The Forgotten Mage's Diary

Part Seventeen: Cowardly

Everything finally settled down and the trio slowly recovered from Bernard's death. Elena finally controlled her emotions and learned to accept her father's passing and appreciate the time she had with him. The royal family was hosting a funeral for him and obviously invited Monica, Cole, and Elena. The morning of the funeral crept closer and closer until it eventually arrived. Monica and Cole seemed fine, there wasn't anything wrong with attending the event in their eyes. Elena on the other hand wouldn't talk about it she would ignore the fact that his funeral even existed. On the day of the funeral Elena went downstairs to get breakfast but was greeted by Cole and Monica dressed in all black. "Can you get dressed master? We have to be there in two hours," Cole asked. Elena let an irritated face slip before she quickly went back to normal ,"I...don't think we should-" Monica cut her off, "What is your deal? We have to go, for Bernard's sake! We need to honor his dumb memory or whatever," Monica flipped her hair as if this was all normal and nothing she should care about. She flashed her magenta eyes straight into Elena's sky blue ones, "So? What's your deal?" Then Elena shifted her weight on each foot back and forth, "Don't you guys remember? He died during an attempted assassination...don't you think they'll come back to finish the job?" Cole looked shocked, "Doesn't that give us more of a reason to go? To protect the prin-uh...king." Monica didn't stop glaring she looked like she was trying to prove she was right about something...but what?

Elena muttered, "I don't want to see that...I don't want to see that..not again." Monica laughed, "Aha! See Cole, what did I tell you? A coward walks among us! And she's the daughter of two legendary heroes and she's running from her problems-again." Cole stared at Monica, "How dare you?! What gives you the right to-" Elena stopped him, "I want...to get better though. She's right, I need to...be stronger." Cole shook his head, "Do you have any self confidence at all? You're great! You're-" he was cut off again. "She's certainly not perfect dragon boy, but we need to leave her alone so she can go and get dressed like we told her to."

Elena guiltily walked up the stairs, Monica's words echoed through her head. She couldn't believe how weak she was! She arrived at her room and realized she didn't have any other dress besides the one she wore to the coronation. "We got you a new dress, I hope it's okay...Monica chose it," Cole came from behind her. Elena nodded and quickly thanked him and he rushed back to Monica. Elena changed and noticed how elegant it was, Monica seemed to know that Elena hated short dresses and got her a lengthy one. It reached down to the middle of her shin and had sequins running down it, of course-it was black. After admiring the dress Elena made her way back to Monica and Cole.

"Do we have to walk again?"Monica asked. "Uh no, actually..." Cole looked over to Elena, "Don't freak out okay Elena?" She nodded. Cole took a moment and thought it over before disappearing into a puff of blue smoke. He came out as a dragon the size of a horse. He let out a huff and walked over to Monica who jumped immediately onto him. Elena froze-he was so big compared to when she last saw him! He then motioned for Elena to join, "I-isn't that g-going to be heavy? W-where did your clothes g-go?" she stuttered. He gave a sympathetic look and Monica quickly said, "FREAKIN' MAGIC YA DINGUS!" Elena hastily pulled herself up and noticed how sad Cole looked. She patted his wing and gave him a reassuring smile, "Sorry if I'm acting weird...you're just really...different. I'm okay-promise!" He nodded and raised his head before spreading his long wings out and kicking his feet against the ground sending them flying. 

"HOLD ON!!!!!!!!" Monica shouted but it was severely muffled by the wind rushing past them. Elena had to admit that Cole was doing a great job at flying for his first time. They zoomed through the sky and swiftly avoided clouds until they reached the palace. Cole gently eased down onto the ground and Elena patted him on the head. "Dang dragon, flippin' motion sickness, darn funeral.." Monica was muttering and complaining. Cole quickly transformed back into a human and straightened his tie. "How do your clothes transform with you?" Elena asked. "Well, I don't really know. It's always been like that I guess. I'm glad though, it makes things a lot easier."he laughed a little and walked towards the castle. Monica and Elena followed suit.

There they were, just standing awkwardly next to the royal family and watching a stranger bury their close friend. The burial was outside of course and guards surrounded the area, they obviously were thinking about the same thing Elena had thought about earlier. As soon as they brought out Bernard's casket Elena started shaking. Tears threatened to escape again but Cole put his hand on her shoulder and gave a weak smile, he then pointed to Monica who looked awful. She was crying like crazy and the Queen kind of nervously stared at her. After he was buried everyone shared their eulogies and reflected on their memories with Elena's dad. King Aaron shared his thoughts of guilt and how Bernard was like a second father to him before the Dragon Revolution. He then told Elena to share her feelings, she was completely unprepared! She sighed and made her way up to her father's grave, she opened her mouth to talk but started sobbing. Her dad, the man who single-handedly raised her and cared for her, wasn't around anymore. She would never get to hear his laugh and his funny jokes, or see his smile. "M-my dad...I don't know where I'd be w-without him. I never got to know my mother, I would love to think that if I had stopped him from coming back to Areagore I could've prevented this but...I know that this is w-what he wanted. He loved Areagore and magic so much...I miss him so much...but he died happy, I know it. He was so happy to know that he died protecting his king and that he could see m-mom again. I..." Elena thought she had used up all of her tears but they proceeded to escape like waterfalls. Everyone was just staring at her-they didn't understand! They didn't know him like she did! But as she looked at each of their faces she realized, they did.

The funeral had come to a close and everybody went inside except for Elena. She stayed right next to his grave, she chanted a small spell and  with a puff of green she set down a bouquet of orchids. She sat down and hugged her knees then thought all about how she would never be like her wonderful dad. "Elena, we should go." Cole tapped her shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered. "Huh? For what?" she stood up and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Well you haven't called me 'master' for a while, I like being called by my name. But you keep sticking up for me and trying to keep me happy too." Elena smiled up at him. He swished his black hair out of his eyes, "I'm your best friend, I'm only treating you how a best friend should!" Elena gave a weak laugh, "Best friend? I...want to...leave-no nevermind...I'm being cowardly again." The king stepped out from the castle, "Greetings Elena. My condolences, I just wanted to see how you were doing." "Hello, your majesty." Elena hugged herself again, she was so weak. "Is it okay? Is it okay that I want to run away again? I want to leave...I want to leave Areagore...I just want my old life back."