Hello! Just want to put the author's note first, since there shall be a cliff-hanger! And major thanks to all the reviewers. Give a rowdy applause to VotumAstrum, my delightful, laughter filled, crazy, halirious, and owner of a constantly vandalised locker, beta!
I wish to apologize for the laterness, for I had a semi-formal dance, Themepark school picnic, Irish dance, Dance team, and camping trip. I also wish to say I wrote this at about 3 am. So, any all horrible writing aside, READ ON!
Disclaimer: If I was Suzanne Collins, I would not need to apologize for late or horrible writing. Everyone would be thrilled enough to read anything.
Chapter 13: A Tribute To A Lost Friend
The haunted stillness and silence of the empty royal bed chamber abruptly erupted in arguing tones, heated debates, and pounded steps as the group of three pale skinned beings burst through the entryway.
They passed through the ached doorway, shoving away the thick material of the curtain aside.
"Stop! Stop this madness!", the young female voice rang out as its owner whirled to face the two underlanders who accompanied her. When her commanding tone sounded, their argument abruptly ceased.
"Howard! Why do you pester me in such a way? I had only and will always have the good of my people at heart." Luxa sighed, turning away from her taller relative, urging the companion that gripped her hand to mimic her movement. "What I ask, cousin, is that for you to understand my objection to the council, and not to argue with my action of disbanding it."
"Luxa," Howard paused, carefully selecting his words, for he knew his cousin would read in to every syllable, and take any offense greatly. "Cousin, I do understand your decision. However, I cannot support it. No matter how powerful, wise, and great a leader you are, you will still need the power, wisdom and greatness of others to guide you. I, above most others, am well aware of your capabilities when it comes to decision making and leading. But you need the Regalian Council!"
"Howard, quit your unceasing whining! It is not as if I gave the land to the cutters! Nor have I done a deed as harsh as disbanding the Council of the Underland. I merely told the elders that if they proposed one more day in celebration of the," Luxa paused to inhale a deep breath, the distress evident in her trembling, monotones. "the Warrior's triumph, I shall throw each of them into the dungeon. Then I dismissed them from their current occupations."
"Luxa!", groaned the doctor. "I do not believe your arrogance!"
The named young woman took immediate anger, settling her face in an irate expression. Releasing the green-eyed boy's pale hand, she crossed her arms in the manner of a pouting child and growled ferociously with a fierce face. The queen spun on her heel, facing her taller cousin that was, surprisingly, in the same defiant pose.
When Howard glimpsed at her irritation, his stance softened, along with his voice and message. "Luxa, cousin, is it not time yet to move past your relationship with Gregor?"
Luxa's response was to spin back around, and march straight to the entrance, where she promptly fell to the floor as a large figure burst to the royal chambers.
Growling, Ripred addressed the queen glaring at him from the ground as she shoved her golden band further off her forehead, "You know, Your Highness, lounging on the floor of the palace might attract unwanted gossip."
"About what?", snapped Luxa. "Royalty cleaning the floors?" she shoved herself up, regaining her feet, and plopped down onto the lavish bed at which sat her half-lander brother.
The gnawer slinked through the room, coming to rest at the foot of an ornate chest carved from pure granite. He leapt on top of it, and observed the room and its occupants thoroughly. "Your sarcasm is well noted, my queen," he said. She replied with a gentle nod, but a firmly closed jaw. "But that's not why I'm here. I came to tell you that I agree."
At his deceleration, Luxa's jaw became unhinged, and widened to a level beyond previously perceived possible. Ripred did the Gnawer's gesture synonymous to a human's raised eyebrow. "What can I say?" he shrugged. "They were getting on my nerves. I couldn't stand them another minute."
The queen, at this point, had shut her mouth and sent a victorious smirk in her cousin's direction.
"Oh, yeah." The gnawer continued. "I also came by to say I'm taking the day off. Have to clear up some, er, let's say, 'home decorating' issues. It seems some one has decided to neglect the proper management of partially gnawed bones." he sighed and shook his head.
Luxa snorted. "Proper? What do you know of proper management, or proper anything at that!" Howard and Hazard nodded, the younger boy's lollipop green eyes shimmered in the sparse torch light, as he picked and plucked at the odd Regalian sandals he had been given. As a previous jungle resident, he was unadjusted to the odd footwear. However, having out-grown his hisser-skin boots, he was forced to wear the customary Regalian's slipper-sandals, however uncomfortable he found them.
Ripred just guffawed at their opinions, managing to escape the room with hardly a flick of his ratty tail.
Luxa sighed over their antics, lying down on the bed, pulling Hazard near her, to feel his warmth and remember that, once again, she was not alone in her spaciously empty palace.
"I have an idea." She announced rather quickly, standing up, and beginning to pace. "Why do we not go on a picnic?", Luxa spun to see the boy's reactions.
Howard's grin slowly spread, ear-to-ear, "A picnic, cousin? You mean to suggest an outing after the atrocious disaster the last one was?"
Hazard, now sitting up, nodded and laughed, tossing his head of black curls back as his forehead tipped back in mirth. "Yes! A picnic! Because the last time, I ended up needing weeks in bed recovering! And didn't you start a war?"
The trio was completely shaken with laughs, brushing off the medical and political worries that usually loomed over their heads. "Alright, alright. No wars this time!" Luxa managed to gasp out. "This time, a real picnic. And I know just the location."
-Pardon me, I'm a page break!-
Nike and aurora soared over grain fields, lakes and ponds, rocky cliffs, only to wind up at an all too familiar cave.
The three Underlanders dismounted the flyers, tugging at food hampers, and entering the grey terrain.
Hazard was extremely quiet by the time food had been set out and torches lit.
"Hazard, what is wrong? Is something bothering you?", Luxa asked with sincere concern, while Nike, Howard, and Aurora flew off to explore deeper into the tunnels, with the promise to return after awhile.
"I'm fine," the boy answered quickly. "It's just...isn't, I mean, wasn't this Ares cave?"
Luxa nodded, suddenly taking a senile appearance. "It was. Still is, in a way." The teenager's eyes roamed the walls, scraping off every tidbit and detail from the eroded walls.
"How?" Hazard's eyes once again lit up with curiosity as he tugged a hand through his mass of curls.
Luxa's smile that fell on the boy was tinged with sadness, but she managed to place her hands on his shoulders and lead him through a small alcove. The alcove resembled a shallow indent; however, it was truly a tunnel hidden in shadows.
The tunnel led to a small cave. In the center was a clear, shallow pond, the surface still, calm, not living. The walls were chipped, battered, but maintained the showcase of reflective crystals and precious gems, decorating the area naturally. Nevertheless, the focal point of the cave was the far wall. A block of rock had been polished and engraved. Small treasures; a statue, a nugget of gold, an heirloom dagger, all sat arranged on the base, like offerings to a spirit.
Luxa directed Hazard forward, nearing the polished rock. When he was close enough, practically leaning against the boulder, it came above his hip, mid stomach, and wider than any man's shoulders.
Hazard skimmed the carving, studying the structure, not the message. Each character had been carved carefully, obviously a master's work. The inscription read:
Qui obiit in bello, quando,
Fortis, fortis, potens
Nemo mortuus et reliquit
Emptier spatium, quam amicus.
The words made no sense to the young boy, confused, he looked to Luxa.
Understanding his expression, Luxa translated, "It means:
Of all who died in the War if Time,
The brave, the strong, the powerful,
None died and left an emptier space,
Than you, my friend."
As she spoke, the queen's eyes welled up with tears, which spilled onto her face. Memories of her deceased friend overwhelmed the young woman. So much loss had been experienced by both young figures. The queen leaned over, grasping the edges of the stone, tears dripping onto the engraving.
Hazard was and wrapped his arms around her shaking waist. Luxa turned to her brother, her grief was reflected in his expression. Crouching down, she took him in her arms and the two siblings cried for their companion.
-Pardon me, just a lil' break-
After a period, the two had settled against the wall, with Luxa holding Hazard, who was still emotional. Suddenly, a clambering noise, such as claws on stone echoed from the entrance of the main cavern. Luxa slowly angled her head to Hazard, whose bright eyes were wide with fright. Slowly, she relinquished her grip on the boy, whom pulled away slowly and stood. Luxa crouched, silently slipping her thin swords from her belt, and slipping through the alcove, with Hazard close behind.
The queen sprang from her crouch, preparing to attack the black object in front of her. However, at the last second, she jerked away, blade banging against the wall.
A terrified high-pitched screech bounced around the cave. The dark blob, now reviled to be a flyer, extended its wings to gain balance.
The teenager, realizing what she gazed upon asked a tentative question. "Ares!"