UPDATE 04/27/2022 Illustrations coming soon.
Chapter 8
Days passed unbeknownst to Eve, who lay on a luxurious bed inside the majestic palace of Avalon. The city had a surrounding forest. Beyond was the unknowns and villages that were further out. Inside its walls, a town of those who worked with the royals and soldiers surrounded the castle. The castle itself had five towers, three floors, and an underground labyrinth that contained cells for the worst, a treasury, and the potion masters. There were three open yards in the castle's center with different gardens. At the side were the training ground, stables, and the armory. Citizens of the underworld lined and practiced daily for a future of war they had not seen for many years. Only a few of them had been born after the great battle and doubted they would see any.
At Eve's arrival, she had sent the state of the court of the magical world in chaos. As promised, Aine did inform Aelfdene on the uniqueness of the mortal. Just as she had expected, the captain had jumped in eagerness to enact an old law that would have put the young girl under his thumb. Aine's quick thinking to send a message to her sister saved the mortal from being Aelfdene's plaything but had focused the young fey's sight on the mortal more.
Aine's sister had gone beyond the letter and had taken it upon herself to talk to the court before the group's arrival. She had stood in front of the council and convinced them of the importance of Eve's presence. The committee then permitted the healer to settle the mortal into a medic ward with trustworthy guards. This decision later proved well because when the captain realized he had lost his new toy, he had attempted to kill the girl. The guards had dragged him out before he completed the deed.
The young captain insisted on the punishment of execution to the mortal. If not, his complaints will go to the king or queen, his parents. Distressed, Aine sent a message to the royal couple's youngest son. Caoimhghin was the royal's family black sheep. He was young, arrogant, and mischievous with a deeply hidden kind heart. He already ruled a land at the outlands of his family's kingdom over creatures that many said were untamable. He saw them as his friends.
Caoimhghin came to Aine's aid. With a quick hug and kiss on her cheeks, he promised the woman to talk to his parents about making Eve a new resident to the underground. He did it post haste, taking time off his duties. His brother was not pleased and showed his disagreement about keeping their enemy so close loudly.
The rescuers took Eve to recover in the Healing Ward located on the first floor near the east tower. The ward had many rooms, some larger than others. The use of which room depended on the healers' need. Eve was in one of the smaller ones with a large open window that faced the direction the sun rose. It was during the time as the sun rose, a week later, did Eve awake in a groggy state to find herself in a new room. Eve's first thought she could string together was that she was tired of seeing herself somewhere she did not remember being. Eve believed she had traveled more in whatever time that has passed in the world of magic, if she was not indeed dreaming, than her home. Eve attempted to lift her arm and hissed the ache she found. Indeed, not a dream I have been.
"Well," Eve mumbled to herself in the resignation of her situation. "What shall I do now?" Eve huffed in a quick-approaching feeling of boredom. She eyed herself as best as she could in her pitiful state. Her head lifted slightly to see she was not bandaged as heavily as before and wore a comfortable white robe. She then assessed what she could of her new quarters. She was in a comfy mid-size bed that gave her space to move about, and it was extraordinarily soft. She might as well be lying on clouds. She saw a chamber pot in one corner, three chests of drawers, a single dresser, and a shelf filled with medical knick-knacks she somewhat could recognize with many others she did not know.