Author's Note: sweatdrop Forgive my evilness, most of you weren't very happy about the fact that a cliffhanger was left at the end the last chapter. I find it hard not to end dramatically. XD And ignore the title of this chapter, Michael doesn't really play that big a part in it, but something of his is revealed anyways. You know how in anime shows, there always this one episode which talks about the history of the whole problem and how it came to be as it is in the present? Well, this is that chapter! XD Oh yes, and thank you for 200 reviews! glompz all around Hope you like the chapter and don't forget to review – seems like everyone's away for the summer or something. O.O I've got this humongous insect bite on my right elbow and it burns! XX Please review, tee hee .
Dedication: This chapter will then be dedicated to Silver Eyez, my 200th reviewer! Thank you so much for your support and hope you continue to enjoy this fic!
Chapter 15: Michael's Secret
"Princess, what are you doing?" Michael demanded, looking utterly astonished as Carly threw open the door to the castle's library and went straight into the old records cupboard. He ducked as the room fluttered with old papers, all flying every which way as Carly rummaged through them, "Princess!"
"Huh?" Carly looked up, "Oh, did you say something Michael?"
"Princess!" Michael protested, looking all around at the clutter of loose papers, "You're making an absolute mess. What's Enrique going to say when he comes back?"
"I'm not scared of Enrique," Carly replied briskly, "And you shouldn't be either. The whole reason why I let him and Flora go is so that I can find something out. I have to find out what connection I have with Kane and Anglachel and this might be the only chance I have to do it. The Nonda'Kanoste is badly hurt, I saw what the Imperium Gem did to him – I think Ithildin is safe for the time being."
"May I ask what you're searching for?" Michael asked while trying to decide if he should pick up the fallen papers or not – Carly certainly didn't seem to care if he went and stepped all over them. After a couple of minutes, politeness ruled over and he bent down the collect the loose sheets.
"Don't bother Michael, leave them, I'm only going to make more of a mess," Carly assured him. She proved it by pulling out another book of old records, spraying dozens of sheets of paper all over the ground again.
"Aren't – errr – weren't…those organized?" Michael asked weakly, staring at the mess she was making.
"Yeah, so?" Carly muttered, "I'll just shove them all back in later, no one will know the difference, hardly anyone checks these records anyways. Argh! I don't believe this! There's nothing here except for a bunch of old war records – it's like my past's been erased from me or something. I cannot believe that I would have no trace of a memory of anything of my childhood. I mean, I don't expect to remember every single little detail, but this is getting ridiculous! How come no one can give me any answers?"
"Maybe…"
"Maybe what Michael?"
"That corridor," Michael suggested, "That corridor we went down to when you got the Imperium Gem – there was a left and right path we never took."
"Hey…you're right…" Carly said thoughtfully, "And that was the reason why I felt so strange after. I forgot about that stupid corridor… You're right, there could be some important answers down there – let's go check it out!"
"Can't you see the absolute pointlessness of this?" Carly asked Michael, as they moved the heavy throne chair together. "Ugh! Why in the world would they hide this stupid passageway under this stupid throne chair in which stupid William will not sit in even if it takes me the rest of my stupid life to prevent him from doing so." She sighed and looked up to Michael's amused face, "How many stupids was that?"
"Only four, princess," Michael replied, his eyes dancing in amusement.
"I'm losing my touch," Carly said with a hint of drama, "Thanks for the hand. Ooof! Now why am I going down here again? Oh yes, to find out things about my mysterious past. That sounds so cliché for Heaven's sake!"
"Princess, shall we?" Michael asked, lighting up the lantern with a smile.
"Oh great, you're so prepared!" Carly laughed and hopped into the hole, "Thanks!"
Michael slid in after her, holding out the lantern to light the path in front of them, "Is it just me, or does it seem even more forbidding than the last time I was down here."
"It's certainly way dustier and muskier, I'll give you that much!" Carly said, covering her mouth and coughing, fanning the air in front of her, "Ugh - now, should we go left or right? We went straight last time for the Imperium Gem."
"Either or," Michael replied easily, "Because I know you'll end up coming back and going down the other path anyways."
"Riiight!" Carly said energetically, "Right then!" She quickly strode down the path and turned right with Michael after her. Down the winding path they went, past rows and rows of stone walls until Carly suddenly came to a stop.
"What's wrong?" Michael peered over her shoulder curiously.
"That looks seriously creepy," Carly muttered, pointing ahead where drapes of silky, silver spider webs covered the entrance. "I hate bugs." The layers of silver webs were so thick that they couldn't even see where it ended.
"Honestly princess, they're just webs," Michael unsheathed his spear and stuck the weapon through some of the webs, making as if to rip down the silky, silver webs.
Carly stared, "It's not moving."
"That is awfully strange," Michael remarked, jerking his spear hard - any normal spider web would've been tore to wispy shreds - but not these. "Well...I'll be...my spear's stuck!"
"That's not a good sign," Carly added nervously.
"I don't believe it," Michael said, yanking as hard as he possibly could, the material - whatever it was – finally ripped and Michael fell back with an "Ooof!" Then the torn web glittered, a shiny, silvery color, before mending again.
Carly helped him up with a worried look, "That's really strange, did you see that? It mended back! That's no ordinary spider web, it's a spell."
"Why would this place be spelled?" Michael grumbled, rubbing his head, "Unless there's something hiding in there. So what are we going to do now princess?"
"It's Carly," she corrected with a frown, "And I don't know – really strange spell…I studied sorcery before, a bit of it, but this spell seems really ancient. And I don't want to think about getting tangled in that web…"
"Well…" Michael said finally, after a long moment of pure silence, "The Imperium Gem could neutralize the effects of the spell quite easily…"
"No way," Carly said, backing away and shaking her head, "That thing nearly killed me the last time I tried something with it – there's no way I'm using it right now, I could accidentally blow myself and the castle sky high!"
"Then call it out," Michael suggested meekly, "I'll do it."
Carly hesitated, remembering that Michael had easily taken control of the gem during the last disaster. His actions still mystified her and she was aching to ask more questions, but she knew it would only make him more uncomfortable, "Well…"
"Princess?" Michael asked softly after her moment of silence, "Don't you trust me?"
"Well, I guess," Carly replied weakly, "It's just hard to trust anyone these days, but I'm assuming that if you had other objectives you would've taken advantage of that last time – okay fine – if you really think you can make something out of it – fine." She closed her eyes and murmured the same spell she cast last time causing a soft white glow emitted from her hands. In the middle of that glow was the Imperium Gem and she handled it to Michael.
Michael held it up warily and spoke a couple words in a barely audible voice, "Qual istea." (Neutralize spell)
The Imperium Gem glowed intensely to a blinding degree – shining so brightly that both of them had to cover their eyes. Through painful squinting, Carly could make out the silver webs disappearing as they dissolved into silver particles which vanished into thin air as they fell towards the ground.
"How did you do that?" Carly breathed when the light faded away.
"I didn't," Michael replied, "The gem did."
"But you can control it…" Carly said, "And I can't…why…?"
"You'll find out in time," Michael answered briskly, "But now's not the time for me to tell you – some other day perhaps."
"You know I'll keep wondering," Carly added.
"Yes, I know," Michael said, passing the gem back to the princess, "But just don't jump to any conclusions – the explanation is actually simpler than you would think – regardless of what crazy results Enrique might come up with. Don't ask me now – I can't tell you."
"Okay…" Carly said, hesitating, "Could you…maybe…?"
"Teach you how to control it?" Michael supplied in smoothly.
Carly looked surprised, "How did you guess…?"
"Instinct." Michael replied, "And no – I can't. It's not something that can be taught by anyone, either you have the ability to control it or you don't. But sometimes the ability won't be so clear and it might develop over time, but there's nothing I can do to help you there."
"Okay, enough," Carly said, casting the spell to vanish the Imperium Gem again, "Let's go in." She and Michael nodded at each other and proceeded down the web-free corridor.
"This is so strange," Carly said, looking around dubiously when she and Michael entered a little round room. There were shelves of books, a few wooden chests on the ground, a couple of chairs, and a coffee table in the center of the small room. It seemed like a tiny living room, except that it was all covered in dust.
"Nice chairs," Michael said, admiring the exquisite design before dusting off the seat of one and sitting on it grudgingly. To his utmost surprise, the chair's legs gave way and the whole chair collapsed down, taking Michael down with it.
Carly burst out laughing.
"Oh, very funny," Michael muttered, getting up immediately, very red in the face. He dusted off his clothes and looked dubiously at the broken chair, "Sorry about the chair."
"Doesn't matter," Carly said with a wry grin, "Just don't sit on anymore, okay?"
"I didn't break it," Michael protested hotly, "That thing is absolutely ancient. It's not my fault that those chair legs weren't strong enough, it was probably rotting down here anyways. I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Umm…Michael?"
"What?" Michael demanded, scowling.
"I was just teasing."
"Oh," Michael fell silent, feeling extremely stupid.
Carly smiled and carefully opened the door to the encased bookshelf, even though she gently swung the door open, the whole door managed to fall off. She gasped and let go, causing the whole bookshelf door to smash down on the ground, "Oh…my Lord…"
Michael bit his lip to keep from smiling – but in the end, he couldn't hold it in and a small laugh escaped his lips.
"Now you laugh," Carly grumbled, ignoring the fallen door with a scowl, "Cheap material." She picked out a book and flipped through it quickly, coughing as dust rose from the pages and fluttered around her face. "Ugh!" She overturned the book and tried to shake the dust out, but more came out of the book besides dust.
Michael finally burst into laughter when he saw the surprised and slightly disgusted look on the princess' face when dust sprinkled out, a couple of moths fluttered away, and half of the pages in the book fall out.
"Utterly amusing," Carly said dryly, turning the book back right side up and stuffing the pages back in, "Nothing interesting in this one anyways." She chose another book and flipped it open extra carefully, "Hey…these are old war records…but they shouldn't be here then…yup, definitely war records! Shouldn't they be up in the castle's library then? Why would they be hidden underneath here to gather dust and moths?"
"These are all war records," Michael remarked, flipping through another book, "In fact, most of the top shelf is."
"Why…would books be hidden underneath here…? Unless there's something that whoever hid them here didn't want anyone else to know…" Carly said thoughtfully. She shrugged, "In that case, I have to know."
"I had a feeling you'd say something like that," Michael smiled. His smile faded when he saw the angry look on Carly's face and the violent storm that was suddenly raging in her eyes. "What's wrong?" He asked softly.
"Read." Carly commanded, her voice tight with anger as she handed him a book and pointed to a paragraph.
Michael read: The hour is late and Ithildin is once again victorious after a long weary battle. King Aiglos is forever fortunate to have such a loyal and capable army at his command. The young knight, Johnny McGregor, has once again proved himself to be a vigilant and gifted commander and strategist. His battle tactics, though different from what the majority of us are used to, confirmed once again to be most efficient and effective. Quite surprising is it for someone as young as he is to show such great value and dedication in the army – even His Majesty praised him and said that this battle would've been easily lost if we did not have his skills. Johnny seems to be a very –
"Enough," Carly said icily, "I think you get the idea."
Michael stared from the book to the princess with a puzzled look, "I don't understand, princess, what's so special about this excerpt? It just talks about some talented knight a few years back."
"Johnny McGregor is the Nonda'Kanoste."
"WHAT?" Michael yelped, nearly dropping the book, "You're not serious!"
"Yes, I am," Carly said, "Which is why I'm so disgusted, he lived here once, he fought for Ithildin once and now he's a low, cowardly traitor slithering around in Hell."
"That's…strange…" Michael said, furrowing his brow and thinking deeply, "I left Ithildin when I was pretty young so I don't remember hearing anything about him. If he's from here, then how come he's attacking us now?"
"Not quite sure myself," Carly replied, "I got an advisor to do me a report a while ago, apparently, one day he turned lunatic or something because he suddenly killed a group of my father's best advisors. In return, my father exiled him – so I guess he's back from revenge now. My father should've killed him."
"He seems to be quite a commander," Michael remarked, flipping through the book, "The praise he received is astounding. That's probably the reason why His Majesty didn't kill him, because he had done great things for Ithildin before."
"Well, it makes no apparent difference to me, I'll kill him then," Carly said, scowling, "I don't owe anything to him! Oh, enough with the stupid books!" She shoved the records back onto the shelf and stomped to the wooden chests. "Let's see what the hell is stuck in here." She blew on the chest to send away the layer of dust which had rested on it.
"Don't get too close," Michael warned nervously, "We don't know what's in it."
Carly carefully lifted up the lid and peered inside, "Strange…these are…toys…at least I think they're toys…"
"Toys?" Michael looked baffled, "Toys? Down here? This is getting weirder by the minute…if this place is worthy of such a spell to protect it – I figured there must've been something of high value here, but it's just miscellaneous stuff."
Carly took out a few objects, "I think these were mine…snow globe…I used to love those things…why is my stuff hidden down here anyways? No wonder I forget everything that happens to me – it's like burying my past underground or something." She reached in and pulled out a strange looking instrument. "Hey…what's this?"
"Looks like some sort of flute," Michael said, squinting at the shiny turquoise wind instrument, "It's beautiful – look at how well it was carved." He reached out and touched the object, "It feels and looks like some sort of expensive marble – did you learn how to play when you were young?"
Carly stared at the instrument in her hands, "I don't remember ever learning how to playing instruments…I don't even know how to hold this thing properly…" She turned it around in her hands; the design of the flute was exquisite and unique. She stared hard at it – it almost looked like the instrument was carved into the shape of a dragon's mouth. "That's it – the Dragon Flute…I think that's what it's called. Oh no…I'm having memory blanks again…not again…I hate it when this happens, everything seems to disappear from my head…and then I start to think of strange things, screw it!"
Then a strange yet oddly familiar scene played faintly in her head, like an odd flashback waiting to be found, Carly felt her mind go absolutely blank as a fuzzy scene filled her head. She could see herself, about 5 years ago, standing with an equally young blue-haired boy in the middle of the night. Almost at once she recognized the blue-haired boy to be Kane.
"Thank you so much Carly – I don't know how I'm going to repay you," the boy was saying.
"Just GO!" she ordered, "Before Father wakes up or anyone else figure out what's going on – you're one of my best friends, I can't let this misunderstanding take your life!"
"Are you sure you're willing to let Anglachel go?" Kane asked worriedly, looking at the dragon hatchling behind the princess which was impatiently scratching the ground.
"For your safety Kane, anything!" she replied, looking around nervously, "Now will you hurry up??? I'm near panicking here! Hurry up and go before the guards realize that anything's amiss!"
Kane stared at her before giving her a tight hug, "Thank you, Carly – for being like a sister that I never had. Don't worry about me and Anglachel, I'll take good care of him, I promise. Don't fret about us, we'll manage. I want you have this." He took out the Dragon Flute and pressed it into Carly's hands, "I taught you how to play it, never forget it – play it in a time of need and Anglachel and I will always come to help you. Anglachel will always hear the Dragon's Hymn no matter how far away it is."
"But this is yours!" Carly hissed frantically, "I can't take it! It's the only thing you have left of your family!"
"And you're like family," Kane said, smiling warmly, "Take it Carly – call me back someday when you know it's safe for me to see you. Take care – and thank Johnny for me."
"Goodbye Kane." Carly said somberly, "You take care as well." She felt her vision blur when tears gathered in her eyes as Kane leaped on Anglachel who let out a small dragon cry. "Take care of yourself Anglachel…" She petted the dragon's head tearfully.
"Let's go pal," Kane whispered to the dragon who flapped its small but strong wings and took off into the sky in a blast, zooming off into the air until they were both gone.
Back in reality, Carly was wincing in memory, shaking her head frantically, "But I don't remember any of this! I don't! Where are you, Kane?? What happened during that time?? Where's Anglachel now?? Why is this flute hidden underneath here??? And I don't remember anything about a Dragon's Hymn! Does that mean I'll never see you again??? NO! I refuse to believe that! But I really don't remember a single thing!"
"Princess?" Michael said nervously, looking at her in bafflement, "What's wrong with you? Snap out of it – can you hear me?? Carly!"
Carly felt as if her mind could take no more information, she hated it when all her memories rushed out at her like this, overwhelming and pressuring her, it made her feel like passing out to get away from it all – and she did.
"Where are we going?" Flora asked as her horse trotted alongside Tala's.
"Oh, you'll see," Tala said with a hint of a smile – the girl was so naïve, he almost felt bad into tricking her away. Sometimes he honestly wondered where she had left her brain – she was almost making it too easy. He didn't want to do this – not at all – surprisingly, he felt strangely guilty for tricking her along like this. But she had hinted that she knew a lot more about the Imperium Gem than she told him and she had also said that she couldn't tell him anymore because of the promise she made to the person who told her. However, Tala wanted to know everything and he knew Flora wouldn't break a promise, so he had to force the information out by his own means.
"Tala," Flora wheedled, "I'd feel better if I knew where we were going and why we're going there. You wouldn't tell me back at the castle because you didn't want Michael to tag along, but Michael's not here now."
"Okay okay," Tala said, closing his eyes and wishing she would just shut up for a few minutes so he could concentrate on thinking, "We're going to our home valley."
"What???" Flora gasped, nearly falling off her horse, "We're what?"
"Going home."
Flora stopped her horse and just gaped at Tala with her mouth hanging open.
Tala patiently nudged his horse to a slowdown and glanced back at her, "Any objections?"
"No!" Flora exclaimed, looking positively delighted, "None at all! That's great Tala! I knew you'd come around!"
After they had reached their home valley near the outskirts of the Ithildin countryside, Tala had followed Flora around for the last few hours, and he was definitely getting sick of it – it was time for the real point of this trip.
"Let's take a break," Tala suggested, sitting down on a tree stump.
"Okay!" Flora said happily, sitting down across from Tala, "Isn't it wonderful here?"
"Sure," Tala lied absent-mindedly, wincing, "Flora – would you mind closing your eyes for a few seconds? I have something I would like to give you."
Flora looked surprised, "Umm…okay…" Her eyes fluttered shut.
Tala sighed quietly and reached into his pocket, taking out a black, diamond-shaped trinket, feeling the cool crystal against the palm of his hand, "My Spirit Slayer will get me all I need to know…"
"Tala, what are you doing?" Flora murmured, "How long do I have to keep my eyes shut?"
"Just for a little while," Tala replied. He held the pure black crystal forward, hesitating and staring at Flora with a sense of uneasiness. She was so sweet, so innocent – she hadn't suspected him at all, in fact – she had trusted him without question. His hand froze in midair, shaking slightly while tore between the desire to thrust the Spirit Slayer forward and the urge to pull it back.
"I don't…really want to do this…" Tala realized, staring emptily at the black jewel in his hand, "Then why am I doing it…? Have I no will of my own?"
"Tala?" Flora's sweet voice knocked him back into reality, "What are you doing? Can I open my eyes now?"
"No – she's making me soft, I won't give in. I can't, it's the only way to bring him back and I have to do it – no matter what it takes." But something painfully bittersweet tugged at his heart and his hand still laid suspended in midair, unsure of what action to take. Eternity seemed to fly by as Tala finally took a deep breath and thrust his Spirit Slayer forward, emitting the air with total blackness that enveloped Flora completely. Darkness and hatred had still won out for they were too big a part of Tala's heart how, "It doesn't matter – I will do what I must. It's only temporarily; it wouldn't hurt her at all, so it doesn't matter, I need my answers!"
After the blackness had faded back into the Spirit Slayer, Tala was standing over the unconscious, fallen girl and carefully setting her down. He then sat back down on the stump and fingered the black gem in his hand; Michael would be horrified if he had learned he used it again. He could almost hear the voice of his old childhood friend ringing in his ears.
"How could you Tala??? I told you – that thing is full of dark, forbidden magic – it's dangerous! You don't even know if that thing gives you to the truth, it could be awfully twisted! Tala – I beg you – throw it away! Destroy it. Don't use it, please!"
"That's why you'll never be like me Michael," Tala murmured softly, "You're too well-brought up, too careful, too right for your own good. You would never take power and use it for your own good; you would be too fearful and cautious of whatever you don't understand. But not me – I'll use this; I'll use whatever it takes to get me what I want. That's the difference that had to come between us Michael, that's the difference that separates me from you." He snapped his fingers, his eyes as cold as ice, "Flora – wake up."
The girl moaned and slowly sat up with a completely blank expression, her eyes were unfocused and entirely vacant. She said nothing; it was almost if her life had been drained straight out from her. And it had – the Spirit Slayer absorbs a person's free spirit but still leaves them with their rightful memories. The person then has no free will of their own and moves and lives only accordingly what people around him or her commands.
Seeing her expressionless face and then glancing guiltily at the swirling movement inside the black gem which appeared to be Flora's active spirit trying to reach back to its rightful owner, Tala almost held out the Spirit Slayer to release and return her free spirit. "Can't back down now," he muttered, trying hard not to gaze at Flora's vacant silvery-bluish eyes and not to be reminded of the loving warmth that they used to hold. "Flora, I want to know how the Imperium Gem came to Ithildin. It was forged a long time ago – do you know how it came to your kingdom?"
Flora started talking in a lifeless, soft, monotonous voice, "Centuries ago, there was a great war that raged the world – several kingdoms were allied together against the forces of evil. They were fighting a losing battle though, no matter how much they tried, the evil had become too great for them to contain. The young prince, Arinin, of the largest kingdom was killed in crossfire during one battle in which he was attempting to ensure that his army had safely retreated. Bitter sadness surrounded the death of the human's greatest, most noble warrior – his fiancée, Estel, the love of his life, was devastated. For many days without food and nights without sleep, his fiancée forged a beautiful jewel from the diamonds in their engagement rings – this created the Imperium Gem."
"Those must've been some huge diamond engagement rings," Tala muttered.
"The gemstones engraved into their engagement rings were completely solid – however, when the Imperium Gem was first created by Estel, it only held the round gem shape – it was hollow on the inside, as hollow as Estel's own heart. Nevertheless, the Imperium Gem was a token of their love for each other, Estel's hope, and Arinin's devotion to his people. Estel died shortly after the completion of the Imperium Gem from exhaustion and sadness – the Imperium Gem was then left in Arinin's brother's possession, who soon discovered that he was well-protected whenever he brought the jewel onto the battlefield. It didn't take long for the people to figure out that the combined emotions and goodness that carved the Imperium Gem could be used against the evil. It was rumored that the gem held the combined spirits of Arinin and Estel and that Estel had poured in strange powers when she forged the jewel. The humans knew they were fighting a losing battle, everyday thousands of noble men died. Moved by the intense devotion Arinin had for his kingdom, the leaders of the remaining allied kingdoms decided to sacrifice themselves from the sake of their kingdoms and people. They drained themselves of all their magic and powers and transferred them to the Imperium Gem before they each died. Arinin's brother, Thanharna, wielded the gem successfully and managed to use it to create a protective barrier around each of the kingdoms to shield them from the evil. The hollow inside of the Imperium Gem was filled with their magic and power, thus forming the powerful gem that still lives today."
"You mean that thing was created from love and hope?" Tala exclaimed, wrinkling his nose is disgust, "Why do things always have to have such a long, tragic story behind it? And always be some sort of stupid, sappy love story too…"
Flora continued in the same, lifeless voice, "The evil was banished away and after many years without the feast of human souls and flesh, it began to die out. The Imperium Gem ensured that everything was well-protected and the evil slowly withered away. However, human hearts are easily manipulated; uneasiness began to stir in the peaceful kingdoms. People who would do anything for a bit of power and authority began to try and steal the Imperium Gem. At that time, the ruler who had succeed Arinrin after his death, his brother Thanharna, the same person who had destroyed the evil earlier, became horribly corrupted into thinking that if he possessed the Imperium Gem, he would have the power to control all of mankind and rule them peacefully – but out of fear. Many people opposed this idea of dictatorship but Thanharna was so obsessed with his philosophy that he killed anyone who opposed him. He then betrayed the law of his own kingdom and succeeded in stealing the Imperium Gem, creating absolute frenzy in all the kingdoms. Just when the world prepared itself for the start of another war, Thanharna was killed by the last, remaining member of his family - his sister, who poisoned him to stop disaster from reoccurring. Though she knew what she had done was right, she also drank the poison immediately after Thanharna died because she had slayed her own blood. From then on, the Imperium Gem continued to be passed on from ruler to ruler for protection and the juggle for the balance of power and betrayal for power has been in play ever since. Even though the Imperium Gem has never fallen into the hands of evil yet, it has narrowly escaped its clutches many times. A few centuries ago, a brave warrior from Ithildin defeated another corrupted ruler and brought the Imperium Gem to Ithildin where it has been under reliable protection ever since."
Tala pondered for a moment, looking thoughtful, "Interesting…very interesting…I didn't know that millenniums of history come with this gem and that so many people had wanted it." He paused and hesitated as if debating whether he should ask the question or not. Finally he opened his mouth again, "What did you do after my parents took me and Michael away from Ithildin?"
"I stayed in the valley for a while, but then I got a job in the city as the healer's assistant. Because people took a liking to my healing capabilities, I was called to the castle to help treat the knights' wounds. King Aiglos allowed me to stay in the castle when he learned that I had no family left. I befriended Carly and Enrique and worked as a healer there. When the king passed away, Carly gave me the title of Duchess and I've been there ever since." Flora replied.
Tala sighed, drumming his fingers, "How did the king die?"
"The king was worn and weary from his duties. His wife died giving birth to Carly and he's been alone to bring her up ever since. He was injured in a battle and died from the infection and also from exhaustion."
"So Carly became ruler? I thought it was necessary for a male ruler to take the throne?" Tala frowned, "Surely there was some capable male that volunteered?"
"Many volunteered," Flora answered, "But Carly refused to let them rule. She fought them off – she had the utmost support from people of all classes. The people of Ithildin are content enough with her as ruler – but it is true that a male representative should be present. That is why she is getting married shortly."
"Her? Marry?" Tala nearly choked, "I pity her husband-to-be! Who is it?"
"Sir William Feinil IV," was Flora's response, "You might have seen him around the castle the past few days."
"Yeah…oh yes…I remember," Tala said quietly and slowly, "That little snobbish runt who acts like he owns the place already. And she agreed to this…? Willingly…?"
"It is not her choice; it was arranged long before her father passed away. It bears the witness of the kingdom advisors and the signatures of her and the late King – it is the law now. It cannot be undone unless one of the participants passes away."
"And I'm surprised that Carly hasn't started killing yet," Tala smirked, "I will guess it will be done soon?"
"It is the law. To go against the law would mean to be hung for treason. Carly knows of the consequences should she try to hurt Sir William Feinil IV in any way, she cannot harm him. Nothing can be done to this contract unless the person disrupting it is prepared for the consequence of being hung," Flora replied.
"Okay…what a nice little mess the princess has gotten herself into," Tala said with another smirk, "How convenient…how most convenient for her…I can't wait to see how this is going to turn out, it should be most interesting and entertaining. If the princess marries, then she will have to share power with her senseless husband and since men have more rights than women…I really can't wait to see what's going to happen." He paused and thought for a second before launching another question, "So…tell me Flora – what kinds of power does this gem have anyways?"
"There are many mysterious powers that I know not of," Flora replied in the same monotonous voice, "I only know as much as the person who told me knows."
"Okay then," Tala said, "I know that not just anyone can control the Imperium Gem, so who CAN control the Imperium Gem?"
"Only those of pure royal blood and those who are the descendants of the creator of the gem may control its powers," Flora answered, "When in the hands of others, the Imperium Gem draws power which is too massive for them to control."
"Carly is of pure royal blood, is she not?" Tala asked in confusion.
"Yes."
"Then how come it went all berserk and nearly killed her when she tried using it last time?"
"Even if she is of royal blood – there's much more to it than that. The chances of successful control over the gem are small – even in royal blood," Flora explained.
"Then Michael must be of royalty," Tala said, frowning hard in concentration, "But that makes no sense, if he's royalty, how come he's…? Michael can control the Imperium Gem fairly well too…so he must have royal blood flowing in his veins - only that makes absolutely zero sense!" He thought for a minute, "What else can the Imperium Gem do?"
Flora continued in the same flat tone, "When the rulers of the kingdoms drained their power into the Imperium Gem, it filled the hollow jewel with elemental magic, giving it the ability to break into six elemental shards of Fire, Ice, Wind, Light, Water, and Thunder. There had been rumors of hidden powers inside the gem, but that is yet to be discovered. A simple spell cast by one of royal blood can break the gem into it's significant pieces – even though apart the shards do not possess as much power as the Imperium Gem as a whole, but they are specialized in their powers and are easier to control."
"How strange…" Tala said, still frowning, "It can be broken? No – that is not good, if Carly decides to somehow separate the gem into its fragments, it would be six times as hard for me to collect them all! Hmm…but first she has to figure out that this feature exists…still, I don't want to take anymore chances with her! I can tell she's resourceful and Michael's disobedience has really taken a turn for the worst lately – I must get the Imperium Gem before anything else happens!"
"That's all," Tala said with a deep breath, making sure he remembered all the important details, "That shall be all. Now one last question before I release you Flora – who told you all this?"
"Michael."
Tala's eyes widened, "Michael?? As in the Michael that I grew up with?"
"Yes."
"I see…" Tala said coldly, clenching his hands into fists with a growl, "How dare you lie to me Michael! How dare you tell her and not me. And to think you had the nerve to lie to me and say that you were sworn to secrecy – I will teach you a lesson when I get back, mark my words, did you think that you could let it slip by me without me finding out? I will not tolerate this kind of behavior from you – nor will I let this go unpunished."
Elvish Definitions:
(Tristan Falmar III) Falmar means "waves"
(William Feinil IV) Feinil means "selfish"
Arinin means "the noblest"
Estel means "hope"
Thanharna means "tyrant"
Hopefully, that will help you figure out why I chose those names and what each person symbolized. .
The Great Kuro Neko: is pleased that you were shocked XD
blader-chick13: I'm busy too! Oh well, as long as you review, I'm very happy.
Silver Swiftness: Oooh! Oooh! You're very close. OO hides People are very close to guessing. 0 I love all this secrecy. XD
Mika: Glad you liked it! I don't know – I'll let Tristan hang around a bit to torture Enrique. And Kane still won't show up for a heck of a long time, be patient! XD
Silver Eyez: Thank you! throws confetti Yay for 200! Yeah, took me a while sweatdrop But this one was up faster – no, I didn't get the name Tristan from Yu-Gi-Oh, although now that you mentioned it. I picked Tristan because it seemed like a very royally, majestic name. XD Actually, Johnny said one week until the Dark Moon – but I'm still a plot-messing person!
StarBlizzard: Twins? Dead fiancés? OO The part with Johnny wasn't gross! It was ultimate coolness, it sounded so painful! XD
Sae: Hope your time frees up soon! Yeah, fiancés seem evil, don't they? XD As big as Canada, whoa, I live in Canada and it's pretty big! Poor, dear, Enrique. 0 My Michael!! glompz I never see you online, lol, guess you lead a pretty busy life.
Fatal Effects: You know the thing about a guy hitting me with a mallet and stuff? It's pretty close actually, some guy did come along and wanted to start a relationship with me and left me very confused for a while. I was just so out of it for that time and in the end I said a big flat no. Hee hee, well…Tala didn't exactly hurt her physically this chapter? But would sucking out her free spirit count as bad? OO YAY! The Johnny part was effective then!
UniGirl: Yeah, I understand, Aquana's pretty self-righteous, you're the first person who isn't complaining about Tala's evilness. OO Perhaps Carly is a bit like me, but I'm nowhere as rude, I'm actually quite polite and much more self-contained than her. Kane is hibernating. XD
Silhouette Neko: It's my job to surprise! And confused and mix up!
little mel: Conflicts are goooooooooood! XD Flipping out? That's a good sign, right? I'm glad you enjoyed it, let's see what happens between Aquana and Enrique next, okay?
Mental Monkey: Awww…sorry it wasn't a bit longer for you. Evil cliff! That's me! Hey, you're right, everyone IS hiding something, I just noticed it now. OO Can you believe I'm the authoress? XD Oooohness! They're all hiding something! Love is blind, actually I think that Enrique might have noticed something, but he doesn't want to doubt Aquana so he dismisses it without examining it carefully.
RBMIfan: Dark Moon is the night with no moon. XD Questions are what makes a good story, I hope. :P Hopefully, you'll get some answers – and more questions.
Elemental Water Mistress: Yup! To add a little more spice into Enrique's life.
Saffron: It's getting better? glompz Thanks to you actually, I read your entry in my guestbook and I figured that I better get my rear into gear. Let's kill all the fiancés? XD Let's just say Michael knows a lot more than he's leading on, hee, that probably won't make you any more content.
Magical Soul: You!!!!!!! squealz and glompz Looooong review! hugz/squish review You're the only one who asked that question, good for you! I never mentioned whether Aquana wanted Tristan or not – and everyone else assumed that he was another William-look-and-act-alike. You'll never know! XD Please don't read Fantasy Dreams, , I think the writing is pretty immature. Too much dialogue. Tala's slowly gaining conscious, lol, oh, he knows some things all right, but he refuses to remember them. Aquana and the Dark Moon is my biggest secret 0 and of course, one other one too. :P You'll be getting that information some time, I hope – I tend to drag. XD You're right though, the second question will slowly crawl in much later – thank you!