Image (Insight #3)(51)
When we reached Palhen’s, the others had already passed through. I smiled up at Landen before we stepped in. Before us, only Pelhan and Aora stood. In the distance, we could feel the elation and excitement of our return. Pelhan smiled warmly and bowed his head; we bowed in return.
Pelhan’s eyes moved to me. “You look well,” he said, moving his eyes to where my wound was.
Landen reached his arms around me, pulling me to him and suppressing his anger. “Did you know? Were you trying to make us learn a lesson?” he asked as respectfully as he could.
Pelhan’s eyes moved to Landen. “I cannot read the stars or the choices you make – we simply interrupted Olivia’s dreams,” he answered.
Landen released the anger he was feeling and nodded in Pelhan’s direction. “We should have taken her,” he said, regretting his decision.
Pelhan pursed his lips, and I felt him carefully choosing his words. “Nothing was harmed by leaving her here. We sent the dream to you; I know that August received it,” he answered.
Landen and I looked at each other, then back to Pelhan.
“I knew that the two of you would not dream, and Marc and Dane would not rest deeply enough to. August was the only passage we had.”
“That was Olivia’s dream?” I asked, remembering the one August spoke of, the images of me, the children and the color of blood.
Pelhan nodded. “Your family feared this dream, but I knew it meant that the power of that charm was surfacing, that the spirit of Willow’s soul would be a guiding light in the moment of choice,” he answered.
“Her choice was death,” Landen said, holding me tighter.
Pelhan looked at Aora. They smiled at each other, then looked at me. “Her choice was life,” Aora said. “She could have submitted, ending this battle with the darkness - but she made a choice: allowing you to heal her, to finish what you have begun.”
Landen looked at me. My choice had escaped him; we’d debated that the gift of emotion was pointless unless the person we were helping wanted our help. The same is true when you’re being healed: you make your own choices. Others may guide you, but they can never live for you.
I broke my stare with Landen and looked back to Pelhan. “Did you know that I’m not Donalt’s daughter? That Alamos and Perodine were my first parents?” I asked.
He smiled. “Only because you’ve told me before,” he said, tilting his head. “You have brought a scroll here, seeking help. In your last life, you told me that you feared the day that all of the truths would come - for it would show you how clever the devil really was,” Pelhan answered.
“They’ve been played as fools,” I said, thinking of Alamos and Perodine.
“Living in one form for so long is their punishment and reward. The darkness knew the battles their heart fought. Your love story evokes emotions they have forgotten, clouding their guidance,” Pelhan answered.
“Did you read the scroll?” Landen asked, filling with hope.
Pelhan shook his head from side to side.
“It's all foolishness to me. I know the stars may bring influence, but the soul leads the life. The answers you find there may prepare you for a possibility – but as you saw today, that possibility will cause you undue stress. A calm mind would have allowed you to see the likelihood of Willow being the descendant.”
“Drake and I never would have put the blade through her; the stress would be the same - just a different degree,” Landen said in a shaky voice. “I want to know the influence, the battles that have been fought already.”
Pelhan’s smile grew, and his Aura seemed to brighten. “You always have. Seek what you wish - just remember to see every adversity through not only your eyes, but also the one you face,” he answered.
Landen’s eyes carefully gauged Pelhan; he was trying to read his intent, his emotion, and his energy all at once. I could feel Landen’s frustration; like always, Pelhan revealed nothing beyond his vague words. Both of us felt unsatisfied with the resolution of that day’s battle: a pile of ash, that was all. Perodine and Alamos were still trapped in this life, forced to watch the battles I faced, Drake was still lost in the illusion that I belonged to him, and the city of Delen remained demented in the eyes of Esterious. To us, it seemed the trails grew more difficult - and the rewards seemed smaller.
Pelhan stepped closer and hugged Landen, then me. “I’ve asked your family to come one by one to the passage; I know that, in your moment of death, you saw life through their eyes.”
Landen looked at me, and I felt a grief and anger surface in him; he hated that I’d been alone and unprepared for what came. I took his hand and sent a calm to him. I wasn’t alone; everyone was with me, and I let my memories of their perspective flow through me - and Landen found a peace and determination as he if he could see them.
“You were given a gift, a marker in your life. You now know what you have done and what is left to be done,” Aora said, stepping forward to hug me.
They turned to leave, and in the distance I saw my mother and father approaching. I wanted to cry, but too many tears had already left me that day. As I saw them begin to walk faster to me, a smile filled my face. My father’s eyes were green, and his peace was relaxing. My mother was so beautiful, innocent, and vibrant in her emotions. I let go of Landen’s hand and ran into their embrace. As she squeezed me as tight as she could, tears of joy came from my mother’s eyes. My father wrapped his arms around us and held us as close as he could.