THE WAR OF THE ELEMENTS
By m00nstorm77
Chapter One
Prediction
The cloaked figure scaled the wall, a cloud of fog blossoming from his mouth. At the corner of the mansion, he swung a hook on to the roof and pulled himself up. Then this cloaked figure observed the large heavily guarded hill, which was half merged with the royal quarters. The guardsman that was patrolling the area moved on where he was going to attempt to break through. The cloaked form jumped from the roof of the four storied- building. They were about to hit the ground only a couple metres from a stone wall when they suddenly summoned the force of the element Air, slowing their fall and preventing injury.
Their cloak flared behind them as they soared over the wall and quickly sneaked through the second wall. The second wall was not as heavily armoured as the first. They swiftly began hiking up the hill until they reached part of an underground hall that had one ornate, circular window to light it during the day. The window was about the same height as the figure's knee. Whipping out a blade and expertly slicing the seals of the window and wedging it out of its frame. The figure pulled the pane back through towards them before it could fall and betray their presence. Green eyes strained to penetrate the darkness, to seek out any dangers. Using the power of Air to slow them, they stepped through the window frame and dropped into a hall, exiting quickly. They proceeded silently and cautiously down another hall, making a beeline for a polished pine door with a gold inlay. Beyond the door those green eyes again scanned for guards and come to rest on a young prince sleeping. The cloaked figure covered the distance between them and the prince quickly, drew their blade once more raising it above their head and brought it down hard and fast...
*~*~*~*
The prince opened his eyes, his whole body tensed about to receive an imaginary blow. The room echoed with the cry that had reverberated from his lips only moments before. Mopping his brow, he sat up and inspected him chamber. It was empty. "Only a dream." he sighed and lay down again. Then the door creaked open and a familiar figure stole into his room. It was the maid; she walked towards his indigo curtains and flung them open. Dorian hauled his sheets off him and swung his legs around to the side of his bed. He glanced at his clock; it read quarter past nine. Dorian got to his feet and looked around his room, his eyes came to rest on his pine wardrobe. Dorian stumbled over to his wardrobe and aggressively opened its doors. He hurriedly grabbed some clothes and a towel. He sloped around his bed and into his private bathroom.
Dorian gave a low moan as hot water blasted down on his back and rid him of his fatigue. He was soaping himself when he heard the familiar rumble of voices from his father's chambers. He rinsed quickly and turned off the water to hear better
"Your Majesty," That was Louie, the High King's Chief Adviser speaking at a much louder volume then normal. "The East Elements are rallying their forces in the hills just outside the border. They have already struck at some rebel tribes. They slaughtered those that opposed them, your Majesty, they're certain to have a go at us. We must strike!"
"I will not fight not with out a home advantage. With all the defences we have here, we could take down an army twenty-thousand strong at least." Replied the High King with equal passion. Dorian didn't hear any other yelling coming from his father's office after that. He supposed one of them had left the room.
*~*~*~*
Later that day the prince was at lunch with his family. As usual the quadruplets fought with their nurses, his father gulped down some soup between the various bits of paperwork he was doing and his mother was hidden behind a mask of normality. Dorian glanced at his father and felt a part of his heart shatter. Before the quadruplets were born he had spent many a day bonding with his father. Now, between sleep and ruling the realm his father barely ate and almost never spent time with his family. For a while Dorian had been jealous of his mother, who managed to see his father during social functions, but then he realised that the conversation was forced, and his father never visited his mother in her chambers after the parties were finished. If anything, those parties only made his mother more depressed and she often spent hours at a time reminiscing about her youth, when she and the High King had spent days in each others company. Dorian had sworn to himself that if his duties ever separated him from his family, he would renounce the throne.
That evening his father had a speech to make to his officials to be followed by a performance by an orchestra and refreshments. Dorian had to attend, but he spent the evening with his court-face on, planning how he would rule the kingdom and how he would eradicate events like this. Eventually he staggered back to his chamber where he plonked onto the bed without even removing his good clothes.
Morning found Dorian by flaring into his bedroom as the sun burst over the horizon. He wrenched himself up and slagged towards his dresser, selecting some clothes and proceeding to his bathroom. As he opened the door to his ensuite, he found his father was again talking to Louie in the next room. Dorian stood still, listening eagerly.
"They are in the mountains, sire, two thousand strong at least." He heard Louie say.
"What do you propose then, I send my riders to be slaughtered? My men would get within half a mile and then they'd be down on us, picking us out with volley after volley of arrows. I don't want that Louie; I'd rather wait here." His father retaliated.
"We should at least increase our wall defences sire, or prepare for a siege. They could attack at any moment." Said an unfamiliar voice.
"Not necessarily," said another unfamiliar voice. "Our sources tell us that another battalion is on its way, collecting more men as it goes."
"The mountain top watches claim they saw the Metal Emperor." Said another voice.
"Have more men put on the watch, but don't raise the alarm yet. The public could mess everything up. Louie, I want you to keep a tab on that army that's collecting more troops. If anyone in that army so much as picks his nose, I want to know when and where as soon as possible. Siregar, find out everything about that camp and its weapons and if the Metal Emperor really is there. The rest of you are dismissed." His father ordered.
*~*~*~*
Dorian woke to the scuff of a boot and the gentle creaking of a doorknob slowly turning that night. He'd been waiting for this all day. He quickly rolled away from the door, shut his eyes and slowed his breathing. Dorian was quite adept at feigning sleep.
He could sense the door opening and the presence of another person but he still didn't move. He could hear jagged breathing behind him. There was the whoosh of a blade; he rolled fast and seized the free arm of his assassin in one fluid movement. He raised his other arm towards the assassin's chest and prepared to summon the force of spirit before the assassin could free the blade wedged in the bed. But the opposer abandoned the knife and swatted Dorian's arm away causing him to blast a hole into the roof. The assassin fixed his hand around Dorian's neck; Dorian retaliated by blasting at the assassin's arms. The assassin lurched backwards releasing Dorian's neck and stumbling into the curtains, shaking.
Moonlight spilled through the window and reflected of the green eyes of his nightmares. Dorian put his hands together and felt the power of Spirit roll down his arms and into the opposer's head. Within seconds the mind was gone and the body of his would-be assassin was an empty husk. Dorian stared into the green eyes, now empty of emotion, of thought. He'd just wiped the man's mind. Somewhere in the middle of his stupor his underlings burst in. They removed the body, apologising for being so slow then ushered him into bed.
*~*~*~*
After slinking back into a shaky, sweaty sleep Dorian woke quite late. He just made it to breakfast where his mother and father seemed more content then usual until they heard of his encounter last night. His father's brow furrowed and Dorian instantly regretted telling them. Before his father had been talking heartily to the queen and finishing off a big bowl of porridge. He soon snapped out of it and resumed the conversation.
"You're in a good mood this morning, father." He said, altering his tone to show his pleasure at the attempt to be normal for just one morning.
His father replied "I've taken a day off to spend some time with the family."
Despite those words Dorian still didn't see his father that day. After the morning's lessons, then weapons training his father took lunch with the queen then spent the afternoon walking with her and the quadruplets.
The day dragged and Dorian spent his spare time considering his future very seriously, and he decided to change it. After the court retired for the night he went to his room and grabbed a lantern and a pack, opened his bedroom window, climbed out and began to sneak out of the palace. He'd done this many times and was quite used to avoiding the guards. Despite Dorian's advice his father had never altered the guard rosters.
Once outside he lit his lantern and held it in one hand while the other hand held his hooded-cloak together. Dorian walked rather then rode, so he was able to slip past the East Elements forces easily to find something to made him gasp.
By m00nstorm77
Chapter One
Prediction
The cloaked figure scaled the wall, a cloud of fog blossoming from his mouth. At the corner of the mansion, he swung a hook on to the roof and pulled himself up. Then this cloaked figure observed the large heavily guarded hill, which was half merged with the royal quarters. The guardsman that was patrolling the area moved on where he was going to attempt to break through. The cloaked form jumped from the roof of the four storied- building. They were about to hit the ground only a couple metres from a stone wall when they suddenly summoned the force of the element Air, slowing their fall and preventing injury.
Their cloak flared behind them as they soared over the wall and quickly sneaked through the second wall. The second wall was not as heavily armoured as the first. They swiftly began hiking up the hill until they reached part of an underground hall that had one ornate, circular window to light it during the day. The window was about the same height as the figure's knee. Whipping out a blade and expertly slicing the seals of the window and wedging it out of its frame. The figure pulled the pane back through towards them before it could fall and betray their presence. Green eyes strained to penetrate the darkness, to seek out any dangers. Using the power of Air to slow them, they stepped through the window frame and dropped into a hall, exiting quickly. They proceeded silently and cautiously down another hall, making a beeline for a polished pine door with a gold inlay. Beyond the door those green eyes again scanned for guards and come to rest on a young prince sleeping. The cloaked figure covered the distance between them and the prince quickly, drew their blade once more raising it above their head and brought it down hard and fast...
*~*~*~*
The prince opened his eyes, his whole body tensed about to receive an imaginary blow. The room echoed with the cry that had reverberated from his lips only moments before. Mopping his brow, he sat up and inspected him chamber. It was empty. "Only a dream." he sighed and lay down again. Then the door creaked open and a familiar figure stole into his room. It was the maid; she walked towards his indigo curtains and flung them open. Dorian hauled his sheets off him and swung his legs around to the side of his bed. He glanced at his clock; it read quarter past nine. Dorian got to his feet and looked around his room, his eyes came to rest on his pine wardrobe. Dorian stumbled over to his wardrobe and aggressively opened its doors. He hurriedly grabbed some clothes and a towel. He sloped around his bed and into his private bathroom.
Dorian gave a low moan as hot water blasted down on his back and rid him of his fatigue. He was soaping himself when he heard the familiar rumble of voices from his father's chambers. He rinsed quickly and turned off the water to hear better
"Your Majesty," That was Louie, the High King's Chief Adviser speaking at a much louder volume then normal. "The East Elements are rallying their forces in the hills just outside the border. They have already struck at some rebel tribes. They slaughtered those that opposed them, your Majesty, they're certain to have a go at us. We must strike!"
"I will not fight not with out a home advantage. With all the defences we have here, we could take down an army twenty-thousand strong at least." Replied the High King with equal passion. Dorian didn't hear any other yelling coming from his father's office after that. He supposed one of them had left the room.
*~*~*~*
Later that day the prince was at lunch with his family. As usual the quadruplets fought with their nurses, his father gulped down some soup between the various bits of paperwork he was doing and his mother was hidden behind a mask of normality. Dorian glanced at his father and felt a part of his heart shatter. Before the quadruplets were born he had spent many a day bonding with his father. Now, between sleep and ruling the realm his father barely ate and almost never spent time with his family. For a while Dorian had been jealous of his mother, who managed to see his father during social functions, but then he realised that the conversation was forced, and his father never visited his mother in her chambers after the parties were finished. If anything, those parties only made his mother more depressed and she often spent hours at a time reminiscing about her youth, when she and the High King had spent days in each others company. Dorian had sworn to himself that if his duties ever separated him from his family, he would renounce the throne.
That evening his father had a speech to make to his officials to be followed by a performance by an orchestra and refreshments. Dorian had to attend, but he spent the evening with his court-face on, planning how he would rule the kingdom and how he would eradicate events like this. Eventually he staggered back to his chamber where he plonked onto the bed without even removing his good clothes.
Morning found Dorian by flaring into his bedroom as the sun burst over the horizon. He wrenched himself up and slagged towards his dresser, selecting some clothes and proceeding to his bathroom. As he opened the door to his ensuite, he found his father was again talking to Louie in the next room. Dorian stood still, listening eagerly.
"They are in the mountains, sire, two thousand strong at least." He heard Louie say.
"What do you propose then, I send my riders to be slaughtered? My men would get within half a mile and then they'd be down on us, picking us out with volley after volley of arrows. I don't want that Louie; I'd rather wait here." His father retaliated.
"We should at least increase our wall defences sire, or prepare for a siege. They could attack at any moment." Said an unfamiliar voice.
"Not necessarily," said another unfamiliar voice. "Our sources tell us that another battalion is on its way, collecting more men as it goes."
"The mountain top watches claim they saw the Metal Emperor." Said another voice.
"Have more men put on the watch, but don't raise the alarm yet. The public could mess everything up. Louie, I want you to keep a tab on that army that's collecting more troops. If anyone in that army so much as picks his nose, I want to know when and where as soon as possible. Siregar, find out everything about that camp and its weapons and if the Metal Emperor really is there. The rest of you are dismissed." His father ordered.
*~*~*~*
Dorian woke to the scuff of a boot and the gentle creaking of a doorknob slowly turning that night. He'd been waiting for this all day. He quickly rolled away from the door, shut his eyes and slowed his breathing. Dorian was quite adept at feigning sleep.
He could sense the door opening and the presence of another person but he still didn't move. He could hear jagged breathing behind him. There was the whoosh of a blade; he rolled fast and seized the free arm of his assassin in one fluid movement. He raised his other arm towards the assassin's chest and prepared to summon the force of spirit before the assassin could free the blade wedged in the bed. But the opposer abandoned the knife and swatted Dorian's arm away causing him to blast a hole into the roof. The assassin fixed his hand around Dorian's neck; Dorian retaliated by blasting at the assassin's arms. The assassin lurched backwards releasing Dorian's neck and stumbling into the curtains, shaking.
Moonlight spilled through the window and reflected of the green eyes of his nightmares. Dorian put his hands together and felt the power of Spirit roll down his arms and into the opposer's head. Within seconds the mind was gone and the body of his would-be assassin was an empty husk. Dorian stared into the green eyes, now empty of emotion, of thought. He'd just wiped the man's mind. Somewhere in the middle of his stupor his underlings burst in. They removed the body, apologising for being so slow then ushered him into bed.
*~*~*~*
After slinking back into a shaky, sweaty sleep Dorian woke quite late. He just made it to breakfast where his mother and father seemed more content then usual until they heard of his encounter last night. His father's brow furrowed and Dorian instantly regretted telling them. Before his father had been talking heartily to the queen and finishing off a big bowl of porridge. He soon snapped out of it and resumed the conversation.
"You're in a good mood this morning, father." He said, altering his tone to show his pleasure at the attempt to be normal for just one morning.
His father replied "I've taken a day off to spend some time with the family."
Despite those words Dorian still didn't see his father that day. After the morning's lessons, then weapons training his father took lunch with the queen then spent the afternoon walking with her and the quadruplets.
The day dragged and Dorian spent his spare time considering his future very seriously, and he decided to change it. After the court retired for the night he went to his room and grabbed a lantern and a pack, opened his bedroom window, climbed out and began to sneak out of the palace. He'd done this many times and was quite used to avoiding the guards. Despite Dorian's advice his father had never altered the guard rosters.
Once outside he lit his lantern and held it in one hand while the other hand held his hooded-cloak together. Dorian walked rather then rode, so he was able to slip past the East Elements forces easily to find something to made him gasp.