The Prophesized Eclipse.

It has been many years since I last gave birth to a child, but in the time it’s been I have become atoned to the obligation of motherhood. In the time I’ve been married to Maerul, I have given birth to five children, each one as beautiful as the next, three boys, two girls, and am due to give birth to what is hoped to be my fourth son.
Maerul always seems to feel the need to remind me that I will be due for labor within a matter of weeks and I’ve never truly understood why. Were he in my place now I am certain, or almost certain that he would prefer that I not remind him, but I guess in his right mind he is only waiting with as much anticipation as I. Though there are those concerns of my past, the battle of Lunar-Carisora and the wounds left behind that left me crippled. During the cold the aching returns in my shoulders and hip, and I often ask myself if the next child I bare might be affected by those injuries.
This child however seems somewhat different. I have bumped my growing belly several times, and even fell down the stairs of my chambers, and yet I still bare it as if nothing had ever happened. It’s as if the child wants to remain where it belongs until the time of its birth. The maids that come rushing to my aid keep reminding me that I must be careful, and often show signs of surprise and alarm when I tell them I’m fine. In fact the cold has not affected my wounds since I knew that I was pregnant.
Perhaps he or she knows that I am a danger to myself and wants to protect me, or maybe even knows that there is the possibility that something might happen to harm me or the child and so it protects me, but for all I can tell right now, this child, whether boy or girl is special. Kaylynne, my youngest daughter seems most pleased with the development of the baby in my belly, always reminding me of how long it has been, she seems so easily excited. Though I must admit I have my concerns, the prophesized eclipse is fast approaching, and is said to last anywhere between five and thirty-six days, and I, like everyone else, have heard the prophecy recited one hundred times over. I do hope that my child is not one burdened with what the prophecy foretells, because if the prophecy is true, and the child is mine…I fear that everything that he or she will come to know or should come to know will be taken away before the opportunity arises, or not long after. I am already growing too attached to this child, and much sooner and more so than that of my other children.
I suppose in my mind I am giving myself too many reasons to doubt, perhaps my child will be born coincidentally with the child of prophecy, but at the same time I can’t help but doubt. Half of the prophecy has already been fulfilled; this child will be born during the eclipse and to a Lanuarian mother and moon-elven father, as for the rest, the twins born at the same time during the same phase of the eclipse will be bound to this child of prophecy, I can’t help but wonder, do I know the unfortunate soon-to-be parents of these two children, soon to be born?
Nothing is known but their race, one Solaran, the other Lanuarian, and it pains me to think of the reaction of both of their kinsmen once they had found out about these children. Perhaps its nothing, I am a worried mother like any other and will soon realize that everything will be fine, but even still, I can’t help but doubt…

~Shaela Maralia~

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Waking nightmares

A barren wasteland desert where Shaela stood, scorching heat surrounding her, and no visible shelters were to be found. Sand and stone alone, nothing more or less. No water, no food, just the hot sand beneath her feet, between her toes and all around her. Sand so hot it seemed to reflect the scorching sun and air so thick she could see it rising off the golden dirt.
Beneath her feet the sand turned to glass. Glass which crawled up her bare feet to lock her in place, and suddenly it became very cold, the glossy see-through surface climbing further up passed her ankles and cooling almost instantly as sand turned to glass, but something within her fought back. As the glass was formed and solidified, it was melted again and driven back, a blue vivid light shone around her, as if to form a protective shell to ward off all that sought to harm her and her child.
The vast landscape rippled and faded, changing from desert land to a deep forest lake, where in the center stood the beautiful, seemingly young woman waiting for whatever was to come next. Whatever tried to take her before made a second attempt, launching wave, after wave of rushing water at her from its endless supply. Each wave struck its target, but the glowing blue shell around her grew stronger, her mysterious inner power increasing in magnitude to overcome the threat. And again the scenery changed deep forest lake to endless, dense forest. For a moment Shaela smiled, admiring the familiar environment, the peacefulness and tranquility was soothing for a moment at least. From the forest floor tree roots emerged, entwining around Shaela’s feet and crawling up her legs. They continued upwards as the blue glow around the woman’s body grew brighter, and she tried to struggle free of the root’s grasp. Through her struggling she heard a voice, deep and sharp, which made the hair on her arms and neck stand on end.
‘It seems your child cannot protect you against the force of earth’ the voice spoke into her. She continued to struggle as the roots climbed further up, wrapping around her swelling belly, and squeezing tightly. Shaela yelped, and in her mind she could hear the sound of a baby crying. The cries grew louder as the roots squeezed tighter around her, and yet they continued to climb, squeezing her arms to her body wrapping around her neck and up over her mouth, nose and eyes, trying to ensure her suffocation. The cries grew louder still, and an orange light exploded around the woman, setting fire to the roots and driving them back finally. Shaela fell to her knees, gasping for air.
“Your child will not protect you forever, Shaela” came a voice from behind her, “one day you will be left defenseless, and when that day comes, I’ll be there”
The woman looked up, the shapes of two young children stood back to back one was elven with glowing blue eyes and jet-black hair, dressed in silver armor. She knew beyond any doubt that this was her son. The other was slightly taller, a grayish tan in his skin, his face burned and deformed, eyes glowing red but blank. His arms were folded across his chest. In front of the first child stood two others, two young girls, (also standing back to back), both fairly tall, one pale with golden/brown hair and emotionless brown eyes, but perfect, flawless skin. She had a slender body, which was hidden beneath a lavender robe.
The other was facing the blue eyed boy, her skin darker than the other girl’s, but equally flawless, with the same physical features. She shared the same facial shape-from what Shaela could see at this angle-with a slight silvery glow radiated from her eyes. The two facing each other now smiled, the boy’s glow growing slightly brighter, the dark skinned girl before him matching his smile, the glow in her eyes equaling the intensity of his. Shaela stood, eyes fixed upon the two in the center, slowly she encircled them. The two remained still, not taking their eyes off one another.
Slowly they began to grow, from children to adolescents, to young adults. By their adult stage, they stood with their hands linked; still staring long and hard at one another, the young man with his hair tied back, the young woman with her hair out.
The two standing behind them seemed angrier, the man behind the blue eyed one seemed more deformed than before, as if what little skin he did have had stretched too far across his broad face. Even as she passed his eyes didn’t follow, didn’t blink, nor did they move.
She continued to circle, coming to a halt when she could better see the other woman. Her face was very beautiful, pale white, eyes silver with a gold underlay, but something wasn’t right with this young woman. Maybe it was the paleness of her skin, or even the depth of her silver/gold eyes. Whatever it was, it made Shaela uneasy.
The woman before her slowly changed, her skin creasing into a fierce scowl, her eyes growing suddenly sharper as she looked directly at Shaela, abruptly by the shoulders with strong hands. The younger woman’s sadistic grin grew all the wider as she forced Sheala to her knees.

Shaela shot up suddenly, her pupils dilated, eyes barely glowing in the warm night, her stare blank. Maerul gazed at her for a moment, puzzled in the dim room light.
“Shaela?” he uttered softly, to no response.
“Shaela?” he repeated, again to no response. Shaela merely continued to stair blankly in front of her, a look of terror on her face. Maerul got to his feet and slowly edged towards her, getting to his knees before her. Gently he touched her face, tracing her jaw-line as he leaned in to examine her face.
“Shaela?” he whispered again, this time she jumped slightly and turned her eyes to him. Eyes that were not her own.
“Shaela Maralia, daughter of Shiane, and right hand servant of Layacan Sedren of Lunar Carisora. You know the importance of the child you bare” Maerul noticed her react to something, but he wasn’t sure what.
“You are not safe in Arimathyas anymore. When your husband learns of the child’s lineage you both will be cast out. You must leave for Euserdon as soon as possible”
“Who are you?” She said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Maerul stared at her silently for a moment, somewhat taken aback by Shaela’s questioning gaze.
“You know who I am, Shaela” he said quietly, “you know me”
She just stared blankly, as if listening for a voice that wouldn’t speak, or even one that he couldn’t hear.