by Toni Cox
They circled, announcing themselves, warning the guards of their arrival. Midnight landed and let them dismount, before taking off again and settling a half mile to the south.
“My Lady,” one of the guards shouted against the wind, “what brings you out in this weather?”
“Magic has been cast over the stones, holding the storm in place. We are here to battle the magic. Tell your men to stay clear.”
The man nodded and left them to it, gathering his men before retreating to their camp situated just over the first rise of the rolling hills of the plain.
Hand in hand, Maia and Blaid stepped within the circle of broken stones. The stones were but a symbol for the Gate and the Channel still existed even though the stones lay broken on the frozen ground.
The moment they entered the circle, both felt the magic vibrate through their bodies. Although covered in layers of thick clothing to protect against the cold, Maia felt the hairs on her arms stand erect at the sheer force of it. Even the ancient symbols upon the stones, which had faded over the ages, glowed a dull gold.
A moment of fear and indecisions settled over Maia, and she hesitated. The storm raged around them, buffeting them from all sides. Icy cold seeped into their clothing, chilling them to the bone. The evil magic coiled itself around them, robbing them of their free will.
Blaid straightened his back and grasped Maia’s hand firmly, dragging her forward. His jaw clenched tight and his brow furrowed deep over his eyes as he fought the force of the magic to stop them from reaching the centre of the circle. Overcoming her moment of fear, Maia joined him in his drive for the middle, both screaming by the time they reached it.
“Not a whisper of wind here,” Maia said once they broke through the invisible barrier.
“Warmer, too.”
“Let us begin. Are you ready?”
“Aye, my love.”
Their Masters had taught them many lessons during their training to become Primes, yet none of those were of any help today. Neither had ever battled a storm, or old magic, and all they had to draw on were the few too short stories Yolanden told them.
They faced each other, clasped hands, and closed their eyes. They only had each other. They only needed each other. They were One.
As their energies mingled, a twirling spiral of light and dark grew outwards from their position, pushing against the storm around them. Midnight lifted his head to look in their direction, but could not discern Bright-Shining-Silver-Star from Dark-Silver-Moon. The guards in the camp looked up into the sky and saw a silver beam of light shine straight up into the roiling, grey clouds above.
Across Grildor, the storm raged on, but its winds no longer hindered the progress of the marching armies, and the ice floes across Nithril Deep melted. Warships docked along the coast, bringing warriors from the east.
The combined Legions of all the cities of Grildor formed a formidable protective ring around the circle of stone, keeping their beleaguered Primes safe from all outside influences; while those of the foreign Legions already present fortified the structures at the ten mile marker.
Siana flew several trips at the head of the scale of wild dragons carrying her father’s army to Grildor, letting her father ride with her on Vulkan and only allowing Vulkan to carry Lilith. Lord Elderbow met with Lord Longshadow in Shadow Hall, discussing their plans, before both rode out at the head of their armies towards Greystone.
The Lords of Kis and Eiken merged their armies, fortifying the southern side of Menandril Fields. The armies of Wilstantia, Erganor, and Sentra Merl had met on their path to Grildor, forming an imposing front as they moved across the land.
Once the dragons brought the Belmonian army to Grildor, their numbers swelled the ranks of those already marching over the snow-covered ground. Day by day, the dragons brought more warriors from all directions until, finally, eleven days after Lord Longshadow had given the order, every country’s army; with the exception of Oberon; marched within Grildor’s borders.
The final numbers surprised everyone. Everyone, even the commoners off the land, had heeded the call and joined the armies as they made their way towards the Gate. Over two hundred and fifty thousand Elves, with a few Humans and Dwarves in between, had taken up arms.
It was the largest assembly of armies seen within Greater Grildor in ten millennia; warriors, horses, dragons, war machines, wolves, and hunting falcons all made up the formidable force that spread out around the ten mile marker by the time Maia and Blaid collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
Wake! Wake, Shining-Ones.
The rhythmic beating of Midnight’s wings soothed Maia’s tired soul. She did not want to wake. Warm and comfortable, nestled between Midnight’s spike and Blaid’s body, with the noon sun shining onto her closed eyes, she cared for nothing else.
Maia’s stomach rumbled, followed by a sharp twist of hunger. She frowned and grimaced, splitting her parched lips.
Wake, partner of my soul, Midnight said.
Reluctantly, Maia opened her eyes. Ahead, the black shape of Midnight’s neck and head against a blue sky filled her vision. Blue sky?
Storm has passed.
Where are we going?
Home, Midnight rumbled.
Why?
Drink. Eat. Rest.
The moment Midnight said those words, the full impact of her physical state became clear to her. Blaid stirred behind her and, when she looked at him, she was horrified at what she saw.
“You look no better,” he croaked.
Landing in Gathering Grounds.
This alone should have been a warning to Maia, as Midnight never landed within the city, especially not now that he had grown so much. The moment they touched the ground, her dragon crouched low and four people nimbly ran up his leg.
Maia squinted at them, for who dared mount her dragon, but her vision blurred and she did not recognise them until they bodily picked them both up and carried them off the dragon.
“Luke? Mother?”
“It is all right, Maia, we will take care of you. We are going to take you home and Luke will look after you both until you are strong enough to return.”
Maia looked to Maël and Kian, her grandparents who carried Blaid. They smiled weakly at her, pity in their eyes. Did she look that bad? She tried to move, but her mother’s grip was firm and Maia could not find the will, or the muscles, to make herself move.
Closing her eyes again, she let herself be carried to the common room of their home, where they were put on makeshift beds before the fire. They received a small glass of lukewarm water to drink, before Maël and Malyn fed them chicken broth.
The soup went down warm and salty, warming her from the inside. Lying next to each other, hidden underneath stacks of furs, warmed by the crackling fire, sleep took them soon after they had eaten.
Several times during the night, Maia would wake up, confused, as if remembering something important, but each time her mother’s words soothed her back to sleep.
“Maia, are you awake?”
“Aye,” Maia whispered back.
They glanced around the common room. Kian and Maël must have gone to bed at some point, for they were not here. Luke lay awkwardly in an armchair, his head at an odd angle, fast asleep. Malyn dosed peacefully on the long bench at the bay window, a sheep skin nestled over her shoulders.
“I don’t remember much,” Blaid confessed in a hushed voice, moving closer to Maia. “How did we get here?”
“I think Midnight brought us.”
They touched, fingers intertwining, lying on their sides facing each other.
“I would do it all again, even if it killed me this time,” Blaid said.
“Aye,” Maia agreed, and held still as Blaid leaned in for a brief kiss.
For eleven days they had not had anything to eat or drink; had not slept, or even rested. They had combined their energy, their powers, their magic, and their souls, and directed it all at the magic keeping the storm in place.
Their ide
a had worked, for the storm had abated and then dissipated, but something else had happened they had not accounted for, nor even expected.
With their souls connected as they were, especially for such a length of time, they had truly been one. They had found each other in ways every couple in love wished to find each other. Exploring each other’s inner selves, they had made love for eleven days.
Blaid kissed her again, moving closer. Maia closed her eyes, briefly sending her senses around the room to make sure everyone was still asleep.
Blaid’s hand slid beneath her covers, stroking her along her arm, sending an electric tingling throughout her body. His kisses deepened and she inhaled his scent.
“Making love to you with my mind has been the most exhilarating experience of my life,” Blaid whispered into her ear. “Only making love to you in real life has ever been better.”
His lips gently traced along her neck, leaving a deliciously cool trail along her collarbone as his hand slid under the long shirt she wore. A soft moan escaped her lips as his warm hand found her breast.
Shifting, Blaid moved from his cot onto hers; climbing underneath the covers beside her. Slowly, they continued to kiss, savouring the physical contact; each other’s taste, smell, sight, and touch.
Maia reached out to him, touching his strong muscles beneath his silky skin; how she had longed for this over the past Moons. Blaid’s hot breath washed over her in short gasps as she guided him towards her, closing her eyes again, anticipating his full warmth.
Even after eleven days of complete oneness, nothing could have prepared her for the feeling when they were finally absolutely together, absolutely one. Feeling every sensation, they moved together, slowly.
As the sensations became more intense, it became increasingly difficult to keep their sounds muffled. With short, hot breaths and low moans, feverishly touching each other, their movements became faster until they could not hold out any longer and they let out their pent up release in one long, exquisite breath.
Glad I cannot see when you are One. Difficult enough keeping everyone asleep.
Chuckling, they drew apart, but still held each other’s hands, eyes as connected.
What is happening out there, Midnight? Maia asked.
Are you strong again, Bright-Shining-Silver-Star?
I feel better, yes. She did, she thought, as if being with Blaid had restored her energy.
Dark-Silver-Moon?
Hungry, but better than I was.
You are needed, Midnight said. Mother, awaken.
Malyn awoke with a start and the sheepskin fell to the floor. “What?”
“Huh?” Luke sat up in his chair, stretching his stiff neck.
“Maia, Blaid, you are awake. How are you feeling?” She noticed Blaid was on Maia’s cot, but did not mention it.
Blinking at her mother, barely controlling the heat rising to her cheeks, Maia struggled to sit up. “Better, Mother. Thank you. Midnight says we are needed.” She shrugged off the heavy weight of the furs, her flurry of movement causing Blaid to scoot back to his cot.
“You are,” Malyn confirmed, “but not until you are strong enough to go. These are the orders from your father. Luke, please make them tea, while I get their food. Biandala will bring clothes shortly.”
“What is happening?” Blaid asked. “Midnight will not tell us.”
“The dragon has his orders, too,” Malyn said. “You two need to regain your strength. It is only because of you that all the armies made it to Grildor. We owe you so much already. Jagaer says it nearly killed you and by the state you arrived here, I believe it. I am surprised you are feeling so much better so quickly.”
Maia blushed, thinking of what happened but a moment ago. “Midnight channelled some of his energy into us on our way here, he says, for otherwise we may have died along the way.”
Luke handed them their tea and they drank it sitting up in their makeshift beds.
“You have been here a day and a night,” Luke said quietly before he went to sit back down in his armchair.
“Luke,” Malyn scolded him.
“They have a right to know,” Maia’s son replied defiantly.
“And I do not want them to go out there before they are ready. We are not having this argument again.”
Maia looked from Luke to her mother, and back. They had obviously spoken about this before, and disagreed.
“That long?” Blaid asked. “Please, Malyn, tell us what is happening.”
Malyn set their food down in front of them; chicken broth, bread, cheese, dried fruit, and jam.
“Eat, and then I will let Midnight show you.”
Her tone allowed for no argument and both ate ravenously. They ate quickly, for now that they were fully awake, neither could shake the icy fingers of dread winding their way around their hearts.
Biandala, their Server, came in soon after that and, at a sign from Malyn, went to fetch Maia’s and Blaid’s clothes and gear. The clothes had already been washed and their weapons cleaned, and everything was ready for them to go into battle.
Looking at Biandala with the clothes made Maia realise that the long shirt she wore was a white night shirt. Her body felt thinner underneath the thin cloth.
After their meal, Luke accompanied Blaid to Malyn’s bedroom to help him get changed there, while Maia changed into her clothes in the common room. She struggled at first, but after a few moments Maia recovered her balance and control over her muscles.
“How can I let you back out there if you are still fragile?” Malyn asked, tucking a strand of Maia’s hair behind her ear. “As a mother, I cannot let you go. As a queen, I must order you to. Be safe, and bring them all home to me, my daughter.”
Tears rolled down Maia’s cheeks at her mother’s words, for she knew then the battle had already begun. “Aye, Mother.”
“You take care of her, Blaid,” Malyn said, looking over Maia’s shoulder.
“With my life,” he answered.
His presence and his warmth bolstered Maia.
“Luke will walk with you to the Gathering Grounds. Midnight is already on his way. He will show you everything.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Maia hugged her closely, kissed her on both cheeks, and then followed Luke towards the door, Blaid beside her, their hands clasped tight. She could not look upon her mother’s heartbreak any longer.
At this time of the morning, the temperature was still well below freezing. They huddled in their overcoats as they made their way towards the Gathering Grounds. A sprinkling of fresh snow covered the silent city and, to their right, the lake lay frozen and still.
!!! Midnight warned them as he came in to land.
“Thank you, Luke, for everything you have done. Stay safe,” Maia said.
“Malyn and I are riding out as soon as you have left,” Luke said. “I was still overseeing the placement of the elderly and the children when we received the message to expect you. We are riding to war now, same as you. Father and Jasmin left once the tanks were ready.”
Maia’s heart sank further. Not only was her Human family going to war, but her mother as well. Jagaer never allowed Malyn to fight, even though she was an exceptional warrior.
“Very well, Luke. Take care of yourself.”
She hugged him briefly and then ran up Midnight’s leg to settle between his spikes.
Blaid soon joined her and, with a few powerful strokes of his wings, Midnight rose straight up into the air. They clung to him, Midnight already channelling energy into them to replace more of what they had lost during the battle with the storm.
Please, Midnight, show us, Maia pleaded.
You were not ready. I will show you now. Prepare. Be warned. Prepare.
Maia and Blaid exchanged a glance, knowing from the tone of Midnight’s thoughts to expect the worst.
Through Midnight’s eyes they saw one light, slowly fading, Midnight flying towards it. As he reached it, the light separated into two. Midnight picked
them up, unconscious, and took them to Jagaer, all the while feeding them his energy to keep them alive.
The vast army spread out around Greystone; the once snow-covered Yllitar Plains a quagmire of trampled soil and horse dung. Smoke from thousands of fires stained the sky grey.
They tried to revive Maia and Blaid at the camp, to no avail. Dehydrated, starved and exhausted, they did not respond to Silas’ ministrations. They needed rest. Jagaer sent a bird to Shadow Hall letting them know to expect Midnight; as soon as Silas thought then strong enough to travel.
Some confusion reigned within Midnight’s thoughts then and it took them a moment to comprehend what had happened. An explosion sounded, its shockwave travelling across the plains at speed, and moments later, hundreds of Lava Bats swarmed over the camp. Only Jagaer’s urgent command stopped Midnight from attacking the creatures. Instead, he took Maia and Blaid to Shadow Hall first, before returning to the fight.
That entire day and throughout the night, the Vampyres attacked relentlessly; coming through the Gate in their hundreds every time. Vampyres, Werewolves, Lava Bats, war machines, and weapons such as they had never seen.
The wild Fire Dragons expressed an unusual hatred for the Lava Bats, engaging them in a spectacular display of aerial attacks. The armies of Greater Grildor marched forward, meeting the Vampyres head on; outnumbered three to one. Siana and her squadron of War Dragons, so much swifter than the Battle Dragons, darted in and out of the fighting, eliminating as many Werewolves with one swoop as possible. Rothea and Aaron, in command of the Tank Regiment, moved about the battlefield destroying as many of the Vampyre’s war machines as they could.
Midnight spent the day hunting Lava Bats and the night hovering around the Gate, spewing fire, killing at least half of the Vampyres coming through with each travel. Yet, they kept coming. At a ratio of a thousand to one, the turned Vampyres by far outnumbered those of pure blood.
And the battle rages still? Maia asked.
Worse now.
I can feel it, Blaid said. We are close. I can feel their pleas for death.