"I'm sorry to have to tell you
this, but the rumors are true. Nevenia is in total ruin...there is nothing
left."
"And what of the child? How did
she survive?"
"I found her in a bucket, deep
within a well. It's a miracle she was found living."
"And what of her family?"
"The entire kingdom has
perished. She has no one else."
"Then I guess she has no
choice. We must take her to Cyndar."
"Cyndar! Why there?"
"What choice have we? They are
the safest option she has."
"Safe, maybe, but they will not
recognize their bond to this poor girl. Their selfish cruelty will ruin
her."
"Then we will ask him to send
one who will watch over her."
"I wish to fight it, but I know
you are right. Lets be on our way. As it is, there is nothing left for any of
us here."
"She will be alright, dear
husband. In the end, they will learn what blessing we have bestowed upon
them."
Her husband shook his head in a
doubtful manner. Little hope he could place with the people of Cyndar.
They wrapped the child in blankets
and furs and begun their trudge down the treacherous mountain.
*****
Cyndar was a prideful kingdom that
sat atop the ocean cliffs, at the foot of a sleeping volcano. King Anaxem took
great pride in his castle, which was built right into the face of an old lava
flow. With the ocean on one side, the treacherous volcano on the other, and the
power of his castle stone which was forged by fire, he felt he was invincible
indeed. Though it was not his kingdom that made him invincible, but he who had
the power to make it so, and his name was A'Maikra.
King Anaxem, and his mysterious
creature, took little interest in much more then preserving their island for
themselves. Very few who wandered their way by ship would even take notice of
their island. It was always a mirage in the distance, a flicker in the corner
of their eye, or an image within a scope that the next second was gone. By
A'Maikra's hand the fortress was kept safe, unless otherwise desired.
The Queen, King Anaxem's beloved
Kwen, had provided him a son whom they named Donovan. The King could not help
but boast in his pride. He invited many kingdoms to come pay their blessings
upon his son. Many of these kingdoms brought their daughters with high hopes of
making an arrangement with the mysterious King. One of these daughters
was named Meara, daughter of the Duke of Shippening. At first sight of the two
together, the Duke and the King both smiled that prideful smile, and shook on
it.
From a corner of the room, hidden in
the shadows, A'Maikra scowled his creature scowl. The Duke of Shippening was no
friend to be made. He knew the dangerous game he played in order to gain his
power, for A'Maikra played that same game years ago with a lady who promised to
make all his dreams come true. Though he wielded great power, he lived the life
of a servant. The lady had yet to fulfill her promise and now he was left to
watch his greatest pride get handed over to the new prince of Cyndar. His
kingdom, and his island, which were all wielded by his hand.
“And now this King thinks he could
just hand it over, while shaking hands with the Duke of Shippening!” A'Maikra
growled, and then he slipped away deeper into the shadows.
Five years passed as A'Maikra
watched, silently, the bond grow between the new prince and his bride to be, as
well as the King and the Duke of Shippening. "I say, they get along quite
well," King Anaxem told the Duke. The Duke of Shippening puffed his pipe
and grunted.
A'Maikra grumbled in his corner,
wishing he could strike the Duke and his pipe dead where they stood. Patience,
came a voice from within.
"Fifteen years it's been.
Fifteen years I wait," Grumbled A'Maikra.
I gave you power to wield your
mountain. I gave you ways in which to build your kingdom.
A'Maikra swiped at the air,
"You gave them power, you gave them a kingdom. I merely slave under their
rein. You gave me nothing!"
Your time is yet to come. Be patient
my beautiful creature. It will come soon enough.
"You know he has made me an
offer. You see the Duke and all his plenty; Power, a Kingdom, and now even a
wife. An offering is all he asks of me."
He can not give you what you desire
most. The Duke is merely a slave to his work, as you would be. But I will give
you more in the end, and a slave to the mortal you will be no longer.
"Pah! You wenches are all the
same! You promise with words, but words are weak. I need these people to fear
me!"
I gave you power...
"Mere magic tricks! I want the
strength to rule!"
With time, And she was gone from his mind.
A'Maikra eyed the young Meara and
thought she would make a sacrifice indeed! The Duke's alliance to him posed a
problem though. He needed a sacrifice, one worthy of a bargain. Then came
the maid with word to the King, "The Queen, she is to deliver this night
my lord."
"Well, this is a grand day
indeed!" Said the Duke, slapping the King on the back. The King's smile
was grand indeed. Though he was not the only one who was anticipating this
birth. In the dark corner of the room a creature knew his time would come soon,
whether the Lady's doing or not, he would have his offering.
*****
They stepped out of the Wood Between
and into the kingdom of Cyndar. The baby slept, unaware of the trip it had just
taken. Cyndar's castle stood just beyond the garden, in all its volcanic glory.
The man felt his heart sink as he looked from the great castle, down upon the
sleeping babe. Her face was as pale as the snow from which she was born into.
Her cheeks were rosy, though no longer from the cold. Cyndar was born of fire
and the heat resided all around them. The baby squirmed in the man's
arms.
"She's hot beneath those skins.
Let us get her down into the castle," The woman stated, taking her
husband's hand in hers as they walked on.
Cyndar's walls were great, built
high atop of lava rock. The man could feel the heat of its magic and shuddered.
He looked to his wife with concern. She lowered her head. He knew they had come
this far and there was no turning back now. The garden gate was locked up and
stood a few paces away. Just before it two soldiers sat, hunkering down as if
ready to doze off to sleep. None set foot on Cyndar's island without the King's
knowledge, and so they guarded with little concern to their actual duties of
standing watch.
"Hullo there!" The old man
said, doing his best to control his small shaky voice. He did not deal much
with mortals, and knew the reputation the Cyndar's mortals held.
One guard jumped at the sound of the
old man’s voice and shot to his feet, "Who are ye, and how have you come
to Cyndar's gate!" The other guard stumbled to his feet, spear at the
ready.
His wife grabbed hold of the old
man's arm, reaching a hand around the baby. If worse was to come, she would be
faster to reach the safety of the woods then her husband. She gently pulled the
blanket over the babe’s face, "We come from a land, far unbeknownst to you
or your King. We bring word to Lady Kwen, a tragedy of dire importance."
The guards looked to each other,
question plaguing their faces. They had never received such a random visitor
before, and those that could manage to break through A'Maikra's barriers were
no friend of theirs. They called for the service of their captain, who seemed
to take forever to reach the gate.
"Seize them, and take them to
the castle," The captain ordered, and the gates were opened to let them
in. The old man and woman stood relieved. Then the guards turned on them, with
spears to their backs, and the woman's heart jumped in her chest. She knew if
they ran they risked death, but her heart gave no relief as she followed her
husband, spears to their backs, into the Kingdom of Cyndar.
*****
"My lord, visitors have entered
the walls of Cyndar," A guard stated as he knelt before his king. King
Anaxem shot a look down at A'Maikra, who seemed to know nothing of it.
"How have they come if not by
your doing? And how have you not sensed this by now?" The King
asked.
"My lord...I...I do not know
how," A'Maikra answered, for even he was merely mortal, and did not know
that no mortal realm was hidden from those who walked the Wood Between.
"Magic, my lord," Answered
the guard, "For they came out of nowhere. Not even the night watch caught
sight of them until they were standing before them."
"Bring them to me!" King
Anaxem demanded.
"Um, my lord. They request an
audience with the Queen. They claim to have word of her people," The
guards words seemed to turn the King to stone. A'Maikra hunkered back into the
shadows, disappearing from the room entirely.
"Fetch the Queen," He said
at last.
Moments later, Queen Kwen sat
nestled atop her thrown. The King could not guess what she felt as she watched
the guards approach with the older couple, dressed head to toe in firs, who
claimed to have come from the land she abandoned so long ago.
"You enter my kingdom, claiming
to have knowledge that would concern our queen?" King Anaxem said.
The couple stood shaking, exchanging
glances between the King and Queen, though Queen Kwen seemed to refuse to look
upon them. "Yes, my lord, we come from Nevenia, the land of your
queen."
The King turned to his wife, waiting
on her response, but her face kept turned toward the floor. He took a long look
at the couple, examining their dress and pale skin. A bundle sat cradled in the
man's arms, and it moved. "What is this? Do you dare bring a beast into
our midst? Guards!"
"Wait, please!" Said the
old woman, stepping before her husband to shield the bundle, "It is no
beast, but a child. A wee babe, my lord. Kin to your queen." And with this
Queen Kwen shot a glare upon the old couple.
"How dare you make such claims!
Do you not see, my husband? These two come here with claims of my kin, but it
is a lie! They wish to curse us!" The Queen’s eyes flared with fire and
ire.
The old man, standing before the
king, unwrapped the small bundle and held it up for all to see. The
beautiful porcelain face twisted and crinkled in the light. King Anaxem leaned
forward, and the old man, seeing the King's curiosity, took a step forward. The
guards preceded to move, but were quickly halted by the King's hand. Now only
six feet from the King, the babe opened her icy-blue eyes. She was not only
beautiful, but the same sensation of seeing his own daughter for the first time
overtook him.
"This is Ella, daughter of
Kalitha, Queen of Nevenia. Ashiun's light guide her in the Netherworld."
The old man said, kneeling before the royals out of respect for his fallen
queen. His wife, tears in her eyes, followed suit, and the King could see they
were sincere.
Queen Kwen looked as though she had
just taken a dagger to the heart. Her sister, her beloved twin sister, was
gone. She looked down upon the child. A single tear reached her eye, but was
quickly dabbed away. Kwen was not one for falling prey to her emotions. She
mourned her family long ago, and would not take back what she did.
"How did this come about?"
The Queen asked, sitting as straight as any proper queen was taught to do.
The couple took to standing again,
the man cradling the babe ever closer to him now, "I'm afraid to inform
you that," he struggled to compose himself as he spoke,
"that...Nevenia burns as we speak. Not a soul was left living, aside from
my wife and myself. Ella here was found cradled in a bucket..at the bottom of a
well."
"Burns? You don’t mean by
dragon do you?" The King asked.
"What, are you trying to bring
him here?" The Queen followed, anger surging through her words.
"We came because we had nowhere
else to go, and because Ella needs her family. We are old, far past our child
rearing days. She still has yet so long to live." The wife spoke, gently
running a finger down Ella's cheek.
"You mean to say, you wish to
drop this child off with us? Have us raise her for you?" Queen Kwen spoke
as she eyed the child, with a less then compassionate eye.
"My dear," The King spoke
softly, "She is not their burden to carry, and already they've carried her
thus far. Our own will yet to need a lady companion. Let us not turn away from
such an opportunity. For her to be raised beside her own cousin, what fun they
will have."
The Queen did not look kindly upon
his words, but instead escorted herself from the thrown room. And with that the
babe was taken to King Anaxem’s arms, and under his care she would stay.
The couple left without a goodbye, though in their hearts they felt it was not
the last they would see of their tiny queen.
*****
"Stupid Rooster! Stupid Rooster!"
Squawked a small green bird that stood atop Ella's pillow. Ella grabbed the
pillow beside her and pulled it over her head, the green bird barely making it
out before getting smothered.
"Stupid Rooster! Stupid
Rooster! Must get up!" The bird squawked again, hopping atop the second
pillow. Ella tossed the pillow from her head, sending the bird into
flight.
"I get it! It's a stupid
rooster! And the sun has barely begun to rise, which is why it is a stupid
rooster!" Ella grouched, rising from her bed and dropping her feet to the
floor. The bird, which now clung to her bed drapes, turned its head sideways to
look at her. It dangled one of its feet before her face. Ella held up a finger,
welcoming the bird to take a ride over to her wash bin.
"Here you go." Ella said,
placing her bird atop the edge of the bin. She went on to wash her neck and
face, occasionally wringing a few drops of water atop the birds head.
"Brr." The bird cooed, fluffing its feathers with a shake of its
body.
"It is rather cold this
morning." Ella agreed. After dressing herself, and quickly pinning up her
hair, she made her way for the door. Her bird flew forward, landing atop her
shoulder. "Not this time Pistacia, you know how you creep them out. Maybe
if you could keep your mouth shut when you're around them, but we both know
that's not happening."
Ella scooped up Pistacia and sent
her into the air with a flick of her hand. Pistacia took off, only to make a
loop around and land right back on top of her head. "Well now look what
you've done. Off with you, silly bird."
"Silly bird! Silly bird!"
Pistacia squawked as Ella untangled its feet from her hair.
"I don't have time for this. If
you are going to come along, you are going to keep out of my way. And don't
show your face around the princess, lest you want to find yourself in tonight's
stew pot." Ella opened the door and escorted Pistacia out of the
room.
Pistacia took for the floor of the
hall and waddled on her way. What she did during the day Ella did not know, nor
did she know why the bird took to walking when she was well equipped with
wings. She'd put more thought into it but rarely did she have the time.
She had to be to her lady's room before sunrise.
"Where is your ever obnoxious
flying friend this morning?" Princess Feullete asked as Ella aided her in
her morning preparations.
"Around," Is all that Ella
could think to answer. She really didn't know what Pistacia was up to, and she
didn't really care, as long as she did not have to hear about it later.
"I don't know why you keep
company with such a creature. Full of disease and insects they are,"
Feullete stated, her nose turned up to the air. Ella righted her head as she
started to braid the princess's hair. Feullete made no fuss at the forced
gesture, knowing she herself did not want her hair out of place.
"I really do not choose to keep
her company, as much as she chooses to keep mine," Ella replied.
"She? Do you even know if it is
a girl?" Feullete asked.
"You know, I never really
thought about it before. I just naturally assumed from the pretty red ring
around her neck, and her pretty green feathers, that she must be a girl,"
Ella answered.
"She looks like a giant
pistacia nut," The princess said, "And I hate pistacia nuts. Just
like your bird, they belong outside."
Ella ignored the princess's
ramblings. She enjoyed pistacia nuts, just as much as she enjoyed Pistacia
herself. Ella finished attending to the princess, and together they headed down
for the dining hall, where the King, Queen, and Prince all awaited them.
Ella took her seat opposite the
prince, and beside her cousin Feullete. The Queen, who sat between the prince
and king, welcomed her daughter, but said not a word to Ella. Ella had grown
used to this behavior. She put all her attention to her uncle instead who
always started the day with a warm welcome.
"You look lovely this morning
my flower," He said to Feullete, who's smile shown brightly at her
father's words, but died quickly as he turned his attention toward Ella,
"And you as well, sweet angel. I pray you two slept well."
"Yes, my lord." The two
said in unison, though Feullete's mood had quickly soured. She barely touched
the food before her, and paid no respects to the men and women who served her.
Ella, on the other hand, always welcomed their service with a smile.
"I am happy to inform you, my
Queen, that we are to expect the Duke of Shippening this evening. He is to come
with his daughter Meara, to dine with us." The King turned to his son at
the mention of Meara's name. His son paid his father little attention, and
showed no particular response to the mention of Meara.
"Why, that is so wonderful, my
lord," The Queen began, elbowing her son, "The weather is so
wonderful this evening. I say it would be perfect for a ride on horseback.
You can take her up the trail to the ocean cliffs. The sunset there is
just lovely."
Everyone knew the prince was of age
to marry, and the prince was feeling the pressure more then ever. "She can
see the sunset over the ocean from the guest quarters," Prince Donovan
said, his mood sounding as soured as his sister's.
His mother's scowl could melt ice,
and she turned it upon her son full force. Luckily for Donovan he was born
under such heat. He kept his eyes to his food, not giving his mom an ounce of
attention. She turned her glare upon her husband, who shrugged, and went back
to eating his food.
"It's alright mother. I am
plenty of age, and as soon as they come, I will be sure not treat my suitors
with such disdain," Princess Feullete stated, making her mother's face
flood with pride.
"Speaking of, my love, when
will you allow our sweet flower to start accepting suitors? For she is near
sixteen and has not yet to be courted by a single suitor," The Queen
asked, obviously switching her attention off her son, and onto a more promising
subject.
"One wedding at a time, my
love. As soon as the announcement for our son's betrothal is made, we can start
accepting suitors for our lovely ladies," The King answered.
At his words, his daughter dropped
her fork to her plate, "Ladies? But...Ella? She is no princess!" Ella
had froze where she sat, with her fork dangling in her grasp.
"Ella is just as much a
princess here as you are, my dear," The King said plainly.
"Not of this Kingdom. Her kingdom
burned to the ground! Why should she have a right to barge her way in here as
princess, unless you are trying to replace me. Is that what it is father? Is it
because I am not as pretty as she is? Have you lost favor with me? Am I no
longer good enough to be called you beautiful flower!" At this point his
daughter had become red and raging. Feullete was known for losing her temper,
and her mother was known even more for fueling it.
"This is absurd! I will not
have this thieving girl take attention off our daughter, who is rightful
princess in the house of Cyndar! This kingdom has one princess and that is our
flower Feullete! And you will not deny her all possible suitors by waving this
impostor in their faces!" The Queen spoke with such force that even King
Anaxem was taken aback.
"Father, didn't you once say
that Ella was not aware of the fate to which her family perished?" Prince
Donovan asked. With that the King's face turned pale, and his heart sank. He
spun in his seat, searching the room, but Ella was nowhere to be found. King
Anaxem turned to his wife, who smiled an evil sneer, and pretended to take no
notice. He knew she would learn about it sooner or later, but he had hoped she
would hear it from him.
*****
Ella was running, but to where she did
not know. All she knew was that she wanted as far away from Feullete's words as
she could get. Her mind reeled with questions, but the answers seemed so far
out of reach. A real princess? Was she really a real princess? And what of this
kingdom they spoke of? ...burned to the ground! Those words reverberated in her
mind, pounding her thoughts until she could take it no longer. She had just
taken hold of a tree when she realized she was no longer within the castle
grounds. She had left through the garden gate and wandered far into the forest
beyond.
Ella desired tears but did not know
what it was she would cry over. She did not know her family, nor the kingdom
from which she came. She was raised under the impression that her mother, Queen
Kwen's sister, died giving birth to her within the house of Cyndar. She was of
royal blood, but was denied title when she became pregnant outside of
wedlock.
When asked about her father, Queen
Kwen claimed he was a nobody. Ella always assumed that it was because of this
that she was despised so. If she was a real princess, then how could her father
be a nobody. And if her parents had a kingdom all their own, how is it she came
to be born within the castle of Cyndar. It was all so confusing.
Ella felt she had lost the will to
keep running. Where would she run away to anyway. She was stuck on an island.
Search parties would be sent for her and she couldn't evade them forever. She
slid down the tree, not caring what it was doing to her dress, and took seat
upon the crinkly leaves beneath her. Even among the shade of the trees, the
heat from above was almost unbearable. Ella felt her dress sticking to her body
and her hair growing clammy.
"What am I doing?" She
asked herself.
"Tis a very good question. What
are you doing here?" Came a voice from the shadows.
Ella shot to her feet, turning right
and left in search of the voice that spoke to her, "Who are you? There's
no need to play games. I am merely out for a walk and my escorts will be after
me shortly."
"You need not lie to me,
Princess. I've been watching you for some time now. I know you are alone
here."
Ella felt a sudden chill, though her
body sweat from the heat. She slowly started to back the way she came, keeping
a watch for the source of the voice, "I have no need to lie to you. I am
merely trying to save you from a dreadful death should my escorts find you
taunting me so. So please, just leave me be." She heard the panic in her
own voice give herself away.
"I mean you no harm, my dear,
for I know the troubles you are in. I come because I know what they refuse to
tell you. The truth behind the lies you've been told. I know the place you once
called home."
Ella wished for her feet to keep on
moving. She did not trust this voice, no matter what he claimed to know. Her
feet refused to move, and her ears seemed to search for the voice once more.
"Tell me what you know," She heard herself speak. She scolded herself
afterward for edging him on, and wished she could get her feet to
cooperate.
"I will tell you, but I must
ask a favor in return."
"What kind of favor?" She
asked, scowling at her feet as she willed them to move. She heard a rustle of
leaves behind her and quickly turned her head. Her heart beat furiously within
her chest.
"Look," Came the voice,
though this time she was sure it was right before her. She spun her head
forward, but there was no one there. Then something caught her eye. On the
ground by her feet, twinkling in the sunlight that shone through the trees, lay
a strange object. It looked like a hand mirror but was not made of glass.
Something about the item drew her in, pulling at her until she was kneeling
before it.
Pick it up, came a voice, but this time she could hear it within her
own head.
This wasn't good and she knew it.
She did not want this, but the millions of unanswered questions in her mind
plagued her, urging her on.
Pick it up so that I may see the
beauty that lies within you.
Ella saw her hand reach out, watched
it hover over the shiny object, and felt its heat as it drew her in. A flash of
green and then it was gone. Her trance was broken and she found herself on her
hands and knees. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she feel it in her
head. She tried to stand but her world begun spinning.
She fell to the ground,
feeling as though she was on fire. The sun had reached its peak and its heat
was scorching the worlds beneath it. She heard a squawk, and a sudden rustling
of leaves, but to move her head made her world spin more. Suddenly there were
arms beneath her, scooping her off the ground, and carrying her out of the
forest.
*****
Her head was pounding but her body
was cool once more. She recognized the curtains that hung around her bed, and
the small ramblings of the feathery friend that she was sure stood watch by her
window. Ella rolled to her side, the movements enhancing the pain in her
head.
"You are keeping so quiet. Is
that for my benefit?" She said softly, smiling when her eyes saw the green
blur behind her curtains fluff up. She moved one of her curtains back and heard
the flutter of wings. Pistacia landed beside her pillow. "I'm sorry I ran
off. I did not mean to be so rash. I was just...well I don't know what I was.
Confused, I guess."
Pistacia chirped softly. Ella gently
scratched the back of the bird's head with her finger. Pistacia suddenly arched
its head, aiming its gaze at the door right as a knock sounded. Ella tried to
rise up but found the pain in her head prevented such movement. "Come in,"
She said laying her head back atop her pillow and pinching her eyes shut.
"I thought you might like some
water," Came a man's voice. Ella's eyes shot open, and she tried to rise
again, regretting it the moment she did. It was not normally proper for a man
to enter a ladies room without an escort, but Ella was in no shape to argue.
"Please," came Prince Donovan's voice, "Don't move. I can
come to you."
Ella was relieved it was Donovan and
gladly stayed where she lay. Prince Donovan took a seat beside her bed and held
the cup of water before her face. Ella knew it would hurt to move but reached
for the cup as she raised her head enough to drink. The cool water soothed all
the way down, cooling her head with each gulp she took, until she realized she
had downed the entire cup within seconds. Prince Donovan's eyes were wide with
surprise, but a smile resided on his face. Embarrassed, Ella pushed the cup
away.
"Thank you," She
whispered, laying her head back against her pillow.
"You're welcome," He
replied. Then came a few minutes of silence where neither knew quite what to
say.
"Who found me?" Ella asked
at last. She rolled to her side, just enough to meet his gaze. His face showed
pity and a tad bit of anger.
"I did," He replied. His
focus moved to the cup in his hands, which he rolled back and forth between his
palms, "Mother refused to send a search party. Father refused to cross her
decision, seeing as she convinced him you left of your own free will, and would
come back should you so choose to do so." Ella's heart sank, her face
looked clearly confused. "I don't understand it," the prince went on,
"Why she despises you so. You've been nothing but sweet, to all of
us."
Ella looked up from the cup to find
he was looking at her now. She blushed under his gaze, and had to look away. He
cleared his throat before asking, "You aren't going to leave now, are
you?"
Surprised by this Ella met his gaze
again, "No, of course not. I mean, where would I go?"
"Well, back to where you came
from, I guess."
"And where is that? I don't
know where I came from."
"If you were to find out
the truth, would you leave?" He tried to avoid looking at Ella, but
couldn't help finally meeting her eye to eye.
Donovan had always been her closest
friend, seeing as he was one of few who actually liked her, but even now she
felt betrayed that he had never told her of this before, "What would I go
back to? You heard your sister's words. Burned to the ground...if I really did
have a kingdom, I don't have a kingdom anymore."
"What of its people though?
Surely not everyone could have died," The Prince said, thinking of the two
that brought her here. If that couple managed to make it out alive, there had
to be more that managed an escape.
Ella's eyes grew wide. "Donnie,
what are you saying?" She pushed herself up to see him better, "What
do you know?" Her silver-blue eyes flared in an icy fire that burned right
through him.
Donovan knew there was no keeping it
from her now, she deserved the know the truth, and it was time someone told
her, "You weren't born in this castle Ella. You were brought here, by your
people."
The pain in her head could not keep
her from shooting straight up in her bed. Her mouth tried to form words but she
felt mute in that moment. The words danced around her head until finally the
right ones found their way to her lips, "Tell me everything."
*****
The Duke of Shippening was a
disgusting sight as he shoveled his food and gulped his wine. Even more so he
was loud, slapping the King atop his shoulders with every boisterous laugh he
made. Ella found herself re-swallowing food that seemed to not want to stay put
in her stomach. Still dizzy from her run through the woods, and fighting the
truths she had just learned, Ella found herself struggling to tolerate the
noisy company.
"His father was furious, and I
could see war in his eyes, but I laughed despite his anger. You should have
seen his runt of a son. And he had the nerve to call him a prince!" The
Duke gloated in his story, telling of the poor prince's embarrassment as he
attempted courting his daughter.
Meara sat silently cutting her food
into tiny pieces, ignoring her father's storytelling. Prince Donovan barely
touched his food, though he kept his eyes to his plate. Ella watched him more
closely now. She knew Donovan's stresses with his parents persistence to have
him marry Meara, but never before had she realized how unhappy he looked.
"I told him his son was
nothing in comparison to Meara's current suitor, and that he'd have far better
chances in a kingdom like Geladium. Oh, he did not take so kindly to
that!" The Duke gave another boisterous laugh.
"Few could stand up beside a
prince such as Donovan! A fine lad he has become, and a fine husband he will
make!" King Anaxem stated.
Ella wondered how Meara and
Donovan felt, with their father's speaking of them as if they were not present
to hear. Ella turned her attention to Princess Feullete who looked to be
boiling under the surface. Feullete was eyeing Meara with horrible detest. With
every visit from Meara, Feullete's presence became smaller and smaller. Meara
did not even notice, as she was too busy smiling and pretending to enjoy her
father's compliment. Although Ella saw the eye rolls that followed as soon as Meara
turned her head from him.
The Queen seemed fed up with all
this talk of her son, and decided to take the focus another route, "Surely
there must be a prince worth taking notice of elsewhere. You see, my beautiful
flower, Princess Feullete, will be looking for suitors soon. We would take very
little but the best to court our daughter, as you can understand."
The Duke seemed to study Feullete
for a moment, almost too long in Ella's eyes, for one would almost think he was
incapable of seeing beauty in the princess at all. Then his focus turned toward
his pipe, which he proceeded to pack tightly, gesturing for a light from one of
the servants. The Queen started to fume until the Duke, after a puff from his
pipe, finally spoke up.
"There is one who may be of
interest to you. I'd much rather see him beheaded myself, after his refusal to
even visit my daughter. From what I hear though, kings have even gone as far as
offering gifts of gold in exchange for a visit to his kingdom, just so he could
look upon their daughters in the chance that he might fall in love with one of
them. I'd sooner see him hanged then pay him to look upon my daughter.
Especially when she has a suitor of comparable looks and charm. I see no reason
to push my luck elsewhere, but you feel free if such a prince is your
wish." The Duke leaned back in his chair, so much Ella half expected it to
break under his weight. He puffed his pipe and seemed almost to fall asleep.
"And what, may I ask, be the
name of this kingdom you speak of?" The Queen said, intrigue plaguing her
features. She had to clear her throat before waking the Duke from his tobacco
coma.
"The Kingdom? Oh yes,
Vaniabera. Prince Theo of Vaniabera. His kingdom lies just below the mountain
of ice, which borders the kingdom of Nevenia, I believe." The Duke said,
slowly closing his eyes and returning to his coma state.
"Nevenia?!" The King said,
startling the Duke so much he almost lost his pipe. The Queen dropped her wine,
sending a river of red down the table. Ella watched the blood red river pour
down the table until it reached her napkin. The cloth, which was once white as
snow, was now stained red. Something in Ella's mind flashed bright as the sun,
blinding her thoughts until all she could see was the memory:
A baby, dressed in white, cradled in
her mother's arms. Her mother's face is one of fear as she races from a castle
of ice, trudging through the snow, her feet completely bare. She comes to a
halt just inside the courtyard. A beast stands before her, eyes red and
flaming. The baby cries and the mother squeezes tighter.
"You may not have her! I don't
care what he promised you!"
"Oh, promise he did, but I am
not here for the babe. I need proof that his and his own tried hiding her from
me, so that when I return I can have his blood!"
The woman's eyes grew wide with
terror. A tear glistened down her cheek like a diamond, falling frozen to the
ground. Then her fear is gone as she stands courageously before the best. Her
bare feet standing in puddles now, as the snow around the beast melts under his
heat.
"You can burn my kingdom, and
you can spill my blood, but no matter what you threaten she will never be
yours!" And with that a white beast, like that of a great lion, dives
forth from beneath the snow, and takes the baby in his giant jaws.
Though its teeth dig into the babe's
flesh it does not let go, running for all its worth. It comes to a well on the
far side of town. The beast's flames can be seen not far in the distance. The
great cat takes to the form of a man, cradling the crying baby in his arms, the
baby's dress now stained with blood.
"It's okay, sweet sister, he
will not find you. I promise to make sure of it." The man quickly pulls
the bucket off the wall.
Removing his own shirt he wraps it
tightly around the baby and lays her inside the bucket. From his pocket he
pulls out a flower, as white as the snow from which it grows, and dusts it
under her nose. The baby's cry fades, and her eyes drift close. He struggles
behind his tears as he slowly lowers her into the well. Taking to his lion form
he turns to face in the direction of the beast. A blood curdling scream fills
the air, and the great white cat lets out a roar that would pierce the heart of
even the toughest of goblins.
The baby whimpers within the well,
her sounds never reaching the surface above.
*****
"Ella, what are you
doing?" Prince Donovan asked after storming after her, and following her
to her room. He found she had a sack and was packing it full of clothes.
"What does it look like? I'm
packing," Ella answered, fighting tears as she shoved random belongings
into the sack, filling it full.
"So, you are leaving
then," Donovan stated. Ella could hear the drop in his voice, and she
stopped in the midst of shoving a giant dress into her sack, its skirt filling
the void between them. She pulled it out and tossed it to the floor.
"I saw something." Ella
said, taking a seat atop her bed. Donovan stepped closer, taking a seat beside
her. A flurry of green came charging down upon him, landing in the small space
between. It nipped Donovan's arm, sending him scurrying to the far side of the
bed.
"Ow! You little beast!"
The Prince spat, grabbing hold of a pillow for defense.
"I'm sorry," Ella said,
desperately taking hold of the bird, "She's been a little protective over
me lately."
"Back to what you were saying,
before we were so rudely interrupted," Prince Donovan said, glaring at the
bird in Ella's hands. It hissed back at him.
"Silly bird. Stupid boy,"
The bird said. Ella clamped her fingers around its beak.
"At dinner earlier. After the
Duke said that name, Nevenia. That was the name of my kingdom," Ella said,
releasing the bird and allowing it to settle itself on her lap.
"How do you know that?"
Donovan asked, desiring to inch closer, but fearing the bird that watched him
like a hawk.
"I saw it, in my mind. A memory
of sorts. I saw my kingdom, and the beast that burned it," Ella clenched
her fists tight. The bird crawled up her arm and nestled against her face. The
Prince thought this curious, but took the opportunity to edge closer to
Ella.
"So you say you saw it, but how
are you going to get there? And even if you do, what do you expect to
find?" Donovan asked.
"I don't know what I'll find.
Even you said there is a chance there might be people still. All I know is what
my heart tells me, and my heart tells me that I need to go back." Ella
pulled her sack to her feet.
Donovan's heart pounded inside his
chest as he turned his eyes upon Ella, "You can't go, " he said,
reaching for her hand, then pulling his own back after the bird took a dive
down to her lap, "at least....not alone."
Ella's eyes widened, and her mouth
stood agape. Her door flew open as a startled Ella jumped to her feet. Queen
Kwen stormed into her chambers.
"And what, may I ask, are you
doing in here?" She scolded, shooting her glare from Ella to Donovan,
who's heart looked about to jump from his chest.
"Mother, I was merely checking
up on Ella. I was worried after she left from dinner in such a hurry. I was
concerned for her health is all," Prince Donovan stood, bowing to Ella
shakily, "I'm glad to see you doing better."
Queen Kwen looked like she might
erupt. Ella imagined her spitting fire as her mouth opened, "Feeling a
little sick, are we? I'm sure this has nothing to do with the Duke's
story." The Queen's eye drifted to the sack at Ella's feet, "So it
does. Looks like the secret is out." Her scowl became a smile even more
menacing, "Don't think you're going anywhere. Not just yet."
Ella watched the Queen as she
drifted from her room, slowly closing the door with barely a sound. Her mind
tried to make sense of the Queen's words, but no matter why she said what she
said, Ella knew there was something evil hidden behind that woman's eyes.
*****
Queen Kwen walked the dark halls of
the Castle of Cyndar, watching the shadows with pure suspicion. Her eyes locked
on a corner of the castle where the shadows seemed to form a dark void,
refusing any light to penetrate.
"I know you are there,
creature. What word of you from the Duke?" The Queen asked.
"He is awaiting you at his
chambers. But I must say, I despise you for ever bringing him in on our
bargain," A'Maikra crawled from the shadows, his hideous face contorted
into an ugly pout.
"He is our voice for making
this bargain, not to mention our legs on which to stand upon. He does not fear
the dragon," The Queen stated, cringing at the sight of the creature's
droopy mouth, which muttered words inaudible to her ears. "Speak up, you
morbid buffoon!"
A'Maikra cringed at these words,
"And what of our bargaining chip? She knows. I see it in her eyes. Someone
has told her. How are we to ensure that she does not make a run for it?"
"Yes, we can thank my idiotic
son for that one. I caught him visiting her chambers, the snake. This will not come
in the way of our plans. I have made sure there is watch on her at all hours of
the day. Besides, with your help we can ensure that she will never make it off
this island."
A'Maikra grinned, though Kwen wished
he hadn't. His grin was even uglier then his pout. "Now off with you
creature. Make ready the island, and I will have word with the Duke."
A'Maikra lurked back into the
shadows, and Queen Kwen continued on her way to meet the Duke at his chambers.
Two light raps on the door proved it to be open, though she waited for his face
to appear behind the crack. The Duke guided the door the rest of the way,
welcoming the Queen into his room.
"I've been waiting. What kept
you!" The Duke demanded under a whisper. The Queen caught eye of princess Meara
asleep on a bench by the window, and looked upon the Duke with questioning.
"She said she felt uneasy in her chambers, as if a lurker hid within the
shadows, watching her."
"Really. I wouldn't be
surprised," The Queen said matter-of-factually, "Shall we take this
out to the hall then?" The Duke stepped out, closing the door until but a
splinter of light shone through.
"If that creature does not stop
tormenting my daughter then I will have his head on a stake, and he will live
out his days as a scarecrow in my gardens!" The Duke spat, hoping the
creature was near enough to hear.
"I do not control the creature.
You are free to do with him what you wish. I come here on a different matter,
one involving the dragon," The Queen said, her voice so low the Duke had
to lean in to hear it clearly.
Inside the room Meara had lay awake
under the light of the moon, for fear of sleeping amongst the shadows of this
castle. She could feel them watching her everywhere she went. When she heard
the Queen's voice she startled, but did not move. Why has the Queen come to
meet my father at his chambers?
Meara heard their voices drift from
the room, and the door creak a little. She rolled on her bench, keeping her
eyes shut just in case, finding when she cracked them open a little that she
was completely alone. She could hear them on the other side of the door, and
slowly crept off her bench.
She prayed the floorboards wouldn't
give her away as she crept closer to the door. A few feet away now she could
hear the voices more clearly. "The Dragon will not take lightly to
bargains. He wants what he is due, and was promised to be delivered it more
then once." She recognized her father's voice, and knew of whom he talked.
She had heard him address the dragon before.
"He will get what he wants, and
this time I will hand deliver it to him. I need only what I ask!" Came the
Queen's voice.
"He can give you what you ask,
of course, but it may not come in the way in which you desire it to," The
Duke said menacingly.
"He has provided you with much.
I do not see why what I ask should be so hard for one of his power to
accomplish," The Queen stated in return.
"If power is what you seek then
power is what you will get. But I warn you now, the power to rule for eternity
comes at a price. If you are willing to pay it, he will gladly provide it in
exchange for the girl." Meara could sense her father's smile as he spoke
these words.
The girl? She wondered. Surely he
could not be talking about her. Her father would never allow such harm to come
to her. But then who could they be talking of? Princess Feullete? Surely not.
Queen Kwen took too much pride in her 'beautiful flower' Meara thought, rolling
her eyes. Then there could only be one other they spoke of.
"Ella." Meara whispered
aloud. She heard the door creak a little, and hurried back to her bench.
Quickly re-positioning herself, praying her father did not hear her scurry.
"I will relay your message but
I promise nothing," The Duke said as he entered his chambers. The Queen
took two steps inside and stopped, checking on Princess Meara where she lay.
"You do what I ask, and your
daughter can have this kingdom, and my son, handed over to her on a silver
platter. They can do with the castle what they wish for I will no longer care.
I will be sitting on a throne of my own, far greater then any mortal of this
world," The Queen said, taking a step closer to the Duke, who refused to
budge from where he stood.
"You do this for me, and in
exchange, I will gladly make room in my kingdom for one other to rule beside
me. Think on it," She said, turning in a flattering manner toward the
door. The Duke watched as the Queen drifted down the hall. He huffed at her
offer, shutting the door a little louder then he intended.
"Father? Is that you?" Meara
asked, though she knew very well who it was.
"Sorry, my sweet. I did not
mean to wake you. I went for a stroll to get some fresh air. But I am back
now," The Duke said, taking a seat on his bed so he may remove his shoes.
"It is quite alright. I am
feeling much better now and think I will return to my chambers," Meara
said, rising from the bench.
"Are you quite sure, my
dear?"
"Yes, father," She said,
approaching his side, and leaning down to kiss him atop his head, "Sleep
well." And she departed from his room, passing her doors as she walked
down to Ella’s room.
*****
Ella tucked her sack under her arm
and crept to her door. Cracking it open a little, she peered out to find two
guards leaning against the far wall. Ella closed her door and went for her
second plan. Her window overlooked the gardens but it was a straight two story
drop all the way down. "It's impossible Pistachia. There is no way out of
here." Pistacia quickly turned her head to the door. Ella waited for the
knock to sound.
She approached her door slowly,
opening it just enough to meet the guards gaze, "You have company, Lady
Ella."
Ella stared questioningly at the
guard. He stepped aside to allow Meara through. "Lady Ella."
"Princess Meara, what brings
you here this time of night?" Ella asked.
"Princess Feullete has
complimented your company on many occasions, and seeing as I have struggled to
find sleep as of late, I was wondering if I may have the pleasure of your
company this night." Meara smiled kindly as she gesturing toward the door.
Ella was curious, Does she mean for me to go with her?
"Of course, you aren't the
first to suffer night terrors in this castle. I have spent many a nights
singing for Princess Feullete so that she might find sleep. I would gladly
help," Ella said.
"Shall we then?" Meara
said, taking Ella's hand and dragging her from the room. "Thank you
guards, we will no longer need your services."
"Um, yes, thank you," Ella
said, almost tripping over her feet as she was pulled down the hall. The guards
were left staring at each other with question, but Meara left them no time to
think it through. She pulled Ella quickly down the hall and out of the guards
line of sight.
Ella saw the guest quarters in sight
but they took a detour toward the stairs, "Meara, where are you taking me?
Your room is up the way.." But Meara pulled Ella close and covered her
mouth.
"Keep quiet, we can't risk my
father hearing us. Now quickly, down the stairs. If anyone sees us, we
missed dinner and are going to have a midnight snack," Meara whispered,
edging Ella toward the stair. Ella looked desperately into Mean's eyes. She
could see that Meara wanted her to trust her, so Ella kept on down the
stairway.
As they descended they could see the
shadows grow larger and darker. "The shadows, they're watching us," Meara
said quietly.
Ella looked around them and felt the
uneasiness Meara must have been feeling. They moved all the faster, skipping
steps as they nearly ran down the stairs. The shadows lightened up as they
reached the bottom floor. Meara continued pulling Ella, this time in the
direction of the kitchen.
"Where is it safe to
talk?" Meara whispered as they walked.
"I don't know, nowhere really.
The gardens, maybe, but how would we make it outside?" Ella asked.
"I don't know. This is your
castle, not mine. My maids always had hidden halls and their own entrances to
the castle. Does yours not have the same?" Meara asked.
"Oh, they do! Here, this
way." Ella said, taking the lead from Meara.
The two hurried on through the
halls, into the kitchen, then through a door that looked to be a pantry, but
became a door to a courtyard. Tucked on the side of the castle laid the place
where the cooks and butchers made shop.
"The guards rarely patrol
these parts. We shouldn't run into trouble," Ella said, squeezing Meara's
hand tightly. Meara tensed up too, looking up to the walls, and into every dark
corner they came across. They reached a corner that turned out toward the gardens.
"We should run for it
from here. We risk someone seeing us from the windows above, but once we reach
the garden hedges we should be out of sight," Ella said, pulling Meara
closer to her. The two both took a breath, and Ella squeezed her hand once
more, "Now!"
They took off for the hedges,
crossing the open space that felt like a hundred eyes peering down upon them. Meara
couldn't help but turn her head for a second to look up at the castle above. No
windows seemed to show light but she could still feel eyes watching her through
the darkness. Meara felt grass under her feet and no sooner felt her weight
being pulled to the ground.
"Ow!" She said, pulling
her hand out from Ella's grasp, rubbing at her now sore shoulder.
"Sorry," Ella said, taking
a deep breath. The two waited an overly quiet second, listening for any signs
of being seen.
"Okay, we should keep going.
Even if they caught sight of us, do you really want to wait for them to come
looking?" Meara asked.
"No, you are right. Lets keep
on," Ella said, rising to a crouch, and doing her best to rush through the
gardens. She came to another set of hedge bushes that led deeper into the
trees. Feeling comfortable standing at this point, she took off in a run,
though her run came to a sudden halt as she collided into a soft, although
bulky form. It took hold of her arms, and Ella kicked and fought with all her
might.
"Ella! Ella, ow! It's me, would
you stop hitting me!" Prince Donovan said, taking hold of her wrists. Ella
stopped, looking up into his face. Meara giggled softly in the
background.
"Donnie? What are you doing out
here?" Ella asked.
"I think that question would
better be directed at you two," Donovan stated, barely meeting eyes with Meara.
"We're on the run,
obviously," Meara said, stepping beside Ella and taking her arm.
"Yea, though I don't quite know
what from, or why," Ella said, looking to Meara, and then back at Prince
Donovan.
Donovan looked at Meara, and he
knew, "You plan to take her back?"
"They're after her," Meara
said, and Ella shot her a look.
"After me? Who?" Ella
asked.
"Your aunt and my father,"
Meara said, turning to look at her.
"But why? What do they want
with me?" Ella asked, looking toward Donovan, though he did not seem to be
as informed.
"They wish to use you as a
bargain to the dragon. Though for what I don't quite know," Meara
said.
The Dragon...And Ella's mind drifted
off into a memory, her kingdom burning under the furnace of that fire breathing
beast, and her mother's words, "You may not have her! I don't care what he
promised you!" "I don't get it. What is it about me that the beast
would want me?"
But neither of the other two seemed
to have the answer. "All I know," Meara said, taking Ella's hand
again, "Is that we got to get you out of here. For whatever the dragon
desires, it only ever results in death." And Ella nodded.
"I know where we can get some
horses, but from there I know little of how we can get off this island,"
Prince Donovan said.
"Stupid boy! Follow me, silly
bird." Came a voice from above. Ella knew that voice and found her bird
sitting atop a branch overhead.
"Pistachia, where did you come
from?" Ella asked, but the bird ignored her and flew to another branch
deeper into the trees. Ella followed without question.
"Are we seriously following the
bird?" Donovan asked, running after Ella, who was already heading deeper
and deeper into the wood.
"Do you have a better
idea?" Meara asked, overtaking him in mere seconds to catch up to Ella.
"Follow silly bird. Faster now,
boy!" The bird's voice echoed back to the Prince's ears.
"Does no one realize it's
actually talking to us?" Donovan asked, running faster to catch up.
No one realized the deeper they ran,
the more the forest changed before them, turning into a wood far beyond the
reaches of the border of Cyndar.
*****
"What do you mean they're
gone?!" The Queen screamed from her seat atop the throne.
King Anaxem turned to her
questioningly, "No need to yell, my love. They couldn't have gotten far.
We have a party out searching for them already."
"Do not tell me when I can or
cannot raise my voice in my own thrown room! I gave these men orders, they were
not to take their eyes off the girl for a moment, or it was to be their
heads!" Queen Kwen scolded, looking down upon the two who, fearing their
very lives, looked pleadingly upon their king.
"The girl? Both the girls are
missing, my dear, and it is not the guards jobs to keep them confined to the
castle. They left the castle by their own accord, and the guards alerted us
first chance they got," The King said.
A door slammed open and the Duke of
Shippening charged into the throne room, flanked by six of his guards,
"What is this that I hear about my daughter going missing?!"
The King saw the furry on the Duke's
face, and stood before his throne, his hands both raised as a sign of peace,
"Calm, my friend. The guards have been out all morning looking for them.
They are probably just out for an early morning stroll up the mountain. There
is a great lookout up there. Mother had suggested Prince Donovan take Meara up
there to watch the sunrise. I'm sure that is where they are."
The Duke looked to Queen Kwen who's
face betrayed the King's words, "You better hope they are out watching the
sunset, because if my Meara does not return, I will be holding you
responsible." The Duke turned and marched out, motioning for his
guards to follow, "My horse, now!"
*****
He didn't know how long he'd been
running, but one thing he did know was that his legs were going to give in any
minute. Prince Donovan tried to speak, but his heavy breathing prevented any
actual words to make it out, "Wa...ho...hold...on." He gasped and exhaled
his words, taking hold of a tree for support.
Pistachia landed atop his head a
minute later, pecking furiously at his scalp, "Ouch! Stop it! Blasted
bird!" Donovan hollered, waving his free arm furiously over his head,
somehow missing the bird every time.
"Pistachia, stop it. Quit
picking on Donnie like that!" Ella scolded, snatching hold of one of
Pistachia's wings before the bird could go at Donovan's head once more.
"I agree with Donovan," Meara
said, taking hold of a tree herself, "I don't think I can take another
step in these horrible things." She kicked off her slippers and rubbed her
sore feet.
"Might have been better off
with a real pair of shoes," Ella said taking notice of the shattered state
of Meara's slippers.
"Yea, I didn't exactly think
this far ahead," Meara said as she picked at a splinter that had stuck
itself into her heel.
"I don't think any of us could
foresee ourselves running through the woods in the middle of the night,"
Donovan said, taking notice of their surroundings for the first time since
planting himself onto the tree, "Funny thing, though, is it just me or
does it seem strangely brighter here. We couldn't have been running for that
long."
Meara and Ella both turned where
they sat on the forest floor, taking their gaze to the trees up above.
"Donnie, these don't look like the same trees that we would find around
Cyndar," Ella said.
"No, this isn't the same place.
The ground is moist, and it hasn't rained in Cyndar for weeks," Donovan
said, running his hand through the foliage that littered the forest
floor.
"What are you saying? Cyndar is
on an island, so how could we not be in the same place?" Meara
asked.
Ella shrieked, shaking her hand, and
grasping her finger in pain, "Pistacia, what has gotten into you!"
"That little beast needs to be
plucked and staked over a fire!" Donovan said, picking up a stick and
swinging at the air, though Pistacia had already disappeared out of
sight.
"Donovan, drop the stick, it's
gone," Meara said, eyeing Donovan so as to direct his attention toward
Ella.
"I don't understand. He brought
us out here this far, so why would he suddenly just leave like that," Ella
said, watching the forest through tears.
"He didn't bring us here, Ella.
He flew off, as any wild bird would, and we followed because we had no where
else to go," Meara told her.
"I'm not so sure about
that," Donovan said, "I was following the bird, though I don't
exactly remember why."
"He brought us here for a
reason," Ella said again. All were quiet for a moment, when off in the
distance a branch snapped. All three heads turned, though there was nothing to
be seen in the distant forest.
"Duck down, just in case
whoever it is hasn't seen us yet. We don't want to draw attention in case it's
my father's guards," Donovan said ducking low behind some brush.
"Or worse, my father's
guards," Meara said following suit.
Ella ducked low, but kept her head
elevated enough to see. The snapping of sticks and foliage sounded louder until
two forms took shape through the trees.
"I can see them, but they do
not look like guards. I don't even know if they are people. They seem big…and
furry," Ella said softly, barely a whisper.
"What?" Donovan said
poking his head up enough to see, "What kind of forest is this?"
Meara seemed something short of a
panic attack as she slipped her slippers back onto her feet, preparing herself
to run. "You just say the words." She said, though her voice shook
with fear.
"It's no monster, Meara.
They're people for sure," Ella said.
"Quiet, and get down. They are
almost on top of us," Donovan harshly whispered, taking hold of Ella's
shoulder and pulling her down. His hand remained rested atop her shoulder,
feeling her push up as she resisted him.
"But, I don't think..."
Ella said, grabbing his hand and trying to push him off, "They don't seem
dangerous." She took hold of his hand, and turned to him with a glare that
made his blood run cold for a moment. Then came an all too familiar squawk as
Pistachia appeared on a branch overhead.
"Pista...." Ella started,
before Donovan's large hand covered her face. Pistachia was upon him in
seconds, landing on his hand, and tearing a chunk of skin from one of his
knuckles.
"Oh, you blasted bird!" he
growled under his breath, releasing hold of Ella, who gasped for breath.
No one took notice of the couple who
stood just before them, watching the struggle take place between the bird and
the prince, "Well, my dear princess, you've made it home at last."
*****
A'Maikra crept through the forest's
shadows, frustration boiling beneath the surface of his skin, forcing his lips
to quiver uncontrollably, "Blasted witch. Wretched Duke. Going to ruin
everything I've worked for years to build. I was promised by the
lady-of-dreams. Promised, I was. But I'm no longer going to waste my time and
allow those two to ruin everything."
Up the volcano he climbed, to a
place where deep within its crevices lay a cave.
Don't do it. Your dream will never
be if you do.
"I'm done waiting for you,
lady. He offers more then I can ever imagine, and I have just the bargaining
chip."
To take what he offers is to watch
your dream burn.
"To wait on you is to watch my
dream waste away in the hands of these wretched royals!" A'Maikra spat,
watching the shadows of the cave dance before his eyes. Suddenly there she was
before him, floating amongst the shadows, her face just inches from his own.
I will give you what you most
desire. Have I not served you thus far?
A'Maikra growled, "You have
made me a servant in my own kingdom! A kingdom that was promised to me!"
I gave you the power to build a
kingdom, a kingdom that shall be yours, lest you enter this cave.
"Lies! You are no
Lady-of-dreams! You are Lady-of-lies! And I am through waiting on your empty
promises! Be gone with you!" A'Maikra swat at the air as he burst through
her vision, leaving the lady and her words to vanish behind his wake. The
shadows of the cave danced in welcome, enveloping him until he was nothing
more.
The cave bellowed a laugh that would
have sent even the bravest of knights running for fear,
You played your part, and you've
lost. Now it's my turn!
*****
The three stopped struggling at the
sight of the old couple that stood before them. Pistachia abandoned her attack
on the prince for the older man's shoulder. His wife tapped the top of the
bird's head and chuckled, "You sure can cause a ruckus, Aegeron."
"Aegeron? I'm sorry, you must
be mistaken. That is my bird, and her name is Pistachia," Ella said,
approaching the older couple.
"Yes, and he is also Aegeron,
sent by our master, to watch over you my dear princess," The older man
said.
"He…and…your master? His name
is Aegeron...I’m sorry, I always just assumed with his pretty colors that he
was a she," Ella said.
"Quite alright, my dear, you
aren't the first to think so," The old lady said with a laugh. Aegeron
hissed under his beak, his feathers fluffing up in an irritated manner.
"Quite enough about the
bird," Said Prince Donovan, wiping blood from the back of his neck,
"Who are you, and what of this master you are talking about?"
"In due time, my prince. For
now we must be on our way. The Wood Between is no place to linger. Aegeron has
led you safely this far. I will take you from here," The old man started
walking ahead of the group. Aegeron took to the trees, disappearing from
sight.
"Where is he off to?" Ella
asked, lingering a moment with her face to the trees once again.
"To keep watch." The old
man said, seeming far more serious as he took to the wood ahead.
The older lady approached Ella, her
eyes oddly bright, though old they were. The old lady gave a slight bow, taking
Ella's hand in her own, "My lady, may I have this pleasure?" Ella
nodded, and the two walked side by side, following the old man's lead. Prince
Donovan followed close behind, watching the trees above for fear of what may
come diving down at any moment. Meara walked beside Donovan, though keeping a
distance between them, her eyes glued to the ground.
She felt out of place amongst those
walking through the woods. Though the man beside her was set to be her husband,
she watched as his eyes drifted from the trees, to Ella, and then back again.
Not once did he look her way, or offer an arm as an escort. She wrapped her
arms about her middle and turned her eyes back to the ground below. The further
they walked, the more they noticed the woods change, move, and then suddenly
they were no longer able to discern between the woods they were once standing
in, and the one that seemed to come alive around them.
"Keep close," The older
man said, "You don't want to go wandering off the path, lest you wish to
be lost to a most horrible of fates."
Ella clung to the old woman's arm,
turning her head to look back at Donovan and Meara, who were now walking a mere
foot from each other. Meara stared wondrously into the woods beside her, though
Donovan seemed to do his best to keep his eyes directed elsewhere. Ella turned,
her eyes momentarily passing over the trees beside her, and for a moment she
felt she could feel a pair of eyes watching her through those trees. A chill
ran down her spine and she shivered.
Not a moment before she turned back
to the path ahead, was she suddenly standing before a pair of two very large
pines. The old man had come to a stop, turning to face the rest of the group,
"Here."
"Ella," The old woman
said, "For years we have waited for word from our master that you were
returning home to us. The day has finally come, and we are honored to be the
ones to welcome you back to Nevenia."
Ella’s eyes were wide with wonder
and disbelief. The old woman and the man each held out an arm toward the path
ahead, and Ella took a step toward the trees. Their branches raised in welcome,
revealing a wonderland of hills and trees for miles and miles, all covered in
snow.
*****
Queen Kwen marched out to the
courtyard where the Duke of Shippening sat atop his horse, his men surrounding
him at every side. She pushed through the horsemen as she forced her way to the
Duke.
"We have a bargain!" The
Queen said, fury turning her face all shades of red. King Anaxem stepped
outside his castle, watching his Queen charge upon the Duke.
"What good is a bargain without
a bargaining chip? The girl is gone, as is my daughter! The deal is off,"
The Duke said, pulling his horse away from the raging woman.
Queen Kwen grabbed hold of the
horses reins, yanking it back toward her, "I am no fool! You mean to find
the girl and take her for yourself! Don't think for one moment that you have rights
to her, she is mine!"
"She does not belong to you,
she never has, and I don't care what evil plot you have raised against the
child. My daughter is missing, and I will die a thousand deaths before I see
her anywhere that dragon cursed land!" The Duke spat, yanking the reins
out of the woman's hands.
"And what makes you think they
are heading that way? They are on an island and on foot. Our men will be upon
them far before you could ever reach them," The Queen said, crossing her
arms, and standing tall, though she barely reached the horses muzzle. The King
had long since left his post at the castle doors, and was crossing the
courtyard as they spoke.
The Duke leaned down upon his horse,
to better look the Queen in the eyes, fire burned behind his dark eyes,
"There is far more to this world then just castles, dragons, and sorcery
tricks. So if you think for one second that your men are going to find them
anywhere on this island, you are sadly mistaken." The Duke growled his
words, and then sat himself up straight on his horse. With a flick of his reins
he yanked his horse away from the awe stricken Queen.
King Anaxem approached the Queen as
she stood watching the last of the Duke's men leave the gates. "When are
you going to give up this dreadful obsession with power, Kalitha?" The
King said, refusing to meet eyes with the Queen, even as she turned her dagger
eyes upon him.
"What did you call me!"
She spat.
"I've known for quite some
time. Our wedding night you prayed to the gods for a daughter, and when they
gave us a son you cursed them. You ignored his upbringing and left him to the
nurses. I suspected then, but left it to the stress of becoming a queen and a
new mother. Then came our daughter, and I saw a glimmer of the woman I once
knew. Then Ella came to us I saw that glimmer gone, and the change take hold
again. As she grew, you grew to resent her more and more. I knew, deep in my
heart, and when I finally accepted it, I was finally able to see through your
lies."
"From the day I first met you,
you were always driven by power. You hung around the finest of courtiers, were
courted by the wealthiest of princes, and took it all to yourself, because your
sister did not desire such attention. You had everything, until I made an offer
for your sister's hand, and asked her to by my queen. I saw the rage, heard the
tantrum you threw at your father's feet when he gave us his blessing."
"It wasn't because I was better
or richer then the great prince's who courted you, but that your sister would
wear a crown, and sit atop a thrown in a castle on an island that was all her
own. You couldn't bear it, but then you didn't have to, because you had the
creature. You brought him here after we wed, because he was the power that made
it all possible. With him you cursed your sister somehow, and took her place so
that you could become my wife."
Kalitha no longer looked at him, but
stood frozen like a statue, her skin as white as the stone she stood upon. He
had known, all this time, and she had thought she had gotten away with the
greatest of ploys, "Why? Why didn't you call me out long ago. Why then
would you waste all this time with me?" She asked, her voice as dry as the
air she breathed.
"And abandon our
children?" The King said, sadness caking his voice.
"Don't call them that!"
Kalitha said through clenched teeth.
"What?"
"Our children. Don't call them
that! There is no our, there is no us!" And she turned to walk back toward
the castle, avoiding the crushed look on her husband's face.
"Please," King Anaxem
said, stopping her for a brief moment, "whatever you're planning. Don't
hurt my Ella."
She could hear the tremors in his
voice begging her, but she stood straight and strong, refusing to allow his
pleas to reach her heart, "She's not your Ella." And Kalitha left the
King to the courtyard.
He dropped to his knees and prayed a
silent prayer through tears, "Please, if you can hear me. Protect my
children...protect my Ella."
*****
Ella stepped foot into the snow, her
foot barely sinking but an inch, and then the next, and the next, sinking
deeper and deeper until she was up to her ankles in snow. Though wet, she
surprisingly felt no cold. Flakes that had shook off the branches littered her
hair. She took in all that surrounded her, choking back the question that
waited to be asked.
"Where is everybody?" She
asked at last, turning to the old man, seeing that he and the others had made
their way onto the snow.
"Waiting...in hiding," The
old man said, pulling out boot moccasins for Meara and Donovan. Meara seemed
more then happy to toss away her slippers. Ella clung to his words, feeling her
heart lift a little. So there were others who had made it out alive.
"And where do they hide? When
will we see them?" Ella asked, doing her best not to let her hope get
carried away.
"In time, my dear. First we
must make it far from these woods, and into the land of our people. This way
now," The old man said taking the lead once more.
Meara watched Ella closely, feeling
more out of place then ever. She knew getting Ella out of the castle was the
right thing to do, but now that she walked the land of Ella's people, she
couldn't help but feel a sense of jealousy. All eyes of this world were turned
upon Ella.
Prince Donovan couldn't seem to help
gaze at her while he walked, and the old couple too had their eyes either glued
to her, or the road ahead. Even the trees seemed to follow Ella in her wake. Meara
started to wonder if she had made the right choice following these two into the
forest, or if she should have just left them both in the garden.
"Meara, are you alright?"
Came Prince Donovan's voice. Meara woke from her thoughts and was startled to
find Donovan had stopped to wait for her, seeing as she had fallen rather far
behind from the others.
Meara watched the others,
"Should we be here?" she asked Donovan, "We brought her this
far. She's safe now. Shouldn't we got back?"
She didn't like the look on
Donovan's face, almost like he didn't even understand the language she
spoke,"Why would you want to go back now? Aren't you curious to see her
kingdom? See where she came from?"
Now Meara looked at him confused,
"What? Donovan, this isn't even our world. How we got here is beyond me,
but I don't belong here. Who knows how long we have been gone. My father is
probably on the verge of starting war with your father over my absence. It
isn't right that we be here."
Her words seemed to finally reach
his ears, and he nodded in understanding, "You are right about that. It
wasn't right to take you from the castle grounds. You really shouldn't be
here."
His words pierced Meara through the
heart, you really shouldn't be here. It was she who was destined to marry
him after all. She had come to his castle to prepare for their betrothal, so
why was it only her who didn't belong here.
"We should see about getting
you home before your father comes to worry about you," The Prince said,
turning to walk after the others.
"What about you?" Meara
asked, grabbing hold of his sleeve, and then quickly letting go, embarrassed
she had done so.
"Why are you worried about me?
I'll be fine, besides, my mother is going to suspect it was I who let Ella out
of the castle. My place is here with Ella, ensuring her safety. For all they
know, you were just off for a walk in the forest and got lost," Donovan
said, again turning away from her.
"Now, hold on! This was my
doing, getting her out of the castle! You aren't going to just send me home and
take all credit for this!" Meara said, her arms stiff at her sides, and hands
balled into fists.
"Well, by all means then, I was
merely trying to look out for your well being. If this is what you want then I
think it best we stop the chit chat and hurry it along." Prince Donovan
ran ahead, leaving Meara to trudge through the snow alone.
"That didn't go as
planned," Meara said, lowering her head, and crossing her arms tightly
around her body.
*****
Somewhere deep within the shadows of
a cave, a creature as dark on the inside as the shadows that encircled him made
a bargain; His life devotion in exchange for the girl once promised to the
dragon a long time ago. With this promise, A'Maikra bowed deeply before the
dark waters, promising to deliver the dragon his due, in exchange for a life of
power, the power to rule the kingdom once promised by the Lady-of-Dreams. From
the depths of the dark waters a horrifying laugh bellowed. A'Maikra raised his
head, only to come face to face with a pair of large red eyes.
I knew you would eventually find
your way. Now tell me, where is my prize due to me?
*****
Kalitha sat in her wardrobe, staring
at a chest as old as she was. She ran her hands over its old, weathered wood,
and the engravings that pained her to see. The engravings of her people, all
leaving their mark as they said their farewell to one of their own, a princess
who was once loved by all. Kalitha forgot how much the people loved Kwen, for
she was always doing her best to keep her sister in the shadows of her own
presence. She did a good job, but there was one thing she failed at, one thing
that kept Kwen in the hearts of the people.
Kwen loved the commoners, and while
Kalitha was busy standing over them, allowing them to worship her beauty and
charm, Kwen was down walking the streets of their homes and markets, loving on
them as if they were her own family. Kalitha knew the kind of queen Kwen would
be, and it was her jealousy over Kwen's gift of love that boiled Kalitha's
blood. She couldn't sit back and watch her sister accomplish her purpose,
making a name for herself that Kalitha would never be able to live up to. That
jealousy turned to hatred as Kalitha watched her father place his blessings over
her sister and her betrothed.
Kalitha had stood before her mirror,
staring at the reflection of her sister, hating the very sight of her own face.
From the shadows of her room came a voice,
Why live in the shadow of your
sister, when you could take her place in the sunlight?
"How easily it would be to take
her place," Kalitha thought to herself.
It wouldn't be hard to make your
problem disappear. And with her gone, who's to stop you from taking her place?
"All I need to is make her
disappear, long enough for me to take her place."
If you like, I can make this all
possible for you. All I ask for in exchange is a place amongst your service,
once you have become Queen.
Suddenly the voice was no longer
just a distant thought in her head, and Kalitha spun to find a pair of yellow
eyes watching her from the shadows, "Who are you? I demand to know at
once!"
"My name is A'Maikra. A
wanderer. I have come to offer you my service," Said the creature, moving
closer, but only enough to make his features barely noticeable within the
shadows.
"How did you get into my
room?" Kalitha demanded, still frightened by the shadowy creature.
"I am gifted, with powers
beyond your imagination. I was sent here by the Lady-of-Dreams. She sees your
pain, and wishes to make true your hearts desire," A'Maikra said, the
shadows contouring into a dark grin.
"If you can bring to life my
hearts desire," Kalitha said, questioning the very words she felt
compelled to say, "in my service you will have rein over my kingdom, under
my rule."
"Tell me, m'lady, how I may
serve you," A'Maikra crawled from the shadows, but his ugliness did not
startle Kalitha, for her heart had already given in to her selfish desires, and
A'Maikra's ugliness was masked by the powers he dwelt.
Kalitha looked back on that day she
cursed her sister, sending her to a sleep that would keep her encased in her
own mind for years to come. She had never meant to harm her sister. She only
meant to steal from her the life she felt due to her instead. Now looking back,
she realized that all her efforts resulted in the ruin of both their
lives.
Kalitha gained everything she had
ever wanted, but in it all she lived a life never meant for her, and lost all
chances of true happiness. Her sister lost the chance to marry for love, and
was left to a life of loneliness that ultimately led to her death. Her sister
was gone, as was her family, and the kingdom she once loved. She had never
realized how much happiness that life had offered her. Why she had been in such
a rush to leave it was beyond her. And now there was nothing left of it. All
happiness was gone, and Kalitha now wished she could be gone with it.
*****
The old couple led Ella higher and
higher up a steep, snow covered hill. Ella lost track of how many hills they
had climbed, how many trees they had passed, and how many times she had swore
she was being followed by something beyond those same trees. This hill they
climbed was larger then any of the others, by far, and much much steeper. Ella
often found herself taking hold of saplings for support, apologizing if she
felt any of them uproot.
Concerned for Meara, who was even
smaller then she, Ella found herself looking down the hill every few feet, but
it seemed Meara had all the help she needed from Donovan. She had hold of his
arm with both her hands as he pulled her up the hill. Donovan raised his head
up the hill just in time to meet eyes with Ella, who quickly looked away,
embarrassed she was caught staring.
Donovan picked up his pace, almost
dragging Meara up the hill. "Whoa their! Not all of us are built for
hiking through the snow!" Meara scolded. Donovan rolled his eyes, not realizing
that Meara was watching him so closely. She yanked her hands from his arm,
"Well if that's how you feel about helping a lady, I'll see to it myself
that I make it up this hill!"
"Meara, I'm sorry, I didn't
mean that. Please," Donovan begged, offering his arm to her. She scowled
at him and gave his arm a shove, forcing him to lose balance. Donovan fell
back, his bottom sinking two feet into the snow, and then slid a good four feet
down the hill. Mean turned her head upward and trudged on.
"Well done, Donovan, you sure
are making a name for yourself," He said to himself, rising from the snow.
The snow clung to his already frozen body, giving him a sparkling suit of
white. Snickers from above caught his attention, and he looked up to find Meara
and Ella staring and laughing. Meara whispered something to Ella and the two
turned to continue walking. Donovan shook his head, following up after them
while doing his best to peel the icy snow from his clothes.
Donovan reached the top of the hill,
now soaked to the bone and frozen, but in better spirits to be done with the
climb. The older couple stood beside an awe struck Ella, and Meara who's heart
seemed to have broken at the sight she saw. Donovan joined them, seeing for the
first time Ella's home of Nevenia. Donovan's heart froze where he stood and
then sunk to his stomach.
The kingdom was nothing but ruins,
all covered in snow. Spots where parts of the castle still rose high off the
ground were overgrown with wild forest plants, hiding most of what looked like
black charcoaled stone. He looked to Ella, who's eyes were glazed over, her
lips pinching back her pain. Donovan longed to reach out to her, to comfort
her, but the old woman beat him to it.
"It's quite alright, my dear.
Not all is in ruin," The old woman said. Ella tried to smile, but looking
into the woman's eyes almost lost control. She pulled back the tears and turned
her face from the woman. "Come now, we will show you."
And the woman started them down the
hill, through a path that seemed walked many times, trailing down the side of
the hill. No trees grew in this part, though Ella saw trunks of trees that had
long since died, and were nothing more then black towers that stood up over the
white snow.
"It's dreadful, isn't it?"
Said Meara, keeping pace beside Ella, and avoiding all chances of having to
walk back beside Donovan.
"Yes, it is," Ella said,
not sure of what else to say for fear her pain would pour out in tears. She
neared the home she never knew, though the memory of that place was ever so
strong upon her heart, and she felt for the first time in a long time that she
was where she belonged.
"Where is everybody?"
Donovan asked, scanning the trees. His face told Ella he sensed the same thing
she did, that they weren't the only ones here.
The old man saw this and turned
toward the forests, "They're here. They just want to give her time to take
it all in." He slowly walked over to Ella, who was now standing in the
crumbled courtyard. She wiped some snow off what looked to be an old fountain,
and found the charcoaled stone underneath. "Ella," he said, not
wanting to startle her, "There is something I must talk with you
about."
*****
You have done me well, and your
service will be repaid, but one task you must complete for me still.
"Anything, master."
A'Maikra flamed.
You must bring me the girl.
A'Maikra looked up into those large
red eyes. Everything inside him burned. He opened his mouth to speak, but
merely felt a longing to let that burning flow free. He started to wonder if
this is how he would always feel, but kept reminding himself of the power that
would soon follow, power his master promised him. He nodded, but his master was
gone.
A'Maikra turned and wandered
back the way he came, not quite knowing where he was going, but feeling
something pulling him. A longing of sorts, a desire that couldn't be persuaded,
a need to let this fire inside him burn, and he knew exactly where that longing
would lead him. He finally felt the power inside him rise to his flaming surface
as her image took place in the front of his mind. For years he suffered under
her rule, but now it was his turn to take back what was rightfully his.
*****
Ella saw the seriousness on the old
man's face, his tone concerned her a little, and Ella felt she might want to
sit down. She cleared off more of the wall, not caring if her gown got a little
wet, and sat down. "I know this is a lot to take in. I can't imagine what
must be going through your head right now, but there is something I must tell
you before we go much further." The old man took a seat next to her and
continued on, "Though it is sad, the fate that came to befall this
kingdom, this was never really your home."
Ella's eyes shot wide open,
"What do you mean? How can this be....but...I can feel it..." She
tried saying, but her mind was whirling, and she had to stop to take a deep
breath.
"This was a home you once knew,
and Kwen was your caretaker, but she was never your birth mother. You were
brought to Kwen as an infant, barely spent a day in your world before you were
sent away by your mother," The old man saw the pain on Ella's face and
went on to explain, "She loved you Ella, and it is because of that love
that she demanded your brother take off with you, and hide you here among the
mortals."
Ella thought her mind might never
stop spinning, but she kept on listening, "Your father was a king, a king
of Elastule. A mighty tribe they were, and a might king was Xsaydar. But even
as mighty as he was, Xsaydar had one weakness. He craved battle, and not
knowing what it felt to lose, he often sought after such opportunities to
challenge his strength. You see, the people of Elastule are not all what they
seem, for one moment you might be looking at a powerful warrior, and the next
you are standing before a great..."
"White cat," Ella said,
stealing the words from a memory that grew more and more real in her mind.
"How did you know that?"
The old man said, seeming very surprised.
"I remember...I see it in my
head, a vision, that day my mother tried to save me. Or not my mother, though
in my heart that is what she was. I was saved by a great white cat who emerged
from the snow. He called me sister. He was my brother, wasn't he? The memory
was real, wasn't it?" Ella said..
"Yes Ella, your memories are
real. Your brother not only brought you here, but he remained here with you, to
protect you," The old man told her.
"Why? Why did he have to bring
me here? What happened that I had to be sent away?" Ella asked, forgetting
he was getting to that part.
"As I said, you father often
abused his power, and those abilities given to his people. He finally found his
match when he came upon a kingdom that had been overrun by a fierce dragon. One
of the children of Death-in-life was ravaging her own kingdom. Although the
chance to take his people into battle was stolen from him, Xsaydar found a
challenge far more tempting. The Dragon was hidden behind her uncontrollable
flame, but Xsaydar made his way toward her, ordering his people to hold back.
They cried out to him, pleaded with him to let it go, and return home. Xsaydar
ignored them, and with this walked on to face the first of his deaths."
Ella couldn't believe what she had
just heard, "The first of his deaths? How can one have more then one
death?" She asked, forgetting her sadness as she lost herself to his
story.
"A faerie king must fall three
times before one finds himself on death's shore. Xsaydar fell twice, both to
dragons. The third time he had again searched out a dragon, determined to prove
his power. His wife, your mother, pleaded with him to stay. She was heavy with
child, due any day. But battle was all Xsaydar knew. Leonotia, you mother, gave
birth that night. A baby girl...you. Ellaxsia is your given birth name."
" Your father left the next morning.
Your brother, who was much older then you, returned home with warning. Xsaydar
had fallen to the dragon, but he was no ordinary dragon. This dragon was
Death-in-life himself, and he was in search of a princess. Xsaydar laid before
him, seconds from meeting his end, when he pleaded with the dragon; to spare
his life, in exchange for his daughter. The dragon accepted, and warned in ten
years time he would return to claim his due."
"Your brother abandoned your
father to return home to warn your mother. He left with you that night, running
as far from your home as he could get. That is when we found him. We were sent
by our master to wait in the between for a young warrior holding a babe. We
were to take them the mortal kingdom of Nevenia, and there we would meet a
princess, by the name of Kwen."
"A year passed and we thought
we had succeeded in hiding you. Your brother would return to Elastule on
occasion to check on your mother. Though alive, your father had fallen ill to
the Dragon's poison, and with his life bargaining chip gone missing, had become
even more corrupt under such poison. Seeing as time in the faerie world passes
much differently then in the mortal world, the dragon had returned to Elastule
to check on his due. When he learned you had gone missing, he made Elastule pay
severely. Xsaydar paid with his life, and Elastule laid in ruin."
Ella gasped, "So, even my home
of Elastule...is lost to the dragon?"
"No, for thankfully Leonotia
foresaw what laid ahead for her kingdom and moved most its people who would
follow her to the wood s below. Your father was so lost to dragon poison that
he took no notice of this, not even when his own queen went missing. By the
time the dragon arrived, only those still loyal to their poisoned king
remained, and with him lost their lives," The old man seemed to age in his
sadness, and Ella wondered where he was during all this. Was he one of her own?
Did he live in the forests his mother escaped to?
"What of my mother?" She
asked, "Did she still live? If so, why did she never come for me?"
"The dragon will hunt for his
princess, burning everything in his path until he finds her. You mother could
not risk giving you away. Sadly, we could not keep you hidden forever. His
children soon caught wind of your brother, and followed him to the mortal
world. That is when he came, and that is when we knew we must move you. You
were still very young, no more then a year, mortal time. You grew slowly, far
slower then most mortal children, but this was our doing. We hoped if we slowed
your growing, you'd be far less likely to be recognized as the promised
child."
"Death-in-life would not be
fooled. He smelt immortality in you and knew you were the child in hiding. So
your brother hid you, and then took to the woods, in hopes of leading the
dragon from the castle, which now was completely overrun with poison and flame.
The Dragon never found you, and soon abandoned the castle, for there was
nothing, and no one left living. And there we found you, deep within a well,
wrapped in blankets." The old man came to the end of his story, it seemed,
for he sat silent for some time.
Ella looked out toward the forest
surrounding, and this time she knew who it was that was watching her, "I'm
ready to meet them."
*****
Kalitha tightened the pack hanging
from the horses saddle. She pulled the cloak down low over her head and
prepared to mount. The sound of the gravel road behind her told her someone was
approaching. She knew already who it was. He had entered their room while she
was packing. She was sure he had an idea of where she was going, but he kept it
to himself. Why he was bothering to talk to her now she didn't know. She was
ready to mount the saddle, but could feel him standing behind her.
"What are you going to do? Just
tell me please, tell me you aren't planning to harm her," King Anaxem
pleaded.
"She's already in danger as it
is. There is nothing more I can do to bring more harm to her," Kalitha
answered, squeezing tight the reins in her hands.
"Then why must you leave. What
purpose do you have in pursuing her?" He asked.
"I don't belong here," She
replied. Kalitha was never one to cry, but tears now drizzled down her stone
features.
"Kalitha, you can belong here.
I would never ask you to leave. This is your home..." He begun, but she
turned on him in a tear filled fury.
"Stop saying that! This is not
my home! It never was! It was her home, and I stole it! I took everything from
her...and now the only thing left of her is threatened. So you see, I have to
go," Kalitha cried.
King Anaxem looked at her now, how
broken she had become, "I'm going with you then. If my Ella is in danger
then she shouldn't be out there alone." Kalitha looked up at him and
nodded. She knew she needed him.
*****
Donovan and Meara stood just outside
the courtyard, watching as Ella and the old man talked on a crumbly stone wall.
Donovan realized then he hadn't seen the old lady in quite some time. Had she
come down the hill with them? When did he last see her. And the bird, what
became of him? He spun in a circle, and Meara watched him curiously.
"What are you doing?" She
asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him.
"The old lady. Where did she
go?" He asked, still turning here and there.
Meara looked around now too,
"You're right. She's gone. Kinda creepy. I bet she's with the others."
"The others?" Donovan
asked, looking at Meara now.
"Yea, remember? They said there
were others, but they were all in hiding, or something like that," Meara
looked out toward the forest, and something gave her a chill. She shook it off
and turned back to where Ella sat with the old man. They were walking toward
them now. "Hey, here they come."
"How are you guys? Doing okay, Meara?
It was such a long walk," Ella said, her voice a little shaky.
Before she could answer, the old man
spoke up, "Here they come."
Everyone stood frozen in place. Ella
felt she might faint. From the trees emerged the old woman, and beside him
stood a very tall man with long black hair that pulled back into a ponytail. He
wore a cloak of green with a gold trim, and had a red collar. He was a
magnificent looking being, and Ella was sure he was no mortal. Something about
him seemed ancient, and at the same time young and powerful. She almost
couldn't pull her eyes off of him until something behind him caught her eye,
and her heart stopped.
Another young man appeared from the
trees, escorting an older, yet youthfully beautiful woman, and it was as they
neared that Ella realized she was looking into a mirror image of herself. She
fell to her knees, and in a panic Donovan was at her side. His hands took hold
of her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. The woman saw her daughter fall
to her knees, and she ran to her. The two embraced, Donovan releasing his hold
of Ella, and they sat there for quite some time. Ella, lifting her head for a
brief moment, looked up to her brother, a face she had seen before in a memory.
He reached out and took her hands, helping her to her feet.
"If it wasn't for you..."
Ella started, but again found herself unable to speak.
"Sweet sister," He said,
and embraced her in a hug. Her brother was so large and muscular she thought
she might lose herself in his embrace, but his warmth comforted her.
She stepped back, and the swarm of
welcoming embraces began. Her people approached her with such love and warmth
it was almost overwhelming. Ella took them all in, observing their every
feature and movement, looking for anything that made them seem of another
world. Surprisingly they all seemed very normal, save for how built the men
were. Her brother wore animal skin pants, which were white as snow, and tied
around his waist with rope woven by some kind of vine. His feet were bare, and
his hair was long, twisted down his back using a colorful string of some
sort.
The rest of the men seemed to look
the same, although her brother was far larger then any one of them. The women
were also dressed in animal skins, though their clothes were covered in white
and gray fur. They wore dresses with short sleeves, barely reaching past their
shoulders, and hems that touched barely above the knee. Her mother on the other
hand was dressed with a large fur cloak to go over her dress, which cascaded
down to her feet. She assumed this was her sign of royalty for she wore no
crown.
"Ellaxsia, you have grown
beautifully," Queen Leonotia said, smiling proudly at her daughter,
"I see you have brought friends. May we meet them?"
Ella turned, startled for she had
forgotten all about Donovan and Meara. "Oh yes, I did. Actually, mother,
it was them who brought me. For if it wasn't for Meara and Donovan, I would
have never made it out," Ella said, gesturing to each of them.
"Donovan," Leonotia said,
"and Meara, I can not thank you enough for what you have done. I hope you
can see how great your deed was, and pray you will return with us, and join us
in celebrating my daughter's return." Meara's heart sank, and she quickly
turned to Donovan, who's face seemed torn. "Unless you wish to return
home. I do not wish to keep you if that is where you wish to be."
Leonotia's eyes were so soft and welcoming, it was almost enchanting, and
neither could give an honest answer.
Donovan looked to Ella and realized
for the first time what was actually happening. He did not think before that
when he brought her home that he would be saying goodbye for good, "I will
come with you," He heard himself say before hearing a gasp behind him. He
shot around to see Meara, and the look of betrayal on her face. "Meara,
I'm sorry, I know you wish to return home, and you probably should, but...I'm
just not ready yet."
Meara noticed all eyes were on her
and she straightened her stance, "Oh, yes, well, I was under the
impression that we were heading home, and yes my father probably will be rather
concerned from my absence...but I don't see why we can't stay...for a little
while." She turned her eyes to the ground, hoping to escape the faces
still watching her.
"Why don't you lead us, Xsada,
and we'll head for home," Leonotia said.
"Xsada, I didn't catch your
name before," Ella told her brother. She smiled when he offered her his
arm, and took her place by his side. Their mother felt nothing in this world,
or any other, could steal her joy at that moment.
*****
A'Maikra crawled from the Wood
Between , and back onto Cyndar grounds. The moon shone brightly overhead,
casting a glow over the kingdom. The castle in all its glory was to be his. He
need only now to do away with those blasted royals, most of all she who felt
herself so above all other rule. Now it was she who would cower before him, and
she who would spend the rest of her days hiding in the shadows of his mighty
power.
He reached the gardens, and his fury
burned so brightly inside of him that the ground, and all plant life around
him, burned under his feet. He ran his hands through the hedges, singeing the
leaves as he walked. He no longer cared what the castle grounds looked like, as
long as it was finally his. The sound of horses on gravel stole his attention.
He scurried across the grounds. A group of the King's men all sat atop horses,
dressed as if going to war, and among them was the King and Queen. The sight of
her was too much to bear.
"Kalitha!" A'Maikra
exploded, fire spilling from his mouth, through his nose, and fuming through
his eyes.
The King's men formed a wall around
the King and Queen, holding up their shields to block the fireballs falling
over them. The horses whined and stomped the ground in a panic. The men did
their best to keep them under control, but it was obvious these men were never
trained for such things. They struggled to keep their place in line, many of
them having to drop the cover of their shields to rein in their horses. The
King forced his way through, furious at the sight of him men.
"Pull it together men! That is
your Queen, and this is your purpose! Protect your Queen! Protect your
home!" The King shouted, rearing up his horse and unsheathing his
sword.
Kalitha stood back behind the men,
watching Anaxem prepare himself to face this dreadful creature. The creatures
fire died down, and the face that came to look at her was not that of a
dreadful creature, but of A'Maikra! His gaze met hers and he was suddenly
trembling from head to toe. His eyes turned fiery red and flaming, his ugly
face grew long and scaly, and his body erupted in size. Huge claws dug into the
gravel, and he roared an awful sounding cry.
Kalitha looked to the King and knew
he saw what she saw. His sword had lowered for a moment, but he raised it again
and prepared his men to charge. Kalitha kicked her horse forward, and charged
before the king, yelling at the top of her lungs, "Stop!"
Her horse stood just inches from his
own, and the King, pulling on his reins to steady his horse, shouted,
"Kalitha, get back!"
"No! I will not sit back and
watch you sacrifice yourself in the hands of this beast. He is my doing! I
brought him here! You will not kill yourself for me!" She cried, turning
her horse around to face the dragon.
"No!" The King cried. He
charged forward and yanked her from her horse. With his arm around her waist he
turned and ordered his men back to the castle. His men encircled him and the
kicking, screaming Queen, and they ran for cover. Fire blazed over their heads.
In the safety of the castle walls Anaxem carried Kalitha until her squirming
became too much for him. Down the stairs ran Feullete, crying out in fear for
the dreadful noise emulating from outside.
"Mother, what is that awful
sound?" She screamed, running to her mother's arms. Kalitha stood in shock
at her daughter's embrace. She looked down into Feullete’s beautiful blue eyes,
and a foreign feeling swept over her heart.
"Oh, my beautiful girl,"
She cried, embracing her daughter for the first time since she was a
babe.
"Father! Behind you!"
Feullete cried, and the knights dove over the royal family as a wall of flames
swept their way.
"Run!" The King demanded,
grabbing his family and leading them deeper into the castle.
*****
Meara watched the chain of strange
forest people gather and then follow Ella and her brother toward the forest's
edge. Something inside her felt uneasy about following them. There was so many
sources of evil chasing after this girl. This was no time to be celebrating.
She did not know the Queen Kwen very well, or that creature of hers, but she
knew her father, and if he was after Ella then he was going to stop at nothing
to find her.
"Something just doesn't quite
make sense in my mind," Donovan said, approaching Meara.
"Have that problem often?"
Meara said coldly.
Donovan furrowed his brow,
"Very funny, but no. What I don't understand is how, if my aunt was killed
by the dragon, could that woman be Ella's mother?"
Now Meara's brow furrowed and she
opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again to think to herself.
"Maybe they were wrong. Maybe she didn't die. The old couple said many of
them escaped to the forest," Meara finally said.
"But why stay in the forest?
Why not try and rebuild? This is their kingdom, is it not? Why abandon it? They
aren't the first kingdom to be attacked by a dragon," Donovan said,
looking out over the ruin that had been long overgrown by forest. Meara seemed
bored by his many questions and had started walking away before he finished.
"Hey, where are you going? Everyone’s headed that way," Donovan
started after her, until he caught sight of where she headed, "What is
your father doing here?"
"This isn't good. Donovan, this
isn't good! Go warn Ella, they must hide!" Meara yelled, turning on
Donovan and shoving him away from her, "Go!"
Donovan turned and ran toward the
forest where the last of the family had entered. Last in the group was the
really tall man in green, and Donovan nearly ran him over in his attempt to
reach Ella. "Whoa there, boy! What's the rush?" The man said,
grabbing Donovan by the back of the shirt. Donovan would have toppled backward
had the man not taken a hold of him.
"What are you doing? I have to
reach Ella. Soldiers have come and they're looking for her!" Donovan said,
yanking himself free, and swiping the man's hand away. He was ready to say more
if he had to but the man lost interest in him, and Donovan took off again for
Ella.
Donovan got lots of dirty looks from
those he had to shove aside, but he finally reached Ella and her brother,
"Ella! They're here! The Duke has come looking for you!"
Ella's brother turned, his face
becoming furious, "Who's this Duke? What does he want with
Ella?"
"I don't know really, except
that they plan to hand her over to the dragon," Donovan said.
Ella's brother seemed to tremble
with fury, turning to his mother, a pained look on his face,"I knew this
couldn't last forever, but you have her back now. Go now, and hide." He
said, taking his mother's hands and kissing them.
"Xsada," Leonotia said,
but she knew she couldn't ask him to stay. If they all fled the dragon would
only keep searching until he found them.
"Brothers!" He said,
turning toward the group of people, "Evil has returned. For years you
lived under evil's rule, and that same evil turned on you and destroyed our
kingdom. Now is the time to stand up and rid ourselves of this evil! Join me
now, we go to battle, and this time we fight for the good of our people!"
The women embraced their men before
parting to go stand beside Leonotia. Donovan didn't know what to do. On one
side was Ella, and he didn't want to risk leaving her now, but on the other
side was all these men, ready to take on the fight to protect her. Donovan took
a step toward the men, but as he did they all exploded in size, and he now
found himself facing a pride of monstrous white beasts.
Over a dozen great white cats stood
before him, hundreds of times bigger then any cat he had ever seen, with long
flowing fur that encircled their necks, making their heads even bigger and all
the more ferocious. Donovan stumbled back, almost knocking Ella off her feet.
She took hold of his arms to steady him, though she feared she might fall over
herself.
"What just happened?"
Donovan squeaked, unable to take his eyes off them. The one which used to be
Ella's brother towered over the rest, his legs alone standing six feet from the
ground.
"They're preparing for
battle," Queen Leonotia said, calmly as she cold be.
"Those aren't normal
people," Donovan said, attempting to regain his voice.
"No, they aren't," Ella
replied.
Donovan turned toward her, "You
aren't surprised...you knew this already." The ground shook and Donovan
looked to find the pride making their way back out of the forest.
"Not until the old man told me.
This is the first I’m learning of where I came from…and who I really am,"
Ella said, her heart fluttering with concern.
This seemed to finally click in
Donovan's head and he turned to looked at her. Ella’s mind had already lost
itself as she watched her brother's image leave the forest, replacing itself
with the memory of him leaving her sleeping deep within the well. All her life
she spent in hiding, as others gave their lives to protect her. Her people were
strong, but in all the attempts to save her life, how many of his own lives has
her brother lost. For all she knew this could be his last.
Something inside her head whispered,
I knew your purpose before you were born. I have watched you and protected you
as you grew. I know your purpose still and it is time you started to live it.
Go, for I will always be there, protecting you still.
"Donnie, I know there is a lot
I will have to explain, but now just isn't the time. You all have done so much
to get me this far, to keep me safe, but I'm not going to sit back and hide any
longer. These are my people, and this is my battle." And before anyone
could stop her Ella had dropped her hold on Donovan, and ran after the
pride.
*****
"Father, please, before you do
anything to her you must listen to me...it was my idea to leave," Meara
said, her father glaring down at her.
"Dragon's blast this cursed
land! Meara, do you have any idea what you've gotten yourself into!" The
Duke of Shippening spat. He motioned for one of his soldiers who approached on
horseback, leading along a lone white horse, Meara's horse. "Get on up
now. We're leaving this place at once!"
"You mean, you aren't here for
Ella?" Meara said, recalling her father's word's the night she left.
"I don't give a dragon's scale
what happens to that girl. Queen Kwen can do with her what she wants when she
finds her. The only girl I care about is you, and right now I want you on top
of your horse and riding away from this cursed place!" The Duke demanded,
ready to climb off his horse if he had to.
Meara looked off toward the forest.
She could see no one from where she stood. She had no idea if they were still
there, or if they had just left without her. Either way there was no way her
father was going to let her go looking for them.
"What made you change your
mind, father?" Meara asked, glaring up at him now. This look shook him for
a moment, but his scowl returned just as fast as it left.
"What are you talking of, girl,"
He asked.
"That deal you made with Queen
Kwen, the night we left. I overheard you two. You were going to hand Ella over
to some dragon. What's stopping you from going after her now. She's here, just
on the other side of the forest," Meara wasn't quite sure where she was
going with this. She didn't want to see any harm come to Ella, but somehow she
knew her father wasn't really after her.
"You should know enough to mind
your own and keep out of other people's conversations. You know nothing of what
I have to go through to keep my place as Duke of Shippening! Your position in
life is to marry the prince of my choosing. Now get on that horse before I'm
forced to put you there!" The Duke looked ready to spew flames of his own.
Meara knew her father's boiling
point, but she wasn't done standing her ground. She had enough of being his
pawn. Those were her friends in there, and she wasn't going to leave until she
knew they were safe. "What about Ella. What's to become of her? What about
this dragon that wants her?" Meara asked, knowing she was pushing her
limit.
"There is no dragon anymore! He
was rid of this world a long time ago," The Duke said.
"Then what could Queen Kwen
possibly want with Ella?" Meara asked, her voice more curious then
demanding.
Her father seemed to soften up a
little, "There is a Dragon, but not in this world. He dwells deep within a
cave now, and is not permitted in this life," Meara looked confused as he
spoke, "he still desires to build his family, and will use those that he can
to bring souls to him. As for Ella, she is a princess that he desired long ago.
The Queen believes that she can use her to gain the dragon's favor. I only
agreed because Queen Kwen's antics were getting in the way of you becoming
Queen of Cyndar, and I was ready to be off with her."
Meara couldn't believe what her
father was saying. He was going to send the Queen to her death, as well as
Ella, just to get them out of his way. "Father, how dare you! That is
Prince Donovan's mother! And Ella? What has she ever done to you?" Meara
started to back up, disgusted by her father.
"Meara, stop that. You'll
understand one day. Once you are a queen you will know the sacrifices you have
to make as a parent. I only look out for you, now get back here and get on your
horse!" The Duke was moving forward now, but Meara refused to allow him
near.
She turned to run, and ran straight
for a pride of great white beasts. The Duke jumped from his horse now. He ran
straight for Meara and took hold of her, pulling her behind him. These beasts
were almost as large as a dragon themselves, especially the one that neared
closest to them. The largest cat growled, shaking the foundation they stood
upon. The rocks around them begun to rattle, and the Duke could hear the horses
behind him become whining loudly.
"To your horse, Meara,
now!" He turned and pushed her toward her horse. This time she didn't
hesitate to follow directions.
*****
Ella ran as fast as her feet could
take her. Her brother was already out of the forest. Ella ran through the great
cats, weaving through, and even under those large enough. By the time she broke
through the trees she could see her brother's shoulders hovering over the
others. His head must have been lowered, readying for attack. She did not,
though, see any dragon. Her heart was pounding in her ears, her breathing
almost too fast for the air to reach her lungs, which burned furiously. She
passed the pride, out into the open where she could see the Duke and his
daughter scurrying onto their horses.
"Xsada, stop!" Ella
screamed. She stood in front of her brother, hands raised.
"Ellaxsia, these are our enemy.
What are you doing?" When Xsada spoke, Ella had to remind herself that
this was her brother, and not some monster from the fairy tales she was forced
to read Feullete at night.
"Meara is not my enemy. And
from what I can see there is no dragon here. So please, just wait," Ella
turned and faced the group of frightened people. "Meara. It's quite
alright. This is my family. They won't hurt you, unless your father's
intentions force them to do otherwise." Ella looked to the Duke. His look
was assuring to her, and she could see he did not intend on going up against
these creatures.
"He came looking for me. He has
no interest in taking you from...your family," Meara said, still trying to
figure out how this was this Ella's family she had just seen not long ago.
"Then what of the dragon!"
Her brother sounded from behind her, or over her from what the Duke could see.
"The dragon is dead," The
Duke said, trying to sound more like a man of authority, then a coward of
beasts.
The great cats seemed to look to
each other, and the largest turned to face the others, then back toward the
Duke, "Death-in-life can not die. You lie."
"I do not lie! He was done with
a long time ago, driven through the heart by King Aethelbald himself. His work
continues, but from the depths of death's realm. The Queen meant to deliver the
girl to the dragon herself," The Duke regained his courage, and looked to
his men to make sure they were doing the same.
"So he is gone then. He is not
coming here," The greatest cat was a man now, and the Duke was shaking his
head as if his mind had just played a trick on him.
"No. The Dragon can only
continue his work if he can draw the souls to him. But that is not to say that
he won’t use those who turn to him to do this. Don't feel you are out of danger
just yet. The Queen was not the only one willing to sacrifice the girl,"
The Duke said.
"Who then is after my sister,
and where can I find them?" Xsada asked.
"An ugly creature, who worked
under the Queen's service. You can find them in the kingdom of Cyndar, though
they may not be there now." The Duke looked down to Meara, "Now if
you don't mind, I'd like to wash my hands of this whole thing, and have us take
our leave."
Donovan and the women had now
surfaced from the trees. Donovan met Meara's eye. Meara felt a twinge of pain,
knowing her leave would mean never seeing Donovan again. She knew her
engagement to the Prince of Cyndar was over, and her father would have her back
on market for another prince as soon as they returned home. Looking out over
this group of enchanted creatures, Ella and Donovan among them, Meara had to
wonder if this was a world she could ever find herself happy to be a part of.
Dragons and giant cats would
create more nightmares then one's imagination could handle, and surely there
was far more to this cursed place then what stood before her now. Maybe she was
better off back home, in the safety of Shippening, where normal people worried
about normal things. Her father had made his peace with Xsada, and relieved to
be over their encounter, took his leave.
Meara looked down from her horse,
"I'm glad to see you home, Ella, and hope we may cross paths again one
day." Though Meara and Ella both knew this was a final farewell, Ella
agreed she would like that indeed. Meara then turned her farewell toward
Donovan, who having seen the danger had passed, joined their gathering at last.
The way him and Ella met eyes told Meara she was making the right choice,
"And to you too, Prince Donovan, may we cross paths again one day. I sure
wish you a safe journey home, and the best to you, and your family." At
this she turned her face down, and kicked her heels. She did not wait for a
response.
"It am sad to see her go. I
know I will not be seeing her again," Ella said.
Donovan could feel a dozen giant
eyes on them, and felt rather uneasy with the giant cat’s warm breaths
breathing on his neck. Xsada now stood with them, his hand reaching out for
Ella's shoulder, "Sweet sister, I fear I can not return home knowing the
danger that lurks after you. We have agreed to hunt down this creature and be
done with this enemy for good."
"How will you find him? If the
Duke is right, and they are out looking for me, then he could be
anywhere," Ella said.
"He is looking for you alright,
and it will not be hard to find him," Came a voice from outside their
gathering.
Ella turned to find the man in green
standing beside the old couple, "What do you mean? Where is he?" She
hadn't even realized they had gone until now.
"I'm afraid a great dragon has
descended upon the Kingdom of Cyndar. He is demanding they hand you over, lest
they wish to find their kingdom resting on the bottom of the ocean," This
was the first Ella had really heard the man in green speak and she found
something oddly familiar about his voice.
"I thought the Duke said the
dragon was dead...That he couldn't return here," Donovan said.
"Death-in-life cannot return,
but those who wish to give their souls to do his work can. This creature you
speak of has done just that. It is he who terrorizes your kingdom," The
man in green looked down on Donovan, whose face looked ashen, "Perk up
boy, this is no time to be getting sick."
"I'm not sick!" Donovan
said, annoyed.
Ella got the feeling these two would
no get along, and took over for Donovan, "How did you come to learn this?
We are...," She thought about it for a second, "...a long ways away
from Cyndar. It lays atop an island."
"How did you come to find yourself
in Nevenia?" The old man said.
"It is my job to protect you,
dear Princess. By my master's orders I am to watch for all possible dangers
that may befall you," The green man said, gesturing a small bow to show
his devotion.
She suddenly saw her green bird
bowing atop his perch, "Aegeron?" Ella asked in shock.
Aegeron bowed again, "Sir
Aegeron, Knight of Farthestshore. At your service, m'lady."
Donovan rubbed the back of his neck
a moment, and over his head where a few bald spots had yet to fill in, where he
recalled a certain green bird taking his fill of flesh and hair, "Hold on
on moment, so all this time, you were that blasted dragon eaten bird!"
"Why, yes, well. I can not say
that every way I serve my master is just, but if it makes you feel any better,
I took no pleasure in tasting your hair in my mouth. You mortals should take
more pride in cleansing yourselves," Aegeron turned his attention back
toward the old couple, who were busy discussing the more important matters at
hand.
Ella just laughed, "In his
defense, you were rather slow on the walk here."
"Yes, well, had I known he was
some immortal man in a birds disguise I would have actually hit him with that
stick," Donovan told her. Ella smiled, and would have laughed, but neither
could help but overhear the conversation going on beside them.
"I say we leave immediately. We
can not go on chattering about while this monster sends that kingdom to its
ruin. Once it finds Ella isn't there it will come looking for her. We must
finish it off while we know where to find it," Xsada ordered, his men
agreeing in unison.
"Prince Donovan, we must be
moving," The old man said, touching Donovan on the arm.
"Right...yes," Said
Donovan, remembering the peril his family now faced.
The group started off for the hill
Ella and the others had descended earlier, when Ella had gotten her first look
at Nevenia. Donovan and Ella were one of the last to follow. Donovan kept his
pace slow, trying to put a gap between him and the others, in hopes that Ella
would linger too. He didn't know how much of a chance he would get to talk to
her once they arrived home at his castle, especially with a dragon on the
rampage, but he felt there was something he needed to tell her.
He thought of all they years they
had spent together; growing up side by side, late nights just talking, or
complaining about Feullete, walks deep into the gardens of Cyndar, usually
trying to escape from Feullete. He wondered how different it would be without
Ella. He wondered how he was going to say goodbye.
"Ella?" Okay, that was one
way to start, he thought, at least enough to get her attention.
Ella turned to look at Donovan,
careful to keep her footing on the trail up the hill. Donovan met her eyes and
his mind went blank. He quickly pretended to be watching his footing as he
tried to gather his thoughts, "I...uh...guess I was wondering...well after
this," this was not coming out the way he thought, so he took a quick
breath, "You aren't planning on returning to Cyndar, are you?"
Ella hadn't really given it much
thought, but she figured Donovan would have expected this by now, "I sort
of left because, well, this is my home. These are my people, and they need me.
So, no, I was not really planning to return to Cyndar." She kept looking
up to try and read his face, but he kept his eyes to the path at his
feet.
"Won't be the same, you know,
not having you there," He said, his heart thumping hard in his chest,
though that could have been from the long climb up the hill.
Ella had been so caught up in the
idea of having a real family, she had forgot all about the family she was
leaving behind. Although the Queen had wished her dead, and Feullete would be
far happier with her gone, she did have those who did love her. Her uncle, King
Anaxem, loved her very much. "I will miss uncle," She said, thinking
of all the times his compliments had brightened her gloomiest of days.
"Yea, my father will miss you
dearly," Donovan agreed. He no longer felt the thumping in his
chest.
"Do you think they are okay,
Donnie? I'm awfully worried about them. I keep thinking about that memory of
mine, the one that taunts me. I know this is a different dragon...but...he
killed my mother," Ella said, trying to tune out the memory of her screams.
Donovan had to think about this a
moment, "I don't know. Father has never had to face such an enemy before.
Until now Cyndar had managed to stay hidden from any who sought to bring it
harm. I don't even know if Cyndar's knights would know what to do in the face
of a dragon."
"Are you not worried?"
Ella said, wondering how one could stay so calm through all this. Or maybe he
wasn't, and he was just very good at hiding it.
"Very," Said Donovan.
Although inside he felt he was a million different emotions, going a million
different directions all at once, those emotions felt entrapped inside him, and
he wasn't quite sure how to get them out. At the moment he was rather glad for
this, "It's just...a lot to take in at the moment. This place, these
people...who are not really people. Your dead mother, who is not so very
dead...or she is and that woman isn't your mother, although she looks a lot
like you...see I just can't piece this all together, and frankly I don't even
know how much of this is actually happening right now."
Ella couldn't help but giggle a
little, cause she had to admit, she felt just like he did, "Donnie, when
all this is over I'll explain everything, but if it helps, that is my mother
you saw back there. She is my birth mom. They are my birth family. The family I
had here in Nevenia were my…human family?” She said this as a question, not
knowing how best to describe it, “I too feel as though it is all a dream, but I
also know it is very real." At this she smiled, and looked up to see Donovan
was finally looking up from his feet, though he did not look at her. They had
reached the top of the hill. Donovan seemed to be trying to process something,
then a bird came to land on his shoulder.
"Stay close together, do not
wander off the path, and no sticks," Said the bird, giving Donovan a quick
peck on the temple before taking to the air.
"I'm going to find the biggest
stick I can, and carve his name right on it," Said Donovan, rubbing his
temple. Ella laughed when Donovan kept to his word, and a few feet before the
forest found the biggest stick he could find.
*****
King Anaxem huddled his family close
inside one of the maids passageways, deep within the center of the castle. Here
there were no windows, and no way he could imagine this dragon could come
looking for them. His knights were to stand guard outside the secret passage,
as well as walk the inner perimeter of the castle. Anaxem had seen this
creature change form, and feared there was the chance that this thing could
make its way inside. One rap on the door, followed by three quick raps, told
Anaxem one of his knights had returned from a perimeter walk.
"I need to check on my men. You
two stay here, and do not leave this hall lest you fear for your own safety. If
you fear something has happened to me, you must follow this hall down to the
kitchens. From there you must take the short hall to the wine room, make your
way down into the wine cellar, and lock yourself in. Do not emerge for any
reason." The King looked down on his family. He reached out and touched
his daughter under the chin, leaning forward, and placed a kiss atop her head.
He turned toward Kalitha, who shied her face away from him, but he reached out
and touched her face still. "I love you both, remember that, always."
The King opened the door, coming
face to face with one of his knights, and a horrible odor that seemed to have
encased the entire castle. He quickly stepped out and closed the door behind
him. Kalitha caught wind of the odor and pulled her hand to her face, making
Feullete do the same. She didn't know what that odor was, but she knew it
couldn't be safe, and Anaxem had walked out into it.
"Mother, that smell burns my
eyes," Feullete whined, pulling the skirt of her dress up over her
face.
Kalitha's heart raced. Two
minutes...five minutes...eight minutes...Anaxem had not returned. She rose from
her position, squatting beside her daughter, and approached the door. With her
ear to it, she listened for the sound of the knights outside, and prayed she
would hear Anaxem's voice. She heard nothing. Her heart raced faster. She
didn't want to open the door. The odor was strong enough standing here beside
it.
She tapped the door lightly with her
knuckles. No response. She knocked a little harder. Not even a sound of movement
outside the door. Her mind raced to the worse possible scenario. She wanted to
knock again, louder this time, but feared drawing attention to where they were
hiding. Should A'Maikra make his way inside, he would be looking for her. She
had to keep her daughter safe. She returned to Feullete, who has surfaced her
head from her skirts.
"Is father okay? Do you hear
them?" Feullete asked.
Her mother shook her head, "I
do not hear them, and no one answered. I fear we must follow your father's
advice. We must make for the cellars. Even if he does return, he will know
where to come looking for us." She helped her daughter to her feet and
together they hurried down the small hall to the kitchens.
*****
Ella watched as the old couple, arm
in arm, walked through the large towering pines. The pines arched over the two,
making a large doorway leading into the Wood Between . Her mother stood just
outside the pines, along with the other women. Her brother kissed Leonotia on
the cheek, and then descended into the woods , his men close behind him. Ella
approached her mother, seeing the look on her mother’s face that pleaded for
her not to go, "I will be okay." Ella told her, embracing her
tightly.
"I know what you must do, my
sweet child. Our women are not made for battle, and many have children at home.
But you, you are not like other women of our tribe. And though your home will
always be here with us, your purpose lies here," And her mother placed her
hand over Ella's heart. Ella's eyes watered over as her mother took her hands
inside her own, "Now, you must go. You can not fall behind." Ella
turned and faced the pines.
Donovan moved to stand beside Ella
but something caught his hand. The sensation that shot through his arm was like
ice freezing over his veins. He turned to find Leonotia's age old silver-blue
eyes staring deep into his own. She spoke through a kind smile, "A lion is
courageous, but will often forget it is capable of love. A lamb is gentle and
patient, but often forgets what it is to be courageous. So when a lamb comes to
love a lion, one may wonder, if the lamb could find the courage to give the lion
the love which she so desires?"
"One may also wonder what would
happen should the lamb try to tell the lion how he felt and in return the lion
decided to eat the lamb." Donovan said, giving the woman a sheepish smile.
Leonotia shook her head and smiled,
"You may find it scary, but when you look past that which stands between
you, you will find a heart that beats the same as yours, and is capable of
loving you just the same," She squeezed his hand, and it no longer felt
icy cold, but delicate and warm.
Donovan wanted to turn to see if
Ella was watching, but he feared she was, and so stood as still as the stick he
held in his hand. "I...understand," He said, not saying more as Ella
now waited for him to join her. He wondered how much she might have heard, but
pushed the thought from his head. He liked her mother, though scary as she was.
Then something struck him, A lamb comes to love a lion... He'd seen Ella's
brother change into this big cat, and if that is Ella's blood brother...He
again pushed the thought from his mind.
"Mother stopped you to talk to
her. What did she say?" Ella said, waiting for Donovan to step up beside
her.
"Oh, she just...wished me good
luck," Donovan said, barely able to meet her gaze. Ella just smiled, and
Donovan feared she was laughing at his pathetic attempt at lying.
"Well, shall we? The others
know where they are going and have gone on ahead of us, but Sir Aegeron is
waiting for us just beyond the trees. He will lead us through the Wood Between,"
Ella said.
Donovan held up his stick,
"Good, I was afraid I wasn't going to get a chance to use
this."
Ella rolled her eyes, "I have a
feeling your stick will do surprisingly little against Sir Aegeron."
They crossed through the pines and
into the Wood Between. Donovan didn't see any sign of Sir Aegeron, or any of
the others. Even Ella seemed rather concerned, though she continued forward.
Donovan not wanting to gain distance between them hurried to her side. Those
few feet made all the difference and suddenly they weren't in the same wood
anymore.
The trees around them played tricks
on their minds, changing shape, moving, running alongside them, until your
looked at them and they became solitary trees once more. The ground under them
seemed to be moving, though they didn't seem to move with it, but at pace in
which their own feet moved. Donovan hadn't looked this closely at the woods
traveling to Nevenia. Now he wished he had the bird to distract
him.
"It's strange, isn't it?"
Ella asked.
Donovan could feel her arm brush
against his. She was staying awfully close to him. He realized how much more
afraid she must be, "Strange yes, but I don't think we have reason to
fear. I'm sure Sir Aegeron is fluttering around here somewhere." He turned
his head to the trees above, but suddenly wished he hadn't. A huge shadow
seemed to be lingering above them, and then the next instant was gone.
Donovan's mouth hung open.
"What? Donnie? What did you
see?" Ella turned her eyes skyward, but saw nothing.
"Oh, nothing, just got a weird
sensation when I looked up there. Lets just keep our eyes on the path
ahead." And just as he did this his face came chest to face with Sir
Aegeron. Donovan raised his stick, but realized this was a person standing
before him, not a bird. Aegeron just smiled at the sight of the stick.
"Rule breaker, are we?"
Aegeron grinned, and Donovan wished so much that Aegeron would change again,
just so he could test his stick.
"No, just seen some creepy
things while walking through the forest, like little green birds that favor the
taste of man flesh," Donovan replied.
To Donovan’s surprise Aegeron
smiled, "Follow me, you must stick to the path before you. Don't go
looking too deep into the wood or you may find yourself unknowingly straying
off course, and trust me, there are worse things out there then flesh eating
birds." Sir Aegeron took to the trees long before Donovan could even catch
sight of his changing shape.
Donovan thought to keep his stick at
the ready, but was momentarily distracted by the feeling of someone's hand on
his arm. He turned and Ella seemed to blush under his gaze. "You don't
mind, do you?" Ella asked, ready to remove her hand if need be.
"Not at all," Donovan
said, feeling that icy to warm sensation creep through his arm again.
Ella tucked her arm around his, and
so they kept on walking through the strange wood. Sir Aegeron made appearances
every now and then to help direct them. Donovan forgot all about Sir Aegeron,
and his stick, as he was too busy wondering how long he had to hold on to Ella
before they would reach the other end of the path, and he would be forced to
let her go. It was surely the doings of this strange wood, for as soon as he
thought about it, there was Aegeron standing before them.
"Here, just this way,"
Aegeron took to human form and stepped over a fallen log, quickly vanishing out
of sight.
Donovan wished to tighten his hold
on her, but Ella slowly pulled her arm out from his. She stood before the giant
log. On the other side was the castle which held every evil that wished to see
her dead. She knew what she had to do though, and so she moved forward, ready
to face that which she knew she had been purposed for all these years.
*****
Kalitha's hand shook uncontrollably
as she took hold of the handle to the door that would lead them into the
castle's kitchen. She placed her ear to the door, listening, but could hear
nothing. Doing her best not to jingle the handle with her trembling hand, she
quietly pushed the door open.
Her plan to peek into the kitchen
was spoiled by the smoke that filled every inch of the room. Thankfully, she
could only assume if she couldn't see five feet before her, then no one could
see them slipping from the maid's hall, into the wine room, where the door to
the underground cellar would be found. She could not see the kitchen layout
very well, but knew the cellar room was to their right.
"Alright, Feullete, take my
hand. Take your skirt with your other hand and cover your mouth to block the
smoke. Now, when I pull, you follow me to the other side of the room as fast as
you can. We need to find the wine room. When I let go of your hand we'll each
go our own way and search each of the rooms until we find it. Ready?"
Kalitha said, holding tight Feullete's hand.
Feullete nodded, her skirt already
covering her mouth. Her mother pushed open the door enough for the two to
squeeze through, and pulled Feullete across the room. As soon as she saw the
first doorway she let go, pointing Feullete to the left, gesturing for her to
check those doors. The two separated, and Kalitha reached the first doorway to
the right, the pantry. Next door, a store room, and then following that a
washroom.
Kalitha had to walk a ways, doing
her best to keep from running into things. She finally reached the next door,
and by this time Feullete had reached her shaking her head again. This has to
be it, Kalitha thought. She pulled open the door to find it much cooler then
the others. Sure enough she caught first sight of the wine room. She quickly
pulled Feullete inside and shut the door. The cellar door was at the far end of
the wine room. The door was always locked, the key hidden, only a few knowing
its location.
Kalitha looked for the empty barrel
that sat in the corner opposite the cellar door. She pulled the barrel aside
using the rug it sat on, until Feullete could see the tiny trap door beneath
it. Kalitha pulled it open, removed the key, and pushed the barrel back in
place so it looked as if no one had been there. The cellar had two doors, with
the top door having to be unlocked from the outside, and then down the short
set of stairs another door that opened right away.
This door locked from the
inside, preventing any from entering the cellar while the butler was tending to
the wine. This part of the wine cellar was for fine wines and drinks, and only
the butler, or the royals themselves, were allowed access. Kalitha knew the
cellar well, though she would not admit this to Feullete. Once Feullete was
inside the cellar, Kalitha locked the door, and tucked them both far into the
corner of the cellar.
"Mother, do you think father
will find us soon?" Feullete asked. Her voice was forced and scratchy.
"I hope so sweetie,"
Kalitha said, taking her daughter into her arms.
"What about Donovan, is he with
father?" Feullete said, tucking herself tightly into her mother's
side.
Kalitha had not thought about her
son since she first learned of Ella's escape, and Donovan's involvement in it.
Kalitha felt comfort knowing her son was nowhere near this disaster. She
squeezed Feullete tight, "Don't worry about your brother. He will be safe
where he is."
*****
Prince Donovan pulled Ella atop the
log. There they sat, waiting to join the others on the other side. "Are
you ready?" Donovan asked, holding out his hand for Ella to take
hold.
"I guess so," Ella said,
unconsciously placing her hand in his. Her eyes were on the wood ahead.
Not knowing what it was going to be
like, falling off the log, Donovan decided to slide off first. "Here I
go," He said, moving himself forward enough to allow his weight to carry
him the rest of the way. His hand slowly slide from Ella's hold, and she gasped
as she watched him disappear from sight, as if swallowed by the wood itself.
Not wanting the fear to glue her to the log, Ella pushed herself forward,
taking a handful of her dress into her grasp, and dropped off the log. Next
thing she knew she was dropping into Donovan's unsuspecting arms.
"Ella!" He said, barely
managing to catch hold of her before they both went falling to the forest
floor.
"Oh! Sorry Donnie," She
said crawling back onto her knees. She brushed the hair from her face and
laughed when she saw Donovan, in rather a trance, buried in a pile of leaves
that now rained down over them.
"It's...uh, quite alright. That
was sort of my intent, though I didn't expect you to drop down so fast,"
He got to his feet and brushed the leaves from his lap.
"We should go find the
others," Ella said.
Donovan turned toward the forest clearing
and the giant orange glow the emanated from there. He ran for the clearing and
the group of people who stood waiting for them, "Where is my family? Are
they still inside?"
"I believe so," Aegeron
answered. An eruption of flame shot into the air from the courtyard, "He
has lost all control of himself. New dragons are always the worst. They can't
control their burning, and almost always loose themselves to their flame. I
doubt he even remembers what it is he is seeking."
Donovan thought of Ella. He turned
when he heard her speaking, "Your home, it is dreadful. What of your
father? And Feullete?" Donovan couldn't answer. He didn't want to imagine
any harm coming to his family, but the smoke pouring from the windows gave him
little hope.
"I don't think he's made it to
the towns people. He's focused solely on the castle, and what he think lies
inside," Aegeron looked at Ella when he said this.
"He wants me," Ella said,
not needing to read into Aegeron's look, "I can lead him away. I can draw
him away from the castle."
Donovan broke his trance on the
castle and shot a look at Ella, "You are not going anywhere near him! He
wishes you dead!"
"Yes, he wishes me dead. And
your family faces death because of me. If he finds I am not hiding within that
castle then I can save your family from meeting an end that is not meant for
them," Ella shot back at him.
"It is not meant for you
either! We can find another way to draw him away, but it will not involve
putting you in danger," Donovan turned as he said this, as if that was
going to stop her from making her point.
"We don't have time for this
Donnie. I will not be in danger as long as I have my brother. You do as you
wish, but as for me, I'm going with my brother and ridding this kingdom of this
dragon," And Ella turned toward her brother who was edging closer to the
castle.
Ella's courage was plain as day, and
Donovan could see the image of the lamb and the lion. He wanted to follow after
her, but the image of the lamb running after the lion kept playing over in his
head, except in his mind the lamb always ended up eaten.
"There really isn't any other
option is there...she's right," Donovan said after finally washing the
image of the eaten lamb from his head.
"A woman always is, young
prince," Said Aegeron, gazing at his reflection within a bird bath,
"Especially an immortal woman. If you haven't crossed her once already, I
warn you now, she is not as slight as she seems."
Donovan imagined Ella throwing a
shoe and it hitting the little green bird, knocking him from his perch. He
laughed, "Crossed many immortal women have we, Aegeron?"
Aegeron started laughing,
"Me? No, no, no, I leave such affairs to more experienced poets, such as
Sir Eanrin. No one can spark such ire in a woman and walk away unscathed as he
can."
"Sir who?" Donovan asked,
but Aegeron had already detoured away from their conversation, and onto Ella's
brother who approached him now.
"So what have you decided?"
Aegeron asked Xsada.
Donovan tried to read Ella's face,
but she seemed to be ignoring him intentionally. Xsada answered, "We must
draw him away from Cyndar. To fight him here in front of the castle is to risk
too many lives. We must lead him out into the open, and away from the people
and their homes."
"And how do you plan on doing
this?" Donovan asked.
Xsada was apparently ignoring him
too, for he directed his answer at Aegeron, "I will take Ella as close to
the dragon as I need to in order to get his attention. Once drawn from the
castle, we'll lead the beast to the volcano. My brothers will follow on both
sides, ensuring that the dragon does not stray off our path. Once we reach the
volcano, we can deal with the dragon there." Xsada looked to his men who
all smiled reassuringly to each other.
This gave Donovan little comfort,
maybe because they were all still in man form, which he was grateful for at the
moment, but mostly because Ella was still involved. Even worse was her
determination to be involved. He came too once he realized Xsada was talking
again, "...and once the castle is clear of this danger, the Prince can
make his way inside to find his family, and lead them to the town where the air
still seems clear of this dragon's stench."
"What?" Donovan said.
"You disagree with this plan,
young Prince? I mean, you sister is a pain, I'll give you that, but without
someone to fetch them they will likely stay suffocating in that dragon
poison," Aegeron stated, and Donovan realized how silly he sounded. This
was his family, and who better to come to their rescue.
"Then we are settled,"
Xsada said, taking a step back.
Donovan almost jumped out of his
skin when Ella's brother exploded where he stood, leaving Donovan hunkering
under the shadow of a great white cat again. A dozen explosions later and
Donovan was sure their cover was blown. These giant white cats were like a
glowing light in the darkness surrounding. Even scarier was how they almost
glowed orange as the dragon's flames reflected off their fur. Ella approached
her brother, who knelt down, though this did little to help her reach atop his
back.
"Ella?" Donovan started to
say, though he wasn't sure she had heard him.
"Times up little prince!"
Aegeron shouted, grabbing Donovan just in time, as the group of giant cats
dispersed throughout the gardens.
A flame shot down atop the hedges
just as a giant dragon came diving off the castle walls. Ella and Xsada sped
along the garden’s edge. She turned her head, though the wind in her face had
her eyes watering so much she almost couldn't see. Aegeron was pulling Donovan
out of the gardens and onto the gravel that led to the castle. The dragon was
focused on the white blurs that dashed too and from the path her and Xsada ran.
Some ran up upon the dragon just long enough to catch his attention, then took
off for the cover of the forest.
Once on the forests edge, the dragon
exploded in a giant flame, but did not pursue any further. Ella and her brother
sat just inside the forest, waiting. Four of the giant cats had crept up upon
the dragon from both sides. They growled ferociously, but the dragon seemed
aware of their intent, and surrounded himself with flames. He then turned to
face the castle once more. Ella grabbed tight her brother's fur, "Get up
there, now!"
Xsada ran for the forest's edge.
"Dragon!" Ella hollered as Xsada jumped the wall of flame that was
now taking to the trees. The dragon kept in the direction of the castle. Ella
was not giving up, "A'Maikra, you blasted beast! I'm here now, so leave my
family alone!" She was now inside the gardens, and had finally caught his
attention. At the sound of his name, the dragon turned to see Ella almost
standing atop a giant white cat.
"You came, as he said you
would!" The dragon roared. Ella merely scowled. "And now you shall be
his at last, and I..." he cackled, "I will finally get what I was
promised!"
*****
Donovan ran through the castle's
bottom floor, seeking out his family. Not a soul could be seen or heard. The
castle was full of a venomous cloud. It stung his eyes, and burned his throat,
but he kept on searching. They had to be here somewhere, and then it hit him.
"They are probably in hiding," Donovan told Aegeron, but when he
turned his watery eyes to his side Aegeron was gone. "Much help you are,
blasted bird." Donovan growled his way to the second floor. There he found
a couple of the guards standing watch over the stairway.
"The King!" Donovan
demanded, "Where is the King?" Neither man looked him in the eye.
They seemed to be gazing right past Donovan's face. Donovan waved his hand in
front of one, but after getting no response he resorted to poking.
"He calls. From the shadows, he
calls my name. Do you hear him?" The guard almost walked right through
Donovan as he made for the stairs.
The second guard was still gazing at
nothing when Donovan decided he'd be a waste of his time. Down halls, past rooms,
and even up one of the towers he ran, but not a single other soul could be
found. He was just about to give up when a figure appeared in the hazy clouds
ahead. This was the side of the castle nearest the courtyard, and the dragon's
poison shown strongest here. Ash took to the air with every step he took,
making the figure harder still to recognize. The flame from one of the window's
bounced off a piece of metal atop the figure's head, and Donovan nearly tripped
over himself as he went running for him.
"Father! You're alive!"
Donovan cried. He wrapped his arms around the still form. A cloud of ash filled
the space around them, and Donovan nearly choked. "Where's mother? And
Feullete?" He croaked, but his father made no answer.
"Lost, they are all lost,"
his father said, "I am lost. I am looking, but I know not what I look for.
Do you know? Do you know what I am looking for?"
"Father...It's me.
Donovan...Your son, Donovan. Don't you see me? It's Donovan! Look at me!"
Donovan was screaming by this time. He shook his father's shoulders, but all
seemed lost to him, just as he said, "Where are the girls? We need to get
you all out of here!" His father seemed hopeless. He barely met his eye,
and gave no answer to where the rest of his family was.
Donovan grabbed him by the arm
and pulled him through the hall and toward the stairs. He had to get his father
out of this castle and into some clean air where he might finally get an answer
from him. Obviously his family was in hiding. It was not like his father to
leave his family like this. Donovan feared the poison’s effect on his father,
and what might happen to him if he should linger in this castle much
longer.
He did his best to take the stairs
slow, but once he reached the bottom he nearly dragged his father from the
castle. The courtyard was a mistake, Donovan decided, once he opened the doors.
The vapors were even thicker here, and the stone was smoldering hot. Some had
even returned to flowing like the lava it once was.
"We can't go this way," He
said, closing the door, "Come on, the maids quarters have access to the
side of the castle, near the gardens. We can get outside there. I'll hide you
in the forest if I have to." But Donovan knew his reasoning for this. If
he could find a safe enough place for his family there, he can make his way to
the volcano. No matter how much he worried for his family's safety, there was
one who took forefront on his mind. He had to see her safe.
*****
"I don't know who you think you
are now, creature, but I do not belong to you, nor any other beast you may be
doing dirty work for!" Ella said sternly, keeping her eyes on the dragon's
mouth, just waiting for him to erupt with flames.
"I'm different, yes, but that
is because I serve a far greater purpose now, far greater then I did serving
under that wretched woman! She can spend her days burning under my flame, and
she will, but only after I've delivered you to my new master," Lava
dripped from the dragon's mouth, almost as if he salivated over his thoughts.
Ella tightened her grip on her
brothers mane, "I take it your master wouldn't be too happy if you
returned empty handed now, would he?" Ella said as she kicked at her
brother's side. He turned and in a flash they were flying through the forest's
trees.
Ella could feel the heat of
the flame that followed after them, and knew the dragon was pursuing them just
as planned. She clung low to her brother's mane, as branches threatened to
behead her, missing her head by mere inches. She wanted so much to turn her
head, but knew at this speed she would hardly be able to make out the dragon
through the tree tops.
She could hardly see the
forest in the blur of green that stretched alongside them. At this speed they
would make it to the volcano soon. They had not gotten to the details of once
they had reached their destination, but she was sure her brother and his men
knew what they were doing. She had to trust him.
"We're almost there. Now,
Ellaxsia, do you trust me?" Xsada asked.
"Yes, of course I do,"
Ella said.
"Then you will trust me when I
ask you to run? Run, and hide anywhere you find that will keep you hidden for a
good length of time, and stay there," Xsada said.
Her heart crushed under his words.
So she wouldn't be fighting alongside him after all. She was merely the bate to
draw the dragon away, and then she was to go into hiding again. She could see
the relief on Donovan's face, and this angered her. At the end of their run
though, she knew what she had to do. Her brother had gained some distance from
the dragon, just enough to give Ella a head start.
He nearly flung her as he rolled his
head forward, sending her flying into his mane. She slid down his giant brow,
and landed hard on the rocky ground. She took one look into his eyes, and she
swore she saw tears. The memory of that horrible day was still fresh on her
mind, and she was sure it played the same in his. She touched her hand to his
nose, "I love you, brother."
Xsada pushed his head into her hand,
and then looked up in almost a glare, "You must go, now!" He roared,
and Ella could see the flame coming just over the trees.
She ran as fast as her feet could
carry her over this harsh rock. More then once she fell, and she was sure she
felt blood running down her leg. She had managed to stick to a fairly clear
path that wound around the volcano. She refused to stop, to look back where her
brother stood before that flaming beast, refusing him to follow after her. She
pushed herself, further, and further around the giant rock, climbing slightly
higher with every five feet she ran, until clearly out of sight she felt she
was safe to start up.
She didn't know why she chose up,
for it clearly wasn't the easier choice, but she felt the rocks were her best
bet for staying hidden. A dragon could flame a forest, and then where would she
hide? Here she was surrounded by giant rock formations and boulders. The
boulders made almost a stairway up the side of the volcano. Ella scrambled as
fast as she could, paying little mind to her bleeding hands and bruised knees.
Thirty feet up she had to pause,
which became a mistake as her exhaustion caught up with her. She could hear
wheezing, though it was barely audible over her heart which pounded in her
ears. You have to keep moving, she told herself as she attempted to turn her
head uphill. It came as more of a flop, but she managed to see the peaks above.
A formation up another twenty feet caught her eye.
Two boulders came together to form a
small crevice, almost large enough for a person. The boulders were wedged into
the side of the volcano. Ella did no know if it went back far enough for her to
hide, but she had to reach it to find out. As she crawled over another boulder,
a horrible sound emanated through the trees. A blood curdling cry shook the
foundation of the volcano, sending rocks rolling down its sides.
Ella found cover under a huge
boulder and hugged herself for comfort as she waited for it all to stop. Tears
poured down her face, and she could hear herself sobbing. That sound she heard
was not just that of a beast, but also that of a person. Ella could not waste
the efforts being made to save her life. She stepped out of hiding and ran for
it. The opening in the volcano was almost within reach.
She pushed past the protests
her body made until she finally reached its opening. With hands grasping both
sides of the crevice, she peered into its shadows. Her heart gave a jump when
she swore she heard the shadows speaking to her, inviting her in. She didn't
have time to second guess her decision. The pillar of flames that nearly
reached the sky told her she was safer within the cave.
*****
Donovan dragged his dad into the
kitchen. His dad was mumbling something about a strange tunnel within a cave,
when Donovan heard a horrifying cry from outside. It was so loud that it sent
even his father running for his life. Donovan quickly scrambled after him. He
took hold of his father's cloak and pulled him to a stop. "You can't just
go running off like that. You want to really wind up lost?" Donovan asked,
though he was sure his father hadn't heard a word he said.
"He's coming! He wants it! If I
don't find it, he will..." Donovan listened to his dad's rambling long enough.
He was wasting precious time, and even he was starting to feel a little
lost.
"Come on." Donovan took
his father's hand and pulled him through the kitchen.
"Donnie?" Came a voice
from behind him. Donovan swung around where he stood to find Feullete's face
peeking out through a door.
"Feullete! I've been looking
for hours!" Donovan began, but soon was cut off by Feullete's full forced
hug that nearly knocked the wind out of him.
"You've found father! Mother
and I thought the worst, that he was lost to the dragon! But he's not! He's
here!" She went on and on, taking her father by the hands, and then
jumping into him to hug him. "Father? Why won't you hug me? Aren't you
glad to see I am okay?"
"You may be okay, but I don't
think he is. There's something wrong with him, like his mind is gone somewhere
else," Donovan told her.
"Mother too, but she's not as
bad. Oh, mother! I should go back and fetch her. I left her in the cellar. She
did not think I should leave, but her mind does not stay focused on one thing
for too long. As soon as I was walking away, she was off rambling about
something else," Feullete talked the whole way back to the wine
room.
Donovan on the other hand had his
mind off somewhere else. His family was safe now, and he knew no more harm
would come to them as long as the dragon was gone. "Feullete?" He
said, before she could enter the wine room.
"What?" She said, turning
just enough to look at him.
"Do you think you could manage
to get father and mother both out of the castle, and down to the town by
yourself?" He asked.
Feullete didn't look to assured of
this, and bit her lip nervously, "Donnie, I don't understand. Why would we
need to leave the castle, and where are you going?"
"Just trust me, okay? The
castle isn't safe, obviously," He said, gesturing toward his father,
"And until that dragon is dead, neither is the town."
"And what are you going to do
about it? Don't tell me you're planning to go fight the dragon!" Feullete
barked, her annoying, bossy side coming into play.
"Feullete, this isn't the time
for you to go playing mother on me. This is serious, and I need you to just do
as I say," Donovan replied.
He waited until Feullete returned
with his mother, who seemed just as out of sorts as his father. When his mother
entered the kitchen though, her eyes met his for a moment, and she started to
cry. Donovan hugged her, though he was sure she hardly knew what was going on.
He then sent them off, out the kitchen, and around the side of the courtyard.
He watched Feullete, with both parents in hand, disappear out the castle
gate.
It gave him comfort to know they
were farther from the dragon, and its poison, which by now was starting to take
effect on his own mind. He had to get far from this castle, and he had to find
Ella. It was at least an hour walk to the volcano, and from the looks of things
it was going to be a hot one. The entire forest was ablaze.
*****
Ella's first few feet into the cave
were slow ones. She could hardly see the walls beside her, though she was sure
they were only inches away from her on each side. She extended one of her hands
in front of her so as to find the end of the cave before she ran into it. She
walked for what might have been a minute or two until she realized that she was
walking downhill.
She was sure she had gone far
enough, and was likely to be lost should she go much further. She turned back
to find the entrance, but soon found herself turning in circles, with no
entrance in sight. Now reaching out for the walls so as to help direct herself,
but soon found those had gone missing too. She was completely encased in
darkness.
She knew walking blind in the dark
was dangerous, so she got to her hands and knees to crawl, feeling her way as
she went. She did not know which direction she was headed, but she tried to
head the way that led back up hill, or so she thought. The darkness was making
it hard to determine distance or time. It also made it hard to determine which
way she was headed, for what felt like uphill soon became downhill, and she
began to wonder if she had turned around on accident.
She started to feel hopeless and
soon decided she had better luck just staying put. As she rose to sitting
position she caught ear of what sounded to be water, almost like the splashing
of waves. Ella felt the ground once more and crawled toward the sound. Just the
idea of something she could recognize gave her comfort, until she neared the
sound, and the water soon took on an awful beckoning sound.
Even in the depths my children find
me.
Ella went stone cold. She felt the
darkness almost rise up around her at the sound of that voice. She could make
out the shoreline at her feet, and quickly stepped away.
I've been waiting for you. It is
fortunate, is it not, how you've come to find me?
"Who-o's there?" Ella
stuttered, turning about to try and catch the direction of the voice.
I am your destiny, my dear princess.
For where else should you find yourself, after wandering for so long in the
darkness, but here with me?
"I don't even know who you are.
How can you be my destiny?" Ella stopped turning about, convinced the
voice was now coming from within her own mind.
Because you were meant for me, I who
wanted to give you the life you should have lived. I who intended you for great
things. And I would have given you everything, but THEY wouldn't have it.
Instead they chose to abandon you, and to leave you to the world of mortals,
for you to live out your days as a slave to one of their daughters. They
claimed they were keeping you safe, but really, they were the danger. While
they lived out their days, growing old together in the wood, you rotted away at
the hands of some spoiled human brat.
"How do you know all
this?" Ella asked the voice, though she couldn't hear her own voice in the
darkness, and wondered if she just thought them.
Nothing is hidden from me. Their
efforts were almost entirely useless, except that in the end it has made it all
the more easier for you to find me. And now, my Princess, you can let go all
the lies they fed you, and find your purpose here with me, as one of mine.
Ella could feel these words grasping
at her, pulling on her, with each word drawing her back toward the water. His
words brought the questions back to her mind. She wanted to scream at him, to
call him a liar, and to escape from this darkness that made it so hard to see
clearly that which was real. But he kept on, taunting her. "Stop it! You
lie!" She yelled, grasping at her ears and crouching into a ball.
Why do you fight me so? Can you not
see? Your brother meant for you to run away and hide, because he wanted to be
rid of you. I on the other hand do want you. I want to give you everything
you've ever been deprived from; a life of beautiful immortality, to be a queen
as you were always meant to be, and to be loved as you've always wanted to be.
Ella could hear the voice right
behind her now. She could hear him leaning over her. She could hear the water
crawl up the shore after him, licking at her heels where she sat crouching on
her heels. Ella knew she didn't stand a chance against the full power of his
words. If she turned and looked at him she would lose all sense of what was
right in her own mind. She still could not see in the darkness, but she had a
better chance at the darkness that lay ahead then at the darkness that lurked
behind her. Ella set her toes to the ground, placing one hand on the floor, and
prepared to run.
What do you say, my dear princess?
"I say, you were a fool to
think I would believe a word you said about my family! I'll take my chances
with mortal love over living an eternity with you!" And Ella took to her
feet in a full force sprint, leaving the voice on the shores of darkness.
A deathly roar erupted inside the
cave, pushing Ella even further into the shadows. She knew who the voice
belonged too now, as his image become more and more clear the further she got
from him. She knew if she turned back now she'd be looking into the face of the
dragon. Why he did not just kill when he had the chance she did not know.
If you think you can run from my
sight, then you are as mistaken as your mother was all those years ago. You
were promised to me! And I will have what I am due!
Ella was sure by now that she would
have run straight into a wall, but the darkness carried her deeper and deeper.
She could almost feel his hot breath upon her. Was he just taunting her?
Playing a game? Was she really even running? This felt like a dream, no, a
nightmare! Maybe she passed out on the volcano from exhaustion, and this was
all just a bad dream in her mind.
If it was, there was no reason
she couldn't just think her way out of here. She closed her eyes, or at least
thought she did seeing as the darkness was all the same, and thought long and
hard about escaping, waking up, seeing daylight, finding the entrance,
"Anything!" She cried, and she opened them.
Sure enough, a light flickered in
the distance. Maybe she had made her way back to the entrance. She headed for
the light, but quickly realized the light hardly changed in size, though she
was sure she neared it closer now. In fact, it didn't get much bigger then a
lamp, and soon that was all that she found. Sitting atop a rock was an old
lamp, with a light so bright Ella could hardly keep her eyes on it.
She thought it strange that a
lamp would be sitting deep within a cave such as this. She felt drawn to its
light, and she was not afraid to allow herself to approach it. She reached out
and placed her hand over its handle, just to touch it. It gave off a warmth
that surrounded her whole body. She needed to find a way out of this cave and
she wasn't going to do that without a light.
Her mind tried playing horrible
scenarios, of whom the lamp might belong to, and what might happen should she
be caught with it, but one look at the light and those thoughts fled her mind.
She grasped the handle and lifted the lamp from its rock. Just as quickly as
she could blink her eyes against its light, another lamp appeared there on the
rock before her. Must be dreaming, she thought. Dream or not she needed out of
it. She held the lamp up and soon found the light seemed to form a path right
before her feet.
The darkness surrounding seemed to
push down upon the light, almost as if trying to smother it, but the light
pushed on. It led Ella on for some time. Ella kept her eyes to her feet, though
she found she still could not detect the direction in which she walked. When
the light shone brighter still, Ella looked up to find a glow looming on the
path ahead, a glow so powerful it lighted the entire space around it. And then
she saw the water it stood beside, and Ella gasped at the sight of it.
"No!" She cried, almost
dropping the lamp. The light had betrayed her. It had led her right back to the
place she fled from.
Please, do not fear the light, my child.
It has done you no wrong.
"But, it has. Just look where
it brought me," Ella said.
It has led you right where you need
to be, though it may not always be right where you wish to find yourself.
"But why? Why must I find
myself here?" Ella asked of the glow.
The glow grew closer, until it was
no longer a glow, but a person. An immortal, like Sir Aegeron, though far more
humble an appearance, and somehow far more greater. As admired as she was, she
lost all sense of comfort when another figure appeared in front of her. He wore
a cloak of shadows, which hung over his ghastly pale face. The darkness seemed
to hug at him, though it trembled at his every move. Even though he stood on
two feet, Ella saw the dragon's eyes as he turned his face upon her. She moved
closer to the glowing man, feeling safer in his light then the darkness that
moved closer to her.
"Do you not see, it's brought
me back to the dragon!" Ella cried to the man standing beside her.
"You no longer need hide from
such a monster. His lies are his only tool now. As long as you have the truth
on your side, his lies can do you no harm," The immortal man said. Ella no
longer hunkered behind him, but stood at his side now, willing herself to
believe what he said.
The dark man before her ginned
still, "You drink up his words as if you've known their taste all your
life. Yet, where was he when you were offered as a sacrifice by your own
father, abandoned by your mother, and left to wither away at the hands of
mortals?"
Ella fought his words, though she
knew there were truths behind them, "All you ever tell me is how wrongly I
was treated, but what of all the good that came from it?" And the immortal
who stood beside her smiled at her words. The light in her hand glowed brighter,
stalling the dark man where he stood, though he seemed to push his darkness in
on her still.
"Good? What good can come from
such a pathetic life? What good could mortals do for you? What good is a family
that chose to desert you for so many years?" The dark man pushed harder.
"They were trying to keep me
safe, from you!" Ella charged back at him.
"They were trying to hide you
from fulfilling a much greater purpose! My purpose!" The dark man said,
raising his voice over the glow of the lamp, that now shined brighter then ever
before.
"I have no need for anything
you offer me! I have a purpose, and it's no longer to live out my life in
hiding, but to actually live! And not you, nor your dragons, nor your lies,
will ever force me into hiding again!" At this, Ella found herself pushing
forward with the light she held in her hands. The dark man was lurking further
and further back into his shadows.
The dark waters licked his feet, and
he scowled at her, "Pathetic, waste of my time you were! It's no wonder
your father was so willing just to hand you over. You desire to be nothing
great in life! You have no fire in you! You are small, and weak, and..."
"That is enough! I no longer
wish to hear your lies!" Ella said, cutting him off. The dark man growled
where he stood, but a great light shone behind Ella and the room grew
silent.
"She is no longer yours to
taunt or torment. Now, away with you dragon!" And at the immortal man's
demand, the dark form dispersed into the shadows, and Ella was free.
*****
Donovan ran through the scalded
forest, avoiding the places that still burned. Much of the trees were just
singed, but many areas suffered the dragon's full flame. If Donovan thought he
was scared before, he was even more so now that the horrible cry had faded
away, and was replaced by absolute silence. He looked up to the sky, searching
it for any sign of Dragon or fire. The trees were glowing brighter here where
the fires grew ever wilder. Donovan knew he was getting closer.
He could hear rustling in the trees,
like footprints. He turned to his side to see a giant white cat running beside
him. It seemed to want to get up beside Donovan, and he slowed. Though he could
not tell which of the immortals it was, Donovan had to trust that he would get
him to Ella. When the beast came to a halt, Donovan wasted no time in
clambering atop his back. He had to grab at his fur twice when the beast
lurched forward at great speed, and Donovan almost went flying off its
backside.
"What happened? I heard a great
cry! Where's the dragon?" Donovan tried to holler into the beasts ear, but
either he had fallen too far back for it to hear, or it was ignoring his
question, cause Donovan received no answer. He settled on waiting out the ride
to the foot of the volcano.
When the great white cat came to a
stop Donovan could see nothing but a huge clearing in the forest where the
trees had been burnt to ash. Donovan dropped to the ground and turned to face
the lion, "What happened? Where is the dragon? Where is Ella!"
"We lost him. One of our own
was wounded, greatly. While at his care, the dragon slipped away. We believe he
took to his original form, and he has vanished." Donovan knew it was Xsada
as soon as he spoke.
"And what of Ella?"
Donovan asked.
Xsada's giant face fell toward the ground,
"I told her to run, but I know not where she went. We have been all over
this mountain, but we can not find her, nor the dragon."
"But the dragon, what if he
found her? He could have her in his reaches as we speak! How could you let this
happen? You were supposed to be protecting her!" Donovan scolded. He left
Xsada for the volcano, just as one of the other great cats came running down
it’s side.
"We've found her trail!"
It called out to Xsada.
"On my back, boy!" Xsada
demanded, kneeling down beside Donovan. They took off for the volcano, crushing
rock, and sending boulders rolling down into the forest.
"Here!" Said the other
cat, coming to halt before a crevice between two great boulders, "We lost
her trail here. We think she must be hiding inside, but we've had no luck
reaching her."
Donovan was approaching the crevice
now. A great form cast a shadow over him, and he looked up to see the dragon
crouching over the peak of the volcano. It seemed to grin as it made its
descent down to where Donovan stood. Donovan would have run, except the dragon
kept stalling to swipe at his face. As it drew closer Donovan could see
something green fluttering around its head. He couldn't help but smile as this
seemed to be annoying the dragon greatly. The dragon gave a large burst of
flame, shaking its head furiously.
By now the rest of the great cats
had gathered around. Some had even crept further up the volcano, towards the
dragon. They growled, drawing the dragon's attention to them. He gave a mighty
roar, and the cat's were upon him. The dragon bellowed a mighty flame, but what
came next gave Donovan an even greater shock then when they first
transformed.
They ran upon the flame, as if
almost anticipating its coming, and from their mouth bellowed a blue flame,
almost as great in force as the dragon's fire. The dragon's fire became no more
then steam at first contact with the blue flame, and the dragon now seeing this
took to the skies. He seemed actually afraid, but still determined. It circled
the volcano, coming back around to where Donovan now stood.
Xsada had not moved, and was soon
crouched in front of him, ready to attack. He was not alone though. Aegeron
came diving through the air, one moment as a bird, the next as a man who landed
gracefully at Xsada's side. From under his cloak he pulled a mighty jagged
sword. The light that emanated from the sword grew even brighter in the glow of
the dragon's flame, almost as if the sword itself swallowed its light.
Aegeron leaped atop Xsada's back and
the two charged straight for the dragon. The dragon almost turned immediately,
but something caught his eye, and he stalled, his face becoming hungry. Donovan
thought at first he was eyeing him, but after following the dragon's eye he saw
what drew him in. Ella now stood just outside the cave, watching the
attack.
Desperate to get to Ella, but
fearful of turning his back on the dragon, Donovan scrambled backwards to her
side. All the while his eyes stayed glued to the scene unfolding before him.
The momentary distraction was just what Xsada needed, and in no time he had
released the full extent of his blue flame upon the dragon. The reptilian beast
seemed to turn stone cold in the air, his wings no longer able to move. Down he
plummeted, hitting the ground with a mighty explosion of dirt and rock.
Aegeron was atop him the
moment the dust took to the air. Everybody waited in silence for the dust to
settle, and when it did, they knew at last that the danger was over. Aegeron,
with sword in hand, walked victoriously from the beasts lifeless body. Passing
both Xsada, and his brothers, he made his way up the volcano toward Ella. At
her feet he placed his bloody sword point down into the ground, and knelt.
Donovan didn't know what to make of this, until a voice behind him rewarded the
knight, “Well done.”
"Master," Sir Aegeron
said, rising to his feet.
Donovan turned to the voice behind
him, to a man who looked to be some form of royalty, though as immortal as Sir
Aegeron himself. "We leave you now, Princess," The man spoke to Ella
now, "Your dragon is past, though that is not to say that danger will
never find you. Now you know, though, that you will never have to face those
dragons alone."
Ella seemed overwhelmed by these
words, and could hardly blubber out a thank you before hugging the man at the
waist. Donovan feared what the great royal would think, but he seemed more then
happy to comfort Ella in return. Ella soon turned to face Sir Aegeron, though
this time she was more reserved, and simply held her hand out to him. He took
it gladly, lifting it to his lips, and giving it a gentle kiss,
"M'lady."
"I hope this is not farewell
for good. You will come visit me, won't you?" Ella asked of him.
"Of course, should my master
have no immediate need of my services, I would be more then happy to pay you a
visit from time to time," Aegeron gave her an elegant bow, before rising
to join his master at his side.
Ella was sad to see them off, but
was more then happy now to relax atop her brother's back as they made their way
back down to the castle. Exhausted, she often found herself nodding off with
the swaying of his large strides. More then once she felt herself being caught
by two large hands, until finally she felt the world around her drift away, and
the comfort of a great cat's soft mane engulf her in her sleep.
*****
It had been a week since Ella had
left the Kingdom of Cyndar. Her first time stepping into Elastule was one of
the most amazing moments of her life. The entire kingdom was made of rock and
ice, and was nestled between two giant tree covered mountains. The castle
looked to be almost a mountain on its own, rising high above the rest of the
kingdom. Ella couldn't tell if it was built of stone made to look like ice, or
ice made to look like stone, but it sparkled a beautiful icy blue, and every
inch was covered in a blanket of white.
It was such a contrast from
what she was used to, but the beauty of it entranced her mind. Inside the
castle was a lot more of what she was used to, with the ground resembling more
natural stone, and the furniture all made of wood. The beds were still dressed
with fabrics, though almost all came from animal skins, and many of the
blankets contained thick fur coats. Ella found this a little odd at first, but
soon found she enjoyed the feel of fur under her touch. Ella had a lot to learn
about her people, their history, and the lifestyle they lived.
Though many lived in the town
itself, others chose a more solitary life in the woods . It was nothing new to
see many, especially the children, walking around as cats, or in their case as
cubs. Both men and women were gifted in this, though it was mostly the men who
took to this form, both to hunt and protect. Though women also held this gift,
many often preferred their human form, and rarely found a need to use it.
Ella was not yet curious,
though she had thought about it many times since she saw her brothers
transformation, she ultimately put off thinking about trying it out herself.
She had grown used to the men in their snowy white bodies, and often took
enjoyment in traveling all over the kingdom with her brother. For days they
traveled all over the mountains, learning their country, and using that time to
get to know each other again. Ella wasn't sure there was much more she could
ask for in life, that was until the weeks end, at least what she thought had
been a week of being home.
Ella had been sitting in her room
late one night, staring out the window at the moon. It was a clear night,
though it still snowed, and every star in the sky came to pay the moon a visit.
A creak behind her door caught her attention and her mind quickly drifted to a
memory of a certain late night visitor she had sadly come to forget.
Donnie... She thought, waiting with
her eyes glued to the door, though her heart knew no one was coming to visit
her this night. In all the excitement of her return home, Ella had forgotten
about her previous life, and had not realized how lonely she had actually
become deep inside. Where her new family created a whole new place in her
heart, somewhere deep inside there lay an empty void, where memories had once
taken residence.
Ella left her room and wandered down
to what would normally be known as the castle gardens, only here you could only
find strange plants that grew only in snow, and flower bushes she was told
never to smell unless she wanted to fall into a very deep sleep. Ella had
wandered deep into the gardens, putting the castle and its guards far behind
her. Though she knew she was never fully alone, the guards were warned to give
her her space, and never to bother her during her walks.
Ella found herself approaching a
section of garden she had yet to walk. Here tall weeping trees grew wide over
small icy covered ponds. Ella walked beside one and was surprised to find them
not fully frozen, for under the ice swam the most amazing of fish. Their fins
and tails were almost two feet in length, flowing gracefully around their
slender bodies, and their bodies glowed almost as bright as the moon. Ella
knelt down and placed her hand over the frozen ice, that was surprisingly not
at all cold to the touch. Nothing ever was in this strange land. She swirled
her hand over the ice and smiled as the fish followed her hand.
"I was told I would find you
out here, m'lady," Came a voice from behind her.
Ella jumped to her feet at once,
restraining a scream as she did. She almost had to restrain from screaming
again when she saw who stood behind her, but from pure enjoyment. "Sir
Aegeron!" She squealed, "You have come to visit me at last!"
"I was on a special quest,
asked of me by my master, and so happened you were not far out of my way.
Thought I would stop by for a visit and was pleasantly surprised to find you
were up and about, wandering the gardens," Sir Aegeron said, a suspicious
smile wore brightly on his face.
"Oh, so you will not be here
long?" Ella asked through a frown.
"No, for I have my orders, and
can not go against my masters wishes," He said, his smile only temporarily
leaving his face, "But! As it happens, I am on my way to take care of some
business involving an old friend, and have come to ask if you would like to
join me?"
"You want me to join you?"
She smiled, "Okay, but what is your business?"
At this Sir Aegeron's smile almost
glowed in the moonlight, "Lets just say that a certain young prince has
decided to set aside his crown and spend some time serving under my master.
Seems fighting a dragon alongside immortals wasn't enough to satisfy the
lad."
Ella's knees wobbled, almost giving
out where she stood, "You mean, Donnie? How can he just trade in his
crown? He's a prince, and heir to the thrown of Cyndar. He can't just chose to
give that up...can he?"
"Cyndar has a king for the time
being,” Aegeron said, guiding Ella away from the gardens, “We all have a
calling, dear princess, and though some as yourself are born into purpose, it
isn't always that purpose which we are destined to become." Sir Aegeron
seemed to be speaking from deep in his heart, and Ella had to ponder his words
for some time.
"Elastule has a queen...and
they also have Xsada...Aegeron, do you think mother would be unhappy if I
didn't always stay in Elastule?" Ella asked.
Aegeron gave a hearty smile and
extended his arm to Ella. "Come, m'lady," He said, escorting her from
the gardens, "Your mother knows you will not always be gone."
Ella’s excitement started to grow as
they approached the Wood Between once more, “Do you have a home, Aegeron? Will
I get to see it?” She asked, becoming suddenly curious.
"You may," Aegeron
said as they stepped foot into the wood, "Until then, I would like to ask
of you this favor. Seeing as this was my first time defeating a dragon, I felt
it was worth writing a ballad. If you would do me the honors, I would like you
to be first to hear it."
Ella walked the strange Wood Between,
listening to her story play out in her knightly bird’s song, and through them
she heard a voice whispering to her heart, I am with you still.
VOTING: If
you would like to vote on this or any of the other fan fiction
submissions, email your top three titles to me at aestengl@gmail.com. Voting is for fans of the Goldstone Wood series only.
Yay! Great job, Charissa!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see this story here, Charissa! Such an epic adventure! :)
ReplyDeleteVery well done to tell such an epic story! Enjoyed the characters. Great job.
ReplyDeleteOh this was lovely! Though I was hoping the story would continue until Ella and Donnie's meeting again. But you picked a good way to end. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely story set in the world of Goldstone Wood. :-) I really liked the hair-pulling bird and the ice-cat people!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this story, Charissa! The interesting relationship between Aegeron and Donovan reminded me of Eanrin and Lionheart. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much everyone! I appreciate you all for taking the time to read my story, knowing it's much longer then most the others entered in this contest. I had such a great time with these characters,and no worries, Ella and Donnie will meet again! ;)
ReplyDeleteHow. Long. Did. This. Take. You...oh my goodness, you've written a novel! And I just sat here and read the whole thing!! Kudos, dear! It takes quite a bit to hold my attention for that long when I'm reading something online.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your characters. All of them. You've introduced characters that have such depth and personality! I do favor Xsada, Meara, and Aegeron, but I love them all and you've done wonderfully!! (I do wonder what would have happened had A'Maikra not given himself to the dragon...I wonder what his original plan was... and I do hope Meara finds a good man...) See what you did? You went and got me attached to your characters...
Your storytelling, structure, and style were amazing, and it truly felt as though it was in the same universe as the other Goldstone Wood books and quite similar to the story style in which Anne Elisabeth herself writes. It was so believable! Bravo!
Blessings!
Melanie
Wow, Charissa, this is amazing! So creative. I loved the white cats, the interaction between Donnie and Pistachia/Aegeron, and the incredible settings. Fabulous job!
ReplyDelete