The Mountains Blade

Chapter Fifty One

Chapter Fifty One- To Call a Place Home

The plane engines roar filled Elwyns ears as she stared at the cockpit door. Night had descended upon them and they were a few hours from landing in Goldmoon.
Elwyn did not like not being in the know. She grit her teeth, flexing the hands that she had balled into fists. She had somehow managed to keep her powers at bay. Perhaps the fear that if they were released this high in the air, she would be dooming everyone.

Avelina watched her with worried eyebrows from across the aisle. Elwyn could barely make herself look at her sister. She could still see Markarious carrying her battered body, the look of utter betrayal in her eyes.

"Elwyn?" The heir asked, looking past Markarious. The male tensed as her attention was directed to the so called, 'warrior.'

Elwyn couldn't bring herself to not acknowledge her. She turned, eyes locking with her sisters before she looked anywhere but her. A muscle pulsed in Elwyns jaw, her heart hammering as she cleared her throat. "Yes?" She asked smoothly.

"Are you alright?" Elwyns eyes snapped back to Avelinas, blazing with wrath before she blinked it away. "Yes."

Avelina frowned at her one word response. "That's all you have to say? Yes?"

Elwyn slowly turned her attention back to Avelina. Her green eyes were wounded. Elwyn nearly told her more but all that came out was another, "Yes."

Avelinas eyes watered, tears filling them until they overflowed like an overwatered flower pot.

"Alright then." Avelina continued to stare at her sister before she spoke again.

"I expect you to protect me and present your story to the king and queen."

The hairs on Elwyns arm stood up. She could feel her insides beginning to boil with rage. "Yes, your majesty. I will tell your king and queen everything they desire." She snarled.

Avelina glared pointedly at her, straightening her posture. "Good." She quipped.

To Elwyns surprise, Markarious made no comment to her, instead staring at Avelina as if this was the first time he had ever seen her.

~

As the plane rolled to a stop, Elwyn could finally lose a breath. Not for long, but enough that she didn't have to worry about her power flaring and killing everyone. The doors to the plane opened and Elwyn could only hear the wind wisping through the signature golden trees. Avelina was out the door before Elwyn could take in the view of her families kingdom. She stared out the window, eyes unblinking, nose burning with the want to cry. The gates to the kingdom were gone, half of the woods was black and decayed. The city of Goldmoon itself was in shambles. The streets were painted in red and black.

Even inside here, Elwyn could smell the burning buildings and death that hung heavily in the air. Avelina was racing past the field they had landed in, her dresses edges blackening. As she neared the torn open gates, she fell to her knees and sobbed. Markarious was not far behind her, coming beside her to hold the heir in his arms.

Elwyn continued watching, frozen in place. Dane stood just outside the plane, watching his brother, his face an expression of shock.

Elwyn tensed as her parents came running out of the ruined castle. Markarious moved aside as their mother barreled into Avelina. Their sobs and tears could be heard from the plane.

"Elwyn." The girl turned to the owner of the voice. Gone was the harsh glare on Evanders face as he crouched in front of her. "Elwyn." He repeated again.

Elwyn blinked, tasting salt as a tear slipped down the slope of her cheek. She wiped it away as quickly as it came. "What?" She snapped, her body launching into a defensive stance.

Evanders expression was softened. He was seeing right through her. He was seeing her pain and Elwyn did not like it one bit.

Elwyn stood up and made to shove past Evander but he had already moved. She paused at the stairs, the smells and scene stronger, hitting her closer to the heart. She had failed. She had caused this. She could have simply stayed in Goldmoon, she should have never befriended Maxwell. She had failed as a warrior.

Elwyn took the steps slowly, her father the first to notice her. He finished his forearm hug with Dane and turned to his youngest daughter.

His eyes welled with emotion, scanning her over before he was pulling her into an embrace.

Elwyn went rigid, the smell of her father hitting her. Elwyn closed her eyes and tears slid down her face. She made no sound, letting her father wrap her in his arms like he had when she was young.

Elwyn buried her face into his leather jacket. When they finally released, it was Elwyns mother who found her next.
Hope Greywater reached out her shaking arms to her youngest child.
Elwyn did not move, her body tightening as her powers flared. Flame licked at her hands, stopping her mother's advances.
Hopes eyes went wide, darting to the kings. Her father took a tentative step back as her mother froze.
Elwyns stomach rolled with knots as her father half blocked her mother.
"Was this what you were afraid of?" She asked her voice thick. On a thought, the flames winked out, her chest growing cold. It was not the autumn air that chilled her but rather their stares.

Elwyn barely noticed as Evander came to stand beside her.
He extended his hands to the king and queen. "We haven't had the pleasure to meet. I'm Evander Kane, king of the Obsidian."

The queens expression hardened as Ashered watched him. "I've heard of you." Hope snarled. "You're a treacherous murderer who stole my daughter. You bastard!" Power thrummed as Hope latched onto the energies around her.

Elwyn focused her magic and placed a mental wall of ice between them.
Hopes eyes shot to her daughters, shocked enough that she made no other movements. Her father's expression remained neutral as if he knew she already was stronger than before.
Elwyn frowned at her mother, taking a step backwards to stand beside Evander.
"You've trained." Her mother said, reaching for her daughter as if she were a figment of her imagination.

Elwyns jaw tightened into steel. Evander placed his hand lightly onto her elbow. A feeling of relief coursed through her, but not before she swiped her hand away, a sign her mother did not miss.