The People We Are

Chapter I; Arlie

Arlie stood shaking. Behind her, Xayah, her girlfriend. In front of her, Anastasia, her best friend. It was her or Arlie, and she couldn't die now. Not now, now that she had found and won over Xayah, not now. Anastasia, her best friend in the whole world, had to die if she was to live.

That seemed like so long ago for many.
But for Arlie? It felt like just a few days.
She couldn't remember her time when she was dead.
But now everything was becoming just a bit clearer.

    Arlie rushed out of her house in the mid-morning to meet up with her friends. She lived the furthest out of all the royal families, with Anastasia and Soleil's families living close to the bridge. Since this was the case, they both waited to leave until Arlie came to fetch them, though Beau often came to Anastasia's before she. As she had expected, both were sitting on her porch steps. Anastasia leaned back, resting her elbows on the step above the one where they sat as she looked up to the sky, admiring its hue as she often did. Beau however, was focused on Anastasia herself. It was blatantly obvious how much he loved her, but everyone, especially Arlie and Soleil, knew it would never work out. Anastasia saw him as a friend and nothing more, and everyone knew that.
    Anastasia looked down from the sky and saw her, jumping up and running over to her. Beau followed quickly behind her and the three soon made their way to Soleil's, who was just leaving her home. It was Anastasia's birthday and as such the four friends decided to celebrate with her in the morning as she would be celebrating with her family, and the kingdom, later. They made their way to the abandoned forge, which had become their own in a way. A great blacksmith built it many years ago, and it held a strong line of successful blacksmiths and their apprentices for many years. But a few years ago when the latest one died without ever finding an apprentice he saw fit, the forge was abandoned as none dared to try and claim it as their own. Only those four knew that they were coming and going from it, as they didn't know what the repercussions would be if their parents found out.
    Once inside, Arlie lit the candles they had set up to light the abandoned place as Beau uncovered the table. They did their best to hide any evidence of the teenagers loitering in the building, should someone decide to go in it as they had. Soleil set down the gifts they had all brought, including a basket that she had been extremely careful with the entire journey. "What's in the basket?" Anastasia asked as Soleil set it down. Arlie turned around, having lit the last candle, and came over to sit on one of the four rocks they had brought in when they first decided to make this place their own. Now that they were all seated, Soleil revealed that she had made an apple pie for Anastasia. Deciding to go ahead and give her their gifts, Beau and Arlie revealed their smaller, but still meaningful presents. Arlie had knitted her a shawl with the Archier crest embroidered on it. Beau had managed to get one of the first copies of a new book from a Miri author, one of Anastasia's favorites, that wasn't even out yet. Even then, it was hard to get books, or anything else for that matter, from across the bridge. The book covered peculiar creatures that people had claimed to see, and everything that was "known" about them.
    Anastasia put the book in the basket on top of the cloth-covered pie, wearing the shawl all the while. They all left the place, and Arlie decided to walk them all home. As they came to Soleil's home, they noticed a large group coming from over the bridge. Their clothes were tattered and they carried nothing with them, grim expressions on their faces. Anastasia and Soleil ran to get their parents, and Beau ran to get Arlie's so that Arlie could talk to them. They approached her and asked who she was, but she refused to answer until they explained themselves. "I am King Marxnie of Rielweth. Our kingdom has been invaded and we were chased out to here, we have nowhere to go. We seek refuge here. Who are you?" the man at the helm explained. Anastasia soon came back with her parents and Soleil with hers, so King Marxnie explained the situation once more and again when Beau got back with Arlie's parents.
    They all went into Anastasia's home, though the teens were told to stay in Anastasia's room until further notice. They all sat on the small bed, cramped up next to each other. They had tried to hear the discussions through the door, but no luck. Arlie got up and started pacing. "I mean, we're all fifteen now, I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed to just hear the discussion." She said at long last. The others agreed, but said very little. Eventually, Arlie's father came through the door. "They're still talking down there. What did he say to you four?" he asked as he sat down. Arlie told her father what the King had told her, and he explained that he had told him and the other adults the same rehearsed speech. "I don't like you four being here. Beau, do you think your family might be able to take these three in for a bit?" Beau nodded, and Arlie's father led them out of the house before returning to the visitors.
    They walked down the long path to the Plath Farm. Beau led the way with Anastasia by his side, but Arlie and Soleil stood back a few steps behind. "If their story is true," Soleil began. "Then why would they flee here? Why not to Imperial City, where King Luan and Queen Estelle would no doubt let them in."

"Perhaps they hope that if they must die, why not take Zellarid with them?"

"True. But we may not defend them, King Luan will."

"We'll see."

"I wonder why your father sent us to the Plath's."

"I guess just in case things go south."

"I think that's an odd saying, things go south. What's wrong with the south?"

"Those islands are south. We still don't know what's on them."

"And no one dares to go there."

    During their talk they had slowed their pace and now were left behind by Anastasia and Beau, who were almost too far away to see clearly. She laughed, bellowing over. He turned to her, putting his hand on her shoulder so she wouldn't fall on her face. When she had stopped and returned to normal, his hand was tossed off of her shoulder. "It's hilarious how she doesn't realize." Soleil said as they watched the scene. "Or maybe we're wrong. I mean, he's never said anything to any of us. And they are very good friends." Arlie responded. Anastasia still wore the shawl and held the basket, which seemed to get heavier. Beau took it from her, noticing her struggling.
    They arrived at the Plath's at long last, their legs tired from all the trips they made today. Beau's mother welcomed them with open arms, and his father acknowledged them with his usual silence. They stayed there for a while, explaining the situation to Beau's family. They stayed there for a few hours. The four read Anastasia's new book before Arlie, Anastasia and Soleil helped Beau's mother with the dinner that would have to feed three more people than usual. Beau's father dragged Beau away from them to help him chop firewood, Beau obviously reluctant to leave. They ate, when finally their parents came to get them. Arlie's father and Anastasia and Soleil's mothers came to get them as the main rulers of Zellarid finished talking to the Rielwethians.
    They were to be let in until their kingdom was deemed safe to return to. Each family was to take in another, and Arlie's family was to take in the Yags, the royal family. Among them was King Marxnie, Queen Stexark, the young Prince Masxvia, and Prince Ryaxleb, who was Arlie's age. When Arlie and her father returned home, Arlie was finally able to meet the Queen and Princes. Ryaxleb was to share a room with her, and when the two laid down they began to talk.
    "Thank you for letting me stay here, Princess Arlie, right?" he asked. "Yes, I'm Arlie. I'll introduce you to the others tomorrow, if you're alright with that." They had all already discussed that, but Arlie didn't mind speaking in formal manners with Ryaxleb until they got to know each other better. "That would be great. Princesses Anastasia and Soleil, right?" he asked again, hoping to already know their names. "Yes. Soleil's the blonde and Anastasia's the brunette. You'll probably also meet our friend Beau, he's always around, even when he shouldn't be. Oh, I've said too much. Sorry, it's been a long day for me, and I'm sure an even longer one for you." Though the room was dark and Ryaxleb was on the floor on a small cot, she could see him nod. "It has. But can I ask you for a favor?" he once again asked. "What is it?" she asked in turn. "During the running, I lost track of my boyfriend. After I meet your friends, would you all please help me find him? I need to know he's safe." Arlie nodded in her turn. "Of course. What's his name?"

"Calxyan."