Page 122 of Dawn of Hope

Now I have a choice to make.

My kingdom, my mother, and my duty over the love and friendships I have found here. Am I willing to give up on a chance of having a loving mother to have loving friends?

If I don’t agree to this, is everything I have done worthless? Would I return to Blackwood empty handed, still having to fulfill my duties as queen only to live in misery, remembering all the love I left behind? Would it be better if I forget?

Would I even return to Blackwood?

I feel like I am being ripped apart.

I don’t know how I am going to tell Dane. It will be bittersweet. We knew this would come to an end, that Dawnlin’s never progressing time would not apply to us. But now that I found the cure, the others can as well. I can bring them to it, and we can go back and help our families, if they are still there to help.

The goodbye will not be easy. I won’t get to say goodbye to Fin, and now he won’t have the chance to help his sister because I can’t find him.

I wish I wasn’t alone. I wish Dane was here with me, helping memake this decision, telling me it is alright to let him, and everyone else go, because I know I only really have one choice.

I choke out a sob of acceptance.

I reach a shaky hand behind me and pulled out the dagger. Tears blur my vision as I look at the blade flickering in the light of the torches. I step up to the alcove that is now glowing brightly. I hold my hands in the alcove, over the basin, and press the sharp blade to the palm of my hand. A line of blood forms and I watch as the blood pools in my palm. My tears fall to the bottom of the basin as I clench my fist over the blood and turn my hand over.

The drops fall into the bowl, soaking directly into the stone and disappear with a small flash of light, just like my tears in the fountain back in Blackwood.

The voice booms around me again, and I have to concentrate to process the next words.

A selfless choice you did make

But more must be done for you to take

The healing waters for your use

In order to prevent outright abuse.

Deep inside the isle must look

Your heart will be read like an open book.

The magic of Dawnlin decides who is worthy

Your quest for the waters at its mercy.

Granted or not, the choice is not yours,

And this is how the isle ensures

The protection of Dawnlin and of the magic

So the story ends not in something tragic.

If deemed worthy, the water will flow,

The clear crystal liquid will pool below.

If empty handed you leave by dust,

In the magic of Dawnlin, youmust trust.

I stand there stunned as the echo of the words fades. There is a chance that I won’t be granted the healing waters to bring home to my mother.

Thatcan’thappen.