Chapter ten.

The Sunless Cell.

"All this time and you two didn't even hear a damn word I said! Did you think just because I returned to my position as Her Sword when the Wolves showed up again I had changed my mind?! I told you before I wanted nothing to do with this damn replacement plan you two had cooking up and you STILL let her leave me as the Regent in her absence! So help me if you were anyone else I'd have killed you for this! Are you even listen to me now?! Damn it Uldren! LOOK AT ME!"

Arielle could almost be heard shouting outside the throne room, though most Awoken were wise enough to politely ignore the conversation.

Vlad leant against Variks' stand, checking and rechecking his weapons to pass time until Rose returned while Orion stood with Petra, going over a few plans for search parties as Arielle continued her 'talk' with the Prince.

"Why didn't you tell me!?" Arielle demanded, lightning striking around the throne room but miraculously doing no damage to the throne itself. "Damn her orders and tell me the truth or so help me you will have more to worry about that a broken leg!"

"The Queen made her wishes clear surrounding the chain of command Arielle and with all that has been happening, I couldn't just demanded time to speak with you without her knowing." Uldren stated, "I tried to convince her to find another way, but when Omnigul was killed Oryx made his move. We had no time to change anything or find someone else. The Reef knows you Arielle, her people know and respect you. They will follow you far better than they would a stranger."

"This is NOT what I want, Uldren! I should be out there on the Dreadnaught searching for her, not stuck in this damn Ketch acting as her replacement when there is a chance she is still alive!"

"A chance?" Uldren asked shaking his head. "She is alive. I can still sense her, she's alive in there."

"Then where is she?!" Arielle demanded, "I've had Petra sending scout and search parties into that ship for the past five days and we've found nothing! Not a single trace of her."

"I can't tell you where she is, not exactly but I know she is alive. I can feel it." Uldren said, "She's still here, somewhere on the Dreadnaught." He explained.

"Good," Arielle said and Uldren looked up to see Vakarian hover down and whisper something to Arielle. "Now, since you clearly are in no state to join us, you have a new task while I go searching for the Queen."

"Arielle you can't leave the Throne because I've returned." Uldren reminded, "I'm not allowed to take command of the Reef even if you order it."

"And you won't." Arielle said. "But I cannot sit here and do nothing while Mara is on that ship going through Traveler knows what hell. I will have the Witches measure up Rose, Vlad and Orion some new armour and Variks to finish those weapons he's been working on, then leave the Throne room to meditate in my room. Your job is making sure anyone who asks where I am doesn't disturbed me while Petra and Variks handle the paper work while I 'search for the Queen' in my meditation. Understood?"

"You know this is going to get us both in trouble if you are found out to be gone." Uldren said.

"As a very wise Hunter once told me, the thrill of being caught is what makes breaking the rules fun." Arielle stated recalling Vlad's words from their earliest missions together. "Consider it part of your punishment for lying to me. Again."

"Yes Arielle."

"We're back." Bing stated as he trans-matted Rose out of the ship, "can I come out now?" he asked.

"Yes." Rose nodded and Bing instantly bolted from her armour and hovered by her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine." Rose smiled, "That mission just, didn't really go according to plan." She said, "I'm hoping it doesn't happen again."

"Even if it does, you'll be better prepared." Vlad said and he and Sovereign came over, "Are you both alright?"

"Tired. But ok." Rose nodded. "And what do you mean better prepared?" she asked.

"Arielle has asked the Tech Witches to help with armour and Variks is working hard on new weapons for this, it's gonna take a while but once they have us measured up it'll only be a few hours, but by then we'll hopefully have found the Queen."

"They know where she is?" Rose asked.

"No, but Uldren is sure she is on that Dreadnaught, so we're going to go into the prisons, that is you, me and Orion." Vlad smiled.

Rose nodded, "Sounds like a plan." She said, "When are we getting measured up?"

"Now." Orion said, "Come on, the Coven Mother can be very scary when she's kept waiting."

"Should I stay outside?" Bing asked.

"No, you can stay with Rose." Vlad smiled as they reached the Tech witches chamber, finding Arielle talking with the Illyn while Orion was measured up by Nascia, his usual armour on a stand while Portia took few extra details.

The fact Orion was in a pair thin layer pants and a shirt while being measured made Vlad snigger slightly.

"Laugh it up Tinman, you're next." Orion said, though he did not turn his head to look at them. "Hi Rose." He added.

"Hi," Rose smiled. "How did finding the Prince go?"

"Very well, all things considers." Vlad smiled. "He isn't fatally injured and currently is getting his leg seen to by the healers."

"Lucky for him I need him to at least be able to walk if he wants to be useful." Arielle said, "Rose you can get measured behind the stand, Lissyl is waiting." She added nodding to the stands.

"Ok." Rose nodded.

Lissyl noted a few details about Rose's helmet while the Hunter removed her chest plate and gloves, there were marks on her hands and arms Lissyl recognized as injuries many Awoken suffered during their training to become members of the Queen's Personal Guard, though she noticed the lack of the Queen's mark, a tattoo of sorts that defined the Queen's personal Guard from others.

Rose had either failed her final exam or she had died before she had a chance to partake before becoming a Guardian.

Measuring Rose was rather easy, unlike many Awoken Guardians who were concerned about their scars or unnerved by the attire of the Witches, Rose seemed to be completely unaware she had any scars and she didn't flinch when the Witch's cold fingers would brush near or on the scars and her Ghost seemed more interested in the Amethysts that were gathered on the table nearby rather than asking questions about everything.

"Almost done." Lissyl said as she wrapped the length of tape around Rose's back and drew it taught around her waist before making a note. "You can dress again now."

"Thank you." Rose said as Lissyl left her alone.

"Hey Rose, don't put your cloak on, I have something that might fit you better." Arielle called.

"Something better?" Bing asked as Rose fastened her chest plate back into place. "Like a really long one with lots of pockets?"

"No, but it is one that will prove she's there as aid to the Queen." Arielle stated.

Rose smiled, "You mean besides the fact I'm going in there with Orion and Vlad to search for her?" she asked as she came out, pulling the gloves on and folding her old cloak up.

"Yes." Arielle smiled opening a small trunk and taking out a neatly folded pale purple cloth trimmed in gold. "This is the Cloak of the Sixth Reign. The mark of the Awoken as a people and of the Queen herself, very few were given during the Wolves betrayal as rewards for those who had aided in bringing the last of Skolas's Wolf Pack to heel."

"Still got mine back home," Vlad nodded as Rose put the new cloak on. "I spend so much time running around in the wilds I didn't want to ruin it."

"How is it so shiny when we are in dim light?" Bing asked hovering near the golden trim of the cloak.

Before Illyn could answer with the truth, Arielle raised a hand to stop her. "Ask Vakarian about Reef magic, he'll tell you how it works." Arielle smiled and Rose chuckled as her Ghost instantly shot towards Vakarian and began asking questions of Vakarian.

Vlad sniggered and Rose shook her head as the tan and blue Ghost gave a startled bleep and then tried to explain this apparent 'magic'. Arielle chuckled as Vakarian gave her a stern glare.

"That was mean." Orion said.

"It's the only fun I get until you bring Mara home." Arielle reminded, "Call me when you find her?" She asked.

"You will be the first to know." Orion promised, "Unless Uldren answers for you, then you will be the second." He said and ducked the playful slap.

"Come on lover boy. We have a Queen to find and a Dreadnaught to turn into a shooting gallery while we are at it." Vlad said lightly catching Orion's armour and pulling him away. "You can play kissy face with Arielle when we get back and the Queen's back on her throne."

"Come on Bing." Rose called and Bing hurried after her.

"So, where are we going to look?" Bing asked.

"We're going to head through the Mausoleum and the Founts and then on into the Asylum according to Petra's last report and all Uldren can give us, there is something beyond the Asylum but no one has been able to get past the Taken to investigate it." Orion said.

Variks stopped them at the doors. "As ordered by the Queen." He said and offered them each a neatly packaged bundle. "Variks works well, Taken and Hive will not stand against these."

"Nice." Orion smiled taking up a freshly finished Dreamwaker Rocket launcher.

"Oh I remember this beauty." Vlad said checking the clip in the Hand cannon he had been given, "Her Mercy?" he asked.

"The new Queen's personal choice of weapons for each of you." Variks nodded.

"I thought only the Guards of the Queen were allowed one of these." Rose admitted, admiring the sniper rifle she had been given.

"Arielle said you would like it." Petra smiled. "It's called 'Her Benevolence.' And if Variks has been working on it, then I can promise you it packs a punch." She added and Variks almost stood that little bit taller at the praise.

"So we're going in, killing everything and searching for the Queen." Rose smiled.

"Yep." Vlad said as they took off in their ships. "And when we have the Queen back on her throne we are going after Oryx."

"Where are you going?"

Arielle paused at her door. "I am going to meditate. If anyone needs me tell them it can wait." She told Illyn, "Uldren will stand at my door until I am done."

"Very well." The Coven Mother said as she left the corridor.

Uldren let out a breath he had been holding. "Are you sure this is wise?" he asked.

"Just keep to the plan." Arielle said before closing the door to her room and took a moment to let things grow quiet outside.

"Ready?" Vakarian asked.

"Get me out of here." Arielle said and Vakarian bounced in a nod, activating the Trans-mat link between Arielle and her ship.

They were gone before anyone noticed.

~ "Hello stranger." ~ Orion chuckled over the comm as she caught up to them in jump space.

~ "Any trouble?" ~ Vlad asked.

"Not so long as Uldren's at my door," She smiled. "Now let's get there and kick some Taken ass."

~ "What happens if we find a door we can't open on the way?" ~ Orion asked.

~ "I have a very shiny crystal that works on all kinds of Hive doors." ~ Rose reminded.

"Coming up on the Hull Breach of the Dreadnaught. Everyone ready?" Vakarian asked.

~ "Hell yes."~ Orion smirked. ~ "Follow us through to the Founts Ari and from there, you can shoot the shit out of everything." ~

"Good." Arielle said as they passed the breach and dropped into the fire fight between Cabal and Hive. Arielle resisted the urge to jump in and followed Orion, Vlad and Rose as they raced forwards, passing the fire fight and heading into what remained of the Mausoleum and front of the Cabal ship as they ran, only shooting the Hive that didn't move as they raced into the Founts and then on into the echoing chamber of the Asylum, jumping head first into the fury.

"Someone call for backup?" Orion asked with a laugh as he watched Arielle charge in alongside Rose.

"Shut up and shoot shit!" Lindor yelled back tossing her grenade into the Taken forces. "These bastards have been popping in at every chance they get! Until they are all dead we can't get the door open!" She added.

"Well we brought help." Vlad smiled as Arielle let lose her storm and Rose released three arrows making sure the Taken couldn't run away as Arielle blanked the area.

"Is that-?" Terrik began to ask.

"Don't tell the Reef." Orion said as they saw the door at the back opening. "Move it! The door's open!"

"Ogre!" Yelled Terrik as a hail of bullets peppered the Ogre driving it to the ground as Arielle, Rose and Zaragosa charged it, jumping its falling corpse as they went.

"This way!" Zaragosa yelled as Arielle looked around. "The last scout party got this far then dropped off the radar."

"Move it boys!" Lindor yelled as she and Orion rushed through the door, Vlad and Terrik covering them as they ran into the short corridor and kept the Taken at bay as they moved.

"Which way?" Arielle asked.

"Follow me," Lindor said leading the way, "Petra says we have to head deeper inside but this is as far as her scouts could get." She admitted bowing her head. "She's losing people faster that she can replace them in here so we-"

~ "I believe I know where Oryx has imprisoned the Queen." ~ Eris stated over their comms. ~ "I am feeding an energy marker to your Ghosts, they will lead you to the one who is now the Queen's Jailer." ~

"What do you know Eris?" Arielle asked.

~ "I have searched the Darkness and found a familiar beast, he was there when I went down into the Pitt with Eriana-3, Alak-Hul the Darkblade of the Hive. Fostered son of Oryx." ~ She explained ~ "Find him and you will find the Queen." ~

"We're close." Bing said, "just over that bridge and though the room beyond." He added.

"And past a lot of Taken and Hive while we are at it." Terrik said.

"Then let's make sure we kill everything that gets in our way." Arielle said cracking her knuckles.

"Amen to that." Rose nodded.

~ "Be careful Guardians, Alak-Hul is not going to just let you rescue the Queen he will fight to keep her locked away from the sun as he is." ~

"Understood Eris." Arielle said as they reached a room filled with Taken and Hive Shriekers. "We don't have time for this."

"The door to the right is open." Rose said looking through her scope, "We could run it and jump the Taken Cabal to get past them. But I can't see anything beyond them."

"So we might run right into an Ogre." Orion said.

"Or more Taken." Vlad nodded. "Arielle?" he asked.

"I say we sneak it." Arielle said though she did not sound happy about it. "Vlad you, Zaragosa and Rose can make us invisible for a few seconds, it will give us time to get by the Shriekers and at least to the middle of the room, the second it wears off, we run for the door and pray for the best."

"Ready?" Vlad asked as the three Hunters took their smoke grenades out.

Arielle nodded and once everyone was together, the three tossed down the grenades and they moved as a group, heading towards the right of the room, keeping eyes on each other for the tell-tale sings the smoke was wearing off.

They got half way to the door before the smoke faded and the Taken saw them.

"Go!" Orion yelled and unloaded his rocket launcher into the Taken blocking the door way as they ran.

Terrik skidded passed the Taken, unloading his hand cannon into the closest ones as the others raced past them, turning back when they realised they were in the clear and shooting down the Taken Wizard that tried to strike them from behind.

Once the taken had stopped spawning Arielle searched the area. "What is this place?"

"The Hanging Crypts. According to the data Eris was able to give us on Hive Dreadnaughts." Vakarian said as he checked the marker again. "Like a prison."

~ "'Prison' is the wrong term. Oryx holds his victims, tortures them, then renders them down into chitin for his ship." ~ Eris stated.

"Lovely." Sovereign said.

"Thrall." Bing stated second before Lindor and Zaragosa unloaded their rifles into the charging Thrall. "Dead Thrall."

"Yes Bing." Rose smiled, "Lots of Dead Thrall."

"According to the energy marker, Alak-Hul is just beyond this bridge and then, down in a very deep pit." Vakarian said. "And there's- oh my."

"What is it?" Arielle asked.

"I'm picking up an Awoken life signature in there too."

"The Queen." Rose said and before anyone could stop them, she, Arielle, Lindor and Orion were running down the bridge.

Illyn was watching him, she was always watching him.

He tried to ignore her, keeping his mind on his task to keep Arielle from being disturbed and also praying that somehow they found his sister before.

Stop that thought. That wasn't something I need to think about. Think about keeping Arielle from being disturbed. That's all you need to think about. They'll find Mara… they'll find her and bring her home.

"Prince Uldren?"

"What is it?" he asked the guard.

"News update from the Titan Orion's Ghost." She said as she handed him a data pad.

"Thank you." Uldren said, "The Queen is in meditation. I will hand it to her when she leaves." He assured.

"Yes sir."

"Whoa!" Lindor yelped before Orion yanked her back from the edge.

"Long way down." Orion said. "You ok?"

"Yeah." The Warlock nodded, looking down into the pit.

"The Queen is down there?" Rose asked as she looked for any sign of the Queen in the darkness below them. "We'll be searching blind."

"Not entirely." Arielle said Vakarian hovered from her helm and sent out a low but clear humming like sound. "What you got?"

"She's strung up," Vakarian said, showing Arielle the image he was getting back from his scanners. "She's alive, but barely."

"What does she need?"

"She needs air-ah!" Vakarian said then yelped as everyone jumped down into the pit, Zaragosa and Vlad landing over the pillars that held the Queen up while Rose and Arielle landed beneath her. "A warning would have been nice."

"Work fast!" Orion said hearing Hive start to move around them. Lindor and he taking up the front and back of the only area of light in the Cell with Terrik scanned for any Hive that dared to get too close.

The two Exos broke the Hive bonds holding the Queen, allowing her to fall limb into the waiting arms of Arielle while Rose ripped the cloak from her back and a spare breather from her belt and activated it for the Queen, placing the mask like device over the Queen's mouth and nose while lightly placing the strap that held the mask in place behind her head while Arielle wrapped the Queen in her cloak.

The Queen was pale, cold to the touch and her breathing was shallow, the heavy air of the cell had been slowly suffocating her of all life, leaving her weak, frail and looking far older than she was.

"Mara?" the Warlock asked, "Mara? Come on wake up." She pleaded trying to get some kind of response from the Queen.

"She's out of it," Rose said, "but alive." She added, sharing via comms the faint but audible heart beat from the Queen's chest.

"Movement." Vlad said and Orion put himself between the Queen and whatever was coming towards them from deeper in the Cell.

~ "Alak-Hul." ~ Eris said. ~ "He stalks you." ~

"Let him try." Arielle hissed as lightning danced over her body. "Rose?" she asked.

"I won't lose her again." Rose nodded, taking the Queen from Arielle as the Warlock stood and moved into the light.

"Nothing is getting near you to try and take her away." Orion stated focusing the void dome from his arms and around Rose and the Queen as heavy footfalls echoed around them.

For a moment there was silence.

Then the room became alive with movement and the Guardians opened fire on the Thrall that charged them from the darkness, only to be struck down by the twin storms Arielle and Lindor unleashed.

"Lindor behind you!" Zaragosa yelled in warning aiming his arrow before Lindor could react and firing past her at the huge form that had appeared there.

"Let him have it!" Terrik snarled unleashing his own storm into the Darkblade's chest, feeling the last two arrows shooting past him from Zaragosa before bullets flew past him and into the Darkblade's armour.

"We aren't hurting him!"

"Keep trying!" Orion snarled shouldering the rocket launcher and aiming for Alak-Hul's head. "Eat this!"

The rocket went right through the mist where the Darkblade had been.

"What?!"

"Shit!" Arielle cursed as her storm died out and she quickly gathered orbs to try and increase her energy again. "Where is he!?"

Rose held the Queen while searching the darkness beyond the slowly shrinking dome, "He's toying with us… he knows we have to get the Queen out." She said.

} "Wardens." {

Rose looked down as she heard the soft voice, but realized that the Queen was still out of it. "What?"

} "Wardens… three Knights…" { The Queen tried to explain weakly, though her mouth did not mouth Rose heard her voice.

The she realized she was hearing the Queen's voice in her head. "Wardens!" Rose yelled, "There are three of them!"

"Shit!" Vlad yelled as a Huge Taken Hive Knight appeared before them, surrounded by a Solar shield as it attacked them.

"Stay with us Mara!" Arielle yelled opening fire on the Warden before them, "You hear me!? You damn well stay alive!"

The Queen was silent, but Rose could still hear her heart beating. "Well, this just turned into a bad idea." She hissed as the two other Knights showed up, one covered by a Void shield the other with an Arc shield.

"Ain't that always the way?" Lindor asked.

"Ideas?" Terrik asked.

"Get them close together!" Vlad snarled. "I can tether them with my arrows and give you time to triple strike them!" he added.

"Got it!" Arielle yelled.

"Move Rose! That dome's gonna go!" Orion yelled as he played a deadly game of chicken with the Taken Knight's fist.

Rose nodded and moved the Queen's arm over her shoulder. "Sorry Your Grace." She said quickly and half dragged the Queen to a fallen light near a wall of the Cell, the dull orange light giving her enough visibility to know their situation was bad.

She placed the Queen behind her, making sure she was blocking any boomer shots with her own body as she levelled Her Benevolence with the head of one of the Knights' heads seconds before Alak-Hul reappeared in front of her and the Queen.

"He's back!" She yelled squeezing the trigger to keep the huge beast away as the others assaulted the Knights.

"Rose cover the Queen!" Orion yelled and Rose ad a second to respond as he unloaded the rocket launcher into Alak-Hul's back the force of the blasts throwing small parts of dead Thrall and dirt everywhere.

Alak-Hul faded again with an echoing roar as one of the Knights fell. "This is taking too long." Arielle hissed moving to stand with Rose, helping to keep the Thrall away from the Queen.

"Then let's speed things up." Orion growled as Zaragosa snatched his golden Gun from the air, blasting the last of the Solar shield away as the Titan flung his hammers at the now unprotected knight.

"Good bye!" Vlad snarled firing three arrows at the Arc shielded Knight holding him in place while Lindor and Terrik forced their Supers into the Knight.

"Watch out!" Rose yelled as Alak-Hul charged Orion, bringing the huge axe down.

Orion winced as he rolled out of the axe's reach. "Shit he's fast." He said shooting at the beast with his shot gun. "Damn I wish we had our swords!" he snarled as Alak-Hul faded out again, the broken remains of his helmet on the floor a few feet from Arielle.

"Fuck the swords!" Vlad growled, "We have knifes," he said as Arc energy rippled over him, ready to attack Alak-Hul when he next showed his face.

"And Rockets." Lindor said heaving something that seemed to shine on to her shoulder. "Come on."

Arielle felt the storm inside her chest raging to get out, glancing back she saw the Queen starting to regain some colour and her eyes were fluttering weakly. They had to get her out of the Cell before the breather ran out of power. "We're running out of time." She hissed.

Everything seemed silent, unmoving and cold.

Rose forced herself to stay still, remembering the lessons her friends and mentor had taught her about sniping with a level head, not in the heat of the moment. Vlad scanned the darkness around them, looking for that tell-tale sign of something moving. Orion flexed his grip on his rocket launcher ready to fire at a moment's notice. Lindor, Terrik and Zaragoza stood ready.

Alak-Hul appeared inches from Rose and the Queen.

The Queen watched from her place behind Rose as the two Fire teams unloaded all they had into the Dark Blade's body, rockets, bullets, grenades, knives, hammers and all else they had with them until at last Alak-Hul let out a roar so as he began to fall towards them. The Queen felt Rose move her with great speed, shielding her from the fall as they rolled away, leaving them both covered in dirt and Hive muck.

Rose's ears were ringing loudly as she slowly moved her body, making sure she could still feel all of her limbs.

Alak-Hul's body lay scorched and riddled with holes a few feet from them, blown back by the force of the storm from Arielle and the many Rockets Rose had heard going off between bullets.

"You ok?" Vlad asked as he helped her to sit up, Arielle already checking the Queen.

"I think so." She said, "My ears feel like someone just sounded a fog horn in them."

"Mara?" Arielle asked as Lindor and Terrik set up a Trans-mat link for them to leave. "Come on, talk to me. Mara?"

} You. { The Queen stated, her eyes fluttering opening to show a dull but clear shine. } Are meant to be. On the Reef. {

"You can yell at me for that when you get better then I'm going to yell at you for sticking me with your damn cushion packed throne." Arielle said, "Until then, you don't see me and I don't see you."

The Queen almost smiled before she slipped back into a state of sleep, though this time she appeared calmer and relaxed.

"We're set, who gets to carry the Queen home." Terrik asked.

"Rose's ship would be better, the air filters are set for Awoken and handles the turbulence better." Arielle said as she helped Rose lift the Queen up. "Ready to go?" she asked.

"We'll see you back at the Reef." Orion smiled as they were trans-matted out of the Cell and to their ships, Arielle taking off before them as she had to be back and waiting for them before they arrived.

"Do you think the Prince will stop calling us all balls now?" Bing asked as Rose carefully set the Queen into the co-pilot seat of her ship.

"Maybe, at least for a little while." Rose nodded, "Now, get us to the Reef and hope that the Tech witches didn't catch Arielle out." She added as they followed Vlad and Orion into jump space.

Eris felt the small but firm tug at her mind and smiled. } My Queen, { She greeted softly.

} You know your mission. {

} Yes My Queen. {

} Then I shall await the results of this plan. And listen as that beast is slain for his crimes. {

Eris nodded. "I will not fail."

Uldren fell to his knees, clutching his chest tightly, suddenly covered in a cold sweat and shaking. The bond with his sister that had been forcibly closed by Mara was suddenly open again and everything had come flooding from his sister to him.

"Mara!?"

"Uldren?!" Petra yelled and skidded to a stop beside the prince. "Prince Uldren? What's wrong?"

"My sister." Uldren breathed softly. "My sister is…"

"Steady, you're burning up!" Petra said, "Variks take his place at the door. No one goes in there." She ordered and the old Vandal nodded as Petra and another royal guard helped the Prince to his feet and to his room.

Variks felt the eyes on him and unlike Uldren he met the Coven Mother's gaze and held it until at last the Coven Mother left the hall way.

Uldren might fear the Witches' wrath, but Variks did not. He had promised Arielle he would follow her orders and if that meant he had to stand at a door and keep others out, he would do it. He would rather do that then have the Queen's Wrath focused on him.

Arielle all but smashed the door into Variks's back as she bolted out of her room. "Uldren! Petra! Get the docks ready!" She yelled as the Coven Mother watched her with wide eyes, Variks staggering back to his feet.

"Arielle?" Petra asked in confusion as Arielle pulled a long thick robe from the back of her door. "What is it?"

"They found her." Arielle stated. "They're bringing her back right now!"

Petra would have cried had she not realized what that meant and opened her comm-link. "Clear the docks! The Queen is returning! Get the docking bays clear of people!"

"Arielle?" the Warlock looked around and found Uldren leant heavily on the door frame of his room. "My sister…?"

"She's coming home, Uldren." Arielle nodded as the Prince forced himself to stand tall. "She's coming home."

~ "Docks one to three are clear." ~ Petra stated as they come in into the Outpost's docks.

"Thank you Petra." Vlad nodded flanking Rose's ship as she carefully and slowly let her ship dock, but rather than Trans-mat out of the ship, the main gangplank hissed and clicked open, lowering the ramp to the ground.

Arielle raced up the plank as Orion and Vlad Trans-matted down to the sides, waiting to escort the still weak Queen to the safety of her people as Arielle and Rose helped the Queen walked slowly down the plank, wrapped in the robe Arielle and brought with her to keep her warm as Petra and the Tech Witches arrived, quickly surrounding the Queen as they walked.

"Variks is keeping the crowds away until the Queen is ready to face them." Petra explained, as they lead the way to the Queen's privet chambers, Uldren opened the doors and stood to the side as they passed, staying outside with Orion and Vlad after Petra drew the huge curtains closed.

Bing and Vakarian fizzed outside and hovered quietly with Wrex and Sovereign.

"What is the Reef's name did they do to her?" Uldren growled from the door, though he couldn't look inside the room, he could still feel his sister's injuries even as the Tech witches gently washed and soothed the pains away.

"Nothing she can't heal from." Illyn stated firmly, while using a warm damp cloth to gently clean the worse of the Queen's injuries, a deep gash to her right arm. "She needs time to recover, but she is in no state to address her people."

"But she's here." Arielle smiled, carefully picking out a clean and warm set of clothes. "And that means she's safe."

"Amen to that." Rose said helping bandage the gash on the Queen's arm.

"Does this mean Arielle isn't Queen anymore?" Bing asked. "Or does she have to wait for the Queen to say she can go?"

"I can leave now," Arielle said. "But I'm not going anywhere until she and I have had a few words."

"Then we go a fight Oryx?" Rose asked.

Arielle nodded. "Then we fight Oryx and send his ass back to whatever dark and cold place he came from." She said.

He was beyond furious, this seemingly insignificant little Light had once again proved to be more of a threat to him that he thought. He had lost his son to this speck and now his foster son.

This Light would suffer.

His generals could sense his anger and so many were staying away from him, hoping to avoid his punishment. All save one, the heavy steps of Thalnok, the unrelated twin of Crota was coming towards him, the deafening stab of his sword hitting the ground as he stopped and the heavy shift of armour plates as the huge Knight knelt.

He did not speak at first, unwilling to disturb his Master.

"Speak." He said firmly.

"We had captured a team of Guardians trying to open the gate ways between realms." Thalnok stated. "Two are already undoing the change, but their third is still fighting, using tricks twisted by the light and darkness."

He turned and looked at the Knight before him. "Explain." He demanded.

"Their light is tainted and they speak in Hive tongue, old chants from the days of old." Thalnok said. "The Deathsingers seek your approval in a plot they have for this Light."

He made a sound of thought and then lifted his sword from its place. "Show me." He commanded.

Thalnok nodded and stood, taking his sword up again and leading the King through a gate way to where the Deathsingers were hovering, pulling the burning light from their bodies and pushing dark light into the Guardians who had been captured, two of them already partly changed, their skins sheading to show the tell tail claws and faces of a Hive Knight and a Wizard. The third however was not, chanting in broken Hive tongue as they tried to cling to their light, Oryx could see the sickly shade of green that clung to the Guardian's body to show corruption.

"This one is strong." Ir Halak hissed softly. "But their light is not endless."

"You have a plan for this one." Oryx stated as Thalnok stayed by the gate way they had entered though.

"This light has touched one of those closes to the slayer of Crota." Ir Anûk told him, "This one would be perfect to bring discord to their harmony." She explained.

"Where is the shell?" Oryx asked.

"This one has none with them." Ir Yût hissed, "It has no light to revive it."

Oryx listened as the Deathsingers spoke and watched the tainted light fight their spells with its own, there was potential in their plot, but if it back fired he would lose nothing but a lowly Wizard for his troubles.

He had thousands more.

He nodded and with a sharp stab of his claw, the tainted light's spells came to a screaming halt.

Arielle sat with Mara in the Throne room. She'd cleared the room of the Witches, as Arielle was technically still Queen until Mara could deem herself fit. The Warlock didn't like the fact that Mara hadn't immediately made herself Queen again.

"I know you're angry." Mara stated softly, but her voice was still strong; it almost made Arielle smile, if she weren't so furious.

"Angry doesn't even begin to cover it Mara. You lied to me." Arielle accused, refusing to pull any punches with the still recovering Queen. The woman was alive, she could handle a few scathing words.

"I did not lie to you."

"A lie of omission is still a lie." Arielle growled.

Mara's blue eyes met the Stormcaller's yellow ones, "I never told you or omitted the fact that I had changed my mind. In fact, I never changed my decree, even once you left. There was no one else I would trust with the Reef. I didn't even bother to look because I already had the perfect candidate. I would name you Queen, and you would answer, not because you were my Sword, or had been, but because you love the Reef as I do. You would never allow the Reef or its people to be without a monarch; that would make the Awoken weak, and open to infighting and attack. You would never allow others to suffer for my selfishness; or yours."

Lightning danced up the Warlock's arms, but she said nothing. Instead she held Mara's gaze out of anger, but willpower and stubbornness as well. Mara was honest; Arielle knew that to be true. She also knew that every word was what the Queen truly believed, and Arielle reluctantly admitted to herself that Mara was right.

She never would've left the Reef without a Queen. There was no one more suitable to be Queen than Mara, but Arielle knew-deep down in a place she enjoyed ignoring-that she was suitable. A Queendom was not what she wanted, but Arielle knew that she had the experience and the character to succeed; she simply lacked the drive.

Finally, the Warlock sighed, "I hate when you're right."

Mara's eyes softened, "I know. You were always the right choice. You could've married your Titan and the Witches would not have been able to argue."

Arielle looked up in shock, "What?"

Mara pressed a secret compartment and something on the throne opened and Mara pulled a scroll, the second one Arielle had seen in the Queen's throne room in a while.

"Where are you getting these old scrolls from?" The Warlock demanded, "Is this what Variks is doing when he's not watching the prison?"

"You aren't as funny as you think." The Queen replied as she handed Arielle the scroll.

The Stormcaller took the scroll and immediately unrolled it and read it aloud, "By decree of Queen Mara Sov of the Awoken, I hereby declare Arielle the Stormcaller to be Arielle Sov, sister to Mara and Uldren Sov."

Arielle gaped at the scroll; this was unheard of. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them away and continued reading, "Arielle Sov shall be Queen of the Reef should anything happen to me. I legitimize any heiress she bears as a member of my own blood, and under no circumstances is she to be married off to Uldren, whom is now her brother, and anyone who tries to challenge my ruling will face the wrath of Queen Arielle Sov, whom is as worthy to bear the title of Queen as myself."

It was only the feeling of Mara's gaze leaving Arielle that made the Warlock look up. Her vision blurred by unshed tears, "Why? This has never been done before."

Mara's eyes were clear, and Arielle could read all the love that her Queen carried within her as she spoke, "Had I never returned, that scroll was to make its way to you, declaring you my sister and the next Queen. You came to us without a name, Ari, and I decided to give you mine, to tie you to the Reef even if you never returned. You would be Arielle Sov to me and to Uldren- the entire Reef would acknowledge your place as my Sword and my sister. I gave you the name you always had; you were always my sister."

Arielle didn't know what to say and she did the one thing she's never done as long as she's known Mara Sov; she hugged her. Gently of course, mindful of her Queen's injuries, "Every time I think I have you figured out, Mara, you manage to prove me wrong."

The younger Awoken stepped back and Mara offered her a wicked grin, "The job of a Queen is not to show others what she is thinking, something you and I are very good at."

"Did Uldren know?" Arielle asked.

"I informed him of the location of the scroll, and if he did not return, it would be up to Variks to give it to you. After you left, I secretly hoped that you would return, despite all that I knew of you, and you and Uldren would pick up where you left off. Then came the rumors of your romance with your Titan, Orion. I did not pay them any mind. You would return. It was Eris that alerted me to your happiness, and I could not deny that. I allowed myself to let go of my foolish hope. When you returned and took up the mantle of my Sword once more, I knew that you hadn't changed at all. You were still the woman I trusted, the sister I adored, even if I never told you. When you left that day, I wrote that. I informed Uldren of its contents before we left for the Dreadnaught. He needed to know so that he would not be guilty should the Witches attempt to force your union."

"How did he take it?" Arielle asked softly.

"I was relieved." Uldren stated as he quietly entered the room. He bowed his head to Mara but then met Arielle's gaze. "You left us behind, and that was our own fault. I missed you at my side, and when you returned, Ari, you were right that I had to figure out how I loved you. I worry about you as much as I worry about Mara, and I do love you still, but the way I love Mara. You deserve all the happiness in the world, Ari."

She smiled, "When did you become so wise?"

The Prince smirked, "As if you really need to ask."

The Warlock grinned, "I just wanted to hear you say it."

"Ego isn't a good look on you Arielle."

"No, you clearly wear it far too well already, Uldren, there really isn't enough for anyone else."

Mara sat back in her throne and watched Arielle and Uldren bicker back and forth. This is how they had been before. She would never admit to anyone that when her strength had run out, when she felt like giving in, this is what she remembered. She loved the Reef and her people, they were hers to protect, and knowing that Arielle would rule made accepting death easier; but this is what kept her going. Uldren and Ari were more than the Sword and Shield to Mara; they were the only family she really had.

"Summon the Witches." Mara ordered, interrupting Uldren and Ari's conversation. "I will take my position as Queen once more, unless you'd like to keep it, Arielle Sov?"

Mara watched as her Sword bowed, "Of course not, Your Grace. The Throne is yours once more; I humbly take my position as your Sword, if it pleases you."

"It does." Mara replied in her regal tone.

"I shall summon the Witches." Uldren replied as he walked out of the throne room.

"Take your time, Uldren. Arielle, bring me Rose."

Arielle nodded, though she didn't have to go far to find Rose, the Hunter was sat near Petra's stand, cleaning Bing's shell while the Ghost listened to another story about the old days of the Reef, asking now and then about the place Petra had grown up and about the sword the Queen had used against the Wolves.

Eventually, Arielle and Rose left the Queen's chamber, both looking worn down and drained, but given that they had been in meditation with the Witches to insure the Queen's mental state was unaffected by her time in the Cell, it was understandable.

Rose had caught the smallest snippets of a mental conversation while in meditation, but had not dwelled on it, whatever the Queen and Arielle had been talking about was not her business. Though judging by the fainted of smiles on the Queen's lips when they'd left it had ended well.

"Time for a nap," Arielle said, "And then we go deal with the Taken King and his hoard." She added with a yawn.

"Sounds like a plan." Orion smiled, "And now that the Queen is safely back on her throne, we can fight this battle at full strength."

"I hear that." Vlad smiled, "much as I love Lindor and Terrik like family, Oryx is not something I want to take them into without you Arielle."

"They are capable." Arielle said.

"True, but they aren't as skilled as you." Orion said. "Let's get some rest and talk about this when we are rested." He added, leading the way to their rooms. "After all we have been through, we are going to need all out strength for this fight."

Ikora would never admit to having favourites.

Not because she didn't have them, and not because she knew the other Vanguards didn't have their favourites. No Ikora wouldn't admit to it because she knew that there would could a made when those Guardians died and she would lose them forever.

The news would hurt all of them, but it would always hurt more when those she considered her favourites were the ones reported dead.

But there were also those who the Vanguard wanted to suffer, those few Guardians who were so cruel and so cold to others and to their Ghosts that the Traveler allowed the Ghosts to leave the cruel Guardian and find a new Guardian.

Modern day Warlords, Lord Saladin called them and the name stuck.

So when Ikora felt that smallest tug at her light that meant a warlock had died, she paused and glanced to Wiccan who began a full search over the cannels of her warlocks, finding all but two.

"Warlords. Warlock Emma, Sunslinger class, teamed with Titan Cross-29, Striker class and with, I will not speak her name." Wiccan said in a sudden growl.

"Vlad's ex?" Ikora asked and Wiccan bounced in a nod.

"All dead." The Ghost stated.

"What are you looking for?" a voice asked.

"I had a thought, not a nice one a while back, when Rose's world began to imprint on our own. I wish to be sure of my thoughts and doubts before I speak with her and the others." Ikora said.

"You fear she will disappear?" Ikora gave a grim nod.

"We have seen that removing Omnigul removed the courted Vex from this world, and stopped the two worlds over lapping. But what is to stop something similar happening to Rose if Oryx is removed."

"What have you found so far?"

"Nothing that is good, Eris." Ikora sighed, showing Eris the work she had been doing and the results her calculations. "According to all I have read and all I know of the Vex and their technology. When Oryx is defeated and sent from this world back to his own." Ikora shook her head.

"Rose will disappear with him."