The Risen Queen

10:

                                                                                         ~Ava's POV~

     I ran into the ruins, getting to the center of what used to be the town. A large fountain with the statue of the queen stood, covered in vines with roses on them. I climbed up the began to pull the vines off of it. 

    "Ava stop!" Azura exclaimed, running over. Elves began to come out of the ruins, holding weapons.

  I climbed down, staring confidently at who I assumed to be the leader of the group. The leader's eyes trailed down to the book strapped to my waist and seemed speechless for a moment. He kneeled, motioning for the others to follow.

   "My queen!" he exclaimed.

   "No need to kneel sir. We are in need of sacred wood," I explained, showing an image of the sword I needed to assemble. 

   "We would love to give you some but we can't even get it ourselves. That part of the forest is guarded by a horrible beast. We have lost plenty of our own trying to retrieve the handle," the soldier explained. "But it is too late to head out there my queen. We have a camp not far from here and you can stay the night there."

     I sat in front of the fire the leader, Garrick, started to cook dinner, skimming through the book about the beast he said guarded the sacred wood handle I needed. It seemed to be like the ogres from the stories I read as a child but even more dangerous. Even though I was having second thoughts, I knew this needed to be done. This place needed me, but I was weak at the moment. 

   "So your highness, what's your name?" Garrick asked.

  "I'm Ava Kirk," I muttered. "What does Garrick mean? I've never heard that name before.

  "Ah. My name means spear king. Did you know your name means 'Life' and your last name means 'Church'?" He pointed out, holding a bowl of soup out to me.

   "I didn't. Thank you for telling me," I smiled at the elf. 

                                                                                   ~

     Queen Mira slammed her fists onto her throne, anger bubbling deep within her. "That little traitor!" She yelled, referring to her young daughter. "Guards!"

   "Yes my queen?" Arthur, the general of her army, said, approaching her.

   "Go to the elf forest and get my traitor of a daughter," Mira growled angrily. "Kill anyone who tries to stop you from getting her. "

   "Yes my queen," the male said hesitantly. 

    Arthur walked away, thinking about the woman he had fought in the market place. Could that be the woman that Queen Mira wanted dead? Arthur stopped in the hallway, knowing he needed to make a choice, do good for once or continue to be Mira's little lap dog. He took his helm off, setting it down before walking out of the castle, ignoring what Queen Mira told him to do. Quickly, he made his way to the stables and fetched his horse. He hastily made his way out of the city of Juniper. Suddenly, he noticed that he was being chased by soldiers of Mira's army. 

    "Damn it!" He exclaimed, having his steed go faster, trying to lose the soldiers in the forest. 

   He got to a bridge that was starting to break away as the rough waters of the river it was over smashed against it. Having no other way across, Arthur urged his horse across. The moment they were on the other side, the bridge was swept away in the riptides.

   "That was a close one huh buddy?" He spoke to his white stallion, who he named Brave. 

  The horse whinnied, rutting it's head up and seemed to nod at the man. "Look's like I'm a traitor too. Let's go find the princess now. we have to warn that group who has her," Arthur muttered. 

    After getting to the ogre's lair, the group stared at the empty abyss in front of them. Ava seemed the most nervous, thinking she was dreaming. It occurred to her at that moment things were real and she was about to face a monster.

   "Come on miss Ava," Miya said softly, tugging on the teens sleeve.

   "I'm coming," Ava muttered.

  The group walked into the cave, Kai leading with a torch. Kai held a stone cold expression as he walked ahead a bit, knowing that the monster was most likely asleep just ahead. He pulled his hood on then gazed back at Ava. She seemed to be panicking, which worried the elf a bit. 

   "Ava. Everything is gonna be alright," Kai stated, catching her attention.

  "O-ok Kai," Ava mumbled.

   Suddenly, a loud roar made the group stop. Kai dropped the torch, setting some of the rubbish on the ground on fire. It immediately lit up the room revealing the cruel looking creature to them. Azura grabbed Miya who squeaked and jumped as the creature slammed down a club right where she had been standing. Ava entered that trance again and immediately jumped into action. Her sword collided with the wooden club, making the creature growl. The began to battle and Kai jumped off of a ledge onto the creature's back. 

    "Ava! Watch his club!" Kai yelled, holding the beat in a headlock. 

    Kai was suddenly thrown into Ava, knocking them onto the ground. Both scrambled up, Ava wielding her sword still and kai now brandishing a set of daggers. Azura and Miya joined, both holding weapons of their choice. The beast let out another roar and attacked Azura and Ava who were next to each other. Suddenly, a sword pierce through from the ogre's back then it fell over. Behind the now dead ogre was an all too familiar soldier who seemed to have been beaten and captured by the ogre.

   "Mr. Arthur?" Miya questioned.

   Arthur fell over, succumbing to his injuries. Azura rushed over and began to use her elven magic to heal the unconscious man. Ava walked over to where the handle was, still in her trance and ripped it off of the wall.