Heart Of Embers (Slow Updates)

Chapter 3

"No."

"It's not a question. It's an order. And it's your duty as my protector to teach me self-defense."

Amethyst and Aelix stared intensely at each other for a couple of minutes, before Aelix shrugged and stood up.

"You're right. Now get up, I'm sure your people are dying to see you." He waited for her to stand up on her own, and followed her out of the room.

Amethyst didn't like Aelix, she did not trust him. He was giving in too easily to her requests. First, coming back to the castle and now training her. He was hiding something. But she should be focused now on her revenge. She knows that learning how to fight isn't going to be easy, but she would not waste a minute fooling around. She was going to devote herself entirely on getting better and stronger to achieve her goal. Aelix was now walking right beside her. She was furious, burning from anger.

"Princess, are you alright?" he asked her suddenly, stopping in his tracks and looking closely at her.

"Yes, I'm fine. Why are you looking at me like that?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head, telling her it was nothing. But he swore he saw her eyes glow a bright yellow. They continued walking through the maze of halls, leading to the balcony overviewing the entire kingdom of Lorelie.

All the way, Amethyst noticed there was not a single person wondering in the hallways. Shills were running all over her body, and she felt something heavy in her stomach, a feeling she always got when she knew something was wrong.

Suddenly, Aelix jumped in front of her, and drew his sword, which was at his waist. He looked around, sword raised with a steady hand in front of him. He took a couple of steps forward and turned abruptly to the left, and raised his sword to the entrance of another corridor.

"Introduce yourself." He spoke to the darkness.

Then, a small figure came out trembling in fear, head bowed. Amethyst blinked. This small frame, this hair, that face.

"Laial? Is that really you?" Amethyst asked, a small fire starting to form in her stomach.

The girl, Laial, snapped her head upward, her eyes widening. Tears started to form on the corner of her eyes. She blinked them away quickly.

"Princess? Is that really you?" she asked, her voice croaking at the end.

Amethyst nodded, the corners of her lips tugging upwards, and forming a grin on her face. Aelix looked between the two ladies, clearly confused. But he didn't miss the grin forming on Amethyst's pretty face. He was taken aback at first, noticing how beautiful the young woman was, how delicate but fierce her features looked, how fragile she seemed but in fact, she was strong. He closed his eyes and cleared those thoughts of his head. He would not think of her that way. It was forbidden, after all he was-

"Aelix, put your sword back. You're scaring the poor girl. This is Laial. She's my friend." Amethyst said, snapping him out of his daydream. He put the blade back in its scabbard. Bowing his head to Laial.

"I am sorry. I thought you were an intruder."

Laial nodded, smiling.

"Speaking of intruders, where is everyone? I haven't seen a single person." Amethyst asked, frowning slightly.

Laila looked at the floor, finding the dark wooden floor interesting. She sighed, then looked up again and met the eyes of the princess. Her eyes were filled with grief and sadness.

"They fled the castle. They heard about the threat of the witches, and ran away not wanting to die too."

Amethyst gritted her teeth at the news. Cowards.

"Are you alone here?" she asked Laial, who nodded sadly. Amethyst let out a breath she was holding.

"What about the rest of the kingdom?" she asked her calmly, her voice low, dreading the answer she was about to hear.

"Well, some of the villagers fled also, but the majority is still here." Amethyst nodded, staring at the painting on the wall next to her. She could not lose her home too. She was not letting those witches take over her kingdom. They were going to fight back, and she made sure of that. She does not care about their number, their strong will will make them strong.

"Alright. Let's go." She started walking, continuing her way to the balcony. She heard 2 pairs of steps following behind her.

Opening the balcony doors once there, Amethyst stood at the railway, looking at the kingdom beneath her. She caught the eye of some of the villagers, who started going frantic and yelling at others and ushering them to come and see the princess.

When there was enough people gathered around, Amethyst took a deep breath and started talking in a loud, strong voice.

"People of Lorelie. Today, we bear the great loss of our king and queen. But do not fear a thing, I have come back, and more than ever determined to revenge the death of my parents. As your new ruler now, I hope I will get your help in killing the murderers. Those who have fled were not worth being here in the first place. Being in a kingdom demands sacrifice and loyalty to everyone. I address now every single one of you who is interested in this mission. Every person who knows how to handle a weapon is very much welcomed. We will meet tomorrow in the throne room at exactly noon. We are power, we are loyalty, we are courage, we are Lorelie."

She shouted the last sentence, her voice echoing in the halls of the castle, and raised her fisted hand in the air, getting shouts and cries of agreement as a reply from the people standing beneath her.

Amethyst took a step back bowed to her people, and entered the castle. Once inside, she collapsed on the floor, heaving out a sigh. Closing her eyes, she breathed heavily, letting the words she just spoke sink in. She is going to lead more than three hundred human being. She does not know how she will do it, but she is not going to let them down. She opened her eyes and stood up straight, noticing Aelix and Laial looking proudly at her. She dragged her purple orbs to Aelix's blue ones.

"When does my training start?"

"I want to train with you", Interrupted Laial.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Amethyst asked her. The young girl nodded, her face serious.

"Very well then, I shall train you two. We start today. At 6 be ready, both of you." Aelix said, and turned, prepared to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" Amethyst asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"Back at the cabin, that's my home after all."

"Oh, no. From now on, you are staying with us in here. What is some intruder came? May I remind you were are two defenseless – only for now – girls. We need protection. Plus, it's easier if you are here so we can train without waiting for you." Amethyst said, crossing her arms, challenging Aelix with her eyes.

"Okay. I will stay. Where shall I sleep?"

"In the room facing mine. You both are. The closer we are the better."

They both nodded, agreeing with the princess's orders.

"Now, I hope at least one of you knows how to cook, because I am starving."

They all smiled, lifting some of tension growing around them by the second.

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And that's chapter 3!

What do you think Aelix was saying before getting interrupted?

What do you think is going  to happen next in the story?

Comment and don't forget to vote! I love you all and thank you for reading this story!

-Tanya xx