The Seeress and the Stone Epilogue

The afternoon sun shone brightly reflecting off the surface of the lake. The roaring falls across the lake filled the air with a light mist creating dancing rainbows in the sunlight. French and Angelia stood hand in hand near the front of a small group of people. Celendar and Le’Mone stood at the shore staring into each other’s eyes. Le’Mone was dressed in a flowing, white, linen dress with a circlet of lilies on her head. Celendar stared at his beautiful bride and the years seemed to melt off his shoulders. The faces in the small crowd mirrored the joy the couple felt. When the ceremony ended friends and family threw flower petals into the air and several tiny birds took flight.

It had been many months since Angelia and Celendar had returned to the main camp. The city from Angelia’s vision was beginning to take shape. Cottages and homes had been built in the forest and meadow and on the other side of the lake. Several other settlements had also sprung up along the river and down by the bay.

When the ceremony was over and the happy couple had left for Celendar’s new cottage, French and Angelia walked hand in hand along the shore of the lake. They stopped near the waterfall. Angelia basked in the power of the roaring falls. The mist rising from below set a light sheen of water on her arms.

French whispered in her ear, “Just a little while longer and that will be us, my Angel.”

She smiled. “Yes.” She stared out over the valley to the southeastern mountains and sighed.

“Why the sigh?” French asked concerned.

“I was thinking of the others who were taken,” she said gesturing toward the west. “When is Scotch planning on leaving?”

“Soon. We know the caves are clear enough to get back to the city. The passage to Ellinsha’s cave is completely blocked, but Christiana’s passage was clear. Scotch says there isn’t much left of Viecity, just crumbling buildings and ashes.”

“He will be gone for a very long time,” French sighed. “He was determined to rescue that girl, Larea.”

“Hmm. That sounds like someone I know,” Angelia replied putting her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. “I hope he succeeds.”

“Yes. We all do.”

“French?”

“Yes?”

“I had a vision and I saw someone,” she said softly.

He took a step backward. “Who?”

She smiled. “Just after I arrived at the waterfall I came to this very spot and sat on that rock with Ellinsha in my lap. When I touched her I saw a vision of the city. There were children playing in the meadow. A girl stopped to look at me; she saw me.”

“She saw you?”

“She had the same color of hair as me and her eyes were green, a deep emerald green, like mine.”

“Who is she?”

“She will be our daughter, someday. She will have my gift.” Angelia tilted her head to look into French’s eyes. “She will be the next Keeper.” She paused a moment then asked, “Can we name her Meria?”

He smiled. “Yes, I think that is perfect.” He looked out across the green valley to the sparkling bay. “Meria Ja’Nil.”