Disclaimer: I do not own the Hollow Kingdom, even if I wished to. I also do not own the musical Wicked from which the quote below is taken.
A/N: Hello everyone! Lucky you, you're getting another update! And so soon too! Well, I do not have too much to say, so I won't keep you from reading for long. The first is that everyone needs to go and vote on my poll, because I want to know what people want to see next from me. So, please do that if you can. Also, I'm going to be posting a OneShot collection of my favorite Harry Potter pairings soon, so if you're interested check around for that, because it'll be up soon. Um, I think that's about it, so enjoy!
"Some things I cannot change. But till I try, I'll never know!"
- Wicked: The musical
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Chapter Twelve:
Fate and Plans
"What?!" Lila's mouth shot open. "That can't be!"
Imogen was in tears. "I shouldn't have let him go!"
Lith sat down, skeptical as always. "But…it says here that you can misinterpret it." He took up the book, tracing the line with his finger. Imogen couldn't be sure, but he seemed to be more serious and as if he actually cared.
"No, it's not possible. There's only one answer that makes sense." She put her head in her hands. "What are we going to do?"
Marta put a hand on her shoulder. "Wait a moment…What did your scar predict?"
"There's just supposed to be a break and then all this nonsense and…ugh!" She moaned, too upset to think of anything else.
"Let's think about this calmly." Lila insisted, her own voice quivering slightly.
"Don't you understand? It's set in stone! We can't change ANYTHING!" She cried, through her hands up in the air.
Lith sat up straight. "Unless we do something."
There was a small silence. "What?" Imogen whispered.
"We've got to do something about this."
Lila stared at him. "Are you insane?"
"I must be."
"What about Elihara?" She was referring to his bride-to-be.
"She'll deal with it."
Lila put her hand on his arm. "This could mean losing everything …"
"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make." He closed his eyes. "We have to do this."
Imogen smiled sadly. "Thank you, Lith. I know she's important to you."
He looked down, determination in his eyes. "If she can't accept this then… we're not meant to be."
"Again, thank you…but this is a lost cause. It's already-"
"Silence." He instructed. "I mean no disrespect but we cannot accept defeat. We can do this. But in order to do that, you have to believe."
Imogen sat up, rubbing away her tears. "Alright. I'll try."
"Good." The male elf turned to his sister. "Now, we'll have to figure out a way to sneak her into camp."
"Into camp?! That's impossible!"
"Lila, Lila." He grinned. "We both know that's not true."
"If they find out…"
"We'll be banished forever. I know. I'm not as dull as you think." He raised an eyebrow. "Are you up for it?"
Lila shrugged. "I guess so."
"Alright, good." They spent the rest of the afternoon pouring over ideas of how to snake Imogen into the guarded elven camp.
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"My liege, the goblin king has arrived to see you." A tall elf informed his new king.
King Septimus smirked. "Good. Send him in."
"My…my lord?"
"Yes, Serius?" The king rubbed his chin, looking in a hand-held mirror with a golden handle. He inspected his long black hair which was slicked back so that his high forehead shown. He was tall and muscular. His mouth seemed to twitch with cruelty. He was handsome to be sure, but terrifying.
"Is this safe?"
The king stood up, looking fierce. "Dare you question me?" He bellowed.
The elf bowed lower. "No, not-t all, my lord." His voice shook with fear.
Semptimus sat down once more. "Good. Leave my presence before I have you beheaded." Even though he sat in a large tent on a wooden throne with a carpet floor, he felt like he was in a large palace of lavish scarlet carpets and he himself sat on a throne of gold. He took pride in this.
The flap of the tent opened and Marak walked in, bowing slightly. "Hello King Septimus." He smiled regally. "I am King Marak Wolvenfang of the goblins."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." The elf king's smile seemed to announce superiority. "What brings you to my humble camp?"
"I have come to ask that you sign a peace treaty." Marak said, trying to be as respectful as possible.
The king's smile vanished. "Peace treaty?" He seemed to detest the very words.
"Yes. To insure maximum cooperation between our two great races."
King Septimus sneered. "Cooperation does not exist, King Marak."
"Ah, but it can."
The king sighed. "You are too prideful King Marak. First you waltz in here with false compliments and then you force me to sign a useless treaty? It makes me want to do the exact opposite, if only to spite you." He said loftily, a hint of danger mixed in his voice.
"No!" Marak murmured.
"You knew it was coming, goblin king. It cannot be stopped by you, or by me. It is time that our races finally learned who is best. And the mortal humans shall soon learn of us because the time has also come for them to beg on bended knees."
"How dare you!" Marak cried out. "This is practically blasphemy!"
"Join me Marak." King Semptimus leaned forward, whispering. "Together we can rule this vast world."
Marak gritted his teeth. "As soon as the conquest ended, you would betray me. Or sooner. I am not as foolish as you take me for."
"So this is war?" Marak was silent. The king chuckled and clapped his hands. Two guards walked in. "Seize him!" Septimus ordered.
Both did so, trying to withhold a struggling Marak. "You will pay for this."
King Septimus let out a throaty laugh and pushed his face close to Marak's. "You have chosen your own demise." Then he straightened his back. "Take him away."
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"Are you sure this is a smart idea?" Lila asked in a hushed voice, wringing her hands together nervously.
Lith nodded grimly, glancing to his right and to his left to make sure no one was following them through the dark woods. "This is right. It may not be smart."
"Oh Lith…" The elf girl sighed, rubbing her pale forehead.
"Stop worrying. We need to do this."
Lila nodded, holding her head high. "You're right. Marak was kind enough to let us come and go as we please. We should help."
They went on in silence, trying to be as quiet as they could on the muddy road. Behind them, were Marta and Imogen, both wearing hooded cloaks. Imogen heard nothing that her elven companions were whispering. Her thoughts were too heavy and anxious to let her focus on anything else.
Will Marak be alright?
Sure, he'll be fine. He is the goblin king. Stop worrying, Imogen. He'd tell you to do that.
This is ridiculous! What if we're walking straight into a trap?
Well, they're not expecting us. Besides, stop being so doom and gloom. Everything'll be fine!
I can only hope…It's not fair that Lila and Lith are sacrificing their place in the elf camp. I wish they didn't have to.
They volunteered! Besides, they can always stay with the goblins. And you sound like you don't want to save him!
Of course I want to save him! I'm just…scared.
"Are you alright, Imogen?" Lila's cautious voice pulled her out of her daze.
Imogen put on a fake smile. "Oh, yes. I'll be fine."
"Oh this is ridiculous…I can't believe that the stupid..." Behind them, Marta was grumbling to herself.
Lith smirked. "You're such a whiner."
Marta looked disgusted. "I'm so tired of-" Before she could finish, Lith shushed her.
"Quiet. We're coming up on the camp."
Marta stuck her hands on her hips. "I'll thank you not to tell me what to do." She whispered harshly.
"Just be silent." He led them to an underbrush that allowed them enough cover and still aloud them to see the whole of the camp.
"So, when do we start the plan?" Imogen asked.
Lith smirked, watching an elf walk close by. "Right now."
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A/N: So did you like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know. In your review say "flying house" if you've read my author notes! Can you tell I've been listening to the Wicked soundtrack all day? haha. Thanks for reading and reviewing! See you next chapter!
