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fritoley · 3 months ago

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Warrior's Honor Chapter 5: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Summary: Just as hope for the kingdom begins to shine, things take a turn for the worst.

Word Count: 3k

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The crowd gathered in the courtyard for Viren's 'coronation' had dispersed and gone home. Some were relieved of the sudden interruption. Others grumbled amongst themselves about the still-empty throne.

Once the courtyard had cleared, Commander Gren scanned the setting to see General Amaya handing the reins of their horses to a Crownguard. As the guard led the horses away, Gren approached Amaya, who signed, "Have you seen Emelyn?"

"Not yet," Gren answered, signing as he spoke. "She might be on duty; I'll try and find her tomorrow."

A Crownguard approached them, waving her hand to get their attention. "General?" she asked. "The servants are wondering if they need to set up rooms for you and your forces."

Amaya raised her hands to sign, but Gren spoke up before she could. "That won't be necessary," he said. "We're just here to talk to High Mage Viren."

Amaya poked Gren's arm and signed, "We can find him later. For now, let's rest."

"Are you sure?" Gren signed back. "You're not really the type to delay essential matters."

The Crownguard watched the silent conversation blankly, not comprehending the signs.

"Is it unnecessary if we're getting some much-needed rest?" Amaya signed with an eyebrow raised. Gren hesitated for a moment, then turned back to the Crownguard.

"Actually, go ahead and get the rooms ready," Gren told the Crownguard. He turned back to Amaya and signed, "Good point."

As Gren made his way to his room down the castle halls, he witnessed a peculiar sight - a large pile of blankets appeared to be walking down the aisle. The pile stumbled around momentarily, prompting Gren to rush to offer assistance.

"Woah, do you need help?" Gren asked, hovering his arms over the fabric. He looked around the blankets to see a head of ginger hair pop out from behind.

"Thank you, but I've got it under control—" the servant started with a smile, but when she opened her eyes, she stopped, staring at Gren in astonishment.

"Gren?!"

"Aunt Carmell?" Gren responded, surprised. Carmell practically dropped the pile and threw herself into Gren's arms, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, Gren!" Camrell repeated gleefully. "When did you get here?"

"Were you at the coronation?" Gren inquired when she pulled away. Carmell sighed.

"Did you really think that I would attend a ceremony crowning a crook? I was stress-cleaning." She gestured to the pile of blankets with a dry chuckle.

Gren chuckled, too. "I thought you worked in the kitchens?"

"I do," Carmell answered with a grin. "But you know how I am with cleaning; it clears my head!"

Gren laughed. He helped Carmell stack the blankets and handed them to her. "Are you sure you don't need help?" he asked.

"I'll be fine, thank you," Carmell answered with a smile. "It was nice seeing you!"

Carmell walked down the hall, stumbling over the carpet. Gren almost ran over to help her, but she called, "I've got it!"

Gren shook his head and smiled before turning to continue to his room.

Emelyn leaned against the balcony of the tallest tower in Katolis Castle, watching the sun rise over the kingdom. It was her favorite spot in the castle because she could just make out the castles of the other kingdoms in the far reaches of the land. Del Bar was to the north, while Duren was to the northeast. Neolandia lay in between, and Evenere prospered across the Independent Isles to the west.

A smile played on Emelyn's face as the sun shone in her eyes, and she thought about the world map currently sitting in her room.

Ah, the map.

It was old and tattered, and she should get a new one, but she just couldn't part with it. She had written so many notes in the margins that it would be impossible to recover if she lost that beloved piece of parchment. Not only that, but the map itself was one of a kind. She had gotten it as a gift. Emelyn recalled the day when—

"There you are."

Emelyn whipped around to see Gren behind her, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Gren!" she exclaimed, running toward him and pulling him into a bear hug.

"Hey, there!" Gren laughed. "Is this still your favorite spot?"

"You bet," Emelyn answered. It's like you can see the whole world!"

"You've always been one for geography," Gren teased, making Emelyn laugh.

"So, you brought the princes back?" Emelyn asked, changing the subject. Gren's face fell.

"Well, we know they're alive, but they've been captured by a Moonshadow elf. It's a wonder they're not dead yet, but we'll find them!"

Emelyn froze. "What? A Moonshadow elf?!"

"Yeah," Gren said gravely. His eyes lifted toward the rising sun, his bright blue eyes glazing over. The commander's usually cheery attitude melted away for just an instant, revealing a battle-hardened side of him Emelyn rarely saw. But before she could even blink, it was gone.

Gren sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Well, I better get going. General Amaya's probably waiting for me at the Throne Room."

"General Amaya?" Emelyn cut in hopefully. "Can I come with you?"

"No, no," Gren said with a wave of his hand. "It's a serious matter, and I rather you not be involved. I'll see you later."

Emelyn's heart sank. She watched as Gren walked away, his broad shoulders set with determination. She raised a hand and waved before returning to the balcony to watch the

Crownguard below change shifts. "See ya."

General Amaya stood in the castle halls, her arms crossed and eyes closed as she waited outside the Throne Room. She would've entered the room herself to see if Lord Viren was inside, but she would rather wait outside then risk having to listen to Viren's ranting while waiting for Gren to interpret.

Amaya opened her eyes and stared at the floor. Being deaf, she was able to let her mind wander without anything disturbing her. In a way, her lack of hearing was a blessing.h

Amaya's thoughts drifted to her nephews, Ezran and Callum. She hadn't seen them in so long, and it pained her to think the moment they reunited, they were in the clutches of a Moonshadow elf. Why did it have to be a Moonshadow elf, of all things?

Oh, poor Ezran and Callum. They must be scared out of their minds. But they're smart, Amaya thought. They'll figure out how to stay alive, and hopefully long enough so we can save them.

Amaya raised her hand and brushed her fingers over the scar on her right cheek. She vowed to save the boys. For her sister.

Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Instinctively, she grabbed the wrist and closed her other hand in a fist, ready to strike.

"Wait, Wait!"

Amaya stared at the hands for a moment, realizing they were signs. She looked up to see Gren frantically signing at her.

"It's me," Gren signed, and based on how his chest was heaving, Amaya guessed he was laughing. He finger-spelled his name with the hand she was gripping, and with a scowl, she let go.

"Don't sneak up on me like that. I could've seriously hurt you," Amaya signed before crossing her arms. "And don't laugh at me."

"Alright, alright," Gren signed, taking a deep breath and smiling at her.

Amaya frowned, opening the door to the Throne Room. She looked around but saw no one.

She saw Gren waving his hand in the corner of her eye and turned to face him.

"He's not here; what do we do now?" Gren asked.

"We wait," Amaya said, walking over to a pillar and leaning against it. She crossed her arms in waiting, and Gren joined her, watching the door.

After a few minutes, the Throne Room door opened to reveal Viren walking inside. Gren almost stepped into his view, but Amaya raised her arm. Gren looked at Amaya quizzically, but she didn't budge. She wanted to see what the High Mage was up to.

Viren walked toward the throne, seeming oblivious to Amaya and Gren. They watched as Viren started up the steps to the throne, and that was when Amaya had seen enough.

"Thought I might run into you here."

Iris flinched at the sound of General Amaya's armor clanging loudly as she stomped into the courtyard. Gren was practically running to keep up. As Amaya stormed over to her horse, Iris called out to Gren, who looked back at her.

"Bad day?" Iris asked, nodding towards Amaya's fit of frustration.

"Her talk with Viren didn't exactly go as planned," Gren replied with a dry chuckle. They both jumped at the sound of an ear-piercing whistle and saw Amaya staring Gren down from her horse.

"Gotta go," Gren said hurriedly. "Be back later."

"Good luck," Iris said ruefully. Gren mounted his horse and rode after Amaya out of the castle. As their horses' galloping faded, Iris noticed a small shadow soaring along the ground. She looked up to see the familiar Golden Eagle gliding across the sky and chuckled.

"Here comes Emi," Iris muttered, turning around to see the Crownguard trekking toward her. "Right on cue."

"Hey, Iris," Emelyn greeted her with a sad wave. "Where's Gren?"

"Ooh, you just missed him," Iris said, pointing behind her with a thumb.

Emelyn slumped. "Oh. I was hoping to catch Amaya before she left."

"They'll be back soon, so if you wanna wait for them..." Iris started, but Emelyn waved her hands dismissively.

"No, no. It's fine. Thanks." Emelyn started to walk back toward the castle. Iris tagged along.

"Why the long face?" Iris asked, noticing Emelyn's dejected expression.

Emelyn sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know. I'm just trying to figure out what to do. We're so close to finding the princes, and I guess I'm getting antsy." Her hands dropped to her sides. "I just want things to go back to normal."

Iris snorted. "Well, that's something we all want, isn't it?"

Emelyn didn't react.

Iris sighed and stopped walking. "Look, I'm sure that everything will go back to normal when Amaya and Gren find the princes, alright? So stop stressing yourself out."

Emelyn's shoulders relaxed, and she looked at Iris with a half-hearted smile. "Yeah. Maybe." She turned and started walking back into the castle. "I'm gonna go look for Soren. His dumb jokes should cheer me up, or something."

Iris laughed. "You do that!"

The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink as the sun slowly descended, casting long shadows across the courtyard where General Amaya, Commander Gren, and the other members of the Standing Battalion stood, making preparations to depart. Emelyn rushed to the courtyard, her armored boots clanking loudly against the stone flooring as she ran. Her heart pounded as she mentally berated herself for being late again. After training with Soren for a few hours to get her mind off the princes, Gren approached her with exciting news.

"General Amaya put me in charge of the search for the princes, and I figured you could be a big help!" Gren had told her with a big smile. Only then did Emelyn realize she had forgotten her satchel, though where she had forgotten it had slipped her mind. She then spent the remainder of that day searching the castle grounds high and low, only to find it in the one place she should've checked first: tied to the horse she was going to take out the day before.

"Map, tools, food..." Emelyn mentally checked off each supply item in her satchel while leading her horse to the courtyard to meet with Gren and the rest of his team.

"Water... Horse..." Emelyn pulled at her horse's reins, but the stallion had stopped to examine a patch of grass peeking through the stone. "Oh, come on, will you? I'm late enough as it is!"

The horse snorted but didn't budge. Emelyn sighed in defeat, reaching into her satchel and pulling out a carrot. The horse looked up at the vegetable, eyes wide, and Emelyn waved it around. "C'mon, that's it..."

Emelyn led the horse into the courtyard, silently noting Gren's absence. Am I early?

She casually handed the carrot to her horse, who neighed happily as he munched on the vegetable. She scanned the courtyard, and although plenty of soldiers were talking amongst themselves, none seemed to have been assigned to the search party. She left her horse to finish his carrot and surveyed the scene. Every soldier seemed to be minding their business, but Emelyn knew better; they were all watching her.

Something's off.

Keeping a careful watch on every soldier on the scene, she walked up to the closest group and spoke up. "Excuse me, do you know where Commander Gren is? We were supposed to meet up for a mission."

The soldier eyed her curiously, his weight shifting as he turned to face Emelyn. Even without him saying a word, Emelyn could feel the eyes of the other soldiers in the courtyard, could hear their soft steps as they crept closer.

"There's been a... misunderstanding," the soldier said, towering over Emelyn as he spoke. As far as Emelyn could tell, he was tall and far stronger than herself. It would take a rather unorthodox approach to take him down.

"What kind of misunderstanding?" Emelyn asked slowly, taking note of the soldiers closing in behind her. She widened her stance, bracing herself for the attack she now knew was imminent.

"Commander Gren's mission has been reassigned to another team," the soldier continued. The soldier consciously stepped toward Emelyn, and that was the only warning she needed. All at once, he and the two soldiers behind her reached out to grab Emelyn, but she was too fast. She ducked and spun around, grabbing one of the soldiers behind her and tackling him to the ground. Emelyn sprang to her feet and side-stepped away from the soldiers, only to get attacked by two more.

"Crownguard Emelyn," the tall soldier declared as the two holding Emelyn in place dug their fingers into her arms. "You are being arrested for insubordination and conspiracy against higher powers."

"Conspiracy?!" Emelyn shouted, her eyes flashing with fear and anger as she struggled to break free. The two soldiers forced her hands behind her back and tried to tie her wrists together. She looked around, desperately hoping someone would come to her aid. Every soldier in the courtyard was involved in some way; some were tense with anticipation, waiting for Emelyn to bolt their way; some were curious to see what would happen next; some even turned away and refused to watch. No one stepped up to help.

Emelyn squeezed her eyes shut, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. This is it, she thought. Everything I've worked for is going down the drain.

The sound of a horse's bray and soldiers shouting caused Emelyn to snap her eyes open and see soldiers diving out of the way as her stallion raced toward her. The two soldiers holding Emelyn in place yelped in surprise and tried to pull her out of the way, but she stomped on one soldier's foot, earning an angry cry of pain as she wrenched her hand free just in time to grab her horse's saddle and be swept off her feet.

Chaos ensued as Emelyn swung her leg over the horse's back and grabbed the reins. She risked a glance back to see a mass of soldiers clamoring after her and even more shouting at each other. One particular soldier pushed her way to the front of the crowd, her platinum blonde hair shining in the orange rays of the setting sun. She opened her mouth, her face twisted in anger, but Emelyn was too far away to hear. She gasped, turning to get a better look, but her stallion turned a corner, and Iris and the other soldiers were out of sight.

"You've got to be kidding me," Iris growled, fuming as she watched Emelyn turn the corner and disappear into the distance. Her eyes flashed with frustration as she turned back to the other soldiers, who were bickering and blaming each other for the escape. Iris balled her fists at her sides and shouted, "Who let the horse escape?"

No one said a word. Every soldier in the courtyard looked at each other for a sign of the culprit, but no one spoke up. One soldier, the tall one, stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, Captain. We'll find her."

"You better," Iris snarled, "Because if not, the High Mage'll have both our heads."

Iris anxiously ran her fingers through her hair as the other soldiers dispersed, making preparations to search the capital for Emelyn. One particular soldier, however, stood on the opposite side of the courtyard, watching the commotion. Her bright green eyes scanned the scene before returning to where Emelyn disappeared. With a slight smirk on her lips and an almost inaudible chuckle, she returned to the stables from which she came.

Emelyn slowed her horse to a stop at the forest's edge surrounding the castle, looking out for nearby soldiers. The last rays of sunlight were starting to fade, the orange glow concealed behind the uneven towers. In the distance, Emelyn could see squad after squad of soldiers departing from the castle, no doubt in search of her, but none came her way. A few moments after the last team hurried out of sight, Emelyn breathed a sigh of relief. Millie flew in shortly after, landing on her perch and cooing gently. All clear.

"Oh, Millie," Emelyn sighed, stroking Millie's wings. "What are we gonna do?"

Millie's head twitched to the left. Emelyn glanced back towards the castle. "They think we're traitors, Millie. The only way to prove our innocence is... to find the princes."

Emelyn looked back at Millie, whose head was upside down. The Golden Eagle righted herself, flapping her wings in agreement. Emelyn smiled and reached for her satchel, taking out a quill, ink, and scrap parchment.

"First thing's first," Emelyn muttered, opening the ink bottle. She looked at Millie and said, "I have one more favor to ask you before we leave. You think you can deliver a letter for me?"

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fritoley · 4 months ago

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Warrior's Honor Chapter 4: Feints within Feints

Summary: Viren's suspicious behavior inspires talk of conspiracy.

Word Count: 2.5k

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The days following the funeral were filled with clear blue skies, and the people of Katolis couldn't help but feel a sense of bitter irony. The Crownguard soldiers milled about aimlessly, unsure of their next move now that the throne was vacant. The once-bustling halls and rooms were now eerily silent, and even the library where Emelyn had sought refuge seemed to be holding its breath. Emelyn spent hours poring over a dusty old tome titled "Katolis Law" but left in frustration, taking a book with her. She let out a deep sigh and leaned against a nearby pillar. The morning light filtered through the window, bathing the cardinal carpets in gold. The past two days had been like a blur to Emelyn, and it seemed that the entire kingdom was still processing the tragedy.

"This book is so confusing," Emelyn muttered to herself. She glanced back down the corridor toward the library where she had come from. "Orphans are supposed to start new dynasties, but how are we supposed to find—?"

"Emelyn?"

Perking up, she turned around to see a woman standing before her. The woman had graying ginger hair tied in a braid and freckles on her face and arms. She nervously smoothed down her flour-stained apron with her hands.

"Mom?" Emelyn started. The woman hesitated, but her face flushed bright red as she ran toward the Crownguard. Emelyn stood, taking a few steps before her mother slammed into her, throwing her arms around Emelyn's neck.

"Mom, I—" Emelyn tried again but was cut off when Carmell sobbed, desperately stroking Emelyn's hair. Emelyn stared at the opposite hall momentarily, stunned, until her eyes watered, and she buried her face in her mother's hair.

"Mom," Emelyn repeated, laughing. She pulled away, looking her mother in the eye. "I meant to see you earlier, but—"

Carmell wiped her eyes and smiled, though her eyes were filled with worry. "No need," she said, her voice cracking. "I heard what happened."

Emelyn half-smiled. Carmell looked down at the book Emelyn held and said, "What's that? Are you trying to become a cleric now?"

Emelyn chuckled as she glanced at the book, then looked back at Carmell. "I'm trying to find something on who's supposed to take the throne when there's no one else in the royal family."

Carmell nodded in understanding and began walking, gesturing for Emelyn to follow. "So, you're talking about when Viren declared himself as the next ruler?" Carmell's voice dripped with disdain as she mentioned Viren's name.

"Yes," Emelyn groaned. "Something doesn't feel right, so I thought that maybe I could hit him with law and order?"

Carmell chuckled. "Just be careful, love. Viren is a very powerful man, and he's deeply committed to Dark Magic... just like his daughter."

"Mom," Emelyn protested. "Sure, Claudia studies Dark Magic, but she's not like that!"

Carmell's expression grew somber. "That may be true for now, but who knows..." She trailed off, gazing out the window as Emelyn stood at her side.

After a brief pause, Emelyn inquired, "So, how did you come to know about my injury and everything else?"

Carmell grinned, glancing at Emelyn slyly. "Soren filled me in after the funeral."

Emelyn groaned aloud and rolled her eyes. "That figures."

Carmell chuckled to herself and added, "It's intriguing that the person I converse with most often is not my daughter, but her closest companion."

"Mom!"

"I wish you would come by the kitchens more often and let me know you're okay," Carmell teased. Emelyn couldn't help but laugh as Carmell poked her in the side.

"I know, I'm sorry. I've just been really busy with work," Emelyn replied with a tired smile. "But now that things have calmed down, I'll make more time for you."

"What do you mean?" Carmell asked.

Emelyn's smile faded as she hugged herself. "The royal family...they're gone. I couldn't protect them." Emelyn turned away, hugging herself. "I'm a complete failure."

"That's nonsense--" Carmell gently interjected.

"But it's true!" Emelyn burst out, whipping around to face Carmell. "I literally gave my life fighting for King Harrow's, but it wasn't enough. And what's worse, it hasn't even been a day since he trusted me with taking care of the princes, and now they're dead, too!" Emelyn let her hands fall to her sides and looked at her feet. "I failed in the one job I had as a Crownguard."

Carmell took a moment to observe Emelyn's anxious movements before asking, "How do you know?"

"What?" Emelyn asked, looking up.

"How do you know they're dead?"

Emelyn furrowed her brows. "Viren told us so at the funeral. What do you mean?"

Carmell let out a deep sigh and crossed her arms. "Think about what you just said, Emi. Really think about it."

Emelyn paused, her mind racing. Then, it dawned on her. "You don't think--" Emelyn started.

"That's exactly what I think." Carmell placed a hand on her daughter's cheek. "Those boys are smart, and if they escaped the castle grounds, the most likely place they'd be is at the Banther Lodge." Carmell pointed at Emelyn's chest. "And who should be there waiting for them?"

Emelyn stared at Carmell for a moment, smiling broadly.

"Mom, you're a genius!"

Emelyn reached out to embrace Carmell, who laughed. "Well, it's not scholar-level science!"

Emelyn pulled away and ran down the castle hall, yelling, "Thanks!"

Carmell watched as she turned the corner, then laughed to herself. "Oh, Emelyn," she murmured with a smile. "Sometimes I wonder if that Soren is rubbing off on you..."

With a shake of her head and a chuckle, Carmell walked back to the castle kitchens with her hands in her apron's pockets.

"Alright, Millie," Emelyn briefed as the Golden Eagle perched on the horse before the Crownguard. Emelyn adjusted the saddle on her stallion and said, "We're going to the Banther Lodge. I need you to look ahead to see if Callum and Ezran are inside. Make sure that nothing jumps out at us, too." Emelyn reached up and patted Millie's back. "You think you can do that?"

Millie screeched.

"That's a good girl!" Emelyn cooed, but when Millie screeched again and flapped her wings, Emelyn couldn't help but wonder if there was more to her behavior. Suddenly, a voice from behind caught Emelyn's attention.

"Looks like your bird was trying to make sure nothing jumps out at you."

Emelyn whipped around to see Iris walking toward her with a smirk.

"Iris! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Emelyn exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Iris answered, dismissively waving her hand. "What are you doing?"

"I'm heading to the Banther Lodge," Emelyn replied as she adjusted her horse's saddle. Millie, her horse, glared at Iris with her hazel eyes.

"The Banther Lodge? You're not planning to search for the princes, are you?" Iris inquired suspiciously.

"No," Emelyn answered nonchalantly. "I'm going to stay there for a few days to go mud-sledding."

Iris looked at Emelyn, confused. Emelyn sighed irritably. "What do you think?!"

"Emelyn, there's no point. The princes are dead!" Iris said.

"Do we know that for sure?" Emelyn questioned, folding her arms and resting against her horse. The stallion let out a frustrated neigh.

"Yes!" Iris yelled, throwing her hands up in the air. "The High Mage told us so at the funeral!"

"How do we know he wasn't lying?" Emelyn shot back.

"Because--" Iris groaned, dropping her head in her hands. "Why in the world would he lie about something like that?"

"Because he wants the crown for himself!"

"Wha-" Iris stared at Emelyn, her left eye twitching. "What the heck are you talking about?!"

Emelyn rolled her eyes, then turned to mount her horse. She didn't have time to argue with Iris; the princes were in danger.

"Look, when I come back, I can debate with you all day, but I need to find Callum and Ezran more than I need to be here. I'll be back with the princes by tomorrow morning."

Emelyn slipped her boot into the stirrup as Iris groaned. The latter rubbed her eye, then said, "You know what? I just remembered. The High Cleric is waiting for you in the Throne Room."

Emelyn froze mid-hoist, glancing back at Iris. "Opeli? I wasn't aware of this."

"That's because I just told you, dummy," Iris said.

Emelyn sighed, her feet returning to the stone floor of the courtyard. As she passed Iris by, she said, "If I'm not back in 10 minutes, just put the horse back in the stable. I don't need him frying in the sun."

Emelyn left the scene, leaving Iris with Millie and the horse. The Golden Eagle glared menacingly at the Crownguard, who immediately took the horse's reins and led it back to the stables. Iris glanced up at the bird and scoffed.

"Don't look at me like that, you stupid bird," Iris sneered. Millie's eye narrowed in suspicion, and then she took off into the sky, gliding to the window of Emelyn's room.

Emelyn pushed open the doors to the Throne Room to find Opeli at the war table. The High Cleric looked up at the sound of Emelyn's metallic footsteps and smiled. She hurried around the table and approached the Crownguard, placing her hands on the soldier's shoulders. "What a coincidence, I was just thinking about you. Come." Opeli motioned for Emelyn to follow and walked back to the war table.

"What…?" Emelyn muttered in confusion, but she shook it off and took her place on the other side of the table. The markers representing the Moonshadow elves were still present, bringing a dull pang to Emelyn's gut. Anything even remotely related to the royal family was a reminder of the tragedy she failed to prevent.

"What's the problem?" Emelyn asked, pushing the feeling of regret and failure to the back of her mind.

Opeli sighed. "Viren wants a coronation. Tomorrow morning."

Emelyn scoffed. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I know. I've tried to hold it off, but the rest of the council is too concerned with the fact that the throne is empty." Opeli's hands clenched into fists. The anger written on her face was evident— anger and pain.

"We can't let it happen," Emelyn agreed. "Opeli, I think the princes are alive. Viren must've been lying about their deaths so he could take the crown."

Opeli looked up. "Are you sure?"

Emelyn shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past him. I was just about to go to the Banther Lodge to look for them."

Opeli's expression grew serious as she contemplated the situation. "Regardless, we can't do anything until we have proof," she finally stated firmly, her brows furrowing in contemplation. Emelyn's face fell at the words, and she quickly interjected, "Then let me go, Opeli. I can find them—"

But Opeli cut her off, her tone stern. "No, Emelyn. Viren is monitoring the castle's every move, under the guise of ensuring the elves have truly left Katolis. If your suspicions are correct, Viren may be attempting to cover up the truth about the princes' whereabouts."

Emelyn let out a sigh of frustration, feeling overwhelmed by the situation. Opeli, noticing her distress, continued with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "However, when King Harrow received the news of the Moonshadow attack, he sent a letter to General Amaya at the Breach; the Standing Battalion was sent to the Banther Lodge to meet the princes."

Opeli glanced at Emelyn, whose chest swelled. There was a chance that the princes were alive, and General Amaya was on her way to confirm it. The past three days have been some of Emelyn's worst, but finally, there was a win in her sights. Emelyn tried to keep her hopes down as she said, "So what do we do now?"

Opeli smiled softly, catching the slight waver in Emleyn's voice. "We wait for them to arrive." As they approached the Throne Room doors, Opeli advised, "In the meantime, you should go get ready for Viren's coronation. Go polish your armor or whatever you Crownguard do before a big event." Opeli paused, then chuckled. "I never thought I'd say that."

Emelyn smirked. "What, the Crownguard part, or Viren's coronation?"

"Both," Opeli replied with a smile.

Dawn had finally come. Citizens of Katolis had begun to gather in the courtyard, awaiting the coronation. Standing at the entrance, Soren observed hundreds taking their places. He took a deep breath, savoring the refreshing morning air. Amidst the crowd, he noticed Emelyn leaning against a wall with a look of disapproval etched on her face.

"Red," Soren called, making his way toward her. Emelyn looked up and, upon recognizing Soren, saluted him with two fingers.

"Hey, why the long face?" Soren asked, mimicking Emelyn's posture. Emelyn sighed.

"Nothing," Emelyn answered flatly.

"Oh come on, I know that look," Soren prodded, playfully poking Emelyn in the side. She swatted his hand away.

"I said it's nothing, okay?!" Emelyn snapped. Her eyes flared with irritation as she glared at Soren, who recoiled in surprise.

"Woah, okay, sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," he said, rubbing his stinging hand as he stepped back. Perhaps he was being too cheerful too soon, but he didn't know what else to do. As he watched Emelyn cross her arms over her chest and furrowed her brows in frustration, he longed for the opportunity to cheer her up properly.

After a few minutes, Viren appeared on the balcony, adorned in simple yet elegant robes. Emelyn's fingers dug into her arms upon seeing the High Mage, a small gesture that Soren picked up on.

"People of Katolis," Viren began, his voice projecting with confidence. The crowd fell silent. "King Harrow's death has wounded us deeply, but the loss of his sons— our princes— is a greater injustice. By eliminating both heirs to the throne, our enemies sought to leave us without a leader."

Soren observed the crowd, their eyes fixed on Viren, their breaths held as they awaited his following words. "It would disgrace Harrow's memory to allow the kingdom he loved to be lost in darkness." The High Mage lifted his arms regally and proclaimed, "Though it is a heavy burden, I will humbly take up the battle in Harrow's name. I will become Lord Protector of the realm!"

The entire courtyard gasped in shock. Even Soren was surprised; he didn't realize that his father was willing to take the crown to exact revenge on the evils of Xadia. Emelyn, on the other hand, spat. "Typical, ain't it? Because calling yourself the king would be too obvious."

It seemed to Soren that she knew something he didn't, but he didn't dwell too much on it.

As Viren turned and kneeled, High Cleric Opeli stepped forward, holding Harrow's crown. Her brows were knitted together as her eyes darted across the crowd, desperate for someone to speak up. When no one did, She closed her eyes, sighed deeply, and slowly lowered the crown to Viren's—

"Stop the coronation!"

Everyone whipped around to see two soldiers barreling into the courtyard on horses. As they slid to a stop, one raised her hands and moved them wildly as the other spoke. Emelyn gasped.

"Stop the coronation," Commander Gren of the Standing Battalion shouted, translating for General Amaya's rapid signing. "The princes are alive!"

Soren's eyes widened, and he turned to look back up at Viren and Opeli. It seemed that Opeli hadn't finished the ceremony because she was gazing at General Amaya with satisfaction, the crown still in her hands. Opeli's eyes shifted from Amaya to Emelyn, who returned the knowing look with a smirk.

Okay, so there was definitely something she knew that Soren didn't. Soren then noticed that his father had stood up and was now glaring at Amaya with an anger Soren rarely saw.Ooh, Soren thought, sucking his teeth. That's not going to be good.

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fritoley · 4 months ago

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Warrior's Honor Chapter 3: A Procession of Change

Summary: Harrow's death weighs heavy in Emelyn's heart.

Word Count: 3k

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Emelyn bolted upright with a sudden gasp, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings as she struggled to orient herself. Her hands instinctively went to her chest, seeking the wound left by the Moonshadow elf, but she quickly realized three startling details. First, she was wearing a red undershirt instead of her Crownguard uniform. Second, her armor lay on a table across the room. And lastly, the wound had completely disappeared without leaving a single trace.

As Emelyn shifted her gaze, she spotted the girl perched at the edge of her bed. Claudia had a book in her hands and was looking at her with an expression of excitement and happiness. Suddenly, she shut the book and called out, "Soren! Soren, come quick! Emelyn is awake!"

Claudia turned back to Emelyn and took her hand. "Oh my gosh, you scared us! How are you feeling?"

"Um…" Emelyn said, confused. She looked up to see Soren pacing back and forth on the other side of the room. When he noticed Emelyn was awake, his eyes lit up excitedly.

"You're alive!" Soren cried, hurrying to Emelyn's bedside.

"Yeah, I'm alive. Why-" Emelyn said, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, but then a realization hit her. Her face fell, and she looked at Claudia with her eyes wide. "Did I… die?"

Emelyn's mind raced as she looked back at her chest. Claudia shook her head cheerfully and said, "No, but that injury was nasty!" She then stood up and began fiddling with the bottles on the nightstand. Soren stood with his arms crossed, observing Emelyn's reaction.

"You're really lucky Soren found you in time. Any later, and the poison could've gotten to your heart." Claudia continued. "It only took a simple spell to get the poison out and a little potion to seal the wound. But now, you'll be just fine--" Claudia reached for the poison bottle but stopped when she saw Emelyn's glare.

"Um, Emi? Are you-"

"You used Dark Magic on me?!" Emelyn burst out. "Claudia, you know how I feel about that stuff!"

"Hey, hey," Soren started, reaching out for Emelyn. "She was only trying to help--"

Emelyn slapped Soren's hand away and stood up. "I don't care! I told her to never use Dark Magic on me!"

Claudia scoffed. "What else was I supposed to do, let you die?"

Emelyn opened her mouth to respond, but a sharp ache pulsed through her skull, and her eyesight became hazy. She let out a low groan, and her legs buckled beneath her.

"Soren--" Claudia started, but Soren was a step ahead. He grabbed Emelyn around her waist and gently lowered her to her knees. Claudia grabbed another bottle from the nightstand and kneeled beside Emelyn, writhing from the blinding pain in her head.

"Here," Claudia said, offering her a dark blue potion. "The migraines are from your body trying to flush out the toxins left from the poison on the elf's blade. This'll help."

"I told you, Claudia," Emelyn started, then winced in pain, clutching her head. "I'm not taking any more Dark Magic!"

"Red, just take the stupid potion!" Soren shouted. Emelyn scowled at him momentarily, which Soren returned with a firm gaze. Finally, Emelyn sighed in defeat. With a swipe of her hand, she took the potion from Claudia and downed it in a second. Claudia gently took the bottle and stood, returning to the nightstand to gather her things. Emelyn gagged, then coughed.

She looked up at Claudia and said with watery eyes, "Claudia, what is this stuff? It tastes like hot dog water and… and feet!"

"Really?!" Claudia asked, shocked. She looked at the bottle, then shrugged. "Huh. Good to know."

Emelyn let out a deep breath and adjusted herself to sit. Soren crossed his legs and rested his head on his hand, watching Emelyn for any signs of discomfort.

"Who else got hurt? Is Iris okay?" Emelyn asked.

"Well, Iris is fine, but we lost a lot of Crownguard in the battle," Claudia said.

"Most of the Crownguard that died were the ones patrolling the tower. We're lucky we didn't get hurt too badly," Soren said. An awkward silence ensued as Emelyn glanced at Soren with an eyebrow raised. "Well, you're not hurt anymore, so you don't count," he added. Claudia chuckled.

Emelyn nodded, sighing in relief. Suddenly, a realization came to her. "What about King Harrow? Is he alright?"

Claudia and Soren both froze, exchanging uneasy looks. Claudia turned to the potion bottle in her hand and set it on the nightstand. Soren averted his gaze, suddenly becoming very interested in the stone flooring. Emelyn looked back and forth from the siblings, then sat up tensely. She turned to Soren.

"Soren?" Emelyn started, her eyes wide and unmoving. "What happened?"

"Um," Claudia started. Emelyn whipped her head around to look at her. "Emelyn, King Harrow's…" Claudia glanced at Emelyn sadly. Soren finished the sentence.

"Dead. The elves killed him."

Emelyn's heart sank as she stared at Soren. The words he spoke were like a punch to the gut, and she couldn't shake the feeling of despair that washed over her. She had hoped it was all a joke, but the look in his eyes told her otherwise.

"...What?" Emelyn breathed.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. The three looked to see Marcos poke his head through the doorway.

"Lord Viren is summoning you all to the courtyard," he said apprehensively, hoping he didn't interrupt something. Soren, Emelyn, and Claudia exchanged glances, and Claudia turned to Marcos.

"Okay. Thanks," Claudia said. Marcos nodded, closing the door. Claudia left the bottles on the nightstand and looked at Soren and Emelyn. Emelyn stared at her hands, trying to process the news. Soren gave his sister a knowing look.

"…I'll see you there," Claudia said quietly. Soren nodded. Claudia gently opened the door and left the room.

King Harrow... Emelyn couldn't believe it. She had dedicated the entire day in preparations to defend against the elves and prepared the entire Katolian Crownguard to fulfill their duties to protect the royal family. So many soldiers have lost their lives; if it weren't for Claudia, Emleyn would've lost hers.

So where did she go wrong?!

Emelyn balled her hands into fists and jumped to her feet. She bent over with her hands on the floor to steady herself, and when she was sure she wouldn't have a dizzy spell, she stood straight.

"You're not actually going, right?" Soren asked suspiciously.

"Of course I am. I'm a Crownguard," Emelyn answered, walking over to the table containing her armor.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Soren asked, standing and putting his hands on his hips.

"Just leave me alone."

Soren scoffed. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen." He walked over to the table, examining the armor as Emelyn grabbed the crisp tunic from the table.

"Are you sure you should be back on duty after Claudia just saved you?" Soren asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the table.

"Uh, yeah," Emelyn answered, adjusting the uniform, grabbing her sash, and tying it around her waist. "You know how Dark Magic works. I'll be fine."

Soren grimaced, catching the bitterness in her voice. As he glanced around, he spotted Emelyn's sword hidden beneath the heap of armor. Emelyn finished fastening her leather forearm plate and went to retrieve her weapon, but Soren beat her to it and snatched it off the table.

"Hey!" Emelyn exclaimed, turning toward Soren. Soren examined the blade, impressed with the design.

"Did you get this one the same place you got mine?" he asked, stepping away from Emelyn and practicing a few swipes with it. "This thing is light! I should really get one of these!"

"I--" Emelyn started. "Can you just give it back?"

"Let me think about it," Soren answered, pretending to think. He then propped the sword on his shoulder and smirked. "I think I'll hold onto it for a while."

"Soren!" Emelyn cried. She tried to grab the sword, but Soren's height gave him an advantage. Emelyn groaned.

"Give me the sword before I really hurt you!" Emelyn threatened.

"Hey, I'm just saying," Soren argued. "You got hurt pretty badly, and even though Claudia healed you with Dark Magic–"

"That's the problem!" Emelyn burst out, throwing her hands in the air. "I specifically told her to never use Dark Magic on me! She promised!"

"Hey, it's just like she said, what else was she supposed to do?" Soren retorted.

"There are other medical solutions," Emelyn said, crossing her arms angrily. Soren opened his mouth to argue, then sighed.

"Okay, look. It wasn't Claudia's fault. It’s mine." Soren admitted. Emelyn raised an eyebrow.

"Your fault? The one who thinks magic is disgusting?" Emelyn waved a hand dismissively. "I understand you trying to take the blame for your sister, but I'm not convinced."

"Emelyn," Soren complained. "It's true. I told Claudia to use Dark Magic on you. I didn't know what else to do."

Emelyn stopped, looking back at Soren. The desperation in his eyes, pleading she believe him. With a twinge of guilt, she noticed the dirt on his face, the scuff marks on his armor, and even the crimson blood stain on his sleeve. She found herself wondering how he fared in the fight.

"...Why?" she asked.

"Because-" Soren sighed. "Because even though I hate magic, if... if it saves you, I'll be okay with it."

Soren stood there with his arms crossed, avoiding eye contact as Emelyn looked at him in surprise. Given the gravity of their situation, she was taken aback by how vulnerable he was. She felt a sudden surge of gratitude towards her long-time friend and fellow Crownguard. Soren had always been there for Emelyn, helping her train and get stronger since they were kids, and she realized that she had taken his presence for granted. Stepping forward, Emelyn closed the gap between them and gently took his hand, causing Soren to glance down at her, his face flushing.

"Was that a compliment?" she asked. Soren let out a strained chuckle.

"Don't mock me."

Emelyn laughed and backed away, saying, "We should get to the courtyard. Viren is probably waiting for you."

"Wait, what about you?" Soren asked.

"Your dad couldn't care less about whether I'm there or not, that's for sure," Emelyn said, waving her sword at Soren before sheathing it. Soren looked at his hand, which was now empty, then back at Emelyn in shock.

"How did you do that?!"

High Mage Viren observed as four Crownguard prepared to pick up a covered pyre containing Harrow's body in the courtyard. Claudia was standing next to him, looking sad. Suddenly, Viren sighed irritably.

"Where is Soren?" he inquired Claudia.

"Oh, he's probably on his way," Claudia replied, scanning the area. She gestured to the castle entrance and said, "There they are!"

Viren nodded but confusedly turned to Claudia. "They?" he asked. He followed Claudia's pointing finger, looking up to see Soren and Emelyn hurrying toward them. Soren nudged Emelyn in the ribs, and she responded by wiping some dirt off his face.

"I was told Crownguard Emelyn died," Viren pointed out, nostrils flaring.

"No, she didn't," Claudia answered, making the split-second decision to tread lightly. "She was, um, only injured... a little."

Viren sighed. "Very well. We must begin the funeral." He waved to the Crownguard, and they picked up the pyre.

Word traveled fast in Katolis. Hundreds of citizens filled the streets as the party silently paraded through the kingdom. Children peered at the event from behind skirts and trousers. Many held back tears, and some were outright sobbing. Finally, the congregation led out of the capital and into the Valley of Graves, where all the great kings and queens of Katolis were buried.

Claudia observed the towering statues of previous rulers carved into the cliff sides as the party made their way to the podium. Soren let out a tired yawn and rubbed his face, the stress of the night clearly taking a toll on his body.

"Hey," she said, elbowing Soren gently. "Keep your head up."

"Sorry," Soren answered, stretching with a groan, then slumping his shoulders. "Long night."

Claudia couldn't help but agree. Between the Moonshadow elf attack and the scare from Emelyn's near-death experience, she was feeling quite drained herself. She thought for a moment, then pulled a bottle from her belt, uncapping it and pouring a brown liquid into it. Giving it to Soren, she said, "Here. This'll help."

Soren took the drink and, after smelling it, took a sip. His eyes widened, and he smiled. "Woah. That's good!"

"I call it: Hot Brown Morning Potion!" Claudia answered triumphantly.

Soren noticed Emleyn walking ahead with her head lowered. Concerned, he picked up his pace to catch up with her. He found her with her palms pressed to her eyes, gritting her teeth.

"Red? You okay?" he asked. Emelyn groaned, ran her fingers through her bangs, and looked up. They both saw Millie flying overhead, but the Golden Eagle remained silent.

"I don't understand," Emelyn sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Four times, Soren. I beefed up defenses to four times our usual strength. The entire army was looking for these elves, and they still slipped through our fingers! How could this happen?" Her voice cracked as she spoke as if she was willing herself not to cry.

Soren spoke softly, aware of Claudia watching them. "Red, it's okay. The important thing is that we're alive, okay?"

"That's the problem," Emelyn answered, folding her arms around her torso. "We shouldn't be alive. I shouldn't be alive. So many soldiers gave their lives fighting those elves, but... it wasn't enough," she looked away from Soren, her shoulders shaking. Soren suddenly felt nauseous, and his taste for the hot brown morning potion was lost.

As soon as they arrived at the Valley of Graves, the Crownguard gently placed the pyre on the platform. Viren proceeded to climb the steps to address the people gathered there.

"Today, we woke to a devastating truth. Our king has been taken from us. Slain by the forces of Xadia: Moonshadow Elves!"

The crowd of citizens started chattering amongst themselves, and Emelyn scoffed. "Way to work a crowd up," she muttered, crossing her arms.

"To me, he was more than just a king," Viren continued dramatically. "In his final hours, King Harrow called me... his brother."

"Wait."

Viren glanced over and noticed Opeli scowling at him. She stepped forward and demanded, "Where are Princes Callum and Ezran? They need to be here!"

Emelyn perked at the sound of the princes' names. She watched as Viren turned to face the crowd, and with a somber face, he said, "The princes... are dead."

Claudia gasped slightly. Soren's eyes widened. Emelyn stared at Viren in horror, her mouth agape, her mind racing. She knew it couldn't be true; Callum and Ezran were at the Banther Lodge–

Wait. Callum had run up the tower to King Harrow's chambers mere minutes before the Moonshadow Elves arrived…

Ezran was nowhere to be found–

"Take care of my sons..."

Emelyn swayed violently, and Soren seized her arm before she could collapse. He placed his hands on her shoulders and held her close, steadying her against his body. His brows furrowed with concern; her breathing had already become shallow and ragged. He contemplated murmuring a few words of affirmation into her ear but decided against it. If the princes were truly dead, what could he possibly say to ease her tensions? Instead, he remained silent, offering his presence as comfort.

"We cannot let Xadia's cruelty go unanswered. We must move forward with strength!" Viren turned to Opeli, who was holding a torch. "Light the pyre!" he shouted. Opeli looked at the torch, then at Harrow's covered corpse. She glared at Viren and waved the torch, causing the flame to blow out.

"No," she said defiantly. Emelyn and Soren watched as the other council members smothered the fires on their torches, following Opeli's act. Viren sighed, then turned to Soren, Claudia, and Emelyn.

"Claudia," Viren prompted.

Without a word, Claudia stepped forward, heeding her father's command. She pulled a bottle from her pocket, and when she raised it, Emelyn could see a tiny spider within.

"Claudia, no," Emelyn whispered, her breath shaky. She started forward, but Soren gently pulled her back. Claudia opened the bottle, letting the spider crawl along her hand, before she clenched her fist, causing an orange goo to spill between her fingers.

Then she started chanting.

Emelyn couldn't help but shiver as the mystic language filled the air, memories of past encounters with those wretched incantations flooding her mind. Soren took notice and gently rubbed her arm, offering a comforting presence. Claudia raised her hand, and suddenly, a flame erupted from it, casting a warm glow across the darkened sky. She directed the flame towards the torches the council members had extinguished before it finally collided with the pyre. Harrow's body quickly ignited, a thick cloud of smoke billowing into the air.

"When a ruler of Katolis dies, we mourn for seven days. But we are at war." Viren turned to the crowd as the smoke created a dreadful background behind him. Millie circled the smoke in the sky and screeched in alarm. "Today, we must mourn seven-fold. For tonight, there will be a coronation!"

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