10: Darken, DarkHeart

Chapter nine: James

"Oberon's barrier fell," i told my wife, Alexandria. "something big is going on in that palace as we speak."

"we should be moving our forces in now then." She said, looking at the map laid out on the table. 

"we need to trust in our daughter." i told her. "she will know what is best."

Alexandria looked up at me, tears forming in her eyes, "i saw her future James, if she continues on this path, she will die."

"you shouldn't be able to see the future easily." i looked at my wife, as beautiful as ever. "what happened to the consequences?" 

"i dont know James." she told me, "something is happening to my powers again, i dont know what."

"that may be a bigger problem then what Astraea is going through right now." i said, looking into her eyes. "how long had this been happening?"

"you know i dont keep secrets from you anymore." she assured me, "this morning is when it started."

"i thought the gods put a lock on your power growth." i pointed out. 

"they did." she answered. "but whatever is happening, i do see it wont be a problem for a few years, for now we just need to focus on helping out daughter."

"fine, but as soon as this is dealt with, we are getting Althie to summon the gods." i told her. 

she nodded, "i know."

"so what should we do?" i asked her, looking at the map.

"i cant reveal too much of the future, that would be too far." she told me, "but i can say this, your deal with Oberon is important in this. you need to go to our daughters side."

i gave a nod and kissed my wifes hand, "i will return to you soon."

she smiled sweetly at me, "go save our daughter."

i nodded as i went to leave the room, my gut telling me that this was the last time i would ever see my wife. 

i paused, turning back to Alexandria, "what are you not telling me?"

"nothing gets past you, does it?" she smiled sadly. "its nothing of importance dear."

"enough of that." i walked back to her, "we have been married for forty-six years. i know when something is happening to you. Astraea is not going to die, is she? your just trying to get me to leave."

"dear," tears started falling down her face, "you do need to go to her side, dont use Althie to get there though, go on foot.... i will not be here when you get back. the gods have made a choice, i can feel it coming. but if you do not go now, our daughter, our last living daughter, will die."

"your making me chose between you and our child?" i asked, my heart hurting.

"the time of the Great Dragon, and even the Twin Dragons has ended my love," she took a step closer to me, "its time we allow our descendants take over. our kingdoms are in good hands."

"i cant lose you." i pulled her into me. "not again."

"we will see eachother again." she told me, "but you will have to find me, i cant tell you more then that. just trust in what our daughter tells you to do. i have to say my goodbyes to my brother, and Carlisle, he would have a cow if i didnt tell him."

"how can i leave when you wont be here when i return?" i asked her, not letting her go from my embrace. 

"because," she was trying so hard to sound strong, "we only have two of the eight children we raised left, and Astraea is your last child by blood, you need to do everything in your power to keep her alive."

"you know dear," i kissed the top of her head, "this all just feels so rude."

she let out a little laugh, "i know dear. but it will be okay, we will be together again."

"you better not be lying to me." i said, never wanting to let her go. 

"i wouldnt dream of it." she said, "you need to go dear.... this was never my story, it was yours."

"what do you mean?" i asked her, pulling back to look into her eyes. 

"you were stuck with this short princess who you hurt in the past and were tasked to protect," she started, "you lost a hand and an eye to protect her, then married her despite objections. you became prince consort then lost your wife, gaining two children in the process. then became king regent, then your wife returned to you, only to be kidnaped by another king."

"you turned into a fairy to be able to handle the magic sickness of the lands and saved your wife," she continued. "then you became Fairy King, raising a son that was not yours. then your wife is kidnaped again and forced to fight you. you then had your wife kidnaped yet again so that Oberon could kill you. but instead your daughter fell in love with him and saved you."

"your wife then goes crazy and kills five of eight children." she kept going. "your wife comes back to her senses and faces punishment for her crimes, which you risk your life to save her. then your wifes sister, who you raised as a daughter leaves, never to be heard from again. and now, now you are faced yet again with death, only to find out its not you who has to die, but your daughter."

"this was always your story dear." she smiled, "i missed half of everything that happened. it was never about me, it was about you."

"i started off as a human." i reminded her. "there is nothing special about me."

"James Heartfire, you know damned well that that is a lie." she crossed her arms. "this is the last journey for me, but you have one more after this, remember that. after that, we will be together again, i promise you that."

i pulled her in for a kiss, knowing that this would be the last time i did so. her tears making her lips salty, but i did not care.