Larell’sheart was full to the brim.  His audiencewith Aurelia had been unexpected and full of wonder.  He was not surprised she was aware of hisplans to send a force through to the other side.  Aurelia always knew everything going on inher world.  At times he thought he sawthe weight of it bearing down upon her. Then he wished to take her in his arms and carry her as well as theburdens she bore.  But of course he wouldnever do this, merely imagine it.  Itmade him love her all the more.  Shethought he did not know how she came by her information and he planned onkeeping it that way.  It was the only wayhe knew to express his love for her without feeling foolish.  

Inthe crystal lined chamber he felt her load more palpably than usual.  He knew it was simply his foolishlove-sickness for his Queen but he let the feeling soak through himregardless. 

Aurelia'slips twitched briefly as though she was amused. She was kind in her tolerance of his ridiculous obsession.

Larellfinished his daily report to her and there was a pause in theirconversation.  They were both recliningin the cushioned area near the window which looked out towards the BlueridgeMountains.  But the main focus lay withinthe room. Aurelia stood and moved towards the window seat.  With her back to Larell she spoke as thoughto the view.  “I approve of this mission,but I want to ask that you lead it.”

Startled,Larell sat up to attention.  “But mylady…”

Shedid not let him finish.  “I know.  You are Chief of Security and your placeshould be in The Citadel.”  She turned toface him. Her eyes burned with an intensity he had not witnessed before.  “I believe, deep within my heart, you are theonly one who can make this end as it should.” She raised a hand to stall hisinterruption. “I do not say your lieutenants are untrustworthy.  It is simply that they are not you.”

Larellcould not speak. He looked at Aurelia in wonder.  What doesshe mean?

“LarellLac Taal, there is within you a seed of hopeless romanticism which is what wewill need for this mission to succeed. There will be many obstacles upon the way but the biggest one of all isthat we are warring with ourselves in this. And in this fight I want only my most dedicated warriors on myside.”  Aurelia waved her hand to stillthe argument she saw rising to his lips. “Don't remind me you do not consider yourself a warrior.  Whatever else your failings there is onething in which I know you are constant. This is what I am counting on.”

Andthere it was; the final acknowledgement that his Queen knew how deep his lovefor her ran.  He waited for a sense ofshame to wash through and over him, but rather her steady gaze stilled andbathed him in awe and majesty.  For thefirst time in his life Larell felt his love for Aurelia was not simply the ridiculousnotion of a foolhardy knave.  It was asthough the walls of the crystal chamber reflected a jumbled and yet incompletenarrative of how he could unravel the mystery of the strangeness making itselfmore evident in Faetaera every day. More than he could express, Larell wantedto save his world from any unknown quantity which could bring unlooked forterrors in its wake.  And another part ofhimself saw too how a life without his world would be far worse than anythingelse.

SoLarell drew his attention away from the distortion of mirrored images thecrystal flashed at him and looked into the eyes of his Queen.  He rose from his pile of cushions and joinedAurelia at the window.  Made brave by thepartial visions he had seen, Larell reached across and took Aurelia’s hand inhis.  For the briefest moment he thoughthe saw a flicker of displeasure in her eyes but then she turned to face themountains and did not remove her hand from his. They stood hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder till the sun set behind thesnow-capped peaks.  Then Aurelia slippedher fingers from his and left the chamber.