The King of Stars and Storms

Chapter Nine

Elizabeth, Alfie and Christopher were sat in various places around her room. "So what does it say?" Christopher asked. "The attacks are going to take place in a week's time starting with the faeries." She replied. "So when do we leave?" "Dawn. So go get some rest." They left the room and Elizabeth changed out of her training gear and into something more comfortable before climbing into bed. It took a while for sleep to come as her brain kept going over and over the plans for the upcoming day and what would happen to all of them if they failed. Luca, Mary and Aurora would be thrown in the dungeons if not executed as the rest certainly would be. She just hoped for Emily's sake, as well as theirs, that this goes well.

Elizabeth, a little ahead of the rest of the group, halted when she reached the familiar spot in the forest, and effortlessly slid off the back of her horse. She waltzed up to the tree and waited for the rest to catch up. "Are you sure this is the right place?" A young man asked. Elizabeth recognised him from around the compound and heard that he could really hold his own in a fight. She spun to face the group. "I'm sure. This was where we entered last time." Elizabeth waved her had infront of the tree, looked back and smirked when she heard the sound of locks. Once the door had opened she stepped forward and descended the staircase followed by the rest. When she reached the bottom she was stopped by the guards. When the rest caught up to her, one of the guards spoke up. "What are you doing here?" Do you thing we've forgotten what happened last time you were here." Elizabeth huffed. "No. but I have information for the queen that she will happily appreciate." The guard glanced between Elizabeth and his colleague. Before walking away. There was an awkward silence before the other guard returned. "She will see you and only you but you will have to leave your weapons." Elizabeth looked back at her friends before giving her weapons to Christopher before following the guard.

She felt multiple eyes on her, she didn't expect any less as the last time she was here she did kill and injure some of their guards. Elizabeth walked into the throne room and noticed the amount of guards standing around the edges of the room. She halted in the centre of the room bowing. "Forgive me Elizabeth for excess of guards here. But after our last encounter I couldn't take any chances." The queen spoke softly. "It's not a problem Queen Diana. This time I have not come to fight but to relay some important information." "And why is this information so important?" "Because it could save your entire realm." quiet chatter erupted from the guards. "And how would it save us." She stepped forward pulling out a piece of paper. Guards stepped forward thinking she had a concealed weapon but once she showed the paper they stepped back. "Calm down guys it's just a piece of paper." She handed it to the queen and walked back to her spot. "What it this?" The queen asked. "It's the time and dates for planned attacks on your kingdom and the kingdom of elves. The king plans to expand his kingdom by taking over yours and killing the lives of innocences." The queen was shocked. "Why would you give us this? After what happened." "We have a common enemy. You were trying to save your people, even though it cost the lives of innocents and I don't hate every faerie for what happened and I don't want to see innocent people die when I could have done something to stop it. The king needs to be stopped." "And what do you wand from us in return for this information?" "I have yet to talk to Mason Lockleaf yet but the Master's have agreed to fight by your side if you will let us." The queen nodded. "Very well. We will see you on the battlefield." "Thank you your majesty." Elizabeth bowed walking out of the room.Elizabeth strolled down the hall back to her friends. They spotted her and gave her a questioning look. "One down one to go." She laughed taking her sword out of Christopher's hands and ascended the stairs and exited the faerie realm. The team got on their horses and kept headed east further away from their home and towards the elf realm.

The team rode over the rocky mountains following the stream until they came upon a lake. Elizabeth stopped and stared at this lake. She had never seen a scene more beautiful. The water in the lake shimmered with the light of the sun and where the stream met the lake, there was a mini waterfall, and all she could hear was the sound of the horses' hooves against the stones and the sound of water crashing against the rocks. Alfie stopped beside her. "Where do you think the entrance is?" He asked. "I'm not entirely sure-" She trailed off when she spotted movement not that far in the distance. "Over there." She pointed with her arm and Alife turned his head in that same direction. "Nice spot, Lizzie." They smiled at each other as Christopher caught up with them. "Have you found it?" Christopher asked. Elizabeth glanced around them and saw that the rest of their team was waiting for her lead. She nodded her head. "It looks like it's about a 10-minute ride from here." Christopher grinned at her. "After you." Elizabeth didn't reply, instead rode off followed by her friends.

Guards stood in rustic armour, protecting the entrance to the realm of elves. Before they saw them, they heard the hooves of horses in the distance, glancing at each other they drew their staffs preparing to fight off unwanted guests. Elizabeth noticed their positions before she came to a halt. "Put your weapons down we are not here to fight. I have an urgent message for your leader. I need to speak with him immediately." The guards looked at each other before nodding. Elizabeth slid off her horse, handing the reigns over to Alife before following the guard through the invisible entrance. Once she had stepped through she had entered the hidden room. It was very different from the realm of faerie. First off it was a lot brighter and vibrant, they had flowers of different colours, branches draped from trees nearly touching the ground. Elizabeth stared in awe trailing behind the guard as they walked through the court and into a meeting room. Mason was stood around a strategy table with his sister Katarina. He snapped his head up when he heard the doors open. "What is it?" He demanded. "This girl has a message for you. She says it's urgent." The two men nodded and the guard left the room. "And who are you?" He asked snapping Elizabeth out of her trance. "Elizabeth Grey. I am the daughter of King Gabriel." Mason looked at her surprised. "You are the long lost princess." She nodded. "But that is not why I am here." She pulled out the piece of paper and tossed it on the table. "This is why I am here." Katarina snatched it off of the table, opened it and read it. Katarina's mouth gaped open looking between the letter, Mason and Elizabeth. "Are you sure this is true?" She asked. "I'm sure. The king plans to attack your realm after he attacks the faerie realm but we are asking you to fight back and we'll fight with you." Elizabeth replied. "So you are willing to go against your father? Why?" He stopped right in front of her. "His blood might run through my veins but he isn't my father. My father died five years ago when he was killed by the faeries that the king hired." Mason moved back to his previous spot. "Alright, we accept your offer to fight. We'll see you on the battleground." Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you for your time." She said backing out of the room and marched out the way she came. Back to meet her friends. Christopher spotted her. "SO?" Elizabeth nodded, smiling.

Christopher paced. He and his mother waited patiently for Elizabeth in the clearing she told them to meet her at. "Luca would you stop. She'll be here." Mary said. "But what if something's happened. What if they didn't believe her. We're screwed if that's happened." Just then they heard the sound of hooves. They snapped their heads in that direction and saw Elizabeth riding towards them. Elizabeth stopped and got off her horse. Mary ran up to her embracing her, Elizabeth returned it before turning to Luca. "You look nervous." Luca let out a shaky breath. "I am. I just want this to alright." "And it will I spoke to both Diana and Mason and they believe us. They accepted our offer to fight by their side." They nodded in response. "So what now?" Mary asked. "Now we prepare. Also, we mustn't let the king know what we are up to." "I can do that," Mary said. Elizabeth turned to get back on her horse to leave but before she could do that Luca stopped her. "Elizabeth." She spun on her heels to face him. "Yes?" "I was wondering if you could help me train." "Of course. Meet here every night." Luca nodded. Elizabeth then jumped on her horse and rode back towards the Masters.

ⒸSashabarrow1999