Page 38 of Embers to Flames

Just then, I hear the front door of the temple open slightly and a servant’s hesitant footsteps follow. I spring to my feet.

“Someone is here.”

Erhorn looks at me, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, dear girl, we know.” He turns to shout towards our new guest, still standing in the other room. “Come inside boy! What news do you bring us?”

A small Human boy slowly creeps into the dining hall, a scroll in his hand. “A message from the King.” He announces, bowing deeply as he presents the scroll to Erhorn. The room tenses as the boy’s words hang in the air.

“Thank you, son. You may go now.” Erhorn takes the scroll, unraveling it carefully and scanning the contents. His eyebrows furrow as he reads, then he looks up, his gaze sweeping over each of the lords before settling on me and Theo. “It seems the King is planning to join us here at the temple,” Erhorn says, his voice grave but not unkind. A murmur of surprise ripples through the lords. “We shall welcome His Majesty graciously.”

Theo takes me by the hand again, “Let’s take a stroll, my sweet. The waterfall is particularly stunning at this hour of the day.” He locks eyes with me, a suggestive grin forming on his face.

“If we sit here any longer, I might just throw you on this table and fuck you while they watch.”A warm sensation flows from behind my ear and down towards my chest, tingling my nipples, causing them to harden beneath my dress. I look towards Theo, and he gazes at me with a sultry grin. The tingle moves down my belly and straight into the sensitive part of my core, causing my thighs to tighten involuntarily. I can feel a fierce heat growing within me, a wild longing that I can’t control.

“Let’s go,” I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. I cannot resist Theo’s seduction any longer.

Erhorn places a comforting but firm hand on my arm, “Rest assured, my dear. We’ll unravel this mystery.” He offers a nod of promise. “Savor the day. You are an Elf now; and you’ve got a wealth of abilities to discover, but remember, you’re not on this journey alone. Ever. Understood?”

“Yes sir.” I respond, respectfully.

Theo leads me out of the temple doors and towards the cacophony of a tumbling cascade. Nestled within the rugged arms of a vast mountain range is a majestic display of mist and raw power. The water plummets with a thunderous roar. The view is just as Theo had described—magnificent. The overwhelming noise however… “Will I always hear sounds like this? Isn’t there a way to… turn it off?” I shout, hands over my ears.

Theo steps before me, placing his hands over mine. His lips are moving but no sound is heard. I realize he is demonstrating deep breathing. Inhaling through his nose, then exhaling sharply through pursed lips, eyes fixed on mine. I follow his lead, matching his actions. As we breathe in unison, the roar of the waterfall begins to diminish.

“Better?” Theo looks at me with a dimply smile.

“Much.” I reply.

“Indeed,” Theo nods, his smile broadening. “The waterfall’s roar can be overwhelming, but with focus, you can find peace even in the chaos.”

We stand there for a moment longer, the mist from the waterfall surrounding us in a cool embrace. I feel a sense of calm I hadn’t noticed before, the rhythmic sound of the water now a soothing backdrop to Theo’s serene presence. Theweight of my new life begins to bear down on me, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check.

“Come,” he says, gesturing towards a narrow path that snakes along the mountain’s edge. “There is much to see, and each sight has its own lesson to teach.”

Approaching the waterfall, Theo gently guides me back and behind the cascade of cool liquid. A secluded cavern, carved out by the relentless force of water over a millennium, is a sanctuary of tranquility beneath the tumultuous veil. The cave’s mouth, though obscured by the waterfall’s curtain, is an archway to another world.

Inside, the air is damp and fresh, filled with the scent of moss and earth. The light from outside filters through the waterfall, casting a moving mosaic of light that dances across the cave walls. Venturing deeper, the cave reveals its secrets—a world untouched by time, where the only sounds are the distant waterfall’s echo and the soft drip of water from stalactites. The cave’s interior is a gallery of natural art, with rock formations sculpted into fantastical shapes that tell stories of their ancient past.

In this serene underworld, I can’t help but feel a profound connection to the earth and the elemental forces that shape it. It’s a place of wonder and introspection, where the hustle of the world above seems like a distant memory. Theo has yet to let go of my hand. His grip is tight but comforting. Protective. Suddenly my eyes catch the faintest glimmer on the wall. Drawing closer, the dim light from the entrance illuminatesancient markings, etched into stone with purpose and precision.

The carvings tell a tale of a prophesied child, born of a union between realms, destined to bridge worlds and wield great power. The story unfolds through a series of intricate symbols and figures.

“Theo, come, take a look at this!” I say excitedly, rubbing my fingers along the etchings.

“I’ve seen it.” He countered. Letting go of my hand and taking a seat on a nearby boulder while I continue studying the markings.

First there is a Dragon, wings outstretched, its body entwined with that of an Elf, representing the father—a being of magic and might. Next stands a Human, gentle and poised, but with the pointed ears of an Elf, symbolizing the mother—a fusion of Human resilience and elven grace. Lastly, the moment of birth is marked by a celestial event. A night within a day, where the sun is obscured, yet darkness is pierced by light.

“What do they mean, Theo?” I ask, turning to him. He doesn’t move, doesn’t speak. He just stares at me. “Theo… do you know what these signify?” The tale is timeless, and the sense of destiny is palpable. I stand in the quiet, staring at Theo, surrounded by history and myth, feeling a connection to this story that transcends the ages.

“It seems that these markings speak of a child as the chosen one, whose coming was foretold by seers and awaited byall. The child is depicted as a figure standing at the confluence of two worlds, one foot in the realm of Dragons and Elves, the other in the land of the Humans.” He pauses before standing up to be next to me. He takes my shoulders in his strong hands, squeezing me tightly, pressing a long soft passionate kiss to my lips. “I believe that we are the prophecy.”

The cave, once just a silent witness to the force of nature, now resonates with the echoes of a legacy waiting to be fulfilled. “What does that mean?” I question.

Theo’s gaze is intense, filled with a depth of emotion that nearly takes my breath away. “It means, my sweet, that we areDestinara. We are connected. We are bound by destiny. You are my mated heart.”

“Did you know this? Before I mean” My thoughts reel and I push him away, detecting remorse in his eyes.

“Rose, please. Listen to reason.”His words were a plea of mercy, echoing into my thoughts.

---