Heart of Stone Ch. 14

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"Mary-" Ramona started.

"Ramona." Mary heard the warning tone in Veronica's voice, but Ramona was undeterred.

"I'm not saying there's anything WRONG with it." She said.

"But it's strange, and you're curious how it happened." Mary supplied.

"Yes." Ramona looked a little embarrassed.

"I don't know, how does it happen with anyone?" Mary was silent, trying to collect her thoughts. It was clear she had everyone's attention. She couldn't help but smile when she thought about her first days with Aiden though. "He listened to me, and made me laugh. He never treated me like I was strange or awkward, even when I felt that way. I always felt safe around him. Every night we just got closer, and the rest just seemed so natural. To other people, I know it must look strange."

"It's different, but you've made me jealous. I wish I could find someone to be all those things for me." Ramona smiled. She glanced past Mary's shoulder. "Looks like the men have calmed down."

"Funny how they have such a hard time with things." Caroline said.

"It's their fragile egos. Take those away and men would be perfectly rational human beings." Veronica answered. "Shall we go back in?"

*~*~*~*~*~*

Mary sat down again. She scanned the room, looking for Ron among those examining the book and the letter. When she didn't find him, she got up to go look for him. Aiden stopped her.

"Is Ron-" She was looking for the right words. "I mean, you didn't-"

"He deserved it." Aiden said. "But no, I did not injure him. I let him think that I was going to, though." He smiled slightly.

"Thanks." She leaned against his arm. "I should have known you wouldn't hurt him."

"If he were one of my own kind, I would have. A male does not let such an insult against his mate pass without addressing it." He looked at her. "Are you feeling well? You look a bit pale."

"I think I just wasn't expecting so much drama." He stroked her cheek gently and Mary found herself wishing she could just disappear with him. "Lately everything seems to affect me so much more than it used to."

"Sit. Rest for awhile. I think the others would like some time to examine the documents. I know Ron needs time to collect himself."

"You're right." She held onto his hand, but sat slowly. "Did you have Maureen make any of your tea?"

"No. Would you like some?"

"Yes, thank you." She smiled.

"Stay there." He found Caroline and spoke to her softly. She left the room and he returned to stand behind her. Nigel had noticed her return but stayed with the others who were looking at the book and the letter. When she was seated, he excused himself and sat next to her.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked quietly.

"I'm fine, I just wasn't expecting such a violent reaction." Maureen appeared a few minutes later with a cup of tea. Mary thanked her, and sipped it slowly.

"You're not in any sort of pain though? You're not lightheaded or nauseous?" He asked. Nigel had made it clear when he arrived that he thought waking Esme as planned was the right thing to do, but he was still concerned about how the stress of the attempt would affect her. She'd agreed to stop if she felt at all unwell and he'd promised to keep a close eye on her.

"No, nothing like that." The warm liquid was helping her relax. "I think I've just lead such a quiet life recently that any excitement at all throws me all off."

"Good." He smiled. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you find the book?"

"It was a painting in Robbie's house actually."

"The twins?"

"How did you know?" She asked.

"They're rather a legend, besides, we all know that their portrait was painted here at the Hall. Ambrose tried to figure out the connection for years."

"You mean he didn't have any idea?" Mary was surprised. "If it was painted here, how could he not know?"

"He knew the twins were insistent. He liked them, so he agreed. He didn't consider the implications until later. We've all looked at that painting at one time or another though, there's nothing there."

"You know about the symbol that was painted out?" Mary said.

"I'd heard there was something there, but I didn't know what it was. Was it something significant?" He asked.

"It was a thoughtform, like in the book. Aiden was only able to read a part of it though and what was there didn't make sense." She was relaxed again. "It wasn't until I started thinking about the painting in the library here that I put it together."

"There was a painting in the downstairs library?" He was surprised.

"Yes. I didn't give it a second thought until last night because it's always just seemed like a part of the place. As I was sitting there it struck me that it seemed strange for it to be down there. I looked at it for the first time, and noticed there was a tiny version of the painting of the twins in the corner, even though mine is clearly the older of the two. We found the book and pages in a box behind it." Mary noticed that people were starting to return to their seats. Ron had appeared again at some point and was hovering close by. Nigel noticed too, he excused himself and returned to where he had been sitting before. Ron approached cautiously, his eyes on Aiden.

"Mary, I'm sorry." He was pale and on the edge of trembling. Aiden squeezed her shoulder gently. She recognized what he meant by the touch immediately.

"For what?" Her eyes held his.

"For saying what I did. It was uncalled for and insulting." He looked as if would rather be anywhere else on the face of the earth. Aiden released the light pressure on her shoulder. Ron's eyes darted between Aiden and Mary. She remained silent for a moment, allowing him to squirm. She didn't want to tell him it was alright, but she needed him.

"Apology accepted." She said finally. He went back across the room and sat down again. Much as she wanted to see him squirm, she needed his focus and concentration.

"Child, I believe we should begin soon." Aiden spoke close to her ear. Mary nodded. She stood.

"I know some of you are still examining the letter and the book, but it's getting a bit late." Those who were still standing looked at her. "I'll make them available again tomorrow morning. For right now I'd appreciate it if you could take your seats again. Aiden will explain the rules and then we can begin." Mary sat down again. She waited until the group had quieted again. Some looked at her as they always did, others stared, a few looked mildly disgusted. She did her best to ignore the negative.

"Mary has attempted to replicate the enchantment that allowed me to hear while in my frozen state, but we have no way of knowing if it worked." Aiden started. "If it did, Esme will wake with some understanding of what has happened. If not, she will likely look at all of you as a threat. I think it would be safest for everyone if we assume that is the position she will adopt."

"You mean, she might attack us?" Ramona asked. The fear in her face was obvious.

"This is precisely why I thought this was a bad idea." Andy said. "It's plainly dangerous."

"Bear in mind that when we were frozen, your kind was both our greatest ally and our greatest enemy. I will not allow her to harm anyone. Once she understands the truth of the situation, I don't think she will have any desire to strike out. To ensure everyone's safety though, as soon as Esme begins to wake you will all retreat to a safe distance."

"What's a safe distance?" Robbie asked.

"There's already an area marked out." Mary said. "Aiden tells me that waking isn't instantaneous, so we have a few minutes for me to stop the aggregation and to all move back."

"I will be before her when she wakes fully, so that I can explain what is happening." Aiden added.

"What makes you so sure she's going to listen to you?" Stuart asked.

"Mine was one of the most powerful of the clans in existence when we were frozen. Beyond that, her clan and mine have ties that go back through more generations than I can count. She will listen." Aiden said. "After she calms, I will begin to introduce all of you. First Mary, because she is my mate and this is her land. Then Caroline, because it was her family that protected Esme for so many centuries. Beyond that, you will all be introduced in the order of the hierarchy of the clans your families protected. Is that clear to everyone?"

There was a general murmur of agreement. Mary would have been surprised if anyone argued. Some of them might have been contentious, but they all valued their personal safety.

"We should get started then." Mary got up and opened the patio doors. "If you'll all follow the lights, just like you did the last time." She waited while everyone filed out and started down the path to the garden. Robbie lingered.

"Aiden, this may not be the right time to bring this up," He started. "But the historian in me is itching with curiosity."

"When Esme is settled, I will translate the historical portions of the book for you." Aiden smiled.

"There's more to it than just the history?" Mary walked ahead of Robbie and Aiden, halfway listening to their conversation, halfway concentrating on what she was about to do.

"It contains Garrick's prophecy. Some of that I will share, some is more personal." He answered.

"Is the tone similar to the letter?" Robbie asked.

"Yes it is." Aiden nodded. "Though my ancestor was much more specific than Mary's. My kind have always been more open about certain physical realities. While I understand why Garrick included it, I do not wish to share it."

"I understand completely. I appreciate whatever you decide to share with me." Robbie took his place next to Mary. She was facing Esme. The others were standing in a circle in the same order they were in when they practiced on the rock. Everyone looked at Mary in nervous anticipation. She glanced over her shoulder at Aiden. He smiled a bit. Mary stepped forward and placed her hands on Esme's wrist.

"Esme, we're going to try and wake you. I don't know if we'll succeed, but If not we'll keep trying until we do." Mary said. She stepped back and looked at the others. "Is everyone ready?"

"When you are." Quentin answered.

"That is our safe area to retreat to?" Andy asked, indicating a lighted space a few feet away.

"Yes." Mary said.

"Why don't you just make us wear targets while your at it." He sniped. Mary heard several groans.

"It's not meant to be an air raid shelter." Veronica said.

"I just think that if we have to go running off-"

"No one asked you to go running off." Mary said calmly. "In fact, if you'd like to stay where you are, that's alright by me." Robbie smirked.

"I think, what Andy is saying-" Stuart started.

"I know exactly what he's saying." Mary said. "The fact is that for Esme to wake after all this time will be a shock to her. All we want is to be out of the way until Aiden can calm her. Any other questions?"

"None at all." Ramona said.

"Good. We're going to do this like we did the last time." She took a deep breath. "Close your eyes and feel your will begin to gather." She watched as the others closed their eyes. She felt their concentration, but she focused on releasing the last of her own tension.

"Feel that will swelling in volume, ripening with energy. When it becomes too much to bear, let it travel down your arms, like a warm river of honey. There's nothing else in the world but that sensation." Their breathing deepened collectively. Mary concentrated on her own will, collected it, nurtured it until it was ready for the others. "When you're ready, bind that will to the will of the people next to you."

Slowly, each person reached out to the person next to them, palms facing out, contacting his or her neighbor on each side. Mary watched until she was the only one who needed to close a gap. She felt the surge when she contacted Robbie and David's hands.

"Keep your energy flowing to your hands, but open your eyes." She waited until every pair of eyes she could see was on her. The spell that froze Esme surrounded her like a brick wall, and like a wall, if one wanted to go through it one had to look for the weakest point. Because Mary had experimented with waking Esme on her own, she knew precisely where the weakest point was. She focused the collective will of the group on that place, chipping away at the weakened ethereal mortar until her will broke through. The enchantment held together for a few seconds more, then dissolved completely.

Esme's skin began to look less like stone and more like living flesh. Mary released the will of the others as quickly as she could.

"Child." Aiden said.

"Yes, I know." She answered. "Follow me everyone."

"You did it!" Caroline said. Her voice was low, but her excitement couldn't be concealed. There was a murmur of congratulations.

"I knew you could." Quentin grasped her hand.

"I couldn't have, without everyone else's help." Mary answered. When they turned, Aiden was standing in front of Esme. Her tail began to move, then her wings. She stood, her head moving back and forth, her posture suspicious, and ready to field an attack. Mary could just about hear Aiden speaking.

Esme wasn't as tall as Aiden, and she was much more slimly built. She wore a similar garment around her hips and something wrapped around her breasts as well. She had no hair, so it was easy to see that her ears were shaped differently from Aiden's. She also wore no rings on the side that Mary could see. As she turned, Mary could see that there were two in each eyebrow.

"Why doesn't he say something?" Ramona whispered.

"He is, in the gargoyle language." Robbie said. "She's just disoriented."

"I'm not surprised." Veronica answered. "I'm disoriented when I oversleep by an hour. I can't imagine what she must be feeling."

"She seems to be calming now." Quentin added. Esme did look much less defensive. Aiden wasn't speaking as quickly as he had been. He pointed to the curiously watching group, Esme looked curious as well.

"Mary." Aiden said. All of a sudden Mary's heart was pounding. Robbie gripped her hand for a moment, and she walked forward. Covering the small expanse of dimly lit lawn seemed to take forever. As she walked, she could tell that Aiden was still explaining something, Mary could see nothing but warm curiosity in Esme's eyes. Even though she was shorter than Aiden, she was still six and half feet tall at least. Mary felt tiny standing between the two of them. Aiden put his hand on Mary's shoulder and said something to Esme. The female gargoyle looked at Mary curiously. She said something in her own language.

"She wishes to know if you are the Mary who has been speaking to her. The tone of your voice is familiar." Aiden translated.

"Yes." Mary nodded and smiled. "I'm so glad to finally meet you, in person."

Aiden translated, his thumb moved against the back of her neck softly. The gesture was not lost on Esme. She looked from Mary to Aiden and spoke again. He answered before translating for Mary.

"She asks if you are the mate of my heart, or only my mate by prophecy. I told her that you are both, but first you are the one I chose." Mary blushed. "And she asks how long the child has been growing."

"Nearly twelve weeks. How did you know?" Mary asked. She waited for the translation. Being this close to Esme, even in dim light she could see that the female gargoyle was much older than Aiden. She felt guilty that she had been so jealous in the beginning.

"She has been a healer for many years. The posture of a female changes when she is with child, even very early on. She wants to know if the family her clan guarded is still living." Aiden said.

"Did you explain about-?" Mary asked.

"Not yet, but I will. Ask Caroline to come over." Mary nodded and stepped away from Aiden. She walked toward the rest of the gathered group and motioned for Caroline.

One by one the rest of the group came forward to be introduced. By the time the last introduction was made, Esme was able to speak a few words of English. She was also very hungry. Aiden asked Robbie to walk Mary back to the house, while he hunted with Esme. Mary wasn't sure why he thought she needed an escort just to go back home, but she accepted Robbie's arm anyway. Exhaustion was starting to push past the excitement of the evening.

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caribbeanislandcaribbeanislandabout 15 years ago
Excellent!

................. now how much longer do we have to wait for the next chapter????? :-)

lildragonlildragonabout 15 years ago
Fantastic Story

I just discovered your story tonight and read it straight through. Couldn't even stop for dinner it is so gripping. I can't wait for the next chapter. You are very very talented.

Thank You for sharing this story with us.

vileiguanavileiguanaabout 15 years ago
Can't wait for more!!

You are really talented. I've enjoyed your story so much and look forward to seeing what happens :-)

mechmanasmechmanasabout 15 years ago
i so love this story

please do not stop writing i think i will go nuts if i don't find out what happens to Adein and Mary and the baby

AnonymousAnonymousabout 15 years ago
great

One of the best stories on this site! I look forward to more about Aiden and Mary!

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