Legend: Light after Darkness -Book II

Part XII - Old Wounds

Previously...

In order to protect the unborn Empress, Oona helps Lili escape Darkness' chambers and delivers her safely back home to King Roland and Gump.

Meanwhile, Jack and his elder self prepare to fight Darkness and rescue Lili, unaware Oona has already saved her from Darkness' clutches.

Both Jack and Elder-Jack teleport to the castle to seek Gump's help, in preparation of war, only for Jack and Lili to reunite.

Here, shocked and confused, Lili finds out she is carrying Jack's child - the Empress and protector of Fantasia.

Will Lili welcome her child, or will Darkness reclaim both Lili and the unborn Empress so he may find dominion over all of Fantasia..?

Part XII

"I can't be..? How would you know I'm with child, if I don't..? " Lili questions Jack as she stands pale in shock.

Jack reaches for her, arms open for embrace,"Lili, I know what you're feeling..."

"No, you don't..." Lili protests, stepping away from him.
" How do you know what I'm feeling? How do you even know that I'm pregnant..?"

"...He knows because, I know." Elder-Jack interupts.

"And, who are you..?" Lili snaps back only to meet eyes with Elder-Jack.

Lili gazes upon him, he is older and still in sprite form, but it is Jack nonetheless, "How..?

Lili turns back to face Jack, the youthful Jack she knows standing before her, " Jack...why are there two of you..? And, why are you... the older you... why is he still a sprite?"

Elder-Jack turns away from Lili and leads Gump out onto the parlour terrace,"We have no time for this, I need to protect the Valtoria-Fydelea border... Gump, I'll circle the perimeter and mark each point with an arrow. We can create a shield with each point..."

Gump nods in agreement, as Elder-Jack then turns to King Roland,

"Roland, send your knights to each villager and tell them to stay in their homes...Darkness will target them before the castle..."

Both Gump and King Roland look at each other, mouths agape by the authority and command Elder-Jack directs, but stand impressed and obedient all the same.

" Yes, we must take action now." Gump concurs, turning to King Roland, "Roland, gather your knights now..."

King Roland nods, distracted as he turns his attention onto Lili, "I will... I just... Lili, you and Jack... is there any reason why you would be with child..? That is, you're not married..."

" Father, this is last thing we should be worried about. Please, prepare your knights." Lili replies, almost ashamed.

King Roland, turns away with a nod along with a look of disapproval, as he leaves the room.

Gump takes a pouch from off his belt and scatters a circle of dust around himself out upon the parlour terrace, he then turns to Elder-Jack, "Fly out now, Jack... uh, Senior Jack..?" Gump commands as he sputters to deferentiate between the two.

"Vallon. Refer to me as Vallon, it will be easier for all." Elder-Jack, replies.

"Right. Go, Vallon," Gump replies,
" Once you've marked the land come back and I will have the protection spell ready."

Elder-Jack, Vallon, nods and leaps out of the parlour terrace with a ready bow and arrow in hand, as he swoops up into the sky.

As Gump prepares himself for the spell, Oona steps toward him and places a gentle hand upon his shoulder.