AISLIN | I

CHAPTER TWO

HER SMIRK widened, "My, my, my. You look so different since I saw you last."

"I look the same as I did all those years ago." I snorted.

She shook her head with an amused look, "No, you're looking tired."

I clenched my jaw and crossed my arms, "No disrespect towards you, your Majesty, but why are you here? And how did you find me? I've been in hiding."

She scoffed and waved her hands dismissively, "Darling, I've known that you were here for a long time, I've just chosen not to intervene. And well, when it comes to why I am here," The queen cleared her throat before continuing, "I need your help."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"My husband, the King, was taken three weeks ago," She sighed, "He was on his way home when bandits targeted his carriage. They took him and left a note in his absence. The note itself is written in a language that I do not understand."

I immediately straighten my spine. Suddenly, the air around us was rigid and hot. The change in the atmosphere made Elowen shift uncomfortably.

"I-I." I was speechless.  He had been missing for three whole weeks.

"I need your help to find him, Aislin. I know that you can." Queen Aria said with a pleading look in her eyes.

I groaned under my breath. She knew I didn't do that anymore, "Why? Your men are perfectly capable of finding him on their own."

She shook her head, "My men have down nothing, to find the king. They sulk all day when they instead should be seeking for a solution, one they can't find."

My eyebrows furrowed and my eye widened in offense, "Why in the world, would you have an army like that?"

She shrugged, "I have no idea how they got to be this way. This is why I need your help, Aislin!  You must find my king and whip my army into shape as well."

I lowered my head in shame. As much as I wanted to.., "You know I don't do that work anymore."

"I know, but I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important." She pleaded.

I sighed. I did want to help, I did. I couldn't bear myself to make another mistake, though. Working for the Queen, in particular.

"She'll do it."

Our gazes were all switched to Elowen. She was still visibly awkward, but a bond of confidence had emerged. "She'll do it." She repeated.

"I never said-" I started.

"This is your chance," Elowen said looking into my eyes. Her eyes gazed at my soul. She knew that this wasn't something I wanted to do. But she knew why I wanted to, too. "I'm comfortable with you. I can understand your body language with ease. You can't sit still, and I know you miss the feeling of adrenaline you get in a battle that is absent from you now. This-This is your chance to live again!"

Queen Aria turned to Elowen with a confused look, "You understand her body language?"

Elowen nodded, "They call me observant, but that's not particularly true. People are so easy to read - we bleed emotions even in the way we drink tea. No one seems to notice though. They are all too busy drinking their tea." Elowen has often spoken more lyrically than others, especially when she talks about something important to her.

She looked at me once more, "You have to. For them." My heart clenched.

I sighed and rubbed my temple with my thumbs as a felt a splitting headache forming. My body felt numb but my chest pulsed. Elowen was right. I did miss the battle, the adrenaline, all of it. But the reality of it all is, I'm scared. I'm scared I'll mess up, scared I'll fail or won't live up to the name I've created for myself. The Queen needs my help, so I should help her, right? That's only the best choice. I can't give up on the King, knowing he's out there, alone, and by himself.

I nodded my head slowly, "Alright. I will help you find the King."

It was an understatement to say I was anxious. It's been too long since I set foot on the battlefield, will I even be as good as I used to be? Can I live up to the name that I've set for myself?

I wasn't able to get myself to close my eyes that night. I knew what would be waiting for me the moment I closed them. The darkness of my closed eyes lurked.

For who knows how long, it was my last night in that house. I opened my window instead of sleeping and climbed out onto the roof. The sun had fallen into its deep sleep, causing the sky to be illuminated by its trail of sparks. Due to the cold breeze which brushed against our side of the world, the air was crisper. I was listening to those distant waves lying miles away. Their wrestling hit my ears aimlessly with no effort.

I thought of Ayah. Would she have wanted me to continue? 

Flashes of Ayah and I playing played back. She held a cardboard sword and had a dirty blanket sheet for a cape tied around her neck.

"I can't wait to grow! I am going to be just like you! A hero." Ayah beamed, her short black hair sticking in all directions as she stood up from her spot on the grass.

"Oh yeah?" I laughed.

"Yeah! You're everyone's hero. You're my hero. I want to fight alongside you one day."

My hand subconsciously reached a small birth mark on my wrist my siblings and I all share.

You will fight alongside me, my dear Ayah. Always.

The Queen picked me up the next morning. I had Elowen invited to join me, but she declined. Before joining me for my risky job, she said she wanted to do something first. I didn't know what trails were waiting for me, but I knew there was something I could get through.

After all, I'm the one and only Aislin.

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Author Note!

Hi everyone, Mickey here!

I hope you all enjoyed Chapter two! Like it? hate it? lmk!

ASADA BURRITOS ARE THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD! I AM SO HAPPY THEY eXiSt!!!🌯🌯🌯

If you disagree then I feel sorry for you because you just don't understand. If anything you're an...

I am funny OkAy!! That cracked me up! If you didnt laugh at that ^^ you have no soul, and i feel bad for you.

Love you all thank you for reading! Xoxox 💋💋

- Mickey ✨