The Mountains Blade

Chapter Fifty Six

Chapter Fifty-Six- Oh Time you Cruel Creature

Elwyn lurched back into reality, there was no Maxwell. There was only a sword through the mouth of the shadow leader.
Elwyn breathed in deep ragged breaths from the weight of the shadow. Its face was tilted upwards, the sword going from the base of its skull through its open mouth. Again, it wailed.
The sound had Elwyn clenching her teeth in pain.
Her hands still held some of the blackened flesh. That had not been a horrid figment of her imagination.
The shadow leader crumbled above her, black dust coating her clothes. The gaudy robes it wore hit her chest with a whoosh of air.
Above her, looming with rage was Evander. His hands were coated in blood, Elwyn couldn't tell if it was his own or someone else's.
She felt herself begin to hyperventilate, the adrenaline leaving her.
All other shadows had slipped into piles of ash as if connected to the leader. The king entered the room and began to move toward her but hesitated, looking past her.
Elwyn turned to see what he saw. Hope Greywater lay bloody on the floor beside a very dead Arthur.
Elwyn balked. She hadn't seen him get hit, but then again the shadow leader had measures beyond physical power.

She scanned her mother's body, seeing the slow rise and fall of her chest.
All Elwyn could hear was ringing in her ears. She saw her father mouth her mother's name, glancing to Elwyn before rushing to Hope.

Warm hands gently grasped her shoulders and Elwyns attention snapped to Evanders. He was looking at her with a foreign expression, eyes drifting to her shoulder.
Elwyn didn't have to look to know what he saw. The instant he began trying to sit her up, the pain split through her; the claw marks burned into her shoulder sent ripples of pain down her arms and legs.

She grit her teeth, tears slipping down her cheek before she could no longer contain herself. A tortured cry pulled from within her. Evanders arms tightened around her as her body grew limp and she passed out in his arms.

~
Elwyn jolted up, hissing in pain. Her shoulder felt tight and constricted. She could feel the itchy fabric of the bandage wrapped around chest and shoulder.
She had only a gold robe wrapped around her, aside from a pair of silky pants, she wore nothing else. But she supposed she didn't need to as the bandage covered the intimate parts of her chest as well as her shoulder.
Elwyn groaned as she fell dramatically back, her right arm holding her up.
She pushed herself to the edge of the bed and pulled herself up with more effort than she wanted to admit.
She tried to pry her arms out of the robe to change but hot tears burned her eyes. Baring her teeth at nothing in particular, Elwyn wrapped the robe tightly around her body, holding the fabric in place as she couldn't tie it with one arm throbbing.

As she stood, the door pushed open and a male walked in dressed in golden armor, a sword strapped at his side. Elwyn realized with mild shock that he had Arthur's golden blade at his side.

Elwyn dragged her eyes up to his face, pursing her lips as she studied him. He had been one of the others trained alongside Arthur. She wondered if he would be as cruel as their instructor had been throughout their childhood. "Princess Elwyn, I was sent to escort you to the king and queen."
Elwyn felt her irritation slip from her face. She parted her mouth, eyes widening slightly. "Is she-."
"The queen is alive." He assured gently, much to Elwyns surprise.
She schooled her expression into that of neutrality. "Of course." She said clearing her throat and straightening her spine with a small wince.

"Would you like a minute to change." He asked, glancing at her one arm holding the slippery material together. Elwyn shook her head nonchalantly. "I-I... no." She said awkwardly. "But thanks." Elwyn felt her cheek flush in embarrassment as he glanced to her shoulder and then opened the door for her to exit.

Elwyn much to her plight felt like her chest was burning as she sucked in wheezing scalding air. The cold sharpness of it bit at her lungs and Elwyn was sure must have had a lung punctured.

As they traveled from her room to her parents, Elwyn beheld the horror that the shadows had damned them with. The south wall was torn to pieces, stone littering the halls, letting the bleeding evening sunlight cast them both in a haunting orange glow. Elwyn could not remember the boy, now man who escorted her. He was now right hand of the king, her father, so it seemed.

He had a steady stride as he kept himself beside Elwyn at all times. His right hand sat atop the hilt of his blade as he scanned the room cautiously.

He withdrew his sword, the shining light blinding her as she ducked down and grabbed a fallen fragment of stone. She nearly vomited in pain but held herself upright at whatever target came to them.

The guards sword rested its tip against Avelinas chest. She stopped breathing, sucking her breath.

Her sister trembled, cheeks blotted with dried tears.
Elwyn lowered her hand, the stone in her hand, feeling much heavier than it was.

Elwyn caught her sister's eye and dread sunk into her bones.
Before she could ask anything, Avelina slid past her, her golden gown brushing her sides.
The guard didn't turn to Avelina but instead gestured Elwyn forward.
With uncertainty clouding her, Elwyn made her way past the throne room and into her mother's chambers.
Hope Greywater lay in bed, blankets pulled to her chest, pale, bloodless and shaking.
Her father sat beside her, hand grasping hers so tightly, his tanned hands were nearly her shade.
The guard left her at the door, standing attentively as Elwyn brought herself to the opposite side of her father.
She sat on the beds edge gently, seeking out her mother's hand instinctively.
Hopes eyes shot open, widening as they met hers. A warm smile of gratitude graced her face, making her almost seem alright, if only for a moment.

"My sweet love." She whispered giving Elwyns hand a squeeze.
"You can't die." Elwyn blurted. Her father's attention snapped to hers along with the queens. "I just now am learning so may things. I know it's selfish, but I want you to be here longer. Please mom." Elwyns voice grew softer and more rough as she spoke.
Tears were building in her eyes as her mother gave her a soft, sad smile.
" I was no saint of a mother, Elwyn." She said as Ashered tightened his hand over his wife's. "But I cannot argue with time. When it's time to go..." Hopes voice trailed off.
Elwyn knew what her mother meant and she wished it wasn't so, all the same.