The Calm Before

Logen was almost in a blind panic while searching for Dria. He had discovered her missing just as he and his father had reached the foreign market district. He exclaimed his surprise and worry to his father but he reasoned that she must have been caught on some merchant stall. He sent his son to go fetch her.

That was two hours ago.

Logen had returned to his father pale faced and on the brink of panic. All his father told him was to stay calm and to search every street and alleyway. They split up to find her, to cover more ground, and Logen was mounted on Calwel to keep his form in plain sight, in case Dria was frantically searching for him as well.

He combed the city of Inverness, going up and down the streets, calling to any woman who even resembled the fair maiden- but to flag down every fair face was proving to be the wrong method to this madness. He ran a hand through his ragged hair, craning his neck this way and that, trying desperately to catch a glimpse of Ocean and his rider.

To his left Logen caught the beginnings of a scuffle- a man was trying to lure a woman to the back of an alley, propositioning for a good time. The woman was resisting his advances, squawking about the price. No money up front, then there wasn't going to be a good time later.

His stomach sank as a brawl ensued. What is Dria was approached in the same manner?

He shook his head. No, Ocean was a fine animal and very protective of his mistress. There was no way that the stallion would let any hard come to her. He patted Calwel, wishing again he had such a mighty steed underneath him like Ocean. Logen rubbed his withers, sighing as he said, "I don't suppose you can find Ocean, can you Calwel?"

Calwel's ears flickered back towards his rider. Bobbing his head he freed the reins from his master's hands. Logen let them fall across the gelding's neck, rubbing his eyes from straining. There were so many possibilities. The entire time he was searching and moving about the city, Dria could be doing the same. Finding a moving target was a hell of a lot harder than a stationary one. He wasn't completely sure if Dria would try to find her own way back or not.

Calwel began walking with the flow of the foot traffic and Logen allowed him.

The day was nearing its end and Logen didn't know what he was going to do when darkness fell. He looked about himself hopelessly at the faceless crowd. None of the eyes that peered up at him were the familiar sea tossed orbs of Dria.

Before he knew it Logen was near the edge of town, entering the the shanty part of the city that was filled with hood rats, gypsies, and other low-lives- most unsavory. Calwel plodded slowly through the lively crowd, slowly but with purpose. Since this was a new part of the city he had yet to comb over he allowed his horse to walk at his will. Honestly, Logen didn't know where else to look besides returning to his brother's forge.

Lost in worry and thought he hardly realized that the chestnut had stopped. Logen took up the reins and made to take back control but Calwel jerked the reins forcefully from his head, dipping his head low to the ground and arching his head up and out.

"Calwel!" Logen snapped, lunging after the reins. He had lost his patience and wasn't in the mood for the gelding's old tricks.

The chestnut nickered loudly, and there was an answering response.

Logen jerked his head up and laid eyes upon the a horse that couldn't possibly be blue, but it was.

"Ocean!" Logen nearly sobbed in relief as seeing the giant steed- but was stopped when his stomach fell through his body when he noticed that Ocean was alone and riderless. He urged Calwel onward with a rough tap of his heels, he couldn't reach the stallion fast enough.

"Where is she?"

What if she were in trouble? What if somehow, the two had gotten separated? What if Dria was all alone? That thought alone twisted his gut. He was very protective of the girl and to see her trusty horse without her was nothing short of alarming. What if Ocean was searching for his master just as Logen was searching for Dria? There were too many questions and there were no obvious answers.

Ocean touched noses with Calwel for a moment and the gelding stilled under the attentions. Ocean puffed warm air in the chestnut's face, regarding his stable companion with gentle gaze before turning his attention to his rider. The stallion neighed and turned on his heel, Calwel was quick to follow without any encouragement from his rider. The stallion allowed the gelding to walk at his side, the great size of the beast clearly overshadowing his companion. Logen kept a hand on Ocean's back, just to be sure that what was happening was real.

He didn't understand how Calwel found Ocean, nor could he really understand how Ocean seemed to appear out of thin air. But what he did understand was that if he followed Ocean, Dria was surely to turn up somewhere. His nerves couldn't take much more of this.

For several long moments Ocean weaved through an active crowd. Evening was settling in and the gypsy camp was coming alive with activity. Fires and torches were being lit, music was being played, gatherings were converging at various tents, children ran about in wild freedom- not at all ready to wind down from the day's events. The people indigenous to Inverness were retreating further into the city limits, becoming less and less tolerant as the noise level began to increase. Meals were being roasted over spits and pits, wafting fragrant and savory smokes into the air. In the night these people suddenly became alive.

Logen was losing his patience with the situation. The noise and den of the people around him were setting him on edge. All around him he saw the faces of people who could possibly do harm to Dria, around him was a world he knew little of. His father had never really allowed him to interact with the Rom who set up camp on Artair's land during the summer months. The Rom were fearsome and very protective of their own, and they never allowed their own to venture to near Logen's home. His father had always told him to keep his guard up when it came to gypsy folk, because they had perfected the slight of hand and the silver tongue.

Logen was startled from his thoughts when he felt that Ocean had stopped, and through him, Calwel had halted as well.

They were in front of a tent that was covered in layers of rugs and woven blankets. There was a soft light from within and the sound of female voices.

Logen dismounted quickly from Calwel and slowly approached the tent.

"He should be here by now... No, I will go check again."

From within the tent a young woman appeared, dressed in fantastic color, with cinnamon hair and eyes green as jade and were slanted like that of a cat's. She was beautiful and exotic, her lips rosy and full of pout. She stopped and stared for a moment, appraising her new guest with a look of sudden impatience and exasperation.

She popped out a hip as she crossed her arms over her chest, her bangles and bells all chiming haughtily with the gesture, she completed the action with a roll of her eyes.

"Hm-," Ceraphina snorted, "It's about time you showed up, you were starting to make me look bad."

King Oorlin looked down his nose at the creature. It's vibrant coat made dull, matted with mud and dried blood. Its side's heaved heavily to gasp a better amount of air. Its legs shivered and wavered where it stood. What ever proud and arrogant part of the creature that was left within was not showing in any way now.

"Has it said anything more?" He question.

"No, my king. Only what I have already reported."

"I expected more." Oorlin paced at bit, clearly displeased.

A hint of fear entered the soldier's voice. "I have done all that I could. The information you seek is no longer within."

"What do you mean?" The king's pacing stopped. His heavy boots coming to a stop, his sweeping cloak settling to hide his frame once more.

"His soul is no longer within his body, and no matter how much I torture that body- if I cannot reach the soul where the answer lies- then there is nothing that I can do." The soldier explained, his voice wavering. He never liked much to be in the king's presence, and he didn't like the fact that he was under the king's direct focus. How prince Rhalluan could stand it, he didn't know.

"Then you've broke him."

"Yes, my king."

"Isn't that the very thing I told you to avoid?" King Oorlin's voice slithered with awful promise.

"Yes, my king."

"And you failed." Oorlin's eyes flashed dangerously.

The soldier hesitated. "Yes, my king."

Oorlin turned away from soldier and looked about the dungeonus carvern in which they presided. There were natural catacombs within the bowls of the Balinor Palace. It was a vertible maze, and the king of Vurinada was having them explored. Some passages led to the mountains, other to the sea. And still more lead to no where and to places yet to be discovered. It was here that the king sent people down, and they rarely came back alive. There was a reason why the king's forces called the treacherous tunnels the Knox Void.

"Do you think that celestial unicorns grow on trees, captain?" He asked mildly.

From behind, the soldier flinched. It was said that the more pleasant the king's voice became, the more dangerous he was to those around him. People had the habit dying around the man.

"Of course not, my king."

"My men went through great lengths to capture this beast. And I had planned on so much more for the little thing." He turned on his heel and regarded the sage unicorn. The celestial beasts were hard to come by, he was beginning to understand why his son was experiencing so much trouble in finding them. In fact, it was rather difficult to find any sort of unicorn lately. And the very thing that he had been hoping to discover eluded him once again.

The door leading into the Celestial Valley.

That was what he wanted so desperately! If he knew where the door was then he could invade the Valley and perform the perfect preemptive strike. His domination of the region would be completed and the neighboring kingdoms would surely fall. Everything he looked upon would be his and his alone.

And once he obtained that information?

He looked down on the trembling sage celestial. Its head hung low to the floor, its breathing harsh and hitched.

"Can he be turned?"

The soldier shook his head, "No, my king, his mind must be present. If there is no mind then there is nothing to turn."

"Then what should we do with this broken thing?" King Oorlin asked rhetorically.

The soldier remained silent.

"Sever the horn. Harvest the jewel." He turned his cruel dark eyes towards the pathetic creature. "Collect the blood."

The Green celestial hardly flinched at the verdict, indeed he welcomed the thought of death. He had dishonored himself by being caught, and disgraced his herd-mates by telling the dread king the particulars about the wild energies of the Gap. His only solace was the oblivion that was death, it was the only way that he could garner forgiveness from the Father above. It was the only way Numinor could look upon these events and not be lost shame and anger.

He could feel the chains being loosened around him, could feel the brutal tugging of his torturers as they heaved him further into darkness, further away from the light of the sun, the stars, and the moon. He was gripped by sudden fear. He did not want to die in darkness. He did not want to die completely alone.

It was said that in times like these, those who betrayed their brothers and sisters would be left in darkness. He feared such torment. All around him was the scent of death and fear, it filled his nostrils and reached that part of his mind that made his body freeze and lock limb. He couldn't go down there, not alone!

"Forward, you beast!" Came the harsh cutting words of the soldier and the crack of whip against hide.

No! His body screamed.

Its alright, my dear one. Be not afraid.

That silvery voice was like a cure that washed over his entire body, a balm that obliterated the pain and confusion that was now his life. He was no longer afraid, and couldn't think of a right reason that he was so to begin with. The voice came with a soft light that was gentle and nurturing. From the darkness it loomed like a saving hand, wrapping around the Green's form, banishing all connection to the world in which he had be born to.

"What manner of magic is this?" Cried a voice.

"I do not know, my king!"

There is no more struggle. Come peaceful, and you shall be rewarded.

The Green relaxed in all measure of the word and embraced the silvery voice, the silvery light. He felt his soul expand, cramped within his now mortal body. He wished to break free, and the light gave him the power to do so. With a sigh the Green left his body and disappeared within the light.

All that was left behind was a brilliant shimmer and the Sage disappeared. His shackles fell to the floor in a cacophonous clatter as if he never were.

"Guards!" Screamed the king.

In an instant there was a small collection of soldiers at the king's beck and call.

"Seize the captain, he helped the celestial escape!" He accused.

"No! My king, your Immanence, I would never do such a thing! I have served you faithfully!" But his words were cut short as a team of soldiers pounced upon him, gripping his frame tightly and unforgivably.

"Kill him."

And the soldiers obliged. Better it be him than them. Better that this one should die instead of themselves. The king could have said anything he wanted, and any and all would obey- if not to meet his fury. Where his son had the strength of will and body on the battlefield, his father had an altogether different strength- the strength of word.

And with his word the deed was done and the king did not think twice of the captain who had served him faithfully, nor that he knew that he had not helped the unicorn escape. He only thought of the next step, for everything was a great game. He was the king who had lost a queen, and though he had to sacrifice a few pawns, his son the would be prince was next.

"Summon Rhalluan, he has a duty to perform."

This time...

This time he would not fail.

"What to you mean? Who are you? Where is Dria?" Logen gritted out between clenched teeth.

"I still need to account and adjust for free will... That's what putting me off time..." Ceraphina mused to herself. In her heavily bracelet hand was a tarot card- The Messenger. She stared at it thoughtfully. "I predicted you would come but..." She looked up at the stars and the positioning of the moon. "My timing was off."

"What are you talkin' about? Where is Dria?" Logen sputtered. "Dria? Dria! Dria!" He roared.

"Stop your shouting, you'll draw unwanted attention-" Ceraphina began before she was cut off. Dria had exited her tent, her face flushed with relief at having laid eyes upon Logen.

"Logen! You found me!" She meant to meet him but she was met half way as Logen rushed to her side. But instead of being relieved as she was, his face was contorted in rage.

Logen grasped Dria by the shoulders, making the girl wince within his vice like grip.

"JUST WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Roared Logen, shaking her as he spoke. "What would make you wander off in a city as big as Inverness? You could have been kidnapped or worse!"

"But I-" She tried to interject.

"You knew where we were supposed to go! Why didn't you ask for directions?"

The thought actually never occurred to Dria. She knew where Artair and Logen would be going, and even if she didn't know the actual complex Scottish name, she could have described it to a citizen here and would have been able to show her the way. Why didn't she think of that? In her moment of panic she did exactly what she wasn't supposed to do.

At her face of dawning Logen nearly pushed her away in disgust. "Are you really that naïve? Do you know 'ow worried I've been, frantically searchin' for you? My father and brother are out there," He flung an arm back in the direction of town, "Now, still searchin' for you? And to find you here consortin' with gypsies!" He spat the word, shaking her for emphasis. "What were you thinkin'?" He shouted again.

"Hey, now see here!" Ceraphina tried to intervene for the girl's defense but failed.

Tears pricked the back of her eyes at Logen's temper and tone. She had never seen him so furious, not even when she went riding out alone during the winter or when she got into a fight with him at the pond. He was frightening.

"Logen, I'm sorry. I-" She stuttered out an apology.

"You're sorry. Of course your sorry. From your esteemed breedin' I'd thought you 'ave a better 'ead on your shoulders!" He bit out. "By Danu, Dria! You coulda been killed!" He roared, his brogue slurring in and out- he was beyond livid, he was past the point of fury. He she was, completely fine, making his entire family worried to death as to her where-abouts. And the fact that he found her with the likes of gypsies, a very devious group of people- he just couldn't contain it any longer.

"I've kept her safe. Nothing happened to her or ever will happen to her so long as I live and breathe! Go easy on the girl, she was lost! It's not her fault- she is not of this world!" Ceraphina tried to pry Logen's grip from Dria's shoulders. "Leave her alone!"

All his anxiety, all his rage, worry, frantic searching, the unbelievable urge to protect and love her came flooding out of him like a whirlwind- and he was taking it out on the object of his desire and frustration.

"Stay out of this, gypsy!" Logen snarled, his furious gaze turning towards her, throwing off her offending appendage.

Ceraphina fell back heavily to the ground, but was up on her feet in an instant, drawing forth a dirk from within the folds of her skirt. Within the blink of an eye she had the blade resting at Logen's throat, the pressure she gave the weapon drew blood. "Let her go." She said steadily.

Logen froze, nostrils flared. "You dare wield a dagger against me?" He spoke to her in his native tongue. He held his breath on the blade, causing it to fog a bit from it.

Ceraphina smiled wickedly. "I hold your life's breath upon this blade, your life is mine to take." She answered him back, retaining English so that the girl in front of her could benefit from it.

Everything around them froze. Ceraphina held her own against the highland Scotsman, and Logen's body was trembling from inaction, with Dria the helpless bystander caught in the middle.

Dria burst into tears and that was Ocean's limit. The indigo stallion shrieked shrilling into the night and knocked his body ruthlessly against Logen's, knocking him to the ground. This freed both Dria and Ceraphina, springing them into action. The gypsy girl pulled Dria back to the safety of the campfire, away from Logen and her unicorn, using her body as a shield against them both.

"Stay behind me." She told her fiercely.

Logen rolled to his side, trying to get away from Ocean's iron hooves as the beast half reared and came crashing back down to the earth. The Kiss upon his hand flashed brightly for a brief moment, connecting the two males.

Step away from her! Came a thundering voice that slid powerfully across Logen's mind. Instantly he knew it was Ocean's voice- that same baritone from before when he had connected with him then in the stable.

Logen crawled away from the scene, as much as Ocean would let him. He wasn't sure if the creature wanted to trample him to death in his own ire or for the sake of his lady spare him.

Finally the stallion seemed pleased with the distance and retreated back towards his lady, circling her, nosing the gypsy away so that he alone could console her. Ceraphina graciously stepped away, only to glare and brandish her dirk to the interloper.

Logen coughed, just now realizing the wind had been knocked out from him during the fall. He clutched his throat, feeling the wetness beneath his hand. He pulled it back to reveal the blood. He stared balefully at the gypsy witch in front of him, then towards Dria's sobbing form and Ocean's protective stance.

A part of him broke then- he felt like he was suddenly an outsider to their world. The green eyed girl had said that Dria was not of this world- which meant that the noblewoman had told her her story. The gypsy had believed her- and what proof had she seen? Logen had seen much but was still skeptical. He could see that the females had bonded- they had a connection that he was not a part of. He had only been worried for Dria's welfare yet he knew he had been too rough on her. All his emotions just came raging to the surface! It was no excuse but couldn't she see he cared for her?

"Cannot ye see I care for ye." He whispered shamefully in Gaelic.

Ceraphina's interest in the matter was peaked at his words. She glanced back at the young woman behind her, knowing full well that she didn't understand his words.

Logen looked back to Inverness and the budding lights from homes and dwellings. He wiped the moisture from his eyes but a few tears slipped past.

"Go hifreann é," He swore, getting to his feet.

Rhalluan approached the Balinor throne with a sense of trepidation. He was without his steed, since they were not permitted within the throne room- ever since the king's attack on his son Oorlin had forbidden the Shadow unicorns entrance with the real pretense of not allowing Harbinger to come to the prince's rescue. Though others were not privy to the particulars of the new edict's origins.

What once used to be a bright and vibrant room was now sallow and dank- no longer the lively place he remembered from his boyhood. He remembered the first time he had visited the castle- it was the first time he had seen the real king and queen, and their spirited unruly daughter, princess Ildrianna.

While there was a meeting of the nobles Rhalluan had been forced to play with the girl. She had been young, maybe six or seven, and he had been around twelve. He found the idea of playing with a little girl quite annoying- but she had led him on a merry adventure in which he nearly lost her several times.

Then he had been furious with the girl, now he looked back on the memory in fondness. He had found the princess in the palace gardens behind the rose bushes in a surprising moment of reflection. She was absently weaving a crown of flowers as she sat- her face drawn up in a pout. Instead of yelling at the girl for trying to lose him he sat down next to her and watched as her fingers worked.

"What's the matter princess- did I not find you quick enough?" He asked.

"No." She said sadly.

They sat in silence for a moment. Ildrianna turned the flowers she held in her hand around and about within her hands, adding more and more flowers, making the woven ring stronger. She used little flowers of yellow and orange, and purples and blues. Only in the front did she use large white and pink flowers.

"I don't want to be queen." She declared suddenly.

Rhalluan was surprised at the statement. "It will be a long time before you become queen, you'll change your mind once you're older." He reasoned, what woman wouldn't want power? His mother had sought to usurp his father- a plot he had yet to connect with her.

"No, I won't ever want to be queen!" The princess protested in earnest, clutching her flower ring tightly.

Curious, he asked why.

"I will always be told what to do." She informed him gravely.

Rhalluan laughed at that.

"Don't laugh! It's true! Momma is always busy, running around, always tired. Everyone is always telling her what to do, even papa." Ildrianna set the flower crown down carefully and hugged her knees to her chest. Her oceanic eyes gleaming from unshed tears, a look of anguish contorting her face. Suddenly her gaze looked beyond her years. "Momma is always saying that it is her duty to papa, and to the people, that she has to sacrifice herself for the good of us all." The little girl trembled. "If thats what it means to be queen I don't want to!"

For a moment all Rhalluan could do was stare. He was amazed that she had put so much thought into this. She was just a small child and already she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.

He placed a comforting hand around her shoulders and tugged her close to his form, lending her his strength for the moment. "If your mother has a boy, then you won't have to be queen. You can stay a princess forever." He smiled down at her.

She poked her head up and looked at him, her sea foam eyes captivating. She wiped her nose. "Papa doesn't know that I was listening, but the doctor told momma that she shouldn't have another baby. If she does she might die." She trembled under his touch. Rhalluan thought of the queen's delicate nature.

"I don't want her to die..." She gurgled past a choking sob.

In that moment he grabbed Ildrianna and brought her to his chest in a fierce hug, smoothing back her hair as he rocked her crying form within his arms. He let her cry, he knew that she hadn't for some time, and all that pressure she felt within her body had built into something insurmountable. Crying was her way of releasing some of that pressure. He hummed to her quietly, not knowing what else to do. His mother used to do that when he was upset like this. It always seemed to help him.

After a moment it seemed to work on her as she began to quiet herself.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked her, lifting her chin up to his face so he could see her clearly.

She nodded, sniffing loudly.

He smiled gently and fished in his pocket for his kerchief. His mother always made him carry one, 'Just in case', she told him. He pulled out the delicate gray and red thread and gave it to the princess. She took it and rather loudly blew her nose, moped up her face, and promptly handed it back to him with a quiet 'thank you'.

"You keep it."

"Ok."

They sat in silence for a moment, mostly because Rhalluan didn't know what else to say, and partly because Ildrianna was still focusing on her problem about becoming queen- a thought that preoccupied her mind rather frequently. Another part of her problem was-

"I don't have a king either!" She announced. She got to her feet in exasperation.

Rhalluan didn't understand her thought process.

"Momma said she couldn't rule Balinor alone- she needed a king. I don't have a king, so how can I rule?" She explained.

The queen was not a royal by blood, though she was a lady of a lord. Because of this she didn't have the right to rule. If the king were to die she would remain reagent until Ildrianna came of age, afterward she would have to step down. Such were the politics of the time. Ildrianna was a legitimate heir because of her father's royal blood. And because of that blood Ildrianna could rule her country without a king at her side. The little princess didn't seem to understand the concept.

"I'll be your king, then." He told her simply to stop her worrying.

Her eyes lit up with happiness. "You will?" She chirped.

"If you can't find your own king, then I'll be your king." He told her to reassure her.

Ildrianna skipped about in joy, her burden slightly lighter and her world slightly brighter. The display was incredibly endearing and Rhalluan couldn't help but smile as she danced about. She picked up her crown of flowers and spun about.

"With you as king, I know everything will be okay." She kept spinning until she fell over spread eagle in the grass, her chest puffing from the exertion.

Rhalluan leaned towards her. "What makes you say that?"

Ildrianna looked up at him from behind her bangs. From this angle he blocked out the sun, creating a halo of light around him. She smiled up at him, "Because you always find him when we play hide-and-seek."

She suddenly leaned up and placed the crown of flowers on the top of his head. Rhalluan didn't want to know how ridiculous he must look at the moment, and while he was preoccupied with the fact that his head was covered in flowers the little princess kissed him on the cheek.

Rhalluan jerked back, surprised at her sudden boldness, and he couldn't stop the blush that was rushing to the surface of his face.

"You have to promise, Rhal." Ildrianna spoke, suddenly serious again.

"Promise what?" He asked a little peeved, rubbing the kiss away from his cheek as best as he could, but he could still feel it on his skin, like she had branded him.

"You have to promise that you'll be my king if I can't find one."

Rhalluan just scowled at her, glancing up at his flowery crown.

"Promise." She said again.

"Ok, fine, Dria. I promise I'll be your king."

Rhalluan looked about the throne room through a window that lead out to the gardens. They were in neglect and the splendor that it once was fell to the wayside just as the rest of the castle. It all seemed so long ago.

"You've kept me waiting." Barked king Oorlin.

Rhalluan had to shake himself from his thoughts and bring himself back to the present. He knew he was walking into a deadly situation. All along the walls were heavily armored men with pikes- the king's personal guard, men who were utterly loyal to Oorlin and to no other. And he, Rhalluan, was alone with no guard outfitting his visit. No bonded unicorn at his side. The only thing that could possibly protect him was the bitch at his back.

"I wasn't aware that you were on such a tight schedule." Came his reply.

"I'm creating an empire, of course I'm on a time schedule." His father barked in exasperation. He leaned forward in his new throne, his boney fingers encased in gauntlets and fish scale armor to his lack of physical prowess.

"My apologies," The words were like acid on his tongue, bitter and distasteful, "What would you have me do?"

Oorlin snorted, "Your king has a task for you of up-most priority."

Rhalluan fell on bended knee before his father, his head bowed so that his father could not see the scowl upon his face. What could be more important that ridding the land of the Resistence? What could be more important than finding more celestial acorna?

When the king found that Rhalluan remained silent he continued. "I want you to journey to the Gap as quickly as possible. Bring a small battalion with you to make sure your journey is as smooth as possible- your most trusted men, mind you.

"There you will cross to the Other Side, find Ildrianna and end her."

Rhalluan's eyes widened. "You cannot mean this." Spilled the words before he could stop them.

"Mean what?" The king goaded, if the prince resisted his duty then the king could dispose of him that much more quickly, and a public execution would do his people good.

"You must have new information on the Gap."

The king frowned. "Indeed."

"Then you must have in your possession a celestial unicorn." Rhalluan looked up, his eyes filled with yearning at his conclusions. Another piece of acorna would be in his hands, he only needed a few more to completed his weapon of power.

The king could see his son's lust, and he quickly wished to squash it. "I did, but the creature was disposed of, turned to ash and dust."

Rhalluan's mouth pursed into a thin line of disapproval. His father was entirely too wasteful, drunk on his own power and image and false sense of strength.

"What would you have me do?" He repeated, bowing his head once again.

That's better... The king thought. "You are to wait for the full moon, there your Shadow unicorns will wait for the Gap to open and create a bridge to the world. You will cross that bridge to the Other Side, find the imposter queen and end her."

"The Dreamspeaker intends to bring the queen back through the Gap?" Rhalluan asked, looking up at his father who nodded. "Then why not let us wait on this Side and spear her as she comes through?" anything to avoid crossing over, his father was definitely trying to get rid of him.

"I will not have the bitch set foot back into the lands of Balinor. If the people here were to get wind of it they would rally against me, she would join the Resistance and try to depose me!" His paranoia was in full effect. Rhalluan realized that a part of his father was fearful of Ildrianna. "I will not let a shred of hope thrive in Vurinada when it comes to the people of Balinor! They must realize that the strongest to rule is myself, and only myself!"

His voice rang out within the throne room, filling the dank environment. Rhalluan was unaffected. As far as he was concerned his father was only showing his weakness.

"So you wish to send your only son to cross over to the Other Side, with the possibility of never returning? Your only heir?" Came a sickly whisper.

Silence followed.

"Who said that?" King Oorlin questioned.

No one answered.

"Who said that?" Mocked the voice.

"I did, you fool." Answered the king.

Rhalluan suddenly pitched forward and uttered out a strangled cry of pain as he clutched his back. It began to spasm painfully, twisting his body unnaturally.

Oorlin stood at once and threw a hand before his face as if to protect himself. His personal guard moving into an attack stance, lowering their pikes at the prince's prone form.

"Ciaran!" He panted out, gritting his teeth together he hissed in pain. Darkness erupted from his back in a swirling pattern of death. The lights around them dimmed, and a sense of suffocation spread and permeated the room, crushing the breath out of everyone's chest. Most of the guard began to waver in their duty, using their weapons to help prop their own bodies up.

"What sort of magic is this?" Oorlin spoke, his voice quivering. He watched the darkness rise and embrace his son like a lover would, watched how it began to take the form of a shadow unicorn. A horn arched out from the creature's forehead, gnarled and curving, like a rapier sword arching out to spear the air. A phantom mouth opened and let loose a clarion call that was ear splitting, making the king cover his ears to block the painful peal of sound.

"You will not be rid of me so easily!"

"Ciaran!" Rhalluan tried to reign in his terror that he had unleashed unto the world.

The dark Archon arched into the air and came into her form, a smoking horror with eyes that burned with a hatred too deep for words and they bore into the form of the king, pure fury, pure hatred, all directed at him. She reared into the air, screamed once more and vaulted towards the king. Oorlin yelped in fear and sank to his knees in cowardice, his guards were too stunned to move to protect their king. The phantom charged through the king, turning his blood to ice, taking his breath away.

"Out! Get him out of here!" He screeched. "Get him out of my sight!"

As the Archon disappeared her strangle hold upon the room had vanished and suddenly the guards were snapped into action. The king was furious, wanting nothing more than to be rid of his bastard son.

"You are not welcomed back here until you have killed the girl!" He screamed. "Do you hear me!"

All Rhalluan could do was remain silent as pain lanced through his body as his father's personal guard threw him out of the throne room and onto the her stone of the Great Hall.

"Logen, you have to let me explain." Dria said brokenly as she sat near Ceraphina's fire.

The gypsy has calmed down and had finally sheathed her dagger and began to make herself some dinner. She did not share with the others.

"Then explain it to me, Dria." He snapped. He sat away from the fire, closer to darkness, with his arms crossed defensively across his chest.

"I'm trying..." She was nearly to tears again. She took a deep breath and clutched her bag close to her chest. Opening it carefully she began to take out the pieces of Ocean's acorna and laid them out into the light. "I found the last piece, Logen."

Logen turned to look at her collection.

"Do you know what this means?" She asked him breathlessly.

He remained taciturn.

"It means you're almost finished in turning Ocean back to normal." Ceraphina supplied as she took a bite of her roasted hen. She had scored a few pieces on a stick and held it over the fire to roast.

Dria smiled over at the girl, but the smile faded as she turned to stare at Logen. He refused to speak with her much. He had left for a time to return to the forge to find hi brother and father, telling him that he found Ildrianna. He returned some time later- Dria refused to leave Ceraphina's side until she explained the entire story.

"Ceraphina had been using her piece of the horn to perform magic. That was how I was able to sense it. But what gives me the most hope is that she says that she can restore the dead piece! She can breathe new life into it." Dria couldn't contain her excitement. She looked over at Logen but he remained unresponsive.

"She knows the druid ritual," Logen scoffed at hearing that, "That will be able to fix the dead acorna. She said the ceremony will have to take place on the after the new moon. Because then the piece will reflect the moon growing in strength."

Silence rang through the trio, only the crackling fire and the smoking embers providing any sort of break.

"Logen?" Probed Dria.

"What?"

"What do you think?"

Logen snorted, expelling a breath of annoyance. "Most druid magic 'tis forbidden, they are a feared cult, Dria. And most of their rituals involve blood sacrifices."

Dria said nothing.

"If Ocean really 'tis a unicorn, would you want his horn to be tainted by such magic?" He asked, there was a mean edge to his voice.

Ceraphina rose in indignation. "Oh please! Like I would want to perform such a heinous act! Give me a little more credit than that, you brute."

"Druid magic 'tis dark magic." Logen growled.

"Druid magic is nature's magic. Nature is not good or evil, it is powerful." The girl countered.

Logen scoffed at that but turned away.

Ceraphina turned to Dria. "Please don't insult me by thinking I would perform blood magic on something so innocent and pure. The ritual I want to perform relies on the healing energies of nature herself."

"I do no doubt you." Dria nodded. Thought she doubted the girl would help her directly, she seemed eager of the chance to help Ocean, and that was something the queen was willing to chance upon this unique woman.

"You trust her? You just met her!" Logen exclaimed.

"She is the only one I have found in the place that can help me!" Dria nearly shouted back. She was getting irritated that Logen wasn't on board like she thought he would.

"You don't know her at all! She could be takin' advantage of you!" Logen too, got to his feet when he saw Ceraphina bristle at his accusation.

"Maybe at first, but that was before I saw her eyes." She said defensively.

Logen pointed at her, "You see? She even admits it!" He looked at Dria. "You heard her, or are you daft?"

"I believe she will help me." Dria said sternly.

Ceraphina approached Logen and stood toe to toe with him, she reached to his chin, so she had to tilt her head back to look him in the eye. Unnerved by her sudden behavior he made to look away but she grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. Her eyes widened.

"Your eyes have not seen a unicorn." She told him. She grabbed his left hand and looked upon his Kiss. She hissed in frustration and threw his hand away from her, stepping back from him. "Yet you've been Kissed! And you still do not believe?"

Logen remained silent.

"Your eyes are flat, they hold no depth, they reflect what you see, which makes them empty. Such are the eyes that have never seen a unicorn." She seemed rather smug of the fact. She crossed her arms over her chest. She turned to Dria.

"I promise to perform the ritual, after the new moon has passed. I ask only one boon in return."

"What would you ask?"

"I wish to travel with you on your journey."

"Absolutely not!" Logen answered for her. "She canna come with us."

"Logen." Dria tried to calm him.

"No, she is not welcomed in my father's house." He seethed.

"I am not asking to come with you, Logen, I am asking to follow Lady Ildrianna and her unicorn Ocean."

"Both of whom reside within my father's house." He snarled.

Ceraphina smiled candidly. "You act as though she is going to remain there."

That made Logen froze. Wasn't she? He turned to Dria, and her face was full of conflicted emotion.

"Aren't you?" He asked aloud.

All Dria could do was shake her head, and with that answer came the breaking of Logen's heart.

So forgive me for my long absence, but I plan on posting more chapters now that this crazy semester is done. A lot is happening in this chapter, and a lot more is happening in the next chapter.

Thank you 365 Pages Of Awesomeness for reviewing, I hope my long absence has not made you forget about this story!

Thank you little-witch-hunter for reviewing! Your words humble me.

And gogogadget... What can I say other than that this is not intended to be a book to replace any of the Unicorn of Balinor books, and I would like to say that you should actually read to comprehend, not read to skim.

Please Read and Review!