Heir of Galena
Summary: This is my attempt at a completely AU story for JaSam. Jason is the last in line for the throne of Galena but is forced into hiding with his Guardian and his guardian's daughter, Samantha, when the evil Sorceress, Elizabeth casts a spell that endangers his life. Years later when Samantha takes over guardianship of Jason they find that it's time to make the journey home so that he can reclaim his throne.
A/N: I haven't written fantasy in a while so I hope this reads alright. I am glad there is some interest and thanks for the compliments on the promo and such. Hope you guys enjoy the first chapter :)
Total Eclipse
Fear came in waves, on the tide of screams and bitter darkness. Samantha gripped the window sill of the high tower window until her knuckles turned white watching as the eclipse cast darkness over the whole of the city. It was the kind of darkness that settled into memories and souls, making itself at home for all of eternity. Mingle in the sounds of battle while the armies of Gruen marched on the city and terror found a new home in the hearts of a kingdom.
Samantha had spent all of her seven years in the company of the palace under the watchful eye of her father and mother. They protected the royal family and one day she would to, if there was one left to protect after this day. She'd heard the whispers behind closed doors, tales of the evil to come. It started before she could remember when the King of Galena learned that the dark Blood maiden Elizabeth had taken Gruen by force. It wasn't a large a kingdom but she was gaining power and was vicious enough to do unthinkable acts in the name of gaining more and more of it.
"She's come for us." Samantha whispered in horror as she watched the wave of darkness from the eclipse descend on the city and everywhere that the darkness touched, where the shadows fell, the people fell also, dead in a single heartbeat. Samantha gasped in a breath in shock at the sight, her eyes widening.
"Away from the window, Sam!" Sam felt a tug and nearly screamed out until she realized that it was her mother, Alexis. Alexis took her hand and led her away at a startling pace, pulling her from their room towards the king's chamber.
"The people are dying as soon as the darkness touches them." Sam cried out, looking to her mother for some sort of explanation. She watched as her mother pursed her lips and set her jaw, clearly upset that Sam had seen it. "What's happening?"
"It's blood magic." Alexis breathed out and she quickly stopped her pull on her daughter to lean down and explain tearfully. "Not the kind that the King and Queen use, Sam, evil magic. They've sacrificed the slaves of Gruen so that they can get past the armies of Galena."
"But..." Sam swallowed tightly. "We're Guardians, we can defend against evil blood magic." Sam didn't understand, their whole reason for existence was to protect the Life Bringers.
"Not this time, Sam. She's paid the sacrifices, we can't protect the whole city." She told her softly. "We have to hurry now." She couldn't explain more as she kissed her daughters cheek and rose back to her feet, tugging her along once more.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
It was a beautiful sight, watching the death and carnage. Elizabeth couldn't hide a wicked grin as she peered onto the giant orb situated on a balanced stands of gold in the center of her tower in Gruen. As if the battle wasn't enough, oh and it was marvelous, the tragedy was even more intoxicating. Below the the tower wailing lit the streets as the slaves were being sacrificed one at a giving their lives so that she could take those of Galena, evening the odds I her favor as her army marched into the capitol.
She watched as the darkness engulfed the castle as well, her laugh resonating off the stone walls as she laid ruin to the prophecy that the heir of Galena would destroy her. " I did it brother!" She called out triumphantly as she looked pridefully to the a withering man chained to her tower wall, forced to watch the destruction of the kingdoms one by one.
He didn't look up as if the conquest of her foe somehow killed the last of his spirit. "I did it!" She called again and this time made her way over, forcing his chin up to meet her eyes. "And you said it would never happen."
He fought her hold in disgust trying to pull his gaze from hers, but in doing so he found himself looking to the orb and for a moment his heart was breaking into smaller and smaller bits, soon to be nothing but dust, but then...Stephen narrowed his eyes in wonder as light after beaconing light sprang forth from the most heavenward tower of the castle, even penetrating the darkness. "You haven't!" Stephen threw back at her with a triumphant laugh that had her whirling to look at the orb in growing dismay. "The Guardians protect him even now, your magic isn't strong enough!"
Stephen had hoped beyond hope that someone could put an end to his sister's evil reign and he was crazed with the hope that it was still a possibility. He knew the only reason that she kept him around was because she got a rush from misery and the closer the person was to her the better. He was her personal high when she needed a boost. She had destroyed every thing that was good left in their family and kingdom and now the one hope he could cling to was to see her reign come to an end.
"My magic is unrivaled!" She screamed back at him in seething anger as she looked down at the slaves still dying. Why wasn't it working? They had killed hundreds! The sacrifice should have been enough for the spell to extend to the boy! She watched the orb again, for a long hard moment and then looked to Stephen who was still laughing in winded mirth. "The sacrifice isn't personal enough..." She said thoughtfully as she approached her brother. "I suppose I'll have to sacrifice something more endearing to my heart..." She sighed with disdain at the very idea as she dragged her hand across the table with sadness in her eyes picking up a dagger in the process.
Stephen lost his smile as he realized what she was talking about. "You can't tell me that you'll miss me. I'm not a sacrifice. You don't care about me." He called out without fighting the chains. He had little fight left.
"That's true on a certain level." Elizabeth nodded as she came closer, toying with the edge of the blade. She then plunged the dagger into her brother's gut as she explained. "But to sacrifice all that I derive from your suffering...that I care about."
Stephen's eyes widened in a mixture of shock and relief as she met his sister's eyes. After years of begging, she was finally putting him out of his misery and while it might have been as a way to penetrate the protection of the Guardian's of Galena against the young heir, he was thankful to whatever God had granted him the reprieve. "Even this cannot take back what the Gods have already prophesied."
"We'll see about that." Elizabeth countered as she twisted the knife and then released it, turning to take in what good the sacrifice had made towards killing off the heir of Galena. All about the tower the lights from the Guardian's were failing. Their protection lost to the power of her magic and will. She smirked. Stephen's sacrifice would surely be enough...
ZZZZZZZZZZ
Declan McCall cursed a blue streak when the light of his protective powers began to fizzle than went out all together. He broke the line heading towards the King's chamber just in time to meet his wife and daughter on the way in. "She's broken through the Guardian's protection!" He called as they entered together just in time to see the young prince collapse in his parents arms.
Sam gasped in horror when she saw Jason slip into a quivering mess in his mother's arms, clearly fighting to even breath. "Why isn't she targeting one of us?" Moriah, the Queen, called in horror to her husband, Atlan.
"Because even if we're dead, he'll still oppose her." Atlan explained as he knelt by his queen's side and they both laid their hands on young Jason's back. "We have to save him, no one else. He can end this, you have to believe that." Moriah nodded in tears. "Declan!" Moriah scooped up her boy and carried him to the royal bed, stripping off his bed shirt as she lay him face down on the silken comforters.
Sam had never seen Jason shirtless before. She narrowed her eyes as she took in the black lines that all Life Bringers wore somewhere on their bodies. Jason's mark was a black dragon and it was on his back. It covered almost half his back and it was beautiful. It was as if the Gods had drawn it themselves while he was still in the womb. She was unseen as she scampered to the side of the bed, innocently peering over the edge to see Moriah and Atlan talking to her father.
"You have to protect him, get him out of here, whatever the costs, keep him safe until the day arrives when he is ready to return home." Atlan was saying and Sam could see tears brimming in her fathers eyes even as he bowed his agreement in respect.
She didn't understand. She was trying so hard but nothing made sense since the Gruen's had come. She watched in wonder as Moriah and Atlan both placed their hands on Jason's back and wondered at why her mother sobbed in a breath in horror almost looking away. Alexis had never been so...so emotional. Jason's body jumped as though surging with electricity and Sam delicately wrapped her hand around his hand that dangled over the side of the bed, seeing light engulf the both of their hands as his parents took measures to save him.
She and Jason had trained together for nearly two years already and she was scared for her friend and future King. Chanting filled the room and Sam felt herself growing weaker and weaker, but refused to let her friend's hand go as she heard his mother and father's voices growing as weak as she felt. In the end, Sam slipped into unconscious as Jason did, neither of them bearing witness to his mark growing to cover the whole of his back as it also turned blood red. Neither did they see Moriah or Atlan's last breath as they poured the last of themselves into their son, sacrificing themselves so that he might live.
They were still unconscious when Declan carried them out of the castle through the sewer tunnels. Not even a little coherent as Alexis sacrificed her own life to buy Declan the time he needed to get the children out of the city...
A/N: I know this is shorter than I usually do for a chapter but...well it sort of seemed like the place to leave it...So I could do this whole summary thing to explain all the what's and not's but I think I can explain the magic and other stuff within the chapters So I'm not doing one :P
Next Chapter: Starts eight years later – then we get to the good stuff – At least I think... Love to hear whatcha think :)
