Chapter 5: Departure

Elara took a steadying breath and opened the door. Smiling to the occupants of the room, she took one of the remaining seats. Caitlyn touched her elbow.

"Do you know what is going on?" she asked, Alexander, her husband, peering over her shoulder.

The healer shook her head. "I have no idea." She turned when she heard the door open again.

"Whatever it is," Elara added, "it must be important."

Caitlyn and Alexander nodded as Lysia, her husband, and Duthbert (the elderly castle advisor) entered the room.

Caitlyn faced the new arrivals. "Before you even ask, we don't know what the occasion is either."

Lysia rolled her eyes at her sister's sarcastic bluntness, a trait that all of the sisters exhibited when something bothered them. "Okay, then. Well, how are you and Alex today?"

"Just fine," Alex said as Caitlyn nodded. "You?"

Dylan glanced at Lysia. "Oh, okay."

"How about you, Duthbert?" Lysia asked, trying to include the older man in their conversation.

"Well, Lady Lysia, which is a miracle indeed at my age," he replied.

Elara heard the door open again and was surprised to see Galen enter. Nodding to the others, he took the empty see by Elara. "Have I missed anything?" he asked quietly.

"No," Caitlyn answered. "We're still waiting on Leda and Paul."

"So, what is this whole meeting about?"

Everyone laughed. Galen smiled and waited patiently for an explanation. Elara finally stifled her laughter.

"No one knows what this is all about," she explained. "We just have to wait for Leda and Paul to arrive to explain."

"Speaking of the devil," Dylan said, as the Prince and Princess of Jupiter and the Guardians entered the room and took their seats.

"Sorry that we made you wait," Leda said.

The door opened again and Adam took the last empty chair.

Leda cleared her throat. "There's been a development in Ilene's condition."

Elara and Galen looked at each other questionably, realizing that the other didn't have an idea about the development either. Both looked at Leda and Paul, ignoring the looks from the others. However, everyone was aware of the tension radiating from Adam.

"I'd better explain," Scylla said. She told them of the encounter and her suspicions. Cassandra was about to tell them more when Adam suddenly slammed his fists on the table.

"Why didn't anyone tell me this before now?! Ilene's my wife!"

Scylla seemed taken back by the outburst. "I'm so sorry, Adam. I wanted to be fairly sure."

"Well, you seemed certain enough to tell the other Guardians and Paul and Leda. Did it even occur to you to tell me, Scylla?!"

"Wait a minute here, Adam!" Caitlyn cried, ignoring Alex's restraining grip on her arm. "Don't you think that you are being a little unfair to Scylla?"

"Unfair to Scylla?!" Adam was about to say something else but stopped. He stared at all of them for a moment. Finally, he spoke. "I'm sorry, Guardian."

Without further ado, he rose and left the room. The other occupants of the room stared at each other speechless for a moment. Finally, a shaky Scylla rose to her.

"I never meant to hurt Adam. I want you all to know that. If you will all excuse me, I need to find him and talk to him."

Leda took a steadying breath. "The treatment for what Ilene is facing is back on Cignus. Paul, Cassandra, Dido, and I are going there. Scylla and Iphigenia will stay here. We will leave tomorrow morning. But," again she took a deep breath, "Paul and I have made provisions just in case something happens to both of us."

She shook her head to silence the protests from her sisters. "We have decided that Thebe should be the heir, unless there are some serious objections."

Caitlyn and Alex looked at each other. Slowly, she turned to her sister. "Thebe's so young, Leda."

"I realize that. You and Alex would rule until Thebe reached a suitable age."

"Is anyone in this room actually listening to what is being said?!" Lysia interjected. "Ilene is seriously and Leda, you, Paul, Cassandra, and Dido are going to Cignus to face who knows what to hopefully find a cure. And you're leaving with a list of requests if something happens to you. This is too much!"

"We have to face facts, and we don't know why Ilene is facing this," Paul said.

Cassandra nodded. "Until we know more about what we are facing, we have to face all contingencies."

"So, when are you leaving for Cignus?" Lysia asked, trying to hide some of her concern. "Are any of us going as well?"

"The four of us are leaving in the morning," Leda replied, "and it will be just the four of us."

* * * * *

Scylla wasn't surprised to find Adam in Ilene's room. Most of his waking hours were spent there. She leaned against the doorway, debating on whether she should disturb him.

He held one of Ilene's hand with both of his, kissing each knuckle reverently. He kept a steady stream of conversation, but his voice was so low that Scylla could not make out individual words. The way that he looked at her made the Guardian resolved to save Ilene.

Adam rose from his chair, gently returning his wife's hand to her side. Realizing that she would be discovered soon, Scylla slipped soundlessly into the hall. Adam brushed a lock of hair from Ilene's forehead and gave her a brief kiss.

"Be strong just a little longer," he whispered. "Just a little longer, please, for me and Adra. Give them time to help you."

He pulled the blanket just a little higher and fought an attack of tears. He blew her another kiss and walked out of the room. He paused in the hallway when he noticed the Guardian of Mercy leaning against the opposite wall.

"I think we need to talk," she said softly.

Adam gave a sigh. "Scylla, look, I'm sorry. With everything that is going on, I . . ."

She shook her head, stopping him. "Do you really want to discuss this in a hallway?"

He glanced around with a weak smile. "No, I guess not."

She moved away from the wall, returning his smile with more strength. "I think I know where we can talk. Will you follow me?"

He nodded. He knew that he and the Guardian would quickly reconcile. 'I wish more of these burdens could be removed with a conversation and an apology,' he thought wistfully.

Vowing to stop feeling sorry for himself, Adam followed Scylla to the wing where the Guardians lived.

* * * * *

Paul wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her cheek. She gave a sigh and leaned back against his chest. "I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that," she said with a shaky laugh.

His hold tightened. "I know, Leda. So much has happened in such a small amount of time that it's overwhelming. You can't really blame them for being worried, though."

"I know," she replied. "Trouble always seems to come in spades for us, doesn't it, Paul?"

He kissed her cheek and rested his chin on her shoulder. She reached up and ruffled his hair, the playful gesture half-hearted. "Whatever we are going to face, we will face it together, Leda. We have gotten through some pretty bad times together, but we have had a lot more happier times, too."

"Do you remember that weekend we celebrate our tenth anniversary?" he asked.

She gave a genuine laugh. "What a disaster! I will never forget those last three miles to the cabin on foot in the rain."

"But it was our best anniversary wasn't it?"

She laughed again, turning in his arm to face him. "Definitely."

Her face grew serious as she ran her thumb over one of his cheekbones. "How did I ever deserve you, Paul?"

He smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I thank God everyday for you, too."

She laid her head on his chest, hungrily accepting his love and support. The sound of his heartbeat seemed to drive away some of the frustration and turmoil she had been living with since Ilene became ill. She finally looked up into those familiar light blue eyes, amazed by the love she always found in them.

"I love you, Paul."

"And I love you," came the ready but genuine reply. "Forever."

* * * * *

The red-gold sky bathed the courtyard with rose light. Leda glanced around at the crowd of faces that filled the relatively small space. Then it hit her how many people loved her and how much she loved each of them.

Caitlyn gave her a hug. "You'd better come back okay, Leda. You and that husband of yours."

Leda gave a laugh. "Hold down the fort for us, Callisto?"

"For a little while, I guess," she replied, her tone light. "You know that I have a husband and a hellion daughter to baby-sit." She studied her older sister for a moment. "Be safe, Jupiter Moon."

Leda nodded. Paul touched her shoulder, nodding in his head in Cassandra's direction. The Guardian of Hope was clearly ready to start the mission. Saying a final goodbye, the couple walked over to Cassandra.

"Are you ready?" Cassandra asked.

"Yes," Paul replied.

Dido concentrated and slowly a portal formed. With a final wave to her family, Leda followed Cassandra and Paul through the portal. Dido gave a slight bow before she left, the portal closing behind her.

Caitlyn and Alex were the last ones to leave the courtyard. Before she left, she looked at the spot where the four had left. "Please be safe, Jupiter Moon."


Departure Elara took a steadying breath and opened the door. Smiling to the occupants of the room, she took one of the remaining seats. Caitlyn touched her elbow. "Do you know what is going on?" she asked, Alexander, her husband, peering over her shoulder. The healer shook her head. "I have no idea." She turned when she heard the door open again. "Whatever it is," Elara added, "it must be important." Caitlyn and Alexander nodded as Lysia, her husband, and Duthbert (the elderly castle advisor) entered the room. Caitlyn faced the new arrivals. "Before you even ask, we don't know what the occasion is either." Lysia rolled her eyes at her sister's sarcastic bluntness, a trait that all of the sisters exhibited when something bothered them. "Okay, then. Well, how are you and Alex today?" "Just fine," Alex said as Caitlyn nodded. "You?" Dylan glanced at Lysia. "Oh, okay." "How about you, Duthbert?" Lysia asked, trying to include the older man in their conversation. "Well, Lady Lysia, which is a miracle indeed at my age," he replied. Elara heard the door open again and was surprised to see Galen enter. Nodding to the others, he took the empty see by Elara. "Have I missed anything?" he asked quietly. "No," Caitlyn answered. "We're still waiting on Leda and Paul." "So, what is this whole meeting about?" Everyone laughed. Galen smiled and waited patiently for an explanation. Elara finally stifled her laughter. "No one knows what this is all about," she explained. "We just have to wait for Leda and Paul to arrive to explain." "Speaking of the devil," Dylan said, as the Prince and Princess of Jupiter and the Guardians entered the room and took their seats. "Sorry that we made you wait," Leda said. The door opened again and Adam took the last empty chair. Leda cleared her throat. "There's been a development in Ilene's condition." Elara and Galen looked at each other questionably, realizing that the other didn't have an idea about the development either. Both looked at Leda and Paul, ignoring the looks from the others. However, everyone was aware of the tension radiating from Adam. "I'd better explain," Scylla said. She told them of the encounter and her suspicions. Cassandra was about to tell them more when Adam suddenly slammed his fists on the table. "Why didn't anyone tell me this before now?! Ilene's my wife!" Scylla seemed taken back by the outburst. "I'm so sorry, Adam. I wanted to be fairly sure." "Well, you seemed certain enough to tell the other Guardians and Paul and Leda. Did it even occur to you to tell me, Scylla?!" "Wait a minute here, Adam!" Caitlyn cried, ignoring Alex's restraining grip on her arm. "Don't you think that you are being a little unfair to Scylla?" "Unfair to Scylla?!" Adam was about to say something else but stopped. He stared at all of them for a moment. Finally, he spoke. "I'm sorry, Guardian." Without further ado, he rose and left the room. The other occupants of the room stared at each other speechless for a moment. Finally, a shaky Scylla rose to her. "I never meant to hurt Adam. I want you all to know that. If you will all excuse me, I need to find him and talk to him." Leda took a steadying breath. "The treatment for what Ilene is facing is back on Cignus. Paul, Cassandra, Dido, and I are going there. Scylla and Iphigenia will stay here. We will leave tomorrow morning. But," again she took a deep breath, "Paul and I have made provisions just in case something happens to both of us." She shook her head to silence the protests from her sisters. "We have decided that Thebe should be the heir, unless there are some serious objections." Caitlyn and Alex looked at each other. Slowly, she turned to her sister. "Thebe's so young, Leda." "I realize that. You and Alex would rule until Thebe reached a suitable age." "Is anyone in this room actually listening to what is being said?!" Lysia interjected. "Ilene is seriously and Leda, you, Paul, Cassandra, and Dido are going to Cignus to face who knows what to hopefully find a cure. And you're leaving with a list of requests if something happens to you. This is too much!" "We have to face facts, and we don't know why Ilene is facing this," Paul said. Cassandra nodded. "Until we know more about what we are facing, we have to face all contingencies." "So, when are you leaving for Cignus?" Lysia asked, trying to hide some of her concern. "Are any of us going as well?" "The four of us are leaving in the morning," Leda replied, "and it will be just the four of us." * * * * * Scylla wasn't surprised to find Adam in Ilene's room. Most of his waking hours were spent there. She leaned against the doorway, debating on whether she should disturb him. He held one of Ilene's hand with both of his, kissing each knuckle reverently. He kept a steady stream of conversation, but his voice was so low that Scylla could not make out individual words. The way that he looked at her made the Guardian resolved to save Ilene. Adam rose from his chair, gently returning his wife's hand to her side. Realizing that she would be discovered soon, Scylla slipped soundlessly into the hall. Adam brushed a lock of hair from Ilene's forehead and gave her a brief kiss. "Be strong just a little longer," he whispered. "Just a little longer, please, for me and Adra. Give them time to help you." He pulled the blanket just a little higher and fought an attack of tears. He blew her another kiss and walked out of the room. He paused in the hallway when he noticed the Guardian of Mercy leaning against the opposite wall. "I think we need to talk," she said softly. Adam gave a sigh. "Scylla, look, I'm sorry. With everything that is going on, I . . ." She shook her head, stopping him. "Do you really want to discuss this in a hallway?" He glanced around with a weak smile. "No, I guess not." She moved away from the wall, returning his smile with more strength. "I think I know where we can talk. Will you follow me?" He nodded. He knew that he and the Guardian would quickly reconcile. 'I wish more of these burdens could be removed with a conversation and an apology,' he thought wistfully. Vowing to stop feeling sorry for himself, Adam followed Scylla to the wing where the Guardians lived. * * * * * Paul wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her cheek. She gave a sigh and leaned back against his chest. "I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that," she said with a shaky laugh. His hold tightened. "I know, Leda. So much has happened in such a small amount of time that it's overwhelming. You can't really blame them for being worried, though." "I know," she replied. "Trouble always seems to come in spades for us, doesn't it, Paul?" He kissed her cheek and rested his chin on her shoulder. She reached up and ruffled his hair, the playful gesture half-hearted. "Whatever we are going to face, we will face it together, Leda. We have gotten through some pretty bad times together, but we have had a lot more happier times, too." "Do you remember that weekend we celebrate our tenth anniversary?" he asked. She gave a genuine laugh. "What a disaster! I will never forget those last three miles to the cabin on foot in the rain." "But it was our best anniversary wasn't it?" She laughed again, turning in his arm to face him. "Definitely." Her face grew serious as she ran her thumb over one of his cheekbones. "How did I ever deserve you, Paul?" He smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I thank God everyday for you, too." She laid her head on his chest, hungrily accepting his love and support. The sound of his heartbeat seemed to drive away some of the frustration and turmoil she had been living with since Ilene became ill. She finally looked up into those familiar light blue eyes, amazed by the love she always found in them. "I love you, Paul." "And I love you," came the ready but genuine reply. "Forever." * * * * * The red-gold sky bathed the courtyard with rose light. Leda glanced around at the crowd of faces that filled the relatively small space. Then it hit her how many people loved her and how much she loved each of them. Caitlyn gave her a hug. "You'd better come back okay, Leda. You and that husband of yours." Leda gave a laugh. "Hold down the fort for us, Callisto?" "For a little while, I guess," she replied, her tone light. "You know that I have a husband and a hellion daughter to baby-sit." She studied her older sister for a moment. "Be safe, Jupiter Moon." Leda nodded. Paul touched her shoulder, nodding in his head in Cassandra's direction. The Guardian of Hope was clearly ready to start the mission. Saying a final goodbye, the couple walked over to Cassandra. "Are you ready?" Cassandra asked. "Yes," Paul replied. Dido concentrated and slowly a portal formed. With a final wave to her family, Leda followed Cassandra and Paul through the portal. Dido gave a slight bow before she left, the portal closing behind her. Caitlyn and Alex were the last ones to leave the courtyard. Before she left, she looked at the spot where the four had left. "Please be safe, Jupiter Moon."


Chapter 6: Return to Cignus Jupiter's Gone