Chapter Four:
“Where are we?” A scared voice called. My eyes were closed, and my face was pressed against cold stone. But this stone was familiar. This stone was from my home. Someone ran past me, and then someone stopped in front of me. “The princess, she’s returned!” A male voice, someone gasped, but I couldn’t manage to open my eyes to see what was happening. “Everyone, this way if you don’t mind,” a voice just down what echoed like a corridor seemed to call to the other creatures I’d brought with me. “I’ll stay with her,” Aloriel’s voice came from nearby. A hand rested itself on my shoulder. “She’s still breathing. I think she’ll be fine.”
Only a short while later, I felt a warmer presence, and then someone spoke my name again. “Aloriel.”
I opened my eyes slowly, and finally took a deep breath. My body was regaining consciousness, though my mind had remained fully aware. Faces remained blurred as I noticed the motions around me. I was in a long corridor, possibly the closest one to what had been my own rooms. Even though I couldn’t see clearly, the shapes where familiar. “Your majesty, how are you feeling?” Aloriel asked. I growled at her. “I told you-,” my voice drifted off in exhaustion. “The spell must have wiped her of all her energy,” her voice was sad, and more than a little worried. Though I had attempted to use some of the other Folks’ energy, I realized I had failed. Why, I didn’t know. I groaned again as a splitting pain came across my head.
“She needs the medic’s attention,” he spoke again, and I grabbed the hand that came towards my face.
“No, Damien.”
The hand’s muscles locked as it grabbed my own locked hand. “Princess, it’s my duty to ensure your safety,” the voice that belonged to my personal bodyguard and lover was cold, calculating, and angry as he spoke. I’d known he’d be this way before I had left. I hadn’t had the intention of returning, therefore I hadn’t planned on how to deal with this. “No. Don’t let my brother know I’m here.”
The fear had hit the back of my mind. What would my brother do now that I was back, his jealousy would probably take over as soon as he knew of my arrival. It was his last secretive attempt on my life that had only left me with my latest action: to flee. Without warning, without saying goodbye. Without Damien. My hand relaxed around his, and his skin warmed my cold and clammy cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I couldn’t. You have your own responsibilities without me putting you at risk. He wants me dead and you know it – but you have a duty to the crown as much as you have a duty to me, but your job is more important than a rogue.” His eyes came into focus, and suddenly the sappiness of the situation made my stomach sick, among other things. I felt my skin go sweatier, and my stomach flipped. “You’re becoming ill, and if we don’t get the medic fae, you could die from your energy drain. You’re grey, Mira.” I believed what he was saying, because as he spoke, I felt what was left of the fruit in my stomach rise to the back of my throat. Gagging, I conceded with a nod.
Damien’s arms were cautious as he supported me, and then I could no longer keep it in. The contents of my stomach emptied at our feet, but it didn’t stop him as he hefted my weak frame into his arms, and started flying towards my chambers. Aloriel had run towards the medic wards, and as the scene behind us disappeared, I fell in unconsciousness once more.
My dreams were simple memories, playing back the reasons why I had left. The death of our parents, only a few decades ago, had brought the great changes to the Kingdom. Though I had been chosen for the throne, my grief had made me weak. After only two decades, an attempt on my life was made by an unknown source. Threatened and willing to let my brother have the throne, I surrendered it in the hopes that my life would not be in danger anymore, and I would be free from the spotlight – so I could help my kingdom without everyone’s over keen gaze. I had failed to notice that it had been my brother’s attempts, and that what I was doing was what he didn’t want.
He wished to tear the nation apart and sell all the races he found undesirable to the humans. Damien and I had only been able to watch from the sidelines, and Damien had been hurt after the last attempt. That was when I had left, unable to stand Damien getting hurt because of me.
Then the attack. Surely if Damien found out, he would never let me from his sight again. Not that, at this point, I would be able to argue.
“Where are we?” A scared voice called. My eyes were closed, and my face was pressed against cold stone. But this stone was familiar. This stone was from my home. Someone ran past me, and then someone stopped in front of me. “The princess, she’s returned!” A male voice, someone gasped, but I couldn’t manage to open my eyes to see what was happening. “Everyone, this way if you don’t mind,” a voice just down what echoed like a corridor seemed to call to the other creatures I’d brought with me. “I’ll stay with her,” Aloriel’s voice came from nearby. A hand rested itself on my shoulder. “She’s still breathing. I think she’ll be fine.”
Only a short while later, I felt a warmer presence, and then someone spoke my name again. “Aloriel.”
I opened my eyes slowly, and finally took a deep breath. My body was regaining consciousness, though my mind had remained fully aware. Faces remained blurred as I noticed the motions around me. I was in a long corridor, possibly the closest one to what had been my own rooms. Even though I couldn’t see clearly, the shapes where familiar. “Your majesty, how are you feeling?” Aloriel asked. I growled at her. “I told you-,” my voice drifted off in exhaustion. “The spell must have wiped her of all her energy,” her voice was sad, and more than a little worried. Though I had attempted to use some of the other Folks’ energy, I realized I had failed. Why, I didn’t know. I groaned again as a splitting pain came across my head.
“She needs the medic’s attention,” he spoke again, and I grabbed the hand that came towards my face.
“No, Damien.”
The hand’s muscles locked as it grabbed my own locked hand. “Princess, it’s my duty to ensure your safety,” the voice that belonged to my personal bodyguard and lover was cold, calculating, and angry as he spoke. I’d known he’d be this way before I had left. I hadn’t had the intention of returning, therefore I hadn’t planned on how to deal with this. “No. Don’t let my brother know I’m here.”
The fear had hit the back of my mind. What would my brother do now that I was back, his jealousy would probably take over as soon as he knew of my arrival. It was his last secretive attempt on my life that had only left me with my latest action: to flee. Without warning, without saying goodbye. Without Damien. My hand relaxed around his, and his skin warmed my cold and clammy cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I couldn’t. You have your own responsibilities without me putting you at risk. He wants me dead and you know it – but you have a duty to the crown as much as you have a duty to me, but your job is more important than a rogue.” His eyes came into focus, and suddenly the sappiness of the situation made my stomach sick, among other things. I felt my skin go sweatier, and my stomach flipped. “You’re becoming ill, and if we don’t get the medic fae, you could die from your energy drain. You’re grey, Mira.” I believed what he was saying, because as he spoke, I felt what was left of the fruit in my stomach rise to the back of my throat. Gagging, I conceded with a nod.
Damien’s arms were cautious as he supported me, and then I could no longer keep it in. The contents of my stomach emptied at our feet, but it didn’t stop him as he hefted my weak frame into his arms, and started flying towards my chambers. Aloriel had run towards the medic wards, and as the scene behind us disappeared, I fell in unconsciousness once more.
My dreams were simple memories, playing back the reasons why I had left. The death of our parents, only a few decades ago, had brought the great changes to the Kingdom. Though I had been chosen for the throne, my grief had made me weak. After only two decades, an attempt on my life was made by an unknown source. Threatened and willing to let my brother have the throne, I surrendered it in the hopes that my life would not be in danger anymore, and I would be free from the spotlight – so I could help my kingdom without everyone’s over keen gaze. I had failed to notice that it had been my brother’s attempts, and that what I was doing was what he didn’t want.
He wished to tear the nation apart and sell all the races he found undesirable to the humans. Damien and I had only been able to watch from the sidelines, and Damien had been hurt after the last attempt. That was when I had left, unable to stand Damien getting hurt because of me.
Then the attack. Surely if Damien found out, he would never let me from his sight again. Not that, at this point, I would be able to argue.
Sorry that this one is a little shorter than the others.... I didn't have much information, and I keep chapters as more or less simplistic ideas. So, the concept in this chapter was just the fact that she was now back at the Castle, and yes, she was ill from the magic drain.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed it -- feel free to comment!
I love these stories almost as much as I love you! <3 XD (if you were able to quantify that, then divide it by 3, and somehow manage to subtract infinity from there :3 )
ReplyDeleteBtw did the Artemis fowl series influence the way you envision magic working? Because the way you described the "sparks" of magic healing Aloriel earlier in the chapters reminded me of the magic Holly and Arty used so often.
Btw hoping you can guess who this is, 3 tries if you're up to it ;)
First guess: Hunter
Delete:)
That is kind of how I see the magic working, with sparks sinking in. Some of it is a little different, but it's more of a fluid concept at the moment. I may post story art soon for it. I have been so busy with school though! Thanks for the feedback :)