Bliath: Shattered

by Theresa Caligiuri

  As his head cleared he was still sitting next to Desree in the barn, tears trickling down his face. Before he could formulate words, Desree spoke in a quiet calm voice, “Before you ask, I made promises, took oaths to protect you, things I could and could not tell you, to keep you safe, they loved you more than you will be able to know until you have your own children. They knew what they were facing that day, but that doesn’t make it easier on the ones they leave behind.”

  “That does not explain why we went to Thoren and where her mark went and why.” Vance was shaking he was upset by what he saw and both Desree and himself knew that he needed time to process it. Desree was not going to push things on him; so many things she was swore not to tell him. “My boy, I, we went there to be safe after the war was brought to our door, but I also was requested by the Queen of Thoren, Fera’s mother, Riel, she had just had her and in order to keep her safe, needed me to hide her magic from Fera, herself, and the rest of the world.” Vance stood up and started to pace. Nothing was making sense. Something clicked, Fera’s mother’s name was Riel, her image flashed in his mind, Desree watched him as a few of the pieces were coming together. He looked at her, the only thing he could say was “NO!” She slowly stood up and handed him the book, he looked at the image drawn on the page, it was the High Elven royal family as it was before the fall. Queen Estreal, King Ilsar, Sarion, and Riel, both looking young, Vance gasped, the necklace that Fera wore was the same that Ilsar wore in the picture. He looked at the woman that raised him, his mother in almost every sense of the word and whispered, “She is the next in line to rule the elven nations, and she is a crowned Princess of both Thoren and Elven domains? This is why they want her. Does she know this?” Desree touched Vance’s arm, “Yes, and no, things fell apart and she is still in the dark about so much, and her binding is undoing. We can’t tell, she is dealing with enough, things will come out in due time, they always do.” Vance picked up the bags and walked out of the barn with a very heavy soul.

  Chapter 8

  Leo watched as Fera talked in her sleep, guilt riddled his mind, if he would have known it was someone like her at the end of their pursuit, he never would have fired on them. His hand reached up and lightly touched her cheek, a slight shock went through is hand, he pulled his hand back, thinking he must be imaginings things. Fera mumbled “Please, come back please...” Leo leaned forward “Shhhh I’m here, you're safe, you’re not alone.” She was very much alone in her head.

  The meadow that Vance helped make was still there, she was no longer in the dark, but there are scarier things than the dark, and she was all too well aware of this. Fera paced back and forth in her limbo, yelling out, not knowing no one could really hear her. She collapsed to the ground; she never felt so many thing at once, anger, frustration, loss, fear and confusion. The boy, that man, was here told her she was in limbo and it was her own fault and something about her binding and magic. Her head hurt. Pulling herself back up, she focused, maybe she thought if she goes back in the memories that were firing in her head the last few days, she could figure it out.

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  She was back reading in her favorite chair in the library, she was safe and at home looking down at the book where she had left off:

  The alarm was going crazy, guards were running everywhere, Riel drew a deep breath and ran for her father’s study. It was dark when she entered, creating a small light in her hand so things would not go noticed, she went over to his desk and sat down, the room still smelled of him. Taking in his scent, she let out a sight, what she did next forever changed her mind, her heart, and the fate of the world. Closing her eyes she reached out for her father’s energy trace hoping to feel even the faintest bit of it, just so she would not feel alone. She found it easily, but then she felt her brother’s energy as well, that made sense, as did hers and her mother’s energies, but then she felt any energy wave unlike anything she had ever felt, it was pure, it was not elven, and strange. Harnessing what control she had while still being alert to the world outside the room, she whispered to the spirits calling on them for help to see what happened, she knew that her mother already did this and gave little explanation other than it was Sarion’s doing. Riel had to know, she had to see it herself, even if it was something that was more than likely to scare her in ways most would never even think about. She pulled the energy in and let go. She was drawn back to the events that ended her father’s life, but only a small few know the actual details, as she never recanted them but most speculated that it was a different story that what Estreal told. Going back to her father’s desk, she took the royal seal that he used every day, opening the latch on her necklace and slid it on, just as she closed the latch, her mother threw open the doors. Riel guarded herself, but the force her mother used still knocked her over. The Queen was seeing red, before she could send another attack at Riel, Riel pushed with all her energy, sending her mother flying down the upper corridor. It is said as Riel fled the palace, she was heard shouting, “you know what you have done”.

  The Queen has carried on as if she was never bonded, and childless, like they did not matter, but her tolerance level was zero and punishment was harsh and swift, making the Elven domain further torn. Hope lingers in prophecy but each side has their own interpretation.

  Fera closed the book and began to pass the library waiting for Markus since she was more than sure she should not burst into the meeting hall again. Her thoughts kept running back to how Estreal reacted, how Riel just ran away. As she passed she played with the necklace her mother left her, it was some sort of family heirloom and touching it always helped her think. When Markus came into the library, he was almost expecting not to even find Fera there but he was assaulted with questions as he set foot in the room. She was shaking, and before he could catch up to what was going on, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed in his arms. Markus set her down on the sofa, and called for someone to get the King.

  As her father came into the library she was coming to. Fera opened her eyes, her head was spinning and both Markus and her dad were kneeling next to her just watching her, she knew this could not be good.

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  Her memory faded back to limbo abruptly, flashes of another room, she heard voices, she knew them, well sort of she thought, but she was fighting to stay with those voices. Vance and Leo caught on that she was trying to come to. Vance did not want to touch her again, or at least while Leo was there and awake for fear he would be pulled back to limbo, only to have to come back and explain himself and what was going on. Leo on the other hand grabbed Fera’s hand and begged her to come around. Vance once again felt more than irritated and shoved his hands into his pockets so he didn’t cause more harm than good. “Please, I-- I-- please, help.” Was all Fera could get out before she lost the fight and went back in limbo, but that took a small toll, her cheeks flushed and vertigo was even hitting her as she came crashing back down in limbo. What she did not realize when she came crashing back, she lost what little food and water they could coax into her all over Leo. “Vance, I hate to ask this but can you please stay with her until your mother gets back? I need to go, um, clean up?” “Whatever you wish your highness.” Vance replied with a slight nod of respect. “Thank you, I am sure your mother won’t be long, nor will I.” “Sire, I hate to impose, but just a thought, you might want to just check on things outside this room, see your sister, she has been kept away from this room, and I know she begs for news?” “No you are fine Vance, you know I think of you more than a mere servant, and you’re right, I am sure your mother doesn’t need me in here anyway? I will be back as soon as I see to um hmm as you put it, life outside this room.” With that Leo walked out, Vance counted out a minute in his head before he sat down next to Fera. He took the rag from the night stand, wiped off her face, then took a deep breath readying himself and took her hand. Like before he felt the pull and p
ush and then was standing above Fera curled into a ball, she was crying, clearly pained and scared. He knelt down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder, “Fera.” That was all it took. She looked at him long enough to realize he came back for her, and launched herself into his arms. Vance was so out of his element, he thought about what his mother would do, so he hugged her while rubbing her back telling her that she would be ok. Fera seemed to calm a little, then looked up at Vance and seemed to realize what happened, “I am so sorry.” She hiccupped as she scooted away from him. “It’s ok, I am sure this is a lot to take in, and you’re alone in limbo.” They sat cross legged staring at each other for a moment. “I don’t know why I am in limbo, and I don’t know how to get out, but you act like I know what is going on?” Fera was trying to keep her voice even, “You really don’t have a clue do you, I mean at first I thought you were just upset and not thinking clearly?”

  Fera raised an eyebrow at him “Ok Vance, it is Vance right, why am here?” He looked at her and really took her in, her eyes, even though they were tinged with pain and stress they were full of life and challenging him. “Yes it is Vance, and you are Fera, Princess of Thoren and Crowned princess of the Elven Nation?” At that she flinched as though he slapped her. “Did I say something wrong Princess?” “No, well yes, maybe, I don’t know, I just found out, I mean like a few days ago.” “Princess, you're not making much sense.” “My head it just keeps spinning and memories keep coming back from the past few days. I know I was Fera Fin Del, princess of Thoren and a princess to the Northern Dwarves, but until a few days ago I didn’t know about the rest.” Fera’s head falls into her hands. “I am so sorry Fera, I know you must have gone through a lot but please, tell me what happened, why are you running, what happened? “I don’t know where to start, no maybe I do, my tutor, Markus, gave me a book, a History book on Bliath and the war. He said it would affect me more than most. I thought he was just trying to draw me into my lesson. Now the barrier is gone, and my father is a prisoner and before you popped back in, my memory was taking me back to when they sat me down and told me things, things start to shake…” He reached out, interrupting her tucking a stray hair behind her ear, “May I see?”

  Fera gave Vance an odd look, how was he going to see, he picked up on her confusion, he kept forgetting she was new to this world even though she had very much been in it. “Ok Princess, I want you to pull yourself back into that memory, and I and going to hold your hand and draw myself along in the memory with you. You won’t even know I am there, is that ok?” Fera knew things like this were capable, Markus did have some skills like this, but it all seemed different now. “Ok, it won’t hurt will it, and you won’t be able to hear my thoughts or anything?” “I can assure it will be painless and I will not hear your thoughts unless they are voiced out loud.” She nodded and Vance leaned over and took her hands. A warm pulse passed through both of them, it did not hurt but the shock was clear in both of their eyes. “Ok Princess, concentrate and just let yourself go back. I will just pull myself in.” Fera was apprehensive about letting someone into her memories, but if it would help him understand, so maybe she could get out of limbo, it was worth almost anything. She drew in a deep ragged breath as she let it out, the memory came back in.

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  The dizzy rush of vertigo was upon her, blinking the room back into focus, her father and Markus were both on their knees in front of her, dread loomed heavy in the air. The painful looks that they both gave Fera even broke her heart. Markus spoke first, “Princess, are you ok?” “Markus, what is happening, why I am so dizzy? Father why are you here? Am I sick? What are you not telling me?” The King looked at Markus, his eyes showing how heavy his heart felt. Markus just nodded. The King got up and got the history book and turned to the back, coming back to Fera, he handed her the book. “Father this is the royal Elven family, before the rift, when Ilsar was alive and the twins were still young enough to not know anything. What is your point?” Markus took the book from her, Fera sat up as her father sat down, he put his head in his hands. Markus flipped a few pages and hands it back to her, the caption read, “Queen Estreal and Princess Riel, upon the death of Ilsar.” As familiarity was sinking in, Fera turned to look at the portrait of her mother that hung in the study, the faces of the Elven princess and she were the same. The king looked over at his daughter, and whispered please forgive me. Fear caught up with Fera, “No, no, no, no.” The only thoughts in her pounding head. Markus stood putting a hand on the king’s shoulder, looking down on them both. “Your highness, Fera, I will give you a moment.” As Markus turned to leave Fera stood, She shook and fear turned to anger quickly, ”Wait, no one is going anywhere, you both have a lot of explaining to do and you can start with, why keep this from me?” Markus slowly turned, pain in his soul was spilling over in his eyes, before he could say anything the King looked up at Fera, “This is not his fault, he is but an employee, this is your mother’s and my doing, keeping this from you and as you can tell from your recent history lessons, you cannot chose your parents, or the fate that non choice spins you!” “NO, FATHER, but you can chose how you react to it, and you keeping this from me, I could sit to rule the three races one day, I am the common link, each hit in devastating ways - my tyrant uncle who killed my GRANDFATHER!” Fera’s unease is more than showing as she paces the room, the lights start to flicker. Markus does the only thing he can think of, and pulls her into a hug, as they crash to the floor, letting grief, frustration, anger and fear pour out of them.

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  The memory clears, Fera is sitting across from Vance, as their eyes meet, hers racked with grief, his with anger, he pulled her into his arms, “Fera, I am so sorry, you had no clue, I thought you knew what was happening to you and who you were and meant to be. Shhhhh it will be ok, we will make it ok.” A racking sob escapes Fera, Vance only pulls her into his arms tighter. They sit there, Fera crying into Vance's shoulder, Vance rubbing her back.

  As soon as Fera starts getting a grip on herself, Vance feels a pull, he knows his mother must need him, but he just can't leave her, he starts to feel himself start to drift back. Taking Fera's face in his hand and looking into her eyes, "I have to go, I will be back, we will get you out of here, just be brave a little longer." Fera nods as her eyes start to fill with the next round of tears. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, when she opens them, he is gone. She was alone again, and darkness threatened to take over, as her focus and strengths waver.

  Chapter 9

  Vance opened his eyes, his heart was still tangled in her emotions, his emotion was threatening to over flow, brimming at the surface of his soul. As his eyes adjusted to the room, his mother was standing there staring at him. His anger turned on her, in a barely audible whisper that was tinged with disdain, "You knew, this, all of this, what was done to her, you even helped, she is trapped and part of it is your fault!" He stood up, leaned in and kissed her forehead. Desree went to grab Vance's wrist to stop him. His energy was losing control and a small shock wave rippled through Desree. Desree let out a small gasp, her voice calm with an underlining urgency, “Vance, you need to go and let go of your energy, get in the woods. If anyone see you like this, or you lose control in front of anyone, it is your life, and more than likely mine and hers too.” “YOU THINK I DO NOT KNOW THAT!” Vance was losing control faster than he wanted, he took a moment and lowered his voice, “I have to get her to wake up, I have to get her out of her head, she is a sitting duck.” Desree took in the boy she raised he looked untamed, “shh, go take care of you, she is safe enough for now, we are the only ones who know what she really is, and something tells me Leo would protect her.” Vance let out a low growl. As he turned back to leave, Fera, barely audible, breathed his name, it sound more like a desperate plea than a name. The lights in the room started to flicker, and Vance took off down the hall at a dead run.


  By the time he got out of the castle he could feel the ground shaking lightly around him, and the air was changing, reacting to him, it was getting heavy. He kept going. He was picking up speed, he reached the thickest, densest part of the woods right before the lightening started. It danced around him in a deadly game of cat and mouse, anyone watched would have thought him to be the mouse, but that was wrong. He was the catalyst for the storm. Vance rarely lost his temper, he was all too aware how dangerous he could be when he was not in control of his energy. Frustration was the nagging force that kept his emotional fire fueled. He had to find a way to bring her back. She needed to be somewhere safe and he was not sure where that would be. Then it clicked in his head, she said she knew she was a Dwarven princess that must mean her father was the half human son from the King’s first marriage. Things were adding up. He had to get her to the Dwarfs: she would be safe in the mountain, they had magic, and could sort this mess out. He was a little calmer, but frustration was still keeping the dance going, he had the where, now need the hows. How to wake her, how to get there? Vance paced like a caged animal. He balled up his fist and took a swing at one of the big trees, at the same time lightning struck it, sending a current back threw Vance, knocking him off his feet. The idea also hit him, when he had her use magic the fever came down, she stirred a little -that must be it. She needs to burn off the energy but doesn’t know how! He could go to limbo and teach her or find a way to waste some of it. As for the how to get them to her grandfather’s mountain, they would have to ride, taking their chances on not getting caught. Vance was feeling calmer and the fear of striking someone with a lightning bolt was subsiding, he decided to head back to the stables and come up with some kind of game plan.