Worlds Apart

Chapter Six

((HELLO ALL I HAVE RETURNED TO BRING YOU MORE OF THIS BOOK AND OTHERS! Thank you all kindly for being so patient with me! I've gone through far too much and am very happy to see my work still being enjoyed!))

As the Chancellor lead the three of them into the main entry of the factory, he stopped in a room just before a set of doors so large that Aili couldn't help but wonder what was behind them. Was this what they'd been reduced to now that their homelands had fallen? A human factory? How.. strange.. Aili felt her face shift from calm to concerned as she observed the surroundings. Not having expected King Balor himself to be stationed in such a place.

Nuada could see the confusion of Aili's features. The internal shock.. she'd not been among their people in a very long time. And neither had he. But as the Chancellor turned around to face Nuada, he made harsh eye contact with the Chancellor. Despising the way the Chancellor's hands moved and clicked.

"Sire.. I must ask you to.. hand over your weapon.." The Chancellor said, his voice shaking in hesitation as Nuada pulled out his blade and put it to the Chancellor's throat. The Chancellor was trembling where he stood at the display of Nuada's unwillingness to cooperate.

"I will not." Nuada seethed in return. Obviously not willing to part with his weaponry. Aili flinched at the interaction as a voice she knew well echoed from behind them. Princess Nuala, Nuada's sister had made her appearance just in time.

"Brother.. you must surrender your weapon." The princess said, her voice soft like the wind but calm as the still air in the room as she spoke in Gaelic. Our native tongue.

Nuada seemed to take only a split second before skillfully removing the blade from the Chancellor's throat. Holding the blade by the hilt and blade, palms to the heavens as he reluctantly relinquished his weaponry. All but one item that Aili had not failed to notice being hidden. “For you, Sister… anything.” He said as he relinquished his blades.

Aili looked between the two, her mouth remaining shut as Nuala approached her brother's betrothed with a kind expression. Knowing which side Aili stood upon. The side of justice and clarity. Violence was not in Aili's nature, and Nuala knew that. It was why Aili and her brother had been deemed a perfect match. To even one another out and bring balance to mindsets.

“It is good to see you. Sister.” Nuala whispered with a bow, Aili reciprocating a bow of her own in return. Happy to be around someone of a mindset like hers. As much as Aili cared for Nuada, he could be absolutely grating with his obsession with war.

“Likewise, Sister.” Aili responded, they had always considered one another sisters. Two women of equal mind and heart, and two women who had been friends since the dawn of time.

Nuala waited alongside Aili as the Chancellor handed the weaponry over to the guards for safekeeping. The Chancellor making his way to the doors and escorting the four of them to the Main Hall of the ruins that had been claimed as a palace of sorts.

Golden leaves fell from the ceiling as Aili and Nuala dipped low out of respect to their King. Nuada kneeling as Wink stayed in the background of it all. The entire council was at both sides of where they stood, Nuala taking her place opposite of Wink as Aili and Nuada stood side by side, but yet with opposing viewpoints.

“Why? Why have you come here?” King Balor's voice boomed from his throne. His gnarled pale horns and nearly gaunt looking form sitting upon his throne with a look of disappointment toward the both of them. He knew of the truce being broken. There was no way he couldn't have with how quickly news seemed to travel.

Aili knew that in order to get a single word in she had to give Nuada his turn to present his piece and his case to the King. It was clear in her eyes that she was aware of this fact. It was not her place to speak first, regardless of status. But at this moment, she also knew that if Nuada made his case first, he would be sentenced to death and so, she gathered her courage, her expression growing respectful but stern as one needing to be heard could be. “Your Majesty. May I speak before Prince Nuada?” Aili asked respectfully, speaking her native tongue. Something she'd not done unless she truly wished to be heard. Something she hadn't needed in centuries. Fully prepared for any repercussions that were deemed fit for such an interruption.

Nuada's head turned at the fastest speed it ever could, looking at using betrothed with a look of astonishment and annoyance. She had indeed said she would make her case. Bur he hadn't expected her to be so outspoken after making her first appearance in centuries. “What are you doing?” Nuada whispered, it had sounded harsh to anyone who didn't know him. But in reality it was concern.

“Saving yours and our sisters' heads.” Aili whispered in return. Another risky move on her part. The bond between herself and Nuada would only cause him pain if she died. But if either Nuada or Nuala were dead. They both would be.

“Silence.” King Balor said sternly to Nuada. Gesturing to give Aili permission to step forward. And so Aili did. Kneeling before her King with her head bowed in respect. “Rise child.. say your piece.” The King said, his voice more calm with Aili but still holding plenty of authority. Aili rose from her knees after receiving permission from her King.

Aili held in the breath of relief she had. Her hands in front of her, overlapped. She was straight to the point. Not leaving out a single detail. “I was taken in by humans after my disappearance and my family was killed. Sheltered and cared for. Your son found me during an Undercover operation for a human organization that wished to obtain the crown piece you left in human hands, to keep safe and fullt guarded. He kidnapped me.  Slaughtered the humans and took the piece, all the while committing war crimes that now have him in direct eye of the human government. I felt it necessary to say that should your son attempt what he wishes. I will give my last breath to stop him and maintain the peace we strive for. I swear it upon what little I have left.” Aili said honestly. Feeling Nuada glaring the holes into the back of her head.

How dare she… Nuada couldn't help but seethe internally. His expression changing from concern to betrayal and then shock. She'd sworn her very life on this peace? No. Surely she was joking. But as Aili was dismissed and had turned around to walk back to her place beside Nuada. A single tear fell from her golden eyes. Nuada felt his heart ache at the sight of her turmoil once again. His own turmoil rising slowly to the surface. The King had acknowledged her oath. She was now against Nuada. And he still had to make his case against what she had just sworn..

“My son. Is this true?” King Balor asked sternly. Hoping to the God's that his son had not caused the betrothed he had chosen for him to go against him with such conviction.

For the first time in Nuada's life. He truly hesitated. His world coming full-stop as he thought about this… If he went against her.. he lost the love of his life and gained his people's freedom- should everything go according to plan….

But what would the world be if he lost her?