Chapter 5: Getting tired.
"Now bend your knees and jump--" Instructed Cornelia. She watched as Will did so, beat her wings furiously, and still crashed to the ground. "Oops. I think you're too heavy to fly right now, Will." She sighed.
Will, still sitting awkwardly on the ground, sighed. "I think you're right. But how can we get away if we need to? Everyone else is too out of practice to carry me."
Irma, finally over her morning sickness, walked over. "We'll think of something. I mean, how much longer until we get to the castle? My memory may be wrong because we always flew but I think that--" She stopped and pressed a hand to her belly. "It kicked. It kicked!" She exclaimed.
Hay Lin, back from changing Hope's diaper on a rock, ran over. "It kicked?" She squealed.
A familiar voice spoke up. "How precious." The guardians turned to face Cedric.
Taranee narrowed her eyes. "You again? How many times do we have to kick your butt before you learn that you won't win?" She shouted.
Cedric smiled. "Not too many. But this time I won't fight you alone." He gestured with his hand, and suddenly an army of Lirdens (Yes I know I probably misspelled that but do you know how hard it is to find the right spelling online?) appeared.
Will glanced over at the other guardians. They were all posed for battle. But she could see their weakness shine though. Cornelia's eyes had dark circles under them. Hay Lin's hands, normally made into fists, now hung limp at her sides. Taranee was half leaned against a tree. Irma was standing upright, but her eyes, normally challenging and bright, were dull and tired.'We can't fight Cedric like this'. She thought. Her eyes fell on the trembling children, then on her own belly. 'We're too weak now.'
Cedric, as though reading her mind, called softly, "You're weaker than you think, guardians. Do you want to die? What of your children?"
Cornelia's face was pale and drawn. "You'll kill them if we don't fight!" She screamed.
"Do you know that?" Cedric asked. The impact of the words struck them.
A figure, clad all in white and on a white horse rode up. It threw back it's hood and smiled down at the guardians warmly. "Let us take them. They need food-shelter. Things you don't have." Elyon called.
Will slowly shook her head. "No! We know that you lied, Elyon, or else Cedric would still be in the dungeon! You're not just or fair! You're like Phobos!" She called.
Irma edged her way to Will's elbow. "What now?" She murmured.
"We run." Will whispered. The guardians turned and sprinted off suddenly, cradling their children and panting hard. But they weren't followed, to their alarm. Tears stung Will's eyes. 'Is that how bad we look? Too pitiful to attack? Or do they have something else up their sleeve?' She thought.
Cornelia looked at her friends, cradling Carmella. "Where to, Will?" She called.
Will slowed slightly and looked at her friend--Hay Lin carrying Hope, Taranee holding Tommy, Irma holding Camilla for Cornelia. 'They all need me to decide.' She realized. Then she swallowed. "Um...to the capital city. We'll find the rebellion and get the guys back." She called. The guardians sped up and moved to run towards the distant city.
Elyon, watching them still from her horse, looked up at Cedric. "They think I'm like Phobos?" She asked.
Cedric turned into a human. "Apparently so." He said dryly. "Come on. We'll go to the caste and get ready for the wedding."
"No." Elyon said suddenly. "I'm not marrying until the guardians attend. Until we can explain."
Cedric froze. "But Elyon--"
"No!" Elyon shouted.
Cedric looked back at the Lirdens. "What are you waiting for? Follow them and bring them back. I don't want to see one scratch on them!" He shouted. The army ran off, and Cedric looked at Elyon. "Is that good enough an effort for you?" He demanded.
Elyon smiled thoughtfully. "Assuming you didn't send them to their deaths...yes." Then her smile faded. "But they're getting tired."