Decided to post early, by that I mean I am posting this chapter and another at the end of the week. So two chapters this week again, I am on a roll. Now many of you are wondering why I am giving a lot of exposition, well, I do it because I tend to want to build up the universe and give clear insight into the characters and situations along with making a solid foundation for the story. I often write it as if this is a completely new property that no one has read before.
I do that so those who are knowledgeable or not of the used series can understand things more clearly. That is all there is too it, it is my method and I am not changing.
The Hand of Suffering
Chapter 06: Wolf in the Coop
She staggered into her chamber, her Knights closing the door behind her as she entered. Moving straight for her bed she planned to simply fall onto it and go to sleep, she had no strength left in her to do anything but laze about and wait to be taken by Brumera, the God of Dreams. She had been so tired she had not even said goodnight to her guards.
She was so tired she had even not realised that as well.
Celestine dropped onto her bed, letting out a sigh as she felt all her muscles ache and any energy she had simply fade away. She was drained, the last week had left her tired and unable to regain her strength. Her nights were restless and her days were impossible to get through without nearly succumbing to sleep. Yet sleep itself was something she avoided.
It has been this way for the last week, ever since Vault, Alicia and Maia had returned from the Untouched Valley. Ever since that creature had been brought here, she had been unable to remain at ease.
"Why can I not be free of this torment?" Celestine spoke aloud.
Even captured, contained, why was her visions so clouded. Why was she so afraid?
One Week Earlier
She had to get out of there, staying in the throne room would have been a bad idea. Even her hasty departure could be viewed negatively, but it was better than appearing so shaken by the creatures presence. Such a thing to see would be dangerous, she had no doubt that there would be those that would plot something with the knowledge that she was not so infallible.
It was a risk she couldn't take, not for herself or anyone else that may become involved.
She had ordered it be taken to the dungeons, guarded and warded to prevent any possible escape. From there she had gathered the Shields, along with Vault and her closest advisor. This was something she could not discuss amongst the other nobles, this had to be close to the chest and with people she could trust implicitly.
She had taken her seat, messaging her brow and trying to control her own body that was shaking. At her side was the anxious Claudia, her knight unable to do anything but stand guard and hope that this moment of terror passed. While to her right was her other advisor, a confidant and dear friend from from her homeland, Phelorna Neridan.
The elven woman was over a thousand years her senior, and a childhood friend of her mother. Her long white hair was tied into a series of braids and knots that formed an intricate design that flowed down the square of her back. How she was able to do that on her own Celestine would never know, but it was her wisdom and experience that Celestine valued.
"My Lady, what is wrong?" Alicia asked, leaning over the table and looking at her worryingly.
The rest had such expressions, to see her in such a state was not the norm, many saw her as so mighty and graceful that she could not be brought low by anything. How wrong they were. She was mortal, vulnerable, and she felt that more than ever.
"It is the creature isn't it?" Phelorna inquired. "It is the one you have seen."
"Yes, it is the being I have seen in my visions for the last five years." Celestine replied, sinking into her seat.
"That is it?" Claudia gasped, shocked by the revelation.
"Yes, I am certain, those eyes are impossible to forget." Celestine replied. "I believe I owe you all an explanation."
She went on to explain all the visions she bore witness too, in grizzly detail she explained what she had seen. Even the most vivid of scenes was a haunting thing for her to recall, but she pushed on and explained. They deserved this much. But still it left her saddened that they would now have to carry this with them, even if it was just words, the knowledge of it was still a weight that would be a heavy burden for them.
"It has been around for the last five years. In the Untouched Valley. I didn't want to believe it." Alicia said, she seemed to have come to a realisation.
"Yeah, the people were telling the truth. Even about it killing orcs." Maia added, looking confused. "I don't get it. Why? What does it get out of this? Why does it want to be worshipped?"
"What does it matter? It is a wild beast, it should be put down." Alicia replied, even so she looked too have several thoughts on her mind, but she was steadfast in her statement. "Now that we have it here, we can do something about it."
"It isn't some dumb dog, that thing is smart. It also had people following it, that thing had damn followers like they were a church congregation. Don't you think this is a little too weird?" Maia replied. "After everything we went through we shouldn't just throw this away."
"What do you speak of?" Claudia asked, the Knight looked expectantly at them both.
Again Alicia went silent, a very frustrated look appeared on her face, she seemed to be trying to decipher something only present in her mind.
"Alicia, speak your mind, there are no formalities here, just friends and allies." Celestine said, trying to coax the Princess to speak.
The young woman looked around, stopping on her younger cousin who offer a small smile and tried to reassure her from where she stood. With a sigh Alicia's entire posture went slack, as if all the tension she had been holding in had been released.
"The search for the orc warband had been met with several setbacks, the first being the people." Alicia started.
The explanation went on from there, going from their initial arrival in Pretoria and to their departure to Ulfrafen Village. Alicia spoke of the villagers, who seem to have been so distraught that they had all but buried their emotions and gave their arrival no mind. Maia backing this statement with her own words, saying that everything about them was almost as if a part of them had been lost – they would say as if they did not have souls.
It was concerning to know that the people had suffered like this, for so long in fact. The reason for that suffering came about because of the orc warbands that had slipped into the region undetected. Blame had been lain at the feet of the Nobles of Zelindo and the Black Dogs, how they allowed orcs into the region and did nothing to clear them out. More so they also have been accused of stealing provisions from the Valley.
Vault had confirmed that there was irregularities in the shipments because most of it was not being delivered. That the people were withholding supplies to spite the nobles, the reason given was not due to their negligence but the beginnings of a possible rebellion. It was suspected that the orcs infiltrated the valley over the mountains and the people were angry nothing had been done.
"This is hard to believe, that the people would rebel." Celestine said. "But what has driven them to this?"
"Maybe it is the Cult." Maia said. "The Nobles say they have been at odds with them for a while maybe that wolf caused this."
"Would this happen to be the Cult of the Wolf?" Kaguya said, jumping into the conversation. "I know of it, rumours had circulated to me about the Cult's existence from traders between Zelindo and Rad. Along with a Court Mage from Zelindo. I had sent someone to investigate the matter."
"You shouldn't have sent that girl to investigate, Zelindo is a dangerous place. Heard a lot of them died." Vault said, his concern was noted in the frown on his face and the way he seemed to be paying attention. "This matter affects Zelindo and Diohart, there was no reason for you to get involved. You should have notified me of this."
"I saw fit to get involved due to this affecting my city as well, if the Untouched Valley is in the midst of a rebellion then Rad is at risk of a food shortage. My actions were for the betterment of my nation and the people I am meant to protect." Kaguya replied.
"Still, your Priestess has made some very serious claims, none of it true of course, but had we taken her words without evidence it could have seen many being found guilty of high Treason." Alicia said, crossing her arms.
"I trust my Shrine Priestesses words, Hinako was a very well respected and gentle person, I do not believe she would lie. I sent her to find the truth of the matter with the Cult, I have no knowledge regarding any investigation into the Nobility." Kaguya replied.
"Well she did say that her messages were being intercepted, but we have no idea if that is true." Maia said.
"Even so she offered no proof to either of us, only sprouting off rumours of some conspiracy in the heart of the Nobility. Nothing else." Alicia stated.
"I beg you pardon, but what you say confuses me. Are you saying you met with Shine Maiden Hinako?" Kaguya asked.
"Yeah, we did, met her up in a church she converted into a temple. Also she had sealed off an entire district, claiming people are trying to kill her." Maia replied. "More than that, she was actually keeping some Cultists around. We think she might be working with them, maybe she has turned."
Celestine had note how the Shrine Maiden's expression seemed to curdle, as if she had somehow become ill. He hand had reached for her armrest as if to keep herself from keeling over.
"That is not possible." Kaguya replied, head lowering as she looked hurt.
Her words were pained, and Celestine felt some heartache. She knew Hinako, the girl was a calm and caring young woman, almost like a twin sister to Kaguya. Perhaps their relationship was not so dissimilar. To think she could have fallen in with some dangerous cult would upset anyone.
"Hey… listen I am not trying to bad mouth her, but she didn't really offer much other than a few leads. Also the circumstances she is in doesn't inspire much confidence." Maia said, trying to apologise for her strong words.
"That is not what makes my heart ache, because what you say is impossible to believe." Kaguya said, looking up and her expression hardening. "You say that you met a woman, named Hinako in Zelindo? She claimed to be a Shrine Priestess?"
"Yes. That is correct." Alicia said.
"Shrine Priestess Hinako was killed a year ago, in the Greenway Pass. I was told it was by cultists."
The meeting had descended into anarchy after that.
Kaguya had revealed that on the return trip back to Zelindo, Shrine Priestess Hinako had been killed alongside her guards by cultists. Their bodies had been returned to Rad some days later, and it was confirmed without a shadow of doubt that the Priestess had met her end.
Alicia had become furious, alongside Vault, cursing how they had been tricked by an imposter. Despite their shared anger they seemed to be tension between the two, both arguing over the fact they had been mislead by the fake Shrine Priestess. Alicia had stated that she had attempted to confront the villagers in Pretoria and after a physical altercation they had been forced to leave on Vault's demand.
Vault had defended his actions, saying that there was no way to know if they were cultists or not. It was only confirmed after they captured the creature, which when seen by the villagers seemed to aggravate them. Celestine took this in and tried to make sense of what was going on.
From what could be understood this Cult, formed around this strange werewolf, had swallowed the entire Valley whole. Several names had been revealed, some of them former Knights who had a very negative opinion of the the Dawn Templar and Church. Claudia even recognising the name of a former Squire that had served under Grave Levantine. The rest had been confirmed to have either been stripped of their positions or exiled from their respective cities due to varying circumstances.
Many she knew of personally, most had a background in the military or had previous dealings with the Seven Shields and the Alliance as a whole.
Two former Knights that had been of the same generation of Grave Laventine, both having lost their status following the disbanding of their order in favour of creating a new one. One Guard Captain of the Old Ansur regime, having survived the chaos of his nations collapse and subsequent collapse of his mercenary company. Along with her supplanting another mercenary commander with someone Celestine knew was seeking advancement and would remain loyal to her.
They were but a few of the names on the list, all of them had a vendetta against the crown or the Alliance in some form or another. These were enemies she had created by her own hands, having ousted, replaced or even sent her own people after them. They had every right to be angry, to hate her and turn on her when the opportunity rose. Perhaps this creature was just the catalyst that finally saw to all the deeds she had been forced to commit since becoming the High Queen.
Actions up until now she did not think would have such consequences, she had believed she had done right. That there would be no long lasting issues, how wrong she was. Now thousands would be in jeopardy of being slain, would she need to carry out another peace keeping action similar to that of when the Ansur regime collapsed?
Over twenty thousand people live in the Untouched Valley, twenty thousand innocent men, woman, and children caught up in this feud. A part of her told her that she needed to stop this cult and militia before it made its move. If civil war broke out it could spell chaos for the entire Ansur region, a conflict of this scale has not been seen since the collapse of Ansur forty years ago.
Another part of her couldn't stand the thought of carrying out another massive purge like that, seeing to the deaths of thousands of people. Ansur had been bad enough, but these were farmers, not brigands and highwaymen swept up in the mess that was the collapse of Ansur's parliament.
Regularly she met with the Shield members, trying to figure out a plan regarding the valley and trying to discern the nature of the creature at the centre of this strange occurrence. She needed all the details they could provide, along with whatever advice they could give on how to proceed. She could not allow anything to be overlooked, this was a crucial time that could not be taken lightly.
Details were scarce with the creature, what it was and what kind of powers it wielded were unknown. Magic indeed but magic itself was not a definite answer, for magic had many forms and methods.
This was new, different, and they had no idea what it was.
Most of their advice revolved around actually attacking, to go in and remove the Cult and Militia by force. Only Maia seemed uneasy about doing such a thing, likely knowing that these people are not monsters or criminals. But she was but one voice against many who rationalised the deaths of these many thousands as a needed sacrifice to keep Ansur, and Eostia, safe from dissent.
Celestine flopped back and onto her bed, the softness of her sheets and the weariness of her body were the perfect combination to let her drift off into the realm of dreams. But it would not come, she was denied the release of this waking world.
"Why won't this stop? What else is there to understand? What else is there to do?" Celestine whimpered, she did not understand why she was not allowed a moment of rest.
Again her mind went back to Phelorna, her confidant had been vocal with her in recent days. Especially as her condition began to worsen.
Four days ago
Celestine had been going over her visions for some time, they had begun to haunt her nights and even her waking moments. She would find herself in a dark place and looking at a shadowy world that was her own.
In time she would compile notes on the nights visions would assault her and what information she could compile of the reported orc attacks on the valley. If her visions were to be trusted it would seem there had been twenty six attacks on the valley, with at least half a dozen confirmed through sources aside from her visions. It was a shocking revelation that revealed more to her than she cared to admit.
The dates matched each other, they had coincided perfectly and even if she couldn't confirm the rest the six she could all but assure herself that these attacks did happen. It was her belief that the creature sealed within the dungeon was responsible for destroying those orcs and the moment it did she would perceive it.
"Your visions are not something to be deciphered." Phelorna stated, entering her private parlour and approaching the table.
Celestine had scattered notes and snippets regarding each of the visions she had beheld, the exact dates and small details regarding what she could recollect from each vision. She was trying to find some sort of coronation between each vision, something they all shared in common. Several similarities had been found, aside from the sole focus of the visions, but they didn't add up to anything she could use.
"But what I am seeing before me tells me differently, do you see this? That beast within the dungeons has been protecting thousands from harm. Why? For what reason?" Celestine said, looking up at her confidant and unable to formulate an answer to her own question. "Is this a warning of its coming? That this Cult of the Wolf is dangerous?"
She must have looked like a mess, for the way Phelorna looked at her spoke of clear disappointment. Sometime she felt like a child again, being found doing something foolish. Only Phelorna had the ability to make her feel so small and meek.
"We cannot hope to fathom what a creature such as that thinks? Or even if it is possible, all we must consider is the danger it presents." Phelorna replied.
"Yet is protected the valley, has done so, the people worship it because of its actions. This makes so little sense, even with this I cannot understand why my visions of it keep returning. And why they persist when it is nearby." Celestine replied, holding her head in her hands. "What am I meant to understand about this?"
She didn't want to keep seeing it, the creature looking at her, the fear she felt from its gaze was palpable and she dreaded every second she saw it. But it persisted, she kept seeing it, nothing else but that thing.
"That is what you must decide upon, the visions you perceive hold great importance. Remember what you were taught." Phelorna stated.
Celestine remembered, many times her visions came and went and their importance was never to be doubted. No matter how unassuming the visions may be you could not ignore that whatever was seen is important.
Once she had seen a stone in a vision, a sharp pointed rock in an open plane that she would often play in. The following day she saw it in the field, passed right by it and picked it up. Taking it with her, she never did know what was so important about the stone, or why it had a role in the tapestry of fate but it did.
That had been her first vision, the one she remembered clearly mind you.
There was no real way to determine what kind of impact these visions may have on the world, what would happen if she did nothing or couldn't do anything. Olga Discordia was a prime example, for she had been seen no less than three times in her visions. From her dabbling in the magic of the Light Elves and Dark Elves, ascension to the throne of Garan, and the creation of the Badlands following the fall of Lorein.
Rare was it that someone was to appear in a vision multiple times over ones life, it was the mark of someone great or terrible. Olga had proven herself to be the latter, this war had dragged on for two hundred and thirty years, and it would continue if it was not stopped.
But this creature, appeared more than anyone else, in the entire history of her people that she could recount there had never been a single being that had created such waves. It's very actions spoke of change, of great and terrible things to occur, and with how dark it felt to her she could only dread what its coming meant.
"You must centre yourself, I can see that you are tired and anxious, you must find your resolve." Phelorna said, gently placing a hand on her back. "Come, rest, sleep. Tonight you will find peace in the realm of dreams and worry about this another day."
Celestine was led to her bed, where she lay down and was covered by the silk sheets. Phelorna tucked her in and made sure she was comfortable, it reminded her of when her mother would do the same when she was but a child. How long ago those days were, those peaceful times when she had not a worry in the world.
She closed her eyes and wished for sleep. It came, but she received no rest from her slumber.
How hard it was to do as Phelorna said, to push this aside and try to draw up any strength she could to put up a strong front for her people. But with every passing night where sleep was much welcome she was denied true rest.
Something was amiss, something had forced her to realise that she was making a mistake. Her visions gave her a clear image of what was to be seen, never what must be done. But at times she would always feel a nagging sensation on what must be done, what had to be done.
That feeling had not left her since the creature arrived. And where she had dedicated so much of her time to try and study the beast it had proven to end in limited answers and more questions.
But she had done as Phelorna Instructed, busying herself with matters away from the creature, attempting to put all her energy and time into something else. She had tried to busy herself with other matters of importance.
From planning out the offensive with Olga Discordia, which was going nowhere fast. Worse still word had spread of this Cult in the Untouched Valley, and now that there was a fresh target people can go against they were taking aim.
Three Days Earlier
Celestine massaged her brow, struggling to keep her attention centred on the meeting. But it kept waning as it did for the previous seven war councils she had attended, because the same argument had been made over and over again and no true plans have been finalised. And when it broke down it would simply divert back to a discussion she did not want to have discussed.
"We must attack, show them we will not back down from a fight."
"Fool! We strike out we will be met with disease and death, and without our soldiers we will be defenceless."
This entire song and dance had become routine, one side would argue attacking, risking the lives of thousands to reach the Black Fortress for the chance to defeat the Dark Queen. Others had opted to simply repair their defences and prepare for the next invasion, unwilling to lose what protection they had on a suicide mission.
Celestine agreed with the latter, although for different reasons. Sending so many to die a pointless death for the sake of pride would not do, they needed another solution to this problem. For in spite of her agreeing with shoring up their defences, it was a strategy that was becoming overused. The entire war had become them holding back orc and demon attacks on the regular basis from the north and being unable to come up with a feasible counterattack.
And as shown recently, the attacks from the north have been increasing. Their defences are holding, but how much longer will it be before they falter completely. Every invasion was worse, and it would continue to get worse until they were eventually overrun.
"You cowards! Hiding behind your walls and doing nothing. I am surprised you left the safety of your walls to come here!" One of the noble barked, earning a laugh of derision from his compatriots.
"You are no better! I hear you built high walls and post guard all around that estate of yours, afraid of rats I heard." Another from the opposing party shot back.
Argument descended from there, the entire point of the meeting had been lost and now petty squabbling ensued. Claudia attempted to maintain order, but even her strong will and mighty reputation did little to sway the crowd into silence. It was like that again, the different cities against one another and squabbling over issues that had occurred long before these people were born.
"We are beset by Orcs, is there nothing to be done? No decision has been made." One man had yelled.
"Fighting is pointless, we cannot cross the Badlands." Someone else called.
"Then let us focus on what we can do, these cultists in the Untouched Valley, I hear they have been at war with Zelindo for years now. Is that not enough for us to send troops to quell them." Someone called out.
"My Lords, please, we shall remove these infidels soon, when the time comes and we confront these Heretics they shall be brought to heel before the might of the Goddess and her Dawn Templar." Grissom said, trying to placate the nobles.
"Then give the order, send the Dawn Templar, round up these monster lovers and execute them!"
The round of support that came for the idea make Celestine feel ill, to listen to such things did not sit well with her. She knew how many people were in the valley, to have them put to the sword, the repercussions would be massive. Morally and strategically, but even she could not look at this practically.
These people, what had gone through their minds to make them turn so easily from the Church. She knew it was not as pious and pure as it seemed, that there were flaws within its hierarchy. But she doubted these simple people knew, their faith has been lost another way. One she suspected was out of helplessness and a desire to feel safe.
A shout came from the nobles, beseeching her to call the Dawn Templar. Some even pledging their swords to the cause, saying they will aid in removing the heretics from Eostia.
Celestine could take it no longer, she retired for the evening, not bothering it excuse herself as she walked from the room. Her actions spoke clearly of her opinion, some she suspected would be bashful for their brazen behaviour. But her keen ears heard many who was frustrated that they had not been given a chance to fight.
It was times like this that she wondered if this nation had changed at all, if it was still the same monster it has always been.
War Councils had been suspended following that.
She had dedicated more time than ever to directing attention back onto Olga Discordia. But as much as she wished to be the only one with a clear head she found herself frustrated that nothing could be done. There was no way to reach Olga, for all the time she had put towards this conundrum there was no solution that could be found to make it work in their favour.
The Badlands would take two weeks to cross by foot, and any soldiers sent would fall ill within a day and be dead by the end of the second. No way seems to exist so that a person can survive, only orcs and other demonic beings can survive there. Not even the Dragons of the land survived prolonged exposure, having fled the lands many decades ago.
Within this cities archives she has a lab dedicated to finding a way to neutralise the magics of the Badlands. To remove the life draining energies that permeate the soil and allow someone to cross it, all attempts have failed. Her magic relied upon life, and all she could do was feed that same life sapping magic that dwelled in the dirt. What mighty power she had at her disposal was worthless.
But she couldn't give up.
They must find a way to get to the Black Fortress.
Yet how was she meant to do that?
Many possibilities had been proposed, go by sea was one. But farther north past the Badlands was a Dark Elven sanctuary which had a powerful Fleet. Which would smash apart anything they sent, for the Dark Elves had proven themselves great shipwrights and sailers. It had been how the original settlers of Eostia became trapped here.
Besides, they had no idea what lay to the north of Garan, they didn't even know exactly what lay beyond the Badlands further north than Loraine. In fact that elven Sanctuary was a wild guess in of itself, all they knew is that a Dark Elf Navy once sailed down from there around five hundred years ago.
In fact the two week journey to Garan was a rough guess, it could be longer for all they knew.
"When will this war end?" Celestine muttered, she felt her eyes grow heavy.
The better question would be how this war would end. What would happen to the people? The innocents who had nothing to do with the tragedy that set Olga Discordia down this path of revenge. She knew the answer, she saw what would happen to the innocents that were taken by her demons. Ravaged by their captors, either torn apart afterwards or subjugated to suffer until they die from the abuse or when they were eventually dragged into the Badlands.
"I need to do something, please… I beg to you All Mother, send me whatever aid you can." Celestine said, her eyes finally fluttering closed.
Sleep may have come easy, but each night she knew a different struggle would occur. Something had been occurring for some time, vivid dreams of the castle and herself flying through the corridors in darkness. She could scarcely make out the corridors and rooms she passed while she suffered through these dreams.
They did not seem too strange, or terrifying, but deep down she felt a sense of dread.
Everything looked to have an oily quality, as if looking through the world through a sheet of distorted glass. Many times she could see and hear things, in one instance she thought she could see people. Shadowy things that blended in with the colourless world she had been thrust into, but every time she would be jerked away and wake from the dream.
So many times she had suffered through this, in the night when she slept or even when weariness overcame her and she fell asleep in her seat. The last week had been the hardest in her entire life, she knew the cause. For it wasn't the constant meetings, the War Council's discussions stagnating, the future of the nation at stake or even her role in saving this nation from complete annihilation that wasn't from Olga Discordia. No, the reason, the real reason, for what was slowly driving her mad, was locked up down in the dungeons behind dozens of wards and several bars of steel.
For some time she wondered if it was the reasons for all her restlessness, if her own fear of the creature who was safely behind bars was a threat to her.
Again she did not know, but like what was becoming a recurring nightmare she traversed down dark oily hallways that were familiar to her. Passed many corridors and chambers, seemingly endlessly walking by rooms and shadowy figures that whispered indecipherable things in her ear.
Then it stopped, before her was a door, familiar like everything else but with a lot more details that made her mind actually struggle to figure out which door it was. And then she passed through it, the door seemingly not there as she glided into the chamber and into a small little room. A bedroom she supposed.
She could make it furniture and the large bed at the far end of the room, a large bay window leading out to a balcony. Her mind tried desperately to figure out where she was, everything was setting off alarms in her mind and yet she could not fathom where she was.
At least until she reached the bed.
Celestine felt her breathing deepen, her heart race and thump wild in her chest. She realised with a cold dread where she was, in her own chamber, in a shadowy dark reflection of it, standing above herself. She looked upon her form, dressed in the same cloths she had worn the moment she had fallen to sleep. Her form was pale and seemed to radiate in this shadowy realm like a bright light.
There was sweat on her brow, her eyes moved beneath her eyes, and her breathing was coming in quick and frantic. It was a perfect mirror of how she felt right now.
But what was this? Why was she seeing herself? What was causing this? Her fear rose as she tried to force control, take hold of this vision and show herself where she was and what she was doing. Finally she was able to, her force of will and fear driving her forward in harnessing control of the vision and seeing where she was.
All other feeling left her, only the fear remained when she turned.
It stood there, above her, looking down at her with cold blue eyes that glowed beneath its hood.
Celestine gasped as she woke with a start, shooting upwards and taking in deep breaths. Her hands came to around her to ward off the chill, she was shivering from her cold sweat that had overtaken her. Rising from her bed she walked across to her dresser and pulled out a cloth to wipe herself down and a cloak to smother herself in warmth.
Slowly her wits returned to her, it was over, it was just a dream.
Repeating that mantra aloud she steeled herself and tried to forget about it, that horrible dream and what it meant. It would seem that her thoughts had been true, she had allowed her fears to take control of her and now they were haunting her. She needed to face this, do something to rid herself of this terror.
Sleep would never come, not after a nerve wracking experience like that. Dawn may be hours away but now she had no choice but to remain awake and wait for the sunrise, at least then she could bask in the protective light. It would wash away this darkness and allow her to have some semblance of peace.
Taking a deep calming breath she sucked in the cool air, feeling it sting her nostrils as they filled her lungs. Although she smelt a pleasant fragrance in the air, camellia she believed, and as she turned she saw upon her table a single cup of hot tea.
Bathed in the moonlight from the balcony window she looked at the steaming hot cup of her favourite tea sitting on the table where she would entertain herself and Claudia on occasion. She stepped towards it, looking down at the peculiar brew and wondered how it could have possibly been here.
Picking up the cup she gave it a cooling blow before taking a sip, this was definitely her tea and was well made. Taking a seat in her chair she examined the cup, staring into the dark brew and wondering where it had come from. Who had made this? The guards would never dare set foot in here, especially to make some tea. Claudia would reprimand them and threaten them with a punishment befitting for someone who had committed treason. Phelorna may have, but she wouldn't have snuck in.
So who had made this fresh cup of tea for her?
A small creak caught her attention, she dare not move. Her heart started to beat faster as she looked up from her cup and towards the darkened area of her room. Bathed in pure black and not touched by the moonlight, she could see nothing within.
But she knew something was there, that creak came from the chair that Claudia would always sit in. It had been reinforced several times to accommodate the weight of the Knight's armor, for she rarely would take it off when in the palace. For it to creak like that, something in heavy armor was sitting on that chair, something she could not see.
Until it leaned forward and into the moonlight.
The snout was the first thing to be seen, dark and coarse. Then the hood followed, soon by the entire things upper body as it leaned forward and exposing itself to the moonlight. It's eyes opened then, frosty blue that pulsed with power she did not wish to know of and it looked at her with intent.
Celestine remained rooted to her chair and did not move, unable to do anything but sit there and look into the glowing eyes of the monster that haunted her dreams. Her breath came in shallow gasps, the terror had worked its way up and she could feel tears welling in her eyes. It was here, she was alone and without aid, she was going to die.
"Drink."
Those words were a guttural growl, akin to the beast it came from, but it carried a reverberation that hurt the ears. Like clashing steel and echoing screams, turning the animalistic words into something much more terrifying. It had spoken, it took a moment for her to get past the feeling of dread that came form hearing its very vocalisation rather than it actually vocalising.
"The tea will calm the nerves." The werewolf said. "Best you be calm, otherwise, you might scream."
It's words gave no comfort, it could speak of all good things in the world but make them sound to be evil and wrong. That was the weight and effects its voice caused, and she was intent on screaming just to release the trapped fear in her chest.
"You are afraid, of that I am certain. I can smell it, hear your heartbeat and see it upon your face and body as it trembles. But you should not be afraid." The werewolf said.
"Why…?" Celestine asked, her words a terrified whisper.
It rose to its feet, if she stood it would tower over her by half a head, and looked down at her. He leaned close and with a delicate wipe of its claw removed a single tear from her cheek. She sat there, still terrified out of her mind. Unable to do anything but wait for whatever this thing was about to do.
"Because… comrades have nothing to fear from one another. And as of now, we are comrades." The werewolf said.
"What…?" Celestine had no idea what he was talking about.
"We have much to discuss, let us start with how I will help you reach Garan and end this war."
I am betting you are relieved it is finally at this point?
