CHAPTER IV: THE KINGDOM'S FALL

'Child?' I felt Sir Thráinul's grip on me tighten minutely and I focused on him best I could in spite of the burning heat that was taking over the Healing Hall. 'Child, I understand the horror you are feeling right now. Truly, I do. But now, we must run.'

For a moment, I did not register what he meant. All that filled my head was the panicked thoughts and realisation that the salamanders had come and that Shyael's vision she had told me only a short time back had come to pass.

Visal is burning.

'Child!' It was Sir Thráinul's voice that dragged me out of the trance, the sharpness was enough to keep me focused on him.

'To the door!' He told me as he pulled at my robes before leading me to the Healing Halls' door and throwing his weight against it. I held back a relieved sob when the door opened, but the noise that left me was one of despair the moment I beheld the battle taking place in the palace halls.

Centauroi and earth-elfen soldiers filled the hallways, their swords clashed against the flaming weapons of the fire-breathers, blood stained their armours - whether it is their kinsmen's blood or that of the foes' I cannot tell - and some were already sporting wounds of varying degrees. I froze at the sight and I could feel the horror coursing through me but all too soon, my companion snatched my sleeve and began dragging me through a different path, shouting for me to keep up. Though my legs were longer than his, I found myself being outrun by my far shorter companion. How he did that, I will never know.

He stopped abruptly when we came upon a door and I paused at the sight of it.

This was where the ones in seclusion are.

'Child, is this door unlocked?' Sir Thráinul asked me, his tone urgent.

Hesitantly, I brought up a hand and rapped my knuckles against the wood in the pattern Teroth had taught me.

'Teroth?' I called out hesitantly. 'Teroth, are you there?'

I was not expecting the door to open at all. I was expecting the salamanders to have come to slaughter me and my companion. That Teroth had managed to escape already.

And yet, the door opened and I found Teroth's pale grey eyes looking at me in disbelief.

'Linor.' He breathed out.

Without warning, he pulled me in and without further thought, I did the same with Sir Thráinul and the next thing we knew, Halor had thrown my companion away from me and was covering my mouth with my veil, muffling my whimpers.

'Hush, Aelinor.' Halor hissed to me, his white eyes flashing in warning. 'If you do not wish to be killed today then stay your tongue.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Frerin scowled at the elf that had pushed his companion against the wall, clearly attempting to suffocate her. Struggling to his feet once more, Frerin cleared his throat to get his attention.

'Might I kindly ask you to unhand my companion?' He ground out. 'I'm afraid she does not seem to appreciate being suffocated.'

However, the moment he spoke, the dwarf prince found a hand being placed upon his mouth and Frerin moved on instinct by leaning forward slightly before striking whoever was behind him with the use of his head. He heard the satisfying crack of a nose breaking and Frerin hurriedly moved away from his captor, glaring at the insolent boy that dared try to capture him.

'Try that again, boy,' Frerin spat out, 'and you will find me to be more dangerous than whatever dangers lie beyond this room.'

The boy only shot him a dark glare - it would have been impressive were his hair not a soft shade of pink - before he stood up, a hand covering the bleeding mess that Frerin had made of his nose. The exiled prince did not regret his action and watched him warily.

'I think it best you release my companion lest you wish to see what I am capable of.'

'Will you shut up.' The other elf hissed at him, his eyes of pure white being focused upon him for a moment. 'Just stay silent unless you want us discovered and killed.'

'Then tell that to my companion!' He snapped, gesturing to Aelinor who was watching everything happen with wide eyes. 'She does not need to be suffocated just so she would remain silent!'

The other elf looked at him before releasing Aelinor who collapsed to the floor, trembling.

Frerin was about to rush to her aid when the boy that dared to silence him had gotten to her before he did.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

'Come, Linor.' Teroth, helped me sit up and he rubbed my back, his brows knitted together in concern. 'You look a mess.' He told me with a weak smile.

I offered him a weak smile. 'No worse a mess than you, 'Roth.' I replied.

It was only when Teroth helped me stand that I realised some of our numbers were missing.

'Where is Dagadan, Ilyarana, Oracle Chasianna and Oracle Aralas?' I asked, dread pooling at the pit of my stomach. 'And Seers Quaela, Finion and Magor?'

Teroth placed both hands on my shoulders and he raised his brows at me. 'Linor. Breathe.'

As he had done before, he took in a deep breath and waited until I mimicked him before he spoke. 'Dagadan had gone to fetch Oracle Chasianna, Ilyarana was with Oracle Aralas to consult with the royal advisors about one of her visions.'

'And the Seers?'

'Seer Quaela had gone into the city earlier this morn, I do not know their fate.' Teroth told me grimly. 'Frankly, I have no desire to. Seers Finion and Magor are in the war council, Lord of Gates and Blind Father only knows what had become of them now.'

I nodded, my heart still pounding wildly within me. Swallowing past the fear that I could feel was consuming me, I focused on Teroth and winced at his bloodied face.

'I'm so sorry for what Sir Thráinul had done,' I told him as I moved to wipe away the blood with my veil. 'I do not think he planned to do anything malicious to you.' I hurried to tell my fellow prophet.

Teroth snorted, wincing at the noise he made before he shook his head slightly. 'He was reasonably malicious.' He replied dryly as he helped me stand. 'For now, we can only hope to wait for the others' arrival.'

'Hope?' Sir Thráinul asked incredulously. 'Why must we wait here when there are now three able-bodied elves here larger than those horse-human hybrids that can fight them of?'

Teroth and I exchanged worried looks before Halor stepped in to speak for us.

'Simple. Those with the Sight do not kill.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Frerin looked at the three elves before him before he groaned and ran a hand through his hair only to freeze when he realised his beads were not there.

'Khakf.' He muttered. 'Why in Mahal's name do you not kill? Is it for some self-righteous reason that only you-'

'We kill and it taints us.' Aelinor cut him off, her voice coming out in a rush. 'Our souls, our gift, everything. Once blood is spilt by us, all we can see are the worst possible outcomes, we would see nothing else.'

Frerin looked at each of them and he felt frustration grow within him. He cannot fault them for being careful with their abilities but with each of them being unable to kill, much less fight, he knew they would be found and slaughtered in only a matter of moments.

'Are there repercussions to fighting in self-defence?' He asked carefully. 'Injuring but not killing?'

Concerned looks were exchanged and Frerin was tempted to snap at them before he took in a slow breath and counted the seconds that passed until the eldest elf among the three - the one that had attempted to suffocate Aelinor - stepped forward.

'As long as we do not take a life, I think we shall be able to manage.' He spoke stiffly, visibly uncomfortable with having to address Frerin.

He would simply have to deal with it. Frerin had no time to waste if he was to find a way to rescue these three and the others if what the boy had said was true. Where their king was in their time of need, Frerin did not know. For the time being, they will simply have to make do with an exiled prince from a mountain kingdom that is nonexistent in this realm.

'Very well then,' he muttered an oath under his breath before gesturing to the door, 'we best get out and I shall see about acquiring weapons for all of us.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Adanion fought through the crowds of panicked nobles and seers to reach his son, his hand outstretched for the younger elf to take hold of.

'Larethian!'

'Father!'

Relieved, the king pushed his way to where he heard his son's voice. The moment he caught sight of his child's silver hair, he pulled the younger elf into his embrace and took in a deep breath.

'You should have gone with your mother.' He muttered under his breath. 'With the other members of the court that had joined the mass evacuation.'

'To Uncle Amthalion in Credal?' His son asked with a raised brow. 'I think not.'

Without further words, Adanion watched as his son unsheathed his sword, his expression already set with that hard-headed determination his beloved Nimel often bore when she knew she would fight to get her way. Adanion wanted nothing more than to see his son safe from harm and from what he knew was likely to be certain death.

Unfortunately, Larethian took his duties as the Crown Prince of Visal seriously and was not one to abandon his kingdom in their time of need.

That was how the King of Visal found himself giving directions to his son so Larethian may be able to lead the rest of the nobility out of the palace and into safety.

'But what of the battle raging outside?' His heir asked.

'Do not worry. Follow my directions, we have guides and allies that will protect you all until dawn arrives.' Adanion assured him. 'Once it is dawn, you are to make for Credal, am I clear?'

Larethian nodded. 'Your will be done, Father.'

Unsheathing his own sword, Adanion threw open the doors of the council chamber where he was holding a meeting with his war council. The noise was enough to draw the attention of the salamanders of Kholis. Standing tall, Adanion looked at one of the fire-breathing sophonts.

'If it is war you seek, then I highly suggest you cut off this kingdom's head.' He said in so calm a manner that even he found himself surprised.

The salamander he addressed chuckled and tilted its reptilian head before he made to stalk forward, its eyes of ember burning with the challenge the king himself had presented.

'Impertinent King,' he hissed as he brought up his sword aflame with magick fire to clash against Adanion's own blade of enchanted steel, 'your kingdom already burns and yet here you are behaving as if you still have power over anything.'

Pushing against the flaming sword, Adanion caught sight of the other fire-breathers eyeing his seers, council and his son. Gritting his teeth, the silver-haired king pushed his weight against the salamander and swung his blade.

With one salamander killed, Adanion met his son's gaze for a moment before he focused on their oncoming enemy.

'Kill me and be done with this war.' He spat out, anger boiling through his veins. 'But first, let us see if you would even be able to reach me lest you wish to see your head cut off.'

Knowing his taunts would be enough to rile up the hot-blooded sophonts, Adanion sped down the halls and hurriedly began avoiding the blasts of red fire being spat in his direction.

Gentle Mother protect you and Blind Father guide you, Larethian.
May the Lord of Gates allow us to meet again in our lives to come.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Frerin looked at each of his current companions and he sighed. He had led them out of their chamber to seek weapons and they were greeted with a grisly sight. The half-human, half-horse hybrids had been burned or slaughtered severely and the reptilian looking creatures - ironically called salamanders by his companions - scattered the floor as well though their corpses were in lesser numbers than the former creature's. To see such carnage was something he was unfazed by even if the creatures were not something he was familiar with but the moment he looked behind him he was met with varying expressions of grief and horror.

'You will have to swallow that fear.' Frerin heard himself say, his tone blank. 'Today, you will be soldiers and that would mean using your fallen comrades' weapons.'

Approaching three of the horse-human hybrids, Frerin retrieved their swords and went to the three elves, handing them one. Though he noted how Aelinor hesitantly took hers with the use of her veil. Frerin did not comment on it and instead looked through the corpses to find something for himself.

'What can kill these fire-breathing worms?' He asked, his voice coming across as if he had spoken from a great distance.

'They die like any sophont. Choose whatever weapon you need.' It was the older elf, Halor, that replied and Frerin nodded.

Though he would have gone for the horse-human hybrid's sword, Frerin caught sight of the sword of the reptilian creatures.

It was made of black metal and aflame with a fire he did not know well.

Without thinking, he bent down and took the weapon.

It did not burn him like he was expecting.

'Sir Thráinul?' Aelinor's voice broke through his fog and Frerin looked at the young prophet and saw the fear and worry in her eyes.

'I shall use the enemy's weapon.' He explained calmly before he began leading the three elves through halls he knew nothing of.

He would have spoken to the marble walls were it not screaming at him in fear and chaos.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Adanion collapsed against the wall as the burning blade of a salamander buried itself into his flesh. Breathing heavily, the king looked at the foot-soldier in disdain as he forced himself to rise once more, his sword held tightly in his hand.

'It would take more than that to fell me.' He spat out.

The salamander laughed, it was a cold and dark sort that settled deep into his very bones. 'And why would I need to fell you, O King?' He asked mockingly. 'I just need to injure you enough to kill you.'

'Then do it.' He taunted, noting the way the salamander's eyes seemed to flash in anger. 'Or are you enough of a coward to strike me then run back to your commander claiming heroship for something you were unable to see through? I killed your brothers and sisters easily enough yet you seem-'

Without warning, Adanion was struck by the salamander with the use of his gauntlet. Crying out in pain, the king tried to hold his own only for the soldier to disarm him with two moves. Kicking Adanion to the ground, the king was about to attempt to escape when the salamander pinned him to the ground with the use of his flaming sword, causing him to let out a scream as the burning blade pierced his shoulder.

'You were saying, Fallen King?' The soldier taunted, his tongue coming out to hiss at the earthborn elf.

Adanion was unable to focus on his foe as he was taunted and he could feel his vision fading in and out as his foe leant down, clawed fingers tracing the flesh of his throat.

'You will either die by blood or fire, O King.' The soldier drawled. 'Which is a more preferable method to you?'

Adanion was about to speak when a sword impaled the salamander that was only moments away from killing him. Adanion recognised the sword as his and when the salamander fell, he recognised his saviour as well.

Despair filled the king when he saw the horrified gaze of Oracle Aralas who still held the king's sword that was now dripping red with blood.

'Lady of Mirrors, forgive me my trespasses.' The oracle muttered as he cast aside the blade and rushed to Adanion's side where he proceeded to pull out the fiery weapon and tossed it to the side.

'What have you done?' Adanion panted out as the oracle helped him sit up, wincing as he felt the burns on his shoulder. He knew there were burns upon his neck and likely on one side of his face, but he focused himself with worrying over his oracle. 'You know the price you must pay.' He tried to keep control of his words even though it came out slurred.

In spite of his words, Aralas did not look fazed at what he had done.

'I had seen my first death in this palace tonight, Your Majesty.' He said, hushed. 'I would rather not see the fall of my king if I can help it.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Frerin moved on instinct as he heard the noise Aelinor made. Ever since they had gone and explored through the halls in search of the others, Frerin had learned of each of his companions' strengths.

Combat was not Aelinor's strength.

At least, not combat that must be controlled or planned.

She was the sort to move on instinct and it was made clear when she would evade the blades of the reptilian creatures but was clear that she did not know how to block the swords being aimed to harm her.

Cursing under his breath, Frerin ran and impaled the creature with the flaming sword the dwarf prince had claimed before pulling it down, partially bisecting him. Stumbling back as he heard its agonised screams, Frerin looked at Aelinor who looked beyond shaken and was only holding onto the sword he had given her.

'Aelinor,' he called to her, 'give the boy your sword.'

For a moment, he saw a readiness to argue but all too soon, it was gone. Quietly, she gave the pink-haired boy the sword and ducked her head. He will teach her the finer art of self-defence later.

When they are all safe from these dangers he will see to it they all know how to protect themselves.

'Halor,' he looked at the eldest elf among them and jerked his head in the direction of the hall, 'lead the way to where your companions are.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Ilyarana was dead.

She had apparently been the first to kill a soldier of Kholis when the attack begun and so, she paid the price with her life when the salamanders caught up to her and Aralas after they ran.

Aralas had looked to be so filled with self-loathing as he relayed the events to Adanion that the king held the oracle for as long as he dared before he reminded the oracle that they had to continue on.

'Where are the others?' The oracle asked. 'The Seers and noble-folk? And the Crown Prince?'

'All safe now.' Adanion responded as he leaned his weight against the oracle. 'I gave him instructions and he knows better than to jeopardise his people.'

Aralas nodded.

In silence, the two continued to walk through the halls in hopes of being able to reach Adanion's private study where his own escape route would be there. But with each passing moment, Adanion grew more aware of the many fires being set by their foes and his own hope for their survival dwindles further into despair as he thinks of the possibility that he may die alongside Aralas.

His death was one he accepted.

But he had made a vow to see to it that the rest of those within the palace and his kingdom would live to see the next day.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Halor led us back to the meditation room.

It felt like a millennium had passed since I had been in this room.

The sight of Chasianna and Dagadan seated beside one another was a relief I was unable to articulate in thought then or now. All I knew was that the moment my gaze fell upon them, I felt relief flood through me at the assurance that the mentor I had come to see as a mother was still alive. And even Dagadan's survival was a comfort for though he was not the most kindly disposed, he was still good at heart.

Hurrying towards Chasianna, I fell upon my knees and removed my circlet and veil to be able to take her hands into my own without risk of my flesh touching hers.

'Chasianna.' I breathed out, squeezing her hands gently.

My voice must have pulled her from wherever it was her mind had retreated to for the moment she met my gaze, she smiled at me and I could see tears glistening in her eyes.

'Aelinor.' Her voice trembled as she pulled me into her embrace, her hold on me tight. 'My little mouse.'

Distantly, I was aware of Halor's voice as he reunited with his own pupil along with Dagadan's report of what had happened and assurances that they had been unfound still.

'-was a miracle how the fire-breathers had not yet discovered us here.' came Dagadan's comment.

I wanted to block out the world. To sink into the comfort of Chasianna's warmth and allow myself to breathe for even a moment without feeling ashes and smoke and fear suffocate me. I wanted to be allowed selfishness for this moment.

But I knew this was not to be.

Not if we wanted to see tomorrow.

'Your miracle may have just ended, boy.' Came Sir Thráinul's voice. 'For I hear your foes' hissing shrieks and they grow closer by the second.'

TRANSLATIONS:

Khakf. - Shit.

ANSWERING REVIEWS:

ro781727 - You'll find out in a few more chapters! :3