The Emerald Throne

by Sarah Coley

  “Well it’s good to know what's happening next week, but when I asked what now, I actually meant right now,” Brennus said with a glint in his eye.

  “Right now?” Eleanor said teasingly, “Well I ‘was’ rather tired.”

  “My tent or yours?” Brennus replied with a mischievous grin.

  “Well you’ve already seen my tent once, so guess it should be yours,” Eleanor replied with a wicked smile and a wink.

  Once the sun had set, everyone gathered just to the south of the Elven clearing. The night air was warmer than it had been, and crickets chirped from all around them as they waited. The tree line where Eleanor now stood was thicker than the clearing where the village was located, but not too much so that it would hinder anyone from standing within a group.

  It was time to send Owen back home and everyone wanted to wish him well. Most of the Elven village had also gathered, although Eleanor guessed it was more out of curiosity than anything else.

  As the last of the suns raise set below the tree line, Owen emerged from the great tree followed closely by Astel, Vincent, Elian, and Nerthius. Owen was wearing the clothes that he’d been wearing when he had first come through the portal all those weeks ago. As they had lost of their belongings in Rogard, Eleanor surmised that either Astel or Owen had conjured them from thin air. The idea that Owen had magic was sill something that Owen would need to get used to, and something that Eleanor couldn’t quite believe.

  “Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay?” Astel asked in a last ditch attempt to convince Owen.

  “Thank you Astel but no. I have a family that I want to get back to. It’s been great to get to know you all, and an amazing adventure, but I have to leave this behind and start to build a life for myself,” Owen replied.

  Astel looked a little disappointed, but then presented Owen with something in her hand.

  “This is the stone cut from the same rock as Eleanor’s pendant. If you should ever change your mind, return to the woods in your world where you first come through the portal to Rogardium, and utter the incantation I have taught you. It will bring you safely here.”

  Owen took the pendant, looking at it closely before putting it in his coat pocket. He gave Astel a hug before turning to face his comrades.

  “Brennus, You’re an egotistical dick with a terrible bedside manner,” Owen began.

  “Well if this is your goodbye speech then I’ll stop listening now,” Brennus replied whilst crossing his arms.

  “Let me finish. Despite all of those things, you are loyal, strangely noble and trustworthy, and I’m glad you were there to save my life all those times,” Owen concluded.

  “Thanks I guess. You might want to watch with the whole noble and loyal thing though. I have a reputation to keep after all,” Brennus said with a smirk.

  “And if you ever hurt Eleanor here, I’ll literally come back and fry your arse,” Owen threatened.

  “There’s the Owen I know,” Brennus chucked. “Come here kid.”

  Brennus and Owen gave each other an uncomfortable hug and a pat on the back before Owen took a step back to turn to Eleanor.

  “I’m sorry I can’t stay. I know we’ve relied heavily on each other these past few weeks.”

  “You have to do what you need to do Owen,” Eleanor said welling up inside. “Live the life you want to and don’t worry about me. I feel more alive now than I ever have. Maybe here I can make a real difference, plus I won’t have to listen to your useless facts constantly.”

  “Yeah you’re living it, and my useless facts ended up being pretty important,” Owen teased with a smirk.

  “Here is a book I’ve been carrying to aid you with your magic,” Astel interrupted, handing a large dusty volume to Owen.

  “Thank you I think?” Owen replied as he tucked the book uncomfortably under his arm.

  “Where the hell did you keep that book all these weeks or do I not want to know?” Brennus joked.

  “It’s simple. I’m magic Brennus,” Astel said with a smirk. Eleanor suddenly had a weird image of Astel with a magic bag that had no bottom, stuffing everything including the kitchen sink in it for their travels. Looking at Owen’s smile, he had had the same thought. Eleanor would miss their conversations and companionship.

  “You take care of yourself,” Eleanor said whilst hugging Owen. A tear escaped her eye, opening the flood gates for more. Owen gave her a knowing smile and squeezed her shoulder before Brennus hugged her in comfort. She accepted it, taking all the warmth she could.

  Owen turned next to Nerthius. “Thank you for the message. I’ll bear it in mind.”

  “You are most welcome young mage. May we meet again,” Nerthius said whilst holding his hand up in farewell. Owen nodded back.

  Eleanor wondered what message Nerthius could have possibly given Owen but decided to let it slide. Whatever it was, it was between them both, and not for her knowledge.

  “Thank you for all that you have done,” Elian interjected whilst stepping forward slightly from Astel, making sure to face Owen straight on. Elian was now wearing clean clothes and had bathed and shaved. With the circlet upon his head, he was every inch a Prince.

  “It's been an honour your majesty,” Owen said with a bow of his head. He turn to face away from the group ready for his departure.

  “And do you not have a word for me?” Vincent suddenly piped up. He had moved to stand next to Eleanor and Brennus, but had done it so quickly and quietly that Eleanor hadn’t even noticed. She jumped slightly when Vincent had spoken.

  “Yeah,” Owen began, “whilst you’re with the Elves, learn the art of not being a dick, and try not to eat anybody.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind,” Vincent replied with a glint if mischief in his eye.

  Astel swirled her staff and the energy around them grew as a portal once again appeared in front of them.

  Owen turned and took one last look at his friends for whom he had shared so much with, before disappearing into the void.