days since her chance encounter with the magical door, in which she had seen two versions of her future that both included a son, who happened to be living within the same castle as she, only not as a babe but as a fully grown man who was in the eyes of many seen as a murderer. Since that night, Merlin and Welwyn had disappeared from sight, the druids unable to tell Eveline were exactly they had vanished too. She had searched the castle a dozen times, had eaten within the hall and had fervently asked her friends for their aid, but to no avail. Her son and the great wizard of earth had gone and she was at a loss as to what to do next. Common sense and a fear of the other two doors had kept her from fulfilling her curiosity, but as she stood with her toes arched into the cold sand below, she felt a yearning deep within, a yearning to return to the door and find out what the other two smaller doors had within. Her eyes heavy, she lifted her left hand and looked down at the small golden band upon her fourth finger.

"There you are!"

Eveline turned her eyes and found William striding across the bay, his face filled with merriment.

"I've been looking everywhere for you! Edward is awaiting you," William said loudly as he came to stand before Eveline, his golden hair dancing about in the light wind and his blazing green eyes aflame. "You have that look about you..."

"Excuse me?" Eveline returned with a flick of her brow.

"That look you had two nights ago, you remember?"

"I am simply deep in thought that is all," Eveline said with a shrug. "I am allowed to think yes?"

"Oh god yes, by all means, but..." William stuttered as he folded his arms before him. "I am a professor and one of our many qualities is in reading our students body language and you my dear have all the signs of a women in fear...so please explain yourself?"

"You're not one for tact are you Mr Talbot?" Eveline smiled softly as she scooped back a handful of auburn curls.

"Unfortunately no, I am too direct for my own good...maybe that is why the ladies adore me so very much," William teased, his eyes unable to sparkle. "But do please try and explain just what is going on inside that head of yours."

"If I tell you, you are to promise me to secrecy, yes?" Eveline asked seriously.

"Of course, unless your life is in danger, then I would be answerable to Heiden...and we know how that turns out."

Eveline furrowed her brows in confusion.

"You were saying?" William said with a smile.

"Two nights ago after my lessons with Edward, I got lost on my way down to the hall with Bran..."

"Your new pet?"

"Yes my new pet..." Eveline sighed. "Anyway I found myself aimlessly walking down a rather narrow corridor when I saw a door."

"Okay..."

"It wasn't just any door, it was different," Eveline went on to say as she studied William's confused face. "It was larger than usual and had old English runes written over the archway in gold."

"How strange..."

"Indeed, but what was stranger was that when I said the words aloud the door opened to reveal a further three doors within. Each were smaller than the main, but were also decorated with golden runes above the arches," Eveline said, dropping her eyes to the sand. "The first door was engraved with a full moon and sun, the second had four large eight – pointed stars that encircled a large sun, which engulfed a crescent moon within and the third door to the right had only one symbol, which was a hand."