Disclaimer: Yeah, if ya reconize it, I don't own it.
Chapter 10: Unexpected Visitors
Everyone grew quiet as a servant opened the door and a guard from the castle's gate came running in. He bowed in front of Kyle and gasped out "Lord Jacen Armarillo to see you, sire!" The king stood stunned for a few minutes before asking weakly "Does he come in peace?"
"Yes sire! He comes bearing the white flag of truce!" Kyle looked over worriedly at his wife and mother. Amy shared his concerned expression, but Rachel looked thoughtful. "Well, he IS under the flag of truce...maybe he just wants to talk to you." Kyle stood silent for a moment before nodding slightly to the guard. "Show him in then..."
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Jacen Armarillo strode into the hall alone, cutting a dashing figure in black and gold finery. His silver ears and tail gleamed in the candlelight. Jade had to admit, he was very handsome. However, she knew that cunning and ruthlessness were hidden underneath that gallant smile. The wolf demon bowed before the royal family. "I bring you and your family wishes of good health, Highness..." Kyle frowned before saying in a level tone "What is it that you want? I know you didn't just come here to go on about our health."
"I came here to discuss the declaration of war I have made on Middle Earth. You see, I wasn't quite fair by just sending you a letter telling you of my inevidable conquest of your kingdom. If it so pleases Your Majesty, I would like to come to terms." The king still seemed a little wary. He was about to tell the demon to leave when Jade stepped forward. "I'm the one you want to talk to! Father, I'll take care of this..." she growled. Jacen laughed in surprise. "And whom might you be?"
"I am Jade Damon, Princess of Middle Earth! I'm the one who will talk with you!" Kyle was about to stop her, but Rachel gave him a look that told him to stay out of the matter. The wolf demon bowed in front of the princess. "As you wish, Princess. I have never met anyone quite like yourself, and I look forward to deliberating with you..." he said, flashing her a charming smile. Some of the Pokemorphs began to protest, and it took a look from Jade to silence them. "I shall walk and discuss the matter at hand with you." The princess nodded. "We shall walk in the garden, but you need to remove your weapon first." The demon bowed and removed the formidible saber from around his waist. Jacen then spread his arms disarmingly to show that he had no other weapons. Jade unbuckled her own sword, which she had been wearing during the ceremony, and also laid it down. "We are both unarmed now. Let's make this short..." the princess said calmly. She lead the wolf demon outside, her family and friends anxious for her return.
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It was a clear, cool night, a slight breeze present in the air. Jade made sure to walk even with Jacen, afraid to open her back up to him. He seemed very impressed with the castle grounds, even stopping to inspect Telperion. The demon then turned to look at the wary princess. "I merely wish to admire your castle. It is a very beautiful place, and I loathe to destroy it with warfare. Instead, I plan to meet your forces away from Minas Tirith, so that we are on equal ground. It would not be fair for one side to have the home advantage over the other..." Jade saw the wisdom in this, but said nothing. Jacen then continued. "I really do hate to waste innocent blood, but sometimes, it is unavoidable. Do you not agree, princess?" The girl stayed silent, cautious of any traps he was laying for her. His honey tongue was very convinving, but she resisted. Soon, he began to walk towards the main gate. "Princess, I have something to show you..." Jacen said softly. He led Jade to the top of the gate, after she had dismissed the guards. Once the princess had looked out, she gasped. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers stood silently outside, all wearing black and gold. Flags and banners could be seen waving in the crowd, bearing the insignia of a golden crescent moon and wolf on a field of black. Jade then realized that Jacen had this on the front of his robes as well. She weakly held onto the parapet in front of her. "This...this is all yours?"
"Yes, as well as some additional troops and my aerial warrriors. I didn't show you this to scare you, Your Highness. I merely wish to show you what you'll be up against..." Jade couldn't speak. Her kingdom...innocent lives...all of it would be lost if they could not lead such a tiny army to victory against this...force. She felt herself walking back to the hall beside Jacen, her eyes staring at nothing. When the warm light of the castle flooded over her, she could sense many people hovering around her worriedly. Jacen was shown out to the main gate, and a barrage of voices started at the princess. Kyle could see his daughter's distress, and interrupted the surrounding crowd with "Let her get some sleep, it's been a long night for her..." Jade felt someone take her arm gently, and she looked up to see her Uncle Jordan. He gave her a soft smile. "Would you like an escort to your room, mi'lady?" She smiled weakly back and nodded. "T-thank you..."
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Jordan stopped outside of Jade's room. "Goodnight, princess..." He gave her a hug and started down the hall to his room. Entei, who usually slept outside of the girl's room, was laying nearby. She went into her room and started to undress. As she unbuckled her sword, which she had been wearing at the ceremony, she sighed. Many lives would end on this sword once the war started. She tried to push it out of her mind as she pulled on a light white nightgown. The troubled princess was about to get into bed when she changed her mind. Opening her door noiselessly, she walked down the hall silently, being careful to wake no one.
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Jade entered a large hall, where candles and sconces lit the dark air. She picked up an unlit candle and lit it on one of the wall candles. Then, she walked over to where many statues stood. There were unlit candles around each, but Jade was only interested in three. Her ancestor Aragorn stood majestically, his face radiating the strength and love she knew so well. Next to his statue were two elvish women. The closest statue to him was of his elvish queen, Arwen. She had chosen to give up immortal life to be with him. Her dark haired beauty was said to be unrivaled, except by her younger sister, Arya. The blond elvish sister of the queen had been Legolas' beloved wife and had passed away about 10 years ago. Jade vaugely recalled her godmother, but the one thing she remembered vividly were Arya's silver-flighted arrows. In fact, her name had been Arya Silverflight before she had gotten married. The princess knelt and lit the candles around the three statues. Then, she set her own candle into a nearby holder and closed her eyes. "Aragorn...Arwen...Arya...please help me...Everyone in Middle Earth lies in the balance of this war, and I can't save them. Show me what I must do..." she whispered to the still night air. The princess couldn't tell if it was was just her imagination, or if her ancestors had actually heard her, but she felt a mist begin to cling to her skin. Opening her eyes, Jade gawked at the swirling white cloud around her. Then, she looked up to see a dark haired elvish maiden stepping through the fog, smiling gently. "Arwen!" the redheaded girl gasped. Arwen nodded and spoke softly in her graceful voice "You have asked for our guidance, Princess Eledhwyn, and I have come to show you what needs to be done..." The princess' eyes lit up. "You are? Then what am I supposed to do! Please tell me!" Arwen laughed at the girl's impatience. "In time, Princess. First, you must take this..." Jade felt something cool suddenly enter her hand, and her eyes widened when she saw what it was. A necklace, made of perfectly crafted silver, hung from a delicate silver chain. The pendant itself was shaped like a delicate fairy, with the body made entirely out of clear gleaming crystal. Silver wings accentuated the crystal body. The whole necklace was so overwhelmingly beautiful that Jade couldn't take her eyes off of it. "Is this...the Evenstar?" (The necklace that Arwen wears and then gives to Aragorn in the movie) The Elf nodded. "Yes...and I want you to have to give to whom you choose, as I did...This is what you must do, Eledhwyn of Middle Earth. You need not do anything else..."
"What do you mean, I don't have to do anything else! How will this save Middle Earth!" Arwen turned back into the mist, her voice echoing in Jade's head. "If you follow your heart, you will never fall...Middle Earth looks to you in this time of need. You must follow where your heart and emotions lead you, they are never wrong. I will always be with you..." The princess stood up and cried in desperation "Don't leave me! I can't do this alone..." The mist faded, and Jade felt herself lying on a cold stone floor. She opened her eyes to see the candles burning brightly. 'Was it all a dream? Did I fall asleep?' she thought to herself. Then, she looked at her hand and gasped when she saw the necklace hanging gently on it's chain.
There we are, Chapter 10 rearin' to go. Please enjoy, I write to please! Btw, I have the mentioned necklace, so I was able to use that for description purposes. Be back with Chapter 11 soon!