“I knew you’d come.” The shadow called to her, leaning on the ledge with folded arms. Arya turned to face him. He wore all black with a long cape and a hood covering his face, and sheathed on his back – the Xenosaber glowed.
“Can’t separate the inseparable.” Arya said to the shadow confidently.
The rogue snickered. “Now where have I heard that before?” he reached for the hems of his hood and uncloaked. Arya’s heart skipped two beats once she saw his face. She moved toward him, slowly at first as he did toward her, until the two couldn’t contain their excitement any longer. They ran into each other’s arms.
“I missed you,” she nuzzled her head in his chest then looked up at him. “Thought you wouldn’t make it. I know you didn’t fancy the knighthood.” she blushed.
“Those titles are of no meaning to me,” Jaival responded with a smile. “The day is yours. Eira has experienced a tremendous victory crowning you its Queen. I couldn’t miss it.”
“I appreciate the sentiment.” Arya bowed her head.
“What’s the matter?” Jaival raised her chin.
“I wonder if I’m ready,” she confessed. “There is so much ahead of us to do.”
“Then we take it step by step, just like you said.”
An uncontainable smile erupted on Arya’s lips.
“I have something for you. Close your eyes and give me your hand.” Jaival continued.
Arya followed his command.
The moon elf slipped a bracelet on her wrist – the same one Sorata gave to Mikael, centuries earlier.
“And what is this?” Arya studied the amulet.
“A promise,” Jaival replied. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be with you.”
Arya’s face dropped. Something about the way he said it bugged her.
“Why are you telling me this now? Has something happened in Lightning?” she worried.
Jaival clenched his mouth shut. “It seems Void Order remnants might be the lesser of our worries.”
Arya looked at him puzzled.
“There is a truth only three people in this world can know. You, me, and him.” Jaival continued.
“And what truth is that?”
He moved toward the ledge with a sigh.
“Do you remember what happened to me while you were dragging me to Veria? The nonsense I was muttering?” Jaival asked.
“Yes? I recall.”
The moon elf faced her. “It may not have been nonsense at all.”
“So, it’s true,” Arya moved toward him. “The armies from the stars.”
“Your Highness! Where are you?!” Cyrus frantically called from a lower deck.
“You better get back to them,” Jaival peered down at the paladin looking for her. “They’ll be sending a search party soon.”
Arya turned Jaival’s face to meet hers. She didn’t care about the search party. She didn’t care about being Queen, and she didn’t care about anything else. All that mattered in that moment was him and her.
“I want you to promise me something,” she glared at Jaival with penetrating eyes. “Promise me you’ll come back to me. Alive. As you are.”
Jaival parted a strand of her hair and looked deep into her beautiful eyes.
“I promise.” he said before leaning in to kiss her.
Twilight energies spiraled around him and his queen as their lips met while spectral wings grew from the moon elf’s back and wrapped around the two, then seconds later, Jaival vanished, leaving behind a Twilight energy signature.
“Your Majesty, we’ve been-” Cyrus opened the roof door after Jaival departed.
Arya couldn’t focus on anything the paladin was saying.
Her attention was fixed on the amulet Jaival gave her.
I’ll always be with you, the words played in her head.
EPILOGUE
They
DEEP BENEATH THE REBUILDING EIRA CITADEL, a secret prison laid buried deep within the foundations, sealed from the rest of the world. Arya was adamant about visiting it despite Cyrus’ warnings. Nevertheless, the Paladin accompanied her since his efforts to stop her were futile. It was a dark place. The prisoners there hadn’t seen the light of day in years. The prison wardens themselves were also unique. They weren’t exactly flesh and blood elves, but something more – mechanical in nature, and immune to harmful magic. They were not in favor of Arya’s coming, but in respect for her new position, they gave way for their Queen under the strict condition that her time there would be limited.
Arya walked past a hallway of prison cells escorted by Cyrus and The Prison Wardens. Inside every cell, a prisoner with their own story to tell. Some were Void Order forces, others were remnants arrested by Lightning, and some were the most dangerous criminals to walk in all of Star World; troll, orc, and elf alike. Then there was him. He had a special cell made to contain him. One that drained Void magic, making it impossible for him to escape.
“I was wondering when you’d find the courage to come see me.” he snarled inside his shadowy cell.
An eerie silence swept into the air.
“You know why I’m here.” Arya said to him.
“Yes. You haven’t forgotten what I showed you, no matter how far you try to run from it.”
Arya gulped. “Where are they?”
“Not far now.”
A sting of agitation bested the Queen’s composure.
“I have no time for your games!” she snapped. “Tell me the truth!”
“The truth,” his eyes glowed red in the dark. He came closer, unveiling his wretched face from the shadows. “The truth is they are coming.” Baldr hissed.
Arya gazed at her brother, appalled. She didn’t know whether to feel horror or pity.
“Board up your windows, seal your doors, and fortify your towers. There will be no stopping them.”
Baldr started laughing like a maniac. The Wardens grew uneasy.
“Let’s go.” Cyrus quietly came to Arya’s side.
Arya locked eyes with Baldr. Though he was seemingly past the point of redemption, it’d be a lie for her to say she hadn’t hoped for his atonement. It was in that moment, Arya came to truly appreciate her father’s parting words and fully embrace her role as Queen. She was the last of the Royal bloodline. It was up to her what would become of their lineage.
Never again, she scolded Baldr with a harsh look.
Cyrus and the Wardens escorted their Queen out as Baldr’s laughter haunted the hallways.
Arya took one last look at the bracelet Jaival gave her.
I promise.
Written by Jedaiah Ramnarine, aka Jedi Reach
Xenosaber: Fury of the Stars Page 22