The People We Are

Chaptee XXVII; Ideus

"Queen Arlie is strong. She took King Ryaxleb out quickly, according to the letter." Ideus' mother led the conversation. "We must do something about this. The Zellaridians are going to take us over too, the best thing we can do is make sure we lose as little life as possible. But how?" his father asked his wife and eldest two children. "Perhaps, we offer an obvious signal of peace? A union between our kingdom and theirs?" Ideus asked, hoping he could segway into a plan that was forming. "Yes, but how so?" his father asked. "A union of marriage. I'd be willing to marry Queen Anastasia, if she'd be willing to marry me. Queen Arlie gets Rielweth, she gets Faormen. With Queen Anastasia at the helm here, no Zellaridian would dare attack." Ideus said, hoping they'd go along with his plan. Xayah glared at him, knowing what he was doing. "That's a good idea. Are you sure you'll be able to go through with it?" his mother asked, concerned for her kingdom and her son. "Absolutely." he responded, and began writing a letter to her.

That was so long ago.
But for Ideus it felt like only a few weeks.
He remembered that and the time in the boat with Anastasia so vividly.
Now he was giving the rest of them that save vividness, or at least they thought.

    Ryaxleb and the Rielwethians had left early, but the rest made it back to Zellarid. Ideus said farewell to Anastasia and Xayah to Arlie, and they joined the Faormen group. "We'll be going back now, King Luan." Ideus' father told Luna's. He nodded, then asked if he could hold Ideus and Xayah back for a bit. They went ahead to Faormen, and once they were gone King Luan ordered Luna to gather those who lived in Imperial city while he spoke to Ideus and Xayah on the bridge. "What's going on?" Ideus asked once they were alone. "Xayah, I need you to do something for me." King Luan said, ignoring Ideus' query. "What is it?" she asked. "I've done some things that perhaps I shouldn't have. But, it'll work now. I meant to give it to Luna, but it went to Queen Anastasia instead. But I know she taught you, Ideus. And Xayah, you heard it. That song Queen Anastasia sang, and to which she danced with you, Ideus. Sing it, Xayah. Now. you'll see what to do in a minute. Don't panic, Ideus and I will keep you down."

"What do you mean?" she said, panicking.

"Just do it! Spare you and Ideus first, then my daughter and Soleil. Do as I say, now!" he yelled, grabbing Xayah's leg.

"Stop! You're scaring me!" Xayah yelled as he grabbed her leg again.

"I'm helping you. Ideus, grab her other leg or we'll all be gone." He said, and Ideus did as he instructed.

"Are all gone? Am I to die?" Xayah screamed.

"Not yet. Not for many, many years Xayah. Now sing!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Walls have ears..." Xayah sang in a trembling voice.

"Louder!" King Luan yelled.

"Doors have eyes..." Xayah sang louder, but still scared.

"More confident!" King Luan yelled again..

"Trees have voices and beasts tell lies!" Xayah sang with power radiating through her body.

    She continued to sing, and she began to float upwards. "Don't panic, don't stop!" King Luan yelled at her, and a dark orb formed around her. "What's happening to her!" Ideus yelled at King Luan. "She'll be fine, so long as we don't let go!" King Luan responded. "What is she doing?" Ideus asked. "Your little girlfriend fixed the land. Your sister will fix the people." he responded. All of a sudden, the dark orb that floated around Xayah burst. Bright light shone from her in all directions, and wind swirled around them. Like in the shrine, Ideus had to close his eyes to not be blind. However, he could still tell the light was there. When it had gone, Xayah collapsed into his arms.
    "I understand now." Xayah said once her strength was back. "Did you do the right thing? You, Prince Ideus, Luna and Queen Soleil?" King Luan asked frantically. "I did. In that order." they said, sitting up. "What's the story they all think?" he asked again. "You all signed a peace treaty again, that's why you're going back. The trip was long and that's why so much time passed. There was a horrible outrage, and a killing spree began. Those remaining out and end to it, and Anastasia got slashed in the side during the fight. None of us seven will remember ever meeting those from the other kingdom unless one of the three of us reminds them. All they remember is us being there and Anastasia getting hit while the parents died." King Luan nodded. "Good. you've done perfectly, Xayah. Now go home." he said, helping her up. "So Arlie won't remember me?" she asked. "No, Xayah. She won't neither will Soleil and Luna remember each other, and Anastasia won't remember you, Ideus. It'll be like none of this happened. I let the ship go out to sea before we left the beach again, so no one would see it. Go home, you two. Your mother will need her help."
    They walked back to the Faormen group, and Xayah put her hands in her skirt pocket. She pulled out a piece of paper. "What does it say?" Ideus asked and listened as Xayah read it aloud. "My dear Xayah, though I write this before we have even parted ways, I already miss you. This time with you has been wonderful, despite all that we've had to go through as a group. The time we spent apart after returning to Iphica was unbearable, and when I saw you again I was overwhelmed with joy. I know that by the time you read this we will only be a few weeks away from when you are scheduled to come to Zellarid, so know that I will be thinking of you even more in the next few weeks. This has been such a long journey, but these eight months have been the best and worst of my life. I know the only reason I got through it all was because of you. Stay strong, my love, for we shall be reunited in a very short time. And when we are older, we will never leave each other's sides as Queens of Zellarid. I'll see you soon. All my love, Arlie. P.S, I couldn't wait to send this to you, so I stuffed it in your pocket. Write back when you get home!" Xayah began to cry, and Ideus put his arm around her. He couldn't believe that, or the fact that Anastasia had chosen Beau over him. She'd chosen Beau, but now Ideus had the power to tell them that Anastasia had chosen him, though he knew she didn't. She always chose Beau over everything and everyone else, and Ideus knew that. However, in one final attempt at her heart, he bended the past in hopes to shape the future.