The Flames of Arathia

by Jordan Liberatore

  “I never should have married you. The Elven throne deserves a much better woman than the likes of you,” Adam snapped. The doors burst open, guards running in. Drusilla turned, dagger and sword in hand, both engulfed by flames. She could outside through the broken windows. The battle was bloody. She saw it all as she took on the guards who came at her. She saw Luther dead on the ground, Poyro fighting nearby with a fury. She saw Lillian holding her ground with Caleb, shouting out orders. It was chaos, chaos everywhere as Drusilla swiped the dagger against the exposed wrist of a guard. “KEEP IT UP!” Adam yelled. Drusilla stiffly nodded, letting Luther’s teachings course through her.

  Drusilla tossed the gem to Nathan as he grabbed the sword, looking over to see a guard shooting an arrow at Adam. “NO!” she screamed, throwing herself in its path. A sharp pain entered her ribs, a loss of breath as she fell into Adam’s arms. Her jaw went lax, her eyes fluttering as pain spread throughout her body. She barely registered the bright flash as Nathan set the gem in the hilt of the sword. Adam cradled her in his arms as her breath weakened, everything going numb, cold, and black.

  Everything seemed to slow down, slipping into silence. “Hold on, Sill. Don’t you leave me, Drusilla. Hold on, please,” Adam pleaded urgently, his tears falling on her face and wounds as he pushed back her hair, a hand where the arrow was. “I love you, Drusilla. I love you so much,” he breathed. Adam leaned down, his lips by her ear. “Don’t leave me Melody.” It was just a whisper, words Drusilla needed to hear, just like she did at Annloe’s. His lips moved, pressing desperately against her own. He kissed her gently but lovingly, savoring the feeling of her skin against his, as tear drenched as it was. And with that, her breath escaped her, the darkness taking everything.

  Drusilla was sitting in a meadow, a great expanse of grass all around. The sun was high and warm, and there was barely any breeze. She wore a dress of a soft light blue, her favorite color. She could hear the sound of the distant waves, but didn’t care to look for them. Malcolm sat down next to her, not saying a word. She leaned her head against his shoulder, watching two figures draw near. One was King Latorro, and the other a woman Drusilla hadn’t seen before. “Where is this?” Drusilla asked softly, looking up at Malcolm. He just smiled, kissing her nose.

  “Somewhere you don’t belong quite yet,” the woman sighed, sitting down across from them. She wore black pants and a loose, light gray shirt. Her red hair was braided, and her green eyes studied Drusilla.

  “It’s the land of the souls,” Latorro remarked. The woman glared up at him.

  “I am the Wise, the guardian of this place,” the woman explained.

  “The battle… Adam,” Drusilla breathed.

  “He’s holding you,” Malcolm pointed out. “He’s holding you why Nathan faces my sister.” Drusilla only now noticed how nice the white shirt and dark gray pants looked on him, much better than black. He grabbed her hand. “It’s okay.”

  “There is work still to be done for you. The Beings have not quite called you yet,” the Wise remarked.

  “Then why am I here?” Drusilla asked.

  “To see. To learn,” Malcolm pointed out. “I love you so much, Drusilla, but don’t let my death hold you back. He loves you too, and our son will need a father.”

  “Chester,” Drusilla breathed.

  “Will do wonderfully, but please Melody, for me. It’s okay. Move on. I will always be right there with you. A thousand stars, Melody, and one day we’ll be together among them,” Malcolm urged.

  Your time is not now. Follow the tears. They are the healing water of the elves. Find the love you feel deep down. Go now, Chosen. You have seen what you needed to see. Finish this,” Latorro instructed, followed by a bright blinding light.

  Nathan circled Lu, his body tense and eyes locked. “This all ends now,” Nathan growled. “You have betrayed your people, your family, and yourself.” Lu smiled.

  “Shall you be the one to stop me, Nathan?” she taunted. She shook her head. “I have played you for years. You should be dead. Now look, I have won. I have destroyed you. You should just give up now.” She looked over at Adam, pointing. “Do you see that? It is because of my people. She was nothing but a nuisance. I tried to kill her. My weakling of a brother let her live, too blinded by love. Do you see what I have done? Think back to your village, Nathan. Do you really think that that was just another thing Malcolm just decided to do? No, Nathan, it wasn’t. I told him to do that. I told him to kill of the firebloods. It is sheer luck that you stand here. Your time has run out, and so has your luck.” Nathan frowned.

  “You killed a child, an innocent little girl, in cold blood. You killed a mother trying to make ends meet. You took away a family who had never done anything wrong but be firebloods. You destroyed a village that was living peacefully. You took away my love. You are nothing but a monster. You killed your own brother, your own flesh and blood, and feel nothing. You are nothing, Lucinda Mace! Prepare to pay for what you have done,” Nathan countered, lunging at her with a growl.

  In Adam’s arms, Drusilla gasped for breath, sitting up quickly. She felt her wounds closing, a golden flame stretching across her dagger. She glanced over as Lu darted Nathan’s attack with a wicked laugh. “You cannot win, Nathan. Just give up now,” Lu taunted. Drusilla stood, the golden flames stretching over her like a mist. Nathan’s sword also began to glow.

  “NATHAN, DO IT!” Drusilla screamed, the flames shooting from her to Nathan. Lu glanced over, shocked and bewildered, giving Nathan the needed advantage.

  “I’m sorry,” he sighed, “but this is how it has to end.” His sword pushed into Lu’s chest as she screamed. The flames channeled through him as Drusilla stumbled back into Adam’s arms. Lu began to glow, falling back as Nathan yanked the sword back out. She fell, dead on the ground. Nathan panted, looking up at Adam and Drusilla. They were silent, just staring at each other while the processed what had just happened. Drusilla reached down to the tear in her shirt. She could feel no wound on her skin, just the wet blood on her shirt.

  “It’s over,” Adam breathed as they walked over to Lu’s body. “It’s all over.” Drusilla sighed, still very weak, looking over at the battle outside. She shook her over.

  “No, not quite yet,” she swallowed, reaching down and grabbing the crown that lay on the ground from when Gluther fell. She handed it to Nathan. “My King, greet your people,” Drusilla sighed with a small and labored bow. She leaned against Adam as Nathan smiled, turning the sword in his hand. He let out a heavy sigh, walking out into the night. Drusilla and Adam followed him.

  “My fellow firebloods,” Nathan began, yelling above the chaos. People began to look to him. “It is over! The Eknar is dead! Any Brethren who dares to keep fighting, you shall die! I am the heir, the king of this land. My name is Nathan Rodrick. End this now, or face the consequences. Enough blood has been shed in this war. It is time that it ends!” There was a moment of quiet before a roar of cheers. Drusilla smiled happily, leaning her head back into Adam’s chest. He kissed the top of her head gently. Soon Herto and Poyro ran forward to greet them.

  “My daughter, you’re safe,” Herto cheered. Poyro ran forward, resting a hand on Drusilla’s shoulder.

  “You’re injured,” Poyro pointed out. Drusilla shook her head.

  “Not…Not exactly. I’ll be okay,” Drusilla assured. “Get my son. He’s with a knight in a tunnel. It’s in the dungeons.”

  “I’ll go with him,” Adam offered. Drusilla stiffly nodded. “You’ll be okay?” Drusilla smiled.

  “Yes, perfectly fine,” Drusilla laughed. She went and leaned against her father as the other two left.

  “You lied,” Herto sighed.

  “My ribs hurt. I’ll be okay,” Drusilla insisted. Just then Lillian and Caleb ran up. Lillian took one look at Nathan before dropping her bow to the ground, her eyes wide as she began to cry.

  “Lillian… My Flower… B-But how,” Nathan breathed, walking towards her. Drusilla smiled.

&n
bsp; “Adam’s army wasn’t the only one we brought back from Serentari,” Drusilla explained.

  “I escaped with some survivors on my father’s ship,” Lillian remarked, throwing her arms around Nathan.

  “Beings above, I thought I’d never see you again,” Nathan laughed, kissing his fiancée. Drusilla looked back to see the others returned. Chester set Declan down to run to Drusilla.

  “I see you were brave,” Drusilla laughed, kneeling on the ground to hug her son.

  “Very,” Declan smiled, holding his head up as he looked to Chester.

  “He’s a good kid,” Chester remarked. Drusilla looked up at her father.

  “Father, this is my son, Declan,” Drusilla introduced.

  “Hello, Declan,” Herto smiled, nodding his head to his grandson. Declan buried his face in Drusilla’s shirt.

  “Where have you been, Mommy?” Declan asked. Drusilla sighed, picking him up and walking down one of the halls to sit away from the others.

  “I was traveling. I couldn’t take you with me,” Drusilla explained. “I wanted you to be safe and loved with other children around. I was very young, Declan, when I had you.”

  “Where is my daddy?” Declan asked, leaning into him. Drusilla slide Malcolm’s cloak off of her shoulders, thinking back to the meadow.

  “He’s in the stars now,” Drusilla mused. “A thousand bright and shining stars.” She wrapped the cloak around Declan, holding him close.

  “I want to be a knight like Chester,” Declan remarked. Drusilla smiled.

  “Your father wanted you to do that too,” Drusilla sighed. She kissed his head. “But if you do you have to know I can’t stay with you.”

  “Why not?” Declan asked.

  “Because I still have traveling to do,” Drusilla replied. “But… That doesn’t mean I won’t visit. And we can spend some time together now, before you start training with Chester. How does that sound?”

  “I like that,” Declan yawned. Drusilla sighed, holding him as she stood back up, her body aching. She held him close, wrapped in the cloak falling asleep. Lillian and Nathan were talking, Herto checking on his men. Adam was in the throne room, staring at Lu’s body.

  “There wasn’t another option,” Drusilla pointed out quietly. Adam slowly nodded.

  “I knew that from the moment we were at Annloe’s,” Adam agreed. He looked over at her. “You died in my arms.”

  “The Beings aren’t done with me yet, Adam,” Drusilla confessed. “Whatever this was… I feel like it’s only the beginning.”

  “There’s another part to the prophecy. It could be years before that comes to pass,” Adam pointed out. Drusilla slowly nodded.

  “I hope,” Drusilla muttered, kissing her son’s head.

  “He has your eyes,” Adam sighed. Drusilla smiled.

  “I suppose he does. I should find somewhere for him to sleep,” Drusilla yawned.

  “I think that’s something we all could use. Come on, let’s see how Chester can help us,” Adam agreed with a light laugh. Drusilla smiled, thinking of what Malcolm had told her. Wherever she had gone, it was somewhere real. He was watching. And for the first time, Drusilla felt a strange sense of peace. It was as though she knew that at least for now, for a while, everything was going to be okay. She looked over as Nathan and Lillian kissed, laughing warmly. Yes, everything was going to be just fine.

  Chapter 10:

  It’d been two weeks, and a long two weeks they were. Drusilla sat in Annloe’s garden, a paper in her hands. Tyler Maddock. That was Luther’s real name. She sighed, leaning back. No one could explain why she was alive, but she still had a nasty bruise. Up until a few days before, they’d all stayed in Anikarra, cleaning up the dead. Now Nathan, Caleb, Lillian, Adam, Drusilla, and Declan found themselves at Annloe’s for some much needed rest. They had to regroup, at least for now. Herto was taking care of some business at Tiarta, but afterwards he and Drusilla were taking a trip to Nathlo. Drusilla looked up to see Declan playing with Reddari. It was strange. She had never seen this life for herself, not with him. He’d be raised by Chester, but Drusilla was determined to visit as often as possible.

  Her son had just turned four. He was a lively child, a lot like both herself and Malcolm. It simply amazed Drusilla. She fiddled with the skirt of her Elven dress, a gift from Avariana. The Free Strider forgot how much she enjoyed dresses. Adam stepped out into the garden, dressed in his usual princely garb. He sat down next to her. “Declan will be begging for an animal now,” Adam laughed.

  “Well, Chester mentioned hunting dogs,” Drusilla remarked.

  “How are you feeling?” Adam asked. Drusilla shrugged.

  “It doesn’t hurt too bad today. I told Annloe what I saw when we were talking last night. When I mentioned the Wise, he just laughed,” Drusilla explained. Adam smiled.

  “She’s… Interesting. When I was young, she would visit my mother from time to time. She works for the Beings, or so they say. I don’t really know what she does,” Adam sighed.

  “She’s the guardian of souls,” Drusilla mused. Adam slowly nodded.

  “I suppose that would make sense,” he agreed. “That’s one less thing I don’t understand out of a long list. Including you.” Drusilla smiled at him.

  “What is there to understand? We are people who have been brought together looking for revenge, looking to salvage what we could. That ended in a battle, the end to a war that went on for much too long. We stopped something, something that was far too powerful to comprehend. We learned so much, and lost a lot more than we could imagine. You lost a wife, were betrayed by someone you trusted more than anything. I died, but for some reason am sitting here with you. There isn’t anything to understand,” Drusilla breathed. She leaned in, gently kissing him. “That’s to repay you.” Adam smiled.

  “I’m glad you’ve repaid me. Do you know how beautiful you are?” Adam asked. Drusilla laughed, kissing him again. “I really do love you.” He looked down and saw the chain, pulling it up. “What’s this?” he inquired. Drusilla frowned. She’d almost forgotten about it.

  “I don’t know. Back when we were in Norto, while you were asleep, I saw a little girl and a woman. The woman said she wasn’t a spirit, but needed to tell me something. She said to hold this and the dagger, to give it to my future children for they will need it. Then when she disappeared, this was in her place,” Drusilla explained. Adam slowly nodded, Drusilla looking up at him. “I think I know who the woman was though.”

  “Who?” Adam questioned.

  “Elliana the Great,” Drusilla sighed. “She said she was alive, that her magic was weak. She seemed so afraid.” Adam let out a heavy sigh.

  “You must not breathe a word of this to Annloe. He mustn’t know this information. He searched for years to find her. It will do him no good to know she is alive,” Adam cautioned. He stood and stretched. “I will be returning to Serentari. I have no choice but to do so.” Drusilla stood with him.

  “You are a prince. What else is there to say? Your people need you. It is your duty,” Drusilla replied. She grabbed his hand, looking into his eyes. “I love you, Adam Brightheart. I was afraid of loving you, but I love you all the same.”

  “Then come with me, Drusilla. Come and live with my people. We don’t have to end things here,” Adam pleaded. Drusilla looked over at her son.

  “Adam, it isn’t that easy,” Drusilla winced. “Seeing my son would be difficult, and what about Herto and Poyro? My family?” Adam frowned.

  “We will find away. I’ll come as much as you need Drusilla. You know I wouldn’t hold you against your will. You’re still a Free Strider,” Adam replied. Drusilla replied.

  “I’ll think about it… If you come with me and my father to Nathlo. I’ve seen your home. I think it’s only fair you see mine,” Drusilla suggested. Adam laughed.

  “Then I guess we have a deal,” Adam sighed. He pulled her close. “I learned something that day. I cannot live without you, Drusilla. I can’t give you up no
matter what. I don’t want to see you walk away. I will find a way for you to return here to see your family. I don’t want to leave Nathan either. He is like a brother to me now. He’s family,” he mused. Drusilla rest her head against his chest, watching her son laugh as Valtari came out to join the two.

  Drusilla took a step into the dust filled room. Nothing had been touched. Drusilla was shocked that no one in Nathlo touched the home. She held Declan’s hand in her own, the boy dressed neatly in his new clothes for court. Adam and Herto walked in behind the mother and son. The plates had been left on the table. Drusilla couldn’t even remember what they’d had that night. She wouldn’t be able to tell anyways. Even the mold had turned to dust after so long. Drusilla walked over to the shelves of papers by the living area. Most of her mother’s work was there. She put them in the bag she’d brought. Annloe could use them.

  Drusilla didn’t feel a need to return to her room. Most of the clothes wouldn’t be of use anyways. Instead she drifted to her mother’s room. Declan walked over to the window, looking down at the street below. Drusilla walked to the desk, picking up more of her mother’s notes and some jewelry as well. Without even thinking she then drifted into her own small room. “So this is where you grew up,” Adam remarked, looking around. Drusilla stiffly nodded, joining her father and son in the living area where Herto was starting a fire in the fireplace. Declan watched in awe as the flames danced from Herto’s fingers to the wood. Adam stepped out with her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

  “Yeah, this is where I learned everything,” Drusilla breathed, watching Herto teach Declan about drawing fire.

  “You can learn one more thing here. Yen leshana len,” Adam whispered in her ear. She looked up at him. “It means I love you.” Drusilla smiled, thinking of Malcolm’s words to her.

  “Yen leshana len,” Drusilla breathed back, turning around to kiss him.