The Waning Hour

Chapter 5: A Prophecy No One Saw Coming

The Sun King Hilios sat back in his throne as he fiddled with the golden stone in his hands. A decision needed to be reached but it was one he had great difficultly making. With his heart still heavy from the loss of his one true love, Hilios sank further in his throne.

"King, it has been confirmed that Detries is currently building an army to take over your relm. He plans his attack as we speak. We need to take action less everyone in this relm be destroyed. " Parthacies spoke, hoping to finally reach the ears of his king.

Hilios let out a frustrated sigh as he sat up in his chair, turning his attention towards his trusted asvisor.

"Too long I have been lenient. I have accepted her treaty and upheld it for centuries now. But I can not stand by and let my children be slaughtered and my relm fall. Ready the men and spread word to mine children. War is upon us." Hilios spoke with conviction as he placed the golden stone back into his pocket. He loved his goddess and her children, but he had an obligation to his own as well. It pained him to think of what this war would do. Drive a bigger wedge between them. However he could not turn his back on his children like he had for so long in his grief. Their protection was his top priority now. There was no other option.

Elizabeth woke the next morning with a new found joy in her heart. She quickly wasted no time reaching Garrett ' s room where she knew she would find the curious boy awaiting news from last night.

"Oh Garrett he came!" She exclaimed as she excitedly sat down beside him on the floor. His completion was still poor yet his fever had finally lifted. A small smile spread on his cracked lips as he turned to his beloved sister.

"He brought the gift I got you! I thought I lost it back in the Mor but he found it and bless his soul brought it to me!" She cheered as she carefully pulled the glass dragon from her pocket placing it in the palm of his hand.

Garrett held up the glass trinket inspecting it closely as his smile grew wider. "It's perfect Liza. Thank you!" He spoke threw a raspy voice as he placed it down next to the other four.

"Are you going to see him again?" Garrett suddenly asked as he turned back to his sister with curiosity in his eyes.

"I hope so." She said thoughtfully as she fiddled with her fingers.

"Well I should be off. Today is a busy day, so father says." Elizabeth chuckled as she leaned over and Planted a soft kiss ontop his warm forhead. "You rest up and get better. Fall is coming soon. This year father promises big things for the festival." Elizabeth smiled as she gave her brother one last kiss before making her way down stairs.

As Elizabeth approched the kitchen, she could hear muffled conversations followed by her father's loud voice grunting something she couldn't understand. Being curious Elizabeth slwoly crept towards the side wall where she quietly leaned an ear in hopes to hear what was being said.

"I only speak the truth. The visions they have been coming in clearer than ever before. Detries wishes war upon our kingdom. The Sun King has sent me word himself, we must prepair." The village seer's voice echoed under hushed tones. Fear and worry laced at every word.

"There hasn't been word of a war in a long time. I have lived centuries, personally upholding the truce our Father agreed to. There should be no reason for war!" Her father shouted as he slammed his fist hard against the kitchen table causing Elizabeth to jump.

"You are my oldest friend Ranguard. I would not lie to you. I think it is time we wake the worriors." The seer suggested.

Elizabeth shook her head trying to make sense of everything she heard. What war were they speaking of? Her father said he had lived centuries but to her knowledge he was no older than thirty and nine years. Nothing being said made any sense. And who were the worriors?

"And what do I tell the people hmm? How do you explain an entire army hybernating below our very streets? A decision cannot be made as of yet. I need time to ponder this all over." Her father spoke in a strained voice.

"As you wish." The hush voice replied.

Elizabeth stood frozen against the wall, a breath caught in her throat, as an old hunched figure left the confines of their kitchen. The cloaked figure suddenly stopped at the front door taking pause before turning to face her. All she could see beyond the cloak was a long white beard sitting below two bright milky eyes. A small smile formed on his lips as his eyes seemed to pierce her very soul, leaving her trapped in In a daze.

"Ah, it seems the fates have written you quite the role Elizabeth. Quite the role indeed." His voice seemed to echo in her head as his lips never moved. With one last smile the cloaked old man turned back around and swiftly made his exit.

Air came rushing back into Elizabeth's body as the door shut tight behind him. She placed a shaky hand on her chest hoping to calm her panicked heart. His words echoing in her head as she gasped for air. What would the fates want with her?

"Elizabeth... how long have you been standing there?" Her father asked causing her to jump. A sigh of releif washed over her as she looked upon a familiar face.

"I just came down father. Denise said she had left me breakfast by the stove." Elizabeth lied, knowing how mad her father would be if he knew she ease dropped yet again. Her father however stood there for a moment, his serious eyes looking her over before letting out a grunt of approval.

"Very well, as soon as you are done help Denise down in the fields. The Harvest needs to be done by the weeks end before Fall starts." Her father ordered before stalking out of the room and into his personal chamber.

Elizabeth quickly sucked down her breakfast before racing down towards the harvest fields. All the while thoughts of her father's conversation filling her head. Secrets were coming out and Elizabeth didn't like the results. Her perfect yet mundane world was now beginning to slide.

After a long day in the fields bells begun to ring signaling the waning hour was fast approching. All the workers gathered their haul and begun making their way back. long forgotten was the events of the morning and in its place were the mindless banter and jokes between her sister and herself. The two slipped arm in arm back to their cottage where the rest of the night carried on as usual.

After dinner once everyone was fast asleep Elizabeth made her way to the roof top. Excitment swelled in her chest at the prospect of seeing her beast again. But after a while disapointment begun to set in.

She had been up there for hours and yet there was still no sign of her beast. Hope had all but left her as she slowly stood from her spot on the roof. Then out of no where a familiar set of yellow eyes met hers. A small smile crept on her face as she watched her beast gracefully jump up to the roof top, landing with out a sound.

Both eyes met and for a while they stared in silence, all the while a secret conversation between souls carried on. And so thats how it was for months. By day Elizabeth was busy with work in the fields and by night she sat up under the stars with her beast. No words were ever spoken however their conversations seemed endless. Two souls bound together as their eyes spoke every word.

Long forgotten was her father's conversation and long forgotten were the words that once echoed in her mind. In their place thoughts of her beast lay. She often wondered how her beast looked out of the moon's light. She bet him to be quite handsome. And if not, well that didn't matter to her. His soul was beautiful often leaving her yearning for more.

In those nights a love begun to grow. A love as pure as the one the Sun King Hilios and the Moon Goddess once shared. A forbidden love was often times the purest of loves.

All was well in Elizabeth's world but a darkness was soon approching. Blinded by her joy Elizabeth never saw what was coming. What the fates really had in store for her.