OOOOKKAAAYY! I hope this is good! The prologue is actually gonna be one more chappie after this b/c I have to explain how our Kenshin gets his scar, why his eyes change color, and all that good stuff. That'll all be in the NEXT chapter (which won't be nearly as long) ;). I hope you enjoy! Please bare with me until I get to all the K & K action!! O yes! I'm going to try to use all main characters from the TV series. Misao too! If anyone is confused about the B/K and K then e-mail me! Thanx Jason! Well read and review!!!
Chapter 2: A Traitor
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"Gather the Great Council. We shall prepare for war."
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Exactly three days later, everyone had gathered. Murmurs and whispers buzzed throughout the Council Hall. One long, stone table, carved with pictures of Grandia's history, ran the length of the room. Representatives from every tribe, clan, and village were present. Dwarves, Men, Elves. Only the Fairy Queen was missing, but they didn't expect her to show. She hadn't been seen in 10,000 years; since the War of Legend that had led Grandia into peace and sealed away all evil in the land under the Mountain of Zeal.
Suddenly Prometheus rose from his seat at the head of the table and silence fell over the great room.
"As you know, I have called you here to prepare for the battle ahead of us."
He paused, leaning forward, scanning the faces on either side of the table. "The Shadow has been released. After 10,000 years it has been unsealed...," he took a deep breath, " by a native of our world." He closed his eyes as he let his words sink in. Immediately whispers started racing up and down the table. Some scornful, some fearful, some angry. Who was it? Why? How? Again, the king's deep voice boomed above the din and the room was quiet.
"I don't know who it was yet! I do believe the traitor is among us still." There were collective gasps, and a few mumbled words, but for the most part, the council was speechless. Prometheus' teeth and fist clenched as he tried to control his rage. How could he have not seen it? How could he have let this happen? Everyone was watching him expectantly so he continued, motioning for the man at his left to stand.
"Moritheus, my younger brother, reached his 500th year a month ago and left for his Soul Journey, as all royal elves do. He went to the Mountain of Zeal to prove his worth. He says he was there but two days before he was attacked. Uncertain of his attackers' origins, he went to inspect the Seal. His suspicions were confirmed when he found it broken. He was attacked by shadow creatures. He told me he's certain one of them was a dwarf." Another collective gasp and the dwarves sputtered angry protests.
"It is true, I swear it! I saw humans, too!" Moritheus shouted pointing accusingly at King Arthur, but his brother held up his hand to silence him. Prometheus continued.
"I did not tell you of this earlier because Lufhan, Megumi, and myself wanted to be certain. Now a shadow army has been spotted. Monsters have begun to attack. Two Hawk Elite were killed and the human village of Millenia has been totally destroyed."
At his words, a determined and angry King Arthur rose from the table. A 50-year old mortal, he was handsome and wise.
"I will stand with you, my lord. I knew many in Millenia. Their murders will be avenged."
His sons stood up beside him. Not to be outdone, the dwarf leaders stood on their stools, shouting their agreement. The elves stood and bowed before their king. "We are yours to command."
Prometheus nodded, and raised his sword. Then he shouted, teeth bared, his voice rumbling. The true voice of a king.
"It has been decided! We will fight...and we will not fail!"
And so it began. A great gathering of men, dwarves, and elves. The dwarves made hundreds of thousands of weapons and armor. The elves and men trained together, learning to combine magic and physical skills to their highest advantage. Teaching even the youngest, weakest healers, royal and common, to hone their skills. They had a terrible battle ahead of them. The evil was great and it had been waiting patiently for this opportunity. It had had 10,000 years to prepare for this. Grandia only had 2 days, and their time was drawing to a close.
The day had finally come.
It was an awesome sight. The sun glistened off swords and armor that shone as if on fire. Millions of warriors. Archers, swordsmen, healers, and dwarves, all spaced strategically for the best defense. All men of each race stood side by side. Willing to work together to defend their homeland from this shadowed threat. Prometheus, Lufhan, and Lady Megumi were mounted before their army, spread out across the vast meadow before the wastelands of Zeal. The king was mounted on his great bond wolf, a beautiful white creature, bigger then a lion. He would have looked majestic if hadn't been wringing his fingers and glancing behind him nervously. Lufhan stood beside him, an amused smile painted his features as he smirked up at his sweating leader.
"Calm down, my friend. She's already had nine! What could possibly go wrong?"
Prometheus didn't even hear him.
"For chrissake, stop worrying! You're digging your heels into my sides!"
The growling mental message from his bond-wolf finally shook the king out of his anxious state. He grinned and scratched the wolf's head fondly. "Sorry, Brio, I guess I am overreacting a little. The wolf growled again as Lufhan laughed and then a shout sounded behind them. Promethues whipped his head around to see Lady Megumi racing towards him on a horse, a wide smile gracing her features. He raced forward to meet her.
"How is she? Is she all right? Is Auroree okay?"
Megumi laughed and held up a hand, "Silence, brother. Auroree and the cub are fine. The birthing went perfectly... It's a boy." Megumi's crystal blue eyes twinkled at the obvious delight that washed across the king's handsome features.
"A boy..." he whispered, a pride-filled grin plastered on his face. "What does he look like?"
"Why don't you see for yourself," Megumi answered and pointed over the king's shoulder. Following her finger, Prometheus watched as the armies parted, emitting a lone bond-wolf bearing a rider. The rider was none other then Lady Auroree. Still flushed and weak from labor, she was beaming at the bundle in her arms. Prometheus fought the urge to run to his wife and sweep her into his arms. Instead he waited patiently until she had reached him. As soon as she did, he hooked his arm around her waist, gently pulling her to him on Brio and kissed her gently. The entire army was silent as the king took his sleeping son in his arms for the first time. He folded back the blanket revealing a cherubic face topped by a wisp of red hair. As he watched, his son slowly opened his heavy lids until golden eyes stared up at him. Love filled his features as he looked into his wife's eyes. He kissed her again and then with another rueful grin he turned to his people and raised his son into the air.
"Kenshin Aidan Amadeas. My son!"
And Grandia cheered. Raising their weapons and their hands, their shouts and laughter filled the air. The Amadeas bloodline would continue. Everything was perfect.
But not for long.
Their purpose for this gathering was remembered all too soon when a chilling wind whipped towards them from the Wastelands.
Silence swept over the army as a shadow spread towards them from Zeal, blocking out the sun and touching them with cold, dark fingers. And as they watched the mountain, dark swarms began pouring from its peak, like ants from an anthill. As if by magic, a dark army had spread across the wastelands before Grandia's army had a chance to react. First to recover from his shock, Prometheus turned and shouted to his men.
"Prepare to fight! There will be NO mercy! Protect your homes and FIGHT!"
Then he turned sharply to Auroree and held her head between his hands, looking her straight in the eye.
"You must get away from here."
"No! I'll stay here with you-" he kissed her firmly, silencing her protest. Then he pressed his forehead against hers.
"Listen to me! You cannot stay. You must protect out son. Don't trust anyone, the traitor is still among us," he told her, voice rising above the sounds of the beginning war. She nodded and tears began to fall from under her eyelashes. His voice fell to a whisper.
"I love you."
And he kissed her again, passionately this time. Then he took Kenshin in his arms and kissed his nose gently before giving him back to Auroree. He leaped off Brio's back and drew his sword.
"Go Brio! Protect them! Take them to the Forbidden Swamp!"
Then suddenly, as Auroree watched, the end of a sword cut through Prometheus's middle and he fell to his knees.
"NOOOO! LIFEMATE!" she screamed and was about to jump off, but Brio stopped her.
"No, Auroree! Think of your child! You must protect his son." Sobbing, and holding her son close, she looked to see who her husband's attacker was and her body froze in shock. Brio growled. Kenshin began to cry.
"Moritheus?" she whispered.
"GO BRIO!" Prometheus yelled, his arms crossed across his bleeding middle. He grabbed up his sword from the ground and stood, blocking Moritheus from his wife and son. Brio disappeared with them through the fighting bodies.
"You're the traitor! Why? WHY?!" the king screamed at his brother as the battle raged on. He only laughed.
"Why? Why did I choose power over a life in your shadow?" he repeated scathingly. "I will have everything now! I will rule this land. Without the Royals, no one will stand in my way. I will remake this World in MY name. They will worship ME. I will be king, not you... or your brat." He laughed again and grabbed the king's tunic, pulling his face close to his. "Now where is the Tree of Life? Where is the ancient power? Tell me, brother, and I may spare your wife."
"You bastard. You know Zeal is only using you."
Seeing that was the only response he would get from the quickly weakening king, Moritheus snarled and withdrew a black dagger from his belt.
"Fine then. You'll meet your wife and son in hell."
And he thrust the strange dagger into Prometheus' throat. As the red blood drained from the king, Moritheus's bronze skin turned blue and his red hair turned black. He snarled as fangs protruded from his gums and a new power ran through his veins.
"Auroree..." Prometheus sent the mental message to his wife with his last strength and then the great king died. Moritheus dropped his lifeless body to the ground and headed toward the Forbidden Swamp.
Oh my! That was looooooooong! Please send me your reviews and advice! Tell me what YOU want to happen and I'll try to please you!
Annie-chan: Hey sweetie! I finally got it up!!!
Squi~: Yep! Misao will be in this!
LittleDragon5: Did you find the first chappie confusing? I hope you liked this chapter and I'll try to update sooner!
Shunu No Miko: I always thought Kenshin looked like an elf, too! I have no scanner so I'll have to get my friend from school to do that. I've done lotsa new ones since the first chapter.
Gros minou #1: That's actually a good idea, but I was gonna make this all happen in Grandia in that time period. If I did a A/U remake that'd be a fabulous idea! Any more advice??
Kriska: I haven't read any of the books, only the movies.
Isis 13: Yeah I did! Oops! I didn't disclaim it though! I don't own the beaded arrow idea-it belongs to Mercedes Lackey! I actually couldn't remember where I got that idea! Thanks for reminding me!
Jason M. Lee: Haven't read 'em either, but I love the medieval stuff!!
Aku-chan: Thanks for telling me to unlock the 'no anonymous'! And if you haven't yet you need to see the Lord of the Ring movies all the way through. They are good!!
Love ya all!! Drea-chan