Chapter 31

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Running out of breath Elena and Alexzander stops in the densely forest, Elena leans against a tree breathing hard turning to see Alexzander, he had a hand on a tree with the other hand on one knee slump over, he leans back up an looks over to Elena. He half to admit can take care of herself, fixing his straps that held his sword in place he walks over to Elena, getting off the the tree now facing Alexzander in the forest Alexzander looks around.

"We should be fine we should look for LIarm an the others," Alexzander says he could see footsteps in the snow.

"What of Mylene and Conner?" Elena was worried for Conner, the blood thirsty Valence had him now.

"Knowing Mylene wouldn't leave Conner side knowing that he was taken," Alexzander walks to the trails as Elena follows behind him.

"Alexzander their stuck there's no way of getting them back..." Elena was right their in enemy line now, an if they go back they would get killed.

"Elena they are my royal knights I didn't choose them cause they are my friends, I choose the ones that I know would risk their lives for my country, that I had them take an oath that no knights leave each other behind" Alexzander watched Elena shiver from the cold, she was holding herself trying to keep warm Alexzander takes the blue banner of fhis hip, swings it over Elena for warmth.

"Seriously out everyone I know, you can't take on our weather at all" Alexzander watch Elena wraps it tightly around herself, Elena smiles a little at Alexzander's kindness.

"Are you alright"

Elena give him a small huh?, Alexzander takes his hand brushing back her hair then resting his hand on her cheek, Elena takes her hands cupping his hands into hers closing her eyes.

"I'm fine I can see now why you stress over the five countries, does this happen a lot" Elena could fell Alexzander's warm hand cover half of her face.

"With Valence it's normal but the rest, Queen Olivia she would rather see Valisia burn to the ground, and King Garrett with is wife Queen Rona two countries now partnering up, with the last land in starvation I just didn't know what to do anymore..." he really didn't, as the prince of Valisia only his father had the power of acting war against all the countries. His father didn't believe Alexzander wasn't even ready to even take on that responsibility, telling him he must understand that it's for his own good. Elena could fell him move his hand away, Alexzander continues back towards the trail walking a few distance, Elena only could see is back at her angle welp Elena thought at least he's not mad at her anymore.

"You coming?" Alexzander asked Elena was just standing there, Elena nods an walks with him, as they walked for several miles coming to the end of the forest, in the far distance Elena could see mountains with an opening in the middle, seeing smoke in the sky. When walking inside the gap in the mountains they came across Valisian military camp, Alexzander let's Elena though first as he wanted to talk with one of his soldiers, that was guarding a manmade barricade Elena stops half way when LIarm ran to her.

"Alexzander is with you right?" LIarm voice sounded concern, Elena nods but before she could answer Alexzander was already there, LIarm told Alexzander that they have to see Amir as he wasn't getting any better, all three hurry through the camp into the medical tent, there Amir was facing down on the bed as a nurse patched up his wounds. Alexzander was at Amir's side he kneels down looking at the wounds, Elena was there as well when the nurses pull back the last bandage, the spots were the arrows hit Amir reopens purple like veins near them pulse.

"It kind of looks like the same thing on that rock you found Alexzander" Elena points out, touching the spot Amir groans in pain Elena pulls back her hand, Alexzander takes his hand to Amir's head who was burning up.

"Elena you mind handing me that rag over there?" Alexzander points to a bowl on the side table near the bed, Elena lean over Amir an takes the rag then handing it to Alexzander, Amir called Alexzander to come closer he began to speak in their native language, Elena couldn't understand them quite curious on what he was saying, Alexzander leans in. He listened taking in all Amir's words, Amir stops Alexzander stands up unfolding the rag placing it on Amir's back, who sighed in relief curling up closer to the pillow.

"Let's leave him be, he needs his rest" Alexzander opens the tent curtains so they could leave, Elena gave a small rub on Amir's shoulder soothing his pain for a bit, Amir waved telling he's okay Elena gave him a worried look, not trusting his words she wanted to say something but Amir told her to get some rest an not to worry, Elena walks out of the tent waving bye at Amir and LIarm, they did the same Alexzander an Elena walked through the crowded camp, heading to a larger tent far from the rest that was sitting on a hill, looking over the entire camp to see where everything was, Alexzander walks in first as Elena walks in seeing the tent covered in weaved cloth, with a long table and a chair with a map showing battle plans, Elena scans the tent fast she didn't see a bed.

"Umm... I'm sorry, but there's no beds?" Elena follows Alexzander's pointed finger to a large pile of pillows an fur blankets.

"They needed the beds for the wounded, I always tell them to take the beds from those who are unwell" Alexzander sits down on the nearby chair, Elena kneels down making a makeshift bed as she even out the blankets an pillows.

"What are you doing?"

"It's fair to even it out so that we both have something to sleep on," Elena leans back now small pile she made.

"Well you will, I have deal with raids an on coming attacks" Alexzander yawns rubbing his tired eyes. Elena moves the other pile an pats down a spot for Alexzander.

"Well take a small nap there's no harm of doing that, an I would personally wake you up," Elena smiles Alexzander was looking through the gap his fingers made, he sighs getting up taking a seat down in the fur blankets an mountains of pillows, Elena crossed her arms on the mountain of pillows looking at Alexzander's still face.

"What?" Alexzander looks back at Elena, she just stares back looking into his blue eyes as if she was trying to find something.

"You never finished telling what you're mother was like...or even how you met Foloki and LIarm.." Alexzander shifted around a bit to get comfortable.

"Well as I said before she was a stern woman, but she was loved everyone adore her human or mythical, some say she was angel that came from the heavens...," Alexzander paused Elena could tell he was thinking more about his mother;

"Do miss her..." Elena asked Alexzander nods an yawns again, Elena takes her hands pulling his silk curly long blond hair out behind his ear, she begins to braid the long hair Alexzander keeps his eyes closed it kind of relaxed him.

"Yes...,the last time I saw her my knights and I went to the west side to map out the forest side," Alexzander felt her pick up another strand of hair.

"Don't you have other people doing that as a personal job?" Elena asked, Alexzander kept quiet it worried Elena, she leans on one hand to look at his face, she saw pain his eyes had sadden as if his heart was crying.

"You can stop if want..."

Elena scoots closer placing her hand on his shoulder, it got him out of his trance Alexzander blinks for a bit.

"Oh no you're fine...everybody knows it just seems I've never gotten over it, mother could make anyone happy when she would sing it was like she had taken it from a angel it self, but she never was truly happy even with a husband that would love her to no end, or a son that would do anything for her, fighting a battle she couldn't win..." Alexzander felt a small squeeze on his shoulder, he leans back sinking in the pillows taking in the warmth.

"Came back to my father cradling my mother, she begged me to stay...but all I did was wanting to be free," Alexzander didn't moved as he felt pressure on his chest holding in his pain, Elena moved a single pillow so she could look at him.

"Your not the only one that lost someone... I lost both my parents," Elena leans on the pillows she had one arm on the pile with the other on the floor, Alexzander inched his hand closer to Elena's hand taking her hand in his,Alexzander takes his thumb brushing it along her tan knuckles, Elena smiles her eyes getting heavy before she could say anything she slumps over her breath going in a calming rhythm, even Alexzander did the same they slept with hands still locked together.

A loud bang rang across the room it caused Elena to wake up, she jumps looking around to see we're the noise was coming from, her vision was hazy before blinking her eyes clear, she held her breath it was Alexzander who was taking off his armor, getting in his sleep attire pulling on his robe then lifting up the armored hand that landed on the ground, putting it back on the armored suit that was on a stand he sat down in a chair with a book, Elena could tell he was reading when his eyes we're shifting over the pages. Elena moves to get comfortable she shivers from the cold air, god the one thing she hated here pulling up the fur blanket to get more warmth, she was settling down someone rushed in the tent Elena could hear a limp in his walk knowing it was Foloki, "god dang Vikings..." Foloki grumbles Alexzander looks at the dwarf who was venting.

"Hello Foloki how are things?" Alexzander placed his book down, Foloki limps over "I'm just letting you now the dwarfs did a stealth attack in the caves," he turns to see Elena sleeping then Alexzander he raised an eyebrow "uhh did I walk into something I shouldn't have?," Alexzander gives him a look Foloki just gives a big laugh "I'm kidding any who I got a letter from Mylene." Alexzander jumps up taking the letter then sighing in relief "Mylene got Conner, that's good but she said the bad thing is they got attack by some strange creatures," Alexzander hands back the letter sitting back down "this is getting more and more complex, Elena and her friends needs to get out of here before things get worse, Kritis's armor with the royal jewels stolen now Mylene and Conner are away, my father is right I'm not ready..."

"Alexzander you're the only one that can truly decide that" Foloki limps over putting a hand on Alexzander's knee, "Alexzander you came a long way you did the things you thought was best for us, it was fates choice to choose what comes next," Foloki smiles as Alexzander mood change for the better, but It was short lived "thanks Foloki ..."

"Alexzander are you sure? or is it something else you're not telling me..." Foloki had the look of worry, he knows Alexzander could get like this sometimes even when it was the old days, he would remember when Alexzander's father would always scold him an says things, King Howard was so mad he nearly forbid Alexzander to even set foot out of the palace, that was when Mylene and him caused that fire in the forest. Foloki nods telling Alexzander bye and he'll go check on Amir and LIarm, he then looks at Elena limping over he sets a rock down "found this in the cave, you can give it to Elena thought she would like it" Foloki leaves, Alexzander takes the rock in his hand a amber color with a sun like patterns, he chuckles getting up he walks over to Elena he pulls her fingers back softly, placing the rock in the palm of her hand before he pulls away he lightly touched the tips of her fingers, sitting back down on the pile of pillows holding her hand close, "makes me wonder if you even enjoyed Valisia and it's people..." Elena didn't move she listened what he was saying. Alexzander lets go his legs pulls up towards him with his arms stayed on his knees, "your even right I'm nothing but heartless man I think of myself an no one else, I don't even think you truly forgiven me after what I did an I don't blame you, is it selfish of me to want what you have?..." Alexzander felt a hand on his shoulder, then another on his chest he could tell it was Elena giving him a hug, he looks over "how much did you hear..." Elena placed a hand on his cheek pulling his head down, it lays on her chest he didn't move "enough...an I don't hate you I just never encounter someone like you, and I love Valisia an those that live here I wouldn't care for Jake and Borgan for nothing" Elena brushed his hair behind his ear, she leans down her head on his "what we're you're parents like Elena?," Elena smiles at the question she told what they we're like an how her father and her mother, would sing an dance or when they would fence against each other, Elena played with Alexzander's hair for a bit it was long an silky, each time she would braid it would fall back into its original place.

"Why doesn't your father not want you to be king?" Elena asked Alexzander just shrugs, "don't know he thinks I haven't changed but when I do ask, all I get is 'don't worry right now or don't ask I'm doing this cause I have to,' and some times I think he's right I couldn't stop Cullen when I had the chance, if it was him he would had everything done..., five great kings prophecy would be done..." Elena let's him go confused Alexzander could see she was confused,

"The saints found old hand written documents during one of Kritis's children time, talking about some old witch say five great king's will come to stop some evil, so Kritis was one and three in the past that saved Valisia in some ways, then there's my dad that stopped an invading country, maybe the evil is Cullen I don't know maybe someone else..." Elena smiles placing the rock in her pocket, then turns to look at Alexzander placing a hand on her chest, " I for one had many times thinking same things but you must know, my father told me he didn't have the time to worry all he known was to do it, and maybe you should to even I had to understand that I'm not my father I'm me, you don't need a crown show that you're fit to rule now I understand that...," Alexzander now was the one confused he heard tales of how Elena was excited to have her crown, anyone would "I'm not saying I don't want my crown I do it's just well..., you kind of showed me that the crown shouldn't be physically there, but lead those that needed to be like with you're friends and those in the palace, and the village...they speak really highly of you...," Elena tucks a loose hair behind her ear nervous on what Alexzander was going to say, "Huh...that was the most nicest thing you said to me that you been here..," Elena blushed an smacks him in the arm but stopped when she hears yelling.

Both stands up Elena pulls out her scepter, as Alexzander runs over to the table for his sword Alexzander puts on some shoes, running out ready to take on who was attacking Alexzander opens the tent flaps, all around the camp he could see long gray bone like creatures walking around, they oozed black with red like eyes, Elena didn't notice one coming towards her, Alexzander pulls Elena behind him as the creatures claws was stopped by his sword. He holds it back as Elena points her scepter yelling blaze causing the grey creature, to be set on fire it gurgled in pain crumbling down the hill the tent was on, Elena could see more of the black creatures climb up the hill towards them, Alexzander pulls out his sword he whirls around cutting another one at its neck, causing it's head to fly off Elena shoots her blazes towards the ones coming at them from the hill, Alexzander could see that they we're going to be trapped he pulls Elena up by her waist, he throws her down the hill in the snowy ground she yells in shock look up, nearly 10 of them was going after Alexzander the ones at the bottom saw her an crawl after, when Alexzander tossed Elena the scepter flew out of her hand Elena scurrying to find it, arrow whistled pass puncturing the grey creatures skull LIarm runs pass Elena, he kneels down sliding in the snow as he aims at another head as soldiers run pass, Elena finds her scepter that was covered in the snow she whips around.

"Glow!"

The grey creatures smoke from the light cause, they crumbled to the ground in ash and goo, Elena breaths fast her hair sticking to her forehead, she could see Alexzander slashing away at the black creatures, as LIarm shoots his arrows at their back with the soldiers blocking, both sides Elena looks around frantically trying to find something, seeing a torch as a light source Elena grabs the torch.

"LIarm do you have anything that spread the fire?!" Elena runs next to the elf who pulls out a glass green bottle, "Yes rubbing alcohol" he pulls his arms back tossing the bottle above, then quickly pulls an arrow back hitting the falling green glass bottle, clear liquid poured over the black creatures soaking four of them, Elena tossed the torch then yelling blaze from her scepter setting them on fire, a chain reaction caused the fire to spread the creatures scream.

"Nice plan" LIarm pats Elena's shoulder as he runs ahead, killing more with his bow an arrow Elena followed helping kill these strange creatures , Alexzander looks down seeing his soldiers take care of the grey creatures using their shields an spears killing them off, Alexzander sighs in relief the situation was being tame he looks at Elena their eyes met. He slides down the hill LIarm walks up to him, "how did they enter the camp?" Alexzander looks around seeing the camp destroyed, Elena walks over placing her hand on his upper arm he placed his hand on hers without looking, he asked LIarm to check the medical tent to see if they had gotten attacked, Foloki was near the dead corpses of burnt creatures poking them with a stick, Alexzander walks over with Elena the dwarf stands facing them.

"Well they got that same purple glow in the insides, that Amir has on his back now taking a closer look I can see that someone had raise the dead," Foloki crossed his arms an stare off to the ground trying to think if anyone could do this, "do you think this is Cullen's doing?" Elena asked knowing Cullen he was the kind of man that would find something to torment them, Foloki shakes his head "I don't think so, yes he's crazy but the dead an morphing them in this, I can see he's getting desperate but why though?"

Alexzander kneels down seeing the pulsing purple vain, "I want everyone to be on high alert, special on Amir an..., I must speak with the tree of Plisha,"

Foloki tense up with anger "like hell you are not after what it did to us, are you just going forget that it nearly killed Mylene last..."

Elena felt the air tense "what's the tree of Plisha?", Foloki huffs "a being born far from man an mythical creatures alike, they say it came from the heavens some though believe it came from the earth..." Alexzander faced Foloki, "an it has the knowledge we seek for" walking away towards a open door in a building, it was guard post stack with armor, clothing, weapons, and supplies. Alexzander digs in a nearby chest Elena and span class="Apple-converted-space" Foloki runs after Alexzander, " if the tree of Plisha is that dangerous way still go to it?,"

Alexzander stands up holding a bag in one hand, "the old kings of Valisia went to seek guidance of this being, but it comes with a price those who seek this being must give it something they hold dear," Alexzander walks out the building with Elena chasing him, grabbing his arms to forcefully turn him to face her, "just because you don't know something doesn't mean you have to risk it to fine out."

Elena sighs "look we know that maybe Cullen at fault or not but we can always, find something better is there someone else that you know that can help?" He paused to think for a bit "there's one..." going back towards Alexzander's tent up the hill, he pulls back the curtains for them to enter placing the bag on the table. Alexzander looks back down seeing his men move the bodies from the hill, "he's kind of how I put it not all there?"

"No...it's just he's the creator of the royal sword, some say when made it caused him to go insane, making stories that some old cloud giant made the sword," Alexzander waves his hands around in a juggling motion, trying to push out the words he was thinking of Elena could see that he didn't want to go, she huffs walking pass Foloki who reached trying to stop her but he was a few inches away. Elena puts her hands on her hips "one would you rather deal with the tree of Plisha, or crazy old sword man only telling stories about a giant," Alexzander sighs he look in her oval brown eyes seeing them give a leading way, "alright fine that an finally I can get this sword fix..."

Elena smiles seeing he was following her way taking the bag off the table, then to Foloki "are you going?" She asked but the dwarf puts up his hands, "don't want to feel like I'm intruding." Elena smiles tell he wasn't Alexzander went ahead an got dressed, in a far off corner behind a fold out wall Elena blushed looking away, Foloki chuckles an winks at her Elena swats at the dwarf. Alexzander walks over dress in a white dress shirt with black pants an boots, wearing a light brown coat he wore some black gloves for the winter, holding a blue scarf in one hand he gives it to Elena "here so you don't freeze to death." Elena takes it wrapping it around her neck with all three heading towards the dragon's stand, Elena looks around not seeing a single dragon "umm... where's the dragon's?"

"We won't be using the regular ones for the soldiers like Fule, Conner isn't here his dragon is available," Alexzander walks over pass the stands far off a single tree leafs fallen from the season, tied to the tree was a black large dragon the same size as the evil dragon they had face, its horns scratched with a scare on its lip that it looked as if gotten in a fight with another dragon. Elena steps over towards the dragon placing a hand on its snout, the dragon puff smoke in her face giving it as a hello, Alexzander chuckles with Foloki as Elena pets the dragon's neck, " it seems Conner's dragon likes you then again it likes females more than males," Alexzander pats it's neck as he stands next to Elena the dragon leans down allowing them to get on, Alexzander helps Elena up then sitting behind her Foloki takes Alexzander's hand for him to get on as well. Alexzander reach over unclipping the dragon off the tree with one whip of the reins, they head towards the sky an into the clouds, wind rush pass as Elena looks on taking in the view till she felt Alexzander's hand, push the reins in her hands looking back as to why he was doing this, Foloki puts a thumb up saying it was okay Elena takes them not knowing what to do.

"Umm... I only know how to fly straight,"

"That's fine Conner's dragon is calm, Mylene told me that you flew a dragon for a bit so why not show you how," Alexzander takes his hands over her'd helping her fly, Elena could fell his warm gloved hand she grips the reins at the contact.

"Just remember to not pull back hard that causes the dragons to go up really fast," Foloki points out watching Elena pull back the rein a little, flying over the forest Alexzander tips to the side Elena looks back not knowing what he was doing, the dragon follows his movement seeing that they were turning, over lakes and forest they came across a village it looked abandon, they touched the ground Foloki hops off fist then Alexzander as he helps Elena down. Elena puts her hands on his shoulders for support, landing on the ground lifts its wings up leaving them there, "wait where's it going?" Elena watched Conner's dragon fly away, "don't worry he'll come back down he's just a free rang dragon till Conner is around, then he's more of war dragon then" Alexzander walks ahead pass broken down buildings, some was caved in others burned down some snow could be seen inside of the destroyed buildings, when they walked further in the middle of the village sat a grand building. On top ravens hopped an flew to the corner tops, walking up the grand steps each raven stare them down, Elena grips her scepter Alexzander knocks on the door, for a bit nothing could be heard inside he knocks again, clicking of locks near the door opens in the crack a single eye pecks though, it was hazel with his center eye white the eye looks around.

"Who's there?"

"It's me Alexzander prince of Valisia"

"I know no prince or Valisia good day!" Alexzander puts his foot in to stop the door, he scrunches in pain Elena kneels down seeing the eye, "excuse me ummm..."

"Misha!"

"Okay Misha I'm here with Alexzander and Foloki to figure something out about Cullen, cause you know you created the royal sword so you my know something about Cullen..."

"No no I didn't make sword but Cullen yes...yes I know him, he steal from me toke my spell book, then my previous brain definitely brain"

Elena looks at Alexzander with confusion, "When was this?"

"Weeks ago my spells are those that many don't like, but I do skeletons are good cleaners, but no one now for help cleaning..." the eye looks down in saddens, Elena smiles "if you help us we can get your spell book back?" The eye looks at Elena dead on not moving it sent shivers down her back, "you know we're spell book at?" Elena nods nervously he slams the door in her face, before Alexzander moves his foot away Elena stands up looking at Alexzander, more clicks now the door was wide open a old frail man walks out he had one eye closed, his hair sticking out all over his face he had two tooth's over his lower lip when he was smacking away, hunched over his long fingers shacks when he would stand still they could tell he was blind, when he stare ahead not looking at ether one.

"Come in Misha will tell, Misha always tell like the time Sasha was here," Misha walks back in the house as Foloki snorts nudging Alexzander, he glares at the dwarf "don't say anything at all," Elena looks at them as Alexzander walks in as Foloki leans over to Elena "it's a old nickname us mythical creatures use for him, he doesn't like it."

Inside the room herbs and jabs with animals inside placed all around the room, a pot boils on fireplace giving off smoke in the air, Elena covers her nose smelling something rotten, looking at the table plate of food that looked weeks old, Alexzander threw up a bit in his mouth as he to smelt it, quickly taking the plate an tossing it in what looks like a trash can. The smell slowly disappears but it was still faintly there, Elena gave a disgusted look when seeing bugs crawl all over the room, Misha walks over towards a bookshelf full of big and small books, some torn others that looked burnt he digs through pulling out a small one an tossed it on the table.

"There Misha helps, something of Cullen old legends an stories, he's mean even to Misha kill my favorite raven poor him Misha didn't like when it made a pop noise...," Misha walks over to the pot an turns a spoon dropping ingredients, Alexzander takes his gloves off picking up the book flipping through the pages, flicking small sticky flakes that stuck to his hands. Elena digs through the bag that Alexzander handed her during their fly here, pulling out a cloth an a canteen Foloki limps over when Alexzander sits down in chair for him to see, Foloki points at a purple stone "What's that?"

"Well at least we know now how Cullen is getting his powers, but doesn't explain why he's causing all this mayhem," Alexzander flips through the book some more as Elena hands him the items, he thanks her as he gives the book to Elena as he wipes his hands, Elena flips through she could see black vine wall and field of flowers remember it from her dream, "where's this place?"

Alexzander leans in seeing the image "that's in Kritis's homeland gardens of magic no ones allowed there as souls of the dead would take you away, why you want to know?" Elena touched the page "cause I was there when Cullen was in my dream," Alexzander looks at Foloki who shrugged not knowing what she meant by that, Elena gives the book back Alexzander takes it back he wanted to ask, till Misha wobbles over slamming his plate down at first Elena backs away, till she saw a roach scurry over his back an head Elena steps behind Foloki grossed out, Alexzander hops up taking the book "alright thank you for this book and all we need the sword fixed and then we can take care of Cullen, if you don't mind" Alexzander pull out his sword but the old man makes a snare look.

"No!, Misha didn't make!, ice giant did with Elder dragon of the mountains!" Misha points a boney finger at Alexzander.

"There's no such ice giant they died way before Kritis time and elder dragons are just myths, you're just insane!, you know what do you have any notes or something about the sword," Alexzander puts his sword back Elena stops him, "what do you mean by that?" Elena watched when the old man digs through a chest, pulling something out in his hand was a sword holster with golden designs, walking over he hands it to Elena taking it looking closer it had ancient hand writing edge on the holster. But before she could asked Misha shoved them out "now find Misha book, need book back now!" Alexzander, Elena, and Foloki stumbles out the door, as it slams behind them.

"Now what?" Foloki asked

"I don't know..." Alexzander looks at the door as Elena grips the sword holster.