242 Tennessee visit 3

"Why do you allow them to tease you. It is far too disrespectful for children to talk back?" His words show his confusion and displeasure. 

"They are only playing, if they were truly being disrespectful I would punish them. I'm not sure if you know this or not but Steve was my commander in the military and Aisling is his niece. I can be quite scary when I get angry so I tend to not let things bother me too much. That way I don't get angry, the girls know this and will only tease me about things only so far. Besides I don't mind them teasing me about being to loving to my wife. I hope that I have shown them how a man is supposed to treat a woman . That way they know when someone is not treating them right. If you hang around enough you will understand how they are. " Astila tells him so that he doesn't let their teasing bother him. Though it is worrying him that Crystal has been so quiet today. She normally would be the one to start the teasing. Astila motions for Yanasi to lead the way as he takes Aisling's hand and they fall to the back of the group. 

"Hey babe, have you noticed how quiet Crystal is today. I dont believe she has spoken more than a dozen words." Astila asks Aisling.

"Yes I have I was hoping it was that maybe she was just tired. Then I noticed she didn't take the opportunity to tease you with the others. I hope she is not still dwelling on Marbas and Macha. " Aisling looks at Crystal with concern and hopes she is back to her normal self soon. Yanasi yells for them to hurry that they have reached the cave.Astila yells back " no one is to go inside till we catch up. " Aisling looks at her husband and takes off running. Astila laughs and chases her. By the time they catch up to the kids they both are laughing as Astila catches her and hugs her tightly. Lotus rolls her eyes and tells them

"come on mom and dad you let's go. " Lilli is bouncy excitedly waiting to go inside. Yanasi stays towards the back of the group. He kicks the ground and tells them. 

"this is a sacred place it is off limits to us. I don't know of anyone who has ever gone inside. Astila are you sure it will be ok ?" 

Aisling looks at the group and tells them. 

"I have been inside before on my wedding day. This is Uktena's sanctuary we will need to call for him and ask before entering." Aisling is worried that Yanasi will think she is crazy. Not waiting to explain she closes her eyes and rubs the stone she wears. The earth rumbles around them and Uktena walks out of the cave. The three girls rush forward to hug him, Yanasi looks on in shock. 

"Boy are you not coming? It's ok nothing will harm you here." 

the group follows them inside and are awe struck at the sanctuary. It is exactly as Aisling remembered. The quartz in the walls glow with light making it light inside. The water well in the center. There are moon flowers growing throughout. 

"it is time for the twins to go through the trial of virtue for their powers to be unbound. It is a spirit walk except instead of just visions they will have to prove they are worthy of their full power. I had this test put in place after your father died. You see he had active gifts and when your mother had a miscarriage she blamed him for not saving her child. She went to see a woman who claimed to be a physic healer , that woman told her if she brought her the crystal from this cave it could heal her. Your father tried to stop her but instead gave in to steal my crystal. Not long after that we found him dead. Your mom was punished by losing her memories and forced to live in a alternate state of mind. Her mind became unstable when he was murdered in front of her. It turns out the woman was a fallen one trying to use my stone to get her power back. So now my line must go through a series of test to have their powers released. Astila , you and Yona your test was given and passed when you were helping your wives so without even knowing you were being tested you passed. Lilli and Lotus you have a great task ahead of you and I need you to go through this test. If you fail you will lose all active gifts. In other words you will still be able to see spirits and be empaths but that is about it. You will no longer be able to see events in the future or bend the elements. Now you can refuse the test and stay as you are or you can take it and become who you are ment to be. " Aisling takes her husbands hand and squeezes it knowing what he just learned is hard for him. 

Lilli asks Uktena 

"The fallen one who killed my grandfather is she still living?" Her anger is like electricity going through the cavern. 

"yes she is though I cannot tell you where she is. The only reason the twins need to be tested is because they have never actually been in battle with a fallen one or had to go against any evil. They have only been training , if they are going to master their full powers they will need them awakened. I have had Morrigan fashion them bracelets similar to Crystal's butterfly that as they master a skill it will change. I just need to know that they are ready and of pure heart. So my little flowers are you ready to enter the pool and go into a different time and space for your challenge. Do not worry I will always be close by nothing will happen to them. I cannot promise that they will be unchanged but I can promise they will come back . They each may take one person with them on their quest. So I will prepare things while they talk. " Uktena walks over to Yanasi asks him. 

"once the quest starts no one will be allowed to leave this cavern . Are you staying or are you leaving?" Watching the boys face he knows what his answer is before he speaks. 

"I am staying, I never knew they were the ones that the elders whispered about. That Aisling was the sun goddess that visited our tribe. " he looks at Aisling with eyes of admiration. 

"yes she is the one who saved the woman and child on the trail of tears and on her wedding day I came for her as well. They are of my blood and I am their guardian. At least one of them. You must stay quiet and not ask anything the girls will need their full wits about them. If you can promise that you can stay." Uktena nods to the boy and prepares the sacred fire and circle. When he is finished he asks the girls who they have chosen. 

Lotus takes her mom's hand and Lilli takes her dad's . Crystal and Yanasi will stay behind and ensure that the nothing disturbs the girls. They walk to the pool and enter it disappearing beneath the surface. Uktena walks over to Crystal and sits next to her. 

" hey my sweet , why the long face?" Uktena asks Crystal hoping she will talk to him. 

"My Tena why do they really need to do this. I know you told them it is just a test but I know you don't do things like this?" She looks at him doubting his real reason. 

"Aww now my sweet you have wounded me, but you are right. The fallen one that killed your grandfather has been gaining power and I'm afraid she will come for them and they will not be ready. This will test them and their resolve. They are not like you , they have never been forced to protect anyone and the time is getting close. I do not want to lose either of them. So I must use these means to help them train their resolve. " the worry in his voice is apparent to Crystal. 

"At least grandfather acted out of love and grief not like my other grandparents. " she sighs and Uktena looks at the sadness in her eyes. 

"You know when I lost my wife because our child was to large for her. If it had not been for Morrigan I would have slipped into utter dispare. My human wife was my world I would have sacrificed everything for her. You have not experienced a love like this yet, when you do you will understand. When your grandfather died your grandmother wanted to follow him she couldn't even see her children past her grief. The father allowed me to punish her in a way that would harm no one. So I kept her mind in a world of her own. This way she was happy but still here with them. I have sent them back to before the event happened so that they can see the fallen ones face. It will not change the event but it will bring Astila peace and hopefully help the girls see that they have what it takes to make the right choice. " Uktena squeezes Crystal's hand, she looks at him knowing that Astila will try to save his parents.