The Great Emperor Kalecgos and the gentle Zanze gazed upon the warriors as they crossed the bridge, leaving the safe castle grounds. A good hundred men, creatures and beasts. Powerful minotaurs from Saladazia, an enormous blue dragon from the Dragon Tribe of Ice, strong, brave centaurs from many a-country and then the rest were magically gifted men and women chosen to represent their worlds in this stand against Dark.
Stelan and Charon were leading, since they knew the way to the Wood Between the Worlds best. The young prince sat in his saddle taller than he ever had, stuck his chin up farther than he ever had, and his green eyes shined with a pride that was embarrassing to anyone who knew him personally. Charon watched the boy.
It was not his own duty to do this, it was someone else's. The coal-haired knight bowed his head in thought, thinking of the worst. He did not want to be responsible for bringing the news of yet another death to the already mourning family, let alone news of both himself and the younger prince dying. People were going to be killed. It had to be inevitable, even if there were only two souls left in the dying, barren wasteland of what used to be Charn...those two souls were excellent harvesters of the Dark Magic. All the warriors would have to be cunning, quick, and unrelenting.
Charon turned back to the castle for a moment, gazing upon the pure white brick once more. The sun hit was hitting the castle in that way where the island appeared to have two suns instead of one. He took it in, just in case this was the last time he may see it.
"My Zanze," The Emperor stated calmly to the dark woman beside him. "You look ill."
"I am, Your Majesty," She said weakly, sounding like her stomach was about to give way. "Ill with sorrow. This is not fair, that brave knight should not be the one going to Charn with Stelan. You know this as much as I do."
"Peace, Zanze," Kalecgos replied with a gentle hand gesture to silence her. "All will be well, my dear. There is hope yet, Dark shall be slain."
"How? Our only hope for Dark's death is locked in his room upon your command because of filthy gossip!" Zanze snapped, though keeping her voice low, in fear of insulting Kalecgos.
"I know Aslan did not do such a thing." The Emperor replied slowly as he recollected from yesterday when the rumor first began to spread. "It was all of Dark's doing."
"Then why have him here," She asked, then added with a hand extended to the distant band of warriors. "When he should be out there?"
The Emperor never answered the question. He only looked at the dark woman with his wise, jade eyes. There was some secret knowledge in them, Zanze could feel it. He was hiding something from her, from everyone. "Have faith, dearest Zanze," He started up again, turning back to the castle. "Now, if you will excuse me I shall go and pray with Anveena."
The dark woman was silent as Kalecgos left her presence. If she wasn't so understanding of his sorrow, she would have accused him of madness. Oh, what burden has been brought to Mohthelieum! Zanze felt her eyes moisten. She began to rub them to send the tears away. Anveena's presence that use to be thick in the Mohthelieum air had disappeared, it was so hard to breathe here without her almost heavenly presence. Stelan and Aslan were the next closest thing to her, and Stelan was already showing signs that his mother's death was changing his behavior. The great cat- Zanze doubted he would ever recover from what he experienced that night. She set her eyes foreword again, seeing that the image of those honorable souls had already left her sight. Go with them Anveena. the dark woman prayed silently as she used her finger to make the cross of the Deep Magic. Protect them from the darkness that is rushing upon them.
''Here we are." Stelan proclaimed, pulling the reigns of his horse; the Talking Beast's hoofs barely an inch from the magic pool.
The water was still polluted with silt and dirt as it was a month ago. However, the murkiness had settled at the bottom, at least now the pool looked like a decent pond.
"Only two souls left in that world." grunted a minotaur in a wandering voice, his large, dark eyes on the entrance to Charn.
"And they are the only two souls in the world worth being a threat." added a woman, taking the minotaur's shoulder. Charon saw her.
Her burnt-colored hair was pulled back into a long ponytail. Her skin pale and with out imperfection, almost looking pure white in the beaming sunlight that shone through the trees. Her cheekbones were pudgy on her round face, but it a very attractive way. She wore battle markings. Six circles, three above her brows and three just below her eyes. Her eyes! The coal-haired knight had never seen a more unique pair. They were violet.
Her name was Atthia. He remembered hearing her name said in the blessing when they were about to leave Mohthelieum.
''Courage, my dear, courage.'' said the Ice Dragon comfortingly, his voice deep but raspy with age. ''We were called for a reason, friends. The best of the best, the chosen few to end the reign of Dark. We would not be here now ready to destroy the worst vermin since the dawn of time if we did not show potential, would we?'' Many murmured in agreement. ''We have come far, but now our journey lies beyond.''
The coal-haired knight watched the great beast as he encouraged the others. His scales were a worn and calloused pale blue, probably from picking off more fights than he could chew. His wings carefully tucked into his sides, the thin skin white like the terrain the dragon was born in. A thick, white mane grew out from his neck, fur as thick as a polar bear's! He also had a beard which was neatly braided for the occasion. Two large horns curved out from the sides of his head, they were made of pure ivory, clean and sharp. The only feature of the animal that wasn't damaged or worn in any way.
''The great dragon speaks truth.'' Stelan began, entering the conversation. ''Your name, my friend?''
''Would you prefer it in my language or yours, your majesty?'' It asked, a slight tone of cheekiness in its hoarse voice.
Stelan bent his brows. ''I know both dialects.'' The prince wasn't familiar with the mighty attitude of Northern Dragons.
''Isbjørn.'' The Dragon stated curtly. ''The ice bear.''
The prince nodded in respect. ''As Isbjørn said, we were chosen for a reason. All of you, dubbed the strongest warriors in your lands! Stand by that title. Even now, when we face the great Serpent and his tall shadow of a queen. Do not allow your personal feelings to overrun your common sense. Dark will manipulate us in every way he can, and our only defense is not to give in to it. Remember your purpose, remember what we are fighting for. For peace, for an end to the darkness. I ask you now, are you ready for what awaits you beyond this portal, my men and women?''
All called out in agreement. It was only the dragon who bowed his head lowly to Stelan, his motivation was humble. He was far too old and far too tattered from battles to show the same excitement as the youths around him.
''Now,'' The prince ordered, pointing the tip of his sword to the pool. ''Follow me, brave, noble warriors! One by one, jump into the pool. Once you are in the world stay where you are until everyone has entered. Once we are all inside the world of Charn we shall make plans. Come, hurry we mustn't waste any time.''
Quickly the assembly lined up. Charon stood on the side, watching everyone carefully, making sure all entered safely. He would be last to go.
Stelan was first to enter, then the rest followed. One after the other, all prepared yet still unprepared for what waited there for them beyond the portal.
The Ice Dragon and Charon were the last ones left in the Wood.
The coal-haired squire gazed upon the old, large warrior's face. It was covered with battle scars.
Under his white eyes, deep holes from a terrible bite. His forehead showed a distinct scar from a burn and the right side of his lip was nearly gone. The dragon's sharp, pure white teeth were visible due to the missing side of the lip. Some dragon must have gotten the best of him and tore his lip off with just the strike of a claw.
''You stare at my scars, young one?'' Isbjørn asked Charon. The knight watched in astonishment as he saw those teeth moving and no lips to conceal them.
''Pardon me,'' The knight apologized with a shake of the head. ''I meant no offense in it. I just have never seen-.''
''You live where there's peace, child.'' It stated calmly, not sounding upset at all. ''I live in a cold, dark world where you must fight for everything. I was born into it more than a hundred years ago, obliviously there was no way I would get out of it without getting scathed.''
''I have been in battles before!'' The knight snapped, thinking the dragon assumed he had never seen the picture of war.
''And thank Jesu you got out of them with all of you intact. I can assure you, one day, that will not be the case my young knight. There will be that one battle that'll leave a mark on you. Hope that it isn't this one, my friend.'' Isbjørn paused and stared into the pale blue eyes of Sir Charon.
The knight saw something quickly as the dragon blinked. A flash of brown, or a color of the sort, in its eyes. Charon shook his head and blinked a few times to be sure he wasn't imagining things. When he looked back, those large dragon eyes were as white as ever.
''Go on ahead then, Sir Charon.'' It directed with the sway of a long claw. ''I shall be behind you.''
The knight did as the old creature asked. He jumped in and was pulled under hard and swiftly, like the current from a troubled ocean was attempting to drown him. The silt and dirt blinded him. The entire ride to Charn was black. There was no sound except the rushing water as it pulled him down farther and farther. Then there was sunlight. The tunnel was ending, they were almost there! With a hard landing, Charon found himself in Charn. Well, what was left of it.
''Are you alright?" He heard someone say just above him. It was Atthia, she had him by the shoulders holding him steady.
''Erm,'' He stammered, feeling his cheeks get hot. ''Yes, yes I am. Thank you for asking.''
''I'm alright too, you know.'' Charon's stallion snorted as it heaved itself up onto its thin, lean legs. ''But don't mind the talking animal, I'll manage.''
''Come now, Donovan.'' The knight sighed taking his horse's reigns. ''You matter just as much as any other member in the group.''
''Whoa.'' A minotaur murmured staring off into the distance. Suddenly, everyone's attention was focused on the setting around them.
It was then Charon realized how loud the minotaur sounded despite the creature was only whispering. There was silence in the air. Pure silence. The earth was brown with hard, sterile dirt and yellow with dead stalks of wheat. The sky, cloudy and almost the same color as the ground blow it. Ahead of them was the city and castle of Charn. It looked no greater than a pile of rubble. No more beautiful than a mountain of desert sand. The castle was the only tall structure standing, its spires still noticeable as they just barely reached the clouds. It's dark brick almost looked black against the cloudy sky. Nothing stood in there way to get there. They saw the direct stone path leading right into the city. They saw the last remnants of farms and plantations were slaves worked. They saw skeletons of soldiers across the path, all still in battle armor. Not a single living soul in sight.
"So many innocent lives sacrificed for the pride of one.'' The voice of the dragon stated as he walked up to the group of dumbfounded warriors. ''So many.'' His white eyes were sad, one could even say he looked as if he were going to cry.
''Stelan,'' Charon called to the prince. ''Your plan?''
''We rest here for the night. Plan the siege out and tomorrow we strike.'' Stelan ordered. No one disobeyed. Within an hour, everyone had set up tents. Within another couple hours, the mission was plotted out.
''What if Dark already knows we're here?'' Charon asked Stelan once everyone had left the prince's tent.
''He would have greeted us when we got here if that were the case.'' the boy replied, seating himself in a comfortable arm chair.
''That's not in his nature, Stel.'' Charon protested. ''Dark plays games, he wants us to think he doesn't know we are here. I know he has something planned for tomorrow. And no matter what you think he will ruin our strategy somehow. There is a surprise waiting for us at the gates of Charn, one that will be much harder to prepare for than we can imagine. Stelan, what happened to the plans Aslan had ready for this? Perhaps we can merge-.''
''No!'' Stelan exclaimed, rising from his chair and standing up to the knight. ''There were holes in his planning. He didn't complete it.''
''He told me he did. He showed me them.'' the knight remarked, sizing up the boy. ''This is not the time and place to be competing, Stelan. You have to lead them like a ruler, not like a jealous brother!''
''Shut up!'' Stelan cried out. ''My plans are as good as his are! You will do as I say, I am your prince. ''
''I will do as you say, when you start acting like a prince!'' Charon exclaimed with disgust. He left with no further comment and walked out into the dark of night. Thoughts still muddled his mind, now greater than usual. Tomorrow he would be facing Dark. Would he even have the courage to step one foot into that hellhole of a city again?
''Sir Charon?''
The knight turned at the sound of his name. It was Isbjørn, who was patiently waiting behind him. He looked to have been standing there for awhile, though Charon was positive he knew no one followed him after leaving Stelan's tent.
The dragon turned to the knight. ''With your permission, I ask to scout the castle this evening.''
''Stelan did not think scouts were necessary.'' Charon remarked with a bite of frustration. The dragon's request was a good idea, but due to the prince's stubbornness anything that wasn't his idea was discarded-and the knight could not go against his prince.
''I see it in your eyes, boy.'' The dragon murmured to Charon, his white eyes unblinking. ''You doubt the prince's plans.''
''He was not originally the one to lead this mission. It was,'' The knight paused, picturing his friend, the Lion, pacing in his room. ''It was someone else.''
''The older brother.'' Isbjørn replied gravely. ''Prince Aslan?''
''Yes.'' Charon replied.
''Charon,'' It called the knight gently. The dragon's voice had suddenly changed. It was no longer old and hoarse but deep and rich. Charon knew that tone and couldn't believe he was hearing it.
''Sir?'' The knight mumbled breathlessly, looking into Isbjørn's large, scarred face. He saw it again. The white eyes blinked into a different color. The color of amber.
''Aslan!'' Charon gasped, a smile creeping onto his face. ''How did you?''
''It's not worth the time explaining.'' Aslan answered, blinking again to return his eye color to white again. ''It is not Stelan's destiny to do this. It is mine, it has always been mine.''
''You have a plan then?'' Charon asked.
''I will scout tonight, stay the night close to the castle. Tomorrow I will enter Charn just before any of you arrive. I will deal Dark, you must convince Stelan to find Jadis first, then go after the Serpent. It will save the warriors much more energy to proceed that way.''
''Stelan won't listen to me.'' the knight told the Lion.
''I know he will not. I have seen it. He will realize his faults tomorrow. However, I want you to try anyways; convince the warriors to listen to you.''
''What do you mean Stelan will realize his faults tomorrow?''
''Stelan will be alright, Charon, do not fear. I must go now. If there is anything I see, I will return and inform you. If I do not return it will be safe to enter.''
The knight looked back up into the dragon's eyes. ''I'm glad you came, Aslan.'' Isbjørn nodded with a low growl of approval.
''Remember what I told you.'' the dragon cautioned as it spread its wings. The dragon shot into the air like an arrow, higher and higher into the night sky until its pale body was no longer visible beyond the murky clouds.
A/N: Thank you for reading and don't forget to review!