Holy smoke, guys. This story has gone on longer than even I expected. I've loved every minute of it and I'm excited to start my next one. Yay! Thank you all for the support and stuff throughout the entire process. I loves you all!
fairygirl716: Thank you very much.
naughty little munchkin: Yeah, I guess that would have been better, but to tell the truth, I was suffering from a little teeny bit of writers' rush. I hope you don't mind that I stole your idea! XcD It was too good to pass up. It must be warm there. ((is jealous)) It was up to a balmy -5 here.
Tiger Lily21: Yes. I actually really don't like the beginning. It's really boring. I always fast forward to the part where she's going riding. I love Theo and Lynn. Yay! But, no the 100 pages do not include authour notes. I always put those in after I upload them into the Document Manager. Thanks for all the reviews!
Glaze: Yes. At least in my kingdoms, they do. It's like any kind of land. Vardon is a coward. He doesn't like anything that might cause him personal harm.
panemonium: I know. I really like it too, then after I had put up the first few chapters, I realized how many more stories also have a Prince Aiden in them. Ah well. C'est le vie.
Dragonblade Goddess: Thank you! And I agree, chocolate is way better.
Dreamer at heart: I'm glad you enjoy it! And thank you for being so patient. :cD
Kimmy7: yay!
assenpoetser: Thank you!
Phillipa of the Phoenix: Thanks. The rhyme scheme was harder than it looked!
Uruviel Tinuviel: I was reading over all my oldchapters and realized how many times I spelt your name wrong. I'd like to apologize. But, yes, who needs slep? ;cD No worries. My reviews are pretty short themselves.
letylyf: I hope Lynn's going to be all right as well. She's a tough gel, that one. I'm glad you like Theo and Lynn. I like to think of them as that couple you know that doesn't give you the creepy vibe. If you know what I mean. The ones who are like best friends as well as a couple.
rainkisser: Well, please don't try! I'll cry if I'm not allowed to read the end of the stories because of your untimely death! Yeah. Hopefully, she'll find some strength soon.
ZOMG, I just can't tell you enough how much I appreciate you guys. You are all so wonderful. ((virtual hugs (if you're okay with that. If not, a virtual handshake or highfive)))
Love
Lulai
Chapter Twenty-Three: Defeat
Lynn took a deep breath and steeled the look on her face. She pushed open the doors to the grand hall, her two guards right on her heels.
"My Lord Vardon," she said in a booming voice that she inherited from her father, "might I have a moment?"
Vardon turned from the wench he was currently talking to, a glass of red wine in his hand. He gave her an earthly appraisal.
"Of course, my lovely Krysalyn," he intoned, sweeping a hand to a chair beside him. His mouth had a smile, but his eyes were as hard as ice. She swallowed her fear and sat down beside him with a large smile pasted on her face.
"I would first like to apologize for my words the other day," she said, laying a hand on his arm. "I was… distraught." She gave him a sunny smile. "You understand. But after thinking about it in my rooms, I realized that you were truly the right choice for me."
She looked coyly down at her fingers casually stroking his sleeve.
"And what of the bastard?" he asked, fully interested now.
"I was a fool," she said, giving him a sly smile, "to choose him over you. He is funny, he makes me laugh. But you, you could give me power."
He grasped her chin. "Yes, I can give you limitless power. I can-" He stopped.
"What is it?" Lynn asked, nervousness taking over.
His gaze flicked back to her, furious.
"You little bitch," he hissed and grabbed her wrists.
They were suddenly standing in the tower. Aiden, Danni, and Theo stood there, Aiden about to strike at the band that bound Lark.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Vardon called out menacingly.
All three of them whirled around and paled at the extremely sharp-looking knife pointed into Lynn's throat.
Aiden and Theo both took a step forward, but stopped as Lynn gasped, the blade pushing farther into her neck.
"Don't hurt her," Aiden said, holding one hand up. "I'm the one you should be fighting with."
"Actually," Vardon sneered, "I don't want to fight with any of you. I should just kill you all right now. Starting with the pretty Krysalyn here."
Lynn took that moment to kick her foot backwards while reaching up to pry Vardon's dagger away from her throat. It worked, and he doubled over slightly.
Lynn ran into Theo's arms which encircled her tightly.
"I thought I told you to be careful," he murmured into her hair.
"I'm sorry," she said into his shirt.
"Aw," Vardon sneered, straightening. "Young love. It's a pity I have to destroy you now." He held out his hand.
Nothing happened. His face twisted in frustration. He tried again.
Lark laughed weakly from where he was chained. "Fey powers cannot be used to kill," he said with a smile.
"Fine!" Vardon shouted. "I'll kill you all some other way." He waved his hand and a cage flew up around Theo and Lynn. They rattled the bars, but they would not budge.
He turned to Aiden. "Now they'll have to watch as I kill you."
Aiden lifted the sword. "You are welcome to try."
Vardon waved his hand and two giant globs of mud crept up from the floor. As they watched in horror, the mud globs took the shape of men and ambled towards Aiden.
Aiden took a swipe at one and severed its outstretched arm. The thing stopped and looked at the stump at its shoulder incomprehensibly. It picked up its arm with its still attached limb, and put it against its stomach, where the mud oozed into the rest of it. It re-grew its arm with a sickening 'plop'.
"What are they?" Lynn half-whispered.
"Mud Golems, my dear," Vardon said smugly. "Of course, they are nearly impossible to kill."
Aiden hacked and swung at the two creatures until he was sweaty. But, true to Vardon's words, the creatures could not be destroyed. He managed to hold them back, but they would reform severed limbs and such every time he managed to remove one.
Vardon laughed cruelly. "You're getting tired. I can tell. It will be fun to watch you suffocate in the mud. But, let's make it a bit more interesting."
He waved his hand and the two creatures burst into flame. Aiden threw up an arm in front of his face to shield it from the blaze.
"Are you too afraid to fight me on your own?" Aiden taunted, backing away slowly from the two fire monsters.
"Of course not," Vardon said automatically, "it's just that this way is so much more fun."
He looked at the couple in the cage. "You two need some entertainment. Here."
Theo suddenly found himself alone in the cage with a sword. A roar from behind him made him spin around. A full grown troll stood there, dripping drool from his vicious fangs. Theo swallowed and raised his sword. The troll lunged.
Lynn found herself in a box with a couple holes at the top. She pounded at the glass demanding to be let out. Water began to pour in through one of the holes, soaking her slippers.
"Theo!" she yelled, barely audible through the heavy glass.
"He's a little busy, dear," Vardon laughed cruelly. Theo was having a very difficult time. His blows merely bounced off the troll's stone-like skin. The troll's sharp dirty fingernails slashed, almost as strong as steel.
"Let them go, Vardon!" Aiden yelled, slashing at one of the fire creatures. It swung back and he ducked just in time, barely avoiding singeing his hair.
Vardon made a pose as if considering his request. "No," he said finally, with a smug grin.
"Aiden!" Lynn called. The water was at her waist.
"Lynn!" he yelled back, dodging one of the creatures to go break the glass. The other creature stepped in front of him, forcing him backwards.
A reflection in the glass caught his eye.
"To cowardly to fight your own battles Vardon?' Aiden taunted again.
"You are trying to trick me, youngster. It won't work, I promise you," Vardon said, crossing his arms across his chest. "Oh, look!" he said with a gleeful expression. "Your sister's going to have to start swimming soon."
"Why are you doing this?" Aiden yelled at him. He barely dodged a flaming arm that intended to take out his head.
"Because the title is mine by right!" Vardon yelled back. "It was taken from my great-grandmother unfairly and we have had to suffer ever since."
"Your great-grandmother?" Aiden asked from between clenched teeth.
"Yes, Clarissa Fer Drewery was in line for the throne, but Annalia, the slut, stole it from her." Vardon's face was turning a very unbecoming shade of red. "Not only that, she introduced commoner blood into the royal line with that bastard of a husband."
"Clarissa committed treason to the throne!" Theo yelled. "She stole it from her father while he was still alive." He dodged a swipe from the troll's powerful claws.
"Regardless," Vardon said, calming himself. "Soon, the entire land will be mine."
"Never," Aiden swore.
The fire creatures were pushing Aiden back. His hands were spotted with little burns that hurt fiercely, but he was barely aware of them.
"Uh oh, Aiden," Vardon crowed. "Theo's getting tired. And Krysalyn is in above her head." He chuckled at his own little joke.
Aiden stood his ground, his sword at ready. The two fire creatures rushed at him and he dove between him, but came up empty handed.
"Where's your sword, Aiden?" Vardon mocked.
"Right here!" a new voice answered. Danni stood, sword in hand beside Lark.
"No!" Vardon yelled, holding out his hand, but it was too late. Danni swung with all her might against the blue line that held Lark to the wall. It sparked and shattered with a blinding blue light.
Instantly, all the creatures disappeared. Theo rushed to where Lynn was lying, coughing, in a pool of water.
Aiden picked up the sword from where Danni had dropped it and pointed it at Vardon's chest.
"Do you surrender?" he asked.
"No, Aiden," Lark interjected, laying a hand on his shoulder. "We will deal with him."
"We?" Danni asked curiously, cradling her injured hand. When she cut the line, the magic had seared along the sword, burning a line across her palm.
Aiden gave her a worried look, glancing pointedly at her hand. She gave him a quick reassuring smile.
Lark nodded, his eyes far away. "Yes, we." The room was suddenly filled with the glowing orbs from the Cave.
Danni laughed in utter delight as her little yellow friend landed on her injured hand. The burn faded as a cool feeling swept through her entire body. When Danni looked up, she saw that the others were receiving the same treatment.
The little orb wavered in front of her and was suddenly transformed into a beautiful woman with midnight hair.
She grasped both of Danni's hands and pressed a cool kiss to her forehead. "Thank you for saving my brother," she said with a soft smile.
Danni didn't know what to say. 'You're welcome,' sounded too blasé, but she didn't want to say nothing, so she merely nodded.
Lark faced Lord Vardon, who stood like a man preparing to face his executioner.
"There is only one law in our species for a person who using a Faerie's magic against them," Lark said quietly.
Vardon lifted his chin proudly. Lark sister stepped over to Lark, and they clasped hands. The other orbs began spinning around Vardon in a ring. They grew brighter and brighter until everyone in the room had to shield their eyes.
When the light stopped, Aiden lowered his arm and saw that where Vardon had once stood now sat a beautiful gold and orange butterfly, idly flexing its wings sitting inside his father's gold crown.
One by one, the orbs disappeared, until only the butterfly that had been Vardon, Lark, and his sister remained.
"Goodbye, my friends," Lark said with a small wave. He and his sister were instantly replaced by a glowing blue and a familiar yellow orb. They swirled around the two couples' heads once, then swirled around the butterfly. All three disappeared.