Terezah glared at the sleeping pill, then shifted her glare up to the light elf nurse. She glared back at Terezah. "What's wrong? Not good enough for you?" The nurse bit out.
Terezah folded her arms across her chest. "Are you sure I won't be asleep for more than ten hours?"
"Yes!" The nurse shoved Terezah out the door and slammed it, much to Terezah's anger. She dragged a dagger down the golden door, leaving a long scratch. She smiled, satisfied, before heading to her chambers.
When she got there, she saw a pile of black clothing on her bed. There was a note that told her to try them on. Curious but cautious, she held them out in front of her. The clothing was meant for Dark Elf Royalty. Black rune stones were embedded in the lining. It was light armor, pitch black, with flexible plating. There were arm sheaths, boots, an obsidian black sword with runes etched into the handle, and a mid-length cape with no real use other than to possibly camouflage her.
Terezah slowly put on the armor. Chainmail underneath, then a tunic, then the armor itself. She locked on her arm guards, pulling on the boots, clasping the cape into place. Finally, she unsheathed the sword, running a hand against the flat part of the blade.
She glanced at herself in the mirror, her golden eyes glittering. She didn't look like an assassin anymore. She looked like a warrior. Regal, fierce… angry. She let her silver hair down, and it was only then that she realized she looked exactly like her mother. And the Dark Queen.
She heard a knock at her door. She sheathed the sword, turning swiftly from the mirror. She twisted the golden knob, swinging the door open. It was Dagoro. His eyes widened as he saw her. He put a fist to his heart, saluting her.
Terezah's eyebrow raised in question. "You're back."
"I see you found the armor, Princess."
Terezah sighed. "I'm not a princess. I'm an assassin."
Dagoro shook his head. "You are no longer a simple assassin. You are the rightful heir to the Throne. And you look like your father." There was a hint of sadness in his gaze.
Terezah remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Was your mission a success?"
Dagoro nodded. "Yes. I only informed those I knew I could trust. Those who vowed to serve your father, but were forced to serve the Queen."
"Is the lady Sif back as well?"
Dagoro nodded. "We managed to find the 'Warriors Three', but no royalty."
"Well, at least we have three more warriors." Terezah muttered.
It was quiet for a long time before Dagoro bid her goodnight. He set a hand on her shoulder. "Your mother would be proud." His voice was reverent.
Terezah met his gaze. His gaze held wisdom… but age and deep sorrow as well. He had seen much. And then, that gaze was gone, the seasoned soldier already halfway down the hall. The ever silent guardian.
She shut her room door, stripped off the armor and laid it neatly in a pile by the mirror, and just as she was about to take the pill, she looked at her arms and hair, covered in dirt and blood. She sighed, finally accepted the fact that she need to bathe, or the enemy would retreat just at her smell.
She drew herself a hot bath, scrubbing the dirt off her grey skin. Her hair, which was a nice brown color, she washed several times until it was silver once more. Then, she dried off and climbed into bed, a smile on her face as she thought about the mess she had made in the bathroom.
But the smile slipped away as sleep took over. Her last hours of peace were whittling away.
Terezah slipped on the armor, clasping the cape on her shoulder and making sure everything was adjusted. She conjured a few… well, twenty… daggers and hid them in various pockets all over the armor. She then retrieved her belt.
It would not help her this time.
It had poisons and trinkets. This was war. But she took a rag and rubbed poison all over her blades before setting the belt aside. All wounds dished out would be fatal ones. She wasn't taking chances.
And finally, she ditched the fancy sword. She took her shape-shifting staff in hand, pulsing magic into it, changing it into a long word. She fit it into the sheath, shifting it a little more until it fit well.
She walked through the halls to the healing rooms, where Loki was. Light elves would stop and gawk at her, trembling with fear or awe. When she got to Loki's room, she opened the doors to find healers and doctors fussing around the room, panicked.
Loki's eyelids fluttered weakly. His breath was shallow. The shadow had spread up his chest to his neck, to his arms, everywhere. It pulsed, feeding off his very life energy. Terezah sat on the chair by his bed, taking his pale hand. "Loki?" She asked.
His eyes slowly opened, lazy drifting towards her.
"You look… well rested. And clean." Loki's voice was softer than a whisper. Weak.
Terezah chuckled nervously. "Indeed. And you look… like you have just kissed the Lady Death."
The corners of Loki's mouth turned up a tiny bit. He coughed, the shadow pulsing stronger. "I will not... be able… to ride out… with you… be… safe." Loki panted out.
"Of course." Terezah whispered. Loki was unconscious. "My friend." She quickly leaned down and kissed his pale forehead. "Stay strong." She murmured. She let go of his hand, standing up, and disappearing from the room without looking back.
Everyone was already on a horse when she got to the stables. There were at least two hundred light elves, led by the very Captain Ondo himself. He sneered at her. "Hello, milady. I didn't think you were going to actually fight with us."
Terezah ignored him, calming herself before the battle. She stilled her mind, her thoughts, concentrating on keep her head.
"We have a horse for you. One of our best." Ondo indicated to the old, dappled work horse that had been saddled with worn reins. The captain seemed pleased. He rode a tall, elegant stallion with golden reins and saddle.
Terezah huffed out a breath of irritation.
"Princess." She heard Dagoro say, coming out from behind a building. He rode an ice wolf with a white coat. And a ginormous ice wolf followed after. Tall, proud, strong. Grey coat and piercing blue eyes that she would know anywhere.
"Khelek'duin." She whispered. The huge wolf slowly approached her. She knelt on one knee, bowing her head in respect. "My companion."
She felt Khelek's icy breath hitting her neck. It was a ritual of trust. One that promised safety for both. She heard his low growl and then, he dropped his head, lowering himself down to the ground. Terezah met his piercing gaze, holding her hand out. He touched his muzzle to her hand, blinking slowly.
Terezah smiled, standing up. "My old friend. I thought I would never see you again."
The wolf seemed to smile as she hoisted herself onto his bare back. He stood, towering over all the horses in the entire courtyard, even Dagoro's wolf. "Where did you find him?" Terezah asked Dagoro incredulously.
Dagoro smiled. "There are paths between the realms that even the Queen doesn't know about. The ones she does know about she has blocked, such as the paths leading to Asgard and our home world."
Terezah nodded, feeling Khelek's strong muscles twitch in anticipation. She snapped her gaze to Ondo, who was glowering. She couldn't help but smirk in triumph. Khelek moved in sync with her very thought, moving in front of Ondo to where Sif and the Warriors Three were on their horses. They grinned at her.
The gates opened, and their small army moved out. She knew they wouldn't stand a chance unless the dark elves switched to her side.
When they arrived at the destination, they were met by hundreds of dark elf soldiers, all on ice wolves. "Well well! I didn't expect such a weak force! Here I thought you were going to pose an actual threat!" The Queen laughed.
"We have come to surrender! Hand over our royals!" Captain Ondo replied.
This made the Queen and her forces start laughing. Terezah face-palmed. Light elves were idiots. She and Khelek moved forward, in front of Ondo. Ondo yelled at her to mind her place, but she ignored him. Clearly, he was inexperienced with these situations. "Hello, auntie. Miss me?" Terezah taunted.
Delotha glared at her. "Of course I did! My new Shadow Warrior can barely do her job!" Freya, who was at the Queen's right hand, looked embarrassed. "So… about your little friends. Yeah. I just changed my mind. I want to keep them. But of course you anticipated that, didn't you?"
Terezah smirked. "Of course." She winked at Dagoro, and that's when almost half of the Queen's troops filed through the army and came over to her side. Terezah straightened on her horse.
"What?! Get back here! Traitors!" The Queen screamed angrily. "I am your Queen! You will obey me!"
When all soldiers loyal to her switched sides, Terezah stood on Khelek's powerful back, making her visible for all to see. "I am Terezah Aendryr! Daughter of Nythron Aendryr and Dark Elf of Asgard! I have come to restore the peace which Queen Delotha Aendryr has shattered!" Terezah let out a war cry and was joined by the hundreds behind her. Their forces were now equal.
"I still have your precious royal family and Asgardian warriors! Stand down now before I order them to be killed!"
Terezah smiled sweetly. "Sentiment is for fools. And the last time I checked, you didn't have them."
The Queen looked enraged. She whistled, and more than two hundred ice wolves came out of nowhere, growling and snapping their jaws, waiting for the command. Terezah's heart throbbed nervously. Now her side was outmatched.
The Queen's cold smirk returned. "Stand down, or I shall not allow the young prince to live!"
Terezah thought about Loki, whose pale skin was covered in veins of shadow. She bared her pointy teeth.
"Ah! I see you have a weak spot after all. Sentiment is for fools! Am I right?" The Queen laughed.
Terezah was angry now. Really angry. She couldn't afford to have Loki die. She needed a way to find out what had happened to him. "And why would his life be in your hands?"
Freya smirked. "It's called a curse. Amazing thing, don't you think? My little Lokitty won't live past two days' time."
"So… what is your call, little niece? Are you going to surrender? Stop all this bloodshed?"
Terezah refused to think about Loki. "There are casualties in every war. I am not so foolish, as my father was, to give up an entire kingdom for the sake of one life!"
"You are just like the late King! I guess this is goodbye then!" The Queen smirked and screamed at her forces to attack.
All Helheim broke loose.
It's been months! But, here it is! Sorry to keep you peoples in suspense. I've been really sick lately, so I apologize for the writing. Sadly, I think it is too late in the story to get some chemistry and romance in there. I will be editing though, so we MIGHT see. I really think they're good as just friends. Anywho, please comment! :)
As an answer to "Cessna's" comment: I'm thinking about making this a prequel. As for Terezah dying, you'll have to wait and see ;) Some good guys will die, though. This is war. Not a movie war where no good guys die.