Amberle is alive. She's still breathing. She's in Eretria's arms.
But what happened ? One minute she thinks she's dying and the next she's falling into her Rover's arms. Is she really out of the Ellcrys ? She's touching Eretria so this isn't a vision.
"Amberle ! You're back !" Will yells excitedly, tears forming in his eyes.
Will… Amberle forgot about him. She exchanges one last look with Eretria before leaving her embrace and standing up. She smiles and hugs him, happy to see him. They stay that way for a while before Amberle forces herself out of his arms and goes to hug her uncle and even Alanon.
"What day is it ? How long have I been in the Ellcrys ?" She asks as everybody gathers in the center of the Sanctuary.
"It's been the two longest days of my life." Will answers her, a bright smile on his face.
Eretria can't help but smirk at that. Not seven hours ago he was trying to kiss her.
Amberle notices Eretria's reaction and smiles, she really missed her. Alanon clears his throat, the ghost of a smile on his features. Clearly he knows something is up.
"As much as I'm happy my niece is back with us, I thought it was impossible. What happened Alanon?" Ander asks the Druid, a darker tone to his usual care freeness.
"I'm not sure but I do have a theory. There's a prophecy in the Codex." Alanon starts.
"The what now ?" Eretria interrupts.
"The Codex, it's a magical book for Druids." Will provides before anyone else could.
Alanon nods and resumes his theory. "The Prophecy states that A Seed will come with such Love in its heart, fueled by its True Love's touch, it will embody the Ellcrys in the world of the Living. I believe the Prophecy came true, Amberle's heart was filled with Love and her True Love touched the Ellcrys, letting her come back to our world."
His words are followed by silence. And a toothy grin from Will, believing he's her True Love.
Amberle isn't sure though. She looks around, assuming everyone in the room touched the Ellcrys when she was in there.
Alanon and Ander surely aren't her True Love. That's absolutely clear. But what about Will and Eretria ?
Will is the obvious one. She slept with him after all, well it was mostly due to the fact she thought she was going to die, and she wanted to experience sex at least once. Will is an attractive guy and she cares about him.
But then there's Eretria. The Rover challenges her, and makes her laugh like no one else. She felt alive in her arms, not just back from the Ellcrys, but truly alive. Does this means she's her True Love ?
It can't be… And anyway, Eretria doesn't feel like that, and True Love needs to be reciprocated, so it's not that. Maybe she's just her best friend ? She can love her best friend, right ?
Everyone is startled out of their thoughts by Eretria's loud laughter.
"You're joking right ? Love doesn't exist, let alone True Love. It's just people liking each other for a time before moving on to someone else. Your Prophecy is bullshit." She states, clearly amused at what she thinks is their stupidity.
"That's not true. People can love one person for the rest of their lives. It happens." Will defends his point of view, hurt visible on his features.
"In stories, Will. This is real life." Eretria sighs.
"I'm with Will, if Love doesn't exist then what's the point in fighting, surviving ? To enjoy yourself a little longer ? No, it's to protect the people you love, the people who make you happy, the people you can't live without." Amberle jumps in, looking directly in the Rover's warm brown eyes. For some reason, she needs her to believe in love, in True Love.
Eretria tries to look away from those electric blue eyes, she tries not to believe them when they talk about love, but she can't. She can't keep denying love exists, because those eyes looking right at her, belong to Eretria's proof it exists.
"Eretria, I know you've been alone most of your life. But isn't there anyone you would've gladly died for in the past eighteen years ? That you would've given anything to see them be happy and safe ?"
Eretria thinks about Amberle, and how she fits that description. If she loves anybody, it's the Elvin Princess who's in love with Will. And she's weirdly okay with that.
If Will is what makes Amberle happy, then Eretria won't stand in the way. She'll protect that with all she has. Her own happiness never mattered anyway. She's free now, and her new purpose in life is to keep the one person she loves happy.
She's always been second choice anyway.
Eretria looks intently in Amberle's eyes and nods, unable to find words conveying her new understanding.
Amberle lets out the breath she's been holding. Eretria believes love exists, because of her. That thought fills her with joy and hope.
"Well it looks like the boy has some use after all." Ander announces bitterly. Amberle frowns, this isn't like him.
"But Amberle, even though True Love is the most powerful magic there is, there's still a price to pay. According to the Prophecy, you embody the Ellcrys. I suspect it means your lives are now bound. If you die, the Ellcrys dies with you."
Amberle nods. She wasn't sure but it sounded right. And for now that's all she had to understand what happened.
"So if Amberle dies, the demons will be released again ?" Ander questions and Alanon nods.
Will shudders at that thought. Eretria just shrugs, the Princess won't die, she'll make sure of that. But she does have a question.
"Alanon, do you know a Druid named Pagmor ?"
Alanon's face falls. "Is he still alive ?"
Eretria frowns. "I take that as a yes. And he was badly injured last time I saw him but he was breathing. You told everyone you were the last of your kind."
Alanon sighs sadly. "I am. He's no longer a Druid. He was the Keeper, but he failed when he lost the last Bloodfire. I know now it was you. I had doubts when I met you but I couldn't be sure so I didn't mention it."
He moves towards the Rover. "Did he tell you where the Bloodfire comes from ?"
"Yes, a group of kids created different creatures after the Apocalypse with magic by tying their blood to the Earth to repopulate. I'm assuming that's why the Seed needed to be soaked in the Flames to work."
Everybody except Alanon looks at the Rover with wide eyes.
"It also means your Blood can heal the Ellcrys if it gets mortally wounded." Alanon simply announces. He looks between the two girls before finishing. "You two are to remain close by for as long as Amberle is here. If anything happens to her, Eretria, you can prevent it from being mortal."
Now even Eretria is startled by this information. She can save Amberle if something goes wrong. It seems so unbelievable but a few weeks ago she found herself face to face with a fury so… Nothing is too incredible to be true anymore.
She looks intensely at the Princess, who seems as confused as she is. She timidly smiles at her, hoping she won't be mad. Why would she ? She has one less chance to die, but she's also stuck with her for the rest of her life.
Amberle finally smiles back. A warm, genuine smile that lifts the Rover's heart. She loves that smile.
"And how would that work ?" Amberle asks curiously.
"I suppose if it works like a potion, you drink it." Alanon answers, looking a bit uncomfortable at that. The girls both make a face, and Will looks utterly disgusted.
"But what if I have alcohol in my system, does it mean Amberle could get drunk from my blood ?" Eretria asks mischievously.
"I really don't want to think about what's going on in your system while I drink blood, Eretria. It's gross enough." Amberle answers playfully.
The girls chuckle together before Alanon clears his throat again.
"There is one last thing we need to talk about tonight. Amberle, I believe the Ellcrys showed you visions. Are there any that we need to know about." He arches an eyebrow, encouraging her to speak.
Amberle nods and takes a deep breath. She hates those visions. She remembers watching Eretria die. It won't happen now, she's back and the Rover won't try to get her out again. Still it hurt. There's also the vision in the cave, where they talk about a rover, a princess and the prophecy. Amberle's eyes go wide when she understands they were talking about Eretria and her. Maybe they were wrong… But maybe it's true. She frowns and shakes her head.
"We will be under attack in a couple of days I think. I can't be sure so we need to prepare now."
"From who ?" Ander asks impatiently.
"I don't know. But they're prepared and they wanted the Prophecy to be accomplished. I think they want to destroy the Ellcrys. Eretria called them fanatics in a vision, so I assume it's some sort of cult."
"You saw me in a vision ?" Eretria asks smugly.
Amberle just smiles at that before focusing on her uncle again. "We need to prepare for an attack."
Ander stays silent for a while, thoughts clearly running through his head.
"No. We don't know if these visions are real or not. Even if they are, they could have changed with these new events." He gestures towards Amberle. "We'll tell the scouts to keep an eye out and send spies across the Lands for information."
"Your Grace…" Alanon starts but he's cut by Ander.
"No Alanon, I won't alarm my people for something that probably isn't true anymore."
"Please Uncle, they will know the Prophecy has come true and they will be here soon. They're planning this attack. We need to defend ourselves and the people of Arborlon."
"Enough Amberle, I'm the King" He threatens her. "And I say we don't do anything until there is actual proof of what you're saying. Your word isn't enough anymore."
"Well you're an idiot." Eretria states nonchalantly.
For the second time in a few minutes, they all look at her in shock.
Ander is the first to recover. "Do you know who you're talking to ?!" he practically yells.
"Yes an idiot who's ready to let his people die because he can't sort his issues." She cocks her head up defiantly.
"Okay, we're all tired. Let's get some sleep and we'll talk again tomorrow. Does Will and Eretria have a room in the guest wing ?" Amberle tries to diffuse the situation.
"The half-breed yes, but the rover is sleeping in the dungeons." Ander answers venomously.
"Fine, then I will too. I can't be too far from her remember ?" Amberle proudly announces.
For the first time in History, Alanon smirks.
This must have taken even Ander aback because he concedes. "I suppose we can make an exception. She can have your old handmaiden's room. It's close to yours if I recall."
Amberle nods.
"Now that's settled, you're all dismissed" he says, clearly tired and irritated. He leaves the room first with the guards waiting outside Sanctuary.
"We need to talk, but it's the middle of the night and we're all tired. So let's go."
They all leave Sanctuary, Amberle looking one last time at the Ellcrys with a mixture of worry, resentment but also longing. She was safe in there, unhappy but safe. Not anymore.
Well that wasn't exactly true. She felt safe with Eretria and Alanon. Between their fighting skills, his magic and her healing blood, she's pretty sure she couldn't be any safer. Even Will had healing abilities.
Thinking of him, he walks up to her.
"Hey." He smiles.
"Hey". She smiles back.
"So do you want me to stay with you tonight ? After those two days alone, you might want company." He asks sincerely.
Will is a nice guy. He just doesn't really get her and she doesn't know how she feels about this True Love thing. She's not feeling it, for now, so maybe a little distance would be good ?
"I'm okay, Will. Thanks. I was wondering, were you touching the Ellcrys when I came out, or around that time ? The Prophecy says my True love's touch would set me free, or something like that." Amberle asks trying to keep her face neutral. She's dreading that answer.
"Yes I was." He answers happily. Amberle's heart fell. She was hoping for Eretria. Why was she hoping for Eretria ?!
"But so was Eretria. She sneaked in and I followed her. Then she started talking to you. It felt personal so I moved over and talked to you myself. Your Uncle came in with guards and they were going to arrest Eretria when you came out." He explains.
Amberle can't help but smile a little. Eretria talked to her. She wishes she heard it but knowing her Rover cares is enough to make her happy.
"You know, Will touched the Ellcrys before you, when you were still in Safehold." Alanon tells Eretria quietly, so the other two behind can't hear.
"So ?" Eretria answers, oblivious.
"So nothing happened before tonight." He drops with a mysterious smile.
Will and Amberle catch up with them, so Eretria can't question him more. She thinks she knows what he's implying but it's not possible.
She dismisses it for weird Druid talk as the group enters the Castle. The walk to the Royal Family's wing is done in silence but as they reach Amberle's door, Alanon guides her apart.
"I need you to know your Uncle Arion came back in demon form." Amberle gasps but Alanon quickly continues. "I'm sorry to tell you like this but he killed Commander Tilton. Then Ander killed him for good we hope." He pauses there to let her digest a bit.
"Your Uncle has been different ever since. He lost you too that night. That much loss affects people. He's a darker version of himself, but I'm hoping you being back will help. He loves you like a little sister Amberle, you can make him see the light again."
Amberle doesn't know what to say, Alanon senses it and smiles sadly.
"Rest Princess, you don't have to figure anything out tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."
She nods gratefully. "Thank you Alanon. Good night."
The Druid walks back to Will and Eretria. The Rover was teasing him about his anatomy and he was grateful to follow the Druid to the Guest wing, hugging quickly Amberle good night.
The two girls were left alone in the corridor. They looked at each other awkwardly until Eretria blurted out.
"Hum, Goodnight." She was about to enter her room, which was a little further from Amberle's room.
"Eretria, wait." Amberle pleads. The Rover turns around, not sure what to expect.
"Thank you, for coming back. Judging by your face, it mustn't have been easy." She teases lightly, pointing at the bruises on the shorter woman's jaw and cheekbone.
Eretria relaxes and smiles cockily "You should see the other guys."
Amberle chuckles before pulling the Rover in a tight hug. Eretria holds her as close as possible without even realizing.
"I'm so happy you're back." She mumbles in the Princess' shoulder, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"I'm so happy you're alive." Amberle replies, her own voice wet with emotion.
They separate from each other but remain close, holding each other's gaze.
"I should've known you wouldn't die at the hands of Trolls." The princess says happily.
"Yeah well it was close, but that wouldn't have been a great ending to my amazing story." Eretria seemingly jokes but Amberle senses there's something the Rover is avoiding. She makes a mental note to question her tomorrow.
"It's true. Goodnight Eretria." Amberle ignores the sadness in Eretria's eyes for now, both women too tired to talk further.
"Goodnight Amberle." The Rover smiles before entering her small room.
She undresses quickly, keeping only her panties. They're inspired from the old humans' underwear, just like bras. All the species from the Four Lands use similar undergarments because they're easy to make from cotton and very comfortable compared to linen bindings.
Eretria literally falls on the small bed in the room, minding her stomach, and slips immediately in a dreamless sleep.
Amberle can't say the same. She found her night routine unnecessary since she lived on the road for a couple of weeks so she simply changed in a satin blue nightgown, matching her eyes and went to bed.
She's exhausted so sleep comes easy, but her dreams are invaded by a familiar voice calling to her. She finds herself inside the Ellcrys again, in that darkness.
"Amberle, welcome back" The eerie voice greets her.
"What ? No ! I thought I was out !" Amberle starts to panic and searches frantically for a way out.
"Calm down, you're still out. Just asleep. I can bring you here in your mind when you're asleep. I won't do it often, don't worry. But I think you deserve to understand what happened."
Amberle settles down at that and patiently waits for what happens next.
"The vision where the Bloodfire dies was an alternate future. If you hadn't won the Trial, she would have been imprisoned tonight until the Burning, the cult you saw, attacked the castle. She would've escaped the dungeons and died four days from now."
Amberle suspected it was something like this so she just nods for the Ellcrys to continue.
"You then had a choice. Kill me and you would be free or don't and we would merge. That was a lie. I needed to see if you would put the lives of the Four Lands before your own, knowing this would lead to the one you love the most dying. You chose well and I can trust you in the world of the Living to put us first, for the Greater Good." The female voice finished.
"Wait Eretria is my True Love, not Will ?!" Amberle asks, confused. She needs a clear answer.
" Our lives are now bound." The Ellcrys simply replies.
"Answer me !" She yells as she feels herself drift back to reality.
She wakes up with a start, confused and lost. Is Eretria really her True Love ? And does she feel the same way ? Can they even be together with everything that's happening ?
She frowns and gets up as dawn breaks through her room. She has a war to prepare, she doesn't have time to figure out her love life.
A/N : I know this chapter is a little boring but I had to make sure everything was clear before moving on. Hope you enjoyed it anyway.
If there's something unclear or if it doesn't make sense, tell me and I'll try to explain or fix it in future chapters.
Oh and sorry for the True Love fluff. I'm a big Once Upon a Time fine and… It fit well ^^ No curses I promise !
Next chapter : The Princess and the Rover spend time together.