Chapter 11 - The nightmare cave and the crawler
I groaned, I felt something kiss my face, I opened my eyes weakil and saw a furry face.
"Snow!" I smiled
"Stay strong" Theresa, who stood before me, said before vanishing.
"Ben? BEN!" I heard Walter shout.
"Come on boy." I got to my feet and followed Walter's footprints until I found him.
"Ben!" Walter called again
"Isn't Ben here?" I asked worried
"No, I just hope..." Walter stopped, as we made our way towards a horrible looking cave. "No, Ben's a strong swimmer, he's probably on an island, palm tress exotic cocktails, beautiful women, jammy sod." Walter added, my heart twinged with hope. Walter was right, Ben was fine, but I felt he would be searching for us, just as we searched for him. After we get out of this cave, Ben and I would be together again. Snow Paw ran ahead, Walter was pleased to see him, even though he was confused on how he got there
"There is one more thing I would like to say before we get in there." Walter sighed
"Go on." I looked at him
"BALLS!" He yelled.
"Better?" I asked, laughing. Snow started barking.
"I hope he has found a five star luxary inn." Walter said, it turned out that Snow had found a load of bats. "Bat...He found bats. Good boy, bats are exactly what we need right now." I tried to hide my laughter by burning a few bats. We found an old temple sort of place. In the center of the floor was a hole and stair case, blocked by a weird purple shield. I saw a large selection of skeletons. "It seems we are not the only ones here." Walter said as we walked around the bodies. "Go and look in those papers. They must have a way to get out." I went to the farthest pile of papers. I found something that looked like a book, I read through it, it wasn't a book, but a diary.
"Hey Walter!" I called "Listen to this 'We know now we can never escape it...Darkness Incarnated...' Creepy right?"
"I found something too. Most of it is nonsense." Walter stood up holding a book facing the the shield thing, he read aloud from the diary, not that I paid much attention as I looked through the other papers. I was shocked to see, once Walter finished speaking the shield vanished. I rushed over and looked down.
"The only way out is down." I said, my heart sank, I hated being underground.
"It looks a bit dark down there, doesn't it?" Walter muttered
"Well, let's get down there and out." I began to travelling down the stairs, Walter followed, the purple shield reappeared, enclosing us in. The only way was to continue our path down into the darkness below.
We travelled in the dark with only a flaming torch to light our way, We were thankful that Snow found the torch to start with. I halt onto Walters arm was we walked. I began wishing I had my father's bag, but I had left it at Reaver's.
"Walter, Look!" I pointed out another magic purple shield thing.
"Leave this to Walter the Scholar." Walter reasured me, jokingly. He read another passage from the diary he had found. and we got through, and as before it repeared behind us. "Do you get the feeling the someone is playing games with you?" Walter asked
"All the time." I admitted. We travelled on, I heard a voice, it was ghostly.
'The darkness will take control.' It rasped
"Walter!" I sqeaked, frightened.
"It's okay...Bloody hell!" He gasped, as shadow beings with black wings ran at us.
'The children are hungry!' The voice laughed.I drew my sword and began to fight them off. Walter threw the torch at something.
"We have to get out of here, it won't stop until it's killed us!" Walter and I began to run. Walter stopped before ledge, but I continued and jumped to the ground below. "Are you okay?" Walter asked.
"Yes, it isn't that fair down." I looked up, I couldn't see him.
"Okay, I can do this...1...2..." Walter stopped aburtly, I heard him scream.
"Walter? WALTER!" I cried out, I began to cry. I turned and ran, I had to get Walter back.
'You let him die.' The voice laughed mencingly.
"He is not dead!" I roared. "If he is, your end is fast approaching!" More shadows appeared, I fought them off. It was easier then last time, was it because of my anger? My determination to save Walter?
After a while I found Walter, a dark gloopy liquid oozed from his eyes and mouth. I went up to him, I was unsure what to do.
'We have been waiting for you for centuries, didn't the blind seeress tell you about us?' The voice laughed
"You've been waiting? For me?..." I repeated, before I could say anything else, more shadows attacked. I drew my sword and fought them off, easily ridding them from the chamber.
'The children have wondered around aimlessly and weak, but they have bodies now. Bodies of steel and iron!' The voice crowed. The shadows entered large metal bird things. Four of them ran at me.
"Shit!" I gasped, dodging a large whirling saw. I had to keep my distance and use my magic and pistol. They, too, were destoryed, I had cuts and bruises all over my body.
'The dark angel will save us...' The voice growled. A gaint statue came to life.
"Oh my..." I gasped stummbling back. "Avo help me..." I began to shoot inferno and shock combined spells.
After an hour or two, I finally destoryed it. I panted as I wobbled over to Walter.
"I...I can't see. Th-that thing blinded me." Walter gasped, I took his hand.
"It's okay Walter. It's gone, I know an exit is near." I reasuringly pattered his hand and began to led the way out of the damned cave.
Once outside, I saw what Page meant by dead land."
"What do you see?" Walter asked
"A big...A very big desert." I told him
"Any sign of Civilliation?" Walter coughed.
"In the distance...I think it is a gaint statue." I stopped before a railing.
"I...I can't go on." Walter's haqnd slid out of mine.
"No, don't be stupid!" I took his hand again.
"No, I won't just slow you down...I'll get you killed." Walter protested, I continued to led him on, I wasn't going to leave him.
"I...can't..." Walter collasped
"Walter...I can't..." I began
"Go...you'll do me proud. You always do me proud." Walter passed out. I began to cry at his words.
"Walter, I'll be back! You can't leave me?!" I ran, and jumped down some ledges to the boiling sand. I ran and ran, the shadows tormented me, I tried to ignore them, but I ended up collasping on some steps.
'Are you blind?' The voice crowed 'Are you blind yet?' Everything faded.
I heard foot steps approach me, I opened my eys weakily. A bold woman stood above me.
"She's alive, the other cannot be far." She said
"Taking a nap in the sun? Typical royality." A soldier with sky blue eyes and blonde hair knelt next to me and took my hand. BEN!
"Walter..." I croaked
"It's okay, We'll find him Princess." Ben told me. I wanted to add thank you, but I fell unconcuous again.
"Father!" I cried, we were in Rookridge. He had taken me on a mission in Oakfield getting rid of bugs. We had been attacked on our way back. They stabbed my father through the chest and left me with his dying body.
"Little Adan, you must go home alone. I know you will be fine, I will always be with you." Father said
"But, if I go alone, you won't be..." I whimpered, Snow whined sadly.
"Adan, you are my hero sweet, I will always be here." He touched my heart "Do me proud and get home safely, You always do me proud." I felt his last breath. I hugged him, crying, begging him to wake up, not to leave me here alone. Snow barked and nudge me, he held the guild seal in his mouth.
"We need to go home, Walter needs to help daddy..." I whispered "I'll make him proud..."
I finally woke up again, I sat up and rubbed my head.
"You're awake, good." I saw the bold woman from before
"Walter!" I turned my head and saw him, a healing woman was tending to him. "Will he be okay?"
"He must rest, but it is possible. We have seen his condition before, we may be able to save him." She said
"Is...another one of my friends here?" I looked at the bold woman "I thought I saw...in the desert..."
"A devilishly handsome soldier by the name of Ben Finn?" I turned to see Ben walking towards me.
"BEN!" I cried, I jumped up and hugged him. I felt better in his arms, my knight in shinning armour.
"Not dead yet my friend." Ben smiled "When I was fished out of the local pool and you and Walter weren't there, I thought it was all over." Ben hugged me tighter, then let me go. "then I realised I was being an arse, and worked my charms to get Kalin here to send out a search party, not that she need much convincing."
"We have had much bad luck with outsiders." Kalin, the bold woman, said." Because of the Crawler."
"The crawler?" I repeated. Kalin began to leave, taking my hand, Ben followed taking me along.
"The being you fought in the desert cave." Kalin told me "It is time you saw our city." Two stone doors opened, I gasped.
"Welcome to Aurora, the city of nightmares." Ben said.
"You should take a look around, read the memorials." Kalin suggested.
"Ok, Ben..?" I looked up at him
"I'm going to stay here, I have seen enough of the city..." Ben muttered sadly, so I went down into the city alone, Snow bounded over to my side.
I read every mamorial and even spoke to a man who was unafraid of death as it was all that kept him from his wife and child. I grimly joined Ben.
"So, you have now seen our city. We already know why you are here. We will gladly fight for you, but you should no, youa re not the first to fight the crawler in the cave and to live." Kalin said.
"Who else has?" I questioned
"Logan, the King of Albion." Kalin told me.
"It seems your big brother has been keeping secrets." Ben growled
"He survived, thanks to our care, he promised to return with an army, but never did." Kalin looked fierce. "We don't have many warriors, but we will fight, if you promise to Aurora become apart of Albion and defeat the Crawler!"
"The Crawler almost took the only other man I considered a father today, I will gladly welcome you in Albion and I shall see that the Crawler has paid for the pain he has caused to some many people." I shook her hand. "Would you mind if I could have some time alone, to think?"
"Of course, the docks are in that direction, not many people go there." Kalin pointed me in the right direction. "You'll find it is peaceful."
"Thank you." I went off.
I sat on the side, dipping my toes into the sapphire sea. 'Logan...Why didn't you tell me?' I thought 'The crawer, the cave, Logan's behaviour...was it all connected? The crawler said it had been waiting for me, what did it mean?'
"Princess?" Ben asked
"Yes...what if my destiny is more than just taking Albion's throne?" I muttered
"What do you mean?" Ben asked, sitting next to me.
"The Crawler said it had been waiting centuries for me." I said
"Think nothing of it..." Ben told me.
"I thought I had lost Walter." I leaned on him
"But he's fine, you don't need to worry." Ben stroked my hair
"The last thing he told me...they were exactly my father's last words." I sniffed.
"I heard you were the only one to return, then they found his body...what happened?" Ben asked
"Father took me on a mission. We were getting rid of bugs in Oakfield. It was fun, we had a competition on who could shoot the most bugs. We were on our way back to the castle, when they got us." I shivered. "A group of men in all black, they attacked my father. He fought against them, but one stabbed him through the heart. He fell and they ran, leaving me alone by my father. H-he was dying right before my eyes and I couldn't do anything to stop it, I couldn't save him. I watched the greatest hero to live die. I still try and find his killers. Every man I see, I make sure they were not one of the men from that day..."
"Oh, Adan..." Ben hugged me. "Is that...Logan's ship?" I looked up and saw the ship. I saw who was on borard.
"No, it's Page! Sabine and Boulder too!" I cheered up, I stood and waved. "Saker came too!" I smiled as the ship ported.
"Princess!" Sabine smiled
"Sabine, how are you?" I laughed grasping his hands.
"Great, we can't wait, can we Boulder?" Sabine said, Boulder grunted
"Where's Walter?" Page and Aaron came ashore
"Ben, Princess." Kalin came over, ignoring the new comers. "He is stirring."
"Walter!" I ran ahead, Ben followed.
I sat next to Walter, Ben beside me.
"Walter!" I smiled, as his eyes opened weakily.
"I knew you would make it Wally." Ben grinned
"It's a shame the first thing I see is your ugly mug." Walter coughed, I chuckled at them.
"what in Avo's name happened?" Aaron asked, Walter and I looked at each other.
"Adan knows more about what happened." Walter said
"Which, I would rather not recall. Anyway, we are ready!" I looked around at my allies. "It is time for the real revolution to begin!"
"If Kalin's shops take this route, we can deal with the soldiers on the shore." Page said, pointing at a map.
"How is that better than my idea?" Ben asked
"We will live longer then a few seconds." Kalin looked at him.
"Ah, now you're just picking holes." Ben told her.
"Quiet boy. I just want to know what my men need to do." Sabine sighed
"That's for the future Queen to decide." Walter smiled.
"Page knows the city best, we'll follow her idea." I looked at Page.
"Fine, I only put my idea forward to annoye her anyway." Ben folded his arms, I looked over at Major Swift who just smiled at everyone.
"It's nice to know you have really matured on your travels." Page mocked him, before turning back to the map. "Me and my men will attack from the east, It will give Kalin's fleet a chance to get close."
"I want to be in the middle of the smoke, the fire and the glory. If Page takes the east, it is only right I take the west." Sabine said
"Are you sure you're up to this Walter?" I asked him
"I may feel old and tired, the time hasn't come when I can't run into a good fight!" Walter put his fist above the middle of the table.
"Hear, hear." Swift did the same. I watched as my allies did the same. I placed my hand on top of their fists, my guild seal on my gauntlets glittered in the sun, Now the fight for Albion begins.
"Come on!" Ben called, we had finally reached Albion. My sword was drew, fire burned all around. I raced ahead, slashing open many guards who blocked our path.
"We need to destory the motar." Walter called
"Leave it to me!" I told him, I raced towards the gates, which lead to Bowerstone old quater. The place my father and his older sister grew up for a period of time, before his sister was killed and Father went to live with Theresa in the old gypsy camp. I slashed opened the man who was working the mortar.
"Good job, the ships should be able to get closer. Come on Kalin, do your stuff." Ben said, the ship Kalin was on fired a canon, which burst on the gate.
"Come on, we need to get to the castle." Walter told us, we continued to fight towards the looming castle.
"are you sure you don't need a rest Walter?" Ben asked the old soldier
"I would feel a lot better if you stopped asking me." Walter grummbled, I smiled to myself-Those two.
I stood on the deck, over looking the sea. The moon's reflection sparkled on it's surface.
"I was looking for you Princess." Ben joined me
"What could you possibly need me for, Captain?" I gazed into his eyes
"Your delightlfully beautiful company, of course." Ben pushed a loose straind of my hair behind me ear.
"So, you find me delightfully beautifull?" I looked at him with a raised brow.
"Indeed, my dear Princess." Ben kissed my cheek. "I need to ask..."
"Captain!" We turned to see my brother glaring at Ben. I signed and leaned on the boat side. "what are you up too?"
"Why do you want to know?" I turned away from him annoyed.
"I am looking out for your well being." Aaron said
"My well being, yet you left me to suffer for 2 years. Thanks!" I mumbled
"Edelia, why can't you just forgive and forget?" Aaron asked
"Because Heroes can't just forgive and forget easily." I replied, I began to walk away. "I am going to get some rest. Goodnight Ben."
"Sweet dreams Adan." Ben said
"I'll try..." I muttered to myself
"Princess!" Ben yelled, I snapped back in reality, a soldier slashed out at me, I dodged by stepping aside, I decapitated him with a swift movement of my sword. "Are you okay?" Ben stood beside me.
"Yes, I am just dwelling on memories that should be forgotten." I replied
"Well let's hurry." Ben said, we had to take a detour after Sabine almost blew us up. We ran through ruins, Snow often ran ahead to show us a safe passage through the rubble. "Hey look, it's Page and Aaron."
"Page!" I called, Page and Aaron ran over to us.
"We have almost finished over at the west gate, but I couldn't leave you out here alone." Page smiled
"Thanks." I grinned, I saw more soldiers. I ran over to them and began hacking them down, showing Aaron the darker side of me, he never exsited.
"We are nearly at the castle." Walter said, as we reached the final gate.
"It won't open..." I gasps after trying to push it open.
"What we need are explosive, but I used all mine on the way up here." Page sighed.
"If only we knew some crazy old guy who liked blowing things up." Ben muttered, at his words the gate was blasted apart, we saw Sabine and Boulder on the other side.
"Did you see that Boulder, let the city bow to our thunder!" Sabine laughed
"How did you get over there in the first place?" Ben asked
"Dwellers have their ways my boy. Is there anyone left to kill?"
"Kalin's got a few, but there's more on the way." Page said
"Come on Boulder, there's more fighting to be done." Sabine and his gaint friend left.
"I hope the crown fits." Ben smiled, and went to help, leaving me with Walter and Aaron.
"Still up for rulling together?" Aaron looked at me
"How is that going to work?" Walter asked as we began to make our way up to the castle.
"Well, Ada is going to be the high queen, I am just going to be King." Aaron explained
"Yes, it is only right." I said, we had to get to Logan first.