Unforgiven

Reclaiming the Throne

Anodien threw open the doors to Faellond, fury burning in her heart. She hadn't walked through these halls since she'd slain her own father, but she figured that didn't matter. Most of it had been rebuilt after her destruction of it anyhow. There was still a faint familiarity and dark feeling within her chest that made her belong.

This was her home-- at least, she would make it so. If she had to kill every single person within its walls, then so be it. She would reclaim her birthright. Ahead was the throne room where her cousin Aerolett likely was. He was undoubtedly teaching the Fae to praise Iluvatar. That weak accursed creationist, Anodien reflected. Still, she couldn't go through with anything until she'd rid herself of it all.

There was only one way to take the throne without protests from not only the population, but also her own sense of righteousness. With that, she headed towards the crumbling, unused portions of the castle, the parts that had once been her own chambers. Inside, she knew each and every nook and cranny.

She tiptoed around the guards, the goal her room. It was unlikely someone would run across her there, but she did not want to take any chances. Not just yet, anyways.

After arming herself in dark ebony chainmail and plates, the Faeling pressed on a small stone in her wall before pulling it out and setting it down. The next part of her plan came with great risk, but also great reward if she did it correctly. It would allow her to go through with every plan she'd come up with in the weeks it had taken her to arrive at Faellond.

Anodien removed a small golden strongbox from under her bed and melted away the lock, staring at the letters inside. They were the secret correspondences her father hadn't found during the war, the ones between her and Legolas while she'd been trapped in Faellond. Ignoring the urge to read them, she waved a hand and burned them to ash before wiping the box clean.

Setting her fingers over her ribs, she prepared herself for the pain and plunged her hand into her chest.

...

Lairiel gripped Vilkas' fur as he loped forwards, his eyes set forwards as he followed Anodien's scent. It was clear to her where the princess was going, and she could only pray that she'd catch up before Anodien would reach Faellond.

"Hasten your steps, Vilkas," Lairiel urged, bending down. The wolf let out a howl and took longer strides, his paws making loud thumps on the ground as he obeyed the command.

With the direwolf as her mount, she would reach the Fae capitol in less than a week. If Lady Luck was on her side, she'd find Anodien before it. Her intelligent Elven mind did the math, and her spirits fell. On foot, it took around two weeks to reach Faellond. It appeared from Legolas' story that Anodien's burning ire had forced her to recover almost instantly and would provide her with enough energy to continue. With a horse, a week. Vilkas, it might take five days at the least. However, Lairiel realized, if that eitha Legolas had wasted a week searching for Anodien, then it's all too possible that she'll have arrived Faellond before I will.

Either way, Lairiel would not stop. She needed to find Anodien, and needed to find her as soon as possible.

...

Anodien was no longer hiding from the guards. Instead, she walked straight through, earning several surprised looks from servants and guards alike. A few of the guards raised the alarm, but the Faeling simply gave each of them the same greeting, leaving a pile of soot behind. Her silver sword was raised, the same sword she'd left behind after following Legolas, the sword of Talagan.

Ahead was her cousin, and upon seeing her, he gave a smile and hopped off the throne. "Anodien!" he called out joyfully, striding over to embrace her. "You should have sent a messenger. I--" Blood bubbled at his mouth as he walked straight into her blade, and though he looked confused at first, disappointment replaced it almost immediately. Anodien knew why. Of course she did, there had been no need for her to slay her cousin.

Still, wasn't regicide the best way to show that she had control?

Unfortunately, the guards in the room didn't think so.

...

Lairiel appeared before Anodien, eyes wide as she beheld the horrifying sight before her.

Anodien sat upon the platinum throne, limbs bathed in the blood and ashes of Aerolett Lightbringer and his followers. Charred bones were strewn about the room, crimson stains on the rug. Despite the carnage-- and perhaps because of it-- Anodien smiled, a horrid, wicked smile full of malice.

"Anodien," Lairiel whispered, eyes sweeping the room as Vilkas whimpered beside her. "What have you done?" She didn't expect an answer. After all, Anodien hadn't spoken in thousands of years.

So when she heard the harsh, grating voice of her friend, hardly sounding anything like Anodien at all, she shivered in fear.

"He took my throne. I took it back."