Azztons and The Resistance - On Hold

Ch 2: Lies and Secrets

Phakos' PoV:

    “<Your Majesty, the preparations for my troops has neared completion>,” said Ingloss Orin, the mayor of S'leenOin. “<As is mine>,” the mayor of Eskoon-no, Dey-Stra Corbino, added as they stood around the table with Shawn-Ty, Kooch-DwaIn, multiple other mayors, several captains of the guards and myself back in our capital of Phawnkhan, Shurawno. The table has a map of the upper layer of the land, the United States of America’s section, with the citadels marked. “<Good. We will visibly deploy our troops in the surrounding areas of the citadels as that is where they may most likely attack first. We need to plant troops and hide them within a 70 mile radius around each citadel>,” I stated firmly. The alliance meeting with the humans went well. They were now readying their defenses within the 70 mile radius similarly to us. We had stressed that aerial attacks were not a wise move as most of our flyers had been desolated by canons that fired from the tops of the citadels. Fortunately those canons couldn't hit the ground. Although Kooch-DwaIn did raise a valuable point, the attacks from the Azztons and their citadels could be different this time.

    “<How is Hiilan-di fairing?>” Kooch-DwaIn asked me with a worry filled voice. He did not know everything that had transpired for her while she worked to destroy that particular citadel from within, but he knew how long she had remained inside her tree afterwards. I close my eyes, trying to will the memory of the look on her face as she collapsed into my arms as she along with several humans and elves made their way to safety behind elven lines after their escape. She held a devastating look of defeat and terror that seemed to be embedded into her eyes even 20 plus years after the war ended and we had chased out the Azztons. This second war against the Azztons was going to be extremely hard for her and I would never send her into a citadel to destroy it from within; originally it was her idea to go through that effort. It would simply be too much for her and she would be lost to us… to me forever.

    A sigh comes out of me before I say, “<I do not know just yet. But I suspect she may be holding up a facade to hide what she is truly feeling.>” Kooch-DwaIn solemnly nods his head to me. The others in the room knew of how she had been after her escape as well; it was evident to them how traumatized she had come back to us as. Nods come from them as well, all hoping Hiilan-di would be able to help and knowing to leave her be if she can't. I knew where she would be hiding out at. Her tree deep inside the palace gardens is her go to place to rest her mind.

After the meeting came to an end, I excused myself from the others and they converese a bit further of our plans. Briskly making my way through the halls of my palace, I make it to the gardens. Faltering one step as I hesitate for but a moment, I stumble slightly before walking on. I tilt my head back and let out a small sigh as my eyes close briefly, I hope she is alright, but I doubt it.

Navigating to the deepest parts of the gardens, I finally come to a stop before a large willow tree. My lips part as I gaze upon the majestic tree, Hiilan-di's tree. She is of a race of elves called Tree Elves. Each Tree Elf is born in the form of a sapling at the base of the mother Tree Elf's tree, after she returns to it during the final month of the pregnancy. It takes a few years before the elflings come out of their growing trees, but then they grow up almost like any other elf, as they are capable of returning to their tree anytime. Most of the younger Tree Elves will return to sleep at night, as it is predominantly where they find the most comfort. Unfortunately… Hiilan-di is the last of her kind.

I sigh again before placing my hand on the willow, feeling its warmth and heart beat. "Hiilan-di?" I call her name, hoping for some sign of response. Several long moments pass before I see a part of the tree shift. 'There she is,' I think to myself as the part shifts and seems to glide underneath the bark to the base of the tree. Withdrawing my hand now, I watch as she steps out of her tree, it almost sticking and clinging to her as she exits before returning to normal. "Yes, Your Majesty?" Her voice quacked. A tear stained face with almost hollow eyes gaze back at me making my heart break inside my chest again.

"Hiilan-di…," I approach her, then slide my arms around her frail frame, holding her close to me, "You need not face your memories alone." She choked, before balling against my chest. Placing one hand firmly against her back and one on the back of her head, I hold her securely in place as she wails hauntingly against me.

I know not how long she cried for, but I knew she needed to. As she finally settles to only small hiccup like sobs come out of her heaving frame, she speaks in a shaky voice, "I feared they would return… No…," she pauses, before gazing up into my eyes, "I knew they would return. I- I found texts of their plans that they would return and return again if they can not get whatever it is they seek." She trembled then, most likely afraid of me being upset with her for her not saying anything before. "Hiilan-di," I start speaking a sorrow filled expression upon my face, "You have been in pain for so long because of them. I am not surprised you never spoke of that before." Taking my hand from behind her head, I brush her matted hair from her face as I give her a kind yet solemn expression.

Her expression tired in distress before she buried her face against my chest and heaved heavy breaths. "I hate lying!" She exclaimed in distraught, "They are after what my kind have been protecting!" Her words were followed by several apologizes making me freeze. "What have you been protecting?" I ask hurriedly bringing her face up in my hands, hoping she would tell me. She shuddered, bowed her head, and placed her hand against her tree. One root lifts, followed by two more. I gaze at the root ball that sits underneath her tree, my attention diverting to her as she said, "The Azztons knew it was a Tree Elf guarding it. That is why they worked hard to exterminate us," then she uncoiled the roots and revealed to me what was inside of the ball. My eyes widen as my jaw slackens and lips part. My body feels as if it seized up in shock and I utter, "Is... that-?"