Naryssa's Choice (The Fate and Destiny Chronicles Vol. 3)

The Civil War

When I arrived at the meeting, I was all business while mentally preparing for what news might await me. "Sorry I am late, what is the latest news on the rebels?" I demanded seriously as I entered the room and went to the head of the large table that had been set up in the throne room for this discussion. After months of being gone my scouts had returned with new intel about the rebel forces, something we hadn't had much of for a while as Chandler was savvy about how he operated. Nothing had infuriated me more at that time than when the scouts came back with little useful information on where Chandler was or what he was doing. Finding him had become my mission, I was going to personally ensure he died with his precious rebel cause.

"The news is not good, your majesty" a man named Milo said from the other end of the table, he was the leader of the scout regimen I had put together for this specific mission of finding the rebellion. "By the time we found them Chandler had already gathered a new army and is preparing to siege Darcy" He told me "It won't be for some months but we must act now if we wish to stop him". I sat down in my chair allowing the news to sink in as I felt a twisting nausea begin to fill me as I processed before speaking, "Caspian, what is your recommendation based upon the knowledge of the situation" I asked without looking at him knowing the answer couldn't be good. "If we could gain aid from the queen, with our replenished forces and hers we could line a defensive line to keep them at bay, this would protect our people and keep them farther away but it could be a lengthy war until someone finally gained the upper hand and there is no way to predict who would gain it" He explained confirming my worst fears as he did. "And if we don't?" I asked already knowing the answer as I struggled to maintain my composure while I awaited a hesitant answer. "If we don't.... you might as well hand them your throne and your head along with it..." Caspian said simply confirming my worst fears. It was all for nothing... our hail mary had failed giving us nothing but a brief reprieve before the war truly began.

"Everyone, go, we will reconvene here tomorrow night when I give my final decision" I commanded to which everyone quickly left for fear that my volatile temper would rise up. Everyone but Caspian had left and I found myself on the verge of another meltdown as I stared at that awful fact eye to eye, it was all for nothing. All of it. "Nyssa..." He'd begun to say just before I stood up abruptly and flipped the rickety long table in anger as I let out a shout of frustration. Instead of continuing my raging temper I found myself equally consumed with fear and sadness as I clutched my head with my hands and fell to my knees with a cry. "Easy, Nyssa, Easy..." Caspian said as he came over quickly kneeling in front of me and gently holding my shoulders, "It's okay, we can get through this" he told me as I shook my head. "It's never going to end, it's never over..." I said as I began to breathe heavily before bursting into a fit of inappropriately timed laughter despite the fact that nothing about this was funny. "There's always going to be another war, there's always going to be someone, it'll never fucking end..." I rambled on as I struggled to get a grip on myself. "What happened?" I heard Darren say as he came rushing into the throne room, "I heard the meeting ended" he said as he came over to us full of concern for me.

"Breathe, Nyss" Darren said as he sat down beside me placing a reassuring hand on my back, "We've got you, I'm here" he said as I gradually began to calm down. When I finally calmed down, we left the throne room and went to the library so we could explain everything to Darren and figure out something but I could feel Caspian studying us. After we went through everything the only conclusion, we could come to was that we needed to go back to Aurelia to inform the queen the now or never situation she was waiting for was here in hopes she would change her mind and supply us with an army this time. I decided that Darren and I would travel to speak with the queen while Caspian would stay to prepare our army as well as run things for me while I was gone despite Caspian's argument that the rebels would be looking for me.