"Wake up! I got it" Said a voice that startled Gabe awake in the early morning hours. He sat up quickly in his bed and was immediately on defense. He relaxed at once when he saw Gervaso standing near. The Beast tossed a long tube at Gabe. He was still half asleep and missed the catch. The container bounced off his head and landed in his lap.
"What?" Was all Gabe could manage as he rubbed his forehead. The tube was heavier than it appeared.
"Get it done" Gervaso said to him with a nod, trying to hide his enthusiasm, knowing that things were about to get very interesting. He then turned around and left Gabe to himself.
Gabe let out a long and heavy yawn and proceeded to open what he had been tossed. He removed the cover and his tired eyes were suddenly awake when they saw Elena's scepter. He took it out and examined it. "Yup." He thought. It definitely was the scepter of light. He leapt out of bed with an energy he hadn't felt since he was back in Avalor. He got himself dressed, concealed the scepter back into the container, threw the strap over his shoulder and headed towards Elena's tent. It was still early enough to sneak over there. He knew not many Fuerza were awake just yet, including King Galtero. The only people moving about were the guards, switching shifts. It wouldn't be odd at all for him to stop in and check on her before his shift began.
"What are you doing here?" Elena asked surprised but not unhappy, as Gabe entered her tent unannounced. It wasn't unusual for him to do so but after the day she had opened up to him, it happened less frequently. They had shared some pretty intense feelings and in the weeks that followed, there had been an ever present emotional tension between them. It was stronger than ever before and they both struggled to not act on it. As they had previously discussed, it was in their best interests to not be alone together too often or for too long.
"We have the scepter" Gabe revealed, high on adrenaline. He couldn't stop a victorious smile from spreading across his face.
Elena's eyes lit up. She could hardly believe it. Without thinking she threw herself into Gabe's arms. He caught her and spun her around in celebration of their first victory since being imprisoned on the island. They immediately remembered themselves once Elena's feet were back on the ground. They awkwardly cleared their throats and took a casual step back from one another.
"Oooo! Let me see it!" Elena nearly squealed with excitement in a childlike voice, her large brown eyes wide and pleading like a puppy.
Gabe chuckled and shook his head, happy to see some of the Old Elena returning. They were still in the slow process of bringing her back from the lifeless slave she had become but everyday she got stronger and everyday Gabe saw glimpses of the girl he knew in Avalor. Right now, she was adorable in all her giddiness and Gabe felt himself unable to look away from her and unable to stop himself from falling for her all over again. He handed her the tube and she eagerly opened it and began to reach inside.
"No! Don't touch it!" Gabe said, quickly stopping her. "The glow will shine right through the walls of the tents. No one can know we have it yet"
"Oh! Right! Sorry!" Elena agreed and covered it back up. She had gotten ahead of herself. Another character trait of the Old Elena.
"Sooo... You know what we have to do now right?" Gabe said, turning serious.
Elena's joy faded in the moment as well.
"We'll do it tonight. There's no use putting it off" She said trying to sound determined but there was a hint of hesitation in her voice.
Gabe noticed.
"Are you going to do it?" Gabe asked, curious to see just how determined she actually was. It wasn't something they had actually discussed before. All they talked about was the fact that once they received the scepter they would have to kill King Galtero. They never mentioned who would do it or how it would be done.
"Yes. I'll do it" She said, still sounding unsure though. "It has to be me. He'll never suspect it. We'll be able to do it as quietly as possible"
"Elena" Gabe started, placing his hands on her arms, leaning in close to her and making her look him directly in the eyes. He had to let her know just how important what he had to say was. "There is no room for hesitation. He's not a stupid man, if something goes wrong and you can't do it, his suspicions will rise. We can't let that happen. You need to be confident going into this"
Elena stared into his eyes. He was right and he saw right through her. She wouldn't be able to do it. She hated Galtero and wanted him dead but she herself was no killer. Gabe knew it.
"I'll do it" he offered.
"Have you ever killed anyone before?" Elena asked with concern. Gabe was strong and brave and a master swordsman but he was hardly the type of man to take the life of another. Behind the tough exterior that he liked to display, he was deeply sensitive and Elena feared that killing Galtero would change him.
"No. I've never killed anyone" Gabe admitted. "But I would do it for you. It's my job to do it in order to protect you. And if I get caught... then I would die knowing that I made the sacrifice for you. So that you can get home and free Avalor"
Gabe spoke with the same determination that Elena had tried to convey. His was real though. His voice didn't falter. Elena stared into his eyes and her heart fluttered, not knowing if it should sing with joy for the love and loyalty that he showed her or break at the thought of him sacrificing himself for her.
"Oh man! Stop it!" Paola cheekily pleaded from behind them. Gabe and Elena, shocked at her presence, broke their hold on one another and turned to face her. She rolled her eyes at the both of them. "Just stop with all the 'I can't let you do this, I love you too much' dramatics"
They glanced at each other and shared a humored look despite the seriousness of their situation. Paola was right. Her mocks definitely had truth behind them.
"So what do YOU suggest?" Gabe asked Paola, matching her saucy attitude.
"I'm going to do it" She stated boldly. "After the things that he's done to me, I have more reason to do it than anyone. And I'm not the least bit scared to do it."
Elena gave Gabe a look telling him she thought it was a good idea and if Elena was on board with Paola killing Galtero, then he was too.
"Ok" he agreed.
"I'll be right here in case anything goes wrong." Gabe told Elena before vanishing behind the curtain to Elena's dressing area. He had the scepter ready to hand over to Elena once the deed was done.
He crouched down and stayed quiet, waiting for Galtero to go to Elena's room. Paola helped Elena get cleaned up and dressed for bed and then joined Gabe in their hiding spot. Gabe was able to position himself in a way that he had a view of exactly where Elena and Galtero would be. Paola was in a spot that would be easy for her to sneak into the room and do what she'd need to do.
Gabe watched as Galtero entered Elena's tent. Usually she was in bed, but that night she was up and waiting for him. She stood in front of him wearing a gold silk sleeveless robe. It draped low on her chest and clung to her curves. Galtero looked her up and down and it was obvious that he liked what he saw. Elena began to remove her robe and Gabe shielded his eyes, not sure he was able to watch her be with her husband and control his emotions at the same time. Paola touched Gabe's arm and gave him a nod. She was ready if he was. And he was. Gabe gave her a go ahead gesture and returned his gaze to the king and queen. He saw Elena lying on the bed and Galtero climbing on top of her. Paola drew a dagger and made her way over to the bed in complete silence. Elena sat up to meet Galtero face to face, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her. As she met his lips with her own, Paola drove the dagger into his back. Gabe watched Elena's eyes fill with horror as she pulled herself away from him. Galtero tried to get up but his shock and pain was too great. Paola shoved him off the bed and to the ground where she proceeded to finished him off. Gabe rose from his hiding place, scepter in hand and made his way towards Elena, picking her robe up on his way. He handed it over and she put it back on. They both stared at Paola and the deceased man on the ground. Elena closed her eyes and a sense of relief rushed over her. She was free from Galtero.
"Go" Paola told Elena. "Claim your throne"
"I believe this belongs to you..." Gabe said, handing Elena her scepter at last.
Elena beamed as she reached for it. Her eyes danced with further delight as she grasped the handle and the turquoise gem that sat on top released a ray of light. Paola's mouth draped open and brow lifted as she watched her friend. She knew Elena had been a strong woman but she had no idea the extent of her powers. She was truly in awe.
Elena said nothing but made her way out of the tent, Gabe following behind. Paola snuck out the back to get herself cleaned up. Once outside, Elena paused in front of her tent and looked around. Gervaso stood nearby, ready to deal with the repercussions of their plan with a straight face. There were still a good amount of Fuerza out and about and Elena's scepter immediately drew their attention. The guards ran her way, suspicious as to the where abouts of her king. Their king. They said nothing to her but rushed inside of her tent to investigate. Elena didn't even look back. She stepped up onto the royal platform that sat in the middle of the village and stood tall and strong, waiting to rule her people. Gabe wasn't afraid for her. He believed in her, she was a true leader, it was in her blood. She would be victorious that night.
"SHE KILLED THE KING!" One of the Fuerza warriors shouted as he exited Elena's tent followed by a few more of the soldiers dragging out Galtero's body. Chaos began to ensue as they all began to shout together, more crowds gathered and no one was sure what they were supposed to do. They'd never been in such a situation before. Most called for Elena's head but no one actually made a move towards their queen. Elena's stance did not waver. She simply watched in silence as the Fuerza people began to unravel.
"ENOUGH!" Gervaso finally interjected. "This is our queen!"
"And she murdered our king!" One of the Fuerza countered, standing up to the prince of the Fuerza. "She betrayed him. She betrayed us all. She must pay!"
The crowds cheered him on. They wanted justice. The warrior looked around and spotted the cage housing Migs, Luna and Skylar. It was no more than thirty feet away. He walked towards it, hatred filling his soul, on a mission for vengeance. He then turned towards Elena once he reached the door. "I say KILL the jaquins! Make them suffer! Make her watch and suffer!" Again, the crowd cheered with approval and began to run towards the cage. The ring leader reached for the lock.
"BLAZE!" Elena shouted, tightly gripping her scepter with both hands and aiming it in the direction of the cage. A fire ball shot from the gem and made a direct hit with the lock, blasting it open, and sending anyone standing near to the ground. The jaquins were free. They quickly flew out of their prison and proudly circled above their queen.
Silence fell over the village and in that instant, everything had changed. The Fuerza people all froze as they felt the power of rule drain from their rioting cries and make it's way to Elena. Their queen. Elena ground her bare feet on her pedestal and could feel her strength return. Her renewed vigor made it's way up her legs, swirled around in her core, pounded deep into her heart and rose through her neck. With her head held firm and her jaw clenched, a look of regal fierceness began to surface. Finally, it all radiated through her arms and to the very tips of her fingers. In dramatic fashion, she raised her scepter wielding hand as high as she could.
"Glow" She whispered and a blue ray of light shone high out of her magical ornament. Again, jaws dropped by Elena's display of the unnatural.
"GLOW!" She then shouted, further illuminating the sky. In a wave like motion, the crowd began to fall to their knees, bowing to their Queen as if she were so much more than that. She was their Goddess and they would worship her.
A smirk grew over Gabe's lips as he watched Elena reemerge into the powerful and fearless leader he had always known. Her presence was intoxicating. He was inspired by her just as he had been on the day they met. He would have bowed down to her along with the others but instead, he stood proudly behind her. Supporting her. Ready to risk anything for her. It had been a long road to get Elena back but he had never given up. They still had a lot of work to do, but now that she had her scepter and she had her army, Elena of Avalor was going to be unstoppable.