"Haply Elijah o'er his spokes of fire,

Cresting steep Leo, or the heavenly Lyre,

Spied, tranced in azure of inanest space.

Some eyrie hostel, meet for human grace,

where two might happy be - just you and I -

lost in the uttermost of Eternity."

- Walter De La Mare, "The Tyrst"

*****

Soundtrack of the chapter: Two Hearts by Thomas Bergersen ( This one is for you, Cali shippers!)

Media: I stumbled upon this beautiful painting on pinterest and immediately thought Cady!

*****

Chapter Twenty-Five: An Invitation

"Take a step, slowly now." Mistress Carina had her arm held out for Eli. She may seem small and frail, but Eli knew better. That Healer had bones of steel and a head of stone, being the only one who survived the Mandrake attack a few weeks ago. She was considered lucky, being out to the woods collecting mushrooms. He grasped her arm with one hand, and the other on arm rest of his wheelchair.

Jasper sat across the table, looking at him. The half-empty bottle of his concoction stood at the corner, glistening red like its contents. Cady on the other hand, was beside Mistress Carina, eager to help but the old Healer insisted on doing everything.

The miracle drug brewed from Blood Flowers and a few other ingredients proved to be a wonder. A couple days after administration, the boils had burst, all pent out liquid had gushed out, expelling the poison locked inside for more than a decade. A most pungent liquid oozed out of the open wounds later, making Eli and Jasper retch. Cady had her nose covered with her hands the entire time, hence she was spared from the noxious smell.

Now, the skin had grafted over, leaving behind nothing but numerous scars which Jasper predicted would heal, but they would leave permanent marks.

But scars were nothing if he could be healed completely. He would rather live with a leg full of scars instead of a dying cripple.

Eli placed his bad foot before him. Using his good leg as a lever, he pushed himself up and fell right into Mistress Carina's arms.

"Easy there, we're in no rush," the Mistress said. "Now, try again."

After a week and more of not walking, Eli found the sensation rather bizarre. His legs responded sluggishly, as if they were half-asleep still. He tested his bad leg before putting all his weight onto it.

It didn't buckle. He released a breath of relief and happiness. Still holding on to Mistress Carina, he took another step, and another. The feeling of being able to walk again made Eli giddy with joy. Never would he have to be confined to a wheelchair or dependent on his staff. He could finally be like the other Oracles and not branded a freak.

Cady leaped forward and tackled him with a crushing hug.

"You did it, Eli! You did it!"

Eli blinked when Cady released him. He rubbed his throat, pretending to suffocate. She gave him a punch on the arm, which contained more force than necessary. If she used a bit more strength, he would have been sprawling on the ground.

"This is unbelievable," he said, turning around to meet Jasper. "Thank you. You really are a Master Physician."

"Cady deserves some credit too, she was the one who found the Blood Flowers, not me."

"Yeah, but you made the potion," she argued.

Mistress Carina stood in between the three of them. "Master Silverbird and Miss Gates both have contributed greatly to this miracle. As the Beltane Ball approaches, I believe Master Sanguinis would call for a greater party to celebrate his grandson's recovery."

Eli would have kicked himself if it weren't for the presence of his friends. He had completely forgotten all about the Beltane Ball. Grandfather would be livid.

"It seems that you're doing rather well now." Jasper rose from his seat and did a cat stretch. "I'll go and brew some more of that potion. You're running low on those. Smell you guys later."

He breezed past them and exited them chamber, slamming the door behind him.

"Master Silverbird sure is moody, isn't he?" Mistress Carina observed.

"Moody, but kind," Cady said. "He has a lot of reasons for his mood swings."

The door flew open and a dark head poked inside. He beckoned a finger at Mistress Carina. "Mistress, we're out of cauldrons."

The Healer's eyes widened. "Impossible, you haven't been looking hard enough, Master Silverbird."

Jasper pulled a face. "Oh, believe me Mistress. I think a couple young Feorhs went off running with them, claiming them as their new beds."

Mistress Carina swallowed a curse and strode over. "You two run along now, I need to help Master Silverbird with some errands and we probably won't be back for a good while."

The door swung shut, the silence in the room was suddenly stifling. He cleared his throat.

There was a question digging into his mind since the Beltane Ball date was confirmed. He pondered on it, trying to make up his mind whether he should approach Cady and ask her. He pretended to pick up a fallen herb, stealing a glance at her.

She was leaning against the counter, fingering with a spatula, her face crinkling at the smell oozing from the tar-like substance coated on the tip.

Okay Eli, just tell her...

"Cady." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could regret his decision. "Can I ask you something?"

She bobbed her head, still focused on prodding the black stuff coating the spoon.

"Will you go to the Beltane Ball with me?"

Cady stared at him wide-eyed. Eli flushed so hard, his blood felt like it was boiling in his face. He wanted to dig a hole and jump inside, pretend that nothing had happened and his invitation was just a figment of his imagination.

"Uh...sure!" Cady flashed him a smile. "That would be lovely!"

He stared at her, his heart palpitating. "Wait, you serious?"

"Everyone I know already have a date to the Beltane Ball, now I have one too."

Eli found himself at loss for words. This was...unexpected. He fumbled about for something to say, anything that wouldn't make him sound like a complete idiot.

"I guess I will see you at the ball then! Six thirty, meet me at the Hall grounds. You know where Nala's statue is right?"

She nodded, leaping off the counter she sat on. "I can't wait. This is just like prom!"

"What is that?" he asked, puzzled.

It was her turn to blush. "What, prom? It's nothing, just saying my thoughts out loud."

Cady patted him on the arm. "It's amazing to see you well again. Jasper is really one of the best physicians."

He couldn't agree more. No one had thought of using Blood Flowers as a main ingredient before, not even Mistress Carina. Although Jasper grew up in the Darkling Woods without Oracle guidance, his talents were beyond his age and even his peers. The Hall was graced with his presence, just like his life was saved by Jasper.

"Have you got any plans for the ball? Dresses, jewelry, gifts for the Stars?" he asked Cady.

She chewed her lip. "Not really, I never gave ball dresses much thought. Jo tried to drag me down the towns for one, but I didn't want to. I don't have money."

"Wait, you don't?" he was baffled. Everyone must have money at some point, especially coming from the Celestial Towns.

Her face hardened, and she kicked a stool idly. "My parents are dead. They didn't leave me anything."

"I didn't know...I'm sorry," he said. Cady looked lost...and angry, her change of facial expression was most instantaneous. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, to give her a hug, but that might not be the most appropriate action now. She looked like she could murder someone, and Eli wasn't going to volunteer to find out.

"There's nothing you can do about it." She tossed the spatula back onto the table. It skidded off the wooden surface and clattered near the fireplace. "It's been a long time."

A small memory snagged at the back of his head. The faded image of his mother folding a white dress flashed before him. He remembered her showing him a whole chamber filled with old but beautiful clothing. He had asked her what were the dresses and coats for, and she replied that it all belonged to his ancestors, women who lived and died, leaving behind their earthly possessions.

The Oracles called it the Chamber of All. All properties of the deceased, when still in usable conditions, went there. Anyone with the need for a certain object was allowed to take their pick from the vast collection.

"Cady, I know it is not much, but I know a place where you can get your ball dress from."

That caught her attention. "Where?"

"Come with me, I'll show you."

He led her out of the room and down several flights of stairs, taking the longer route and avoiding the Hall dungeons, in case Cady's curiosity arose and went exploring again.

The steel braced doors remained the same, just like the ones from his memory. There were no keys to this room, for it was meant for the public taking. Anyone could come and drop off belongings and anyone could come and take away their desired items.

With a gentle twist, the doorknob gave way. The door swung inward, a silent welcome to them.

Sunlight filtered from the large, stained windows, sending down multicolor spray of pure light onto the contents piled in the room. Books were stacked haphazardly on old cabinets, which held a most curious array of trinkets and vials. Embroidered drapes with trailing laces hung from great wardrobes, their many sequins glittering like scattered coins. A great assortment of ball dresses, from slender to puffy ones, lined the racks in a neat order. Baubles, varying in size and shape, spilled from open drawers and chests, as if someone had thrown a hand into them and pulled them out, displaying their shiny wonders.

Cady's eyes were as wide as dinner plates, taking in the endless contents of the chamber.

Eli gave her a nod, gesturing at the dresses.

"Be my guest, I'm certain you'll find everything you need her-dresses, jewelry, anything really."

"You sure this is free for taking?" she ran her hands along the silky hem of a green dress. "I might cart everything away."

He winked. "If you have enough room in your dorm to store them, by all means, help yourself."

A thought hit him. According to Oracle tradition, the male Starlet wasn't allowed to see the dress of the female Starlet before any balls, or it would bring misfortune on the pair. It was a rather dumb superstition, but his friend once proved that superstition might be real. The boy accidentally ran into his ball date during a fitting session, and both were hit over the head by a falling board during the last Beltane Ball.

He wasn't going to push his luck any further.

"Cady, I'll leave you to choose your dress. It is bad luck for the male to see their Ball date's dress before the occasion. You should know that."

She stifled a laugh. "I know and it's silly. This isn't even a wedding!"

Eli shrugged elaborately, bringing his elbows up. "I'll take my leave now, milady."

Addressing Cady as "milady" made his heart race. It hammered against his ribs, threatening to burst out. Cady on the other hand, stiffened and tried to hide her face in her hair. He gave her a quick bow and strode out, so hastily that he felt the newly healed wound throb.

When the door closed, he heard a cacophony of metallic objects falling onto the ground. He grinned. Leave Cady alone for one second and she would upset almost everything, be it polish, paint or even jewelry.

Striding down the corridor, he wondered what color dress would Cady pick. He liked lilac, it was such a beautiful shade of purple, just like the lavender plants he grew secretly beside the Apothecary. Mistress Carina didn't approve of any personal plants, but Eli couldn't care less as long as he kept his own plants out of the old dame's sight. Maybe she would choose lilac, or green!

Stop it, Eli. Don't think of such things! It's inappropriate!

His mind wandered, and he couldn't grab it in time. He walked right into someone stout and solid, resulting in a loud oomph and all the air being knocked out of his stomach.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going..." he started to apologize, but stopped in surprise when the dark eyes of Jasper Silverbird stared back at him.

"Watch where you're going, Master Sanguinis," he said, switching the weight of a box he was carrying to his other hand. "I won't be too happy if you tear out your wound again."

Putting his foot before him, he vanished down the corridor, the glass bottles tinkling against each other.

Sweeping Jasper out of his mind, Eli proceeded to the main Hall where all Feorhs and Oracles were bustling about, full of live and activity. Flowers and glitter were already pinned up to the main stage, and silver banners looped themselves around the rafts. Beltane was a season of harvest and celebration of abundance, where nature was at its peak, an utmost importance to the Oracles who were one with the earth.

Beltane would arrive in two days. And Eli was certain, it might just be his best Beltane Ball ever.

*****

A/N

Who is up for some Cali moments? ;) This chapter is just fast-edited, so feel free to catch any small blips and I will have them vanquished! Here comes my favourite part of the story--The Beltane Ball! The following chapters would be rather slow, non-actiony but very important to the story arc and character development!

Guess Cady is going with Eli to the Beltane Ball! But what about Jasper? Hit me with your thought! <3

ps: The fanart and fanfic contest for THoG will be closed in a week! What are you waiting for? 

Twisties,

Stef