Hey everyone, I hope you all are well and enjoying life:)
I had some good responses from the Fae Realm which was super awesome and I'm thoroughly grateful for that, thank you! We will be traveling there again this round for a short while(we won't be hearing from Aliyah this chapter so I'm sorry for those looking forward to seeing what's going on with the covens BUT they'll be back in the next one!)
I'd also like you all to spend a a very brief moment with Eomer who has been absent. I am aware(and I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before) that he was imprisoned in the books and not banished, but as I've said, this is mostly filmverse. Honestly, this gives me an opportunity to get a little creative with Eomer. Hope you enjoy my take!
Finally, I just want to thank all those who have followed, favorited, and reviewed! Its really awesome to see so much support. Thank you!
Fae Realm
The Lake of Onexia
Home of the Water Fae
"Ezra!" Aros bellowed as his great-nephew stepped toward him. The two looked a great deal alike, and one might even assume Ezra was Aros' son; their biggest difference was Aros's left ear was jagged, like the elongated tip had been cut off in a great battle years ago.
"I hear your Head Councilman now." Ezra began, shaking his great-uncle's hand. "There goes the neighborhood."
Aros playfully scowled. "You just got here and already you give me sarcasm? And to think I was going to grant you passage to the Magical Historical Archives Room."
Ezra scoffed. "Like you have a choice."
Aros laughed, patting Ezra's shoulder. "Come, I'll escort you straight there."
The two stepped near the shore where a large hexagon, that had been drawn in the sand, emitted a vibrant glow between the lines. Once their feet touched the inside, the lines became so bright it enveloped them both, activating the spell to transport Ezra and Aros deep below the water's surface.
The Lake of Onexia's water glistened like the oceans of the South Pacific. A blue so vibrant it seemed to never leave the sun's touch and filled with miraculous sea creatures. It surrounded the Water Fae, creating a ginormous cube-like wall, allowing them to live on Onexia's floor.
Round glass orbs scattered the floor around them, occupied by the fae families who lived in each one.
"Hendriux is already waiting for you at the entrance." Aros started to say as they headed near the northern portion of Onexia. "He is our lead guardian now."
"So I've heard." Ezra began, grinning as he watched a mother hold her giggling toddler. "How does he like it here with all your water Fae?"
"You know, for a Fire Fae he's actually pretty even tempered." Aros mentioned, just as they reached the wall of water.
"Buying into stereotypes that Fire Fae are all hot heads?" Ezra joked, waiting for Aros' cue.
Aros motioned his hand toward the water. "Go on, kid. You've been approved by every clan. The second your hand touches the doorway, the passage will open."
With a curt nod, Ezra moved forward, his eyes catching the subtle white glow forming the shape of the door in the water. His fingers touched the cold liquid of the lake, reaching for the ivory as it suddenly became solid from his touch. The water separated from the door, moving around it in a counter-clockwise motion.
"I hope you find a way to stop them." Aros looked hopeful, the humorous characteristic he always carried gone for that short moment.
"I won't stop till I do." Ezra was resolute. His hand touched the handle of the door before the water consumed him, climbing up his harm and covering every corner of his flesh until he was entirely submerged.
The long road the Helms Deep
Why don't you just warm them? Tutela asked, annoyed. She shifted her position on Zierra's lap, letting her tail purposefully flick Zierra's shoulder.
Zierra groaned, running a hand through her tangled hair. She hadn't bothered braiding it(her mind had been too focused on keeping Theodred safe) causing the wind to toss her long locks across her face and forehead. Her eyes shifted toward Eowyn and Aragorn, who were just a few feet from her. She couldn't risk any of the travelers, especially them, hearing her.
The warg attack ends in their favor. I'm too scared I'll fuck up the eventual happy ending if I keep changing their fate. She answered in her own head.
Tutela's head jolted back, facing Zierra and glowering. I think we're way past changing fate. Her eyes looked toward the place Theodred was being pulled. That alone is proof.
Okay, yes, fair point. But Morgana did give the go ahead. Almost as if Theodred surviving fit into this new plotline I've managed to create. Zierra looked toward Aragorn, feeling suddenly forlorn. He didn't trust her, and his not so subtle suspicious glances were beginning to cause acid reflux.
Don't you think warning them will get him off your back? Tutela countered, looking toward Aragorn as well.
Probably, but unless Morgana says otherwise I'm not going to risk it. She gripped the reins even tighter as her energy began to dwindle from the prolonged spell use.
Whatever. Tutela hissed, getting more frustrated with the witch by the second. And take a break before you pass out!
Zierra could feel Tutela's magic pressing against her own, growing and expanding as she began to take over. Zierra rolled her eyes but saw little point in arguing. She was tired.
Having been caught up in her argument with Tutela, she'd missed most of Aragorn and Eowyn's conversation, but did notice the way her eyes had suddenly lingered on the jewel Zierra knew to be a gift from Arwen.
"Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel" Eowyn asked.
Aragorn became still, his eyes heavy with the last memory he had of Arwen. The words he'd spoken to her were as hurtful as they were false, but Lord Elrond was right. She deserved to be free and he loved her enough to save her.
"My lord?" Eowyn pressed when his silence continued.
"She is sailing to the Undying Lands with all that is left of her kin." He answered monotonely, staring straight ahead for fear of Eowyn seeing how deep his pain truly was.
Eowyn could see Aragorn's demeanor had changed. He'd loved her, she concluded, unable to deny the resulting pang in her chest at the idea.
Zierra, who would have normally rushed to change the subject(she couldn't help but help… it was compulsive) but was paused by the sudden warning from within. Her magic was calling to her, pressing her to understand the danger that was near.
They must be close. She thought, frantically searching for Hama and Gamling, who had pulled ahead as lookouts.
"Has anyone seen Hama?" She asked, her voice breaking.
Eowyn faced her new friend. "Just beyond the hill I believe." She began, her surmising eyes doing their best to dig into Zierra's mind. "What troubles-"
"Keep him safe, Tutela." Zierra began. "To Hama."
Horrified gasps filled the air before Eowyn fully registered Zierra had disappeared. Aragorn followed the fearful gaze of the nearest villagers, who pointed to the now empty saddle of Brego. "Where has she gone?" He quickly asked, his head jerking back and forth.
A suddenly ferocious growl, just beyond the hill, pulled Aragorn from his rattled thoughts. His horse took off at full speed, Aragorn's drive to protect every innocent life propelling the horse even faster.
Zierra appeared before Hama whose eyes grew wide at the sight. "Get behind me!" She shouted before Hama or Gamling could speak. Electricity buzzed between her fingers, crackling and hissing just as the warg rider appeared.
Thrusting her hands forward, the bolts of lightning crashed into the warg and his rider, tossing them backward as they rolled across the ground with violent twirls.
Hama and Gamling could hardly believe their eyes as they stared at the motionless warg, his wounds still smoking from the heat of Zierra's bolts.
Legolas, who had sprinted toward them, stopped near the wolf of Isengard, making certain it was dead. His eyes settled on Zierra who took a knee, her body growing weak. A spell of that magnitude had taken its toll considering how much magic she'd already been using.
Legolas was certain, with every decision she made, Zierra was a born guardian. A heroine who was willing to die to save those she barely knew. When the time was right, he would have to tell her so. Looking down at the filthy orc, Legolas sneered, just as Aragorn had dismounted his horse and moved within earshot.
"A scout!" Legolas yelled.
"Lady Zierra you must rise, we are under attack." Gamling said hastily.
Zierra's mind felt fuzzy. She'd heard Gamling and had even tried to stand but her legs felt like spaghetti.
"Is- Hama… Okay?" Why do I sound so funky? How long did it take me to say three words?
"She worries for me?" Hama asked, startled. "She can't even stand!" He placed his arm underneath Zierra's, practically carrying her toward the others.
"It must be her magic. She must be weak from it." Gamling guessed. "Get her away from here!" He shouted, rushing over the hill side. "Warn the others!"
Aragorn raced back toward Theoden who rode up toward him. "What is it? What do you see?"
"Warg! We're under attack!" Aragorn cried, causing the people of Rohan to stir and panic.
"Get them out of here!" Aragorn pointed toward the villagers, mounting his horse and taking off.
"All the riders to the head of the column!" Theoden commanded.
Gimli, who was trying to get on a horse with the help of a fellow soldier, began to shout impatiently, "Get me up here. I'm a rider. Come on!"
Hama appeared from the hillside, his arm still supporting Zierra, causing Eowyn's mouth to fall. "What's happened?" She fretted.
"I believe she is weak from her spells. She saved Gamling and myself and then fell to the ground!"
Zee. why do you have to be so damn stubborn! Tutela spat, trying to mask her worry with anger.
Zierra smirked, her legs still wobbly as Hama helped her toward Brego. "I'm- uh- a LeFay… Remember? It- It's just my- nature."
Hama stared at the witch perplexed, then looked to Eowyn for explanation. Eowyn released a huff of air. "She can communicate with the cat in her mind." Eowyn raised a hand just as Hama's mouth fell open. "My mind still struggles with the idea so do not expect a better explanation."
Seconds later, Brego rushed toward them, knowing the young woman his master had trusted needed assistance. When they'd gotten Zierra safely upon Brego, Eowyn turned to Theoden who had moved to check on Zierra.
"Is she alright?" He asked, his eyes moving toward his still concealed son.
"She is weak from magic but the cat is keeping him safe." Eowyn answered, reaching for her sword.
Theoden quickly shook his head. "No Eowyn, you must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and make haste."
"I can fight!" She fired back.
"No! You must do this, for me." He looked toward his son one final time "For Theodred."
For a moment, Eowyn hesitated. A flash of anger fell across her eyes but holding back her own desires, she turned to face the villagers.
"Follow me!" Theoden yelled to the horseman before they all rode off.
Gimli, who was still struggling on his horse, shouted in frustration. "Forward! I mean, charge forward!"
"Make for the lower ground!" Eowyn called out, gesturing for the people to move quickly.
Gimli's horse, who wasn't used to dwarves, finally began to comply. "That's it. Go on!"
"Stay together!" Eowyn looked toward her father's men, locking eyes with Aragorn one final time before he rode to fight. A part of her yearned to be at his side but she knew the people needed a leader.
So much for not changing anything else. Tutela fumed, cuddling against Zierra as she leaned against Brego's neck. Depleted of all energy, Zierra closed her eyes, unable to give Tutela a typical quippy response.
Rest, Zee. Just rest. The witch heard in her mind before sleep took hold.
North of Aldburg
"My Lord, our scouts tell us that just beyond the hills lies nearly one hundred wildmen of Dunland. They have many women captive." Elfhelm reported to Eomer.
Eomer, who rode upon Firefoot, placed his helmet firmly on his head. His stern eyes faced the hills to the north. "At last. Days of tracking and we've found them."
His men were eager for a victory as Eomer pointed his sword toward the hills. "For Rohan!" He bellowed, Firefoot galloping with rigorous speed toward the bank of the hill as the others followed suit.
The sound of their hooves was thunderous and Eomer knew it would only be seconds before the noise would alert them, but it wouldn't be enough time for them to act.
His scouts had been stealthily searching ahead for the wildmen for days, hidden in the shadows as they read the signs of the earth to discover which way the Dunlandings were traveling.
Eomer's heart began to race as the adrenaline and his years of battle experience began to take over. His eyes began focus and his hand gripped his sword with a furious accuracy.
"Riders!" A man shouted beside a fire, pointing toward the Rohirrim as they soared down the hill
"Swords! Swords!" Another screamed as the women, who were being held behind a barred carriage, pleaded for their very lives.
Before many of them could move, Firefoot had swiftly trampled three men in his path, while Eomer swung his sword slicing a fourth from navel to neck.
The wrath of the Rohirrim moved across the men of Dunland, their swords thrashing downward into the flesh of the enemy.
Aegir, a young man whose bitterness for the people of Rohan had consumed his soul, watched as his fellow soldiers fell to the wrath of their foe. Rolling forward, he dodged the sword of a rider of Rohan, ?before rising to his feet and dashing toward the bow he'd left near his horse. Drawing back his string, Aegir aimed the arrow for Firefoot's chest. If anyone was destined to die at Aegir's hand, it would be the man who had led the charge.
With the arrow released, Aegir watched it collide into Firefoot's chest, who whinnied in agony as he tumbled to the earth.
"Firefoot!" Eomer cried out in rage. The fall hadn't shaken his attention to the battle, as he used the ground to propel him to his feet. He raised his sword to fend off the blow of the man beside him, twisting to his left and lunging his sword into the man's side.
Though his pain was evident, Firefoot galloped toward Eomer ready to protect his master just as Aegir released another arrow. But Eomer had his eyes locked on the man who had struck his horse, swiping Guthwine sideways as it batted the arrow aside. With an impressive throw, Eomer thrusted his sword toward Aegir who had no time to react. Dropping to his knees, Aegir gasped, his eyes bulged just as his final breath left his lips.
Pulling his sword from Aegir's chest, Eomer looked around, taking note of his men's easy victory. "Few injuries." He stated, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow.
As one of his men released the women from their prison, one of them wept as she ran toward Eomer, falling at his feet. "My lord." She bowed, pressing her face into the tall grass. "My lord, Eomer. Thank you. Bless you, my lord. Bless you."
He reached for her hand, pulling her to her feet. "Are you or any of the other women injured?"
She shuttered, her eyes closing at the thought. "No, not really. At least not life threateningly." She swallowed, trying to catch her breath. "Some of our wounds lie in the loss of our virtue."
Eomer flinched. "Then their deaths were too easy." He hissed.
"But we are alive. And that is because of you and our men. There is nothing that I could offer to repay such a debt." She said, her hand resting on her heart.
"Just that you are alive is enough for me." He answered, avoiding her eyes, wishing her doting would end."Go, assist the other woman and find yourself something to eat. I must tend to my horse."
Helm's Deep
Zierra quickly sat upright, taking in her surroundings. The small room was made of stone, and bore nothing but the cot she had been laying on and a small hearth.
"Tutela? Eowyn?" She called, standing to her feet.
"My lady?" Hama called from outside the door.
Zierra moved toward the sound of his voice, finding him leaning against the wall. "Hama? Is Eowyn and Tutela, my cat, okay?"
"Yes, Lady Zierra. Eowyn is assisting the people with supplies, making certain food is stored safely in the caves. And Tutela is protecting Theodred. I offered to stay with you."
Zierra's brow raised. "You did?"
Hama smirked. That she would be surprised at this had him baffled. "You saved my life. I had my back turned and I would not have seen that warg or its rider. Perhaps I would not be here were it not for you."
Zierra knew his assumption to be right. He wouldn't have survived. She looked to her boots, her feet shifting as she shrugged. "I- I just-" Zierra tugged at her necklace, like she wanted to obtain Morgana's attention before she spoke. "I know my magic scares some people. It's almost like it doesn't have rules."
Hama chuckled, unconvinced. "I should say not. Or you would have not lost consciousness."
"Well, yes, our bodies can get weak if we overuse." She shook her head, changing the subject. "My point is I know I can do something and I refuse to sit back when I have all this magic to save others."
Hama did not need to be convinced of this. "I see that in you. You and Eowyn are much alike." I paused and his smile turned suddenly cheeky. "Let us hope Eomer sees your value."
"Believe me I wouldn't fall for someone who didn't." Zierra answered, confidently.
Hama tilted his head back, unable to retain his laughter. "No, I imagine you wouldn't"
Without warning, Zierra's smile began to fade. Hama could see a fear growing in Zierra's eyes. "Where is Tutela? Where is she keeping Theodred safe? She's about to lose her strength. I need to help her."
"I'll lead the way. Follow me."
As soon as they turned a corridor, they were met with the bustle of the crowd, busying themselves with tasks of fortifying Helms Deep or making certain supplies were accounted for and kept safe. Not a single soul doddled, each person making certain their future was preserved.
Zierra followed Hama up a flight of stone steps, where the path split into three directions. Hama pointed forward before turning left. "Straight ahead was a path to the rear, where the great hall lies, and to the right was a path to the Deeping Wall. This is a pathway to the caves, but your impressive cat has placed even more impressive spells in one of the rooms, where Theodred lay safely inside."
Zierra. I…. Tutela could hardly speak, straining to communicate to Zierra with every syllable.
"I'm coming!" Zierra yelled, grabbing Hama's arm. "To Tutela."
The two appeared in a small room similar to the one Zierra had awoke in. "Alack, my lady! A warning of some kind might benefit my nerves next time." Hama said, aghast.
Ignori b iyu5⁶ him, Zierra's eyes fell to Tutela, who lay on the ground, not even willing to share Zierra's gaze. Falling to her knees, Zierra brushed her fingers across Tutela's head. "It's alright. Just let go. I've got this." She kissed her forehead. "Rest."
Feeling Tutela's magic slip away, Zierra replaced it with her own, guarding Theodred with several shield spells, leaving out the Glamour Spell from before(seeing as there were two guards outside the door, visible from a small barred opening).
"Did Eowyn place the guards there?" Zierra asked, having finished her spells.
"Yes." Hama explained."She told them not to fret if you suddenly appeared in the room.
Zierra gave him a knowing grin. "Smart."
"Eowyn also mentioned your potion should be ready? The one to remove Theodred from this state?" He inquired.
Zierra shook her head. "That's not a guarantee."
"Eowyn said you would say that, but seems to think otherwise." Hama looked to Theodred, before his eyes fell back to Zierra. "I'm willing to wager, she is right."
Zierra scoffed. "She's hopeful and that's awesome. There's even a chance it will work." Zierra's brows furrowed. "But I can't stress enough it depends on if he's ready."
"He will be." Eowyn answered, as she stepped inside the room. "When you tell him what is taking place he will fight his sleep to defend our people."
"Now that, I believe." She admitted easily. "But his mind, the part doing its best to keep his body healing properly." Zierra shook her hand at Hama's perplexed gaze. "We're ways ahead of you in medicinal advancements in my world and I'm not even going to explain it all. But, like I've said it'll put up a fight if it has to."
"When can you use it?" Eowyn asked.
"When Tutela wakes up. I won't risk doing it without her help. She can pull me back quicker if things get out of hand." Zierra
The sound of distant shouting and horns blasting pulled their attention toward the door causing Eowyn to rush forward and grasp her cousin's hand. "I will return soon, beloved cousin." She promised before taking off out the door.
With Hama and Zierra not far behind, they ran for the front gate, just as Gamling began to shout.
"Make way for the king. Make way for Theoden. Make way for the king!"
Theoden rode his horse beyond the gate, with Legolas, Gimli, and the other soldiers behind him. Eowyn came to halt just as her uncle's horse trotted past her. She scanned for survivors taking in the face of every Rohirric soldier, sighting their names in her head and thankful they had survived. Her heart sank as others she had wished to see never stepped beyond the gate as well.
"So few. So few of you have returned." She said, dispirited. Her eyes moved to the gate as a rush of fear flooded over her face, despite efforts to hide it. Where is he? She thought to herself, feeling frantic.
As Theoden dismounted his horse, he turned to his niece, his thoughts turned to Aragorn but he could not bear to bring it up just yet. There was an unspoken admiration he'd recognized in Eowyn's eyes for the ranger, and he didn't have the heart to cause her further pain. "Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives."
Hama swiftly moved to assist the king while Zierra moved next to Eowyn just as Gimli approached them both.
"My ladies." He said, his voice uneven from the loss of his friend.
"Lord Aragorn." Eowyn began "Where is he?" She asked, afraid of the answer.
Zierra gasped. "Oh my gosh he doesn't have Brego!" She faced Gimli in delight, so pleased to give him good news. "Aragorn is alive! He survived the fall, but he'll need a way to get here."
Gimli blinked. "He- He lives?"
"You believed him to be dead?" Eowyn asked, her voice almost catching in her throat.
Zierra grabbed Eowyn's arms, her smile lighting up her brown eyes. "It doesn't matter how I know or what anyone thought happened, just let me go to him. I'll bring him here."
Eowyn gave her a fierce nod. "Go. At once."
"To Aragorn." Zierra said, phasing out if sight.
Gimli shook his head. "Never in my life have I been so easily left speechless until I met Lady Zierra."
Eowyn laughed. "I couldn't agree more."
Magical Historical Archives Room
Hexus stood before Ezra, greeting him with a gentle bow. "It's been a long time." He admitted, giving Ezra a sad grin. "I wish I could say this reunion was under better circumstances."
Hexus was only several years younger than Ezra, but his eyes carried an older soul. His head was cleanly shaved with tattoo-like symbols that revealed his high position as a guard of the rich history he protected. His warm tawny skin was also covered in markings, with several small ones even on his face. He was quite tall and his purple eyes were several hues darker than his water and wood Fae guest.
"Me as well, I wish we had time to catch up-" Ezra began before Hexus raised a polite hand to silence him.
"No need to explain." Hexus removed the chain that lay comfortably around his neck. "Take the Iron Key. Only one person can enter the Archive at a time."
The black Iron Key was surprisingly heavy in Ezra's hand, its magic pulsing with life. With a gracious smile Ezra headed toward the winding staircase, descending down two steps at a time, until he reached a broad iron door that resembled the key in his hand. Turning the key in the lock, he could hear several loud twists and clicks as multiple bolts unfastened from inside before it swung open with a loud rumble.
The room before him harbored black walls with shelves filled to the brim with leather bound books from floor to ceiling. An ancient rune had been drawn on the floor that glowed a soft emerald, providing enough light to see; its purpose unknown to even Ezra(he could only assume it was some form of protection).
Ezra sighed, rubbing his hands together. He had no idea where to begin, but was ready to devour each book until something made sense of the Bishop's plan.
As he stepped forward, his eyes were suddenly drawn to a book on the left wall, that began to glow a soft ember. The color seemed to dance and shimmer directly toward Ezra, and the Faery in him reached out to sense what lay beneath the pages.
His mouth fell open at once. "Merlin touched this book." He said aloud, knowing it to be true.
Though it was tradition amongst the covens to recognize female ancestry above male(mostly due to the curse and dimming of power of malea but also as a sign of respect, considering woman were less likely to be recognized in history books) Ezra could sense the same loyalty that ran deep in Aliyah's blood that had been passed down to her from the Wyllt line. The same loyalty that had caused Merlin to never give up Morgana, even at her worst.
Reaching for the large book, Ezra examined the cover. The Runes had been drawn to preserve the ancient parchment within. A golden metal clasp held it closed and had popped open when his fingers had hovered near the edge.
An exhilaration built inside Ezra's chest as the thought of discovering secrets that had been kept for centuries began to sink in. There were spells inside this book and pieces of history so dangerous that Merlin, and many other authors that had written the books on the shelves around him(including Marie Laveau and Tituba), had taken the blood oath of secrecy as to ensure that only under dire circumstances could they be revealed or created again.
As he pulled open the first page, Ezra's eyes went large with deep perplexity, taking in the first spell inside the book.
The Affliction Curse:
"I, Merlin Wyllt, of the time of our great King Arthur Pendragon, first stumbled upon this curse created by Nimueh, one of my strongest nemesis.
The Affliction Curse, intended to spread an almost incurable disease, killed hundreds of innocent souls before Viviane, my dear friend and water Fae, who many had known as the Lady of the Lake, assisted me in creating a potion strong enough to defeat it…
Ezra skimmed through the lines of each page, searching for answers, or anything that would stand out. The Summoning of Akurra, which allowed the caster to control a mighty serpent deity… Ezra read about the dreadful Fear Curse, which could engulf an entire city in a red smoke and all who inhaled it would live out their worst fears until it drove them to madness..
Each curse seemed to be more dreadful than the next but despite the dangers, Merlin was clear on how to defeat them, and Ezra was certain that whatever the cure was would lead back to Zierra's necklace…. Then, his eyes saw it. A spell so horrible that many knew of its wrath and who had created it.
The Dead Rising
"...My brother's thirst for power was unquenchable and when he created the curse, that only he could conjur, we feared that nothing could destroy his army of undead. But Viviane's prophecy of a man noble by birth and righteous in character, who would wield the mighty sword known as Excalibur, had come true in King Arthur.
Fearing a witch or wizard would discover a way to alter the blade's magic, Morgana and I destroyed the sword, leaving only a single piece, melding it to an amulet that only a LeFay descendant could control…"
Ezra gasped, almost dropping the book. "Her necklace harbors the last remnant of Excalibur!" He yelled triumphantly. The answer to all the riddles had finally been revealed! The Bishop's wanted to use the Dead Rising Spell! But if only Mordred could wield it, how could they recreate it? Ezra wondered.
Intending to read further, Ezra realized Merlin's writing had suddenly become incoherent. Like scribbles on a page without a single word to be read.
"What the hell?" Ezra blinked, rubbing at his eyes to be sure they weren't playing tricks on him. "What happened to the rest of the-" His head snapped upright and his eyes were furious. If any knowledge had been tampered with, then the culprit was likely just beyond the iron door.
Wielding his wood magic, Ezra concentrated on Hexus before creating a Fae Shield to surround him. He burst through the door, creating a vine that wrapped around Hexus' neck, twisting until the Fire Faery could hardly breathe.
Ezra's shield was keeping Hexus from igniting his fire but it wouldn't last long.
"Wha- what th-the fuck is wro-wrong with- you?" Hexus croaked.
"What have you done to Merlin's book?" Ezra demanded. He raised his right hand, forming a glowing leaf that hastily disappeared, created to summon a member of the council in times of need."What did you do to it?" He yelled.
"I- I don't know- wha-what you're talking about!" Hexus' flames burned through the vine, crashing against Ezra's Fae Shield.
"Bulshit!" Ezra spat, creating a plethora of thorned vines that surrounded his Fae Shield like a dome. "The pages have been tampered with and no one has access to that room except you! When members of the council arrive, they'll be hell to pay, Hexus!"
"I don't know a thing about witchcraft! How could I tamper with Merlin's book?" Hexus could feel Ezra's shield shrinking as he pleaded with his childhood friend. His entire body was now engulfed in flames before he released an explosion of ember and crimson, cracking the shield.
Ezra stumbled back, trying to form a second shield but Hexus deflected it with an Emerald Fire Spell, its color so bright it was almost blinding. The flames encircled Ezra who had raised several trees from the ground, surrounding him to keep the flames at bay, before a sphere of water encompassed Ezra as well.
With his left hand raised in surrender, and his right still releasing flames, Hexus spoke with urgency. "Ezra please! I didn't do this! I'll stop my flames if you promise to disengage!"
Before Ezra had a chance to decide, Jaravayne, Veyro, Hendriux, and several of the Faes strongest warriors surrounded the two young Fae.
"Stand down, both of you!" Jaravayne commanded, just as Hendriux stood between the others amd his son.
"Stand down, Ezra! Or you'll have me to deal with!" Hedriux threatened, with Emerald Fire already formed in his palms.
"Control yourself, Hendriux!" Jaravayne could feel her composure slipping. She was a reasonable Faery but a threat to family was personal. "The moment you release those Emerald Flames is the moment I command my Fae to call for alp the waters of this Realm to swallow you whole."
At her words, Ezra's magic had ceased, followed by Hexus and Hendriux. Still, it was clear in each of their eyes that if a spark of magic had been released by either side, they'd be ready.
"Now, explain yourselves." Jaravayne's voice was stern as her eyes moved from Hexus to Ezra.
"One of Merlin's books has been tampered with." Ezra said, causing his grandmother to jerk her head toward him in horror. He nodded, confirming her disbelief before continuing. "I've discovered some truth behind the Bishop's plan but some information from Merlin's writings has been distorted."
"How could my son do this?" Hendriux began. "That would take witch magic." He pointed to Ezra accusingly. "He's the only halfbreed here!"
"Ezra's magic is purely Fae! He's never been able to wield both and everyone here knows it! True Hybrids are extremely rare, you all know this."
"I never touched Merlin's book!" Hexus said through his teeth. I took an oath!"
"You are the head guard, Hexus." Ezra pointed out. "Only you have the Iron Key. You're the only one who has access to that room."
"I never touched that fucking book you worthless half-"
"Enough!" Veyro shouted, his magic causing pieces of earth to rise from the ground momentarily. With a long breath, Veyro shut his eyes, composing his anger. He then turned to Jaravayne. "I say they both stand before The Tree of Truth. No one. Witch, Fae, Vampire, or any being for that matter can resist its power. The truth will come out."
Jaravayne nodded. "Agreed. I will retrieve every member of the council and then both Ezra and Hexus will be questioned at the roots of the Tree of Truth. We will see who speaks honestly and who lies." She raised a stern fingers, her eyes as cold as ice. "But let me be clear. If either of you tampered with that book, I will personally hand you to the witch covens. They can decide what torment you'll spend your days under."