4. waning crescent

 
 

PROLOGUE | STOLEN MOON | WANING CRESCENT | SACRED SANDS | FALLEN SELENE | EPILOGUE

Waning Crescent

Aletheia awakes to a dream involving her being strangled by someone without a face. She gets up before the Sun rises and sits on her balcony where she attempts to scrawl on some papers. She is unable to write anything worthwhile and begins to feel frustrated. Her mind is scattered and she can’t seem to get a full night’s sleep.

WaningCrescent.jpg

Aletheia is still grappling with the information that the Lord of Faces had told her. She is not afraid of Donofrey but is still haunted by Malcolm and what he represents to her. She has been unable to confront the King about her feelings. She has been feeling more and more alone without her friends since Sam and Michael had always been at the castle with her. She also thinks of often of John. Nearly a month has passed since they had left and she wonders where he is.  She obsesses over her antlers which have gotten longer over the summer and begins to believe what the Lord of Faces said, about her mother not having antlers. Aletheia decides to find out for herself.

In the early morning, her Lady-in-Waiting, Abigail is pleased to finds her already awake. She seems to have had a busy morning already and is in a rush entering the Princess’s chambers. Aletheia, tries to bring up her mother to Abigail but the Lady-in-Waiting is in too much of a rush to offer any insight. She tells Aletheia that she needs to get ready for the funeral that is to be held for Michael Mithose . The princess remembers the day now which have begun to blur together. As she gets ready, she asks her handmaidens if they had known her mother but they are even younger than Aletheia. They do, however, remind her that Abigail had also tended to the Queen so if anyone knows about her mother, she would.

HALLS OF PEACE

Abigail returns to accompany Aletheia to the White Gardens behind the Crescent Keep. Aletheia takes this time to ask about her mother.  Abigail begins to speak about her personality and about how beautiful she was. Aletheia asks what color were her eyes. Then her hair. Abigail is surprised by her sudden interest and she asks why she doesn't talk to the King himself and Aletheia states how he has been too busy lately and does not wish to burden him.

Abigail continues, mentioning that her hair was red but would often wear long veils adorned with beautiful decorations. Aletheia then asks if she knows what family of Fawn Elves she was from. Abigail hesitates at first but claims that she doesn't know much about her extended family. She only knows that she had come from Charis. They reach the end of the hall where the King waits. Abigail then tells her that if she is interested in her family, there is a book on her lineage in the Selene Archives. The Veiland Compendium tells of the history of Veiland's Royalty. It will have the answers she is looking for. Aletheia then silently take the King’s arm and forces a smile. They then walk into the daylight toward the White Gardens.

White Gardens

Aletheia and the King walk in the back of a small procession for Michael. They reach the White Gardens, the royal cemetery behind the Crescent Keep, in the late morning. Aletheia notices two young women during the procession that she does not recognize. One is tall, the other is short and seems younger than the Princess. There is a short ceremony where the King says a few words. He then asks Aletheia if she would say a few words but she refuses. After the ceremony, Aletheia stays behind and is approached by the younger girl. The girl introduces herself as Morgana, Michael’s younger sister. Aletheia had no idea that he had a sister but finds out that he had two, Morgana and Susanna. Susanna is by the entrance speaking with the King. As Aletheia and Morgana converse, Morgana demonstrates that she is a Champion by controlling dew from one of the leaves and moving in the air, creating a glitter effect in the sunlight. Susanna interrupts them and asks Aletheia about how her brother was killed

Aletheia tells them what happened, that she saw his face and that he was a young man with very pointed features. He was killed when the Keep collapsed. The sisters wish to find the Black Jester because he may have been involved with the kidnapping of their father. They had been searching for their missing father when they learned of their brother’s death. Aletheia wants to help but Susanna snaps at her stating that she has done enough. It is clear that Susanna blames Aletheia for her brothers death. She leaves and informs Morgana that they will stay outside of town before heading to the Starcross Keep to find out more about Michaels death and their fathers whereabouts.

Aletheia is distraught but Morgana comforts her. It is clear that Morgana does not blame Aletheia. She reminds her that since Aletheia thought of Michael as a brother, that makes her and the Princess sisters. She asks not to feel hurt by Susanna, that she is just angry about what happened. Both she and Susanna will be there for her. Morgana then leaves.

The princess remains by herself and her eyes find her mother’s grave atop another hill. She goes to the Queen's grave which is a large open garden with a circular wall surrounding it with four pillars behind her tombstone. The stone is large, ornately designed marble statue. The statue of the Queen appears to have antlers just like the one fountain of the main square in town.  The King approaches from a ways down the gardens and Aletheia sees that he is approaching toward the Queen’s grave. The King seemed to be coming to speak with Aletheia but she has hidden herself below the marble railing. She moves silently away, not wishing to speak with the king. As she leaves the White Gardens, she sees the King standing at the Queen’s grave alone.