Page 96 of Awakening

“I translated the letter you found in a book. I think now you are ready for it.”

“Is there anything else we can do until you return?” Marc asked.

“Stay alert, but more importantly, stay alive. Both of you.” Emrys leaned down, whispered in the wolf’s ear, and disappeared.

Trystan slowly opened the folded paper. “It’s a letter from my mother, Guinevere.” He walked the few steps to the old tree and leaned against the withered and peeling bark. Marc propped his shoulder against the trunk beside him. Trystan read the letter aloud.

My darling Trystan,

I do not have much time and pray this letter will find you someday.

The world you were born into has been filled with darkness. You are the light that has brought hope to all of us. I hope you can forgive your father and me for abandoning you as we did. It was not easy to let you leave my arms, but I took comfort in knowing you would be safe from the evil that was closing in all around us. If you are reading this, then I can rest in peace knowing that you survived.

By now, Myrddin will have told you the truth of your past. He will have spoken of prophecies and fate, but above it all, you must never forget to be true to yourself and follow your heart.

Remember who you are. You are the son of the great King Arthur, deemed a worthy protector by the guardians of Artiryn. The blood of the guardians flows in you. When you feel weak, it will give you strength. When you despair, it will give you hope. When you are lost, it will guide you.

Precious child, my time has come.

With all my heart,

Your loving mother,

Guinevere

Trystan folded the letter back up and held it tight within his fist. His mother’s words resonated to the very depths of his being, as did the pain his mother and father surely experienced. Trystan vowed that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

***

Trystan lay on a soft patch of grass, looking up at the night sky. Marc sat next to him with his legs stretched out. He leaned back on his arms, alert to their surroundings. The two shadow wolves rested within arm’s reach.

A sea of stars twinkled above as the waning gibbous moon lit the landscape.

Marc lay back and rolled onto his side facing Trystan, resting on his elbow.

“You’ve been deep in thought since Emrys left,” Marc said.

“There is so much to comprehend.”

“I will admit, I’m not sure I would believe most of it had I not seen it or heard it myself.”

Trystan rolled his head, looking up at Marc, his eyes searching. “Earlier, I saw three different paths. War and death foreshadowed all of them.” Trystan paused, closing his eyes. “I don’t know how to lead us to the right path.”

“I have every confidence in you.”

Trystan puffed his cheeks, blowing out a heavy breath. He pushed himself up to sit, bending his legs, and hung his elbows over his knees. “Care to share some of that faith?”

“I have three words. Giant bark spiders.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“Alliance with elves.”

“Emrys helped with that.”

“But you alone restored their trust.”

“Perchance.”