To Destined Hope- yes, Pip is Piper, Tavian is Octavian- I literally just shortened all their names as best I could ^_^ And yes, that's Luke, he is from a back story I did AAAGGGGEEESS ago and will maybe possibly should include in later chapters- ya know, suspense 'n' all. And because I'm evil. So... :P
Lody was the first to notice. Her mind had not yet caught up with what had happened, staring blankly at Bibi's face as if she could mentally right the colouration of her marks. Guards were reassembling, more numbers were pouring in. More took to the sky, almost twenty to the previous dozen. And they weren't alone.
"Don't just stand there! Get them!" The Queen raged, flinging a finger in their direction. Isa clenched her jaw, holding Bibi closer to her chest. Nidas moved to stand in front of them, bunching his fists. Flames crisped to life up his arms. None of the Fae Guard moved, glancing at one another with uncertainty. Atala gradually turned a funny shade of puce, glaring round at her soldiers. "Useless!" She cried, throwing her hands up. She snatched a sword off the nearest guard and stormed forward. The glower upon her face was strong, but her hand shook, the blade wobbling a few inches from Isa's face. "Release the prisoner and surrender."
"How about… go fuck yourself." Isa growled. From the ground, water erupted, engulfing the Queen. Her screams turned to erratic bubbling. Isa twisted her foot on the floor and the water hardened into ice, leaving only the Queen's face uncovered and dripping wet. Isa shifted her hold on her daughter, walking around Atala. "Drop your weapons," she told the Guards, "or I'll freeze her completely."
"You c-can't d-d-do tha-that." Atala said between chattering teeth.
"Try me, bitch." Isa snarled, rolling her shoulder. Atala cried out, shards of ice growing into her back and shoulders. The Guards lay their weapons on the ground, putting their hands up. Isa walked right past them, leading the others. If she looked at one, they flinched; one even fell over in his haste to get away. Nidas scorched their weapons as they passed.
They were twenty or so paces from the forest line, Bibi was stirring restlessly, Angea stroking her hair and sobbing quietly, but still wouldn't wake. Isa shushed her gently, eyeing the trees for any surprises.
One surprise did come. Except it wasn't Fae.
She stopped short, Lody crashing into her and squeaking. She instinctively shrunk into her glowing orb form, vanishing from view. The forest line rustled, figures marching through with destruction in their wake. A battalion of Imp Guard stood shoulder to shoulder, round shields clashing together, swords at the ready.
"Exiled!" One stepped forward, a purple plume to the others' blue ones. "You are in breach of your banishment and are under arrest! Turn yourselves in peacefully and we'll consider lighter reprimands!"
"No!" The Queen shrieked. Isa and Nidas glanced back, surprised. Her soldiers were beginning to chisel her out, already free to her waist. "No!" She called again, half turning as best she could to glare at the intruders. "They are on my land, they will suffer my punishments!"
"With all due respect, Queen Atala, you are not equipped to hold them!" The Imp Guard turned back to them. Nidas squinted, peering into the Guard's helmet. He was not very impressed when the Guard removed said helmet and smirked at them.
"Ew, it's Tavian." He wrinkled his nose.
Tavian regarded them coldly. When they did not join him willingly, he motioned to his forces, putting his helmet back on with a scowl. At his command, the Imp Guards were ready, seconds from attacking.
"Any ideas?" Isa muttered, shifting her hold protectively on Bibi. Angea shot upwards, hovering over her head and clenching her fists defiantly, a knee-high simmering spitfire.
"Freeze them?" Nidas shrugged a shoulder. "I can't do anything, the forest is too close." So he took Bibi from Isa, mumbling apologies when she moaned, pained. "It's OK, mija, we'll… we'll get you home soon. Just hold on." Isa raised her hands, focusing on Tavian. He raised his shield a fraction, yelling at someone over his shoulder.
The shield line parted, just enough for a single person to slip through. Nidas felt Isa tense beside him, the water she had summoned splashing to the grass and soaking their feet.
"Louisa," Luke smiled, "how I've missed you."