Lilly IV

by Tiya Rayne

  Her plan that night at the red door tavern has had outstanding results. The soldiers are participating in the training. The Western men are so much more helpful now that they stay sober. They are remarkable in the art of making weapons and also skilled fighters. The Eastern men are actually learning to fight. And the way they plot out a battlefield and strategize is amazing. We are finally working together like a true army. I don’t doubt that if we can get the numbers we would be a formidable force for the Dark King. I think the most entertaining thing to see is when Lilly walks out of that castle onto the campground. A thousand soldiers practically melt at the sight of her. They love her just as we do. It only took them one night to get to know the real Lilly.

  Tonight was the night of the naming ceremony. The ‘cook-out’ earlier was a success. We roasted giant boars over open flames as we stood around the campground and laughed. It was an exciting time. Lilly even set up a game she called softball that we were all forced to play. No one minded it, because Lilly had a better time than anybody. I hadn’t seen her this happy or this excited since she was in her human realm. I often thought, watching Lilly grow up, how a child with so little could be so happy. She lived in a small trailer that was smaller than my bath chamber. Her clothes were used and often ridiculed for being out of fashion. Her family lacked money for things other than the basic necessities. Yet, I don’t know if a child has ever laughed as much as Lilly did. She found happiness in the smallest of things. Riding her bike alongside Bo. Catching lightning bugs at night just to let them go. Even fishing with her uncle on scalding hot days made her happy. And today, watching a bunch of Lockeans play a game we had never heard of made her absolutely ecstatic. Many of us, myself included, thought the game was idiotic. But the look on her face made me continue to play despite the ridiculous rules.

  Now I wait in her bedroom for her to come out of the bath chamber. I am to escort her down to the Queen’s throne room for the ceremony. So many people showed up, that we had to have the ceremony outside on the balcony. This is the largest naming ceremony in the history of the Locke. Usually this type of ceremony is only open to the upper crest. But at Lilly’s request, everyone is able to experience it. Now, peasants, dressed in their finest thread bare clothing, brush shoulders with kings and noblemen. It is a truly humbling thing to see.

  When the bathroom door opens and Lilly and Miriam steps out I am floored.

  Her hair is pulled away from her face and braided down her back. Only soft curls were loose and brushed her jaw. Her tiara is made of white flowers placed strategically in green vines. Her eyes shimmer with a sparkly green substance that makes her eye color standout even more. Her dress is a beautiful blueish green and designed to look like butterfly wings. It is made in that beautiful gauzy sheer fabric she likes, but this one was different from the Roman style. A thin strap tied around her neck, to the embroidered and beaded bodice. The high waist of the dress flows out around her and pools at her feet. She looks like a princess of the forest.

  “You look…..beautiful.” the word, although sufficient, didn’t seem accurate enough.

  She blushes and looks down at her hands. “Thank you, I feel like a fairy princess.” She lifts the skirt of her dress briefly then lets it go, it flows around her legs like water cascading down a fall.

  “Well, my job here is done.” Miriam says stepping around Lilly. “I’ll be up front waiting for you.” Miriam places a quick kiss on Lilly’s cheek then exits.

  “Shall we?” I say offering her my arm.

  “I guess.” She slips her hand though my arm and I lead her out.

  “Are you nervous?”

  “Nope.”

  “Have you spoken with Avalia? Do you know what all is expected of you tonight?”

  “First, I need to pick an escort.” She winks at me.

  I can imagine Rykan will be pissed when he finds that Lilly would rather I escort her than him. He tried to plea with Avalia that the people would want to see him and Lilly together representing the boys. She and I saw through the bullshit that his plea was and she told him that Lilly would get to pick her own escort.

  She continues, “Then I pick two names.”

  “You know that you aren’t just picking names. You have the opportunity to name your sons as honorary members to one of the other Kingoms?”

  “Yep.” She says calmly.

  I’m starting to get a little worried about this. She doesn’t seem to understand the importance of this decision. Her sons could one day be made heir to two kingdoms. Not only that, but which ever kingdom she chooses will be able to take a prominent role in the boys’ life.

  “You understand that if you name a kingdom they have a right to deny you?”

  “I know.”

  I let the subject drop, obviously she understands what’s at stake here.

  “Ok, have you looked over the names that Bartus sent you?”

  She waves the folded piece of paper in my face. “Got it.”

  “And you’ve made your decision?” I stop her before we go through the doors of the formal throne room.

  “Relax, Assassin. I have everything under control.” She plants a kiss on my lips and turns to face the door.

  Why do I feel like I’m going to be needing my sword at some point tonight?

  The large doors open and we walk in. It always takes my breath away to walk into the massive formal throne room. The blue and green wave patterns in the floor guide us to the queen’s golden throne. The archways that line the walkway have queens of our past chiseled in them like ice sculptors. The colors that flow throughout the room give it an underwater feel. The moment the crowd sees Lilly they begin to cheer.

  Lilly waves at the crowd gathered to see her. She smiles and touches those who reach out for her.

  “Never in a million years did I think this would be my life one day. They cheer for me like I’m some kind of celebrity.” She whispers to me in awe.

  I know what the human people call celebrities. Regular people that can act or sing. People that are highly paid to perform in some form or another. Half of them rarely deserve their recognition. I guess there are some that has earned their popularity just as Lilly has, by being kind, thoughtful, caring, brave, and generous. These people love Lilly because she took the time to get to know them. She stopped and recognized them. That is all most people want, they want to feel as if they are important, as if they matter.

  So I turn to Lilly and with sincerity I say, “You aren’t just a celebrity, you are a hero.”

  I love the smile that greets me before she turns back to wave at her admirers.

  “You know what else I find strange.” She asks without looking at me.

  “What’s that, my love?”

  “That we haven’t yet added this room to our tour stop.” She looks at me with a sultry look that has me lengthening down the side of my thigh.

  “Say the words, little human, and I’ll clear this room out right now.”

  She laughs and it is music to my ears.

  We make it to Avalia who is standing on the long pointed balcony of her throne room. There are even more people outside looking up at us from below the long balcony.

  When we meet Avalia, Rykan and his wife Sarafine are also before us. Behind Rykan is Bartus and his wife. On the other side of Bartus is Artumis, his wife, daughter, and young son. Fisgal is on the other side of Artimus with his eldest son and four of his concubines. Each king has brought with them prominent members of their court along with high ranking officials. On Lilly’s side is her guards, Hyland, Bilal, Himrol, Augustus and Mogo. Someone has even found the giant boy a nice tunic for the occasion.

  Also with them are Miriam, Lydell, Cleo, Kema, and Shahina—Matthias’ mother. There were no high ranking officials or prominent members of a court on Lilly’s side, just friends.

  “We are here today,” Avalia announces. “To recognize the lives of our future kings. This is a bit of an unusual crowd.” Bits of laughter circle the air. “But it i
s how our dear Lilly wanted it to be.” The crowd erupts with whistles at Lilly’s name. Avalia waits for everyone to quiet down before she starts again. “Bring in the boys.” She says to someone behind her. The same four women from the other night walk up with the twins. The boys are in their regal maroon colors of the Southern Kingdom. One of the boys is handed to Lilly and the other to Rykan. The babe immediately starts to cry. Rykan holds the boy out from his body as if it will explode. He tries to hand the crying baby to Sarafine who backs away from the child as if it is garbage.

  “It won’t quiet down.” Rykan pleads.

  “Just shake it.” Bartus advises.

  Before Rykan could do any such thing I take the baby from him.

  Fucking idiot.

  The moment the lad is out of Rykan’s hands, it stops crying, his little body shaking from the trauma. I look up and catch Bartus’s eye. He looks absolutely livid. I can’t help the fact that his son is a fucking imbecile.

  “Thank you!” Lilly says placing a kiss on her youngest son’s head that is cradled in my arms.

  “We welcome into this world, your future Kings!” Avalia announces pointing to the boys. The crowd cheers.

  I notice that none of the immortal kings seem to be celebrating. That is when I first get my notion that something is off. I tell myself to pay closer attention. I can see that each king has a handful of guards plastered around us. Nothing too unusual.

  “Lilly, have you decided on the names?” Avalia asks.

  Lilly steps forward.

  “King Bartus was so kind to allow me to pick off a list of names that he had chosen for my children.” Lilly turns to Bartus and he smiles proudly.

  He was not wise enough to hear the sarcasm in Lilly’s voice, but I caught it loud and clear.

  “Why do I have a feeling this is going to go badly?”

  I can’t help the smile that goes across my face. Avalia and I had the same thought.

  “Because it is Lilly. What else do you expect?” I simply explain.

  Her laughter lingers in my mind after she leaves.

  Lilly continues. “So I thought hard about what name I should give a future king. I definitely wanted to honor the remarkable people of the Locke.” The cheers go up again and again we wait for it to quiet down. “But I also want a name for my sons that I could be proud of. A name that meant something to me. So after looking over the list of names Bartus gave me, I decided that I will pick my own names,” She holds up the chunky boy in her arms. “Everyone, meet my first born, William Bevel Peters.”

  Many sounds go up, that of outright anger, mostly from Bartus’s side and cheers.

  Lilly quiets everyone down with a wave of her hand. “My son is named after two special men I’ve had the honor of getting to know. One, I’ve known all my life, and the other I met only for a short while. He was the kindest goblin I had ever met. He showed me that family doesn’t always look like what you think it should.”

  I look over to the giant boy and he is wiping away a tear from his eyes. The boy’s uncle. That’s where I’ve heard the name.

  “Avalia, this is inconceivable. She cannot name my grandson after a bloody goblin.”

  “I can name them whatever I want.” Lilly says defiantly. “The only reason I did this naming ceremony is on behalf of Avalia. I told you before, Bartus, these boys belong to me and Rykan. We will make all decisions concerning them.”

  “Tell her son, tell her she cannot make a mockery out of my future heirs.” Bartus turns to a stunned Rykan.

  “Lilly, my father is right. You can’t name them after a goblin.”

  “She can name them whatever the hell she wants.” I say. “And if there is a problem with it, you can take it up with me.”

  My sword appears in my free hand as I hold Lilly’s youngest up with my other hand.

  Bartus and Rykan turn away dragging Sarafine with them.

  “Continue Lilly.” Avalia encourages.

  Lilly looks over to her youngest with a smile on her face. “The next two names are very special to me. I think anyone that knew this boy, knew he was a true warrior. I would be honored to name my youngest son after him. Everyone, meet Matthias Azriel Peters.”

  I can’t catch my breath. She looks at me and winks. She named him after me. I look down into hazel eyes that are exactly like the woman I love and I am beyond honored.

  I barely have time to step back when Matthias’s mom comes barreling towards us to wrap Lilly in a hug.

  “To the twin kings, William and Matthias.” Avalia shouts and the cheers go up again.

  I watch as Bartus pushes his way through his group, he goes over to his guards and whisper something. My instincts go haywire. Something is up. I walk over to Miriam and hand her Matthias.

  “Augustus,” I say low so that no one else can hear. “…go check the borders.” Augustus nods and traces away.

  “Avalia,” Artumis calls out drawing attention. “What about the honorary kingdom of the twins.”

  “Oh, That.” Lilly says. “That’s simple, I ask that my sons be honorary members to the Elven Kingdom.”

  Gasp go up all around us.

  “What, did I say it wrong?” Lilly asks.

  “Not really. You see, Lilly, there just has never been an honorary member to the Elven Kingdom. Our Kingdom is passed down through women. Forming an alliance like this,” Avalia points to the boys. “Has never before happened.”

  What she meant to say was that magicals and the immortals and non-immortals have a very fragile bond. We usually stay out of each other’s way for the most part. Forming an alliance like this would be more than anyone has done since the great warrior O’Rydin.

  “Oh, well, you don’t have to accept.” Lilly is devastated. I know that she doesn’t hold the refusal against Avalia, but she is definitely hurt.

  Without responding, Avalia turns to the crowd and shouts. “Behold, your future kings. Heirs to the Southern Kingdom and honorary heirs to the Elven Kingdom.”

  Cheers again. I smile as I think, change is coming. And it is good change.

  Just then Augustus appears in front of us. He is covered in blood and arrows are sticking out of him in all directions. He crumbles to his knees in front of us. I rush to him, along with Bilal, Himrol, and Hyland. Lilly tries to approach.

  “Stay back.” I tell her.

  I don’t want her to see what I already know. One of the arrows has pierced his heart. There is no saving him.

  “Dark King…..” he stutters out fighting for his final words. “His army…. On the way… Bartus……trader.”

  Avalia gasp behind me.

  We both turn to Bartus’s side and notice only the members of his court remain. He and his coward son has disappeared. I clinch my hands into fist. I will kill him for this.

  Why would the Southern King betray us? It is his grandsons we are protecting.

  “Oh No!” Avalia shouts.

  When I turn to her I can see her eyes glowing with her magic. “His powers are nearly fully restored. He expected me to try and stop him, he has blocked me.”

  “Can’t you do something?” I demand.

  Avalia is the most powerful being in the Locke, surely she can do something.

  “I’ve set a protective barrier around us, but it will only hold for a few days. I can’t keep them out.”

  Augustus grabs my hand with a tight grip drawing my attention.

  “I have….failed you both.” His eyes flash to Lilly and she’s crying. Her tears coming at the same steady stream as the rain.

  “Brother,” I call out to Augustus as I feel his life start to slip away. “It was an honor to fight by your side. You have served us both well.”

  I see the peace my words bring him as his life slips away.

  My friend, my brother, has been taken away from me.

  “I need scouts up in the air to see how far that army is from us.” I immediately go into action.

  “Assassin,” Kema flutters over to me. “It�
�s already been reported. The Dark King’s entire army is three days away from here. They have us surrounded, the only way out would be through the Crystal Mountains.”

  Bartus has been playing us the entire time.

  I stand to my feet. “Avalia, how long can your barrier hold?”

  “Two days at the most.”

  Fuck!

  We don’t have enough fighters nor have we had enough time to train the ones we have. We are sitting ducks. I look over to the three people that mean the world to me, Lilly and my two boys. I know that I did not father Lilly’s sons, but that doesn’t matter. Those are my boys and they will one day play alongside the children that Lilly and I share. I will do all that I can to protect our future.

  “First, I want this man’s body preserved for burial.” I say to some elven soldiers.

  They quickly come and lift Augustus’ body and carry him away. He will not lie here in the rain. “Hyland and Mogo, I want you to take Lilly, Miriam and the boys back to her room. I don’t have to tell you that no one gets inside.”

  “We will guard it with our lives.”

  “Assassin,” Lilly starts, but I cut her off by pulling her into me for a too short kiss.

  I know she is scared, and as much as I want to be with her to calm her down I had to handle this first.

  “I will come to you later. But right now, I need you safe. Please go with them.” I try to take the time and explain without tracing her into that room and locking her in for her own safety.

  “Be safe, I love you!” her eyes plead with mine to come back to her.

  I wanted to tell her that it would take a hell of a lot more to keep me from coming back to her.

  “I love you too, now go!” I hand her off to Mogo and turn back to Avalia. “Do what you can to work on that barrier. We need more time.”

  “We need a lot more than time.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Stay in here, Lilly. We will make sure no one gets in this room.” Hyland says right before he closes the door on me and Miriam.