Mairwen was born in an endless sea of night

“Huh?” Rowan was confused. He stood up straight, bewilderment evident on his face.

Aislinn dug her elbow into his side. “My heart is glad to see you again, Your Majesty.” She maintained a professional aura in the face of her grandmother’s surprising familial approach.

Sorcha gave a saddened smile. “I so hated the years we spent apart. Your parents’ death weighed heavily on us all, and that we could not welcome you home hurt us even more.”

“Which was completely-” Rowan put his hand over Aislinn’s mouth to stop her from interrupting his insult again. “Stupid. Who banishes a child because her parents helped defeat the god of demons?” He argued. “Who banishes anyone for defeating the god of demons? Wasn’t that a good, heroic deed? It’s not like Aonghas was visiting to hand out candy.”

Sorcha was completely surprised by his outburst. Aislinn appeared horrified, while Isolde could barely contain her laughter.

Aislinn quickly moved his hand away. “Rowan-!”

“You’re right, of course,” Sorcha admitted. She looked away, wearing a mask of sadness and shame. “The Council of Elders believed those foolish rumors, and we couldn’t override their decision, even after my son and his wife fell in battle. That alone should have been more than enough proof of their loyalty and courage.”

“What happened? I still don’t understand why Aislinn’s parents were banished for defeating Aonghas.” Rowan pressed the queen for more.

Sorcha turned to him, her pure blue eyes glistening with tears. “The Council believed they were a party to summoning Aonghas.” She replied.

“That’s ridiculous!” Rowan spat. Aislinn’s face paled.

He kept speaking out of turn to the queen of the Annfayn Dana. He was even yelling in her presence! “Please speak to Her Majesty in a proper, respectful tone!” She hissed.

“I agree. They had nothing to do with it.” Sorcha seemed not to care about his attitude. “We suspected the human king and his ilk of summoning Aonghas and his demons to attack their enemies. There was evidence to support this claim, but nothing definitive,” she explained. “My son Nuadu and his darling wife Áednat rushed out to discover the truth. Even after they returned with evidence of King Túathal’s innocence, the Council refused to hear it. They even claimed that Nuadu was conspiring with them to dethrone us. It was all so foolish.” Anger briefly appeared on her face.

“They helped Túathal drive Aonghas back and saved not only Corbenic but Annfayn. They’re heroes, even if the Council refuses to believe it.” Rowan spoke.

Sorcha offered a weary smile. “Yes, and I’ll not let the Council tarnish their memories any longer.” She turned to Aislinn. “Your banishment — and the unjust banishment laid upon your parents — is lifted at long last. It pains me that it required the shadow of Aonghas to bring us together again.”

“You are welcome here whenever you wish, and your guests-” Sorcha motioned toward Rowan and Isolde. “Are our honored guests.” She wanted to embrace her granddaughter after so many years apart, but she could tell that Aislinn still felt a level of discomfort. She had not lived within Annfayn since she was a little girl, and the people there shunned her even now.

“Thank you, Your High-, ehm, grandmother.” Aislinn gave an awkward bow.

“Yeah, thanks.” Rowan simply grinned and acted like he was at a friend’s house.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Isolde was more formal, though Rowan’s casual tone still amused her.

Sorcha lightly giggled, a gesture Rowan likened to Aislinn. “No thanks are needed,” she assured them. “Now, what have you to report? My spies have told me of your adventures in Siofra Forest.”

Rowan gathered his courage and took a step forward. “I’ll tell you everything, but it will sound insane. Would you still listen to me?”

Sorcha’s initial surprise gave way to a more serious demeanor. “Yes, I will listen to your every word.

Aislinn and Isolde looked to him. Aislinn knew the story, and she was hesitant to let anyone else hear such an impossible tale. Isolde was simply curious about the strange boy who followed the Danan princess.

Rowan took a deep breath and began his tale. “I’m from the future. Where and when I’m from, the Danans and Ossorians are barely myths. Corbenic’s existence is just now being proven, and Annfayn is only mentioned in a fairy tale.”

“What?!” Isolde was incensed. “My people are gone?!”

“Maybe, or maybe they’re just well-hidden,” Rowan suggested. “My professor did tell me to run to the forest for safety, so maybe some of your people or the Dana were waiting.”

Isolde gritted her teeth but said nothing more.

Sorcha furrowed her brow in contemplation. “I am concerned about my people as well. The Dana and Ossorian protect the world and keep the light of magic alive. Should we vanish, whoever is left would be vulnerable to Aonghas’s children.”

Rowan turned his attention back to Sorcha. “I guess we were vulnerable. Demons attacked my city and killed countless people. I even watched my father die.”

Sorcha gave him a sympathetic look. “For that, you have my condolences. I swear that we will fight back the darkness once again.”

“Where exactly did this darkness come from? Why would Mairwen create something like Aonghas?” Rowan asked, almost as an angry demand.

Sorcha, Aislinn, and Isolde were visibly surprised by his question. The queen approached Rowan and formed a crystal sphere in her hands to display visions of the past. “Allow me to tell you how this world began and how darkness invaded our home.”

“Mairwen was born in an endless sea of night. Her first movements gathered stone and formed the world upon which we walk. Her first breath brought aether into the world, from which all life and magic are derived. Plants bloomed, and rivers began to flow.

When she opened her eyes, the stars themselves began to shine down upon her new world. The first beings to walk upon the world are the Dana. They made their homes among the trees in the forest. Mairwen gave rise to the sun and moon to help foster life.

This world saw an age of peace and prosperity. That age of peace gave way to an age of chaos, for Mairwen did not create Aonghas; he was born in that same endless sea of night. Mairwen likened him to a brother. He created the first demons, and they brought nothing but destruction. We believe his intentions were pure, that he simply wanted to create life as Mairwen had done.

A great war erupted between the Dana and the demons. Mairwen gave rise to the Ossorian to aid us in battle. Mairwent held Aonghas at bay, fearful that a battle between the divine would shatter the very world she worked so hard to create.

She used her vast power to create the dark realm of Duinn and sealed Aonghas and his demons away. With the last of her strength, she gave rise to humans to propagate and restore the world. Mairwen fled to the heavens to recuperate and offer guidance to her children.”