Well….I know it's been forever and a day, but I've had school and other crappy stuff to take care of. I hope you guys like this chapter and read and review!
"Diamond's lands surround about one fourth of Solovine's border on the southern side. He will most likely send his troops in three directions so he can cover more ground and overwhelm our soldiers." Zacharius said, standing over a highly detailed map of Solovine and it's surroundings. The Sea's Lord had been duly elected as the strategist of Xeralda's armies. The Lords present in the castle had already agreed to become allies against the might of Count Soroden. Nathaniel, Jayden, and Zach's men had already been sent for, arriving in a week's time. Serenity herself was the supreme commander. "Word has been sent to Lord Malachi, correct?"
"Yes" Serenity said quietly, "I sent word before our meeting began. He and Lady Minalaya will soon return. Especially now since they don't have the mountain thieves to worry about." She added bitterly. An informant had arrived not so long ago to make the situation even grimmer. Apparently, Diamond not only was to use his own people, but also had enlisted the aid of Malachi's attackers. "What will our defense plan be, Zach?"
He perched a set of spectacles on his nose before leaning to gesture over the map. He then turned to the princess, Nathaniel, Jayden, Rei, and Lita. "As far as I see it, our only chance of counteracting Diamond's magical force is to divide our troops into equal magical variety. We'll have to have five divisions of 500 troops each and one extra of 300. When Nathaniel's, Malachi's, Jayden's soldiers, and mine arrive I've estimated that their total number will be about 1200 men. In order to have the desired number, the entirety of Xeralda's army must be added." He adjusted his glasses and heaved a great sigh, "Now, therein lies our problem. Diamond Soroden undoubtedly has fewer men than we do, but his magical strength is said to be incomparable. He will have Sorcerer Generals and entire brigades of expert magicians." He turned to look closely at the other men in the room, "This is the most delicate part of the plan: All of us will have to be the commander of each of these divisions." He watched for any sort of reaction.
"Wait…" Serenity finally asked, puzzled, "There are only four of you and a total of 6 groups that need direction. Who will have the rest?"
"I was getting to that. It is my understanding that…Lady Reilana is highly trained in both sorceress and combat arts." He winced as Jayden flew out of his chair.
"Absolutely not! I won't let you put her in the middle of open battle!" he turned to Rei and kneeled beside her, "My love, you wouldn't even consider something like that, would you?"
But Rei's eyes had gained a special light to them, "Oh Jayden, I'm going to do a lot more than consider it." She turned to Zacharius, "Count me in. Xeralda will have my sword and my fire."
Jayden's look of horror is what drove her to dismiss them both from the council to go to sleep, for it was very late and much was to be done on the morrow.
"I actually didn't get to finish" Zach said, amusement written on his face, "Though I doubt Jayden would have been cheered by the next idea. I was going to suggest that both Lady Reilana AND Lady Minalaya command the group."
"That still leaves one out" Nathaniel yawned as Lita put her head on his shoulder.
"Yes…and I'll ask you both to retire for the evening as I speak to the princess in private for that matter." The Sea Lord said quietly. They both nodded and rose, encircling their arms around each other's waists and walking out. Zach turned to Serenity. "You know what I am going to ask of you, don't you?"
"Yes, and I accept and could not be more proud to do so."
"You know that you will captain the 300, but I have made some modifications. In secret I have gathered all the Light mages in our power and put them in your brigade. Your group will be our most powerful force against Diamond and its presence will be kept hidden to all save our most intimate of contacts."
"Done." She said firmly.
He looked past her after this, his eyes hazy and lost. "And then there is the matter that I have been dying to bring up since you walked into the room this evening…"
"My friend Amilyn."
He sat down, head in his hands and gave a frustrated sigh, "I know she's hiding something from me, for why else would she avoid being in my presence? But I don't care what it is…"
Serenity stared at him intently before rising out of her chair and asking, "Do you truly love her? This isn't some foolish quest to take her innocence for the matter of lust?"
"I don't think I've ever felt like this for anyone in my life. I love her, and I'm not at all frightened by that fact or the fact that I wish to spend the rest of my life with her."
Serenity saw that his green eyes spoke true. She went to walk out of the room, but paused in the doorway, saying, "I shall send her to you tomorrow evening. She will tell you her secret and if you should reject her for it, not even the Gods could protect you from my wrath." And she left him in anticipation.
"You know it's the right course, Jayden. Tell me that you know it." Reilana pleaded with her fiancé, "I will take my word back if you truly believe that it is wrong."
Jayden growled in anger, "What's right isn't the point Rei! You are the woman I am going to marry and I won't have you in battle unless it is with me, where I can protect you."
"I can protect myself!" she responded hotly, "Endymion and I both have had our fair share of battles and training. We spent most of our lives becoming weapons for Diamond's army, studying magic and combat techniques. Jayden, for the Gods' sakes, I am most likely a more apt combatant than you!"
He looked at her, suddenly suspicious, "Why are you pushing this?"
She was stunned, "What?"
"We both know that you would do this with or without my consent in normal circumstances. Why do I feel like you're keeping something from me?" He looked at her face, the epitome of guilt, and kneeled beside her. "What are you hiding?"
She looked at the floor, tears springing to her eyes, "I won't stay out of this war, Jayden, no matter what you say…"
"Tell me."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and fell to the floor with him beneath her. She kissed him violently before whispering, "I am with child."
His eyes grew wide in an instant and he flipped her over, careful not to lay any of his weight on her, "You mean to tell me that you still mean to fight, even though you carry MY child in your belly?" he seethed. She nodded, "NO!" he jumped up and began pacing furiously, "You can't mean…you wouldn't really…you have to be…" he gave a sudden yell of fury and pounced on her again. "I won't let you destroy our lives!" He jumped up and flew from the room, curses flying from his tongue.
Serenity entered her room reluctantly, not looking forward to the following encounter, yet at the same time, yearning for it with her entire being. Her slipper-clad feet pattered softly as she walked to her study, where Endymion waited.
She caught him writing out the last of the arrangements. Zach had ordered him to write down all the possible battle tactics that Diamond had and everything that he knew about the Soroden forces, including each commanding officer and elements. He looked up in the middle of signing his name to the bottom of the files. "Meeting's finished?"
"Yes…it was wise of Zach to order you not to come. If you do not know our plans, then Diamond cannot extract them from you." She said in a dead monotone.
He was slightly taken aback by the comment, but said nothing in reply. Instead, he rose and asked, "Did you send for my things to be gathered?" She nodded, looking lost, "Then I suppose I should go…"
He walked to the door and opened it, just as her head snapped up in shock. "That's it?" she asked incredulously, "No words of love or regret or desire? You would just up and leave me? I thought…I thought you cared…?"
Endymion's eyes softened and he stepped towards her slowly. "You didn't look like you had the heart for such conversation. I don't want this to be more painful than it already is."
A moment passed in silence before she exploded. "Then by all means, leave me now!" She was angry. For what, she had no idea, but there was a hole forming in her heart that was eating her alive with loneliness, agony, and the ice of loss. "Go and die in battle and then maybe I will be free of you! Your eyes have been haunting me, your smile ghostly. Leave me in peace, Endymion." Tears rushed in, swamping her senses and making her control vanish, "Leave me alone." She whispered, collapsing, "Everything else in my life is empty, why shouldn't my heart be also?"
He didn't know whether to comfort her or to leave. Her words said go, but her tone, her pleading told him to never do so. So he opted for what his own heart said and went to her side, kneeling and taking her face in his hands. "This is the moment of truth, Serenity. We cannot be selfish, wanting to stay together when it is necessary for us to be parted. I am the only spy that could get close enough to Diamond and you are the Princess of Xeralda, meant to lead the whole kingdom to victory. Serenity…only you can triumph over Diamond. Only you can gain the people's trust. Only you can sit upon that throne and rule as the queen you are meant to be."
She looked at him through empowered eyes, his words striking a deep chord of pride. "You're right. I know you are right. But…" she looked down, searching for the speech to portray her feelings. "Can I not be selfish for this last night?"
His eyes darkened into swirling pools of ebony sapphire, her meaning quite clear, "This night…we will be more selfish than you would ever believe possible." His breathing was labored as she replied:
"Good."
And his lips crashed down on hers.
"Quickly now! You all are to reach Solovine at dusk. I will ride on ahead and alert the princess of our arrival. When you set up camp, I expect training to begin promptly at dawn and should continue intermittently throughout the day. I will not be there to oversee these actions, so I expect my chosen Commanders to issue orders and they are to be strictly followed. As for the healers, you will be directed to the palace clinic to prepare and receive orders from their leader. Gentlemen, Ladies, I must stress upon you the brutal reality of our situation. We are at war." Malachi's voice was a knife through the deadly silence of his solemn warriors. He turned to Mina, who appeared teary eyed and pale. She had heard of Reilana and Jayden's engagement and would have been bouncing about happily if not for the news of war that accompanied it. She was still in shock and Malachi, who she looked to for support, unfortunately had turned into something of a mechanism. He ate, slept, rode, talked, and ordered when he was supposed to. Emotions were nothing to him at this time. Not even to comfort the woman he loved.
Mina rose and went to his side, laying a cautious hand on his arm. "I'm going with you, Malachi." She whispered.
He turned to her and it seemed as if it was the first time he had seen her in years. He gazed in surprise at the tear stains that had imprinted themselves on her pale face, the pink agitation of her eyes, the slight trembling of her stance. 'Idiot.' He screamed at himself, 'She must have been like this for days and you haven't even noticed!' In a surge of guilt, Malachi wrapped his arms around her in awe. Mina needed him, how could he have ignored her? 'I'm not the kind of man she deserves.' He realized with shock, 'Mina and I are the least compatible people on the face of the planet.'
Mina didn't even bother wondering why he was holding her. She only knew that she suddenly felt so relieved and safe that she sunk into his arms. "Forgive me, Mina." She heard him mumble.
"I was alright, Mal. You forget so easily that I am a warrior also. I know well the feeling of duty." And it suddenly hit her, at that precise moment, the particular impulse of courage, will, and power. She was ready to fight for her kingdom, to the death, if need be.
He pulled away from her, sensing the change, and recognized the gleam in her eyes. "It's time to go." He whispered.
Mina and Malachi arrived in the middle of a tumultuous thunderstorm, soaked to the bone and cold beyond belief. They walked into the main hall, stripping themselves of outer layers and fell briefly upon one of the divans lining the room.
Zacharius walked in abruptly and cleared his throat, "Lady Mina, Lord Malachi, we have matters to discuss."
They followed him to the council room, where Serenity waited, staring out the window wistfully. She rose as they entered. "Welcome back. Your arrival has put my mind at ease."
Mina immediately embraced her and breathed in her ear, "I'm sorry about Endymion." She sat down beside Malachi.
Zacharius was at the ready, glasses perched on the tip of his nose, "I will now brief you on the statistics and plan of the upcoming battle: There will be a formation of five battalions, each led by one of the supporting lords. I, Nathaniel, and Jayden's groups will lead in the front lines. You along with a second group will be our secondary."
"Wait, wait, wait." Malachi held up his hands, "I don't want some stranger that I don't trust to be my supporter. Who is leading the group at my side?"
"That is the second matter of discussion. You see, all of the leaders felt the same way you do, so Lady Reilana and Lady Minalaya have been called to co-lead that battalion."
Malachi was stunned into silence, but Mina wasn't, "Thank you so much for including me, princess." She said solemnly, "I am eternally grateful." Malachi looked at her, his mouth still a gaping hole of shock. "Close your mouth Malachi. I will be fine. In fact…I think I will enjoy this little escapade!"
"Now, Mina" Serenity chastised softly, "Do not undermine this fight. It will be a great event in history and you should hold a deal of respect for that."
"Yes, forgive me, princess."
Malachi was steadily growing more and more flushed with anger. Realizing this with a jolt, Mina quickly excused them both, claiming extreme fatigue. She asked Zach to give the rest of the details in a report for them both and dragged Mal out with her.
Zacharius fell onto his bed in exhaustion. His mind was on overload, holding the numbers, elements, and skills of the entire Xeraldan army in his head. He sighed and swallowed the solution that a healer had given him for his aching skull. He groaned as he heard a knock on the door, wanting to simply ignore it. But he was surprised as he heard it open of its own accord, the gentle tap of slipper-clad feet making its way to his ears. He rose, prepared, if necessary, to defend himself against the intruder. Zacharius walked into the chamber adjoining his and froze.
A blue cloaked woman stood before him, calmly looking into his jade eyes with her own dazzling blue ones. "Hello my Lord Zacharius. How are you this evening?" she asked.
"Evening?" he breathed solemnly, "When I saw you I thought that the darkness had flown away, for the sun was in my eyes." He cleared his throat nervously, "Please, sit…"
Ami strode to the chair across from him and settled herself there, removing her hood to reveal a face so breathtakingly beautiful, Zach's eyes would not be swayed. Her eyes glowed like blue coals and a silver circlet on her brow, a gift from Serenity, gave her face an ethereal appearance. Zach sat across from her, stumbling in maintaining his gaze. "Would you like something to drink, Am—" he stopped in his speech immediately and blinked as his mind stumbled across a question he had not considered until now, "Is your name Amilyn, Goddess? Or is that simply the person that you appear to me as?"
Ami blushed right up to her hairline. She pleaded to him softly before answering, "Please do not say such things to me, my Lord. If you continue flattering me, I fear I will be to embarrassed to speak at all. Let us speak plainly to one another. To begin, yes my name is Amilyn, but not de Celli, my surname is Warluss." She wrung her hands in her lap before going on, "As you must already have figured out, I am not the person that you think I am. I am a person who should never have even met you, but it seems that the circumstance that I was in at that ball made our encounter unavoidable. Naturally I was frightened to approach you, not only because of my true identity, but also because, unbeknownst to you…we had already met before.
Zacharius was shocked. He had met this beautiful woman before and not held onto her for his life? How? Had he been much younger and foolish? "Amilyn—"
She stopped him, "Please, call me Ami."
Zach felt his heart thrum at the name. "Ami then…" he said quietly before going on, "May I ask you some other questions about yourself?"
"Please do, my Lord."
"Ami, call me Zach." She nodded solemnly, "I also wish to know if you truly did do all the things that you spoke to me about. Your study of the elements and your book…is none of it true?"
She smiled in relief and turned her eyes up to him warmly, "Yes, all of what I said was true about my interests. I actually hope to journey to Lord Nathaniel's realm to research the Lournes which I mentioned before."
He sighed, remembering that heart-stopping conversation that had made him love her on the spot. He still loved her, and was very happy with that, but he wished that she would just tell him her secret. So he asked, "Ami, I can tell you with the most sincerity possible that I love you and no matter what it is you hide, that will not change. If I seem shocked or whatever reaction I have, trust that it is based on my own feelings and not my love for you. Please…tell me…I wish to know the secret you hide."
Ami breathed deeply, readying herself for his rejection before beginning in a low whisper, "When I tell you, please know that I will leave this room so that you may ponder your feelings. Ask for me when you figure out how you really feel." Zach was about to protest her leaving, but she held her hand up. "We will be at war soon. Understand that…that I fear for your life in that battle. I am telling you what you wish to know because for all I know it could be a dying man's last wish." Her head hung in sadness now, her voice thick with held back tears. Zach could barely stop himself from reaching out to her, but he let her go on, needing the truth more than anyone else. Silence hung heavy in the air for a few moments before she finally went on, turning her deep blue eyes on him. "I am not a noble. I am the personal maid of Serenity Aurana, Princess of Xeralda." As soon as the last word was spoken, Ami rose and disappeared. Zach didn't know how she slipped out because he was so stunned. What would become of them now?
A week remained before the troops would move out onto the Great Xeraldan Plains that would be the battleground. It was three o'clock in the morning when Malachi woke with a start, pulling out of a dream that showed him Mina's blood covered face, lying in a ditch somewhere on those plains. A cold sweat had formed on his brow and his face was stark white. He put his face into his trembling hands and breathed deeply, trying to calm his swiftly beating heart.
"Malachi?" a soft, feminine voice questioned concernedly, "Is something wrong?"
He turned to look at her, the beautiful woman who had captured his heart so completely, it shook his very soul every time he laid eyes on her. Mina lay beside him, sheets wrapped around her upright torso, which was quite clearly naked beneath. She put a hand on his naked shoulder. He took it into his larger one and examined the difference between the two. Such a tiny hand, yet he knew that it was deceiving. Both these hands could rip a battlefield to pieces. Both these hands could easily slay trained soldiers. He kissed it in awe. "Just a nightmare…no need to worry. Go back to sleep."
But Mina was not to be swayed so easily. She sensed his discomfort and saw the pained shadow in his eyes. Using those tiny hands, she pushed herself so that he held her in front of him, curled in his arms. She knew instinctively that whatever was bothering him had something to do with her by the gentle treatment he had shown her. She kissed his lips tenderly before placing her lips beside his ear and whispering softly, "Malachi…I'm not going anywhere. As long as you'll have me, I will stay by your side and not even death could sway this." She pulled away briefly to look into his eyes, "I want you to just know that I love you, unconditionally. I'm fine with loving someone that doesn't feel the same way ab—" she was cut off as he began to kiss her fiercely, only, she realized, to put a stop to her words.
"Mina…" he said when he pulled away, "Do you think you'll love me forever?"
She felt tears prick her eyes as she nodded a yes. He took her hands in his again and looked into her eyes. "I believe that I want to spend my life with you, Minalaya Anarel. I want to marry you and I want to bed you every night because every time I look at you I want you more and more. I want you to have my children and when I grow old and tired, I want you to be by my side. Would you be willing to tolerate me for such a time?" he asked with a soft smile.
Mina finally let those tears falls as she wrapped her arms tightly around his bare torso. "I can't imagine a different future, Malachi Zendas. Just promise me you'll stay alive long enough to see it through."
He laid her down beneath him gently, smoothing his hands over her skin. "I promise Mina. We're both coming out of this alive, no matter what." With that said, he stole both their pains away by making passionate love to her.
Endymion rode into Diamond's encampment at noon. His eyes scanned the endless pitched tents, burning fires, training sessions, and magic practices. It made his eyes harden in anger. He still couldn't believe that his brother would have the gall to declare war on his beloved.
He walked his black stallion toward the largest and most lavish tent in view and dismounted, handing his horse to a waiting young boy. Striding inside, he saw Diamond bent over a detailed map of the Great Plains. Endy knew that it was imperative his brother knew nothing of his connection with Serenity and her forces. He set his face into a ruthless grin, forcing his mind away from the beautiful princess. Diamond looked up at him and his blue eyes blazed.
"You should have been here last night. Why are you late?" he demanded immediately.
Endymion was shaken by the sudden memories that flooded his mind. It was purely and simply illegal what Serenity and he has done last night. He could still feel her porcelain skin against his fingers and lips. It made his whole body tingle with need for her all over again. But he recovered from his shock just in time to answer stiffly, "I thought it wise to stay and gain as much of their tactical information as I could before disappearing."
"Fine." Diamond accepted curtly. He handed his half-brother a massive stack of papers. "This is everything I've organized so far. It'll have the names of your generals, the battle formation that I've chosen, and magic type for every man who's fighting. It's up to you who leads where and what men shall fight in each battalion. I trust your judgment." Endymion headed for the door before Diamond stopped him again with his words, "Oh and Endy…." He rose from his maps to stare into his eyes coldly, "I can only hope that your infatuation with that foolish princess has ended. I trust you because I know that you know where your duty lies. If, when our battle is won, you show loyalties other than to me, I will have you beheaded. Am I understood, my dear brother?"
His blood boiled and pounded in his ears, but Endymion used all his self-control and laughed lightly, saying, "You have nothing to worry about brother. Serenity was nothing but a lovely face and a warm body." With that said, he trudged from the head tent and moved to his own, not far away.
He slapped the flap open angrily and threw the papers down on the desk. If Diamond was going to act like an ass through all the battle proceedings, then he would certainly kill him and be done with the whole thing. He sighed irritably and sat down at the desk to see what in hell had gone on without him and what information he needed to send to Serenity. The princess had sent a messenger with him as a servant in disguise. Any necessary information would be delivered to her through him.
He ruffled through the papers, seeing the familiar names of Diamond's generals. "Emerald Verdine, earth mage…..Rubius Fiorich, fire mage…." He muttered. He had trained extensively with these men and women and thanked the Gods he knew there battle strategies like the back of his hand. He read on, utterly bored, until he stumbled across a general he did not know. He examined his information carefully, noting that Diamond had placed him at nearly the top of a favored list. "He doesn't even have a name?" Endy said incredulously, "He's just Wiseman?" He went on to learn that this so called "Wiseman" was a light mage and a powerful one at that. "Where did Diamond find this man?" he was getting annoyed with his brother's constant lust for power. He prayed that Serenity had gathered a force be reckoned with. Otherwise….Xeralda was doomed…
The battle formation that Diamond had chosen was the one that he had anticipated. It was the arch: 4 battalions of 300 men each with one lying behind. Endymion decided to have Rubius and Wiseman at the middle two, with Emerald and Sapphire as the right and left wings. He himself would take the safe-guard battalion.
It would be only three more days until they would set out to camp on the planes. Endy wasn't sure he could last so long, but he loved Serenity. She and the rest of the men would win this battle. He would make sure of it.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask in an e-mail or review. Thank you for the patience!