The Heart of Trelyssia

by Lisa Chitty

  ‘Look at me, Abi,’ James gently requested. When Abi didn’t move, he very gently placed his hand under her chin trying to turn her towards him, but she was still resisting. ‘Please look at me,’ James asked her again. ‘I really think it best that you do.’

  Abi clenched her jaw against his hand, but she knew that James was right, and slowly she relaxed, allowing him to tilt her head towards his. They were facing one another but she still couldn’t look in his eyes. James sat waiting patiently and eventually Abi gave in and lifted her gaze to his, terrified of what she would see there. But she needn’t have feared, for all she saw was love and compassion in his eyes. ‘You did what you had to,’ James said. ‘You did the right thing.’

  ‘You would say that,’ Abi disagreed. ‘The Baron did actually kill you, and you’re in a relationship with me, so you have to forgive me.’

  James shook his head sadly. ‘If you won’t take my word, ask what Randall and Steve think.’

  Slowly, Abi turned and looked at each of them in turn and all she saw in their expressions was sympathy and strangely, understanding.

  ‘No,’ Abi denied. ‘You’re all wrong. The Baron was surrendering to me. I could have taken him prisoner. I only killed him because…’ the words stuck in Abi’s throat.

  ‘Because of what?’ Steve asked.

  ‘Because of what he did to James’ she whispered. ‘Which is why you’re wrong. James is alive now, and the Baron isn’t. I was justifying what I did at the time as a life for a life, but that’s not the case anymore. I’m just a murderer!’

  ‘No!’ The cry came from all three of them at once, and Abi recoiled from the force of that one word spoken in unison.

  Randall came and knelt in front of Abi and took her hands in his. ‘Abi, you are the furthest thing possible from being a murderer. We all know that before you came here you wouldn’t have contemplated doing what you did to the Baron. But things here are different. Look at Steve.’

  Abi glanced over at Steve with a look of confusion.

  ‘I think Randall is referring to the fact that during the battle I did kill several of the Baron’s men myself,’ Steve said. ‘It’s not something I’m proud of, but it was necessary, and I’m learning to live with that.’

  ‘But that’s different!’ Abi protested. ‘For you it was kill or be killed. You had no choice. I did!’

  ‘Did you really?’ James asked Abi.

  ‘Yes, he was giving himself up!’ Abi’s agitation was increasing as the guys seemed to be deliberately missing her point.

  Randall was still keeling in front of Abi. ‘Ask yourself this,’ he said. ‘Do you think the Baron was genuinely surrendering to you, or do you think he was just looking for a way out? Be honest.’

  ‘He was genuine, wasn’t he?’

  ‘Was he?’ James asked Abi. ‘Think of everything else the amulet showed you before you took the decision to end his life.’

  Abi sat in silence for a moment contemplating the other images the amulet had thrown at her, of the evil that the Baron had perpetuated. Slowly, realisation dawned as she looked back up at James. ‘He would never have been a prisoner would he? He would have escaped and just begun again, or not even actually allowed me to take him prisoner.’

  James nodded. ‘He was truly evil, there was no possibility of saving or changing him. By killing him, you freed the innocent people of Trelyssia, who can now go on and live their lives in peace and comfort. You did the right thing.’

  James put his arms round Abi and pulled her into a tight embrace. Finally, Abi allowed herself to relax into him and turned her head towards Randall and Steve, seeking final confirmation that she had had no choice in what she had done.

  ‘James is right,’ Randall agreed and Steve was quick to add his reassurances.

  Abi glanced up once more at James seeing again only compassion and a deep and abiding love in his eyes, and suddenly the dam that she built around her emotions broke and she finally gave into them. Abi buried her head against James’s chest and felt him wrap his arms tightly round her as sobs wracked her whole body. She was so caught up in a whirlwind of feelings that she wasn’t aware of Randall and Steve leaving, or the fact that James was crying along with her. She cried until there was nothing left inside and then, exhausted by such an outburst she fell asleep in James’s arms.

  * * *

  The clearing up of the battlegrounds was finally over and they were now all back at the caves, relaxing and wondering what was going to happen next. The Citadel and the surrounding city had been totally destroyed, and it had been decided that it was beyond repair, so the centre of Trelyssia had temporarily become the cave network until a more permanent solution could be arrived at.

  They were sitting in Zaria’s quarters idly talking and wondering what was going to happen for them all next. They could think of nothing more that they were needed for in Trelyssia.

  ‘Perhaps Theldon could send us home,’ Steve suggested.

  Randall snorted in derision. ‘I’ve more faith in Abi’s abilities to get us back than his!’

  ‘Be fair,’ Zaria chided him. ‘He is a lot older and more frail than Abi, and he doesn’t have a powerful talisman to assist him. Anyway,’ she went on. ‘You can’t leave just yet, as there’s the banquet tonight to celebrate our victory, and the four of you are guests of honour.’

  Abi groaned softly. The others were looking forward to it, but Abi just couldn’t summon any enthusiasm. Everywhere she went, people were bowing to her or trying to touch her as though she were a good luck omen. As a result she had more or less confined herself to the rooms they occupied in the caves, which were her only sanctuary. There, and here in Zaria’s rooms. Although they now had a king, the people who resided in the caves still accepted Zaria as their leader.

  ‘It’ll be alright,’ James whispered in Abi’s ear in response to her groan. ‘I’ll be there to look after you.’

  Abi smiled gently, but before she could reply the door opened and in came Sasket accompanied by Theldon.

  ‘At last!’ Sasket came and sat down amongst the group. ‘I don’t know how you ever managed it Zaria. I swear there are not enough hours in the day to see everyone who requests an audience with me!’

  Everyone suppressed their grins at his discomfiture as Zaria replied. ‘Well, I did have it easier than you. I only commanded the people who lived here. You have everyone who lives in Trelyssia to look after!’

  ‘You’re something of a novelty too,’ Abi chipped in. ‘It’s been a long time since the people had a monarch!’

  ‘Thanks for that, Abi’ Sasket responded dryly. ‘It’s nice to know that you think I’m nothing more than a novelty.’

  Abi was about to respond when Randall interjected. ‘You two can leave off for now. I have some questions for Theldon that I’ve wanted answering for some time, but you keep running away from me.’ Randall fixed Theldon with a grim stare.

  Theldon sighed as he settled himself at the table. ‘I know you’ve got questions, and I have been avoiding you. But you do have a right to know all the details. Ask away.’

  ‘Firstly, why the subterfuge around Abi? Surely you could have just taken her away to the cottage and let us know what was going on.’

  Theldon winced slightly before answering. ‘It wasn’t my decision to deceive you all, any more than it was Abi’s. It was necessary.’

  ‘I’m going to need a bit more than that after everything that I went through.’ James told Theldon.

  ‘I know that you had to endure a lot thinking that Abi had died, but it did drive you forward!’ Theldon asserted. ‘It was only after you thought that she had died that you came up with the battle plan that enabled us to win. Your determination to succeed was constantly fuelled by your desire to avenge her, and that’s why that particular course of action was taken.’

  ‘It was a cruel way to go about things,’ Abi protested. ‘Surely there was another way.’

  ‘Maybe. But this plan worked, didn’t it?’
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  Silence descended as they contemplated what Theldon had said and realised that he was right. It still didn’t make it very fair though.

  ‘What else did you want to ask?’ Theldon turned back to Randall.

  ‘Why were you going to prevent Abi from reviving James? After their separation, surely they deserved to be back together, and if Abi was able to bring James back, which she was, why try to stop her?’ Randall was clearly puzzled by Theldon’s actions.

  Theldon turned to look at Abi. ‘If Abi had been attempting to it by herself, it would have killed her. No one has the strength to bring back someone from the dead, especially not someone who had been killed some time before the attempt to revive them was made.’

  ‘So how did she manage it?’ Steve asked.

  ‘I think Abi can answer that better than I can.’ Theldon turned to look at her.

  As all eyes turned to Abi she shrank back slightly from the scrutiny. ‘I didn’t actually do anything,’ Abi told them. ‘It all came from the amulet. It was like I was just the instrument it needed to use to accomplish James’s revival. I did feel that it wanted to reward…, no,’ Abi shook her head. ‘Not reward me. That’s the wrong word. It was like it wanted to make up to me everything it had put me through.’

  ‘That’s entirely possible,’ Theldon said. ‘Don’t forget that it does have some level of sentience, we’re just not sure how much!’

  ‘We’ll just to have to accept your word on that one Theldon. I don’t really understand all this supernatural stuff.’ Randall interjected, then went on with another question. ‘Why didn’t you tell us that Sasket was the one who we were going to put back on the throne. Didn’t you think we had a right to know?’

  ‘I thought you could work it out. Abi did.’ Theldon grinned at Randall.

  Randall looked at Abi in disgust before turning back to Theldon. ‘A proper answer, please!’

  ‘I think I can actually answer that one better,’ Zaria interrupted. ‘It was purely for protection. We couldn’t guarantee that you wouldn’t be captured, and it was a case of if you didn’t know anything then you wouldn’t be able to tell anyone who the heir was.’

  ‘I suppose I can forgive you for that, then,’ Randall admitted grudgingly, still feeling a little put out that Abi had beaten him in working it out.

  ‘I have a question,’ Steve said. ‘When are we going back home?’

  The four of them turned to Theldon eager to hear his answer.

  ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘I didn’t bring you here, so your return will be decided by whatever power it was that brought you to Trelyssia.’ Theldon spread his hands helplessly.

  They were silent as they absorbed Theldon’s words. They might be finally enjoying themselves here, but all of them just wanted to go home now.

  ‘Like I said earlier,’ Zaria said into the silence. ‘You can’t go until we’ve had the banquet that we’re holding in your honour.’ She then turned to Abi. ‘Speaking of which, I think we’d better leave these guys chatting because we need to make you look your best.’

  ‘We’ve got ages yet,’ Abi protested.

  ‘Don’t you want to look stunning?’ Zaria asked Abi. ‘After all, everyone who can make it here for the banquet is coming. There’ll be a lot of people watching you.’

  Before Abi could say anything James replied. ‘Never mind all the strangers that will be looking at you. I want to see you looking gorgeous,’ he told Abi. ‘I’ve yet to see you all dressed up and looking even more beautiful than you are now.

  Abi smiled, then leaned over to kiss James. ‘Fair enough. For you, and only you, I will look as glamorous as it’s possible to be.’ Abi then turned and followed Zaria out of her rooms.

  It was a good job that Zaria had insisted they take the amount of time that they did, because she and Abraya seemed determined to give Abi a complete makeover and it was a long while later before they were finally satisfied with Abi’s appearance.

  As Abi stood before them for their final inspection they exchanged satisfied nods. ‘James is going to fall in love with you all over again,’ Zaria told her. ‘Now, wait here and James and the others will come and collect you when it’s time.’

  ‘Try not to ruin how you look,’ Abraya admonished.

  ‘I won’t,’ Abi promised.

  Zaria and Abraya then left Abi to finish getting ready themselves. She paced around the room nervously waiting for James. He had only ever seen her in casual clothes and what she had been given to wear by Zaria, which had all been very practical clothing considering she had spent a lot of her time running about the forest.

  Abi stopped in front of the full length mirror and examined her reflection. She was wearing a dress in emerald green with silver thread embroidering the bodice. The skirt of the dress then flared from the waist, falling in soft folds around her ankles. It was sleeveless and low cut , leaving her arms and chest bare, showing off the amulet which she still wore constantly. Abi had no idea where the dress had come from but it was a perfect fit and the colour was just the right accompaniment to her red hair, which had been left loose. It had had a thorough wash and a trim and now gleamed in the candlelight as the curls tumbled down around her shoulders. Abi smiled gently at her refection, hoping that James would like what he saw.

  A knock on the door startled Abi out of her reverie. ‘It’s open,’ she called turning to face the door.

  ‘Does my lady require an escort?’ James joked as he entered, then stopped in his tracks when he saw Abi, gazing at her open mouthed.

  ‘Is everything alright?’ Abi asked teasingly.

  James managed to recover enough to speak. ‘You look amazing,’ he said as he came over to her. His sentiments were echoed by Randall and Steve who had come with him.

  ‘You don’t look too bad yourself,’ Abi told him. He was dressed in soft black trousers, a pristine white shirt, open at the neck, and over that a jacket, that was identical in colour to Abi’s dress, marking them out as a couple. He had also had his hair trimmed and it now fell silkily around his face and Abi just ached to run her fingers through it.

  James took Abi’s hand in his and raised it to his lips to kiss the back of it. Abi trembled at the touch, and all thoughts of attending the banquet vanished from her mind as she thought about what she’d rather be doing.

  ‘Ahem!’ Randall diverted Abi’s attention and she looked over to where he was standing lightly tapping his foot. ‘We do have somewhere to be getting to, remember?’

  James straightened and offered Abi his arm which she immediately accepted. He led her out of the room with Randall and Steve falling in behind them. They walked the short distance to the double doors of the Great Hall which were closed. As they halted Randall and Steve stepped out from behind Abi and James so that they flanked them and they stood as a foursome side by side, ready to enter the hall.

  James leaned forward and knocked loudly on the door. They slowly swung open, revealing the interior of the Great Hall. Long tables stretched down the hall and across the top on the dais was another long table with four vacant seats. As the four of them stood for a moment framed by the large doors, everyone got to their feet and turned towards them.

  Sasket stood at the end of the hall dressed in formal robes and wearing the crown that Abi had made for him. He was waiting for them to walk down the centre aisle and join him and Zaria, who was standing next to him. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen!’ Sasket’s voice rang out in the silence. ‘I give you the Four Strangers. The Rodent, The Strategist, The Fiery Woman and The Giant. Without these four people we would still be living under the Baron’s rule, instead of being the free people that we are now. I ask you to show your appreciation to our saviours.’

  Immediately the crowds packed into the hall began to cheer and applaud, and so it was to this accolade that they entered and walked towards Sasket, the King of Trelyssia. He received the four of them and made sure that they were settled before gesturing for everyone else to take their seats whilst he remain
ed standing.

  ‘I know that this is meant to be a night of celebration and that’s what everyone here wants to do, so I’ll keep my speech short.’

  A chuckle rippled throughout the hall.

  ‘Today has been a long time in coming. We have had to endure terrible hardship in the years the Barons have ruled over our home. Every single one of us here has been affected in some way and as such are immensely grateful that the Baron is no more. This is a new beginning for all of us, and I am determined that it shall be a much better time than what we have known. Whilst I had always hoped that I would be the one who would reclaim the throne rather than one of my descendants, I have to confess that I am woefully unprepared. I would ask that you all bear with me whilst I get used to my new position within our society.’

  Various statements of reassurance echoed through the people sitting at the lower tables.

  Sasket smiled and waited for silence before continuing. ‘I know that none of this could have been achieved without the assistance of the four people seated here who have become very dear friends to me. I know that I will miss them when they finally return to their home. However, I want to say that they will always be welcome here should they ever wish to return! I would also like my first official act as your King to be honouring them. As such I accord the four of them the highest honour that it is possible to receive.’ Sasket turned to face the foursome. ‘We haven’t been able to manufacture the actual medal that you should get for this,’ he smiled apologetically. ‘But it will be done, and if you ever do come back, we’ll have them ready and waiting for you!’

  Sasket turned back to face the audience. ‘By Royal decree, I declare that the Giant, known as Randall, the Rodent, known as Steve, the Strategist, known as James and the Fiery Woman, known as Abi, are now holders of the Order of the Trelyssian Rose!’

  There was a stunned pause, before a voice, which Abi thought was Brougan, called out. ‘Three cheers for our champions!’