Chapter Two – With Every Breath Of My Beating Heart

As Elena's sceptre was still being repaired, Mateo begged and pleaded with Elena for her to stay in Avalor, safe and out of harm's way but Elena refused to give up on this lead and more importantly there was no way she would ever let her valiant Mateo ride solo into battle against such wicked malvagos, Ash and Carla. However, Mateo made it crystal clear that Elena could only come if she stayed behind him and out of sight. Reluctantly agreeing, they headed off to catch the most dangerous criminals in all of Avalor.

Arriving at the border between their neighbouring Kingdom they reached the Cordoba Bridge, the Guards pointed and directed them to where they saw the Delgado Duo. Running through the forest they made it to a dirt path that had footprints hastily made. "This must be it!" Elena signalled to Mateo. Rapidly running the dirt path as dusk was setting in they had to be smart about their next move. As the light was fading fast they could see in the distance a silhouette of a cottage lit by candle light. "Stay behind me!" Mateo stopped Elena as he instructed her. Nodding, they approached the Cottage. Peering through the window they couldn't see anyone —

"Hey Mat-ato!" spinning around at that abdominal churning, cunning, lie weaving voice, Mateo's stomach dropped as that voice was all too familiar.

It was indeed the two wanted criminals, the Delgado Duo…..Carla and Ash. They had set up this trap to catch the Royal Wizard – Avalor's Magical protector.

"Come to stop by for some tea?!" Ash snickered as she slowly emerged from behind Mateo with Carla's tamborita held hard and cold across Elena's bare neck.

"Mateoo!" Elena squeaked as Ash pressed harder against her neck so she was barely able to let any air escape.

"Please don't hurt her! I'll do anything you ask!" Mateo frozen, paralysed with fear could feel his heart pounding hard and fast against his chest as Elena was defenceless in Ash's grasp opposite him.

Although he had faced many horrible foes in the past with Elena by his side…the sight of her being held against her will, charged an emotion internally. Mateo dropped to his knees onto the dirt ground as tears filled his eyes and crashed down his cheeks. His instincts told him to stand up and cast a spell however his heart told him to not tempt the forces of fate…

"Carla grab his tamborita!" Ash snarled as Carla ran over and snatched the tamborita out of his trembling hands. Mateo didn't put up any sign of resistance as saving Elena was his number one priority. There was no way this Wizard was going to do anything to jeopardize, Elena's safety.

"No Mateo, don't worry about me!" Elena shrieked with the remaining air in her lungs as she could feel them emptying out. Tossing and throwing herself around, she was frantically trying to get out of Ash's grip.

"Don't be a silly girl now, darling" Ash curled up her lips manically as she breathed down Elena's neck.

"Mateo!" Elena screeched reaching out her hand to grab his….

"I did what you asked, please please let her go!" Mateo begged on his knees clutching his chest as he was pleading for her life. "Please…you got what you wanted…let her go!"

"hahahahaah I WIN! Matateoo!" Carla joined her mother in sniggering at the young wizard pleading on the ground. Carla admired her Mothers certain wicked confidence.

Struggling and swinging, Elena thrusted her body out of Ash's grip as she was distracted laughing with her malevolent daughter. As the Princess broke free it was like somebody had pressed slow motion as Elena fell to the ground — Ash and Cara's laughter soon turned to concern as their faces turned into a fierce scowl while her Wizard was pleading on his knees in front of them. Finally reaching the uneven, grassy ground covered with rocks, Elena now on the earth beneath them, crawled as fast as she could to escape the Delgado's to be with Mateo. Elena knew in her heart that they were horribly outnumbered especially now that Carla had Mateo's tamborita….Whatever was about to go down, all Elena wanted was to be with Mateo….Safe in his arms….one last time…

"I'm here, I'm ok" Elena said as the grazes on her knees from falling onto the rocky, ground beneath her began to bleed. Throwing herself into Mateo's open arms she squeezed his embrace.

"Princess, now why did you have to go and do that….." Ash smiled in a manacle manner as she twirled the tamborita in her fingers.

"You won't TOUCH HER!" Mateo keeping Elena held as tight as he could to keep her safe, puffed his chest and yelled at Ash!

Looking up at her Hero through affection fuelled eyes. She couldn't have been more proud of her Royal Wizard, Her Friend….Her Love? If this was it…really it….Elena felt a certain ease in her heart. Instead of trying to run and be blown out of the way, she took a deep breath in and out. Accepting her fate as if it was to be, Elena knew the risks of commandeering this mission unarmed, exhaling and just about to nuzzle into Mateo's embrace one more time…..Something unimaginable happened….

"Oh really! SOLAZA!" Carla yelled and smacked on his tamborita as hard as she could.

Seeing the purple light coming towards them, Mateo had one objective in his mind. To save Elena above everything else. The Kingdom needed their future Queen but aside from that…There would be no future for Mateo if Elena wasn't in it… No time to second guess his decision. Mateo looked down at Elena's eyes, shining all the love in the world for him, knew what he needed to do. Placing his hands on Elena's waist and pivoted up with all his strength and adrenaline coursing through his veins, throwing her to the side taking the full impact of the spell.

Flash! A bright, blinding purple light lit up the whole forest as Mateo lay lifeless on the ground.

"Quick Carla, we must go" Unsure of what she had just done, Carla was feeling guilty. She wanted more than anything to impress her mother but was this too far? She only meant to disarm him—not hurt him…Mateo and Elena had always shown her mercy…her heart sunk as they faded off into the distance of the night..

Her red dress torn, blood running down her knees and covered in dirt Elena's heart sank as she ran over to the lifeless body lying in front of her. Only moments ago she was pressed against his beating heart and essence of life….Only moment ago she was prepared to be with Mateo forever and always.. It wasn't meant to end like this.. "Mateo! Oh Mateo please please wake up…please, please" she pleaded with him as she shook him. "Mateo please stay with me, please, please don't go…. I, I need you" Elena could hardly see out of the waterfall running out of her eyes. She felt numb , completely and utterly numb as she sat there shaking the boy who sacrificed himself for her. "HELP! Someone please Help! Help! HELP! Elena screamed at the top of her lungs as she held Mateo in her arms. Blood running out of Mateo's nose as his body remained as still as the night surrounding them. "Help Please somebody Help Me!" Elena panicking, her voice shaking as she heard a rustle in the trees. "Over here, they are over here!" King Verago roared as he and the other Guards flew down.

"Please, please help him!" Elena paralysed in fear as she kept telling Mateo it was all going to be ok. Wiping the dirt off his still, motionless face she kept kissing his forehead as she held onto him in a tight, constricted grip.

"Elena hop on my Guard and put Mateo on my bac—" King Verago was cut off as Elena Screeched "No! I am not letting him go!"

King Verago could see the hurt in her eyes and her face wet through full of tears. Nodding, The Kings guards helped Elena climb onto Verago who refused to let go of Mateo's body.

"To the Palace, full speed" King Verago instructed the guards as they flew at the speed of light.

Elena clutching Veragos dark, soft fur in one hand as she squeezed Mateo with her other. Burying her face into his chest she could hear a faint heart beat as they approached the palace in due time.

No sooner had they landed at the entrance door, Elena shrieked for help. The Palace's large, wooden doors swung open as Captain Gabe and several other Palace Guards ran towards the pride of Jaquins to see what the commotion was.

Gabe's face turning a ghostly shade of white, couldn't comprehend the sight in front of him. His mouth began to dry as his hands began to shake and fill with cold sweat. Everything like a blur happened so quickly as he tried to regain his balance and command his troops, however fear had taken over as he saw his best friend lying lifeless in Elena's arms as she dismounted the King of the Jaquins.

Knees weak and falling to the cold, large slab of concrete on the ground..He watched Mateo being rushed past him covered in blood and wilted like a marigold out of water..."Captain, Captain, Gab–" were the last words he remembered hearing as the rush of blue and red uniforms tore through into the Palace.