The Elven Powers

Chapter Thirty: The battle (Galandria)

My chest heaved as I stared at the floor of the courtyard. The tiles were old and dirty, though you could still see the beauty of the Elves work shining through. Such a superior craftsmanship should not have been tainted by the dirt from Nicholas' boots. None of this should have happened. Forgetting the small tiles for a moment, I reflect on how much has been damaged by Nicholas. The realm itself had lost their Power. There was no way of restoring the great cherry tree. How do you resurrect a God? Through all of it, the small victories along the way, we were defeated at the final hurdle. The power was gone and the people soon to follow, dispersing into the wilderness. With all my strength, I couldn't even get my vengeance. I let the whole Realm's vengeance, slip through an arch and disappear from sight. I was even called upon by prophecy, yet destiny did not prevail.

I thought back to the prophecy. Faowin had said it had been important to remember it, because of my destiny. I had not deemed it important until now. As I sat staring at the tiles, the line formed in my head. One day darkness shall come, to destroy the spirits and extinguish the sun, The nine realms will become eight, and the darkness a lord of power shall take. It was all true. I had never had belief in prophecies until now. Nicholas was the Lord of power, the power charred and burnt destroying the spirit of the realm. The nine realms had truly become eight. After all, who could say for the fate of this nation’s people? They were likely ravaged, with little prosperity or strength left to give.

Warm arms brought me out of my dismal thoughts. Elrohir firmly, yet gently, lifted me up onto my feet. I turned slowly to face him and in some ways my fate from this point onwards. He only smiled down at me. Through all the pain and the hurt from this realm, he smiled just for me. I slowly raised my hand to meet his cheek. He leant his face softly into my hand as worry lines appeared on his forehead, his smile fading into a determined look. He took my hand in his gently, causing me to sigh.

"Galandria..." He leant his forehead against mine. "I have so much to ask you, but it will have to wait. My only mission here was to see you again. If I could take you away with me now, I would. We would take refuge and protect each other." He paused as I looked into his eyes. They sparkled for that reality; you could see the hope radiating from him. I wanted that too, being together was enough for me. Glory was fleeting and the people's endearing gratefulness always disintegrated into forgetting your name. 

However... "Nicholas is destroying lives. Lives, like ours once were. We cannot go back to those lives anymore without consequence." I sighed standing tall, my hand still firmly lost in Elrohir's. "It is up to us to have vengeance, for everyone. It has always been down to us... not just for the Guardians, for the people." I bolstered my determination as I once had. Perhaps I would be able to dispatch Nicholas one day, for all the wrong he has done us. I wanted my own revenge for what he did to Elrohir and what he tried to do to Morgel and I. 

"That's the Lady I remember." He gave me a small smirk, causing my cheeks to heat. "Perhaps a little more terrifying than I remember, I wouldn't want to be your enemy." He chuckled.

"I hate to break up the glorious charm of courting." Morgel grimaced, sauntering over, sword in hand. "If we equip ourselves and use the passage to the west of the courtyard, we should arrive at the wall soon."

I stooped down, collecting my bow from the filthy hands of a Corkash. I kicked it in the face for good measure. My weapons were given to me by the power after all, which should mean they are partially sacred. I raised my head, setting my sights on the passage Morgel indicated, in the opposite direction where Nicholas left. I shrugged off the burden of not being able to pursue that criminal as I examined the stone arch for any signs of guards. When there weren't any, I sheathed my curved dagger and notched an arrow to my bow. I did not trust that guards would no longer show up in this portion of the city, despite the raging battle at the wall. "We should follow the passage to the wall as directly as we can, I doubt there are many Corkash who have not joined the front."