Age of Darkness

Chapter 43: The End... For Now...

Finally, it's over... I breathe a sigh of relief. With the end of my adrenaline rush, I begin to feel the pain of my injuries. I know I've broken a rib. And then I remember Elizabeth, and run over to her.

I take her hand. It's cold. Her face is pale, and her eyes are staring straight forward. Her body's stiff. I scramble through my brain, thinking of what to do...

''This is going to hurt... A lot...''

I grab the blade, and slowly pull it out. Very slowly. I don't want to hurt her, but I know I will end up doing so. A look of extreme pain shadows her face, but I have to, and it finally comes out. I throw it away, and pull up her shirt slightly, to see the wound. (Nothing else, for you weirdos out there!)

It's surrounded in black. That blade must have been poisoned. I know if I don't do something, it will kill her. No, I can't bear that thought.

I'm still scrambling my brain, of all the things my grandfather taught me when I was younger, one thing stands out. It's old magic, but it might work...

''Sorry, Elizabeth...''

I put my hand on her stomach, and I focus. My hand begins to tingle, and I feel it go into Elizabeth. DO NOT ask me how it feels. It's just... I would never want to do it again. I attract the poison to my hand, and absorb it into myself. Quickly, I pull my hand out, not wanting to do any further damage, and with a squeeze of my hand, eradicate the poison.

I fall to my knees, exhausted. Her eyes open, and she takes a gasp of air.

''Nicholas... I... Thank you.''

I'm about to embrace her, when the walls begin to shake. Rubble crumbles from above us.

''The building's coming down!'' Elizabeth yells.

''Can you stand?'' I ask her. She tries, but trips and falls back down. Darn, I'm having trouble standing myself...

I pick her up in my arms, as the shaking intensifies, and the castle continues to crumble into ruin around us. I run across the room, to one of the many stained glass windows, and kick it, breaking the beautiful image,

''Nicholas! No!'' Elizabeth yells at me, as I ready myself to jump out. ''You know I'm afraid of heiiights!'' I jump. Will I have the power to lessen the force of our landing. I try to levitate, Yes, it's not much, but we won't die. We crash to the ground, right in the middle of the battle outside. I try to stand, but I tumble into nothingness, as I black out for the third time today...

********************

When I open my eyes again, I'm lying in a bed. The aura of the place is calm, peaceful... I try to stand, but I feel a stabbing pain in my chest. I was right. I've got a broken rib. Bandages are wrapped around my chest. I'm covered in bruises. I'm sore, but I still try to stand. Over time, I manage to.

I slip on my tunic, and limp out of the room. In the next room, I see Elizabeth, Zelda, and Christopher sitting at a table, talking. Elizabeth sees me, and runs towards me, wrapping me in a hug. She's bandaged like I am. So is Zelda. Christopher looks tired, but there's a smile on his face.

''How long have I been out?'' I ask.

''Two days,'' Zelda replies.

''Good work, you two,'' Christopher says. ''We couldn't have done it without you.''

''Is the battle over? What happened?''

''Yes, we won, shortly after you two tumbled from the now destroyed castle. It must have been a trap, a last resort, if Zirkon was to be beaten, he wanted to take out a few people on the way. We overcame the other army. Limited casualties on our side. Of course, many died, and... And they will be missed. But it is over now. It shall be a new age of peace and prosperity for Zaria, and hopefully all of Altaria, thanks to you.''

''It was all we fould do. It's not as if we could just leave Zaria to be engulfed in darkness.''

''No, and for that, we will be eternally grateful. There will be sagas written of you, Nicholas. You too, Elizabeth. You will go down in history,l like your grandfather. Statues will be erected of you. Which gets me to my point. Zaria needs new rulers-''

''No. Zaria doesn't need a ruler. Rulers are fickle, they become corrupt, and history would repeat itself. Keep the council. Led them lead the people. Democracy is the key.''

''Very well, of course. And now, you may want to get out of the city, if you don't like huge celebrations. Go out like the heroes of old, out in the sunset.''

I look to Elizabeth, and she nods.

''We'll be going, then.''

Christopher shakes our hands, and bows.

''May we meet again, my dear friends.''

********************

Zelda has decided to go ahead, and make sure the area is clear. That's fine by us. I could use some time alone with Elizabeth. I take her hand, and rest my head on her shoulder, as we watch the sunset on a hill outside the city.

''What's next?'' She asks.

''I guess we'll find another adventure,'' I reply. ''But of course, I could use a good break.''

She laughs, and as I watch the sunset of red, orange, and pink, I sigh to myself, and for the first time in my life, it feels as if all's well with the world...

*END OF BOOK 1*