Athena Elessedil

Chapter Eight: The Beginning of The End

Athena sat up with a gasp and Allanon, ran to her side immediately grasping her shoulders between his hands.

"I know, I know." He muttered reassuringly, kissing her atop her head. Athena pulled away and stumbled back towards the Ellcrys, desperate for another vision, another ending, but none came. Allanon slowly moved and stood behind her, capturing her petite frame in his large one. She gulped loudly, holding back her tears and leaning into the druid behind her.

"We will find a way." He muttered lowly but Athena just shook her head.

"She's right." The princess whispered. "This is the only way. The only way to save both the four lands and my niece. There's nothing we can do." Allanon sighed once more and turned Athena round so that he may properly hug her. She rested her head on his broad chest and closed her eyes. There they stood for a matter of moments before they were pulled apart by the arrival of the king. The two jumped apart almost instantly and turned to the remainder of the royals, who were looking at them expectantly.

"It's much worse than I thought. The Ellcrys is dying." Allanon announced to the king. Eventine's brows furrowed and he looked at his daughter who nodded in conformation.

"Are you certain?" He pressed and Allanon nodded once more.

"You need to mobilize the Elven army." He said forcefully, earning a cynical look from Arion in response.

"Why does a dying tree require an army?" he asked loudly, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room to him. Allanon looked at both Eventine and Athena in shock and disbelief. Athena walked forward and placed a hand on the druids shoulder comfortingly.

"Arion, remember we were taught the story of the Ellcrys a long time ago." She prompted, hoping her elder brother would get the hint and drop the subject. "Remember? Each leaf represents a single Demon. Once they begin to fall, the creatures of darkness will be released from the Forbidding, one by one. Surely you have not forgotten?" she prompted again, but her brother remained oblivious to his sisters words.

"We all know that story was just a fairy tale." He retorted, rolling his eyes at the supposed foolishness of his sister. Arion stomped forward, ignoring the protests of Athena and Ander. He stood next to his father, face to face with Allanon before turning to face the king.

"Father, you're not actually listening to this, are you?" he scoffed. Eventine furrowed his eyebrows at his sons attitude as Allanon pushed past Athena's comforting hand and closer to Eventine.

"You've allowed him to believe this when you know the opposite to be true." He shouted angrily.

"After the War of the Races, I believed that magic had disappeared, along with you and the Warlock Lord." Eventine protested.

"Well, then you tell that to your people when the fairy tales are ripping out their throats!" Allanon retorted, getting angrier by the minute.

"Enough!" Athena yelled, running forward once again and throwing herself between the boys. She glared at them all in turn.

"Fairy-tale or not, we have just been told that a serious threat is to fall on our Lands and you sit here squabbling like some children. No!" she yelled glaring at her father then brother. "You taught me better than that. Tilton!" she turned to face the commander, who was standing by the door.

"Yes milady." Tilton said stepping forward.

"Mobilize the army, we need as much help as we can get." She said, storming out of the sanctuary and out of the palace. She ran as far as she could until she approached a lake. It was almost identical to the one in her vision. Athena gasped and fell to her knees, the tears finally falling.

"Athena?" A voice said from behind her. The young princess turned and there stood the druid.

"What do you want?" she said, half expecting the druid to come closer, but he did no move. Instead he sat down, 50 yards or so away, and stared at her.

"What are you doing?" she spat after a few moments of silence and the druid smiled slightly.

"Waiting for you to calm down." He answered simply and she raised her eyebrows at him.

"I'm calm." She said and he nodded at her hands, who were covered in blood from where she had been gripping them so tight. Athena winced slightly and rubbed her hands together.

"How did you even see that?" she asked, due to her hands being behind her back they had been obstructed from both his and her view. The druid stood and knelt before her. He turned her head with his right hand and showed her his left, which had the same fingernail marks decorated across his palm. Athena looked at him with wide eyes and the druid smiled slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"άγγελος." He whispered quietly and closed the gap between them, sealing their lips in a kiss.