A New Age

How long do they expect us to wait? Are you so sure that this is a good idea, brother? Evie was feeling quite uneasy. Her gaze looked to Bran whom was leaning forward upon his knees. She bit her lip slightly and then shook her head. I’m not going to let them kill you. She then smirked to him, trying to make him laugh. She could feel the tension in the room. It was so thick...a knife could have easily cut through it.

Rosalie drew in a long breath, she clicked her tongue. “She really does know how to make us sweat doesn’t she?” She glanced to Bran. She looked as though she was about to speak once again as the doors opened. Rosalie’s lips parted slightly. She’d never seen Queen Raenisa. She glanced to Bran. She rose from her seat just as he had. Evie glanced to the two and she stood as well. Don’t be nervous brother. We practiced the words. I know you can say them. She spoke words of encouragement to her brother.

The princess, Amara. She stared to the group. Her crystal hues seemed to bore into the souls of those that stood before her. She adjusted her gaze to the prince as her mother addressed him. This was the prince? Her lips parted slightly, she searched over him. He looked more like a knight in fancy armor than the prince that she’d imagined. Then again, she’d never spoken to the humans about their prince. Only their mad king. She drew in a long breath. As the prince spoke in his broken Elvish the princess raised a brow slightly, the corners of her lips twitched slightly as she fought back a smile. Humans never spent the time to learn elvish. This was quite impressive, even if his words were rough and broken.

Good job brother. The princess seemed to like that. Keep going. You can do this. They seem intrigued. Evie gazed to her brother. Her eyes then looked back to the queen and the princess. She marveled to their pointed ears. Their flawless skin. Their beauty. Her hand reached up and she touched her cropped ears, a bit of a frown upon her lips. She placed her hands back in her lap after a moment as she listened to her brother. He moved to introduce.

Rosalie straightened slightly as she gazed to the the Queen. She bowed her head, “A pleasure to meet you Queen Raenisa and Princess Amara.” She spoke in common, she was too nervous to remember any elvish that she’d learned over the years on her own.

Evie was next. Her eyes gazed to her brother as he stared to her for too long almost. The Queen shifted and looked to him, her brow raised slightly. It was a cold stare. The stare that Raenisa was known for. Evie swallowed and was about to speak to her brother when he finally introduced her. As his sister. She smiled as she looked to him. To hear that come from his lips. To hear him speak it before the queen of Armalon. It felt incredible. The Mage gazed to the queen and bowed her head to her.

Raenisa raised her brows slightly. Surprise. She knew that this golden eyed woman that sat before her was the mage, just on the descriptions that she’d heard. This was the blood mage that had slaughtered so many of her people. She nearly missed the next introduction. Though it was not the queen that spoke up. “Vyarson?” Amara interjected. She glanced to her mother. “Tora...” She spoke just as the seer stepped into the room.

The Queen turned her hues to Tora, a smile curved up her lips as she looked to the woman, it was a gaze that only lovers shared. She watched as she crossed her arms over her leather armor. She had helped Tora with braiding her hair that morning and Tora had helped her with her own hair. The two had grown so much since the early days of the vikings coming ashore. It was then that the queen realized just who this Arvid was. Tora’s uncle. The one that she’d spoken of to her that had been sent away from her home when she was but a child.

The moment had everyone silent. The Queen watched Tora reunite with her family. Her eyes watched the man as he stepped across the imaginary line to stand next to Tora. Her amber hues watched him. “Ah yes. We seem to have much to speak about.” She looked to the prince then as she stood. “We should at least enjoy our conversation over alcohol. Hm?” The queen turned and walked into the dining hall. As Tora held the seat out for her Raenisa smirked slightly. “Thank you, Tora.” Her hand rest over Tora’s for a moment and she gave a gentle squeeze before she sat in the chair and she lifted her glass of wine. She gazed to these strangers again. The enemy. The General that she knew had led many assaults against her people. She’d heard of General Feir from a few survivors. The woman was supposed to be deadly, ruthless. Yet here she was sitting at the same table as the elven queen.

Amara sat on the other side of her mother, she glanced to Tora and then to Arvid. Her eyes then looked back to the prince. Those crystal hues bore into him as he gave such an uncomfortable smile to her mother. A smirk tugged at the edges of her lips. Good, he was nervous. He should be.

“Go on.” Raenisa spoke as Bran cleared his throat. “I’m here to listen to your proposition. Let’s hear it.” She sipped upon her wine.

Rosalie clenched her jaw slightly. Her heart beat quickly This would go well. Or it would go horribly. There was no inbetween. There was no grey area. It was black. Or it was white. She could feel the nerves rise in her as Bran began to speak.

Evie lifted her fingertips to touch the collar about her neck, she bit her lip slightly and looked to her brother as he spoke of the control that the king held over her. What would they do? How could they keep him from harming her? She’d only felt the pain of the collar a few times. That was enough for her to realize that she should follow every command the king could possibly give. She would never disobey him. Yet here she sat. Doing just that.

Amara tilted her head slightly as the prince touched the hand of the General. She watched as he rubbed his thumb along each individual knuckle of the General. Rosalie’s eyes had fallen to their hands. It calmed her to feel his touch. She glanced to him as he began to speak more. The princess raised a brow slightly. Trust. The prince was asking for trust? How could they trust him? What if this was another one of the king’s trap? 20 years ago her father fell into the king’s fallacy. She wouldn’t allow her mother to be tricked by this prince. Though he pulled something from his pocket. Amara could feel the power as soon as her crystal hues fell upon the gem.

Brother...you stole it? You managed to get it back? Evie’s expression was of shock. What if...what if they use it...brother that will end the world... Worry struck her. She looked to him with fearful eyes.

Rosalie bit her lip slightly. She knew this jewel well from the life tree that they had stolen it from. She glanced to Bran, she would follow him. She wouldn’t question him. She was shocked to see the jewel upon the table. She knew the king kept it in his quarters. Bran must have taken it the night before they left on this mission. Perhaps that was why he was late to the gates?

The Queen eyed him. She reached forward and grasped the gem. She turned it over in her fingertips. “This stone. It was entrusted to Olivara. Protected by the people of Olivara for centuries.” She spoke with wisdom. The queen eyed the prince. “Do you realize what this gem could have brought? Do you realize what you have stopped?” She questioned. “It is said that this gem was bore from the very life tree itself. But it is the opposite of life. This gem if used would have brought the end of times. It would have awakened portals that had long been closed for centuries. Demons would have flooded the crust and killed everything within sight.” Raenisa explained this slowly, carefully as she moved the gem about in her fingertips. She took a long drink of her wine.

“This is far more valuable than you realize, Prince.” She smirked finally and a chuckle came over her lips. “I cannot trust you. But you’ve brought Tora her uncle and you’ve brought us back one of our great relics.” She tilted her head as she gazed to the beautiful green glow for a moment. “You say that these two follow you?” She questioned. She gazed directly to Evie then. “That necklace. Tell me about it girl.” She spoke as she looked to the gentle glow of the collar.

“She’s mute.” Rosalie piped up. “She’s never spoken for as long as I have known her. She can communicate to Bran though...”

The queen tilted her head slightly and looked to the prince. “Hm.” She then looked to Tora for wise words. Should they trust the prince? Was this a set up. She’d asked Tora for help in understanding what this meeting would bring over and over. But Tora merely told her that this meeting had to happen. She didn’t have much information for the queen that made any sense.

“So you want to take your father’s throne?” Amara chimed in, her crystal hues like daggers as she watched the prince. “What do you plan to change then, Prince Brandon? Tell me that. What is it that you will change that should make us trust you as an ally? What will you bring to us that we cannot succeed in without you?” The way the princess spoke was to the point. She’d learned much from her mother. She was well on her way to becoming an excellent queen herself.

The queen watched Bran as he spoke. He knew exactly how valuable the jewel was and yet he was still returning it? That was an honorable move. She looked to Evie with soft eyes as he explained the necklace. She looked to the girl like a mother would a daughter. It was a horrible thing to put anyone through such pain. “There must be some way to remove it. If magic placed it, then magic can remove it.” She glanced to Amara.

The princess gazed to her mother and nodded, though she didn’t speak any words of wisdom. She’d asked her question to the prince. How would he run his kingdom? Her crystal hues watched him, she didn’t look away. She watched as his lips formed a straight line. Her eyes looked over the cut of his face, the color of his hues, the scruff that had grown in on his face from the travel. His words though she tilted her head slightly. His words surprised her. He didn’t want the throne. Her brow raised slightly. Even the queen seemed intrigued. Why dethrone his father if he wasn’t truly interested in the throne? Was that not what most humans wanted? Were they all not as greedy as the current mad king?

The princess was captivated by his words. The wisdom behind them. A bit of a smirk curved up her lips as she listened to him speak. Keep going brother, the princess is listening to you. Evie encouraged him as she watched her brother. To see him in this scenario, where he was in charge. It was good to finally get to see him come out from beneath the shadow of his father. When he finished Amara smirked as Tora spoke. The words that the seer spoke seemed to be stolen from her own mouth. She nodded slightly as her eyes settled back in on the prince once again, then to Rosalie, then to Evie. Her eyes settled in on the necklace. How horrible. How could anyone do such a thing? When Tora spoke that Bran was competition she smirked back to the viking.

Rosalie was intrigued by the viking woman. She watched as her braided hair moved about, as her eyes focused on what she was doing. The bowl that was stained with blood from the past. Her ocean hues never broke from the woman. Only the truth matters? What was that supposed to mean. Then Tora had cut some of her own hair and let it fall into the bowl. She watched as the princess and the queen followed suite. They didn’t question the seer.

Evie lifted her hues to look to Tora, that glowing eye. It felt so strange to stare into it, her own golden eyes had a bit of a glow to them. Evie watched her, she looked a bit worried yet calm all in the same time. What was about to happen? What was this viking woman doing? She watched as Tora gently cut some of her hair and dropped it into the bowl. She didn’t know anything of the viking culture. It was all a mystery to her. Brother what….is she doing? Evie glanced to her brother.

Rosalie gazed to Tora as she had held the knife forward. The General pulled her cloak from her head. Revealing her dark brunette hair. She reached and grasped a lock of her hair, about the same size as what everyone else had offered to the bowl. She sliced through the hair and dropped it into the bowl. She wanted to ask so many questions. She handed the knife back to the woman. The handle of the knife had been so intricate. So different. This woman was mystical. The way she moved. Her accent. She may be like her uncle in features. But the way she moved. There was something about it that Rosalie could not place her finger upon.

Evie watched as Tora set the bowl down and she sliced into her palm. Blood...magic? Evie furrowed her brows. She sat forward in her seat slightly. A look of concern came over her face. She shifted as she saw the white oozing liquid. Her eyes glanced to her brother a moment and then back to the viking.

Amara watched Tora, she was calm. Her crystal hues glanced to the others, a bit of a smirk curved up her lips as she saw the fear in Evie’s eyes. Perhaps they should fear. That was good for them. The princess glanced to her mother whom had her amber hues locked on Tora. Waiting. Her mother had spent a lot of time with Tora over the past month. Late nights. Early mornings. Amara had spent a lot of time with the vikings. Working with her rangers and the shield maidens.

Rosalie took in a breath as the sweet scent reached her nostrils. The world around her faded away into this new view. She turned as she took in the beauty of the ship. The carefully crafted railings. As Evie appeared upon the ship, Rosalie’s eyes widened slightly. She looked so happy. She was truly free.

Tears came to Evie’s hues as she watched this. Her voice. She could speak. She held her hand up to the collar about her neck. Her breaths shook. The way her voice sounded. She remembered her voice when she was young. It still felt the same, just with age and wisdom mixed into it. She smiled as she saw this.

Rosalie’s lips parted then when she saw herself. Though. She was not dressed in her armor. She did still wear her sword upon her hip. The belt sat at an angle from the weight of it. But the thing that caught her off guard more than the fact that she was on a ship...the woman...the fiery haired woman called her something that no one but her father had ever called her. Rose. She took a step forward. Looking to the captain of the ship. The woman had a smile that seemed to light up the world around her. She saw the look in her eyes as she looked to the captain, that look. That smile. Rosalie...she never truly smiled. No. She was always too busy to smile like that. But something broke in Rosalie...the captain had asked of Bran and Amara. Her ocean hues glanced to the princess whom watched the scene as well.

Raenisa tilted her head as she watched the group move about the deck of the ship. She watched the mage, well, who the mage was to become. It was good to see this. There was hope in removing the collar. There was hope for the girl that she would gain her voice back. Though she saw the turmoil upon the General’s expression. Her eyes watched the woman, the confusion. These visions that Tora could conjure. It was much better than before. But it was almost frightening to see these things if one was not prepared. The princess’ hues looked to Bran. What did this mean? A royal marriage? Was that eluding that she was to marry….him? Her brows tugged together. Her mother wouldn’t force her to do such a thing...unless...what if that was the key to ending the war. So many thoughts rushed through the princess’ mind as the smoke died away.

The queen drew in a breath as they came from the vision. She looked to the confused expression of the General, the curious eyes of the mage. A soft smile curved up her lips. Evie smiled brightly and looked to her brother. I could speak again! I...I was helping! I was free. Really, really free. Her voice was full of excitement. She looked back to the seer as she spoke that she believed in the vision. She looked to the smear of ashes upon the woman’s forehead.

Raenisa drew in a breath. “Just because we’ve seen this future, that does not mean that we will end up in these places in the future. It is as Tora has said. We risk changing it.” She looked to the prince. “This jewel.” She turned her hues and looked to Tora. “Giving this back to us, stealing it from the king no less...that shows a great deal of commitment...you’re an honorable man, Prince Brandon. You want to save your sister you say?” She looked to Evie whom looked to the woman with hopeful eyes. She then looked to Rosalie. “You are tired of being commanded by a mad king?” She questioned.

Rosalie was distant. She held her hands in her lap, her eyes stared to the bowl. What did this all mean? Did she give up everything? Everything that she worked for? She wasn’t a crimson guard? Her breathing was slightly quick.

“General.” The queen spoke up a bit louder. “General Feir.” She spoke again. This finally broke Rosalie from her gaze. “We will need you as well. I cannot have a shell of a being sitting at this table. Focus.” She spoke as she drew in a breath. “You wish to break free from the king? Yes?”

“I...” Rosalie furrowed her brows. “I wish to serve Alexander as it should be. It is my duty to protect the people of Alexander...” She looked greatly upset. Devastated.

Amara placed a hand upon her mother’s shoulder and then shook her head. “It is a lot.” She spoke in elvish. “This is a lot for them. Perhaps we should enjoy dinner.” She looked to Tora then, “They’ve seen their future. So long as they keep their intentions pure, it will become their future. We will have our peace. We will dethrone the mad king.” Her words were fluid as she gazed to the seer and then back to her mother. “I will see what I can do to remove the necklace from, Evie. I believe that is the first step. They have offered us the jewel. We should free the girl. I believe that will gain more of their trust and help us to form an ally.”

Evie had furrowed brows as she listened to the princess. She understood every word. Her eyes glanced to her brother. The princess wants to become allies. She wants to try to remove the collar. She spoke and gave a nod to her brother. Brother I hope...I hope that dream comes true...just seeing it... She smiled to him and then shook her head slightly.

Rosalie on the other hand had closed her eyes a long moment. Rose. She remembered the way that the captain spoke her name. Bran...he never called her Rose. Her eyes looked to the prince a moment. Her lips parted as if she was to speak but not a word came from her. “It is settled then.” Raenisa spoke up in the common tongue. She looked to the prince. “I may not trust you. Yet.” She smirked slightly. “But it seems our future together is quite bright. Together we will find a way to end this war, Prince Brandon. First, Amara would like to help your sister.” She looked to Evie and gave a gentle smile. “There is a temple here that we may use. Amara is a very talented mage. If anyone can remove that collar, I imagine she may be able to help.”

“I’ll need your help.” Amara spoke as she looked to the prince. “I imagine it was sealed with blood magic. The blood of a relative may actually help in removing the collar.” The princess watched him carefully. “Though I cannot be certain. This will be all trial and error...I do hope that us tampering with it does not inflict harm on your sister.” She gazed to Evie. “I will do my best to keep you safe.” She nodded.

The queen smiled then. “But for now. We feast. We sit at this table as equals.” This was something that she had learned from Tora. From the vikings. From their way of life. The queen lifted her glass. “Drink. Enjoy.” She nodded and servants brought food to the table. “Tell me, prince Brandon. Does your father have a backup plan? If he loses his mage? Has he spoken to you of any of his tactics? It would be helpful.” She spoke as she made a plate for herself.


Rosalie as a shipmate

The queen glanced to Tora, she could see the turmoil that now festered at the table. Of course the prince and his General were not so keen on this future that was showed to them. It was interesting to see such a response. Raenisa watched as Rosalie sat with her eyes closed. She remembered the first time that she’d done this magic with Tora. It was chaotic. They saw something interesting. She saw Amara upon the throne of Armalon. It looked to be a bit in the future, her daughter was a great ruler. The people loved her. Though many things were blurred and hidden within this vision. Tora always told her that this is how visions worked. Nothing was set in stone and a lot of the time visions caused more questions.

Rosalie’s ocean hues locked on Bran as he glanced to her. The grief in his eyes. He knew what he was to do. Of course it couldn’t be a fairytale ending. How foolish of her to assume that the prince could love her. She grasped her wine glass and drank it down swiftly. The General gave a soft smile to the servant as her glass was refilled.

Amara grinned as the prince spoke that he would happily help. “Very good.” She replied. “Don’t worry, we have the gods upon our side. I am certain that I will find a way to free your sister.” Her eyes gazed to him curiously. The princess could feel the tension between the prince and Rosalie. She watched as the General avoided any eye contact with the prince. Amara glanced to her mother and then to Tora a moment before she looked back to the general. “You say you wish to serve Alexander. I am certain that you will continue to make your people proud once the war is over, General Feir.” She tried to offer words of encouragement.

Raenisa smiled to her daughter a moment. When Tora had grasped her leg she glanced to the woman and a smirked curved up her lips for a moment. Her own cheeks flushed pink from the touch of the seer. Her brow raised slightly. A language between that two that didn’t need to be spoken. She had cleared her throat slightly, trying to focus her thoughts back on the situation at hand.

Rosalie’s eyes gazed to the princess, she stared to her a long moment as she sucked in a breath. Thankfully the queen had asked Bran a question about his father’s backup plans. It wasn’t a question she wished to answer. It wasn’t something she wanted to speak about. It was clear in that vision that she had abandoned the kingdom. She had abandoned everything that she knew. When the prince began to speak though. Her expression changed to disbelief. He’d betrayed his father? The loss was on purpose? Her brows furrowed as she looked to him.

Amara smirked slightly as she swirled her wine within her glass. “Ah yes, that was my idea. We had to keep your camps from communicating so that they wouldn’t know what was happening.” She seemed proud of this, she gazed to the prince a long while. “I am surprised though, prince, that you sent many of your soldiers to their death. Though many of them were full of hatred. I couldn’t imagine them changing even if you dethroned your father. That is why you need a strong general in your military to help you turn things around.” She nodded to Rosalie whom was deep in thought once again it seemed.

Amara could feel the prince’s eyes upon her, she smiled as she looked back to him. “We must plan to work closely together. Once we are out of this war we must push forward and our kingdoms must become allied and we must never witness such a war again. 20 years...” She drew in a breath and then shook her head. “The war is all I have known.” The princess gazed to Rosalie. “It’s all you’ve known too, General.” She spoke.

Rosalie looked to the princess again, why did this woman insist on speaking to her so much? They were here to speak to the prince. “Yes, it is all I have known. I have spent my life in the guard.” She replied, her ocean hues locked upon the elf.

The princess offered a gentle smile, “We all need rest from this war. From our duties.” She nodded as she finished her food.

One the food was finished the queen stood. “We shall speak more tomorrow. We will plan a course of action. Tonight, celebrate this accomplishment.” She nodded to the prince. “I know that it took a lot of courage to do this.” She looked to Rosalie and then to Evie. “Know that I see that courage.” Raenisa glanced to Tora a moment before she stepped from the room without another word.

Brother. You seem troubled. Evie commented, her voice soft in his mind. What is it? She questioned him, a look of concern upon her face.

Rosalie sat within her chair she downed another glass of wine. She closed her eyes slightly and tilted her head back. Amara watched the woman. “Careful there, you’ll catch up to some of the vikings if you drink like that. Would you prefer something other than wine?” She questioned. Rosalie gazed to the woman a long moment and then shook her head as a servant filled her glass. The princess cleared her throat slightly. “I do suppose, you have had a long journey to reach this point.” She stood and then turned and stepped from the great hall. She walked to the bridge that overlooked the gorge. She leaned against it and gazed down to the beautiful shimmering waters below.

“I’ll take that.” Rosalie spoke as she grabbed an unopened bottle from the tray of a servant. “I’ll be retiring for the evening, your highness. If I am needed do not hesitate to call upon me.” She walked from the room then.

Evie furrowed her brows slightly. Brother... She bit her lip slightly and glanced to the door. Rosalie...do you think she will really leave the guard?...I never imagined she would leave...she loves to protect the people...doesn’t she? The mage allowed a sigh to come over her lips as she sipped upon her wine.

Evie gazed to her brother. A look of both sadness and realization crossed over her expression. Rosalie was on the ship. Without Bran. She had been so hyper focused upon herself in the vision. But Bran...you wouldn’t break her heart...would you? Her brows knitted together as she listened to him. He had to act as the Prince that he was. There were politics that he had to follow. Things that must be done for the sake of Alexander. She felt a pit forming in her chest as she listened to him speak. His hand upon her shoulder caused the mage to look to him with golden hues, her brows rose. Brother...I...how can I even being to do that? I cannot speak to her...you need to speak to her. Her jaw was slightly loose as her gaze followed after him. He left her there alone with the seer and Arvid. A long breath came from her lips, it shook as she replaced the breath into her lungs.

The mage turned her hues to the Seer as the woman began to speak. She shook her head slightly and a sigh came over her lips. When Tora stepped to her Evie straightened slightly she flinched slightly as the Seer flicked the necklace. Her only limitation was her? What was that supposed to mean? She had witnessed what happened if she disobeyed the king. She knew the fate that would happen if she disobeyed the king in the way that they all planned to. The glow in the woman’s eye. Her eye. Evie found herself staring to Tora, almost as if she was entranced by her. She listened to the woman as she spoke of blood magic. She nodded slightly to the words. Then she spoke something that surprised Evie. ‘Do not be ashamed’ Evie had always been ashamed of such magics. Blood magic was the darkest of the arts. It was nearly demonic in a way. A sigh came over her lips. She turned and followed everyone else from the building. Her eyes fell upon the princess upon the bridge and she sighed softly.

Evie walked forward and stepped to Amara’s side, her eyes gazed about. She saw Bran walking in the distance. A sigh came from her lips. The princess gazed to her, she was silent for a long moment. Her crystal hues looked over the mage. “Strange how one vision can disrupt many things. Hm?” She looked back to the waters below. “It’s like going to the fade for the first time. Enlightening yes. But frightening more than anything.” A chuckle came from her lips. She glanced to Evie again whom sighed softly. “Are you looking for your brother?” She questioned then, a soft smile upon her lips. Evie shook her head. “The General then?” Amara tilted her head slightly. Evie nodded, another sigh. “She was walking fairly quickly when I saw her. She went up the hill there toward the cabins that you were given as quarters to stay in while we are here.” Amara paused a moment as she watched the mage nod before she rushed off up the pathway that would lead to the cabins.

The princess watched her for a moment before her eyes settled back in on the waters. What did this all mean? The vision. It was such a bright future. But, that was if everything went exactly as they wanted. What she learned from Tora’s visions...something always changed. It was never exact. Amara heard the clanking of the prince’s armor. She didn’t look to him though. She merely gazed to the flowing waters. She would let him speak his mind. No doubt he would. The silence that settled between the two was almost unsettling in a way. Here she stood next to someone that she’d thought of as an enemy since she was a child. Yet. He wished to end the war. He didn’t agree with any of the war. It was astonishing.

Amara finally looked to him as he began to speak with a weak smile. Her eyes played over his features. She raised her brow slightly. Certainly she might be the only one to understand him. Yes. But would she have led her own soldiers into war knowing they would all die? “It does take someone of nobility to understand the crushing feeling that we are accustomed to. Even someone that upholds the highest of standards would never truly be able to understand what it feels like to be responsible for an entire kingdom of souls...innocent lives that must somehow be protected.” She spoke as she found her eyes looking to the beauty of the sunset. Then he spoke of a person meant to help him. No doubt he meant the General. He seemed, angry with her, the expression upon his face. His apology did not seem to change Amara’s expression at all as she continued to listen to him. Then came his laugh and another apology. The princess looked to him with a raised brow. What was this prince apologizing for? A chuckle came from the princess then. She grinned as she watched him. “There isn’t anything that you’re expected to do, Prince Brandon.” Amara turned and leaned against the railing. Her crystal hues traced along his features a moment. “The visions can be tricky. But they are not set in stone. Hm? Also, I have never imagined the prince from Alexander to be so apologetic.” She smirked to him. “I’m not certain it is a color that is befitting of you.” A chuckle escaped the princess. “We have to save our people. Right? That is the goal.” Amara tilted her head slightly. “So we choose the paths that will do the best for our people. Don’t you think?” The princess watched him, a soft smile upon her lips.

**

Raenisa lifted her glass as Tora walked in, “Ah Seer. Welcome.” She spoke and then looked to Arvid. “Arvid.” She nodded. The Queen looked to Tora and a smile melted across her face. As the man unfolded the truth quickly her smile only widened into a grin. She chuckled to his movements, his remarks. Even if vulgar. Raenisa shook her head slightly. She glanced to Tora as the man spoke he wanted to return home. She sipped upon her wine as she listened to the two converse. She could see the pride in Arvid’s hues. When he finally looked back to her she nodded. “Ah yes. Well at first. I was nervous that I had made a mistake.” She smiled to Tora. She’d told Tora this during one of their late night escapades.

“Though. Quickly I began to see how much my people would benefit from this. I enjoy your culture very much. I read of it, from my grandfather’s journals. Which I have shared with Tora.” The queen paused a moment. A chuckle came over her lips. “Our gods, seem to overlap with your gods. Though I wouldn’t be surprised of it. I find it quite interesting.” She smiled. “Many of my people have taken a liking to the vikings as well. You should see Armalon. The village that your people have built is incredible. It is backed up against the cliffs just beneath the castle now. It grew so quickly.” She smiled to Tora. “This is what both of our people needed. I believe.” She drew in a breath as she seemed to think a moment. “Arvid. Do you trust the prince? This General? The mage?” Her eyes looked to him curiously.

**

Evie knocked upon the door to the cabin. Nothing. A sigh came from her lips. She knocked again. Another time. Silence. Damnit Rosalie! I’m just trying to help you! Evie was frustrated, her brows furrowed as she beat upon the door again.

The door suddenly opened. Rosalie stood there, her ocean hues looked to the Mage. Wet lines ran down her cheeks. She had taken every piece of her armor off. She stood in her tunic, pants and boots. “Evie.” She spoke she glanced about. A sigh escaped her. “Come in if you want. I guess that’s what you came for?” She spoke as she moved back into the cabin. She sat down on the couch and took a drink straight from the bottle, it was nearly half gone.

Evie stepped into the cabin. Her eyes looked to the bottle in Rosalie’s grip. A sigh came from her lips. How could she speak to her. She tapped her necklace. She was capable. She had to be. She had to help Rosalie. She stepped to the general and took the bottle right from her hand.

Rosalie stood up swiftly. “Evie. What are you doing? Give it back.” She reached for it and stumbled forward. “Come on Evie.” She groaned as she swiped again and missed.

Evie set the bottle down and then wrapped her arms around Rosalie before she could move to grasp the bottle. Rosalie was stiff. Her arms awkwardly wrapped around Evie after a moment. It was then that she let out a soft sob. Evie squeezed her eyes shut. The runes upon her arms began to glow with a beautiful golden color. A warmth spread over Rosalie as this happened. The soft sobs slowly disappeared. Rosalie, I wish I could talk to you... Evie continued to hold on.

Rosalie furrowed her brows slightly. “Evie...I heard you...” Her lips parted.

Evie pulled back and looked to the general. She grinned then. You did? She questioned. Rosalie nodded. Evie hugged her again. You’re okay Rosalie. I promise everything will be okay. She spoke quickly as if she feared Rosalie wouldn’t be able to hear her for long.

“He...I shouldn’t have kissed him.” Rosalie whispered softly. Her head rest upon Evie’s shoulder. “I should have never….” The words trailed off. Why was she such a fool? “I let my walls down.” She cried softly then after a long moment of silence.

Evie didn’t move. She hugged Rosalie. She closed her eyes as she listened to the woman. She might, perhaps if I broke her heart. The words played in her mind. You’re okay, Rosalie. Evie chose to be quiet for several minutes. You looked happy in that world. Don’t you think? You smiled at me. Evie tried to console her. Rosalie seemed to need to shed the tears as if that would make everything else disappear.

Crystal hues stayed upon the prince as he seemed to search for his answer. As if gazing to her would give him such a thing. Her smile remained. When he posed the question a laugh came over her lips. “Princess Amara Vamaer of Armalon.” She spoke with a smirk, easily answering his question. Even though she knew very well that, that, was not what he meant. “All knowing?” She grinned. “Ah well. I’ve studied a lot. The pages of the books within our library at the castle are quite a good place to start. The fade has taught me much. But I imagine you do not even know what the fade is.” She gazed up to the purple and blue of the sky. “The fade is a place that only the elves know. A place where one can find themselves. It is both enlightening and relaxing.”

The princess gazed to him curiously, “Perhaps, one day you might visit the fade.” She offered a smile to him before her eyes gazed down to the gorgeous orange and blue that lit the rapids below in the gorge. She gaze to him with a soft expression as he spoke the words. “Hm, of course it is all we know. Just as you said, Prince, who better to understand the crushing weight upon your shoulders...except another in your position?” She looked up to the stars and watched as a shooting star rushed across the darkened skies.

She listened to him speak of his father. She grinned as she looked to him. “It took eight women to raise a single prince?” She questioned, her expression playful in a way. “I cannot imagine the trouble that you must have caused.” She smirked. Though her smile fell as he spoke of the family that begged for food from the king. It was fitting for the mad king. To not share bread with his people. That is what she knew of him. He was a horrible person. She’d assumed the same of his son. Though this prince that stood next to her upon the bridge. He was much different than the nightmare that had been painted of his father. She gazed down to his knuckles that turned white as he gripped the railing. Her expression grew quite soft as she watched him, her brows tugged together slightly.

When he chuckled she watched him and smirked. “Hm. That it is.” She spoke when he repeated the line that she’d spoken to him earlier. It was unbecoming of a prince. A laugh came from the princess when he spoke that he was intimidated by her. “Good. You should be.” She turned to him slightly as she gazed into his eyes. “Because it is you and I that will decide the future of both of our people. There is a weight there that you must realize. Responsibility that we cannot ignore. No matter how hard you want to try to ignore it. One day it will come knocking upon your door as you sleep, Prince Brandon.”

The way that Amara chose her words. The confidence that she spoke with. She held a smile upon her lips, yet she was speaking of a very serious topic. Just as she’d showed an interest in the war to Tora. Just how she had always pushed herself to help her people. That would be her ultimate goal. To relieve her mother of the stresses of this war. In what little ground they had gained she saw her mother begin to smile finally. She saw the light within Raenisa’s eyes begin to return. A light that she knew must exist. But the weight of the burdens of war had hidden such a light away. “I believe that you want to help your people.” She spoke after a long moment of silence, those crystal hues bore into the prince. She searched his face, his expression. The blonde of his hair. She looked to his golden armor as the silvery light of the night began to glow from it. “But you’ve much to learn.” She spoke then as she watched him carefully. “Lives must be spared. But in order to save lives, we must also take them. That is a burden that we will carry with us. A burden that our warriors will carry. Look at the sadness that has crept into your sister. She is a warrior of your father, alongside the General no doubt.”

Amara tilted her head slightly and then drew in a breath. She leaned against the railing once again, her elbows rest against the cool frosty wood. Her eyes watched him as she drew in a breath. “The burden is not theirs to carry. It is ours. We must make every choice carefully for our people.” She raised a brow slightly. “Even the choices that we may not like.” She smirked after the last comment, a chuckle came over her lips. The princess let a sigh come over her lips as she gazed up to the skies again as the stars began to twinkle happily among the purple and blue sky.

**

The queen watched Arvid, that smile. That proud smile. She chuckled lightly as she drank her own wine, her own cheeks rosy. Though she saw the concern on Tora’s face. Raenisa looked to the woman. She placed her hand over hers and gave a gentle squeeze. “It can be difficult at times. Even if the gods are right there staring you in the eyes.” Raenisa spoke her voice gentle. A sigh came from her lips as Arvid spoke the same line that she’d heard over and over from Tora. She’d abandoned her people. She’d taken away their guiding light. She lowered her eyes slightly and drew in a long breath as she moved to stand. She walked to the wine rack and filled her glass. Of course Raenisa always told Tora that she hadn’t abandoned them. She was saving them. In more ways than they could ever understand or appreciate.

To sacrifice oneself to stop the oblivion that King Alexander would bring...to give up a home in hope to prevent that horrible future. That was the strongest thing that she’d ever seen. Tora was the strongest woman she’d ever met. An incredible leader. Raenisa had grown incredibly fond of Tora. The longer that she knew her the more mysteries unraveled before her. The more questions. On the nights that Tora would have her nightmares, Raenisa would comfort her. She could see the magic. Feel it. It was hot like a fire as it radiated from her body. She’d support Tora the best she could. She’d draw a bath for her and pour in the essential oils and light the room with candles. She’d massage her shoulders and sit quietly. She’d allow Tora her silence. She’d take her to that special place within the fade where they could lay in the meadow and just...exist. The feeling of pure bliss of that meadow was sometimes enough.

Raenisa did everything she could to help. She imagined this power that resided within Tora would grow into something incredible. It had. But with its own problems such as the nightmares. She read the texts of her grandfather to help Tora understand. But mainly...she just tried to support her. As the queen came to sit on the couch next to Tora once again, she posed the question to Arvid. Raenisa’s amber hues gazed to him as he began to speak. “If they are the only ones, it is quite lucky...fate even...that they have sought us out. Don’t you think Tora?” She smiled to her gently, her eyes gazed to the woman for a moment before she looked back to Arvid.

She furrowed her brows slightly as he unraveled a few truths about the trio that had come to request aid. “It seems the tortured souls that those that seek a true release from their nightmares. Hm?” She gave a soft smile as she looked to Tora once again. She laughed as Tora spoke about how difficult it was to be Royal. To hear Tora speak so freely. It made Raenisa smile.

She leaned back slightly as Tora revealed that they had all the pieces to Odin’s spear. She saw the shock in his expression. A grin curved up her lips slightly as she sipped upon her wine. She gazed to Tora and nodded. “I believe he chose to defy his father the night that he marched his soldiers upon Armalon. When he knew very well that each and every one of them would die. “He gave us advantage and he knew it. Your fear I believe is correct Tora.” A chuckle came from the queen’s lips as she thought of the vision once again. “A lot will need to change for such things to happen.” She pondered the idea. “I would be curious to know who this woman was on that flying ship. Have you heard of her?” Raenisa smirked to Tora. “Ren. Hm...” She shook her head slightly.

**

Rosalie. Please, just sit down. Evie followed after the General whom walked briskly out of the cabin. General! Evie grasped her hand and pulled her back slightly. Stop.

Rosalie’s eyes looked down over the village. She saw the two figures that stood upon the bridge. Her ocean hues glazed over slightly, her breaths huffed. “I am such a fool.” She whispered. “I should have never kissed him...I should have never...” She stopped as Evie moved to stand before her. She gazed down to the short mage. Her brows furrowed slightly. “I...” She drew in a shaken breath. She grit her teeth slightly. “I cannot look at him, Evie.” She brushed a tear away.

Evie followed her back into the cabin. Rosalie grasped the bottle of wine and drank from it. Evie let out a long sigh as she sat down across from her. Rosalie... She gazed to the woman.

Rosalie began to laugh as she sat on the couch, the bottle of wine rest upon her leg. She leaned her head back as she laughed, tears rolled over her cheeks. “You would think. That I….the general of the Crimson Guard would have a better head upon my shoulders.” She laughed more, it was a pained laugh. The sort of laugh that someone does when they’ve experienced a trauma that they cannot understand. “I thought….Evie I thought he would love me.” Her voice broke she took another swig. “I thought that he...would love me like you read in those fiction novels...like the one I gave you...” She sniffled and laughed again. “How stupid. How fucking stupid can I be?” She took another swig. “A prince? Why would a prince love me? You know what I am Evie? I’m a peasant. I came from nothing. I don’t have a mother. My father is the Commander because he worked to get there. Just as I worked to become a General.” Rosalie laughed as she leaned her head back again. “I grew up in the slums for gods sake! Why would a prince love me?” She shook her head.

Rosalie...he...was worried about you... Evie tried to console her.

“Oh was he? Looks like he was quick to run off to the princess. Wasn’t he?” She brushed away more tears another laugh came from her lips. “He didn’t skip a beat. Hell he didn’t even try to talk to me Evie. He sent you. He knew you couldn’t speak to me but he sent you to speak to me.” She shook her head. “I’m glad I can talk to you now at least. I’ve always wanted to talk to you Evie. I felt so horrible every single time the king sent us to level a city...” Rosalie took another drink from the bottle. She was quite drunk now.

Perhaps you should stop drinking, Rosalie... Evie cautioned. I’m glad I can speak to you too...I’ve always wanted to. I’ve tried so many times. Believe me.

Rosalie looked to the nearly empty bottle, a long sigh came from her lips. She brushed some of her dark hair from her face and then lay her head back against the couch once again. “Evie...I will protect you.” She nodded. “I will help you get to your freedom. But I will no longer fight for the crown. I am done fighting a war that I do not believe in.” She spoke her voice soft. “I will no longer inflict pain on innocent lives for the good of a kingdom.” Her voice gained a strength to it as her ocean hues gazed to Evie.

Evie gazed to the woman as she watched her pull the seal of Alexander from her belt and toss it forward upon the table. The seal spun a few times before it wobbled and finally landed upon the glass of the table with a clank that seemed to fill the room. As the hammer falls within court...it sounded louder than that somehow. It was as if it was the only sound that existed in that moment. There were no words. No words at all. The mage merely nodded to Rosalie. She’d sit there in silence with her if she had to. She searched the woman’s hues. The sadness that Rosalie held behind her eyes, the heartbreak. I want you to find your happiness too, Rosalie. Evie spoke after several minutes of silence. We will find it. She moved and sat next to Rosalie. She pulled the bottle from her hands once again and set it upon the coffee table. Evie then wrapped her arms around Rosalie and hugged her. Her runes began to glow golden as she attempted to calm the general. It was all she could do. Comfort. That was all Evie could offer her now.

The princess looked to him. She’d peaked his interest with the mentioning of the fade. She smiled as she saw the surprise in his expression. Who was she to speak of such things to the enemy? “Trying to imagine the fade is like...trying to imagine what it would feel like for a god to approach you. Your mind will never be able to comprehend just what that feeling will truly be.” She smirked slightly. “Until it happens.” She watched as he crossed his arms. A brow raised slightly. Was he irritated with her? Good. She grinned when he chuckled and she watched as he paused a moment after the star. Just what was he doing? He was interesting to her. His comment caused a chuckle to come over Amara’s lips.

“If I am wrong. Enlighten me, Prince.” She was more focused upon him than she ever was before. Before she looked away frequently to take in the beauty of the city, the nature around them. Though now her crystal hues seemed to focus completely upon him. She watched as he gripped upon the railing. “Of course not. He’d kill me before I even reached Alexander. The king does not hold any sort of remorse. He killed my father in cold blood. He’d kill me just the same.” She was confident in her answer and the prince only confirmed that. She nodded slightly, a bit of a sigh came over her lips.

She watched as the crystals of snow brushed from his gloves and floated down toward the rushing waters below the bridge. Her eyes focused in on the beautiful waters once again now that the silvery light of the night had fallen upon it. She listened to his words. His careful words. It wasn’t easy. This was true. As he spoke of how his people, the soldiers he sent to his death would have loved to slice the ears from her people the princess didn’t look to him. She’d always hated the barbaric ways that humans treated her kind. Cutting their ears off. What was so horrible about their ears? Hope. Ah yes. She’d chosen hope. Her mother had also chosen to lean upon hope. It was the only thing that had kept the people of Armalon moving over these past 20 years.

The princess glanced to him as he stepped from the railing. Her eyes trailed to him as she leaned against the railing with her back pressed against it once again. She watched him, a soft smile upon her lips. Intrigue. It wasn’t easy to spark the interest of Amara. Not many did. Tora’s people had. They were different. Mysterious. The way that this prince spoke the things he wanted. He was interesting to her. He cared to be remembered for his humility? Honorable. Most kings would wish to be remembered for their fist as they brought it down upon another people and destroyed their lives. But he wished for humility.

She watched as he shivered and a smile curved up her lips. “Perhaps, Prince Brandon. I do not know you. I do apologize for assuming that I did.” She had a bit of a smirk upon her lips. “You aren’t used to the cold.” She chuckled as she watched him shake. As he spoke his goodnight the princess merely nodded. “Yes of course. Good night, Prince Brandon.” She turned and leaned her elbows upon the railing once again. Perfectly content with watching the waters below.

Amara raised her brow slightly when she heard his footsteps return. She didn’t look to him until his voice carried across the snow to her. She looked to his smile, a brow raised slightly. “Would you perhaps be interested in a warmer drink?” She smiled. “Come along then.” She turned and just like that the princess led him deeper into the beautiful city. She pushed the heavy carved doors open to a large building. It was dark inside. “Just a moment.” Amara spoke as she moved about. There was a bit of shuffling as she moved to a fireplace. She adjusted the logs and then a fire came to life.

The room flooded with the dim flickering light of the fire that was encased in a gorgeous artwork of masonry. Clearly stones from the river below. Amara held her hand up and lanterns upon the walls flashed to life with a beautiful flickering flame. Was this a small flex of her power? Perhaps. She stepped over to a bar that held several different bottles of liquor. “The nights in the north are long and they are quite cold.” She spoke as she shuffled through a few items. She pulled out two mugs.

Amara seemed to be focused in on what she was doing. She held her hand around mug that she stirred something in and the liquid inside began to steam. Soon enough she carried two steaming mugs over. She smiled. “This, I do believe you will enjoy.” She spoke as she held the mug forward. She gazed about the room. It had a vaulted ceiling. Wooden floors that were carefully crafted. The walls were covered in bookcases. This was the library for the city. Ancient books resided here. “Do be careful with that though, it is much stronger than wine.” She commented as she took a seat.

The princess gazed to him as she sipped upon her drink. It tasted like a freshly baked apple pie. She’d even placed a cinnamon stick in the mug to stir the concoction together. “I admire what you said, Prince Brandon.” She spoke after a long moment of silence. “Humility is something that is difficult to learn. If it can be learned at all. Many do not hold the ability to accept such things. To be humble as such and to seek to be remembered by that...rather than how many elves you killed.” She smiled to him. “I understand why you did what you did. The decisions of war are never easy. Becoming the king once your father is dethroned will not be easy. It shouldn’t be.” She smirked slightly. “One day when I become queen I do not expect it to be a simple task. I see the stress upon my mother every single day. But I do believe that I am capable. I would like to think that my people look forward to the time when I take my mother’s place.”

She sipped upon her drink, the princess seemed to be thinking deeply now. She pressed her lips together slightly. “What do you understand of magic?” She asked then as she looked to him. “Do you have magic? Have you harnessed it at all?” She was curious about this prince. What drove him? What made him want to do the things he spoke of? Was it truly possible for the prince to be so much different from the king?

**

Raenisa looked to Tora with a soft smile as the woman squeezed her hand. “An old drinking song?” She questioned and chuckled. She listened to the story and laughed lightly as Tora hummed the tune. “It certainly sounds more like a drinking song of fable than something of truth, dear Tora.”

She fell quiet as she listened to her speak of the dragons, of the placement of the star. “No more than half a year?” The queen drew in a breath. So much would change. So swiftly. She could only hope that their future remained as bright as the vision. Of course she knew that Tora would likely have more visions. She chuckled lightly. “Perhaps Ren will have more things to offer us than we know?” She smirked. She thought about the dragons. “Perhaps Ezzas….will listen if we bring him more of our plan...perhaps if we speak to him of the demon that the prince spoke of. I cannot imagine what would happen if the king were to use such magics. It is horrible enough what he has put the mage through. I can only imagine her torture. The scars on her arms...” The queen sighed softly. “Long ago...long before even I existed. Elves delved into the deep dark magics. They pushed to become more and more powerful. They were the elves of the west. Do you know what happened to them?”

The queen looked to Tora a long moment and then to Arvid. The silence that settled within the room was telling enough. “One of the elves became so powerful that it caused a terrible rift to open. You know of the dragon wars yes? Did you know that the dragons helped to push demons back into the depths of the crusts?” She watched her with her amber hues. “That demon that the prince mentioned. I will have to look when we return to Armalon. But I do believe I have read of it before. I do not wish for another rift to be opened...” A sigh escaped her.

The queen looked to Arvid as he spoke. She smiled slightly as he changed the subject. He was right. They focused so much on the war that...that was all Raenisa could focus upon. She chuckled to the story and smiled to Tora. Her cheeks pink as she rubbed the back of the woman’s hand. She was so in love. If she could end this war...now more than ever she wanted it to end. She wanted to spend moments with Tora that neither of them had to think about the stresses of their people.

**

Rosalie? Evie questioned as she reached and lifted the seal into her fingertips. You...wouldn’t really leave the guard….would you? She questioned as she looked to the woman. You love your kingdom. You love what you became a Crimson Guard for. Do not let the terrible tyranny of the king cause you to lose hope. She shifted and gazed into Rosalie’s hues, the glow began to fade from the runes upon her arms.

Rosalie gave a soft smile. “Evie. The guard has not been what I imagined it to be...for so long...” She raised a brow slightly. “I never imagined that I would be tasked to kill innocents. I was raised to believe that elves were horrible terrible creatures. That they would kill you at first glance. Not once when we approached the cities that we have destroyed...not once did they attack us. They were honorable and they stood behind their queen. I would much rather focus my attention on something more...meaningful...something that does not destroy the world around it. You….you saw the guards in the city...how they treated those that could not pay their taxes….” She shook her head slightly.

Evie sighed as she listened to the woman. Don’t...give up on Bran...he cares about you...I know he does, Rosalie. She gave a gentle smile. It’ll be different once he is king. Once the king is dethroned….Bran will be so much different.

Rosalie drew in a breath as she looked to the mage. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Evie...do you not understand? He sent you to comfort me.” She stood slowly. She let out a small, pained laugh. “He sent you because he has other duties that lie before him, Evie. There are things that are much more important than me. I must understand that.” She took a few steps forward, she brushed a tear from her cheek.

Evie rushed after her and as they walked outside and they peered down to the bridge Evie grasped at the General’s arm. She watched as her brother walked away with the princess. Even from this distance Amara was gorgeous, mysterious. Rosalie...come back inside. You...should just get some rest.

Rosalie turned to Evie and shook her head. “I just need a walk to clear my head.” She placed a hand upon the mage’s shoulder and gave a weak smile. “Just let me walk, hm?” She pulled Evie into a tight embrace. Rosalie fought back a sob, her body quaked. “I need this.” She whispered before she walked away from the mage. Rosalie walked through the city. She gazed up to the beautiful clear skies. As she walked through the town she felt the chill spread over her body. She wasn’t quite dressed for the winter. It was cold and a shiver ran through her. She saw the flickering of flames from within a huge building. Her eyes saw that of Amara and Bran within the library, sitting upon the couches speaking to one another.

She drew in a breath as she pushed passed the building. Rosalie crossed her arms over her body as she shivered slightly. She shook her head and grit her teeth. “It is for the best.” She whispered to herself. “If we are to have the future...then I must let him go...” She sniffled slightly. “I must.” She found herself standing at the empty docks of the city. All of the merchants had locked up shop for the evening. Rosalie walked to the end of one of the docks and she sat down. Her legs dangled over the edge and she began to hum. She lay back and gazed up to the beautiful starry night. She began to hum the lullaby that her mother sang to her when she was a young child. Tears leaked from her eyes slowly. The warmth against the sides of her cheeks was quickly replaced by the chill in the air. Rosalie let out a breath as her eyes slipped shut. Her voice carried over the lap of the waves against the old wooden dock. If anything this calmed her more than anything she could imagine.

Rosalie heard the thudding of boots. She opened her eyes to see a woman leaning over her. The fiery red hair struck her. She stopped singing and her lips parted slightly as she gazed up to this woman. Ocean bumb? The woman’s energy was so high. Rosalie brushed away a tear as it rolled down her cheek. The next thing she knew she was pulled to her feet. “Oh I...um...” She looked to the woman as she clapped her hands. “Oh...” She stared to the ship, her eyes widened in surprise. “I...um...” She was speechless. Rosalie always had the ability to come up with something to say, but in this moment. She couldn’t find it. The bright smile from the woman. She was rushed upon the deck of the ship before she even realized what was happening. “Wait...” She was pushed up the stairs, the woman’s hands warm against her back in the cool winter air.

Rosalie gazed to the woman with fiery hair, her hues stuck on her as she was placed before the wheel. She stared to it. She didn’t know what to do. She watched as the woman leaped away like an acrobat among the sails. Her lips parted as she watched her. She heard the clanking of the metal chain that most likely held the anchor. She felt the ship lunge just as the woman yelled down to her. “Oh right!” She called out and gripped onto the wheel. Her knuckles turned white from how tightly she held onto it. She shivered as she fought against the wheel slightly as the ship tried to pull to one side from the way that the ocean tugged upon it.

As the woman landed next to her, that smirk caused a chuckle to escape from Rosalie. Then when the woman spun about another laugh came from the general. Mine is Captain Ren. Rosalie seemed to freeze. Her lips parted. “Rosalie.” She spoke her name, her voice soft. “General Rosalie Feir.” She had to focus to speak. The vision played in her mind again. She choked on her breath that was caught within her lungs. She looked to the bar of chocolate that the woman bit into and she laughed lightly as the woman leaped away once again. The tears had stopped falling from Rosalie now. She was distracted in the moment. Her ocean hues followed the woman as she landed before her. She found herself holding a skin that was filled with wine. “Wouldn’t dare.” Rosalie spoke with a smirk then. She popped her skin open and took a long swig of it.

“Oh this is good.” Rosalie looked to the skin with astonished eyes. She’d expected it to taste horrible. She then looked to Captain Ren as the woman offered a cigar forward to her. If you are wanting to disappear to a different realm. She’d give anything to disappear. She’d give anything to forget the mistakes she’d made. Rosalie took the cigar between her lips she lifted a hand to hold it as the woman lit the cigar. She took a long drag off of the cigar. The smoke filled her lungs and it caused Rosalie to cough. She held the wheel with one hand as she leaned forward slightly. The captain told her to relax.

A sigh came over Rosalie’s lips as she willingly stepped aside. The air felt different. She drew upon the cigar again. Though this time it didn’t punch her nearly as hard in the chest. She expected the flavor, the feeling. She let out a slight giggle as the drug began to spread through her system rapidly. “What...is this?” She questioned as she swayed slightly. Another laugh. She grasped onto the railing next to the wheel that Ren stood at. The wind felt incredible now against her. It pushed her hair about and tasseled it slightly. She leaned her head back and let out a cry of joy of her own, much like the one that Ren had. She lifted the skin to her lips and drank deeply from it.

“Well Captain Ren.” She turned and then giggled. “I accept your offer to sail through the night.” She took another drag off of the cigar. She held the smoke in her lungs for a long moment before she leaned her hips against the railing and she leaned her head back. She blew the smoke into the air above her and then giggled once again. “You...said you saw me?” She questioned and looked to Ren, a goofy smile upon her lips. “In an orb? How?” She drew in a long breath as her head began to feel light as a cloud. She grinned, “I’ve seen you.” She whispered. “Yeah...I saw you too.”

**

Amara grinned to his comment about the drink. “You’ll have to get that one from me. It’s my own recipe.” She smirked slightly. She listened to him and smiled as she sipped upon her lips. How he choked when she questioned him of magic. Now that caused a chuckle to come from the princess. She tilted her head slightly as he spoke. Listening. She watched as he spoke. His passion. He had so much passion when he spoke. Though he caught her off guard. He spoke of if he had magic. Her cheeks blushed as he spoke and his eyes fell back upon her.

“Oh yes...yes magic can be dangerous in the wrong hands.” She took a long drink from her mug to hide the heated blush that had formed upon her cheeks from his comment. She wasn’t used to anyone outwardly flirting with her. No one dared. “Every living being possesses magic.” She spoke, a curious look in her eyes. “Even if you cannot access it. It’s there.” She placed her hand upon her chest a moment. “I promise it is there. The magic that is your soul. Even if that is all.” She gave a smile. “Your soul seems to burn like that of a bonfire, so...you must have magic hidden within your soul.”

The princess seemed to think a moment. Straightening slightly. She sipped from her mug again, nearly finished now. Perhaps the blush upon her cheeks was from the alcohol. It was difficult to say. “To have magic.” Amara pondered the question. She’d never been asked such a question before. Amara finished her drink and then smirked to him. “I’ll need another drink for this conversation, hm?” She held her hand forward to take his mug. “You too.” She grinned slightly before she walked back over to the bar.

“I’ve always had magic, so to think of a way to tell you what it is like to have magic...hm...” She hummed as she mixed the drinks and heated them. She came back to him and gave him the steaming hot mug. Amara sat next to him and then smirked slightly. “It starts small.” She held her hand up and sparks of flowing ribbons of magic appeared in the air she moved her fingers about. Her eyes began to glow slightly, a beautiful blue glow overtook the crystal color of her iris. “Those of us gifted by the gods...that is a much different magic.” She dropped her hand and the ribbons disappeared.

Amara gazed to him a long moment, “It is terrifying, to some degree. You can feel it. The magic. You must come to terms with it. You must learn to use it wisely. Otherwise you risk being consumed by it.” She tilted her head slightly, “There is a balance to this world. Those that grow too greedy and are not pure of heart in one way or another...well...” She gave a sad smile. She began to tell him the story of the western elves. How they searched to grow stronger and how they eventually made the mistake of calling upon the demons. “You spoke his name.” She gazed into his eyes a long moment. She took a long drink from her mug and then leaned back against the couch. “I was chosen by the goddess of war.” She spoke after a long moment. “You shared with me.” She smirked. “So I shall share with you.”

The princess held her hand forward. Since she was gifted with the ability to summon the dragon king. She had become so much more powerful. She could feel her magic. It was horrifying. She had nightmares now of the times that Bahamut was used to destroy cities back in the days of the demon wars. As her hand was held forward an image appeared. She smiled as she formed it. It showed her standing before the dragon king Bahamut. Amara had hiked into the mountains following the battle of the human camps. As Raenisa worked with Tora on her powers. Amara had sought the gods and goddesses for guidance. She smiled as she glanced to the prince. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” She questioned. In the image the princess merely sat before him. She seemed to be speaking to him, her eyes glowed the same ember color of the fire that Bahamut could breathe.

She allowed the image to fade away and her hues looked back to him. “One day. If time permits and you...are as interested as you are now. I would like to show you the fade.” Amara smiled to him before she stood and moved to the other couch to turn and look to him. “I believe...if you experience that...you may understand what it is like to have magic...or in the least it will allow you to center yourself and relax.” Amara seemed to think deeply as she sipped upon her drink. “I would have never thought that I would be sitting across from the Prince of Alexander.” She remarked. “If you would have asked me this even a year ago, I would laugh...but you are not your father it seems.” Amara searched his hues. Her crystal hues still had a bit of a glow to them from her use of her magic, it made her appear even more mystical.

**

Evie walked through the town. Her golden hues looked to the beautiful elven architecture. Rosalie? She sighed softly. Where had the general gone? She shivered slightly as clouds filled the skies and a gentle snow began to fall. The flakes were large and fluffy. She grinned and put her arms out as she leaned her head back. Enjoying the bliss of the moment.

Though this moment ended rather swiftly as Evie felt a strange pain. She lifted her hand to her neck where the necklace rested. The jewel within the necklace took on a reddish glow. The king. Did he know of their betrayal? Her eyes shut as she took in quick breaths.

Evie. How is the treaty going? Have you met with the queen yet?

Evie staggered slightly. She nearly fell in the snow. Her eyes fluttered as she finally collapsed to her knees. This is what he did to her when she was sent to destroy the cities. This was how he forced her to kill the elves from afar. Yes. Yes it seems to be going well, your highness. Her voice was choked and full of pain.

Kill the princess. She possesses the ability to summon their king of dragons. Kill her and return home.

Evie had tears in her eyes now. She grit her teeth. What of General Feir and Prince Brandon? She questioned. What of them? We are in the middle of an elven village….your highness...they are speaking of peace. She felt a terrible pain spread through her body.

You will kill the princess, tonight.

Evie took in rapid breaths, she’d collapsed to her side, her nose trickled a bit of blood. Shockwaves spread through her body which caused her muscles to jerk and jolt. Y-Yes….my king. She lay on her back now as the pain slowly began to fade away. The color of the necklace turned blue once again. It took several minutes before she finally staggered to her feet. She was covered in snow. Evie wandered through the city. Her golden hues glowed slightly. She held a hand to the necklace and she tugged upon it slightly. She pushed the door open to the library after she’d peered into the window and sat the princess and her brother. She came inside, she shivered horribly.

Amara turned her hues to the mage, her brows furrowed. She was quick to set down her mug. “What’s happened to you?” She stepped over to Evie and quickly led her to the couch. “One moment.” She stepped away into another room.

Bran...I...have to kill her... Evie closed her eyes. I’ve been ordered to kill the princess... She shook as her body fought against the chill that had overtaken her.

Amara returned and wrapped a warm blanket around Evie’s shoulders. She held a warm mug of cocoa to her and offered a gentle smile. “The north is cold, hm?” She gave a soft laugh before she sat down upon the couch. “You know, Prince Brandon. Your sister might be able to give you a bit of insight upon magic as well. Hm?” She had no idea the danger she was in. The princess looked to Evie and smiled once again.