Chapter 73: Honour, Duty or Death
"The world was young, the mountains green
No stain yet on, the land still seen.
He named the nameless hills and dells; he drank from yet untasted wells.
He waded into Xadia shores and found a golden crown.
The world was fair... the mountains and forests tall
In elder days before the Darkening.
A king he was on elder throne in many pillared-halls of stone.
With golden roof and silver floor and runes of power upon the door.
The light of sun, star and moon in shining lamps of crystal hewn.
Undimmed by cloud or shade of night there shone forever fair and bright.
There hammer on the anvil smote
….there chisel clove, and graver wrote.
There forged was blade and bound was hilt.
The delver mined, the mason built -
... there beryl, pearl and opal pale
And metal wrought like fishes' mail; buckler and corslet, axe and spear.
Unwearied then were Licht's folk, amongst the trees the music woke.
The harpers harped, the minstrels sang and at the gates the trumpets rang.
The world is grey, the people old
the forges fire is ashen-cold.
No harp is wrung, no hammer falls
The darkening reigns o'ver Licht's lands.
A shadow lies upon Valerians' tomb,
In Xadia, in Kivotós.
But still the sunken stars appear
In dark and windless Mirrormere.
Their lies his crown in water deep-
...waiting for Licht to rise again from sleep".
That night, after the whole Silvergrove was told the full plan, a huge feast was put together by the residents of the Silver Grove to both mourn their looses and celebrate the lives lost.
Plays were performed, songs were sung and slowly the anguished expressions caused by the wraith attack; as then exasperated by Sol Regem's brutal assault against the eidolons - combined with his lack of understanding and empathy towards the Moonshadow elf victims and survivors, soon turned into relief.
"We have a plan!" Jubilant cheers rang out across the square filling the previously sombre air.
"Three cheers for Arch Mage Sundari!"
"And all we have to do is sacrifice the life of a primal magic human boy to contact Licht so we can finally make him hear of Xadia's plight…"
"He's just a human after-all. Their lives are fleeting compared to an elf's", the widow of the deceased chief laughed.
"If it's the same boy that was here before…." another voice projected themselves into the cacophony of cheering. "Then he should willingly give himself for us elves survival. After all, he lived amongst us for six years… he owes us".
The entire adult populace of the Silver Grovex or more specifically elves above the age of thirty-eight, had immediately applauded the plan and given full throatily endorsed Arch Mage Sundari's plan to save their homeland.
However, the younger population of elves - children. teenagers and young adults - had all watched on silently seething with anger as the adults blindly condemned a boy; a human, to death simply because he was conveniently powerful with primal magic rather than attempting to think of another means of action that didn't resort to sacrificing a life.
As much as younger generation had always known that Tiadrin was always the most outspoken towards her late grandfather's chiefly rule, they had always been reticent to join her. But now they all came together in non-spoken agreement, a show of withering scowls, to show their discontent and frustration at the leaders of the current generation of ruling elves decision.
Despite the skywing elves, and the smattering of moon elves, that populated the commercial river town of Somerton, it was still a widely held belief amongst elves in the surrounding countryside of Lux Aurea that humans were untrustworthy and simply too dangerous to allow to have any meaningful connections with Xadia.
Contempt was rife. And despite Zeren Amari being accepted by one town, as well as blessed by the oldest and mightiest of the six Great Sages; elves and dragons still greatly mistrusted his species.
As much as the residents of Somerton; the town where the boy had been adopted into, had tried to rehabilitate humanities reputation, they couldn't win over the dragons whom remembered the first human dark mages whom hunted and drained magical creatures of their primal essence to fuel their growing civilisation.
Always continuing to 'fight the last war' was how younger elven generations saw the bigotry and derision hurled at the western half of the continent.
Stuck in the past and unwilling to accept that elves were also to blame for the situation that faced the continent's peoples - the corruption of the Great Ones to the 'darkening' was in part due to them not having enough resources, attention and respect [in their own eras].
And so the four most knowledgeable Arch Mages turned to experiencing and experimenting with and on the darkening; and then training human students to one day depose and seize Xadia for themselves.
Looking forlornly down into his cup of elderflower wine - pointedly ignoring the way Lain and Tiadrin were smiling as they sat beside one another and chatting joyfully. Unconsciously flirting with each other, as he now realised their behaviour constituted.
Sighing, Chalkòs toyed with the fringe of his green-tinged blonde hair before gulping downing the remainder of his wine before standing up. "Sorry guys…" he murmured softly. "I think I'm going to retire home early tonight, heheh... see you in the morning".
Lain and Tiadrin didn't react, appearing not to have heard him as they continued chatting but Runaan and Ethari both moved over and said their goodnights as well as offering him comforting hugs him too.
'I guess she's made her decision', Chalkòs thought sadly clasping his left hand over his tunic, as Ethari patted him on the back, as if trying to lesson the dull ache he now felt in his heart.
"Hey…" Ethari spoke up, genuine concern in his voice, "just because they look like they're getting together doesn't mean they will always ignore you. You've still got us", he gestured to himself and Runaan.
"And I think you'll find we're more than accommodating to have a third person join us", Runaan grinned coquettishly, waggling his eyebrows as he slung an arm around a blushing Chalkòs's shoulders.
Ignoring the faux pout blooming across his boyfriend's face, Runaan continued grinning playfully. "You are very attractive after all".
"Erm thanks but no thanks… I'm gonna have to politely decline your kind offer", Chalkòs replied abashedly. "I wouldn't know which way to look".
"we'll help you with that..." the taller boy replied before Ethari slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Runaan, stop it! Can't you see you're making him uncomfortable. Not to us mention thoroughly embarrassing us both".
Glancing down at Ethari, and then back Chalkòs, Runaan couldn't help but burst out laughing at the almost shared incandesce of their faces. "Oh my", he grinned. "I must remember to do this more often. You two are even more adorable when you're like this".
"S-Shut up", both of the smaller elf teens spluttered back. "Just 'cos you don't care what people think of you doesn't mean that we're the same".
"I'm even inclined to revoke your snogging rights", Ethari glowered trying to appear determined but he immediately caved when seeing his boyfriend raise an quizzical eyebrow.
"You're incorrigible", he stated rolling his eyes before instantly pulling Runaan towards him for a heated kiss. "I don't know how we even work together".
"Tis because we love each other", Runaan smiled lovingly twirling Ethari's hair between his fingers. "That and we're not as backward thinking as everyone else are in this town".
Removing the taller boy's arm from his shoulders as he made to turn and leave, Chalkòs smiled broadly at the two for their cheering him up. "Thanks... for being you. And for driving the sadness out of me".
"Oh we can do so much more than that", he heard Runaan reply. "And if you ever change your mind..."
'Smack'
Stifling a chuckle, as he heard Ethari begin a new round of embarrassed lecturing of his boyfriend, Chalkòs again waved goodnight as he finally began walking away.
Glancing over towards the 'other' happy-smiling couple - whom had only, just now, noticed that he was on his feet and moving away - he gave them a smile; that didn't quite meet his eyes, and waved to them as well letting them know he was going home.
Not wanting to see their concern or pity towards him in their eyes, he turned and hurried away from the party square back towards his home, wiping small tears away from his eyes.
Reminding himself of the most important lesson his adoptive parents had ever taught him, to 'Cherish [his] friends… even if you feel like they're moving ahead of you', Chalkòs bit his lip to stop himself from getting more emotional.
Refocusing his feelings of frustration and heartache away from his love towards Tiadrin he decided that he would support his two best friends, and cherish his friendship with his childhood sweetheart.
Sighing as he turned off the main brightly lit street and onto a more dimly lit cobbled pathway that lead to his family home, he ran a hand through his hair and was just retying his topknot when suddenly he felt a cold wind ruffle his face.
And then uncharacteristic chill ran up his spine.
Immediately reaching for the concealed dagger that he constantly wore on the small of his back, given to him by his late-adopted father, Chalkòs sprang around ready to confront the source of the ominous aura behind him.
However, a whoosh of supercharged hot air ridge passed him and he just about managed to dodge the flash and sing of a silver spear embed itself into the ground where he'd just been standing. Instantly, giving him no time to rest, another ringing of metal surged past his right ear eliciting a wince of pain from him.
Flinching at the sight of an elaborate sun-forged axe embedded into the wall of a nearby homestead, slowly charring its way through the wooden post, the boy was about to move again when suddenly a shadow fell across his vision and he felt a sharp pain struck his head.
Dropping to his knees, and feeling blood ooze down his face, Chalkòs instantly tried to conjure the moon magic spell "Auxilium" to alert his friends, and anyone in the immediate vicinity that he was being attacked, when suddenly the familiar figure of the Golden Knights Captain, Olvolvia, strode forwards and forcefully struck him again across the head with the pummel of her sword.
"No help for you little boy…" Olvolvia stated coldly. "As a descendant of Master Licht, your body and blood are required for the ritual ceremony. Arch Mage Sundari was particularly clear about that".
"What are you talking about?" Chalkòs wheezed. "I'm not related to Licht… that bloodline died out centuries ago", spluttering on the blood that he coughed up, the boy suddenly felt a hand grab him by the tunic and hoist him up into the air.
Staring directly into the red eyes of the female sunfire elf captain made Chalkòs feel distinctly uneasy - it was almost as if Captain Olvolvia was staring into his very soul. And he was instantly terrified.
"You may not be aware of your bloodline, boy, but of the Master's flesh you are…" Olvolvia confirmed before flicking him hard on the forehead with her index finger.
"And when your life and magic are combined with the life and power of a certain human, also as Sundari desires, the resulting power that will become available to us will be enough to annihilate the Skeksis from Xadia. And then our lives will be our own again".
Trying to free himself from the sunfire elf captain's vice like grasp, Chalkòs retorted again that as far as he knew he had 'nothing to do with Master Licht' but his denials only landed on deaf ears as Olvolvia continued to scowl at him with barely hidden contempt.
Suddenly he felt a burst of pain as the captain hard slapped him across the face - her fingernails gouging across his cheek - before he was thrown down on the ground.
Coughing from the impact with the cobbled road and bringing his left hand up to his bleeding face, the boy winced again before attempting to draw a lightning rune.
However, Chalkòs was interrupted by the sudden presence of another heavily armour clad Golden Knight striding forwards wielding a giant great-sword, and thrusting the weapon towards him.
"You will submit…" Captain Olvolvia continued disdainfully. "You should be honoured to be given the chance to repent for Licht's sin. Abandoning his people to the Skeksis, for the chance to see the heavens is unforgivable. He may have been our founder once, but now, he's forever damned!"
"Even if I am a descendant of master Licht..." Chalkòs retorted determinedly, "Lord Valerian said that the founder's bloodline was absolved for…"
'Smack!'
This time it was the armoured knight that struck him which only opened his earlier facial wound further and bleed more profusely.
"True", the Captain relied tersely. "But even the Great Tactician wasn't infallible. Nor was he beyond reproach! And so this decision has been made to made, your body and soul will give Xadia new purpose and strength", Olvolvia growled.
Crouching down before the boy, she grabbed him by the hair and pulled him up to face her; making him cry out in pain and then subsequently ran a finger through the deep gash on his cheek.
"After all what are the lives of two mere children worth..." the sunfire elf captain sneered. "Both of you, whom have barely lived at all, should be grateful to have this chance. Compared to the necessary value of Xadia's continued existence, you and the other are expendable".
The golden knight behind the captain then moved swiftly forwards and slammed the pommel of their great sword against the boy's head knocking the boy unconscious.
Replacing the weapon into it's scabbard on their back the golden knight then proceeded to cover Chalkòs with a cloak before kneeling down and lifting him up and hoisting him over their shoulder carrying him away as they followed Captain Olvolvia back in the direction of the entrance courtyard of the Silver Grove.
"Sergeant Florian…" Olvolvia stated coolly, glancing over at the armoured knight. "Take the boy back to the encampment outside the town and make sure he isn't spotted by any moon elves. The last thing we need right now is a search party being established".
From under his helmet and visor sergeant Anders Florian nodded his head before striding off back towards their knights encampment.
"What about Merian?" Anders asked plainly. "She was against kidnapping this boy", his voice straining under the weight of ethical standards towards his actions.
"Merian remains my vice-captain", Olvolvia retorted finitely. "Whilst I still trust her to do what is right for Xadia, I won't lie and say that her recent outburst against the plan wasn't disheartening".
Sighing wearily, the Captain then ran a hand through her braided black hair as she continued her thought. "But she's young. Her heart got in the way before, when we were ordered to remove the human boy from Xadia".
Just as they had been commanded six years prior, to remove Zeren Amari from Xadia, the sunfire elf sergeant bit his tongue at the again callousness of his superior officer to ignore such resolute opposition from another of their targets.
"Remember Anders…" his captain stated plainly as she walked back towards the main meeting point of the Silver Grove. "This boy, as well as the human are of vital importance to the Archmage. So don't let him out for your sight".
As he walked away sergeant Florian felt his captain speak telepathically to him. "Oh and one last thing… once we invade the human territory and recapture the human target, we will have to be watchful for his friends. Both human and elf".
Giving an affirmative grunt back at his Captain, the sergeant swerved and deftly avoided a couple of elven kids running past him towards the main square. With a last look over his shoulder at the children's retreating forms he couldn't help but sigh in frustration.
'Our lives cannot be changed by the whims of prophecy…' he recalled the words spoken during a secret conversation he'd unwittingly overheard between Arch Mage Sundari and Captain Olvolvia.
'If victory is what we seek then we must be willing to sacrifice whatever is required: Human, elf or dragon. Nothing is out of bounds for the Immolation of Licht; and the start of Kataclysmós'.
R.I.P:
Tom Owen. Played Tom Simmonite in Last of the Summer Wine. (Son of Bill Owen).
Leslie Philips. Actor from Carry On films.
Ken Howard. Artist and Printmaker.
Sir David Butler. 'Father of election science', psephology.
[poem is a song written by Tolkien but redone in places (with references to a certain manga) to fit with the dragon prince]