-x-
silverdiadems presents
My Queen
a Mobile Legends: Bang Bang fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own the game/franchise Mobile Legends. This is a piece of fiction written based on the game, but is not canon or officially tied to the game's lore in any way. The right to the franchise belongs solely to Moonton.
Part IV:
The Perfect Imperfection
"Please, you need to listen," the night elf begged, cowering underneath the point of Miya's silver blade.
"I have no reason to listen to the likes of you and your kind," hissed Miya venomously. "Not after last time, anyway."
The night elf flinched. "I am sorry we were not on the best of terms," Karina began, holding her hands up in a symbol of surrender. "But for the sake of your kind, you must listen to me-"
"Your kind?" Miya sneered. "Do you forget your history? Your kind was once our kind, whether or not you traitors want to believe it or not."
"Please," Karina breathed. "Just listen, please-"
She waved the blade threateningly in front of Karina's face. "Speak now," Miya relented, her voice softening, but her blade not wavering. "Make it quick, night elf."
She hissed out the last words like a curse, making it clear that she was the one in her home land, not the intruder. She had the advantage, and she would make it evident.
"You are in danger," Karina gasped, finally free to speak. "An assassin is going to try and kill your king."
Gasps echoed through the room, murmurs growing louder as suspense and worry grew in the room. Miya tilted her head, speaking softly but never taking her eyes off Karina. "Civilians –please– I ask you return to your dwellings now. We have much to take care of," she said, glaring at the intruder.
She held the blade at the night elf's neck as the crowd departed in a hurry, a rush of rainbow and silk. She caught Nana's scared eyes through the gaps of the bodies fleeing the palace, the mage's eyes wide at the open display of aggression by her seemingly calm mentor. The cat mage made no movement to leave until Miya jutted her head sharply at the door. Out, her eyes spoke, and Nana made her way out in a hurry to escape Miya's wrath. Once again, the Moon Palace's hall was empty except for four.
Estes of course remained present, along with a man named Sydell, which donned long white hair in a low ponytail secured at the base of his neck. He had been the former head of the disbanded torture and interrogation system that had been put into place during the events of the war, for the sole purpose of interrogating prisoners- demons, banshees… and even night elves.
She released the blade from Karina's throat as soon as the civilians were safe. Though the blade still hovered at Miya's side, the threat not completely vanquished.
"Why did you come here?"
The question came from not Miya, but Estes. The king watched the night elf with a strange look of curiosity and interest, despite the adamant threat on his life.
"To warn you."
"Why?"
The soft rebuttal came from Sydell, who, like Estes, had remained strangely calm. Miya however looked furious— blue fire sparking in her cobalt gaze.
The night elf sighed, remorse and regret flickering in her gaze before she looked up to meet them. "I… I assume you have noticed it is dusk. As you know, night elves cannot-"
"—be exposed to sunlight," Miya cut in quickly, realisation and cold horror clenching her face. "What have you done?!"
The night elf bowed her head. "It was an accident," she muttered. "An accident, I swear. I- One day I got… distracted. I was ambushed after an assassination mission, and since we elves are not easy to kill, they figured the best way to kill me was by exposing me to the sun."
Even in her rage, Miya winced. She knew of the severe intolerance of harsh sunlight the night elves had, as their substitute to the Moon could not grant them protection in the half of the day that was not the night.
"I remember it well," Karina confessed. "It was pain, fire, everywhere in my body fire. It was unbearable, and remembered wishing for anything that would take the heat away, just anything to stop it. And I did the unthinkable. I betrayed my kind."
"What did you do?" Miya hissed.
"I prayed to the Moon," Karina burst out. "I didn't think it would work, just I wasn't thinking in the pain. I'm sorry… I didn't know what to do," she cried desperately. "But she… but she…"
Miya's eyes widened in horror, as she glanced anxiously over at Sydell and Estes, the two in mild yet cleverly concealed shock.
"Did she-"
…did the Moon grant her prayer?
"She did," the night elf whispered. "She freed me. I owe my life to the Moon, and I sense she knows that I was once her kin. Maybe that was why she pitied me."
"Her kin? You are not a Moon Elf," Sydell replied immediately. His bold statement wavered when Miya shook her head.
"No," Miya contradicted softly. "Night Elves were Moon Elves once. Or so legend has it."
"…It is true that Night Elves were once Moon Elves," Estes confirmed. "I remember my Father speaking of it when I was young."
"You betrayed your tribe," Miya whispered in awe, disgust curling her features when the realisation set in. "You coward."
Karina flinched. "I realise it was cowardly of me now, but the damage has been done. I am no longer a night elf, for I have instead sworn allegiance to the very thing our kind has been created to escape from."
The Moon Elves had since forever served the Moon in order to receive protection—the elven race had genetically had a very bad immunity to sunlight, making their skin extremely sensitive. Magic power sits on the skin, an invisible aura that coats the body, ready to be used.
The small bonus of the Moon's protective enchantment was enough to shield the worst of the sun's raw power. Without the protection, the Sun's energy had turned the night elves' skin into an unhealthily ashy grey. They'd be dead if it were not for the cure they had discovered. It kept them alive, but not healthy.
Even now, the Moon's magic had already worked its charm on Karina's appearance. Her skin had begun to pale, due to the healing properties of the Moon.
How she had managed to make the Moon listen was beyond Miya. But the fact that she had was more important.
"How is she?" Miya asked, her voice softening as she looked at the night elf. The Moon had trusted Karina. Miya would try to do the same.
"She?"
"Selene."
Karina looked up, her gaze full of surprise and awe as she remembered the Moon Deity. "I… I believe she is well," she said at last. "She trusts you dearly, Miya. At first I was going to pretend nothing happened to me on that mission, regardless of how stupid that might have been. They would have noticed," she smiled bitterly gesturing to her fading skin. "But Selene told me to come—"
"She cannot call her Selene," Estes bit in. "She is not—"
"No," Miya murmured. "She is."
She is one of us now.
"I do not trust you," Miya admitted. "But if Selene does— I will try and understand why she saved you that day."
"Absurd," Sydell hissed. "You cannot trust a night elf. Especially not that snake," he hissed, glaring pointedly at Karina. "Have you forgotten what she did to your parents?"
"I have not forgotten, Sydell, thought it seems you have forgotten your place. You are in the presence of your king, and your deity's representative. You are no longer in power here, Sydell. Estes is back, and you will step down as is your place."
"Who died and left you in charge," Sydell hissed, his calm façade disappearing with each word. Miya tilted her chin upwards arrogantly, her mind racing for an acceptable retort that would not crush the man's frail spine.
"Enough, Sydell. You have no right to speak to Miya that way," Estes intoned, his voice soft but the steel behind it evident. "Control yourself or be silenced."
The elder fell silent, a dusty rose in his cheeks the only sign of his previously held anger.
Miya cleared her throat in the silence. "We cannot forget the superior judgement in this situation. In fact, we have little power in the situation due to the circumstances. The Moon has passed her judgement, we can do very little to change her will."
"She could be dangerous—"
"Would the Moon trust someone that would harm her followers?"
An uncomfortable silence followed the bold statement. Miya sighed, her shoulders loosening. "I don't want to trust you," she said bluntly, staring at the night elf. "But our guardian does, and as one of her own and her heir, I will trust her decision."
Karina closed her eyes. "I respect that," she said. "Thank you for trusting me."
"Don't thank me, thank Selene," Miya smiled wryly. "After all, had it been my decision, you would be dead."
III
Morning
"What happened?" questioned Nana, as she bounced atop of Miya's white sheets.
The elf sat to the side, on an armchair of velvet watching the feline jump on her mattress. "A lot," Miya said vaguely, tipping her head to the side. Her hair was loose and in its natural waves, free of the restraints of her usual high ponytail.
Nana rolled her eyes, a grin forming her face. "Come on, you can tell me! Please," she begged, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Miya sighed in mock displeasure before a small smile made its way to her lips.
"Alright," she relented. "Just a little bit."
She told her story, careful to keep some things under her tongue. Miya had wanted to explain everything, reassure Nana and say that everything would be okay, but in reality she didn't know. She didn't know as much as she wanted to.
Nana had become excited at the mention of a night elf, her ears perking upwards and her eyes bright. "I want to meet her," the mage declared defiantly. "I've never seen a night elf before! Lysandria says that–"
Lysandria was Nana's elven friend. The two youths had become fast friends, with Lysandria a talented young mage teaching Nana a few tricks about magic that Miya, with almost no magic affinity, couldn't. Miya had been pleased at the improvement in her student's magic ability, but somewhat jealous she couldn't have taught her herself.
After her student finished her impromptu speech on how 'awesome, kind and smart' her friend was, the pinkette frowned, a shadow in her sunny personality. "Where's Karina?"
Miya grimaced. "I apologise, but some things must be kept secret."
Nana shrugged, but Miya could tell her student was still trying to figure out the location of the elf. The mage had developed a strange fascination for the newcomer, as Nana had not known much about other races until she had met Miya. The thought of a night elf in their custody was too exciting for Nana to let go.
Karina's whereabouts now were known to a select few– herself, Estes, Sydell and Neshya. Miya's best friend was the best magician they had after the death of some of the greatest magic-users known to the elves in the war. Her friend had a special talent for creating most durable barriers of pure magic– a very impressive feat that took much concentration and stamina.
The night elf had been kept in the former torture and interrogation headquarters, due to the overrule of Sydell. She had, along with Estes, protested against the rule but was subdued due to the decision of the Chancellor. Miya had grown to hate the man, and this circumstance only fuelled the already-lit fire.
"Nana," Miya began slowly, and idea forming in her head. "You said you wanted to meet Miss Karina, right?"
"Yes, yes!" cheered the mage. "Can we–"
"I cannot tell you where she is," Miya said, thinking of a loophole. "But perhaps if I guide you there and you do not see the route, it may be possible."
Nana grinned.
III
"Are we there yet," Nana grumbled as she stumbled blindly along the path. A small piece of black fabric was tied around her eyes to prevent her from seeing the route to their destination. Miya shrugged, knowing Nana wouldn't see the movement.
The two walked in almost silence, Miya's hand around her student's wrist to lead the way. Regardless of the warning of the rough terrain, Nana still stumbled before Miya steadied her with a quick tightening of her wrist.
"We're here," Miya said softly, after a few brutal minutes of tripping and falling on Nana's part. The two had gone through the forest to avoid attention. Nana ripped the blindfold off almost immediately, her eyes darting to and fro quickly, adjusting to the light.
They stood in front of a building made of onyx and grey, in its misuse the building retained only a little of its former glory.
Nana gaped at the enormity of the structure. "It's-"
"This is an evil place," Miya cut in sharply, her tongue laced with hate. "Do not worship it."
The feline's eyes widened in a moment of fear before looking downwards, eyes refusing to meet Miya's. Sensing her guilt, she took back her words. "I apologise," Miya said stiffly. "But this is a part of our history that we are all ashamed of."
"What happened?" Nana asked, cautiously but curiously. Her student watched the moon elf with worried eyes, as she was staring at the building with uttermost hate.
The moon elf bit her lip, her eyes watching the building with regret. "People were tortured to death in this building," she said at last. "This was a long time ago, Nana, but we have never forgotten what we used to practice."
The mage fell silent, but Miya did not miss the look of horror in her student's eyes. She bit her lip, hate and regret stirring in her throat.
"You want to see her, don't you?" Miya asked. "We cannot stand here all day, Nana."
"I…yes," the mage replied quietly. "Yes, I do."
"Well come on," retorted Miya. "Let's go."
Together, they eased open the door which was made of a cold iron. Iron used to contain magic users. The metal had an uncanny effect to reduce magic power, and in extreme cases kill a mage when used to counter a healing spell.
Nana touched the door tentatively, but withdrew her finger quickly as the metal seared hot red. "Ah!" the mage cried, examining her finger closely.
"Don't touch the metal," Miya murmured. "It will burn those with the gift of magic."
They walked straight ahead into the darkness, the sunlight from the open door casting looming shadows on the concrete floor. "Why do they keep her in here?" Nana asked, cowering under the shadows. "She must be so afraid."
"Some things even I have no power over," Miya muttered darkly. "Believe me, it was not my decision. I would not have done this to my greatest enemy."
Nana was silenced again by the reappearance of iron, the material being used to forge the bars to the jail cells. The moon elf grit her teeth, as the iron chains still bore the stains of crusted blood.
"Rifella," Miya called to the darkness, and was granted with a swirl of glowing moonlight in her palm. They had travelled far from the sunlight and the entrance to the monolith, and could see no more without the aid of magic.
They passed cell after cell, finally reaching the quarters of the prisoners who had committed the severest crimes. The door in front of them, marked with a number, was a monstrosity made of iron. Miya pulled the key from her belt and slid it into the keyhole.
The door clicked open, and the two stood in the doorway.
Silence.
Then, the gentle sound of sobbing.
"Bastard," Miya hissed with quick realisation, casting a quick illumination spell with a flick of her finger. The shadows in the room flinched and ran back into the wall, leaving the room lit with unnatural light. Nana gasped, the figure on the floor revealed.
The night elf lay on the floor, her hands chained to the wall, and her already ripped clothes stained with blood. Her lips, dry and crusty murmured something Miya couldn't hear. Nana gasped behind her, and the moon elf rush towards the victim.
"That fool," she hissed angrily, snarling as she ripped of the handcuffs that bound the elf to the wall. "He had no right—"
"No," croaked Karina, struggling to sit up as she clutched her stomach. "I deserv—"
"You speak another word defending that bastard's actions and I will make sure you suffer the same fate," Miya hissed angrily. She turned around to her student, who was watching the scene with an aghast expression. "Nana. Bring Estes here immediately," she said, looking at her student with a stern gaze. "Make it quick."
"Yes," Nana gasped, about to leave before doubling back. "Wait, Miss Miya, I don't know the way!"
"Don't pretend you didn't use a tracking spell the entire way, Nana," Miya tutted. "Don't think I didn't notice."
The cat elf mage flushed, before bolting out the door.
"Our best healer is on his way," she murmured to the injured. "I still can't believe the nerve of that man— torturing one of his own."
She looked down at the elf, studying her injuries. A purple-blue bruise was forming on her abdomen- Miya suspected a broken rib or two. Small slices decorated her arm, no doubt punishments for when she wouldn't answer. The worst was a deep gash on her leg, with signs of infection. Miya summoned a little moonlight to her hands, pressing them lightly against the wound. Karina winced, but did not pull away.
The small healing spell was no miracle— simply having the ability to remove infection enough for the body to heal on its own. The infection had to be treated first, as it could lead to amputation if gone too far.
"Did you tell him anything?"
"No," whispered Karina. "I told him nothing."
"Good," Miya snarled in approval. "He deserved to gain nothing from this."
The assassin's fingers were tipped with red, evidence of burning. She was a mage, Miya realised. The burns had come from the sting of the iron shackles.
The iron door burst open once more with the appearance of Estes, his figure swallowing the smaller presence of Nana, who had stayed to the back. The king's fingers flickered briefly with the burns from the iron before healing almost instantly.
"Oh, thank Selene," Miya whispered, retracting her hands. "Estes, can you—"
"There was no need to ask," he replied quickly but angrily, his eyes lit with cool fire. "Who did this?"
Miya growled before answering. "That bastard Sydell," she grit out angrily. "I knew something was up when he wanted Karina here."
A white glow surrounded Estes' body, the silhouette of a crescent moon behind his back. Energy swirled around his hands before he directed them to the wounds on the elf's body. "Have him executed," he replied. "This is not to be taken lightly,"
Miya nodded gravely. "Very well."
"He comes here tonight," whispered Karina from the ground. Miya frowned, turning to look at the night elf.
"Who? What do you mean?"
"There is a traitor among you," Karina murmured, sitting upright against the cell wall, her wounds no longer life threatening. "One is the man who left me to die, but another is among your ranks."
"Sydell is a traitor? Forgive me, but apart from this act of treason, what has he done?"
"He works for my former leader," Karina replied. "He confessed this to me because he thought I would be on his side. Upon finding out that I had truly defected, he did this," she said, gesturing towards the small scars that had been deep wounds.
"Nana," Miya said suddenly, the mage jolting to attention. "Tell Neshya to arrest Sydell for me. She can bring him here when he is…subdued."
The mage nodded, running out.
"But there is someone else. He did not mention who, but there is someone who will kill the king tonight," she said. Miya glanced sharply at Estes, who seemed unnerved.
"Who?"
"They are close by," Karina said, her brows furrowing. "He said they were close."
"You are not worried," Miya interrupted, staring at the king. He turned to look at her, questions in his gaze. "You are not the slightest bit concerned for you own life?"
"I am," he admitted. "But I have faith in my people. I trust no harm will come to them or to me tonight."
Foolish, Miya thought, but kept her mouth shut. She would have to act alone once more. She had saved her people once, she would do it again.
"…as you wish," she replied hesitantly, making it clear she was unconvinced. Estes looked at her, suspicious, but then turned away.
What could she do, she thought. She needed to stop this. She needed a plan— something that would be clever but not extreme. Simplicity would slip under the radar, whereas enormity would draw the eye.
She had just the thing.
III
"You foolish, brave girl," Neshya whispered in awe and disgust. "You want my help on a suicide mission."
The sisters had met hours later, were Miya had confessed her plan. "There's a one in two chance," she argued. "I wish this was guaranteed to work, but I have to take the chance. Everything else is too risky."
"The man is coming to kill," hissed Neshya. "Do you not understand that if this works, you will—"
"I will take the chance, Neshya," Miya said calmly. "Either me or thousands of others."
The mage sighed. "I will think about it," she said at last, looking Miya into the eye. "If it works, I will never forgive myself."
"You must," Miya murmured. "After all, by doing this you saved our nation."
III
Dusk
She received the necklace from Neshya before dusk, which left her with two hours before the night elves were able to roam free. She put it in her pocket, the silver metal chiming as it slid out of sight. It could not touch her skin yet.
Hours beforehand, Miya had organised guards around Estes at all times. The king had tried to downplay the threat, but a quick order from her mouth sent the soldiers on guard to protect the king. Loyalty would keep them faithful.
She glanced up at the sun. Its golden rays had started to disappear into the forest, leaving a stained orange over the blue expanse. Her eyes steeled as she calculated her remaining time. An hour.
Miya looked away from the window, the necklace clinking softly in her breast pocket to remind her of its existence. She had been at Moon Palace for the last few hours, waiting for the moment to strike.
Her boots echoed against the quartz floor, finding themselves climbing the southern staircase at a slow pace. She'd check the guards. Again.
The soldiers nodded at her from their position outside their king's study, her presence almost normal from all the times she had come to check that they were on duty. She could not have any untrue soldiers tonight.
They separated when she reached the entrance, while one guard knocked before opening the door.
"It's Lady Miya, Your Majesty."
She slipped through the gap in the door, and looked back as the door closed behind her. Estes sat at the centrepiece of the room, the dark oak desk, flicking through a pile of paper. "Miya," he greeted, glancing at the paper one last time before looking up. "Again?"
She sighed, knowing he was referring to her visits every hour. "It's necessary."
"No, it really is not," the king replied, his full attention on her. "You have already have all the guards in the hallway and outside the castle. Such consideration is unnecessary."
"I'm not doing it for you," she cut in sharply. She flushed, embarrassed at her choice of words. "I—"
"I know, Miya," Estes said softly. "I know that you are trying to protect the people. But for once, let others do it—"
"I can't," she said, her fingernails digging into her palms as her fingers formed a fist. "I can't trust them to do it; I have to be the one who does it. I don't have faith in them, I know I should, but the only person I have faith in is myself."
"You need to learn," Estes said gently. "Learn to trust, Miya."
She looked at him, pleading with her mind, but wielded nothing. "You don't understand," she murmured. I have to do this. I need to. She would not let this happen again.
Estes frowned, the emotion souring his features. "Miya—"
She shook him off, refusing to listen. "I'm sorry," she whispered under her breath, as she turned to leave the room. The door clicked shut behind her, but she didn't look back.
If he wouldn't, she would save his life tonight.
III
Nightfall
It was night, at last.
She opened the window in her bedroom, using the moon's light to guide her through the dimly lit city. She clung to the shadows, avoiding the folk in the town square who slept through the day and woke at night.
Miya ran towards the palace, its ethereal glow in the day turned into reflective reverence at night. She had positioned the guards well, to the point where even she could not sneak into the palace. She ran towards the forest, and waited.
Minutes later, her friend arrived, dressed in a midnight cloak of black like Miya's own. "I'm here," Neshya gasped, she had clearly been running to make in on time. "Sorry, I was—"
"Its fine," Miya cut in, her nervousness getting the better of her. "You are the one doing me a favour, I should not be complaining."
"True," Neshya commented. Her features were visibly grim in the moonlight. "Is it time, then?"
Miya nodded, pressing her fingers against the pocket, feeling for the necklace. "I have the necklace, everything's in place."
Neshya nodded in approval. She hesitated, looping her arms around Miya in an embrace. "Be safe, no matter what happens," she murmured. "I will never forgive myself, you know that."
"Eventually, you will," Miya whispered back. "Thank you so much for doing this for me."
Neshya let go, her arms settling at her sides. "Ready?" she asked.
"Always."
The mage concentrated, summoning magic power to her fingertips. "El'yshere Reahare," she hissed, clutching Miya's hand. The archer shivered as magic power settled over her body. The feeling was similar to somebody cracking eggs on your head, she mused, enjoying the tingling sensation while it lasted.
When the feeling wore off, she opened her eyes. "Did it work?"
Neshya looked around. "Definitely, I can't see you anymore."
The marksman sighed in relief. "Thank Selene," she murmured.
Her friend spoke rapidly, reminding her of the spell's effect. "Remember, there is no silencing magic," she warned, her eyes looking to a place to Miya's far left, as she could not see the elf due to the invisibility spell. "You can, and will be heard if you make a noise. And, it will only last for a quarter hour, so you must be quick."
"I will," Miya said softly.
The mage sighed sadly. "You must go, I know, but I do not want you to leave." She paused, closing her eyes. "I will never understand your reasons, but I trust you for you are my dearest friend, are your choices are your own."
"Thank you," Miya whispered. "I will never forget."
"I love you, sister," Neshya whispered. "Never forget."
The words unspoken lay between them, connecting the two like strings of fate. I love you too.
"Never."
Fighting the emotions, Miya ran from the scene, leaving Neshya staring where the sound of footsteps had been moments before.
III
She clambered onto the glass silently, watching the guard below her carefully. He hadn't heard anything, Miya assumed. Yet.
She needed to climb up to the second story window to let herself into the second floor. She couldn't break into the first floor, as there were many guards stationed by Miya herself on the first floor.
Gritting her teeth, Miya pulled her hand up to the next slippery glass carving. The walls of the palace had been carved elaborately, making it a relatively easy wall to climb, compared to a straight glass wall. Her finger slipped, and she gasped a little too loudly, causing the guard to look up.
She held on to the ledge of the second floor window, willing for her breath to slow with her heartbeat.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
She held her breath.
The guard turned away.
She held back a sigh of relief and swung her other hand to the ledge to pull her body up. Her muscles tensed as they struggled to support her weight, but she pulled herself up, slipping into the room.
Miya flipped into a forward roll and landed on the floor of the room. It was silent in the company of the moon, and Miya was thankful. She snuck over to the door, edging it open, wincing as the old timber creaked in the silent palace.
She pulled it open agonisingly slow to prevent the noise, slipping into the hallway as soon as a large enough gap was formed. She looked around at the corridor, trying to see where about she was in the palace.
Miya's eyes widened and she swore in her mind as she realised her mistake. The West Wing, she hissed angrily into the recesses of her mind. Not the East Wing.
Her mistake meant that she would have to go to the other side of the palace- a feat that would take several minutes, made even longer due to the fact she had to be quiet.
The moonlight archer cursed one last time before making her way quietly and quickly to the other side of the palace. A guard flickered into view, and she stood deathly still, slowing her breath.
Inhale.
He walked around the open hallway, his footsteps echoing loudly while Miya's made no sound. Her hair tickled her neck at she fought the urge to move, as the guard did his rounds before returning to the other room.
…Exhale.
She tore into the next room, repeating the process of stillness and silence until she made her way to the Eastern side of the palace.
The crystal faded into royal purples, signalling the royal wing of the palace. She sighed in relief, glancing at her hands. They still were invisible, she sighed in relief, as she crept into the room and shut the door.
It was empty, as expected. She waited moments before her limbs began to flicker back into existence, their source of magic dying. The invisibility spell had worn off at last. She glanced at the Moon. Twelve minutes, Miya thought. Twelve minutes the spell had lasted for.
"Not bad, Neshya," she whispered in appreciation.
The dark light lit the room with shadows and black- the moon's ethereal light casting the room with flickers of luminescent blue. She sat on the bed; the sheets dyed a dark blue by the moonlight, unbuttoning her breast pocket.
Miya pulled the necklace out by the thread, the glamour charm twinkling with magic in the night. It winked at her, and she softly smiled.
It will be worth it.
She pulled of her cloak of midnight and dropped it onto the floor carelessly, the silk rippling into a puddle on the floor. Untying the frayed thread with a pick of her fingernails, she slipped the necklace around her neck.
The cold stone touched her chest and Miya winced at the icy feeling. The feeling turned into a burning sensation as she hissed with the pain.
When the spell was done, she opened her eyes.
She looked at her hands. They were larger, different- or was it just her? She crept up from the bed, looking into the mirror to the right side of the room.
Dim lighting made it hard to see, but she could make out features. Lines, the moonlight harsh on pale skin.
It had worked.
Miya looked into the mirror, but Estes looked back at her.
III
Before
"A glamour," Neshya repeated, shaking her head. "You cannot hold a glamour for so long, Miya."
The moonlight archer had tutted, shaking her head. "You can. Enchant an object to hold the spell in place."
"Say I do this," the mage said, frowning. "You have a glamour on you that makes you look like Estes. Then what?"
"I go to the royal wing," Miya explained. "I stay there overnight. The assassin will believe I am Estes, and will…"
…kill me.
The words rung in the minds of the two, the afterthought a shadow over their minds.
"A doppelganger," Neshya said dryly. "You want to be a doppelganger."
"Estes is being moved to the West Wing for the night. Think about it, Neshya, the night elves don't know we know about their plan. They will assume everything is normal, and kill me as Estes. The object you give me to hold the glamour –a necklace perhaps- doesn't leave my skin, thus holding the glamour in place, even after my death."
"Disgusting, suicidal, selfish, hero," Neshya hissed. "Stop being a hero and for once let another take the damage, Miya!"
"It does not work that way," Miya pressed. "No soldier will willingly march to its death."
"You will," Neshya pointed out. She closed her eyes when she realised the error in her choice of words.
"Yes, I will," Miya repeated softly. "It will all be worth it."
III
She lies in the bed with the face of another.
Eyes that do not look like her own are closed. Hair that is not hers flutters on her cheeks. Tonight, she is a shield, a warrior. She prays she will die tonight to save another.
When the assassin creeps into the room, she knows. When they take out their emerald blades, she knows. She hears the dagger sing as it slides out of the sheath.
But she is still tonight. She must not be afraid.
She hears the hesitation that is in every murderer, the doubt that flashes before duty sinks in. She can almost hear the thoughts that run through the other's head.
Hold the knife steady. Quick, painless.
The motto of the assassins. Quick, painless- all premature deaths should be so. She only hopes her own will be honourable to the assassin's code.
Her stomach lurches forward, and she knows. Fire in her body- an inferno of red, she knows. Her eyes are shut in pain, but she can see the red, feel the warmth of the room.
But she lies still as best she can, to keep the necklace on her chest. To keep up the act as long as she can. She must.
"Sorry," the assassin whispers before fleeing. They believe their guilt has been told to a dead man, not a dying woman.
Fire, compared to the icy air stings. She's slipping away. The light flees in the wake of darkness, and she slips under.
She is lost.
III
Flicker of light.
Warmth, cold. Tingles and feelings in her fingers- or hands?
Her eyes open.
"Stay with me," the light whispers and she nods.
She pulls herself up, and the light beckons once more. It leads and she follows its path.
Her body is aegis itself- immortal in this realm of light so familiar. It's a beautiful light, she thinks. So bright but not too bright. To light the way, but to never burn.
She sees the eagle, watches as it dances in circles around her head.
She laughs.
It's a happy, beautiful sound. She should laugh more often, she thinks.
The eagle caws and disappears leaving a spirit. A wispy, ghost-like figure, which smiles with the guidance of years and leads with the knowledge of a thousand. A deity so familiar that she remembers the name but it slips from her lips.
"Come back, child."
She does.
III
She floats in and out of existence, but finally the day comes where her soul anchors to the realm of the mortal.
She's awake. She looks around. She's at the infirmary.
It's bright. Daytime, she realises. She remembers that she prefers the night.
"Miya."
She turns instinctively at the word, her name. She remembers in a flash, and Miya Estella is sobbing into her hands with the dignity of none.
A hand on her back, warm, supportive- like the light. "It worked," she whispers to herself. "It worked, and I'm dead and-"
"Miya."
She turns and sees the reason for her sacrifice before her. Estes. She looks down; her stomach patched with magic, moon-magic, Estes' magic.
"You saved my life."
She laughed, but it looked like she was crying, her face tinted red with blush-blood. "Yes, I did," she whispered. "And I'm glad I did."
"You shouldn't have done that, Miya," he said softly but the warmth behind it echoed with gratitude. "I had plans myself, but it turns out I never needed them."
"Really," she whispered dully.
"I am selfish Miya," he admitted. "But I know what happens to us if I die. That alone is my reason to live, along with…other things."
And Miya smiled, her head against his chest, the pain in her stomach nothing compared to the sting in her heart.
to be continued
endnote. hey, sorry for the bad quality of last chapter. I was trying to rush the chapter- get it done asap before school started. It will be edited thoroughly, and the rewrite of chapter three will be higher on my list of priorities than writing the first draft of chapter five is.
MIYA VALENTINES SKINEBFKFBEKF definition of perfect :) though. It. Should. Have. Been. With. ESTES *screams*
And: selene = moon in greek. Selene is the Greek Goddess of the moon. I thought her best suited to portray the 'moon deity' referenced in the lore of both Miya and Estes. Estes' ability is named 'domain of the moon goddess' while Miya's catchphrase in her modena butterfly skin is 'Moon God!'. I was confused to what gender of the deity was, but decided on a whim to make the deity female.
replies. (haha I'm glad I haven't lost everyone with my bad writing :)
Missing Middle: Wow… just thank you. The first few days after I posted the chapter I received no response so I was scared that the chapter wasn't good enough- since it had been written in a rush. I was on the verge of pulling the chapter and rewriting it entirely. But I think your review pulled me out of my hole of doubt :) and yeah, after some consideration, I realised I had too many plot bunnies to keep it as a small story lol.
And yes, the return of Alubaby :) Yeah, I shipped MiyaAlu for a while before I decided to convert to my little religion of worshipping Mestes. I'm happy to add him back because he was a joy to write. He's my playboy bby. And no you're definitely not weird for maining Estes! He's super fun to play . Hope you to see you next chapter. Love, silver :)
Tomafia: Hahaha, thank you! I'm glad you like this story enough to check it regularly. And aww thanks for your inspiring compliments because as a writer they really mean the world to me. You've heard it all before, really xD Thanks for your support and I hope to see you next chapter. Love, Silver.
Maine: Hi Maine! *waves* Yeah, I'm sad to see Freya go too…. Tbh I really wanted to keep her along for the ride, but as the fate of all side characters, she can't hold the spotlight for too long D: And I don't want too many characters in my main cast because that would be confusing in my opinion. But hey, I'm open for suggestions. Thanks for your review, see you next chapter. Love, Silver.
tooextraforyou: Haha, kudos to your name :) Thank you so much for your review, and welcome to the story because you seem new ^^ And thank you for your comments regarding characterisation and quality! Those make my so happy :3 Well, I hope you stick along for the ride! See ya next chapter! Love, Silver.
chounojou: ahhh yay you're back ! I'm glad that my work encourages people like that xD
Thank you for all your kind comments, they really make me feel good. I try to bring this word alive as much as I can; I'm glad that it seems to be working with you! There's a little more drama to come… won't give spoilers but just a head up xD Thanks for the review! Love, Silver.
I was surfing the web lately, and stumbled upon a beautiful artwork done by none other than chounojou. I'd seen the picture before but I didn't know you were the artist! It's a beautiful pic of Miya and Estes. Check it out to hyper your inner fangirl.
From now on, most reviews will be answered via PM. Guest reviewers/ those that don't log in, please let me know if you want me to respond to your review. Thanks.
/silver!