Helenia was at her mother, Andrielle’s, side and for the first time in her life she felt the sickening pains of despair, as if heavy weights dangled from her heart. The battle had failed to avert the Blood Red Moon, despite the dark sorceress Kassina being struck down and the allies seemingly emerging triumphant. Many of their people had been killed or injured—including her love, who was battling for his own life in a place far from her reach.
Ashes and charred trees littered the once breathtaking elven forest, resulting in the location of the great city no longer being a secret. The destruction acted like a pathway that guided those seeking shelter and safety. Stragglers and lost warriors walked the beaten path to reunite in the troubled city, which needed all the help it could get.
Andrielle spent weeks clearing the city of rubble and useless burned wood. Nicolai, the queen of faeries provided great assistance and the faeries scouted out prey for their hunters to feed the ever increasing population, as their crops had been completely obliterated.
Many of the faeries had died or suffered injuries in the battle of the Elven Woods, and their wounded lay healing alongside the other inhabitants of Veldrenn. Their entire population was forced to shelter in the city as their homes had been destroyed along with the forest.
The majority of surrounding trees and buildings were repairable, and many human, faerie and elven hands worked together to restore the city. Differences were put aside as they stood together to face a common enemy. Patrols had been set up by Dryden to ensure the perimeter was kept safe from any intruders, shadow or otherwise.
At the end of another exhausting day of rebuilding, Andrielle sat with her daughter in their newly restored home, drinking tea.
The elven queen sipped tea from a cup she and her daughter had shared before the battle of the Elven Woods. She gently ran her fingers along its fine, unchipped edge and wondered how something so fragile managed to survive—when so little of her city had. All inhabitants of Veldrenn were exhausted from the back breaking work, but they all knew that they were making progress and morale was lifting as a result.
Soon they would move on from rebuilding the city to what it once was, and focus on improving and fortifying Veldrenn.
Nicolai flew onto Helenia’s shoulder and sat down, letting out a tiny sigh that would have sounded cute to anyone who didn’t know the faerie queen. Her fine wings draped down onto the fabric of Helenia’s dress. Helenia reached up and gently rubbed Nicolai’s back with her fingertips to comfort her. The faerie queen had her left arm in a bandage, as she had broken it while helping her people escape the battle of the Elven Woods.
“I know that these are difficult times, but even in difficult times we must remain strong,” said Andrielle, as if trying to buoy herself as much as the others in the room.
Nicolai, although small in form, had a presence about her that commanded the attention of whomever she was addressing. Sensing the elven queen’s efforts at conveying strength, she remarked, “Andrielle, remember that you saved our people when we were most vulnerable and we are forever indebted to you. Although you have suffered greatly in battle, all is not lost. Look around you. Veldrenn has a new beginning, and I am making preparations to arm and train my people before we face another attack.”
Helenia brought her cup up to Nicolai, who dipped in her hands and sipped a hot mouthful.
She smiled kindly and her voice warmed when she spoke, “Thank you princess.” She wiped the excess tea off her face with her tiny, un-bandaged arm.
Helenia nodded and continued to drink her tea, wincing at the pain in her shoulder that was taking a longer time to heal than expected.
“I for one am so relieved that wench Kassina is finally gone. But it worries me to think of what horrors may be sent in her place. I worry also for Vartan. We haven’t heard anything from Trahoterra for some time and the last messenger dragon only said that he lives but there were no signs of improvement,” said Helenia, a tear streaked down her face and twinkled on her chin before falling to the ground.
Andrielle sighed, wiped the tear trail from Helenia’s cheek and held her daughter in a warm embrace. Nicolai’s wings sprang into action and she flew to the nearby table, dangling her legs over the edge.
Andrielle released her daughter, looking deep into her eyes with affection, “I’m sure Vartan will be alright, he is far too strong to leave us now. Besides, I haven’t had a chance to chastise him for his involvement with you yet, and that is my privilege alone.”
Helenia chuckled as her cheeks reddened.
They were startled by a knock at the door and regained their composure.
Andrielle sat up straight with a hint of annoyance at her moment being interrupted and spoke sternly, “Who is it?”
There was a pause before Dryden stuttered an answer, “I… it is only I, your majesty. I come to report our progress. Is this a bad time?”
She replied warmly, “Oh Dryden, please come in.”
He entered the room and kneeled in front of his queen.
“Please, begin your report,” she ordered.
Dryden nodded, smiled and spoke proudly, “My queen, the good news is that we have scavenged all the weapons we could find on the battlefield and training can resume at your request, we have quite the stockpile of armour and can be battle ready quickly.”
The queen managed a smile, but also sensed that he had known more than just positive news. “Magnificent, but what bad news do you bring?”
Dryden’s beaming smile dropped and he sighed with annoyance, “A large number of weapons and armour were already taken before we arrived.”
“I expected as much. Kassina’s army have not yet been eradicated and we could not have been the only ones with eyes on the many spoils of that battlefield. I am sure that thieves and vagabonds have already plundered what they could carry before our arrival.”
Dryden seemed troubled and he looked more nervous than usual.
“I can handle bad news Dryden, is there something else?” she asked.
He nodded knowingly and breathed out his response, “I sent men to Vartan’s family home to retrieve the body of Tusdar, the thief that aided Vartan, as you requested… but they were unable to locate it. Also, the scouts we sent to investigate Greenhaven have not returned and I fear for their safety. I thought Greenhaven had been deserted.”
Andrielle frowned at this news.
“That is troubling indeed Dryden. Continue on for now and let us hope the scouts return safely. Once repairs of Veldrenn are complete this week, we can resume training. Allocate half of your men to fortification duties and the other half to train and rotate them,” she ordered.
“Yes my queen, as you wish,” he responded and proceeded to open the door, his shoulders dropping.
“Sir Dryden?” she asked, stopping him in his tracks.
“Yes my queen?” he asked, turning around.
“Thank you, for everything. I want you to remember that you cannot be held accountable for deaths in times of war. We had no way of knowing that Greenhaven had not been deserted and you are not to blame,” she replied, smiling.
Dryden returned her warmth, bowed slightly and continued out the door.
Andrielle turned to her daughter, deep in thought. Tusdar had been a master thief, but redeemed himself through saving both Leon and Vartan’s life and playing a key role in dispatching Kassina’s pet, Derian. The queen’s breath stopped as her throat closed, her chest pounded and ached as she pictured Derian, the traitor, spy and killer of her husband King Arman. He was a murderer and most painful of all… their son.
Ultimately, Tusdar died a horrible death at the hands of vampire assassins. He had earned their efforts to give him a burial worthy of a knight.
“Helenia, when the next messenger dragon arrives can you please request Leon’s presence? We need to ask him what he remembers of Tusdar’s death. He deserves an honourable burial for all he had done, and I want to see to it that he gets one,” she asked.
The princ
ess’s mind was far from Veldrenn, but at the sight of her mother’s piercing gaze, she quickly nodded and responded, “Of course mother.”
Vartan was in a void filled with darkness, startled by flashes of memories from his childhood. At times he could hear voices, but he was confused as to what was imagination, and what was reality. In the dark space, he felt he was being drawn downward, but he did not know where he was being drawn to. With strength of will, he could slow down the descent, but never completely stop it.
“Why are you showing me all of this?” he yelled, his voice seeming to echo for eternity.
Because you need to remember, you need to follow your destiny.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
Talonsphere.
A memory rose to the surface of his murky mind. He recognised the name; he knew he had to find Talonsphere, the weapon. He had a mission to complete but just as he almost had a grasp, his memories deserted him again. He couldn’t see Talonsphere, but he could hear its voice in his mind. Somewhere between Marithia and the spirit world, Vartan felt lost, empty, and unable to remember anything clearly. Left to linger there by Kassina’s spell.
Talonsphere had found him amid the darkness, and was doing all it could to help him remember.
I know that you think you’re ready to join me and be reborn again, but it is not time. Your body lays fragile, slowly dying and you must return to it before it’s too late. When the time is right, and you perform the ritual… only then can you ascend into the Talonsphere and our powers will combine in our new form.
“But I don’t know how… how can I return to Marithia?”
This I cannot tell you. I can only show you the way. You alone must walk the path.
Vartan’s voice was weak with frustration and desperation as he asked, “Walk the path? To where?”
Remember your purpose, do not follow the pull of darkness that has infected you and you will know what to do. Only you can break the spell, and only you have the power to return.
Vartan focused hard, pushing past the spell blocking his memories and dug as deep as he could. He yelled in frustration, pushing further into his own mind. An image flashed before his eyes, and he saw a strikingly beautiful woman with bright blue eyes. She stared longingly at him, her pale skin highlighting her wonderfully formed features. Within a moment, he lost the vision again as it faded into the darkness.
“It’s too hard! I can’t do this,” he groaned.
Try harder. When the memory appears… do your best to hold on to it. She is your path. Grasp her like a sword and do not let go.
Focusing his energy, he tried to grip the image re-forming behind his eyes.
Like a candle flickering in the wind, the image appeared again. Using all his strength, he kept the picture in his mind, studying her face, searching for a link or a name.
A warm and familiar voice entered his mind, “Vartan.”
When he heard the voice, his heart warmed. Love filled his senses as if he had a thousand butterflies flapping underneath his skin. He smiled when he thought of her and closed his eyes with the pleasure of her voice repeating in his mind.
His eyes burst open with the realisation, “He… Hel… Helenia!”
His memories whirled around him as if he was in the eye of a storm that had erupted within the darkness and he begun to piece them together. He watched, exhilarated, as his whole life’s memories flooded back into his mind. The sheer force of Kassina’s spell disintegrating, struck him so hard that he felt as if his mind was being crushed.
I have done all that I can for you Vartan and until we meet again… there is a place that you must find as it is crucial to the future of Marithia, and for yourself.
Vartan focused as hard as he could on finding where Talonsphere was as he felt his body ascending skyward at a frightening speed. Barely able to speak, he called out into the darkness, “What place?!?”
Trisa was knocked back by the force of Vartan leaping upward in the air and his eyes shot open as if an explosion had set off in his head.
“Daessar!” he yelled, his voice echoing far into the depths of Trahoterra.
Vartan looked down at the pale white face of a heavily panting Trisa tightly gripping a wet rag. She had nearly collapsed from shock at the violence of his return. Suddenly, a splitting headache hit him as if an axe just cut its way through his skull.
Involuntarily, Vartan turned away from her to vomit and putrid green liquid splattered onto the floor that evaporated into a small cloud of green fog. A frightening face formed in the fog and it frantically flew around the cavern, desperately searching for another victim to infect.
Finally, Kassina’s spell had been purged from his body.
Finn quickly breathed a stream of burning hot flames into the path of the fog, its shrieks of anger filled the caverns as it disappeared.
“What in the name…” he began.
Finn’s face greeted him and his voice ringed with excitement, “Vartan! You’re awake!”
Trisa immediately handed Vartan a fresh cup of cool water and eased him back on the warm bed.
Vartan’s face was overcome with panic as he desperately sought answers to many questions flooding his mind, “How long has it been? What happened? Helenia! Dryden! Father! Are they alive?”
“Vartan, calm down… relax, you don’t want to collapse again,” Trisa pleaded.
Vartan took a deep breath and focused to calm himself.
“Brother, I have so much to tell you—and don’t worry… Helenia is fine, as is Dryden and father. We will send them a message immediately. Now, drink some water and when you are ready, I will fill in the gaps for you. I am curious though, what is Daessar?” asked Finn, cocking his head sideways.
Vartan looked into thin air, his mind grasping for a memory as he vacantly asked, “Daessar?”
“You yelled it out at the top of your lungs when you woke up. What does it mean?” asked Trisa.
“I really don’t know… but it must have come to me from Talonsphere,” he said, wincing with pain.
Finn’s eyes widened in disbelief and his mouth gaped open in surprise as he asked, “You spoke…with Talonsphere?”
Vartan smiled and the colour began to return to his cheeks. “It’s going to be a long day,” he laughed.
Chapter 5 : Twisted Minds
“My Anakari, I will miss her. She brought me happiness I had never known, and joy as a father that I am forbidden to be.
So, her journey begins. Does she know that I had foreseen this since the day I found her?
I must protect her from those who would seek to harm her, as she is all the family that I have left.”
(Aldorus – Master Sorcerer)
The warm cottage was filled with sweet, honey scented elven candles that blended with the air surrounding them. Vartan had just finished a long, relaxing bath and the silk of his purple robe caressed his softened skin. The smell of the candles drew a smile across his face on this quiet night and a lone wolf’s howl was heard far from their home.
With each creaking of wooden planks beneath his feet, he neared their bed with the calming sounds of a crackling fireplace putting his mind at ease. This was their home, and under their woollen blanket awaited the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Something bright caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Vartan turned to the window to see small flashes of light in the clouds far beyond the woods surrounding them and inhaled the moist air deeply. He sat down to gently sink into the bed, pondering what their precious future together would bring.
With the sounds of gentle tapping on the roof, it began to rain.
What a beautiful evening, he thought.
Helenia was deeply asleep, covered in her smooth, silky hair. Watching her rest was both hypnotic and peaceful. The sheets slowly rose and fell with her breath, and the relaxed appearance on her face made him want to join her, but he was not yet tired enough.
Looking down at his newly adorned ring o
f gold, he couldn’t help but smile.
Not wishing to disturb his wife, he decided to carefully walk to the window to feel the cool breeze accompanying with the rain. Moonlight covered the lands in a heavenly, white glow… as if the gods themselves lit a light from above in their honour.
Everything just felt perfect.
Vartan closed his eyes to focus solely on the sounds outside the window and could hear frogs croaking from the nearby creek. He put his hands out the window to catch the cool rain and breathed out a long breath as a small pool of water built inside them. The night was enchanting, relaxing, and he brought the cool rain to the warm skin of his face. The water was soothing to the touch, and a small amount found its way into his mouth. At first the taste was pleasant, but suddenly he tasted blood.
His eyes shot open with panic.
Something is wrong, he thought.
He put out his hands again and watched as the rain pooled there once more. He realised that it was not water that filled his hands, it was blood. The white glow from the moon began to turn red. Shaking off the blood from his hands as if it were acid, he stumbled back.
Bang
He bumped into what felt like a body behind him, but its skin didn’t feel warm… it felt icy cold, foreign.
Who could that be? He thought.
His heart pounded so hard that he could feel it pushing against his chest. He slowly turned his head to his right, breathing ragged and deep. Where Helenia once lay was a fresh pool of blood. He tracked the bloodstained footsteps around the room.
He found that nobody was there.
Has she disappeared? He thought, his fear overtaking him as his eyes darted around the room, desperately searching for an answer. The only sound was blood rain pounding on the roof as he continued searching the room.
Running his hands through his hair, his eyes narrowed with confusion. His voice wavered as he called out, “By the gods, what is going on?”
Legends of Marithia: Book 2 - Darkness Rising Page 4