Chapter 14: Elanore's Redemption Battle
She takes a deep breath, then extends her wings as she takes flight. Watching is King Nyroc and the doctor, watching her flight around the base with a keen eye. The strength of her wings is better now as her endurance is tested. After a long lap around the base, she gracefully lands back where she started, the courtyard.
"How was that? Am I allowed to fight again?" Elanore asks
"Yes, your grace. You are allowed to fight once more." The doctor replies
Elanore sighs, relieved that she may take her redemption battle. Nyroc takes her under his wing as they enter the throne room. Standing in the middle of it, Elanore makes him stop as she comes from under his wing to stand in front of him.
"My redemption battle shall come." Elanore says with confidence
"Where shall we attack, my angel?" Nyroc asks
"I want to go to Tyto. Intel reports that Prime Minister Bryony and her family and cohorts are returning there tonight. We shall attack in the evening tomorrow night." She replies
"Tyto Forest it is, they shall know the wrath of Elanore Brix when the guardians find corpses." He announces
"Someday they shall bow before us…" She smiles as he takes her wings
"As we will rule all these kingdoms." He says, finishing her sentence
"One way or another…" They both say together lovingly and staring into each other's scarlet eyes
Their beaks meet for a loving kiss, but just as they break for air, Morin enters. Much to the dismay of the king and queen as they were having a moment.
"Let me guess, the all clear came?" Morin asks
"We will be attacking Tyto Forest Tomorrow evening. Have the troops ready and by Glaux of something goes wrong, it will be your head. It is a redemption battle, not a petty attack." Nyroc orders
"Yes, milord." Morin replies as he leaves and the door shut behind him
Elanore hugs her king as she whispers into his ear hole in Tura that she wants to dance. He replies in Ke'va with a yes. He takes her wing and they dance around the throne room. Elanore calls it "celebrating my redemption" as they waltz their way around the room.
"The wedding is soon, you know. They have already started making my cape for the ceremony." She smiles
"That will be the happiest day of my life, Elanore. It will be better than finally killing the Guardians and avenging our fallen." He replies
"It will be a day I will remember for the rest of my life." Elanore sighs happily
"I would want to give you the life you deserve, being my queen of all the owl kingdoms. I would want to give you the world, my queen. Give our sons and daughters the world." He replies
"I would want that, like being your mate for all eternity. A beloved wife to you, my king." She smiles
"Your redemption is tomorrow evening and if all goes to plan, Tyto Forest will be ours. That kingdom might have the best warriors in their Tyto Resistance, but like all kingdoms, it will fall. So will it's king. He will fall to us and so will anyone else in our way. Tyto will burn to the ground and we shall desecrate the ashes. Nothing will be living from that forest, no owls, no forest." He says, hyping up his queen who is gracefully dancing with him in the moonlight
"no owls, no forest." She repeats
We look up into the sky and the moon is shining over the canyons, it is doing the same as Ga'Hoole as meanwhile, Bryony and her kids, along with the new King of Tyto Forest, Caspian and his girlfriend, Maria, are leaving. After the three Rain Master Class kids came into the parliament and left, Bryony announced that she is taking Caspian to Tyto to his home to show his people that their new king is alive. The owlets are being carried by Bryony, one in each talon as they had said their goodbyes and are leaving the Great Tree.
Around dawn, they arrive to have a welcome party organised. Bryony is met by her aunt, Sienne, while mostly all the kingdom turned out to see their new king. They are commenting on how much he looks like their former rulers, whom were his parents. Maria and Caspian are mobbed by a welcome party as there is a feast in his honour for arriving.
Meanwhile, in the Pure One base in the canyons, an early bedtime is in place for the redemption tomorrow night. Elanore is with her king as they cuddle while sleeping. In her sleep she has a vision…
(In vision)
The Forest Kingdom of Tyto is shrouded in darkness as the moon rises one night. On said night, there is a hollow in a great big pine tree in the northern boundary of Tyto Forest. Inside this hollow two owls are waiting by a nest in the middle of the tree. There are two eggs in the nest and one is close to hatching.
A female barn owl, which looks like the Pure One Queen envisioning this vision is with her husband, another barn owl who is different shades of gold and white. They are standing before the eggs as one of them hatches out. A little brown shaded owlet comes out and the mother is then spending time with her baby before the other little one, a golden owlet like her father hatches out after.
"What will we name them?" The male owl asks
"We shall name our eldest Elanore and our youngest Salina." The female replies
(end of vision)
Elanore wakes up in her betrothed's wings as she is worried to as why she had seen her own birth in her dreams. She then gently gets out of his hold and she looks in the mirror. She sees herself without her markings and with golden eyes, the clear that her eyes used to be. Then she blinks and rubs her eyes with her wing when she looks again and sees her reflection.
"Am I dreaming… Did I see myself as the weakling I used to be?" Elanore exclaims
She then just decides to go to bed and she lies there awake for a bit before she falls back asleep.
They wake up before dawn and Elanore is just thinking of how she had just saw herself as she used to be. She then places on her helm and battle claws and takes to the sky with her battalion of Pure Ones. Nyroc is flying beside her and they both have a determined glare on their faces.
Meanwhile, Bryony is with Caspian and Maria. Maria is making Caspian a cape as she is pinning the hem. Bryony and Caspian are talking also as she is telling him all that he needs to know. Caspian has been permitted to live in the palace and the Tyto Resistance is watching over it.
"Caspian, when you are king, the time will come for when you will have to lead your kingdom in war. I hope that war never happens, but with the Pure Ones still alive, it poses a threat." Bryony explains
"I know that, prime minister. I know they are a threat." Caspian replies before he looks at the golden shackle on the cloak, which is connected by a small clip, is a bit loose. He then says to Maria, who is behind him, and has pins in her beak "The chain at the front is a bit loose, sweetie."
"I knew that it was going to do that. Just wait until I am done the hem and I will fix that." Maria replies
"It is sweet to know that you are helping with the coronation somehow, Maria." Bryony smiles
"It is just a cape, nothing more…" Maria replies, focused on her work
"I never knew that you were skilled in sewing and embroidering and stuff like that?" Bryony says
"It is more of a hobby. Liana and I used to make things all the time. I always seem to have to have to mend something of my brother's from time to time." Maria replies, placing another pin in the hem to adjust it
"May I ask, Maria?" Bryony asks
"What is it?" Maria replies
"When that Tasmanian barn owl said that you were wearing a mask over your eyes, is it true?" Bryony asks
"Umm… Err…. I don't want to answer that." Maria replies
"Well… I wear ochre too. Years back, I was attacked by my own resistance because of a turnfeather. That said turnfeather and all the rest had fractured many bones and also cut me up a bit. I had horrid scars that I cover with ochre. I thought I was never going to marry until Shard and I were together in the last two years of GTA and then we did marry and become mates." Bryony admits
"Is Shard the father of your owlets?" Maria asks
"Yes, princess." Bryony replies "He died five years ago… Pure Ones killed him…" she then says while holding her tears
"I'm sorry if I am opening scars, Bryony." Maria apologises
"It's ok…" Bryony replies with a sad smile
Maria smiles back with a comforting smile, Bryony then smiles also. Caspian looks to Maria and she is back to working on his coronation cape. Everything is quiet before a guard comes into this palace room in a fluster.
"Prime Minister Bryony! King Caspian! The Pure Ones are attacking the southwest boarder!" The guard exclaims
"Get the Tyto Resistance." Bryony orders "Get the Tyto Army!"
"We're coming too." Maria says as she takes off Caspian's cape from his shoulders
"It isn't safe for the both of you." Bryony replies
"We are going and that is final, Prime minister." Caspian orders
"If you are coming, the army is yours. They will attack, all they need is your signal." Bryony replies
Bryony, the Prime minister and General in balance, takes off to summon her lead her resistance. Maria is helping Caspian as the battle claws, and in turn he helps her. as the begins behind them. Bryony and Elanore are in a face off while Nyroc fights others. Caspian and Maria fly out and are helping, but they heed some cries coming from Sienne, Bryony's aunt. She is carrying the owlets when she is cornered by Pure Ones.
Maria and Caspian fly over and try to help out. Tyto Army, which the Pure Ones think have been dissembled, are waiting nearby the palace for their almost king to call them to the battle.
Meanwhile, Bryony refuses to let Tyto fall as she is fighting against Elanore to secure her kingdom's safety. The Tyto Resistance is hardly matching the numbers of the Pure Ones, but they have the might to match theirs. Elanore and Bryony are stuck as Bryony finds a way to pin her.
"I am going to rib you limb from sprinking limb." Bryony says
"I won't be so sure… Where are your babies and your king and his wretch?" Elanore enquires
She lets out a loud call and her Pure One guards bring in Bryony's twins, Caspian and Maria. Bryony is shocked as Elanore uses this to her advantage and flips Bryony and pins her against the wall.
"I suggest you surrender, Bryony Daube/Arin." Elanore says
"Never!" Bryony replies
"You know… Those babies are the last thing you have left of your deceased husband, Shard. It would be a shame if they become deceased like him…" Elanore says with darkness in her voice
A guard takes Ash in his talons and has the little owlet pinned, waiting for the order.
"Ash!" Bryony exclaims
"If you want your son alive, I suggest that you hand Tyto to me." Elanore suggests
Bryony remains silent. Maria and Caspian are trying to break free from their captors Sylvia is crying her eyes out as she sees her brother like this. She shares a special bond with her brother as twins sometimes do. Bryony herself is unsure what to do. Her two greatest loves are on the line: Tyto Forest Kingdom or her kids. She is quite the patriot when it comes to pride for her kingdom, but nothing beats the love she has for her kids. Her son and daughter are the only things that remain from her years being married to Shard.
"What will it be, Bryony?" Elanore asks
"Leave my son alone!" Bryony screams
"Will you surrender nor not?" Elanore asks
The silence returns and Elanore is getting impatient. She is losing it as there is no answer coming from the Tyto Forester. Ash starts to panic as he is bracing for his life. His sister also is bracing for the worst as she wants to get away.
"Kill the boy!" Elanore orders
The Pure One begins to aim his talon, intending to stab the child he has in his talons. This is before Bryony makes a tough decision that will change everything forever again…
"Stop!" Bryony screams before she looks down in shame "I'll let you have Tyto…"
The guard lets the boy go and he runs to his sister. They let Maria and Caspian go and they take the owlets as Bryony winks at them. From that little gesture, they know she is up to something that will make or break the situation.
"…Over my dead body!" Bryony exclaims
Caspian knows that is the signal and lets out a loud call across the trees of Tyto Forest. Elanore is shocked to see this as the Tyto Army then comes out of hiding and they all attack the Pure Ones. Elanore doesn't know that Tyto Army is still running, but now she knows her numbers are outnumbered. She merely gives a "holy racdrops" before Bryony and she weaves out of the way by pushing her off. She then sees Caspian and Maria with the twins as Bryony starts to fight her.
"Go to Ga'Hoole! Go now, King Caspian of Tyto! I'll take care of this!" Bryony hollers as she is fighting Elanore
The two regal owls heed this order and take the owlets, Maria carrying Sylvia and Caspian carrying Ash. They escape as the Pure Ones then are fighting Tyto Resistance and Tyto Forest Army. The Tyto Prince and Silverveil Princess escape the forest. Bryony and Sienne defeat the Pure Ones and Elanore and Nyroc retreat. Elanore's redemption failed, but she remains pissed and ambitious for revenge.
Bryony then travels to Ga'Hoole to be reunited with her babies. The two owlets are relieved to see their mother. They may have a basic, basic knowledge of what is going on, but know a Pure One when they see it.