Page 90 of Bewitched

“Yes,” answered the goddess. “I am Cnoir, the goddess of love. I had to test Medea to see if the light within her would outweigh the darkness, since I heard her wish that she’d give anything to marry Rhys and raise Lily-Rae with him.”

“You heard that?” asked Medea in shock.

“Of course, my dear. We know, hear, and see all,” continued Cnoir. “I am happy to tell you that you passed your test.”

“That’s right,” agreed Zoroct. “The love inside you outweighed the evil. You were willing to give up your own happiness so Henriette wouldn’t be killed. You proved that you can love after all.”

“The greatest love is sacrifice,” said Cnoir. “You were willing to do that, not only for Henriette but also for your baby, since you didn’t want her to end up being evil.”

“B-but I am evil,” said Medea. “Just like my mother.”

“Not anymore,” said Alaina with a smile. “Now that you’ve experienced love, the light seems to have taken over.”

“Mayhap you’re right,” said Medea, listening for her mother’s voice in her head, but she no longer heard it. She honestly hoped she would never hear it again. “Thank you, all,” said Medea. “I’m actually this happened because now, I have confidence in myself. I have faith that no matter what happens or even if I become angry again, I will be able to control that darkness that lives within me, even if it lies dormant wanting to get out. I know I will make the right choices in the future, and let light and goodness show me the way.”

“There is darkness in everyone, but you just had more than your share,” said the goddess.

Zoroct nodded in agreement. “You are welcome to stay in Mura, Medea. Just don’t ever think of stealing from the gods again.”

“I promise, I won’t,” said Medea, hugging Rhys. “Oh! And I’ll always leave an offering from now on.”

“That reminds me. Elric, give Rhys back his ring.” Zoroct stared at the elf.

“He has it?” Rhys looked surprised. “It was my offering. The sea serpent swallowed it.”

“Here it is,” grumbled the elf, slapping Rhys’ ring into his hand. “The sea serpent spit it out and I just picked it up, that’s all.”

“I told you not to trust the elf,” said Zoroct with a chuckle. “He has a habit of taking things that don’t belong to him. If he wasn’t my messenger, he’d be in big trouble.” Zoroct disappeared in a flash of light.

“What about Henriette?” Medea asked the goddess.

“And King Osric?” Rhys wondered.

“I am here,” came a voice from behind them. Henriette walked up from the keep. Medea ran over and hugged her.

“So, that wasn’t you all along?” asked Medea.

“Yes, it was me,” said Henriette. “Our friendship is real.”

“I just took her place when she walked behind the changing screen,” the goddess explained. “Your friendship seemed true, Medea, but I had to make sure you’d really had a change of heart.”

“I did. I swear I did, and that from now on I’ll be changed. Forever!”

“You will still need to deal with your anger, and control that darkness on occasion,” warned Cnoir.

“I will try, but without magic, I’m not sure I can do it,” Medea answered.

“You have your magic back, my dear. Just not the dark magic,” said the goddess. “Once you made your decision to save Henriette, your dark magic was stripped from you so you can start over again, and not carry on the mistakes of your evil mother.”

“Thank you,” said Medea. “Does that mean I will no longer hear my mother’s words in my head urging me to do bad things?”

“I cannot answer that,” said the goddess. “We stripped your dark magic only, but can do nothing about voices you might hear in your head.”

“Could I have been hearing her because I felt such guilt for making a decision that caused her death?” asked Medea.

“Possibly,” answered Cnoir. “And it is also possible that you have remedied that guilt by saving a life this time.”

“Henriette,” said Medea with a nod. “I hope it is so. I have a new life now, and I am looking forward to it.”