Chapter 11: The Burning Throne
I know now that I must not wait any longer to read the letter that my mother has left for me. How do I
know these words that she's written are not just another part of the deception she started many years
ago? My mother the whore of Savor, how could she do that to my father…Edward's father? This is more
than I can make sense of. If she did love the king then why come back. Why not just stay way with my
father…who is he? What other half of me lies just beneath the surface. She always said I was just like my
father now that endearment has so much more meaning. I sit by the window and watch as the sunrises. I
love the way the sun feels on my skin. I'm so tired but there is so much to be done. I will sleep before my
journey to the land of the Figira. We have to tell the people they have a King and that they have me in my
mother absences. I open the letter even though I know what it says.
Dearest Isabella,
I know things are very confusing right now. I know you feel like I have betrayed you about many things.
There is so much that you just don't know but for your safety I can't tell you…I know that will not stop
you from trying to find out. I will say by the time this letter reaches you I will be gone. I left this book
with the letter as a guide for I will be either dead or in a place unreachable. Don't fear for my safety for
my time to pay for past regret has come to claim me. I had a vision this day would come so I'm writing
this letter without knowing what will become of me. I have made preparations with Captain Hale to take
you to the Land of the Figira for training. I love you with all of my heart and know that every choice that
I've made has been to save your life. I hope you will trust in and follow your heart, use it as your guide.
Please don't come after me if I'm taken from Savor it will be to no avail. I can't defend you against this
enemy. My power will soon completely transfer to you and shortly after I will die that is the way it was
meant to be. I wish I could have been a better mother and friend to you. Sometimes you have to make a
choice between being a mother or a friend. I chose to be your mother and I don't regret it. I know you will
choose to tell Edward he is the King, I have seen it this night. Isabella I only warn you that his life will be
in great danger if anyone else finds out he is King they will come for him. I also know he claims your heart
so I will give you my last gift. You only postponed the sleeping death he still needs the root of the silver
pine. He only has one month, pick his life over my own. I will die regardless I can at least give you that
happiness. Mount Slagel has a secret passage it is very dangerous but it is his best chance. Isabella I
know there are questions you have about your father but I can only tell you he is dead and I loved him
fiercely. For your own safety please don't try to find out more.
I will love you in this life and the next
Your loving mother,
Queen Renna
I close my eyes against the pain that I feel inside. I've lost one father only to know there is no chance of
ever knowing the other. I've now lost my mother all in one night. I don't know who I am anymore. I crush
the letter to my heart in sorrow. Edward…this is not over. I have to save you before I go to the land of the
Figira. My tears drip from my chin down on the letter. I feel the heat as the letter goes up in flames in my
hands but there is no pain at least not from the flames. I feel a wave of anger roll over me; but I'm unable
to stop crying. I scream as I hit my fist against the table breaking it in half. The rage comes from a place
so deep it feels as if it's eating me alive. "How could she be so selfish, she is just being a coward, she just
does not want to face me, and she just doesn't want to answer for her betrayals? I will not let her get
away with this. I will find her and she will answer my questions. I'm so tired of being lied to; this is not
over not by any means. She was just going to let Edward die when she knew of a secret passage to Mt
Slagel." I scream and it shakes the very walls…the rage feels good. This I know… this I like. I squeeze my
fist as they take to flame. White fire burns in its inferno as the windows shattered again the intense blaze.
"I will not rest until you are found and I will… save Edward, I am not you mother, I am not weak." I roll
the flames over my fingers letting it caress my very essence. I will no longer be lied to and I will do
whatever it takes to save Edward.
There are soldiers at my door within seconds. "Are you alright Princess" they stand back in fear as the
flames cease around me. I turn to them and all I see is red. "Ready the best horses we have for we ride
tonight. Tell Edward and Captain Hale I will meet them in the Crown room shortly. We will ride for Mount
Slagel tonight." The soldiers stare at me for moment then salute, "On your word Princess it will be done."
I nod as I turn back to the broken mirror and I see myself truly for the first time. I gasp at the sight of the
creature I see before me. My eyes are embers of anger and hurt. I look toward the door and it closes. I
slip my night dress from my shoulders. The gown falls to the floor leaving me naked with only my
reflection staring back at me. Even through the broken glass I look beautiful but damaged. "I don't know
where I come from so I will make my own pass and future. I will walk it as I see fit." Power builds inside
of me as the fire leaves my eyes. "I am no longer going to run away from the life I was born into. I will
find the answers I seek no matter what the cost is to my soul. I will die before I let Edward lose one more
day of his life living my mother's lie. Let them come for him, for me and I will destroy them all. Hell itself
will not hold me". There's a knock at the door, "Come in Ms. Clearwater." She walks over to the bed and
lays my clothes out for me. She has her back to me as she speaks. "These clothes and the clothes I have
packed for your journey are clothes meant for the Figira, so they will not burn." Sue finally turns to me
and stands in front of the mirror with a look of determination in her eyes, "Isabella, are you alright dear?
I mean your mother is missing but you haven't said much about it." I walk pass her to the bed and begin
dressing in my traveling clothes. There is a black pair of pants that fit like a second skin, a black forest
garb that cut right above the thigh. The clothes have no markings of the Figira on them. It is a female
Night hunters uniform. "Sue is the other clothes I ask for…" I ask as I pull on my riding boots. "Bella, I
sent them with the guards to be taken to your horse for you. I also packed a few other things that I think
will help you along your journey. I know I can't talk you out of this but please just be careful there are
many dangers out there in the world beyond our realm that you have never seen. I know that your mother
is doing what she thinks is best for you but I hope she comes back safely where ever she may be". I turn
to her with a frown" Sue, I will try not to take my anger out on you but my mother is in no need of
sympathy from you or anyone else. I will make you a promise none the less; I will bring her back one way
or another. She has a lot to answer for." Sue has a sad look in her eyes, "Isabella don't be angry with your
mother and do not leave here with anger in your heart; it will only blind you to what's real." She walks
over to me and grabs my hand. "Here Bella, I found this in your mother's room by the window, I think this
was left for you by the person that has your mother. I think they want you to know who they are. No one
else knows of this." Sue gives me the small red and black feather. "I hope this helps you find her and also
bring you peace my child." I nod and pack it in my side pouch. "Thank you for everything Sue, I must go I
know Edward is waiting for me. I'm sorry for leaving you with such a mess to clean up I kind of lost my
temper." She smiles through her tears, "May the spirits guide you through the night my child, for it is dark
where you're going and no one shall follow." What does she mean no one?
I walk toward the Crown room with a line of home guard at my heel. I push the heavy doors open and
march across the large room. Everyone in the room goes to one knee as I cross the room. The ring of
armor and swords echoed throughout the vaulted halls. My eyes are locked on Edward smiling face and it
seems to calm me. I walk to my mother's elaborate chair and call the room to attention. I have Edward by
my side. "Everyone there has been a great lost this night. My mother as you know has been taken from us,
I believe by one of the enemy lands. I have given a lot of thought to how this was possible and feel that
we have to handle this with caution and stealth. There is an enemy among us; he or she could be in this
very room as I speak. So I'm here to deliver a message that is very clear and can't be confused. I am the
daughter of our great Queen Reena and since she is not able to guard our lands that job has been
bestowed upon us. I want you to know that I do not stand alone for I have my king at my side." Everyone
gasp and whisper to each other in confusion and shock. "But Princess how do we know Edward is the son
of King Phillp." I hold my hand up to silence them. I hold up my mother's letter. "This letter was wriiten in
my mother's hand telling me so" I look to the Night Hunters lining the walls. Edwarrd possesses the Blue
flame and as we all know only the King possess that flame. I want everyone of you to know that you stand
before the son of King Phillip; Edward is now from this point forward to be known as King Edward son of
King Phillip…your King." The room rings with the shouts and cheers.
I will at this time step into my mother's place as the Figira in her death or we pray her absence. "I am not
the King's daughter as I'm sure your all are aware of at this point but I am still daughter of the Figira and
will be respected as such." I look around the room and find a few eyes that want to burn me alive but
everyone nods their agreement and kneel before me. So we will ride tonight with many great dangers
ahead of us and many of you may not make it back from this quest. I the Figira will ride at your side along
the way and to the very end. I ask a lot of you and I know you have families and love ones but their
freedom is what we are fighting for. So go to them, say your goodbyes, and kiss your children for your
orders will be here waiting on you when you return at midnight. If you run I will not blame you but you
will never be able to return to this land as your home, for we fight together as one or don't fight at all".
The crowd cheers as Edward pulls me into his arms, "Long live King Edward we are here to serve" they all
bow their heads as far as the eye can see. Edward walks to the platform to speak with my hand in his, "
My people I come to you this night not just as your King but your brother, I will fight at your side against
this faceless enemy and we will hunt them down and make them pay for the sorrow they have rain down
on us this night. I did not know until this very night that I was King, I accept it with an open heart but
even before I knew this, I knew I would fight for our people until my last breathe. I have so much more to
fight for now he looks at me and squeezes my hand. Edward turns back to them with his hand raised to
silence them." Now go to your families and loved one for we ride at the point of night." There is a mighty
rumble of shields and swords ringing across the hall. The soldiers turn to leave and once every solider has
cleared the doors close behind them. I walk over to the table and sit at the head. Edward looks to the
Captain and shrugs that he did not know anything about all of this. I gesture for them to sit before I
speak," I know this comes as a surprise but I have come up with a way to kill two birds at once. Captain
before you speak here me out, Edward is our King and I know that he possess the blue flame. I was told
this by a reliable source. I will listen to both of you once I'm done explaining what I have planned."
Edward and the Captain both nod. "I will not be treated like a kid in this. I am more powerful than either
of you in strength; so do not think about leaving me behind. I have come up with a way to get the cure
Edward needs and go to the land of Figira." Edward looks at me confused and slightly alarmed, "Edward
and I will take a large at least three hundred Night Hunters to Mount Slagel to get the root from the Silver
Pine, I know there are dangers along the pass but I have shown I can handle those along with Edward's
help. I figure 20,000 home guards should be left behind to defend the home front. No one has been able to
get through our other nations in hundreds of years. I feel there is a traitor in one of those nations. I want
you Captain to lead that search starting with Dothin find out if there has been any more talk of any
uprisings if so save as many lives as you can but wipe their soldiers out, because if they are not with us
they are against us. We will meet you as soon as we can in Mangor I know they are with us for a sure.
Captain I want you to take 100,000 field soldiers with you as well as 5,700 of the remaining Night
Hunters. Once you find the traitor whomever it may be; leave them to answer to me. We will have a bigger
fight ahead so we will rest up in Mangor but be on the lookout this enemy is different. I don't know what
they are after but I'm sure it's much more than land and money". The Captain stands up," May I say
Princess Isabella you are your mother's daughter. This is the same method she would have used in battle.
I will do as you request if it is in agreement with the King." Edward nods without looking up, "We will do
as our Figira demands. What about her training?" The Captain knows this need to be discussed in private
and decides it's time to leave. "I think that is a matter I will leave the two of you to discuss. I have my
orders then and I will pass them on to the officers of rank to be delivered to the soldiers. We ride to night
my King, Princess." he looks at the both of us and smiles then turns to leave closing the doors behind
him." I pass my hand over the door and lock it from a distance. Edward looks at me with an angry scold,
"Bella, you could have talked this over with me first before you decided all of this. What you are talking
about is very dangerous, you don't even know how to use your powers. I don't want anything to happen
to you. You made me look completely useless next to you. Had I known your plan I would have been able
to add some insight into it." He grabs my arms and pulls me to him. I'm unable to speak as silent tears fall
from my eyes and my eyes search his. He pulls me to him and let me cry…The wall of strength and anger
crumbles in his arms. "This was for you… I can't, I can't lose you again Edward. I will go through the
gates of hell not to live through the pain of losing you again." We stand alone in the silence of the hall
holding on to the last moments of peace before the storm. "Bella, you are all I have, never feel alone in
this. I will not leave your side again. I will see to that."
Author's notes:
I hope you like this chapter this is just a start of what's to come. Edward has a few plans of his own. I will update soon.
EndlessRedFire