The King of Stars and Storms

Chapter Eleven

Elizabeth opened her eyes to the sun peeking through her windows. She climbed out the bed and into the changing room. She changed into her gear before heading out the door. She walked down the hall and into the courtyard where she saw the numbers of soldiers preparing for battle. She couldn't believe that they might actually succeed. Elizabeth was too in her thoughts that she didn't notice that someone had walked up beside her. She was snapped out of it when that person spoke up. "Bet you didn't think that this many people would sign up for this did you?" The voice asked. Elizabeth turned to the side and saw Amara standing next to her also looking around at the vast majority of people in front of them. "No, I expecting a couple hundred but not nearly the entirety of the Masters." Amara turned to face Elizabeth. "We've never properly met. I'm Amara." She held out her hand. "I know. I'm Elizabeth." Elizabeth took Amara's hand in hers and shook it. "Christopher has told me all about you. All good things." Elizabeth stated. "Same here." Amara returned. "If you'll excuse me I better be getting prepared." Elizabeth excused herself. Amara just nodded as Elizabeth walked over to her horse which was next to Christophers. The Supreme appeared next to Amara who only glanced sideways at her. "She has no idea what she is getting herself into does she?" "No, but I hope for all our sakes this goes our way." They watched as the army filed out.

Luca gathered his things and went to leave, he was going to head and meet Elizabeth and the rest of the Masters at the realm of faerie before his father's attack on them, but before he could head out the door he was met with Gabriel. "Father. Sorry I didn't see you there." Gabriel looked him over and noticed his gear before speaking. "Going somewhere?" Luca cleared his throat. "Um... Yeah. I'm just going for a ride. I need to get out of the castle for a bit." "Do you want some company?" Luca shook his head. "No, I just want to be alone." Gabriel nodded his head before watching Luca walk away. Luca walked into the courtyard and saw Aurora and his mother standing by his horse. "You all set?" Mary asked. "Yes. Are you going to be alright?" The two women nodded. "Don't worry about us, you just focus on what you need to do." Luca climbed on the horse and rode out of the courtyard.

Luca rode non-stop until he got to the meeting place. He had no idea where he was going, Elizabeth told him that they would meet before heading to faerie. When he reached the clearing he didn't dismount. Luca stared off into the distance. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted familiar blonde hair flailing about in the wind which brought him back to reality and was now face to face with Elizabeth. "Not thinking about backing out now are you Luca?" She joked. Luca shook his head. "No. Just daydreaming that's all." Elizabeth spun her horse around so that she was facing the direction in which she came. "It's not that far the entrance is just up this way." She told him before racing off giving him no time to reply instead he just raced after her. Elizabeth glance back once in a while to check that he was still with her. It had crossed his mind that if they do succeed and they do stop their father, it means that he would become king. Luca thought of ways he would be a different, better king. He wouldn't kill the very people he had sworn to protect and he hoped to work with the faerie and elf realms to make the kingdom a better place.

Luca was confused when they stopped. He climbed off his horse and looked around them confusingly. "Are you sure this is the right place? There doesn't look like there is an entrance anywhere." Elizabeth glanced at him and sighed. "I'm sure. I've been here twice already." She walked over to stand in front of him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and spun him around to come face to face with the trunk of a tree. Elizabeth then placed her hands on his cheeks and moved his head up slightly. "See that light there?" She pointed to the light that he was looking at. "Yeah. But what has that got to do with anything?" Elizabeth skipped from behind him over to the tree and waved her hand over the light. Luca was taken by surprise when he heard the sound of locks moving and a dark archway appeared. Elizabeth looked over her should at him and smiled before stepping through. He wearily glanced around before following her. The door looked behind him and he noticed that Elizabeth had waited for him at the top of a spiral, metal staircase. When she saw that he had stepped through she descended the stairs with Luca in tow. Luca gazed around them, he followed the green vines which were broken by white flowers. He also noticed that they were the only bit of colour throughout the halls, the walls were murky brown and the doors were just plain black. Elizabeth stopped and pushed open the only door on the left-hand side. She opened it to reveal Diana, the queen of the faeries, Mason, the leader of the elves and another woman who he had never seen before. "Prince Luca, thank you for joining us." The unknown woman said. "You're welcome." Elizabeth stepped beside him. "You already know Queen Diana and Mason Lockleaf but may I introduce you to the leader of the Masters, The Supreme." Elizabeth pointed to the woman who he now knew as the Supreme. "It's nice to meet you." He nodded. "You too." She nodded in response. Mason stepped forward before speaking. "Sorry, but how do we know that you aren't working for your father and spying on us?" Luca gulped. "I supposed you don't but you just have to trust me." "Luca is the one who got the details of these attacks to me. I trust him. And you guys chose to trust me." Elizabeth stood up for him. She turned to the side to look at him and smiled softly which he returned. "Alright, but if you are working for the king don't think for a second that we won't come after you too." Luca nodded. "Duly noted."

Gabriel wondered around the castle frantically looking for Luca. He was too busy to notice Mary headed right towards him. "Gabriel. Are you alright?" Gabriel snapped his head round to look at her. "Yes. I was just looking for Luca. Have you seen him anywhere?" "No, I haven't." "I haven't seen him since before dawn when he told me he was going for a ride. I thought he would be back by now." Mary sighed before chuckling. "You know how he is. Why are you looking for him anyway?" Mary placed her hands on her hips. "I wanted him to attend a meeting with me at the faerie courts but I guess I'll just have to go without him." Mary nodded in response and watched him walk away. Once he was out of sight she rushed back to her room where Aurora was sat with Emily. Aurora snapped her head up as she heard the door open but she waited until the door was closed before she spoke. "Is it happening?" Mary didn't speak, she just nodded. "So what do we do now?" "Now we just wait." 

ⒸSashabarrow1999