Page 47 of A Little Highland Magic
“I hope so,” she said intensely. “But challenges remain. Next, we must figure out how to breach the portal into Fairyland.”
“I might be able to help with that,” Pearl said as she and Gille rejoined them at the cliff’s edge. She pointed into the distance at a ring of stones just beyond where the desolate mountains emptied into a lush green valley. “I have heard stories that the ring of stones is the very portal we seek.”
Aria stepped out of Graeme’s arms and reached for her sword, preparing herself for the next challenge ahead.
“I see a trail down. It should not take us long to get there. Prepare yourselves for anything,” Graeme warned as he brought his gaze back to Aria’s. “I will take the lead this time. Stay together. There is safety in numbers.”
Together, they started down the winding path cut into the hillside. It did not take them long to reach the bottom and make their way to the four standing stones. “Why have you never tried to escape the shadow realm this way before?” Aria asked her mother, curious that Gille had said their mother was a prisoner, yet she knew of a way out of the darkness.
Pearl’s face drained of colour until only two spots of pink remained high on her cheeks. “I did not want to acknowledge the truth of the situation before us.”
Aria frowned. “Of what do you speak, Mother?”
Her gaze filled with sadness. “I cannot go with you into the fairy realm, or any realm. For if I do, I shall die. Oberon cursed me, stripped me of my powers, and banished me here for the rest of my life.”
Aria closed her eyes against a sudden jarring of her heart. Desperate to control her emotions, she stiffened. “There must be a way . . .”
“There is not,” Pearl replied softly. “And I will not add to your misery by making you believe there are options when there are none.”
Aria turned to Gille. “Did you know this?”
“I suspected, but I did not know for certain.” Regret hung heavy in Gille’s words.
Aria drew a shuddering breath. “We cannot leave you here!”
Pearl reached out to cradle Aria’s cheek. Resignation darkened her mother’s eyes. “My beautiful, brave, girl. You do not need me to be happy. You found all that you needed at Dunvegan. Go back there and live the life I always wanted for you.” Pearl’s hand slipped away to rest at her side.
“I have had a good life. I have loved and been loved by others. What more could I ask for?” Pearl forced a smile.
“What will you do if we leave you behind, alone?” Aria clenched her hands at her sides.
“I will make my home here on this side of the shadow realm. I was never brave enough to travel across the mountains myself.” She looked about her. “The grass here is almost green, and the light is not such a deep blue, but a pale one that almost looks like the sky in the human realm.” A true smile came to her lips as she turned and placed a kiss on first Gille’s then Aria’s cheek. “I shall be happy here in my final days.” She waved them all towards the inside of the stones.
“Mother—” Aria pleaded.
“There is no other choice.”
Aria bit down on her lip, praying the action would keep her heart from shattering. She stared at her mother as a mist appeared to rise from the ground, weaving around their feet, moving upwards with more speed, until the mist covered her face and Aria could no longer see her mother, but she felt a touch at her side as Graeme laced his fingers with hers.
And then the shadow realm disappeared.
