by Dana Gricken
“Where’s Hadrian? What have you done with him?” Elara demanded, and Prince Fergus nodded towards the castle.
“He’s in there. It isn’t safe – the castle will fall apart at any minute!” Prince Fergus warned.
“Go find him, Bria!” Fane yelled, pummeling Colrek to the ground. “I can hold off The Fallen!”
Elara nodded, running through the battlefield and into the castle, braving the war all around her. She didn’t even notice the blackwing that flew overhead, watching her closely.
A thunder of magic knocked Jordaine off of his Tiburon, and he fell to the ground, groaning in pain. He was losing too much blood.
“Jordaine!” Tavia called out, rushing over to his side.
She knew it was too late, as she could feel his soul slowly slipping away. He grabbed her arm, staring into her eyes.
“Tavia,” He managed to cry out, “I know you don’t feel the same, but I love you. I always have, and I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner. It would hurt more if I didn’t tell you that now.”
Tavia teared up for her dying friend, holding him as he took his last breath. “Oh, Jordaine. May you find peace in the Immortal City.”
She forced herself to stand up. “You’ll pay for that! Everyone will pay for that!”
She threw herself back into the battle, this time without fear or hesitation. She was angry and ready to kill.
David noticed his elderly parents, Miguel and Irina Caballero, in the crowd. They were trapped between two fighting Fallen Ones. David killed those in his way and cleared a path for them to exit the city safely. They were shocked to see him on the battlefield.
“David?” His mother cried. “Is it really you?”
“How did you survive the Beyondlands?” His father asked.
David shook his head. “No time to talk. Get to safety before it’s too late.”
With the city falling down around them, they knew better than to argue. They were some of the lucky ones.
HADRIAN COUGHED AND gagged as he ran through the burning castle, which had been reduced to a layer of thick, black smoke and falling wood. He reached the cell Merek was being held in and noticed he had fallen unconscious. He would die if he didn’t get to cleaner air soon.
Hadrian shook the locked entrance to the cell, but it wouldn’t budge. He grabbed a nearby fallen beam and bashed the door down. He fell to his knees, trying to steer clear of the sickening fog, before desperately shaking Merek and trying to wake him up. Merek remained unconscious, and Hadrian began to drag him out of the cell.
Just then, the entrance collapsed. A burst of fire blocked their only exit. They were trapped in the flames.
“Help!” Hadrian screamed. “Is anyone out there? We’re trapped in the cells!”
No one responded. He said a silent prayer to his Creator for forgiveness just as a familiar figure waded through the fire, extinguishing it as she passed through. It was Elara.
“Hadrian! I’m glad I found you!” She cried before her eyes widened in shock at Merek’s presence. “Dad? Can you hear me? How did you survive?”
“He’s fine but unconscious. Can we talk about this later?” Hadrian asked, struggling to hold Merek up. “You’re immune to fire, but we’re not – and your father is heavy!”
“Come on!” She yelled as she helped bring Hadrian and Merek out of the castle.
Outside wasn’t any safer, but at least it had fresh air. They laid Merek down on the side of the torn street, and he choked in a breath.
“Dad!” Elara cried, hugging him. “You’re all right!”
Suddenly, Colrek broke away from Fane’s grasp and ordered a group of Fallen Ones to hold him back. He then lifted Hadrian into the air within his claws.
“I see that you’re the girl’s favorite,” Colrek said, smirking. “I’ll start with you.”
“Stop!” Aria beckoned, slamming her staff into the ground which shook the earth. “Don’t hurt him! He’s my son!”
The King cocked his head towards Aria, and his eyes widened once he realized it was her. “Aria Montano...” He muttered, under his breath.
Colrek chuckled. “The son of King Angus is also the illegitimate child of a witch? How delightful. Please, do tell!”
Elara was pinned down by a group of Fallen Ones who prevented her from getting to Hadrian. Even Fane was trapped. Hadrian squirmed and thrashed under Colrek’s unrelenting grip.
“What is she talking about, Dad?” Prince Fergus asked, in disgust. “Tell me it isn’t true. My brother can’t be a witch! You’d never cheat on Mom!”
The King shook his head. “I’m sorry, Fergus – but the lie needs to end. Aria is Hadrian’s mother, not Queen Fiona. Aria was a waitress at The Golden Flask who I had an affair with, many years ago, when I was the newly-crowned King. Your mother covered up the truth, faking a pregnancy to protect my image. Once Aria had my child, she left him here and fled. But I never imagined she was...” He paused, struggling for words. “One of them.”
“So she’s the one who killed Mom?” Fergus asked, angrily. “The one I saw fleeing like a coward?”
“Yes, yes it was me!” Aria admitted, shamefully. “I returned when Hadrian was young. I regretted leaving him behind! I wanted him to have a normal life, but I was in so much pain. I wanted him back – but the Queen found me and threatened me. She said she’d expose me and take my son away! She tried to kill me. I had no choice but to attack her first. I never meant for her to die!”
“You’re a liar! Mom would never do that!” Fergus cried, but the King shook his head. “It’s not true! It can’t be!”
Aria ignored him, focusing on Colrek. “Take me instead! Leave my son alone!”
Colrek shrugged. “I don’t want either of you if I’m being honest. You’re both awfully boring.”
The dragon released Hadrian, tossing him aside like a rag-doll. His body hit the ground with a thud, and a few bones cracked along the way. Aria rushed over to Hadrian who was hurt and shaken and began practicing healing magic on him.
“You’re going to be okay, Hadrian,” Aria comforted. “I won’t let that monster take you away from me!”
“Hadrian’s my half-brother,” Tavia replied, as the revelation sunk in. “I can’t believe it.”
It was like slow motion. Colrek leaped into the air and withdrew his sword. In a quick attack, he plunged it into Elara’s chest and she gasped in shock before she fell backward.
“No!” Fane bellowed, fighting off the last of The Fallen Ones.
The entire army of witches and dragons that belonged to Elara diverted their attention to Colrek, summoning all of their power. They attacked him together and he fell to his death in a fog of magic and fire.
The Fallen Ones were defeated, as well as the Grey Knights, who had no chance against them in battle. The city was a wasteland, but Elara had been successful.
Hadrian struggled to stand, pushing away his real mother who was only trying to help him. “I need to get to Elara. She needs me.”
“Shh, Hadrian,” Aria cooed. “You’re too weak right now. Just lie still.”
Fane rushed over to Elara and held her in his arms gently, as she struggled to stay awake. The pain was unbearable. Her legion of dragons and witches looked on in sadness, as they watched her life come to an end. They couldn’t do anything to help her.
“Bria, stay with me,” Fane said, as tears welled in his eyes. “You won’t die. You can’t die. I won’t let it happen!”
“Fane,” Elara began, softly. “It’s my time to go. I can feel it. Let me go.”
“No, Bria – Sheba can fix you. She’s a shaman, yes?” Fane replied, looking towards Sheba. “Sheba, Bria needs you! She’s dying! Hurry!”
Sheba shook her head, sadly. “I’m afraid, dear dragon, that my healing powers are too late.”
Elara struggled to speak. “I’ve fulfilled my purpose thanks to you. But there’s one thing I need to know before I die.”
“Anything, Bria. Anything for you.”
>
“What does Bria mean?”
Fane nearly chuckled through his tears. “It means ‘my love, my light, and my soul’. You are my Bria; my everything.”
Elara smiled as teardrops fell down her cheeks. “Now promise me you’ll move on. I know you. Don’t let my death consume you.”
Fane shook his head as he choked back a sob. “I can’t, Bria. I can’t move on from the woman I love.”
Elara gasped, taking her last breath in a world she had spent such little time in. Fane roared in agony as his worst fear had come true. David held Tavia close to him. Hadrian was hurt and angry, cursing the sky. While Merek was still disoriented from the fumes, he held his face in his hands as he sobbed.
The King looked around at his dead Order, sadly. The only Knight that remained was Adam Cormac, who was badly injured and on the brink of death. He knew what he had to do. He took one last look at Fergus.
“I can’t live with myself any longer. I have failed,” The King said, as he held up his sword and looked towards the sky. “Forgive me, Creator.”
He drove his blade into his chest and smiled. The King fell to the ground, slowly dying.
Prince Fergus rushed to his father’s side. “What have you done, Dad? Why did you do this?”
The King grabbed Fergus’ arm, holding him in place. “Listen carefully, Fergus. My time is short. The Creator has shown me the truth in my death. I wasted my life hating others. What did I accomplish? Nothing. Nothing at all. Don’t follow my path. Don’t continue the war against the dragons and witches. You can end what I began. You must rule as a better King; as a better man – or you’ll die with the same regrets as I have.”
The King began coughing up blood, clutching the sword through his chest. “Look after your brother for me, Fergus.”
Prince Fergus sobbed over his father’s lifeless body as Fane did the same for Elara. No one had been prepared for her to die, but she died the way she was meant to – surrounded by those who loved her, in the aftermath of their victory against the Grey Knights and The Fallen. The war was over.
Begin Again
At dawn the next morning, the group of witches and dragons laid Elara’s body to rest in the Imperial Ocean. They placed her in an open-faced coffin, decorated with sparkleroot and dragonleaf. As Aria pushed her body into the water, Fane reached into his pocket and retrieved the locket that Elara’s father had given her. It was beginning to rust.
“Are you keeping that?” Tavia asked as she watched him twirl the locket in his fingers.
“I need to,” Fane replied. “It reminds me that she was here once. I don’t want to forget a single thing.”
They watched Elara’s body float away in a peaceful funeral at sea. Fane hung his head as Mayliss shed a few tears. Tavia placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Are you all right?” Tavia asked. “I know how much you wanted to protect her. Don’t tell me you think this was your fault.”
Fane sighed. “I can’t help it. I was meant to watch over her and I failed. Now, she’s gone forever.”
“You know, I don’t really feel like she’s gone. I think she’s still here with us, somehow,” Tavia turned to Hadrian, who had been unusually quiet. “How are you holding up?”
He shrugged, trying to hold back tears. “I miss her. I miss her a lot.”
David nodded. “We all do. She was one of a kind.”
“And Hadrian, you’re welcome to live with us in Deniva, if you’d like. My mother – our mother - wanted you to know that. I mean, you probably have nowhere else to go after...” Tavia began before her words trailed off.
“After finding out I’m really a witch and my whole life has been a lie?” Hadrian asked, before shaking his head. “Thank you for the offer, Tavia, but I can’t. I need some time to figure things out.”
“Where will you go?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know yet, but it’ll be far.”
“How is Elara’s father doing? I haven’t seen him since the battle yesterday,” David asked. “He looked pretty awful.”
“I placed him in a hospital not too far from here. He’s lucky he survived, but the Knights tortured him badly. He’s doing well, and I heard his injuries are healing. I know Elara would’ve wanted the best for him,” Hadrian replied.
Tavia shook her head. “You know, it doesn’t make sense. She didn’t fulfill her destiny - if you believe all those old legends. I mean, sure - Elara defeated the Grey Knights and The Fallen, but she never became a dragon or a witch like the story said she would. And wasn’t she supposed to find Mythania or whatever?”
Hadrian shrugged. “Maybe it wasn’t necessary. Maybe it was too late. Or maybe it was all a lie. It doesn’t matter now that she’s gone.”
Fane stared into the horizon, barely listening to what his friends were saying. He continued to watch the coffin as it floated underneath the light of dawn.
“We should get going now. The Beyondlands aren’t the best place to hang around,” David said. “I don’t think Elara would want us moping.”
Emperor Sarv approached the sea, silently paying his respects as Zarian walked towards him.
“Sarv, I’m glad to see you here. I see you grew fond of the girl as well. That’s shocking.”
“I grew to appreciate her presence...mostly,” Sarv replied, sternly. “What do you want, Zarian?”
“Now that Elara’s gone, I think we should honor her memory by reuniting. It’s the perfect time. Think of all the good we could do if we came together.”
Emperor Lucina and Emperor Korno caught up to the two of them, joining in on the conversation.
Sarv shook his head. “Absolutely not. The Kohra dragons don’t wish to reconcile. We never did. We separated for a reason – and you of all people should understand why.”
“Sarv, the silly feud among the dragons has gone on for too long. Can’t we all move on and make amends?” Lucina asked him, pleadingly.
“No. I made it very clear that after the Knights and The Fallen were defeated, we’d all go our separate ways – for good. Did you forget our agreement? You’re blinded by Elara’s optimism. She’s not the Dragonwitch. The Dragonwitch is a stupid fable, and so is the idea of the dragons ever joining together. She may have believed there was a possibility of reuniting, but even she was wrong. Realize this and let it go.”
Zarian refused to accept his answer. “The Knights destroyed the door to the Chamber of Fire when they captured my people. We shouldn’t fix it. Dragons should be allowed to come and go as they please, standing with each other in solidarity. Let’s not allow the chamber or the difference in our skin to isolate us.”
“Do whatever you want with your people, Zarian. I won’t be a part of it, and neither will my dragons. That’s my final answer.”
Korno nodded. “I agree with Sarv. If he won’t reconcile, neither will the Amera.”
Zarian shook his head. “The war isn’t over. I can feel it. There will always be evil on the horizon, no matter what it is – whether Knight, Fallen One, or otherwise. If we stand divided, then we’ll fall divided. Is that what you want? What did Elara die for if nothing changes?”
Sarv wouldn’t hear any of it. “It’s too late. I’ve decided. The Kohra will rebuild the chamber, and things will return to the way they were - the way they’re meant to be.”
With that, Sarv transitioned and flew far into the distance. Emperor Korno joined him shortly after while Lucina placed a hand on Zarian’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Zarian. I tried. Perhaps one day the dragons will reunite, but it won’t be today.”
Tavia, Hadrian, David, and Fane all went their own ways shortly after that. They wouldn’t be seeing each other again for a long time. Without Elara, there was nothing left.
One by one, the dragons and witches paid their respects to Elara before leaving and going home. Soon, Sheba was the only one who remained. She gazed out upon the wavering sea, watching the riptides carry the casket away. The familiar blackwing that El
ara had seen so many times flew by and landed on Sheba’s shoulder.
“Tell Roth it has been done,” Sheba told the black bird. “He’ll need to retrieve Elara’s body for resurrection. The Conduit is waiting. Hurry, little creature - we don’t have much time. Elara must breathe again before the darkness.”
The blackwing flew away, obeying its owner. Elara’s story wasn’t over yet – not when danger was coming.
IN AN ABANDONED HOUSE in some obscure little city, Adam Cormac was recovering from his injuries. Prince Fergus gently wiped a face cloth across Adam’s skin, removing the little beads of sweat that had formed.
“Thank you for looking after me,” Adam said, and Prince Fergus nodded. “I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Adam. And I forgive you for telling my father about my plans with The Departed. I understand the situation you were in, and it was wrong to do that to you. I know how loyal you were to the King, and I admire that.”
“I’m glad you understand. Still, I’m sorry, Prince. I couldn’t lie to a King.”
Fergus nodded, before pausing for a moment. “If I’m being honest, Adam, I have other motives for being here. I’ll need your help with something very soon.”
Adam was confused. “What are you talking about? Why would you need my help now? The war is over, and we lost.”
“The dragons and witches killed my father. Maybe not directly, but he’s still dead, isn’t he? Don’t even get me started on what they did to my mother. Those beasts will be a problem as long as they’re allowed to live. I need to finish what my father started – for good, this time.”
“But I thought the King had a change of heart as he died? I heard him. He begged you to end this war.”
Prince Fergus laughed. “He was just afraid of dying without forgiveness. He didn’t really mean it. You see, my father was weak. He couldn’t make a decision. He couldn’t decide how to deal with David or the Dragonwitch. He’d never listen when I suggested that Hadrian should suffer for his betrayal. Not to mention he was against having friends and allies! That’s why the Order failed – why my father failed. He was too stubborn.”