The Last Avalon
By Angelic Princess
Disclaimer: Hiiiiiii again! Thank u to all u ppl that reviewed! I went hypo when I read them, I just couldn't wait to finish this! I have to get these ideas down b4 I lose them! Remember, review, review, review! Oh, yeah, the title of the book I based this is called the Last T'en. Btw, r there ny Artemis Fowl fans out there? Try da book, its great! I have a fanfic 4 that too, plz check it out! Yukito also, in case nyone wanted to knoe, looks a lot more like Yue in dis story. Okay now, on with it!
Chapter 2: Meeting
SAKURA'S delicate fingers closed in fists of rage.
"I hate him! I hate him! I-"
"Sakura!"
With a guilty start, she turned to face her grandmother, Nadeshiko, the Keeper of the Cards. It had been an honor for her family, that one of a minor branch to the Emperor would have been picked Keeper of the Cards. But only if they learned to harness and use the power of the Cards did they earn the title of CardCaptor. There hadn't been one for over three centuries, and it had been rumored that the powers of the Cards had been lost over the years and eventually faded into legend.
Nadeshiko, like Sakura, was pure Avalon. She had been thought to be the last pure Avalon to be born, because of all the interbreeding with the locals, but then Sakura and Yukito had been born. Yukito. He had once been her betrothed, but for sure must now be dead. He was so alive, so intense! Her heart raced at the memory of him. He had earned himself a title for being daring and strong in magic. Her family had been honored when he had chosen to ally his line with hers. Traditionally, pure Avalon did not bond, she would have been the first ever.
As all pure Avalon received a key/staff that was the source of their magic. Now, Nadeshiko lifted her staff, and began to farseek. Sakura joined her. Her gaze flew over the Palace walls and to the plains beyond it. There he was. Resplendent in his barbarian battledress, a defiant red crest of feathers topped his helmet, rippling in the breeze.
Even from this distance, Sakura could clearly see that arrogant face, tanned from the harsh sun of his northern homeland, the Li Kingdom. It was a word to strike fear into the hearts of peaceful people everywhere. The General sat astride a magnificent black stallion.
"Barbarians!" Sakura hissed.
"Come here Sakura." Nadeshiko's voice was soft. "The General demands a peaceful surrender. If not-"
"No! I'd rather die"
"Listen, Sakura, what about the people? Don't we owe it to them? Our pride is a small irrelevance compared with the lives of hundreds of people." Sakura's throat was tight with emotion. Even as the Emperor and the Empress led separate armies in a pincer attack as a last resort, it must have failed. All lost!
Other than Nadeshiko, all her other relatives, especially her beloved family were dead. She remembered the dream she had last night. A vision of a bloody battlefield, vultures picking at corpses, the screams of dying horses and the moans of the wounded. She hadn't known if it was real or not. It all seemed too vivid.
"If only our mainland allies hadn't deserted us!" Sakura said in frustration.
"It is to late for anything to be changed. True, the southern allies have not honored their treaty, but if they had gone to war with the General, it would've just meant more bloodshed. Sakura listen to me. To have gotten this far, the General must have conquered all resistance. He stands at our gates even now. We can expect no aid. All we can do is surrender. We must."
"No! What right have they, to march across our lands and take by force what has been ours?"
"The same right our ancestors had when they defeated the simple farm folk and lay claim to Fair Isle. The right of might." Sakura's skin went cold. She hadn't ever really thought that her ancestors had invaded this land itself. Over the centuries, the Avalon had interbred with the people until they had become just one of the locals, and the people had developed a fierce loyalty to the Avalon. Sakura blinked back tears of fury and shook her head.
"Better to live and protect them!" Nadeshiko hissed. "If we force him to lay siege on us, he will punish our defiance by killing us all."
Sakura bowed her head in acknowledgement, but resentment burned deep within her. Forced by fascination and revulsion, she began to farseek again.
General Syaoran was the first born of the old King's second wife. Wife! That word stank with slavery. Still what could you expect of a culture, that allowed men to 'have' more than one bond-partner and called them 'wives' not equals?
Young King Gharavan was the first born of the first wife, therefore, he had been the one to inherit the throne when his father had died, even though Syaoran had been older. He would be following at a more leisurely pace, strengthening the General's victories. Rumor ran wild concerning the Li General, his cunning, his bravery in battle. Even now, he stood at the gated of the Palace, Sakura had to admit he was a brilliant tactician.
It was said that the men who served under the General adored him, that he lived a charmed life, working his way to where he was by skill and ability, not connections or royal blood.
Creeping slowly across the mainland like a plague, year by year, the Li soldiers, under the young General's leadership had advanced steadily, devouring all resistance in their paths. Through brilliant strategy, in one short season General Syaoran had defeated the Avalon. He was on the brink of the ultimate victory. Fair Isle, the center of Avalon learning and culture was within his grasp.
From his fertile, strategically-placed island, the General would control the main trade routes, just as Sakura's people had done for six centuries. Studying the rows of men standing at attention, she had to admit that despite their constant battles, they looked remarkably fresh and their pride was obvious.
Releasing her key, Sakura swallowed uneasily. She did not like her position. It would have been better to die on the battlefield than be kept a captive. She had resented her father's decision to keep her in the Palace. It had been strongly enforced by her older brother Touya, who had always been so over-protective of her. She remembered, smiling a little, how Touya had raged when he found out she was to bond with Yukito.
She herself had never imagined this would happen. But Yukito had anticipated everyone's objections, and brought them a document, signed by the Emperor and Empress themselves, and witnessed by the head of the Church, the Beatific.
She also had not been so sure. Something about Yukito made her senses quicken with something like to danger. She recalled how Yukito had come striding towards her, fine silver hair lifting in the breeze, piercing platinum eyes fixed on her. She longed to put her guard down. All her life, she had been treated differently, almost reverently by the others.
Having heard of the many tales of the Li General's tactical brilliance, she was curious to get a closer look at the man that had subdues the Northern Kingdoms, allied the Li Kingdom to the Southern ones, and conquered Fair Isle all in one summer. Raising her key, he located General Syaoran again. His commanders gathered all around him, no doubt gloating at the Palace's surrender. Sakura's lip curled with contempt. So it was true. These Li men shut their women out from life. She could not see on women in the ranks.
She had heard that wives and daughters were used only to produce sons or marry off to further the family alliance. They were only instruments of birth. The males ran their barbaric society, leading them on a path of destruction.
Sakura tensed. Anger threatened to consume her. It was a sad day for the Avalon, reduced to Li rule. She would be no man's slave. They were fools if they underestimated the women of Fair Isle.
Wincing, she listened to the surrender of the Palace. As Nadeshiko was agreeing to the terms, Sakura looked around. Despair was written on the faces of the Palace guards.
"…and in return for a bloodless victory," Nadeshiko was saying, General Syaoran must meet with me to discuss the welfare of our people. There will be no looting, no women, and no wanton destruction, or we will defend this Palace to our last breath."
The old women's dark eyes flashed fiercely, and hope surged through Sakura. Defeat was unthinkable, but if they could rescue some honor from the surrender…
When everyone had gone, Nadeshiko beckoned to Sakura.
"You are the last pure Avalon. This is no time for heroics, Sakura. Keep your head down and attract no attention." Sakura would've spoken, but Nadeshiko silenced her. "I will negotiate an honorable surrender."
Sakura left, angry and heartsore. It was bitter to think about it. Throughout the Palace, the inhabitants all came to Sakura for reassurance. She cloaked her fear and mistrust to encourage her people, but she was practiced at this. Since Spring, her life had veered off course and turned upside down.
She would've taken her final vows with Yukito by now. She shivered. Banishing the thought of her betrothed, she looked out the window. The Palace's inner gates opened, and the General entered, riding a magnificent black stallion, flanked by his commanders.
The people watched sullenly as the barbarian conquerors filed into the courtyard, without shedding a drop of blood. General Syaoran was followed by his Elite Guard.
Rage seared through Sakura as she stood at the tower window. She hated General Syaoran with all her heart. Shut away from everyone, she brooded in her anger, until the shrill sounds of excitement could be heard, telling her that the General was making his way to Nadeshiko, Keeper of the Cards.
Sakura knew she was supposed to stay out of sight, but she wanted to hear them desperately, to judge the man herself. So she slipped on a cloak and joined the scurrying workers on the stairs and corridors.
Truly, she had meant to follow Nadeshiko's advice, but as she passed the Great Library, she heard a terrible commotion. Impulsively, Sakura tiptoed and quickly slipped into the library. All the knowledge of the Palace was in there, held in trust by the Keeper of Knowledge.
Before she could take in the chaos around her, the old scholar had thrown his frail body between the barbarians and his charges. Already they had broken several jars and exposed ancient scrolls to the air. When they broke the next jar, the old man screeched in dismay. The Li soldiers only laughed.
A flash of fury ignited Sakura. These men were animals!
The largest soldier picked up another jar, ready to break it.
"Cease!" At Sakura's command he stopped. The men looked over at her, startled. "You must stop this wanton destruction immediately. The knowledge in this room has been collected over-"
They recovered and laughed. Sakura strode over to the nearest soldier, who held the old man and cuffed him over the head like an errant schoolboy.
"This is an outrage, Have you no respect for the Keeper of Knowledge?"
The soldier and his partner released the old man. Leering, they turned to her. Sakura, too late, realized her mistake, as both men were armed. But they ignored their weapons, seeking instead to grab her.
She ducked under the guard of the first, swung her foot at his knees and bringing him to the floor. The second caught her arm, but instead of pulling, she went against his strength, to elbow him in the ribs and jerk her head back into his face. His nose broke with a satisfying crunch.
These had been simple maneuvers taught early in childhood. The Keeper of Knowledge gave a shrill laugh, which spurred the other three to attack her. Experience told her the only way she could get out of this mess was to place herself carefully, so that they could only attack her one at a time. With this in mind, she kicked the first on in the knee. He went down cursing.
Suddenly, they encircled her. Seeing their intention, she broke away when the other two were upon her.
Furious, she twisted in their grasp, They succeeded in pinning her arms. All by now nursing various injuries, surrounded her. Their expressions told her they were intent upon exacting revenge. One fingered the neckline of her gown. She saw their heated looks.
They laughed. Her outrage battled against cold dismay. So it was also true, these Li's raped female captives. Such an act was an abomination to her people.
"Barbarians!" she hissed, balling her fingers into a fist. That was when the General had entered. She writhed under his calculating gaze, caught at a disadvantage. She wanted to rage indefinitely at him, but already her actions had cost her her dignity. Sakura knew she must not anger this barbarian. If he so chose, he could have everyone in the Palace executed.
Channeling her fear, she tried to think clearly. She could not afford anger to take over. This was war--she had to use every weapon she had. Nadeshiko had claimed that everyone had a weakness. If only she could reach her key!
Meeting his coppery eyes, she made her stand.
"According to the terms of surrender…" she swallowed--how it galled her to use that word!--"There is to be no wanton destruction. I found these fools in here smashing pots and destroying our most precious parchments. I call on you now to honor these terms and preserve this knowledge. Remember, knowledge has no loyalty. It is the tool of the wise."
She let the words flow, but her mind lay on what could be going on behind that penetrating gaze. If she could just reach her key, she might be able to read his mind and discover his weakness. The Elite Guard waited to hear the General's response.
Syaoran shifted, irritation gnawing at him. He didn't need this girl-woman lecturing him on the terms of surrender. But what rankled him the most was the knowledge that she was right. His men had done wrong and would have to be punished.
Already he had confronted the aged crone--Nadeshiko--who seemed to think that she would be representing her people. He would have laughed. Back home, when a woman was past child-bearing age, she was good for little else.
Syaoran remembered with a painful flash, his mother, Yelan, hobbling around in the courtyard. She had always been so proud of him, and he had never acknowledged her--she didn't expect him to. When he was away fighting, she had come down with a fever, like hundreds of others, but she wouldn't have been given any medicine. Only people who were worth it were given medicine. If he had been home, he would ordered some given to her, but he hadn't, and he had thought that the guilt had been forgotten, but the sight of that proud old lady brought it back.
Yet when she spoke, the people treated her with the utmost respect and reverence. Of course Nadeshiko was pure Avalon, but what could she do? Did these people know something about them that he didn't?
And now he had another one of these Avalon women. She had taken on five of his Elite Guard in defense of an old bag of bones and a library of knowledge. It amused him, though he wasn't about to show it.
"Who are you to speak that way to your captor?"
"Release me."
He stiffened, irritated by her demand, but his Guard had been in the wrong and it was time to compromise. He nodded to his men.
"Release the Avalon and no more destruction--"
"And they can help the Keeper of Knowledge restore this place," his captive interrupted, in the tone of voice that said she was used to giving orders. He knew immediately that she had to be one of the royal line.
The guards stepped away from her and she tossed her head and shrugged her shoulders as if to get rid of the imprint of their hands. He wondered about what they said was true--that Avalon women did not know true modesty because they would allow no one to sully their perfect, creamy flesh. Heat suffused him, but again his soldier-training rose to the surface. He wanted answers.
"Very well," he demanded. "Who are you?" A prickle of excitement moved over his skin as he noted fury flame in her emerald eyes.
"I am Sakura of the Royal Avalon," she said, including herself as part of the Royal Family. Lifting her chin, she held his eyes steadily. A well-bred woman of his race would've looked down deferentially, especially one not wed yet.
Syaoran thought, She is one of the Royal House. By rights I should have her killed, she would encourage rebellion.
"Sakura," he acknowledged. She was too sure of herself, he needed her more malleable. If he was to use her, he had to frighten her. Deliberately rude, he nodded to one of his men.
"Lock her in with the old crone." He caught a flicker of triumph in her carefully schooled features. Was she pleased to be locked in with the old woman? He felt his mouth tighten into a grim line of annoyance. Privately he found her unsettling. He would have to decide what to do with her. Killing a female would not bother him. But after nearly eleven years of war, he felt he had seen too many deaths. More importantly, he could use her. But to be of use to him, she had to fear him. He wanted to see fear flicker across her features, he needed to see it.
Suddenly she stepped forward, one arm clasped around a necklace of some sort, while the other grabbed his arm. Her face was near his, eyes level with his mouth. Her large eyes searched his intimately. He felt…naked.
"I see an old woman." She grimaced as if in pain, which sent Syaoran cold to the core. "The fever troubles her-" Before she could finish, the soldiers jerked her away, cursing her and apologizing profusely to him.
"Fools!" He snarled. "If she wanted to kill me, I'd be dead by now!" He was aware that her hand had been sliding down, almost touching the ceremonial knife at his waist. Her comments had to be a lucky guess, a trick. Yet honesty forced him to admit that she had plucked an image from his mind about his mother. Maybe it had to do with that necklace she was wearing?
He hated the Avalon woman for stealing that image from his mind. All his life he had prided himself on control, even in the heat of battle he assessed the odds and next to the King's, his word was absolute. Sakura frowned, her eyes widened, and she looked genuinely confused.
"Why did they refuse her medicine to ease her passing?" Syaoran's mouth went dry.
"Take her away!" he snarled. Sakura stepped back, surprised by his tone. Even his men flinched. Furious, he gestured. "Out!"
Head held high, she walked past him as though the men who stood on either side of her were there to serve, not imprison her. Defiant Avalon!
Syaoran fought an urge to grab her slender throat and crush her defiance. He longed to see her at his feet, pleading, as he crushed the defending armies. He had dealt with kings and lords. He had seen honorable defeat and cowardly defeat, but never before had he feared his captive. She defied him on every level. She made him question the very concept of himself. Only once before had that happened, when his half-brother had been born, and his position as King's heir was taken. Then had he learned who his true friends were.
Human nature was indeed fickle, and he resented the society that judged a man by his birth not by his achievements. In his heart, Syaoran called no man master. He recognized that same defiant quality in the Avalon woman, and had to admit certain reluctant admiration. It was not easy finding oneself a captive, confronted by the victor.
The Avalon were an ancient race. They'd taken the island by force six centuries age, but brought written language, art and music, while his ancestors had still been eating their enemies' hearts to bolster their courage.
Much was whispered about a pure Avalon's powers, their ability to read minds, see the future, and much more. Rumor was that if they had the power, they could even command the Cards. Syaoran had only heard of them, these elemental forces.
"Give the Keeper of Knowledge the help he needs," the General ordered. He stepped out into the hallway. She had read his mind like a book. He felt violated.
In all his years, he had learnt to keep an open mind about matters. Knowledge knew no allegiance, knowledge was power. Damn her, she was right! Syaoran gripped the window frame till his shoulders ached with tension. His eyes burned with unshed tears for the mother he had never acknowledged.
In his kingdom, a man had no time for tears--they were a female weakness. The Avalon had defied him. He had to kill her!
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Well! That was sooo long, sorry if it was a bit boring, but I had to explain a lot of things. Please keep on reviewing, I love all your reviews! And give me ideas and things, they can be really helpful! BTW, sorry to all you people out there, but Syaoran won't have magic, he is really sensitive though, sorta like Touya. And I still don't know whether da endings gonna be S+S, we'll have to see…