Chapter 12 - A New Dawn

~ Eight cycles of the seasons - 15 Years earlier ~

Lia slowly stirred, feeling both warm and comfortable in her bed, she snuggled in a little deeper. She was still in the sweet, soft twilight between sleeping and waking. A lazy smile came to her lips as she drew the bed-covers up higher and escaped in their comforting warmth. The teasing scent of lilac was among the bedclothes or even in the room itself. She especially liked the scent in the mountains, the first after the thaw of snow among the forest trails. It was so quiet; maybe it was going to be a day of rains, the animals already hiding away to escape the wetting. She smiled to herself, maybe she could stay indoors and read, or practice her playing, or maybe try to make those flowers made out of her fire.

She frowned slightly with the thought, “Flowers made of fire?” she mumbled to herself, having to hear it.

“Dearest daughter, wake. I have something to show you.” came the muffled voice through her blankets.

“Papa?” she said with surprise.

Lia pushed the blankets back, the room dim and without the light of daybreak invading the through the windows. Her eyes quickly found Harks and then she remembered, they were not at home anymore. A gentle glow grew in the bedroom, a room triple the size of her own back home, generous with tapestries hanging over stone walls. She struggled to get out of the bed that was attempting to keep her resting, a large and soft affair of down pillows and silken sheets.

“Papa?!” she said in a mild panic as she fought the pangs of disorientation.

“Dearest Lia, we are at the Spyres, we arrived yesterday afternoon.”

“No, Papa. Where am I?” she said, her eyes wide as she tried to make sense of the room she was in.

Harks looked about with a bemused expression in his eyes, “You have inherited Odessia’s rooms and everything of hers within them.”

Lia stared at him, “This is all mine?”

Harks nodded slowly, holding out a warm gown for her, “Quick, there is something I would like to show you.”

Lia looked at the windows, the curtains drawn and with no light leaking around the edges, “Papa, is it still dark out?”

“Not for long.” he said with a gentle smile.

“You wanted to watch the sunrise with me?” Lia said, quickly turning and slipping into the gown as Harks held it, she met his eyes as she turned, letting him settle and fold the lapels and tie its sash, “It’s not going to be the same anymore, is it Papa?”

He sat on the edge of the bed, facing her, “It will be different.” he agreed.

Lia stepped forward and hugged him, kissing his cheek, “I don’t want us to be different, Papa.”

He smiled, “I have no intent for it to be.” he stood, guiding Lia to the door, through the living area and to the entryway.

Within a few moments they were walking out onto the ringed covered path that swept around the perimeter of the inner private gardens of the Chancellor. Only a small handful of doorways led off this contained sanctuary, a deep-set, sheltered abutment atop the main structure of the academy that looked out and over the city below. The five main towers raising around and behind it, the inner courtyard further back and below.

Lia walked at Harks’s side, the faint light of false dawn setting a faint glow through the garden and under the walkways. She looked around with interest, her time after they arrived the day before had been fast-paced and met with the fatigue of being on the road for the last few days. The path that ringed the private gardens was akin to an arched passage with one wall open to the sights of the dense forest that grew within the garden. Lia frowned, a question on her lips.

“Papa, why does Eira have a forest as a garden?”

Harks smiled, glancing at the dark trees to their side, “Wait until you see the sunrise, and the dawn through them, you will not need to ask this.”

Lia glanced at him in curiosity.

“There is a pool to bathe or swim in among the trees on the far side, cool in summer and warm in winter, with water so fresh you would think you are drinking from a mountain stream.”

He smiled at Lia, “From what Jaina has told me, there is a dryad among the gardens for the last couple of years. Protecting it and making it grow as it has. Maybe she will introduce herself to you when you play your music. Dryads are a powerful unexpected friend, if she trusts you.”

“I could play my guqin or flute!” Lia said excitedly, “A dryad, here in the middle of a city? I hope to meet her soon.” she ducked around to Harks’s other side so she was closer to the edge of the path, peering into the dark.

He chuckled to himself, his eyes ahead as they approached the low wall of the abutment that hung a little way out from the two nearest towers and over the city below. The roof continued out over arches, providing a dry path all the way around the perimeter in inclement weather. Harks heard Lia’s quiet gasp as she saw ahead, the whole horizon stretching out before them as they walked out from behind the shadow of the nearest tower.

False dawn had just started, the pale blush of apricots and lavender spreading out over the night sky, chasing the stars as they dimmed before the waking of day. She laughed and ran ahead of Harks along the outer path, finally coming to the central point, a small observation rotunda sticking out from the gentle curve of the abutment.

Lia stopped and propped her arms on the railing, looking out over the still sleeping city, its dwellings and streets only lit with lanterns and the cold light of the stars. She quickly turned, her eyes sparkling as she watched Harks catch up with her.

“It looks so different from up here, I didn’t know that…” she stopped, seeing Harks’s expression and smiling in embarrassment.

He came up and looked over the railing in mock concern, “Any louder and you’ll wake the whole city, dearest Lia.” he whispered scandalously.

She laughed, her amber eyes catching the stray lights of predawn. Harks nodded to the horizon before resting his hands on her shoulders, standing behind her. The false dawn grew more intense, the colours growing more vivid and stretching further across the sky. Lia looked at the city below, the glow now invading the rooftops and alleys with a soft light that foretold of a cloudless morn. She felt the slight squeeze on her shoulder and she looked up at the nearest two towers, their heights bathed in the lurid shades.

Suddenly the first tower blazed into life, the first touch of dawn hitting its pinnacle, making it seem like it were on fire. Lia gasped softly, turning to look at the other four as they reflected the sun in a blinding display. She looked up at Harks, immediately noticing the quiet tears in his eyes.

“Papa?” she said, hugging him.

He looked down, smiling gently and nodded. Bending before lifting her with one arm, Lia wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

“I love you, Papa.”

“I love you too, dearest daughter.” he replied without hesitation as he felt her kiss his cheek.

“Papa, don’t cry.”

He smiled, “I am happy, dearest daughter. I feared returning here, but here I am, with a light heart.”

Lia frowned, “Is it because of her?”

Harks frowned slightly, “Who?”

“Your other daughter.” she said quietly.

He shook his head, “No, nothing to do with her. When I left here, I just never expected to return.” he glanced past her, his eyes catching the light, “Look.”

She let herself slide back to the ground and took his hand, watching the sun break over the horizon, its golden morning light flooding into the city below. Its rays filled the streets and reflected off the rooftops, making the buildings and thoroughfares shine of gold.

Jaina slowly walked through the forest that made up the sanctuary of Eira’s garden, the darkness concealing her movements. She had heard both Harks and Lia pass her door only moments before, Lia’s excited words breaking the silence before dawn. She had spent most of the night awake, restless and trying to calm her mind. The proximity of two that harboured the thread setting her senses on edge, especially Harks’s, his thread gently reaching out on its own and testing the surrounds.

Her bare feet swept through the blades of grass, her gown trailing her movements. She watched them from a break in the trees, one arm across her chest, the other hand touching her lips lightly. Her eyes consumed the gentle interactions between Harks and Lia as the sunrise broke over the city.

“And why do you hang back here, Jaina? You still have eyes for him, do you not? I am sure this image before you stirs something deep inside.” Eria said, a quiet smile on her lips, “I watched the both of you on the return.”

Jaina glanced at her, “Eira?”

“When you are ready, Jaina. You know what he fears, address it.” Eira said, watching the scene, “He is a good man, don’t let him run away from you this time.”

“But the thread…I was not ready then. I was too young, I feared losing him.”

Eira glanced at back at Harks, “What of it? It could be tomorrow, it could be years or it could be never.” she smiled at Jaina, “Why continue to fear a possibility that may never eventuate?”

Jaina stared at Eira, “May never eventuate?”

Eira shook her head, “Take that as you will, Jaina.” she reached out and pulled Jaina’s robe together and tied it off properly, “Once Harks and Lia have finished, bring them to my rooms for breakfast. We all shall eat together.”

Eira looked into Jaina’s eyes, “Jaina, do not torture yourself. Don’t let a possibility destroy your happiness, even if your time is short or long, let it be something to cherish. Now that the great Sanctum has been found, from the time of the dragon gods…”

Jaina looked at her in surprise, “Are you suggesting?”

“I am suggesting nothing.” Eira laughed softly, her ice-blue eyes flashing in the light of dawn, “Just do not let your fear get the best of you.”

Eira’s eyes flashed again before she strode off through the trees, heading in a different direction. Jaina watched for a moment, turning back to the sight of Harks and Lia, him holding the child aloft and being embraced tightly. Once again her fingers strayed to her lips while she watched the sunrise washing over them both and setting the city on fire. Finally she started forward, walking up to the both of them, the forest garden bathed in the hues of the morning.

She smiled as Lia noticed her approach, “Good morning Lia, did you sleep well?” a faint blush coming to her face when Harks turned and met her eyes, “Harks.” she said in greeting.

Lia quickly grabbed her hand and took her to the edge, “Look! It’s all gold! Its incredible, Jaina!”

“I truthfully can’t remember the last time I watched the sun rise over the city, Lia. But the sun through the forest is almost like you are back in the mountains.” she nodded toward the garden.

Lia quickly glanced at Harks, “Papa?”

“Go, we will catch up to you, dearest Lia.” he said calmly, his eyes meeting Lia’s before she glanced quickly at Jaina and back at him.

Lia nodded and headed for the impossible forest, with dense trees that reached up high and the canopy giving the shade and cool environ in the summer months. She looked back, seeing Jaina walking closely beside Harks, the fyrelf seemingly flushed and shy as she spoke with him. She kept close enough to hear their words while she stepped under the wide boughs of the trees, amazed by the sight before her.

Jaina stepped in time with Harks, one hand at her side, her thoughts wandering at his nearness. She looked at the streaks of silver in his hair, knowing they were not from age but from something far worse.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked quietly, meeting her eyes momentarily.

She nodded, silence between them for a few short moments, she kept watching his face as his eyes strayed to watching Lia walking into the forest.

Jaina frowned, “Harks, I insisted to come out with Eira, I had to see you. Odessia sent that letter with the blacksmith a couple of years ago; she explained what happened to you.”

He chuckled, “The Chancellor couldn’t help herself, could she?” he said as he caught sight of Lia as she stayed suspiciously just inside the tree line, “Or did ‘Dessia send one to you too?” he glanced at Jaina, a knowing look coming to his face with a small smile.

“Harks, I shouldn’t have those years ago. If I had accepted, then…”

“Jaina, don’t.”

“But if I would have, then…” she stopped, his eyes on her, stalling her thoughts.

He smiled gently, “Then what, Jaina? Do not dwell on a past that can’t be changed.”

She reached out and tentatively placed a hand on his arm, “Harks?”

He met her eyes, his piercing blue on her pale gold.

Jaina swallowed, her breath stolen, “If you still – When you are ready, I won’t...” she whispered to him, stopping as he shook his head slightly.

Harks kept looking into her eyes, her face flushed further as he placed his hand over hers, “I can not say either yes or no. I have two children, a child of my blood who has my hair and eyes and knows nothing of me except maybe a half-remembered dream of a man. The other is Lia, who I share my life with now.” he frowned, “I am no longer the man you knew.”

Jaina kept her eyes on his, unwavering, “Then let me get to know you as you are now.”

He raised his eyebrow.

“Harks, please. Let me be close to you again.” she gripped his arm, “I am right here, we can start with…” she stopped, his gentle smile halting her words.

“Calm your thoughts, dear Jaina.” Harks said quietly, a quietly amused expression in his eyes.

“We heard their whole conversation, sneaking about the trees.” Doubt said slyly, glancing at Lia.

Lia smiled, shrugging, “Not intentionally, things that we hear as a child grow meaning as we mature.” she looked at Doubt, her copper hair shining darkly in the strange light, “I listened out of curiosity as any child does, but it made no sense to me then. Now it has a whole different meaning. I feel like there is an answer to all those niggling questions, just out of my reach but right before my eyes.”

Lia sighed gently, closing her eyes, “Jaina, now I understand.”

Her younger self looked at her, taking a hand and studying the visible scars, “These scars are not from wounds that bleed.”

Lia nodded, “They are the scars from every hurt I have felt, every word thrown at me in spite, anger. Every disappointment that I have felt in others; every time I was betrayed in some way, big or small. They all have a story.”

Lia looked at her hands, a grim smile on her lips, “Not one scar remains on my skin, I have erased them all. But these are eternal. They all fade over time, but they remain as a lesson worth having.”

Doubt reached out and slid the long arm of Lia’s blouse up, exposing her forearm, “There are less here.”

“Yes, the greater the hurt, the deeper the wound, the closer to my heart. That is why I keep so few close.”

Doubt’s brows furrowed deeply, her breath short as she reached up and slowly unbuttoned her adult self’s blouse. Finishing, she opened it, slipping it off her shoulders and exposing her. Doubt’s eyes widened in fear and pain, the healed over gashes and cuts, both big and small clustered around Lia’s heart. The great wounds that could only be the loss of her parents and of Odessia and another from attacking Harks, all healed, but the pale marred flesh of a scar. Her eyes were drawn to the seal of destiny on her chest, glowing faintly under the skin, a jagged, open wound of flame cutting through it.

“Lia?”

“If this is how I feel, then he must also.” she traced the wound with a finger, playing with the flame and smiling gently.