Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Fifty

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Colm's P.O.V

My eyes slipped away from Isaak's. I could see his concern; he thought I had another trick to pull.

I still can not believe I allowed them to see my panic. It was something I should never have allowed to occur. I had reigned it in, for the moment, though it only amplified the feeling inside of me. I wanted to vomit the pain and the dread, but I knew it was not that simple. My heart was beating at a pace that concerned me; I wondered if I was having a heart attack. 

The failed wrist that I allowed to hang, limp and useless, by my side, caused an aching pain to spread from it to the entire of my body, and if it had been practical I would have cut it off. But of course, I did not care for bleeding to death. 

The four people who stood in front of me were the strongest group I had ever come across, including the fifth who was now dead. They had called it Willow and Wolf; was the soldier a boy or a girl? I could not ask, despite my curiosity. 

How pathetic I was, standing with my back to my men who knelt to another man, and rightfully so; he was, with no doubt, stronger than me. Would there be any worth resisting him, I wondered. Was there any point? 

No. I was not one to throw away my life for a pointless cause. Fighting against them would be more pointless than any of my father's schemes. More pointless then the trust I had held for my brother, Mekhi. 

I had been glad before, that Saga had come along with them. How foolish of me. I had believed that it would be useful to test the poison I had created, see if it would work as well as I had originally thought. At first, everything was going as according to plan; both immortals had been weakened severely, and would not be any danger. 

I had not been worried, anyway, about whether the poison would work on Saga. He was normally indifferent, nonchalant. But then the stupid man decided to feel indebted to the others, no doubt because of the one he called a lover; the aberidus, I assumed. 

I thought I could be powerful enough to fight against two weakened immortals, a rogue okirima, and a pathetic onama. Oh, how wrong I had been. Not only was the onama partly aridian, he was the infamous child of the two my father had killed, and wielded his deceased mother's sword. The rogue okirima was an admirable swordsman, and one immortal stronger than anyone alive. 

I had lost before the fight had even begun, and I hadn't even realise it. 

If only Mekhi hadn't switched sides so readily, if only he hadn't stolen our mother's ring from me so easily. It had already cut me to see him step down, unwilling to fight for either side, unwilling to fight for me. But then he listened to the onama's words and attacked me, stole from me, behind my back. Allowed that Ash to heal Saga, speeding up the immortal's recovery. I feel now I have lost my brother. The only one I had left to love slipped through my fingers like melting ice; cold, numbing, nonreturnable. 

I could not be killed. I knew that. This country I was ruler of is too valuable; I could not risk it falling into unworthy hands. I knew the throne was no longer in my reach, not when I was standing before these defiant men. They would do what they could to rip it from me, keep it from me. Not matter how hard I fought then, they would be taller than me, not even my fingertips could brush against the cold metal of the crown. It was just as lost as I was. 

The vomiting sensation rose back in my stomach yet I squashed it down violently. I pressed back the shiver and shudder my body begged me to feel, and forced my traitorous eyes back to Saga's. His venomous lips formed an arrogant smirk. Dread, hatred, and a tinge of respect pulsed in my mind as I gazed up at this ancient figure before me. 

"I won't force you to do anything, Colm. What is your decision?" He murmured. 

I tried not to scowl at him; his words were pure garbage. Even if he didn't use his mind powers on me, he was still forcing me to back down. What choice was this? To die, or give up my rule? He knew I wouldn't kill myself, so indeed, he was forcing me down the only path available. 

I regretted calling for reinforcements. I knew now it was Saga's plan; panic me, make me call more witnesses into the room before I could consider my actions, and then let them watch their King throw his dignity and lay down his prized crown. Shameful. Pathetic. That's all I was now. No longer the strong, worthy King I had been moments before. 

My brain searched for some way out but only dead ends could be found. This was pointless. I looked into his eyes and he knew too. Those reddish brown eyes saw right through me. 

I bowed my head. "Mekhi." I breathed, panic dying on my voice. I allowed myself to glance into his shocked brown eyes as he stared at me in confusion. I walked to my throne, standing before it. "Come here." I growled, defeated. 

They let him walk past, possibly unsure still whether or not to trust him. I knew they could; I could see it in his eyes. He would gladly lay down his life for them, not me, not his own blood. I rose my chin to him, not allowing my last moments as King of this country to be lacking in the pride I was washing away by my own hands. "Your sword." I demanded, and he drew it and handed it to me reluctantly, knowing I would not kill him now. I was a ruined man. 

"Kneel, brother." I told him, my voice trembling and hushed. Inwardly, I grimaced at the weakness I was laying bare. His eyes lit. He realised what I was doing. He dropped to one knee, and let his gaze fall to the floor underneath him. I dug the weapon into the softened material in front of the King's chair, and placed one hand on his shoulder. I could see his eyes, wide, staring at the blade in front of him, shock still etched on his features. 

"With the power vested in me, King Colm of Odriscia, as the ruler of this land, I give up my position and place it unto Crowned Prince and High Commander Mekhi-ran." I let him go, and drew my gaze to the men who were no longer mine. "Those in this room bear witness to this momentous occasion..." my voice faded to a breathy whisper, "rise, the new King, Mekhi, of Odriscia."

So whadya guys think? Second-last-ish chapter! 

Do you feel sorry for Colm or is that just me? 

What do you think about Saga and what he forced Colm to do 0_0? Do you think that's what he planned?

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY DEAR SOULS! Thank you so much to all of you who have made it thus far! And for those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have an awesome day too!

Possibly the last chapter tomorrow! SO EXCITED!

Love you all again,

Baby xx