the ancients. Remember, you too have the blood of the people of the sea. It is the language spoken by your lineage from the beginning and is now the language of the ancients. Only a few speak it. It is in your blood as it is in Willow's." This made sense to Audra, because she could speak the language to her mother and grandmother when she was growing up. She had believed it was a secret only the women of her family knew. It was all making sense to her now.
Ellura sat with her for a long time and told Audra about the life Willow was living among the Sea Kingdom. The moon was slowly returning to the sea, and it was time for Ellura to return also. Audra reached in the large pocket in her dress, pulled out the dress she'd made for Willow, and handed it to Ellura. The light from the moon illuminated the silver strands in the dress. Audra looked down at it, turned to Ellura, and said, "Now I know where the silver strands came from and why. Take care of my daughter, and tell her I will always be here for her."
Then Audra reached in her pocket again and took out the box with the silver strands that had been passed down since Morven had been given to the land people. She handed them off to Ellura. Tears streamed down Audra's face. Ellura reached up and brushed the tears from her face. She said, "You will see her again; she is as close to you as the beating of your heart." Ellura slipped back into the water, and as she did, a strand from her long, flowing silver hair released and wrapped around Audra's ankle. It had secured itself as though it had been woven just for her ankle. Energy shot up through Audra's body. Somehow, she knew she was meant to wear it always. It was her connection to Willow and her lineage to the water people.
25
Ellura glided up to the entrance of Willow's cave, sat on the ledge, and called out to her. Willow approached Ellura and sat down next to her. She immediately was aware that Ellura was holding the gown her mother had made for her. "How did you get this dress?" she asked. "You have seen my mother, haven't you?"
"Your mother is well and sends these gifts to you," Ellura replied. Willow reached out and took the gown her mother made for her, with its layers of overlapping scarves sewn together with the silver threads she had saved from her treasure box. She felt her mother's tears as she ran her hands across the fabric, and she began to weep.
"Your mother is with you now and always," Ellura said. And you will see her again. But for now, you must get ready, for in two days, you will be joined as one with Vala."
Willow looked up at her as her tears blended into the sea. "You are right. I must prepare myself as the ancients have instructed." Then she turned and leisurely glided back into her cave with her gown clutched against her breast. Ellura still had the silver strands that Audra had given her, but she knew they were meant for something else at another time. They had been kept sacred for a long time just for that moment, and when the time came, Willow would understand why they were had not been given to her then.
There was excitement flowing through the Sea Kingdom in anticipation of the day after the morrow when Willow and Vala would become eternal mates and would rule the seas together as one. Each clan had their own reason for the joy they felt for the event. Yet many had no idea what it really meant for the future of the clans, only that it was a promise made by the ancients long ago, and now its time had come.
Willow could hear the songs of the ancients traveling through the waves like the sounds of the reed instruments she'd known when she lived on land. She drifted off to sleep with the soothing sounds merging into her dreams, which overlapped her past on land and her new life there with her sea family. The dreams weaved together, crossing over between the land and the endless waters. It was all the same—no separation between land and sea. It was all one great happening. She wasn't sure if she was awake or sleeping, what was a dream and what was real, but she knew it was in her dreams that her visions came.
She saw her mother standing high on the knoll with her long, silver-gray hair catching each breeze and the reflection of the water gleaming from her face as she stared out at the endless waters, watching the sea. All her mother could think about was that her Willow was there. She wondered what a magical place it must be for her daughter to want to stay. Willow felt the beating of her mother's heart and the sadness that lingered because she missed Willow so. Willow could feel her mother's resolve and acceptance, knowing her daughter was where she wanted to be and must be. Still, it did not ease the pain she felt in her heart, knowing Willow would forever remain there beneath the sea. She missed her dearly, and Willow missed her as well. But Audra had accepted the role that had been given to her daughter, and she was proud of her for that. She would honor it, and with that she was content.
Willow awoke and eased herself to the ledge of her cave. She wanted to linger there a little longer and reflect on all she had experienced. She wished her mother could share in the moment that was about to occur, but she knew it was not possible.
Willow heard the excitement intensifying in the waters and felt the anticipation of the clans. Soon she and Vala would join, but little did the clans know the great challenge that lay ahead for the two of them. Willow was aware, and she knew Vala was too. But it was not something that would be shared among the clans. It would only bring them concern. She also knew that in those challenging times, she and Vala would have many allies to help them. They would also have the council of the ancients to guide them, as well as the council of Ellura and Llyr. She was confident in knowing it would not be a journey she would take alone. She had grown more aware each day of the powers that were growing within her that would give her the strength and wisdom to deal with the tasks that lay ahead. Willow wanted to call out to Vala but knew it was not the time; soon they would be together until the end of their days, so she would wait.
The news of the upcoming event traveled even to the depths of the sea where the Great Sea Beast, Adaro, resided. He knew Willow and Vala would be surrounded and protected during the joining, so he knew it would not be the time or place for him to plan an attack on them. But that didn't stop him from sending his spies, the slithers. They burrowed beneath the sands, emerging very carefully from time to time just outside the coral forest, for they knew they would be detected within the realm of the water people and their coral forest.
There were many clans that lived alongside the water people within the protection of the coral forest, and they had their own way of knowing if there were intruders among them. It would take only one alarm sounded for the slithers to have to take cover quickly outside the forest, so they were very cautious not to be noticed. They assumed if they were outside the rim of the forest, no creature would know they were there. But they were mistaken.
The slithers remained motionless just below the surface of the sands but were ready to notify Adaro if anything happened. Of course, each hoped he could be the one to spot Willow or Vala leaving alone, outside the protection of the realm of the forest and the watchful eye of Llyr. Informing Adaro would put him in good favor with the Great Sea Beast. Little did the slithers know that Vala and Willow had received powers from the ancients far stronger than any they had known. Vala and Willow could detect any change in the sea and the sands and would know if there was danger or intruders. They were very aware of the slithers' presence, but neither would let that secret be known. It was just one of the many abilities they possessed. They not only knew that the slithers were there, but if the slithers informed Adaro, they would be aware of that as well. But the greatest power was yet to come, and that transition would take place on the morrow.
Willow had her spies too, and she was able to read the messages they sent to her without coming face-to-face with them. She had developed trust and honor among the clans and had learned their language. Many of the clans shared with her that the slithers had circled the forest and had hidden beneath the sands. She told them not to worry; she knew they were there and that they would not dare to enter the forest for fear of what might happen.
Willow gently glided down from the entrance of the cave to the sea floor and sat on the sands. She lay
her head next to the sands and whispered, "Enter if you may; you are welcomed in our home." Willow's message passed beneath the sands like a rolling wave above the sea's surface to the outskirts of the forest where the slithers lay. Her voice carried through their bodies, leaving them stunned and unsure who was speaking to them. Their thoughts ran rampant as they wondered if it was some creature within the forest; how did it know their language or that they were even there?
Startled by this voice, they withdrew further back from the edge of the forest. At first, they thought it was a trick to lure them in, and then they wondered if it was Adaro testing their loyalty. They kept withdrawing further and further from the edge, yet the voice continued to follow them; the soothing, rhythmic sounds of Willow's voice wrapped around each of them, holding them motionless. The fear of Adaro dissipated for a while as her voice transfixed them in a calming state of stillness. Then, suddenly, they heard the thundering voice of Adaro. They shivered in fear and raced back to the forest edge, hoping he had not noticed that they had momentarily given in to the calming sounds.
Though Adaro knew it