RIDERS OF TUATHA by Bert McKenzie Copyright 2010
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.
RIDERS OF TUATHA is a sequel to a previous novel by Bert McKenzie entitled THE CRYSTAL THRONE. This book stands on its own, however to gain a better understanding of the Tuathan universe and an insight into some of the characters, it is advised that you read the previous novel. It can be found in the Science Fiction or Fantasy section of Nifty stories.
CHAPTER I
Adjusting to life in Tuatha came about almost too easily. The long golden days blended magically into the star filled nights with a mystical progression that filled his soul to bursting with contentment. The greatest difference that Scott could find between the world of his birth and the land of Faerie was the element of time. He had always thought of time as a fixed element, the orderly arrangement of seconds, minutes and hours stretching by at an established rate like the grains of sand falling through an hourglass. Here things were different. A day could last a lifetime and a night could be forever.
Perhaps the difference was not in the actual length of time, but rather in the acceptance and treatment of it. In the short span of years allotted to humans they tried to cram in as much living as possible. There was never enough time to do it all. With the Tuathans things were much more relaxed. If something was not done this hour, it could always be finished in the next; or the next day or year for that matter. Nothing was left undone forever, but the people likewise did not obsess over the ability to accomplish things. That is not to say they were lazy or procrastinated unduly. They simply made time to enjoy their world.
The novelty of his new existence was certainly more exciting than managing a curio shop in the Midwest. Scott was an average sort of guy, 5' 10" tall with average good looks, a handsome face, steel grey eyes and thick brown hair cut just above the shoulder. However he had fallen in love with a very unaverage person, a mysterious stranger who had broken into his house and who he had then followed quite by accident into this alternate world. As fate would have it, his lover turned out to be the new king of the land, the high ruler of all Tuatha, and leader of the fair folk as they called themselves. Being gay, Scott had often been called a fairy by red necks and homophobic heterosexuals. Now he laughed at the thought of what those same people would think if they were to meet the real fairies. The image of fey little creatures wearing gossamer and dancing on tiptoes among the flowers of an English garden did not remotely fit with the raw strength and masculinity of a fairy warrior standing six feet tall, with broad shoulders and powerful muscles, wearing chain mail and swinging a silver long sword. He once spent a laughter filled night with his new friends describing the human concept of the stereotyped fairy. In Tuatha prejudice was almost nonexistent because there were no such things as stereotypes. Each person was celebrated for his or her individuality.
After some inner turmoil, primarily on the parts of Scott and Robin, his lover, the high council affirmed and crowned Robin king of all the land. The only concern about his sexuality was a question of succession to the throne. And even this was finally decided by the council in choosing to let Robin name his successor rather than forcing it to be determined by the random coincidence of heredity. Everyone seemed pleased with the new king and no one seemed in the least concerned that Robin's consort was a man. There was only just the tiniest bit of discontent in some areas that Scott was human rather than Tuathan by birth.
He thought of all these comparisons between his two lives as he soaked in the warm waters of the royal bath. True to its elfin nature, the bathroom, even though it was located off the king's chambers high in the white tower, looked more like a forest pool. At one end of the room a small waterfall cascaded down over an alcove of rough hewn stones, making a natural shower. The icy water splashed down continually, fed by streams from high up in the Crystal Mountains against which the castle stood. The stone floor beneath the shower dipped gradually down forming a small pool approximately five feet deep. Drainage for the overflow kept the pool constantly filled with fresh circulating water. The remainder of the room was filled with large flowering plants and verdant greenery which carefully screened off the built in chamber pot. A small golden chain hung beside the rocks near the waterfall. This was the only thing that made the frigid mountain water bearable. Pulling the chain caused the water temperature to increase. Scott had no idea what the heating source was, nor how the tiny chain diverted it to the water, but in a matter of minutes the shower and pool could be steamy warm depending on how far it was pulled. Robin seemed to prefer the cold chill, saying it brought new life to his body, but Scott enjoyed the luxuriant warmth.
Robin had been called to a special council meeting earlier in the day and might well be there most of the night. Scott had spent the morning wandering around the white tower, trying to familiarize himself with his new home, and now lounged in the pool soaking his tired muscles and thinking about what lie ahead. Try as he might he could not imagine the future. The present seemed so ideal that he was certain he would soon wake up to find it had all been a dream.
As he lay back, eyes closed, he detected a subtle difference in the sounds of the splashing water. In a matter of seconds the temperature seemed to drop to arctic proportions. With a yelp, Scott splashed to the steps at the end of the pool. Hearing a rich laugh he looked up to see Robin standing at the edge holding a soft, fluffy towel. The fairy king was totally naked and looked like Michaelangelo's David come to life. The curly hair on top of his six foot frame was back lit by the light of the setting sun coming in through the windows of the next room. Scott quickly climbed the stone steps and Robin reached down, wrapping the towel around his dripping body. "You just about froze me to death," Scott said, shivering as his lover helped rub him dry.
"No, I shall make a real Tuathan of you yet," Robin laughed. They held each other tightly, their lips meeting in a soulful kiss. "Now, let me wash the cares of the day from my body and I shall join you for a late supper on the terrace." Scott released him and Robin stepped from the edge of the pool to sink down under the rippling waters. Scott reached for a robe he had placed nearby and padded softly through the inner chamber and out onto the terrace. It was a wide veranda bordered by a low wall, set high on the side of the tower. A table had already been prepared with slices of fresh fruit and melon and dishes of steaming grain. The Tuathans although not vegetarians per se, rarely ate meat.
Scott relaxed into one of the chairs and enjoyed the view of the palace painted with elongated purple shadows by the setting sun. He turned and looked up to see Robin standing in the doorway, his golden body a statue of perfection, the fading sunlight causing his muscles to stand out in relief. The fine dusting of translucent hair on his arms, legs, chest and crotch reflected the light, causing his body to sparkle as if imbued with magic. Scott smiled at his beautiful lover. "Put on some clothes," he said. "Someone might see you."
Robin walked over to him, pulling him up from the chair and embracing him firmly. "I want someone to see me. You," he replied.
They gazed deeply into each other's eyes. "I see you," Scott said softly.
"Always and forever," Robin replied and lifted Scott off his feet to carry him back inside, their dinner left deserted on the terrace.
Each time they made love, Scott felt as if he would die of the sweet pleasure. Sex with Robin was much more than just a physical act. Their joining was truly that, a merging of two bodies, minds and spirits. When they climaxed it was a unification of one being. As they held each other closely, stretched out on the reclining platform, Scott leaned his head on Robin's firm chest and listened to the strong pounding of the alien heart inside, and thought of how perfect their union was.
"We have not yet eaten," Robin said softly, shaking Scott's shoulder and then tousling his thick brown hair.
"I'm already full," Scott replied, drifting off to sleep, securely held by strong arms. Robin adjusted himself to be more comfortable and lay back, looking at the stars as they passed the opening to the terrace, filling the room with light. While holding his sleeping lover from another world, he meditated, concentrating on how good life in Tuatha could be.
Scott awoke the next morning and pulled a rough, woolen blanket up over himself. A chill morning breeze was blowing in the terrace doorway. He rolled over, reaching for a warm body beside him and realized that no one was there. The one thing that bothered Scott was the fact that his lover never slept. None of the Tuathans did. Sleep seemed to desert them around the onset of puberty and only returned when they were very ill or very old. Scott realized that Robin spent several hours each night in meditation, a practice the fair folk found much more refreshing and satisfying than sleep. And often times he was still lying there holding Scott and waiting for him to awaken in the morning. But it was still disconcerting to think that while you slept your lover might be out conducting business and deciding affairs of state.
This morning Scott heard sounds out on the terrace. He rose and found a loose fitting robe lying at the foot of the reclining platform. Slipping it on, he then went into the bath to relieve himself. Having quickly washed and cleaned, Scott returned through the inner chamber to the terrace. Three places were set at the small table, and Robin's cousin Ellenia was serving up their breakfasts from a silver chafing dish.
"Good morning, my lord," she greeted him as she looked up. "Robin should be back in a moment to join us. Forgive me if I disturbed your privacy."
Scott had first met Ellenia when he rescued her from the clutches of an evil sorceress who had kidnapped her. They had held a special fondness for each other ever since. She was radiant this morning, dressed in a soft blue gown that clung to her thin figure, accentuating her firm breasts and setting off the golden highlights of her pale blond hair.
"You certainly are looking lovely this morning," Scott said, greeting her. "What's up?" He detected an almost audible hum of happiness surrounding her.
"I have come to tell you some news," she replied.
"Then out with it."
"No, we must wait for Robin," she answered.
Scott leaned close to her and whispered as quietly and conspiratorially as possible, "Tell me now and then I'll pretend I didn't know when you tell us both."
"If you plot secrets behind me, you had best learn not to talk of them in my presence," a deep masculine voice said. Turning quickly, Scott beheld his lover standing in the doorway, dressed in a pastel blue tunic trimmed in gold, his hands behind his back. He tried to pretend to frown, but was not very good at disguising his true feelings.
"And where have you been, lord? Our food grows cold," Scott said as Robin crossed to him.
"I have been seeking something to brighten your morning," the young king replied, producing a bouquet of wild roses from behind his back.
"They're beautiful," Scott said, taking the flowers in delight. "And so are you." He leaned forward and kissed Robin gently on the cheek.
"Come, let us to our meal," the king said as they sat at the small table. Scott was again amazed at the physical resemblance between the two cousins. Robin was of course, much more masculine, taller and broader, but they both had the same pale gold complexion, the same thin frame, the same pale blond hair color, and the same intense green eyes. They could have been fraternal twins.
"So what is this news?" Scott asked as Ellenia poured glasses of cold spring water.
She paused and looked at the two men before answering. "Lord," she began, addressing Robin, "I have need to ask for your acclaim."
"My acclaim? For what?" he questioned.
"Clive has asked for me to bind with him."
Both men broke into happy smiles. Robin had known Clive since their childhood together in the great wood to the east. Clive was a wood elf, and as was characteristic of his race, was about six inches shorter than Ellenia, with a nut brown skin color and dark brown hair. Physically, he was quite a contrast to the girl he intended to bind. But Robin heartily approved of the match. "Now, perchance you shall teach that wild woodling some proper decorum," he laughed thinking of how Clive and his friend Rood, the captain of the palace guard, were always getting into some kind of trouble.
Scott reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'm so happy for you," he said.
"I am fair happy for myself," she replied, laughing. The three then began their meal in earnest, laughing and sharing joyous thoughts for the future.
The next several days were fully occupied in preparations for the royal event. It was planned to coincide with the high holiday of Midsummer. Although Ellenia had no actual title or standing according to Tuathan heraldry, as cousin to the high king her ceremony became almost as important as if the king himself were binding. Scott was pulled into helping with all the plans for Ellenia since she really had no other family. Meanwhile, Robin being Clive's closest friend, worked with him to give what assistance he could. Decorations were hung, food was prepared, and the entire castle was standing in readiness to celebrate with the young couple as they began their lives together.
Rowana and Melcot, two of their closest friends who had celebrated their own binding just a brief time before, prepared the celebration of unity to be held on the eve before the joining ceremony. The main hall of the green tower was festooned with flowering garlands. A sumptuous meal was spread on wide trestles placed below the boughs of the small trees that grew from the floor of the hall. A fountain of sparkling water and fruit juices was placed in the center of the room to fill the cups of the guests. And of course, plenty of empty space was provided for the singing and dancing that was part of any elfin celebration.
The evening began calmly enough with the crowded guests making merry, enjoying the food and drink. But as the night wore on, the frivolity gained momentum until the wood elves were using the garland decorations like jungle vines and swinging on them from balcony to balcony in the galleries overlooking the great hall. This finally ended when Maynar, a comical little member of the merchant guild decided he too could join in this aerial fun. The garland snapped under his weight and deposited him head first in the refreshment fountain. Tuathans did not generally wear undergarments, and the sight of him, upside down in the drinking fountain, his tunic falling down to cover his head, did much to sober up the other guests.
As the middle of the night approached, Rowana announced that she had a special surprise for the couple. Being from the merchant guild by birth, she was privileged to sample a variety of odd and wondrous things from many far away places. She led Clive, Ellenia, and a few of their closest friends to a secluded garden behind the tower. In the center of the garden was a small bird bath. As everyone looked on, Rowana filled the small font with pure spring water which she had standing by. Then, opening a small and intricately folded piece of parchment, she sprinkled its contents onto the surface of the water.
"This is the dust of foresight," the girl said as she brushed her thick red hair away from her face. "It comes from far to the east and is made with very strong, old magic. When floated on the surface of spring water it becomes a magic mirror which can reveal the future. You need only to look into the water and think of one you love."
"What if the future holds bad things?" Scott asked. The others all laughed at his human pessimism. No one could conceive of evil in this mystical land, in a romantic garden under a sky filled with stars on Midsummer's Eve.
Ellenia and Clive joined hands and stepped forward. They looked down, gazing at the reflective surface of the tiny pool. As they watched the stars mirrored on the water began to spin and then faded from view. The pool seemed to light up with an inner glow and began to project a rapid series of images. Ellenia and Clive held hands as the old priest wrapped the binding cloth over their arms. Ellenia was then riding a tall white horse along side of Clive, mounted on a black one. A forest glen was next to appear in the water, and Ellenia and Clive meeting a large group of wood elves. And then an image appeared of Ellenia large with child. A tiny baby came next and was rapidly replaced by the picture of a young boy, then a young man wearing the regal robes of a king. Finally, the pool again darkened back to the reflected stars in the overhead sky.
"What saw you?" Rowana asked them eagerly. To everyone but the couple the pool hadn't changed. It simply held the image of the clear night sky.
"Oh, it was wonderful," Ellenia cried hugging Rowana. Clive was smiling and chuckling proudly to himself. "We shall have such a wonderful life together," Ellenia said as she turned back to her future mate and leaned down to hold him tightly.
"The time is still right," Rowana said. "Would anyone else care to try this magic?"
"What of us?" Rowana's mate, Melcot asked as he stepped forward through the assembled friends. He was quite a bit taller than most of the other elves, being of the highborn, and his bright yellow blond hair gleamed in the moonlight.
"Very well," she said holding out her hand and taking his. The two looked down into the waters. The stars faded away and were rapidly replaced by a continually changing sequence of images. The two of them rode side by side on tall horses. Then Melcot appeared alone, dressed for battle and riding with a large company of armed men out across the castle drawbridge. Next was a scene of Rowana wearing golden chain mail and girded with a short sword and bow. She was mounted on the back of what looked like a golden horned unicorn. Finally the image of the two was one lined with age. They were walking side by side down a long corridor, both with flowing white hair. The pictures faded and again revealed the night full of stars. The two looked up and smiled at the crowd.
"My lord," Rowana said to Robin. "Would you and your consort care to look?"
"I don't think so," Scott replied, rapidly. He could not shake the odd premonition of seeing something bad.
"Come, my love. It is only our future. You cannot fear what is to be." Robin took his hand and pulled him to the small font. The two gazed down at the reflected stars. The image of the night sky slowly clouded over and dissolved. Instead of the bright vistas of Tuatha, the image portrayed was that of the human world from which Scott had come. He saw the outside of the curio shop that he had owned. As they watched the storefront exploded in a giant fireball. The picture then shifted to an image of his friend Jennifer from back home. She had been his best friend. Someone grabbed her from behind and pushed her into the back of a dark van. Next came a scene of Jennifer bound and gagged, lying on a dirty mattress. A large, shadowy figure of a man reached out and ripped her blouse open, exposing her breasts. He then bent over her while she struggled in the bonds. This image was replaced by one of Scott apparently trapped in a burning building, coughing and choking while bright tongues of flame leaped up from all sides. Finally the picture changed to one of Robin. He was naked and appeared to be locked in a metal cage of some kind. His skin was cut and striped by long bluish colored gashes as if he had been flayed with a whip. The scene dissolved into the reflected night sky again.
"Well what did you see, my lord?" Melcot asked excitedly. Robin reached down, gripping the side of the small, stone bird bath and shoved with all his might. The shallow top slid from its pedestal falling to the ground with a loud crash and splashing water all about. Everyone jumped back in stunned silence. The king turned and strode through the crowd and out of the garden.
"What happened? What was it?" Rowana cried as Scott ran after him.