Starfire: Memories of the
Greatest Day
An Aerielands Christmas Story
High Queen
Fiona Yaleria-Brice stood on the high parapet of Caer Aerie, her home, high in
the Borderland Mountains of the Aerielands, at the portal between the worlds of
elves and men. Fiona was neither and both at the same time; half elf and half
human, the daughter of Elven Queen Iolena Yaleria-Clark and the Truthbearer,
Connor Clark. She was comfortable with that, and the role that came with it, as
the queen who would someday unite the two worlds of Eyru’s Lands. The hood on
her Elven cloak was back as she gazed upon the starlit sky. She smiled softly
as the Starfire, the Aurora Borealis, raced across the nighttime sky from the
west to the east, knowing that it foretold the arrival soon of her older sister
Kai Lee, Menta Kai, Great High Queen of all the Elves in the Nine Worlds, or
the daughter she and Kai shared, Crown High Princess and Lieutenant Lona
Yaleria-Brice. Although both Fiona and her own daughter, Abilynn, could summon the Starfire,
the sky would erupt without summoning whenever the Great High Queen or her
Princess returned to their home world.
Fiona
sensed, rather than heard, her mother approach from behind. The nearly
identical mother and daughter shared a bond, not just of their incredible
beauty, but one of the heart as well. “Máthair,”
Fiona acknowledged in her first language, Irish. “Iníon,” Iolena replied, also in the tongue of Cormac and Padraigh.
“You always know, don’t you, Nin Mel,” as she wrapped her arms around her
child. “I do, Mama. Only Abilynn is as close to me as I am to you.”
“And
Nathaniel,” Fiona could feel her mother’s loving smile, even without looking.
“You and your brother are bound, just as you and me, and you and Abby are.”
Nathaniel Yalerius-Clark, Fiona’s older brother, and Fiona herself, were the
only children born from the marriage of Iolena and Connor. Their three older
sisters, Kai Lee, Shannon, Connor’s human daughter from his first marriage, and
Alenia, Iolena’s Elven daughter from her’s, were all adopted into the family.
“Natty and Tessa are coming home for the Coming of the Great Lion?” Iolena
asked.
“Never fear,
Mum. Natty never goes back on his promise. They will be here, with Lona.”
Nathaniel and his wife, Tessa Chart, owned and commanded the airship
“Starduster,” and Princess Lona served as the vessel’s pilot, which was why she
preferred the title of ‘Lieutenant,’ over that of ‘Crown Princess.’ “He
promised me that he and Tessa would spend every Christmas with us when he and
Tessa were married.”
“Spend every
Christmas with you,” her mother
corrected. “Although Natty understands the ways of Elf-kind and respects them,
he is a Christ-follower like you are, and as you taught him.” Fiona turned to
face her mother while never breaking the embrace. She wrapped her own arms
around Iolena’s neck. “You have accepted those teachings as well, Mum. My
Blessed Mother Bridget taught them to you when you stayed at Kildare.”
“Yes, Melin
er, she did. But I have never stood in the presence of Jesus the Man. Your
father, Kai Lee, and I have bowed before the Great Lion three times on the
quest to take the Truth to the Nine Worlds, and you yourself, Inion, have had
your life saved by the White Eagle.”
“Where is
Da, anyhow?”
Iolena’s
warm smile lit up Fiona’s heart. “He is with his granddaughter and
great-granddaughters, telling them the stories of the Coming and Christmas.”
Shannon’s daughter Talia, and her husband, Taeral, were Master Healers, who
lived in Aerie Village outside of the Caer’s walls with their daughters,
Estrella, and little Aerilaya, (“Star” and “Sky”)
Fiona’s face
turned serious. “Mum, you were alive when He was born, weren’t you?” Iolena
nodded slowly. “Why have you never told us about it? What was it like, that
night, here in the Aerielands?”
“Your father
says there is a book on First Earth that begins, ‘It was the best of times, it
was the worst of times.’ For our people, it was very much like that. Come, let
us go down where it is warmer, and I will tell you about it. It is time you
knew.” As they turned to descend the stairs, Fiona caught her mother’s arm. “Máthair,
look!” She pointed to the eastern sky, where the Starfire blazed a golden path
across the night sky to merge spectacularly with that coming from the west.
“Lona is coming, Mama! Her Starfire
is reaching out to Kailee’s. The Crown Princess has come home to the Aerielands
on the Starduster.”
Iolena chuckled. “I never know
if you are more excited to see your daughter or your brother, Fiona. They come
from the east, from the Juncture.”
“From Eldaria, Mum. They had to
pick up Tessa’s parents and Peter. I hear he has a new girlfriend, and it’s
serious. They want her to meet the family.”
“That’s wonderful. Any word on
Richard and Kitlaen?” Iolena asked about her and Connor's best friends, the
rulers of Drohana in Eldaria. “They travel on the Starduster as well, and they
are also bringing our cousin Tarabet, Jonah, Annja, and my two itinerant spies,” Fiona
told her.
“Might I suggest, Nin Mel? Why
don’t we wait until your sisters and brother are all here and I will tell all
of you about the Greatest Day in the history of the Nine Worlds.” Fiona was
about to reply when the parapet door burst open and a beautiful, red-haired
young woman almost tumbled out.
“Mama! There you are! Lona is
coming! The Starduster just crossed into the Eastlands!” Abilynn stopped,
flustered. “I’m sorry, Mum, G’dara. Did I interrupt something? I’m just excited
to see my little sister again. It’s been such a long trip this time.”
Iolena grinned. “Now, with Abby,
I know she’s more excited to see Lona than her uncle and aunt.” She nodded
skyward. “Abilynn Enya, look to the eastern sky.” Abby did as her grandmother
instructed and her jaw dropped. “I have never seen the Starfire so bright! Have
you, G’dara?”
“Only once before, my Love. In
fact, we were just going indoors to talk about that night. Will you join us
when the rest of the family is here?”
“I would love to. I love
history. You know that,” the redhead replied.
“Before we go inside, Abby, how
would you like to send a message to your sister and Tia Kai?” Fiona gestured to
the sky. A huge smile broke across Abilynn’s face. “You mean?” Her mother
nodded. “May I join in this?” Iolena asked.
“Of course, Amil,” Fiona used
the Elvish word for ‘Mother.’ The three women moved to the edge of the parapet,
joined hands, and raised them to the brilliant sky. With an audible ‘whoosh,’
Lona’s golden Starfire and Menta Kai’s red were joined by the soaring green
aurora from the Aerielands’ queens and princess. The lights rolled and peaked
together, then were joined by an equally dazzling blue. Looking across the
courtyard to the opposite wall, they saw Gewellyn Princess and Master Healer
Talia Nichanova with her daughter Estrella, “the Star” on her shoulders, their
hands raised to the heavens to welcome home Christmas and the Great High Queen.
“Eyru was fading and her
husband, Yalerius the First, had already walked on. Tlannatar, Thallan, and I were young
Elves. I was almost the same age as Kailee, and of course, Tanner was older and
Thallan older still. Grandmother, Lady Celantine, had already assumed the
throne to prepare for her mother to walk onto the Great North.” Iolena sat with
her best forever sister-friend, Kitlaen Skystormer, the Jai Pastora of Eldaria,
on the couch in Fiona’s family quarters. Her husband, children, grandchildren,
and closest family friends sat on other chairs or the floor in the spacious
living room, a warming fire crackling in the hearth. “One evening, Eryu
urgently summoned grandmother to her quarters. It was then that she told my
grandmother that after she walked on, only the coming of the Great High Queen of
All the Elves could reignite the Starfire. We saw that from the Bridge Across
the Stars on the night that we brought Kailee back to the Aerielands for the
first time since she was a small child. We saw that again tonight,” Iolena’s
voice was almost a whisper, “when Menta Kai came from the west, and Princess
Lona from the east, and their Starfire merged over Caer Aerie and the
Borderland Mountains. But there was a part of Eryu’s prophecy that has been left
out from the coming of the Great High Queen. She told grandmother that one
other would come and with Him, the Starfire would soar for a time once again.
When the Great Lion came to the world of Elves; the White Eagle rose from the
ancient line of Eldaria; when the Son of Man came to save the world of Terra,
the Starfire would sweep across the sky in all of the Nine Worlds.”
“In our world,” Kitlaen added,
“where we do not live nearly as long as elf-kind, legendary stories are still
told of the night the light blazed across the Northern Sky and the White Eagle
came to his people.”
“On First Earth, only the Native
peoples of the far north, the Aleut, Yupiks, Inuit, Siberians, the Sami of
Lapland, and those of the very far south saw the Aurora as you describe,”
Connor commented. “But over Bethlehem, the City of David, a great light, a star
of amazing brightness shone.”
“And from that star, we believe
that the Starfire that lit the Nine Worlds, brighter by far than even that of
Eryu herself, had its birth,” Iolena continued. “Shortly after that last
conversation with my grandmother, our grandmother,” she corrected, nodding at
her brother, Tlannatar, and cousin, Thallan, “Eyru the Magnificent walked on to
the Great North and took her place among the legends of both elf-kind and the
ancient tribes of the Irish. Lady Celantine never forgot the prophetic parting
message that her mother had given to her, and although she did not share it
with our parents until the moment was at hand, I know she treasured it and kept
it in her heart always.”
“But Amil, I
do not understand,” Menta Kai questioned, “why the Starfire that comes with
Lona and I is so bright, especially tonight, even before Fiona and Talia joined
in?”
Iolena
smiled at her middle daughter. “Because, Nin Mel, the Great Lion is the Savior
of all of the Nine Worlds, but you and the young woman that you share the
raising of are the hope of all elf-kind.” Lona looked adoringly at Menta Kai
and laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.
“Not many years as Elves
calculate, after Eryu walked on,” Iolena continued, “Grandmother, who had by
then abandoned Caer Aerie and had Aerielands Castle constructed, called for our
and Thallan’s parents, the commanders of the Borderland Rangers, and the
Singers to convene at Aerielands Castle. When they arrived, they found Lady
Celantine and Tar Pardita Irazana of Terra, although she was only a Tarina at
the time. She bore a message from her father, the Lord Irazana and King of the
Terran Elves, that the time long foretold was at hand. She inquired of each,
had they seen or heard anything that could confirm the message from Terra? It
was the Singers, Jaed and Jessa Silvarin, Kailee’s birthparents, who reminded
Celantine of Eryu’s words of prophecy. They had seen no glorious light, as Eryu
had foretold, and our grandmother accepted that. After providing due
hospitality, she bade Tarina Pardita to return to Terra and tell her father,
respectfully, that they had seen nothing in keeping with the foresight of Eryu the
Magnificent. The princess reluctantly agreed, for even then, she was a woman of
significant wisdom and persistence. As they climbed the steps of the parapet
where Pardita’s Great Eagle waited, a light like daylight filtered around the
edges of the door. When it was opened, they beheld the Starfire, brighter than
it had ever been and in its midst, Azerel of the Sky.” She looked across at
Lona, whose bright eyes showed recognition and curiosity. “You remember her,
don’t you, Lona Yaleria?”
“I do, G’dara, from the very
first time I traveled with my Lady Queen on the Bridge Across the Stars, when I
was a little elfling.”
“A very courageous little
elfling, Melin er. It is said that Azerel watches over elf-kind, and I believe
she knew even then, before any of us, your destiny, Lona.” Iolena looked at
Ciliren Irazana, Tar Pardita’s daughter, and continued “Tarina Pardita turned
to Lady Celantine, and said, ‘Come with me, my Lady. Surely, this is the sign for
which you were waiting. Even the Shepherd of the Sky beckons you to come with
me to Bethlehem, in Judea, on Terra.’ Grandmother looked to the others for
counsel, and it was Jessa Silvarin who told her, ‘The Song sings of a Savior,
my Queen, who will be born on Terra, but whose presence shall be known in each
of the Nine Worlds in the way he chooses to show himself. Pray, go, and welcome
the Great Lion when He comes.’”
“I should take one of my
grandchildren to see this wondrous event,” Celantine responded. “Iolena, will
you accompany me?”
Pardita shook her head. “My
Lady, in the world of Men, it is the time of men. When the Messiah, for that is
what He is called by both human and elf-folk alike, when He is born the
presence of a she-elf would not be acceptable, except as a midwife.” Fiona
gasped, and her father looked at her, knowing she was thinking of the legend of
Mother Bridget and the angels. “I would suggest one of your grandsons accompany
you.” I am sure that my disappointment was very evident on my face, for my
mother, Queen Lleonora, stepped in.
“Amil, take Thallen. He is the
most learned of the three, and I need Tanner and Yena at my side to deal with
these incursions from beyond our lands.” Amil was commander of the Rangers, as
well as Queen of the Great Forest.
“Lleonora is correct, my Queen,”
my father added. “Goblins, Orcs, and Black Riders continue to raid and sack our
settlements from the Dairemoore to the Bridge Across the Stars. We are
relocating those who have survived the attacks. Our nephew, while a skilled
warrior and tactician, is also a man of words. He can record what you witness,
and he can also serve as your guardian in the Terran world.”
Grandmother looked around the
group, and all agreed. “Let me summon the Great Eagles then, and we shall be on
our way.” Then suddenly, without a sound or anyone seeing it happen, Azerel
stood among us. “That shall not be necessary, Celantine Yaleria. Take my hand,
and Thallen Yalerius, my other.” They did so, and like that, they were gone.
“What about Tar Pardita and her
eagle?” Lona asked.
“The Tarina and her mount
vanished with G’dara and Thallen, almost like they were never there.”
“In my journals, I recorded a
journey like none I have ever experienced, before or since.” Lord Thallen
smiled at Connor. “Not even our adventures with the Truthbearer, amazing as
they have been, can compare with that night.”
“Continue, Thallen, please,”
Iolena encouraged.
“Azerel whisked us to Terra. I
am not even sure how, although both Grandmother and I saw the worlds beneath us
as we flew. I don’t know how or when we crossed from the Aerielands to Terra,
but I saw Gewellyn and another land beneath us momentarily. Then we were there.
Azerel released our hands and joined others of her kind in the sky; hundreds
upon hundreds of them. Because our ears are more pointed than those of Terran
elves, Pardita cautioned us to keep our heads covered, and we followed a group
of sheep herders into the town and to a stable. Overhead shone a star brighter
than any I have ever seen. I thought surely there was some mistake. The King of
Mankind cannot be housed in such a place, but once again, Azerel was at my ear,
telling me to not believe with my eyes, but rather with my heart. With the shepherds,
we knelt before the Child and His mother, and Lady Celantine took a small
harp that she always carried in her marsupial and laid it at the foot of the
manger. There was another woman there, a beautiful human with ravishing red
hair and skin much fairer than that of the mother, father, and the shepherds. I
did not know who she was then, although I know her now, Fiona, since your
wedding.”
“My Blessed Reverend Mother
Bridget?” Fi asked hesitantly, and her uncle nodded. “Indeed. And while we were
still there, two of Azerel’s kind came and led her away, for her part in that
was complete. Grandmother spoke briefly with the Child’s mother, and then we
left the stable. Outside, we were met by Lord Irazana and his wife, Pardita’s
parents, who thanked us for answering their request and asked us to share a
meal with them. After dining, they led us to a portal that deposited
Grandmother and I at the Juncture of the Nine Worlds.”
“We believe that, at the moment
that Grandmother laid her harp at the foot of the manger, the Starfire flared east
to west and back again, brighter than the sun itself,” Iolena resumed the
story. “And then it vanished for two thousand years until a beautiful blonde
she-elf crossed the Bridge Across the Stars with her adopted parents.”
“And the hope of elf-kind was
reborn.” Alenia, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “I love you all,
little sisters, and Lona. I remember the night the Starfire returned. It is a
night I will never forget.”
“My family and friends, tomorrow
evening, once again we will raise our voices and our hands in praise to our
Lord and remember His Coming as the Great Lion, and His birth in Bethlehem. I
would be honored if each of you who can and wishes to participate would join me
and our Caer Aerie community as we once again celebrate Him,” Fiona told them. “Thank
you, Máthair and Uncle Thallan, for sharing with us.”
The final guests of the
Christmas celebration arrived early the next morning, as Joseph Spotted Eagle,
Menta Kai’s husband Sage, Alenia’s husband Abrallan, and Abilynn’s fiancé,
Anders Wynfarin rode through the great gates of Caer Aerie together, towing a
giant, perfectly shaped spruce tree.
“Compliments of the Shepherds of
the Forest, John Farmer, and Spruceroarer,” Joseph told Menta Kai and Fiona.
“Whenever Lona is ready, we will set up and decorate the tree.”
“The Lieutenant will be out
shortly,” Kai told them with a smile. “See if you can keep her two boyfriends
from getting into a fistfight over who gets to help her the most. Young Connor
and Garald have almost duked it out a couple of times since Lona got home.”
“That sounds like a job for her
father,” Sage grinned. Menta Kai started to agree with him, when he continued,
“Where is Cadel, anyhow?”
“You are her father too, Sage
Kriskas. Don’t go pawning off your fatherly duties on Cadel and Berian,” Kai
retorted.
“Just kidding, my love.
Remember, I spend almost every day with her and her Guardians on the
Starduster.” He grinned again. “Maybe I should just let Mira handle it.”
“Handle what, my Lord?” Lona’s
bodyguard and best friend Mira Del Tor approached, bowing to Menta Kai.
“Lona’s two suitors,” Sage
answered.
“Oh, those two?” She scrunched
up her face. “Already dealt with, my Lord. I didn’t have to lift a finger. It’s
amazing what the flapping wings of a Guardian Eagle can do to get bad boys to
behave. Zedra took care of it.”
“No doubt,” Joseph smiled. He
turned to Menta Kai. “Kai Lee, my dear, you get more beautiful every time I see
you.” He hugged Kailee, and she gave him a big kiss on the lips. “We need to
talk later, your Majesty. Here comes the commander of the tree decorating team.
Hallo, Lieutenant Lona Brice. You have grown to be as beautiful as your
mothers, and your uniform suits you.”
“Uncle Joseph!” She hugged him
almost as tightly as her mother had and also landed a kiss on his cheek. “Uncle
Abrallan, Adda, let’s get this tree up so we can get it decorated. These two
miscreants can help.” She pointed to Connor and Garald. “If they give you any
problems, throw them in the dungeon until I leave. Anders, Sissy is waiting for
you in Amil Fi’s study.”
“She’s gotten used to giving
orders, hasn’t she?” Joseph said quietly to Sage.
“Oh yeah,” the other nodded.
“You don’t know the half of it.”
The tree glowed brightly as the
Caer Aerie community assembled for the annual Christmas celebration, the aurora
glowing softly in the northern sky. Stories were told of the Great Lion, the
White Eagle, and, for the first time, Thallen’s recounting of his journey to
Bethlehem with Lady Celantine. Songs were sung of the Glory of the Savior.
Then, as Fiona and Abilynn reached the crescendo of ‘O Holy Night,’ the women
of the Clan Yalerius and Caer Aerie raised their hands and their voices in
praise to the Lord, and the sky burst brighter than ever, the Starfire leaping,
dancing, and soaring in shades of red, green. blue, and violet across the sky,
lighting Azerel, her hands also raised in worship. In the sky beyond, they could
see the Great Lion himself, soaring on his magnificent wings within the Starfire
that celebrated Him.
