Ring of Power

Chapter 22: Disaster Strikes

     Emerald woke and quickly got dressed, heading out to the garden, the sun already in the sky. Emerald knew she was late, but she was too happy to care. She ran her left thumb over the bottom of her ring and smiled, glad to have it.
     Emerald entered the garden and thought back to the previous night, smiling as she saw Xavier and Arigorn conversing near the fountain.
     They looked up as she approached and Xavier smiled; Arigorn nodded as a happy silence enveloped them.
     "I'm sorry I'm late." Emerald said, looking down at her shoes and the cobblestone path.
     "Nay," Arigorn said, waving his hand, "You are faring well and what is time once you are engaged?"
     Emerald blushed as Arigorn's eyes twinkled with a boyish delight.
     "Thank you." She smiled at Arigorn and he winked.
     After a short pause, Arigorn began his lesson.
     "Now, we will be doing a mix of firing and deflecting..."
     Xavier watched as fire and lightning balls flew back and forth between the old sorcerer and his fiancée.
     The sun seemed to move quickly through the sky and Xavier was becoming soar from being on edge all day. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair, placing his head in his hands.
     A yelp made its way to Xavier's ears and his head snapped up to see Emerald laying on the cobblestone.
     He jumped up and ran to her side, her right arm was grazed by a deflected bolt of lightning and blood was slowly seeping from the wound. Xavier pulled his sword from its sheath and cut a piece of cloth from his shirt.
     He helped Emerald sit up and leaned her against the fountain, tying the cloth around her arm. She winced and he murmured an apology, helping her to her feet.
     "I'm fine." Emerald whispered.
     His hand slide into hers as they faced Arigorn, who was with his staff about ten paces away. He looked at the two and nodded.
     "We are done. You are almost ready." Arigorn turned to leave.
     The sky suddenly darkened and they all looked up to see dark clouds rolling over the garden. The wind picked up and Emerald's hair whipped around her face, her eyes squinted.
     Arigorn looked at the two and ran to their side, looking up at the sky with a worried expression.
     "What's going on!" Xavier yelled over the howling wind.
     "You need to get her out of here." Arigorn yelled, looking at Emerald with a worried look.
     Xavier grabbed Emerald's arm and pulled her toward the garden doorway, "I will be fine." She shouted in protest.
     Just as Xavier was about to reply, a large, black dragon landed in front of them, blocking their path into the safety of the castle beyond.
     The dragon looked at Emerald and growled a deep, vibrating sound that shook the stone around them. The creature approached and lifted its right claw, bringing it down for Emerald. Xavier pushed her out of the way and they rolled across the hard cobblestone. They stopped and Xavier pushed himself off of Emerald, helping her back to her feet.
     Arigorn began throwing fireballs at the beast, distracting it and causing it to grow angry.
     "RUN!" He yelled.
     Xavier pulled Emerald around the fountain and down another path in the garden. Just as they approached a doorway they heard the flapping of giant wings and looked up to see the dragon above them.
     The beast landed and swung its tail around, hitting Emerald and Xavier in the chest and throwing them backward. Emerald hit the cobblestone and jumped up, throwing a fireball at the dragon. She found Xavier nearby and pulled him to his feet.
     "We have to make sure Arigorn's alright." She yelled at Xavier.
     He looked at the dragon and put his hand on his head. They needed to get out of there but he wanted to make sure Arigorn was alright as well.
     The dragon looked at the teens and breathed a stream of fire at them. Emerald yelled and pulled Xavier out of the way of the flames, running back the way they came.
     Arigorn was on the ground near the fountain, unconscious. A long scratch was on his cheek, blood running into his beard. Emerald leaned over Arigorn and patted his cheek, when he didn't stir she leaned him up against the sand stone.
     The dragon stumbled through the plants, trampling them in its wake, and blew a stream of fire at the teens and old sorcerer. Emerald knew they wouldn't have enough time to move Arigorn out of the path of the flame.
     She closed her eyes and put her palm out toward the flames, turning her face. The flames hit her hand and flew around the three figures by the fountain.
     The dragon growled, furious.
     The beast took off with a snarl and a giant flap of its wings, pushing Emerald down with the power of the wind created with its powerful wings.
     The beast swooped up and around the garden, it came back down and stretched its claws out for Emerald and Xavier. The creatures left claw wrapped around Xavier's waist and Emerald yelled, standing up and releasing a fireball.
     The fireball hit the dragon's leg just before its right claw came down and hit Emerald in the chest, sending her flying backward. She hit her head hard on the ground when she crashed on the cobblestone and heard Xavier yell just before she lost all consciousness.

     Xavier looked under himself as the ground rushed by, bile rising to his mouth as the ground slipped out of sight. A tear escaped his eye as the wind rushed quickly by his face. He hoped Emerald was okay as the dark form of a castle appeared ahead.
     The dragon flew around to the back of the castle where an open field resided. The beast landed softly in the dark grass, keeping its claws around Xavier.
     A dark figure came from inside the ominous castle and slowly approached the beast. The figure was cloaked all in black, his hood up and covering his face.
     The figure stopped and looked at Xavier under the dragon's claws and pointed at him with a gnarled, black finger. He looked at the dragon, silent.
     "Is he The One?" The dark figure asked the dragon in a gurgling voice.
     The dragon looked at Xavier and shook his head in shame. The figure screamed a blood curdling scream.
     "Then who is?!?!"
     The dragon rumbled and the figure nodded as images of a girl flashed through his thoughts. The scenes changed to the battle with her using magic against the beast and the figure took a step closer to the beast.
     "Why did you bring him and leave her?"
     Again more pictures flashed through his mind as the dragon showed the figure how Xavier protected Emerald in the battle and then to the two rings on her fingers. The figure let out a sound that was similar to a laugh and looked at Xavier.
     "So the girl is The One," He said, "And she is also your lover. She will be here soon enough, then. Well done, Kihündi."
     The figure laughed again and patted the dragon on its snout, causing it to create a low rumbling sound. He them created a ball of light in his black hand. He reached down and released the ball; it floated and hit Xavier in the forehead, knocking him unconscious.

     Emerald woke to Arigorn leaning over her. His lips were moving but she couldn't hear the words he was saying. She went to sit up when a sharp pain flashed through her skull. Arigorn put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down.
     "Are you alright?" He asked, looking at her concerned.
     Emerald looked at Arigorn and nodded, "Are you?"
     "Yes." He said, helping Emerald to her feet. She stumbled and he steadied her arm.
     She looked around at the trampled plants, burnt grass, and crumbled stone. Then a thought struck her, she looked back at Arigorn with a worried look.
     "Where is Xavier?" She asked, remembering the dragon.
     Arigorn hesitated a moment, "I... I do not know."
     Emerald's face fell and she looked to the night sky, she placed her finger tips on her temple.
     "The dragon..."
     "Was sent by The Wraith, yes." Arigorn said, stroking his beard.
     "Why did he take Xavier?" She asked, "He was after me!"
     She began pacing back and forth in front of the fountain.
     "He needs leverage." Arigorn said slowly.
     "Well he got it." Emerald began to walk away when Arigorn grabbed her arm.
     She turned and looked at Arigorn, anger in her eyes.
     "You cannot go. You are not strong enough to face him."
     "I have to save Xavier."
     "He is bait! The Wraith will not hurt him until you come."
     "I don't care! He needs me and I'm not going to leave him." She tried to pull her arm free, but his grip was stronger than she expected it to be.
     "I know how you feel, but you must wait until you are strong enough to defeat him," He raised his hand as Emerald opened her mouth to protest, "He will not hurt Xavier as long as you are alive. You must finish your training, Emerald."
     She nodded, "How do you know that I'm not ready now?"
     Arigorn nodded toward her ring and she removed it, setting the ring on the stone ledge surrounding the fountain.
     Emerald tried to conjure a fireball; in response a small spark of flame appeared in her palm. It flickered and sparked and then it dissipated. Frustrated Emerald picked up the ring and shoved it back on her finger.
     Arigorn approached Emerald and placed a hand on her shoulder, slightly squeezing it. Once Emerald calmed down, she looked at Arigorn and he nodded.
     "You cannot help Xavier if you are killed." He said, concern creasing his brow.
     Emerald nodded, a tear running down her cheek as it hit her that Xavier was gone. Arigorn grabbed Emerald and pulled her in, hugging her close and holding her tight. She began to sob into his shoulder, he held her tight as she shook with grief.
     After some time, he finally pulled back and kissed her forehead, his lips dry like old, weathered paper. Arigorn brushed away Emerald's tear with his thumb, looking into her green eyes. He smiled a genuine smile and squeezed her shoulder once more. He led her to a nearby bench and they sat together under the sparkling stars.
     Emerald was thankful for Arigorn's company and his reassuring arm around her shoulders.
     She finally stirred and decided to walk back to her chambers, bidding Arigorn good night. Once inside she closed the door quietly and locked it. Arigorn was right in that she wasn't ready to destroy The Wraith, but Xavier meant to much to her to just sit back and let him be taken. She was going to save him, and no one would stand in her way.