(A.N. Just to let you know, while I will follow events that happened in the book, I can and have added my own take to the events and characters, where I'll be adding different things to some topics you originally know.)

Chapter 4- The Meeting

As dawn arrived, the thousands of crystal shards that were implanted in the walls of the chamber came to life and glowed a luminous blue. No more was said between the two royals as they made their way to their seats, sitting randomly a few seats away from each other. Lord Penbarin, after a few final words with Richard, turned his head to those arriving, awaiting her entrance. As the Tribunal members now flocked inside one after the other, or sometimes in pairs or groups he searched for her, worriedly. Finally, the last member entered the room slowly and alone; her face was sombre and downcast. He called to her softly, offering her the seat beside him, but when their eyes met he found it hard to silence a horrified gasp.

Arabella, who was usually the subject of universal conversation for her fashionable tastes and her wit and charm now wore the simplest of garments that made her look exhausted and bleak. Her face was unusually stripped and pale, almost devoid of emotion. Her icy composure that normally melted away with her radiating aura and magnified but her warm beauty which always made her look spectacular, was now greatly diminished. Her icicle covered eyelashes that once defined her features were gone as they melted constantly while her eyes were swollen and read, her once inviting eyes were glazed over with loss and emptiness.

She glanced briefly at the number of empty seats that were ready and waiting for later members come and join them and gave one inward sigh before quietly accepting the small seat next to Penbarin. He greeted her warmly, as he always did, which her feel instantly guilty about being unable to do the same. As he was about to say more, to comfort her, the doors slowly closed and left the room in silence. Cursing inwardly as the opportunity slipped him by, he and others cut off their conversations with apologetic smiles before setting down to business.

"We are here today," Queen Brystianne regally announced, "to look upon our lord and leader's tragic death; to mourn his passing and also to attempt to restore order and reassurance to the guard and more to the universe itself in any way we can. We must begin by addressing the role of leadership, our plans for the Citadel and present and future actions of the guard. Before calling the key members to aid us we must, as Lorian's personally chosen Tribunal, deliver our say in the matter."

"Firstly, I believe we must settle the role of leadership," Lady Divine continued, her voice light and young. "Lorian announced no heir or succession, therefore we suffer quite a dilemma."

"What about Arkarian?" King Richard asked. "Surely, as Lorian's son, he should be the one to take his place?"

Upon finishing his statement, every pair of eyes in that room looked at him in surprise and mild horror.

"What?" Richard asked defensively.

Why are they acting like I'm insane to pose such a question? King Richard thought. Surely it cannot be that they do not trust Arkarian or his strength? I'm sure he has inherited so much of it from his father.

"I know he is not a proper immortal," King Richard said slowly, trying to figure out what the problem was, "but he is wise and powerful and willing to listen to any advice that is given to him. He has much more experience than Matt and I really do think he would make an excellent ruler…"

Silence met his opinion, and he began to shift uncomfortably in his seat to try to ease the tension. His eyes focused on Arabella and he astonishingly noticed she looked far paler than earlier. Worse, she appeared lost in thought, as if his words had made her recall a horrid memory; he was sure he was not the only person who saw a tear or two drop silently from her eyes.

"Well," Sir Syford began hesitantly, before looking at the other members for approval, "while I am sure that every person here agrees with your opinion of Arkarian-"

Nods and murmers of approval quickly rose around the room.

"-but…," he hesitated, "you see…"

"What he is trying to say," Queen Brystianne said, "is that we are not sure…no…we are sure that Lorien did not wish this outcome on Arkarian."

"Can I ask why?" he said after another moment of silence.

As everyone began to look at everyone else for a third time for help and advice on what to say, king Richard began to lose his temper.

"Did something happen that I have no knowledge about?" he asked suddenly, an upon seeing a number of them wince in what he supposed was a memory of a past occurrence he knew he was right.

Lord Penbarin looked highly uncomfortable in what he was going to say. "Yes, you could say that something happened in the past that you are unaware of which makes us all uneasy about discussing this line of thought."

"A lot of things have occurred in the past that you are unaware of," Lady Divine interrupted him. "In a way, you are very fortunate that you were not around to witness them, as they have caused us all so much pain. This line of thought in particular is highly painful to many of us."

"Yes," Penbarin sighed, "but a lack of knowledge can also be a burden in times such as these, where we must reopen old wounds –" Elenna sighed, but Sir Syford interrupted her.

"Though opening old wounds is indeed a necessity now," he said, "I'm afraid we cannot say much on the subject as Lorien forbade any talk of the subject of Arkarian's birth and childhood. Even though he is no longer here, I will not disrespect him by talking by spilling secrets he did not wish to reveal to anyone at the time. It is only unfortunate that he did not have the chance to allow us to tell you what really occurred."

"But," his eyebrows rose in confusion," don't I already know how Arkarian was born and raised? Did Ethan and Isabel not help the mortal woman give birth to him in the past? Did he not spend his childhood on earth like what is told?"

Both uncomfortable and appologetic stares met him once again.

"Not exactly," Sir Syford sighed. "The most we can reveal about the subject is that Lorian a stronger connection to Arkarian, whether Arkarian knows it or not is irrelevant, than you were led to believe."

"Lorian's love for Arkarian," Lord Penbarin added, "was so strong that he would not wish Arkarian to sit upon the throne without receiving proper training for it."

"Proper training for it," Syford added, "is around 200-500 years, depending on how much the person in question knew about ruling prior."

"Why so long?" Richard's eyes widened.

"Immortals are, well, immortal," Elenna shrugged, "so they need to be aware of what they are doing."

"In addition," Brystianne declared, "this is more than just being a ruler of a country or planet. This leadership is basically for governing the universe. The are so many different worlds and races to be knowledgeable about that it would take a while to get to know them all as well as get them all to respect you and accept your leadership."

"More," Lady Divine said, "the person must get used to wielding the power that the leadership brings."

"Doesn't that come with practice?" King Richard asked.

"Yes," Penbarin admitted, "but the power which is person will hold has a very corruptible nature. Look at what happened to the Titans, for example. Kronos was destined to be a great king but he allowed the power to corrupt him and he was eventually cast down."

"Lorian managed alright?"

"The power did not corrupt Lorian," Penbarin nodded, "but Lorian came into power at too young an age. With the early death of his parents and relatives in the midst of a chaotic and horrifying war to save the universe from eternal darkness, Lorian was left in power with barely anyone left who knew how to support and guide him- that is why he had to create and build a number of things himself…and that is also why that I know, no matter what happened to Arkarian in the past, that Lorian would not want to put Arkarian in a postion he did not fully know what to do."

"Alright," King Richard admitted defeat, "if Arkarian cannot take Lorian's place who else is there?"

Queen Brystianne regally stated, "we must consider the possibility of one of us ascending the throne if it is possible, so that we can raise it as a possibility when all the members have gathered."

"It is true, dear sister," Elena spoke up, "that Lorian chose us all uniquely and individually for this group in order to help him rule. But, although he told us that each of us deserved to sit here, we do not know why, or how he managed to choose us out of the billions of other humans, as well as other species, in history. We all have different qualities and we do not know which, or if any, are suitable for this position."

"He chose use to guide, guard and defend. Therefore, how would we know if there's a touch of leadership, on this scale , in us?"

"What has been risen is true enough, " Elenna said. "Maybe we weren't picked for leadership quality, but Lorian did not foresee this outcome, and no matter how hard it may seem, we must today find the means to an end."

"But," Sir Syford commented, "although we were all once mortals and chosen by Lorian himself to be here, most of us were chosen beforehand. What I mean by this, Richard, is Loran let most of us live our human lives until the end, approaching us when we died to offer us a choice- this choice. To live on and to watch over the needy, to protect them and all the realms when and as best as we could, where he blessed us with many powerful skills to do so. Additionally, a lot of us died young; Alexandon was a mere nineteen when death fell upon him and he looked into the eyes of Lorian. I am sure Richard, that if it were not for Ethan and his interfering that he would have come to make you the same offer upon your death. But, there were two of us here that Lorian treated differently: that is you Penbarin and Lady Arabella. Though you are from different era's, you are similar. I wonder why he relies on you more than us. Is there something different about you?"

Penbarin answered quickly, feeling Arabella's instant discomfort and not wanting to increase it. "I know not. I was nine and twenty when I first saw Lorian. It was after a rather tragic incident. He came to me disguised as a mortal do-weller. At first he kept his distance, therefore, it took me a while to notice that he was following me. One day he came up to me, his face a mask of confusion. He asked me who I was, and of course when I told him he wasn't surprised, only a little frustrated.

"What is so special about you?" he asked, his incredibly young face glowed.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked, bewildered and also a little hurt.

"What is it that marks you? That keeps drawing my attention to you?" he asked irritated. "Is it not something you have done or are doing, I have spent enough time around you to know this," he muttered to himself. Suddenly the worry lines along his temples and under his eyes that threatened to permanently scar his youthful appearance pained me, for he could not have older than nineteen at the time and it was no good sign to see this on so young a boy.

"Is something troubling you?" I asked him worriedly. "Is there anything I could help you with?" For I was well known in the area to be a man of some importance. He looked at me up and down, which made me want to look into his eyes, which were such a deep shade of blue that I could almost see purple specks. In them I saw a fiery youth who, for some reason, had been tasked with such a heavy burden that he could no longer deal with it by himself. The intensity of his gaze rendered it impossible to look away; it literally felt like I was falling. Though it wasn't unpleasant, it made me realise that there was more to this boy than that I noticed.

"Do you do this a lot?" he asked, unaware or ignoring what had just happened.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked him in bewilderment. My head was spinning, as it normally is when you feel Lorian push into your mind, to see your soul.

He smiled warmly. "Offering to help people- even when they are complete strangers."

"I do," I answered honestly, unashamed by my actions. "I was not a man born into wealth. I had to find a way to survive on my own. Through this, I learnt the true value of things, and it isn't in money. I work hard so that others can share a similar enlightenment."

"Do you feel ashamed that you can't help more people? At the suffering that goes on around you caused by your fellow humans?"

"I-"

"Because you cannot hope to save everyone here. You are only one human after all. It isn't your responsibility."

"But-"

"It is mine."

He went on then, explaining who he was and although all that he was explaining sounded impossible, but I never doubted him.

"But," I whispered, thinking back to the start of this conversation, "what's so special about me?"

"You care," he said simply, and offered me the chance to go back with him, by his side to help him protect the universe.

"But I couldn't possibly walk by your side," I protested, my eyes widening at learning who this person was and all that he had been through up until that point.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not…"

"Worthy?"

"Stop reading my mind."

His youthful laughter increased. It was a cold day here, the snow was just beginning t fall. Feeling the temperature drop, I reached into my pocket to pull a scarf out to give it to him as he had very little to defend himself against the cold, finding it hard to believe that such a young person would have such a huge responsibility already on his shoulders.

"How would you think you're not worthy. I have searched for your heart and soul- the very essence of your nature and you're perfect for my Tribunal."

"A what?"

He rolled his eyes but quickly explained.

"How old are you?" I asked, suddenly.

"Late nineteen. Why?"

"For someone who claims to be the ruler and protector of the universe it seems a little young. Are your parents in charge? Or at least aiding you?"

"No," his face saddened. "They were in charge, but they died when I was just seventeen."

"But you have advisors and other family members to help you rule? I know from experience that it is difficult to live in and maintain a household after a death, but the universe…"

"Nearly all of my family died in the Atroveskian battle. The Greek gods that you have heard of were based loosely on members of my family. My mother was Athena, and my father was Artemis –and before you ask, no he was not a female focused on protecting her chastity. I had an uncle and aunt called Ares and Aphrodite who were constantly with us on our palace in Olympus, and their children were named Harmonia and Eros. Apollo was my father's twin , but we hardly saw him as he was very committed to his duty. Similarly, Hades and Poseidon would not be my granduncles but my uncles, being my mother's brothers. Persephone, Triton and Amphitrite were all real, among a few others. Demter, dear Demeter, was real too, and again my parent's older sister. Dionysus was a real figure too, though a little complicated. As was Hermes and Hephaestus –both bachelors. There was no Hera or Zeus."

"Really?"

He patiently nodded, aware that I still had many questions that I wished to ask him.

"No siblings then?"

"I'm a triplet. Or…was. I had a younger brother called Dartemis and a sister called Lathenia."

"Both dead then?"

"Much more complicated than that I'm afraid. When the bloodshed came to an end, when I felt relief that I could not lose anyone else, she turned on us without warning and against her character, in which she threatened –and is currently threatening- to destroy everything that we believed was good in the realms. I was forced to do it, had to do it.." his face fell in guilt and sadness.

"Do what?"

"Kill my brother."

While I wanted to comment on this, especially as he did not seem the type to do something so cruel, I saw that this was not the time.

"What about all the staff, advisers and all of those different members rulers have to help them? Wouldn't' your father have had his own tribunal?"

His face darkened in rage at the very mention of them.

"They no longer work for me," was all that he said. It would only be much later on that I would learn much more about them.

"In conclusion," Lorian summarised, "there is only me, save a handful of human servants who will all be in the ground in a few years; I am desperate and at a serious disadvantage. My enemies greatly outnumber me and could easily take control of the realms if they found the intelligence to work together. I need help, but I cannot recruit just anyone. They must truly be worthy and loyal to earn the position. Normally, they are born to assume the roles that I have in mind, but I do not have that luxury-I must look elsewhere. It is because of what happened to the last group that I have been very reluctant to recruit anyone at all until this day, but I sense something in you, a touch of destiny perhaps- that is what Persephone always says.

"At any rate, I believe that you are worthy to join me and my cause as a member of the tribunal. You're gain of wealth did not corrupt you; your newfound power, I dare say, made you even more generous and willing to help others. As long as you do not lose this outlook on life, will you join me?

"And that is really what happened," Penbarin concluded, "where I imagine a similar occurrence happened to Arabella. Maybe he saw something of himself in us, or he really needed the support of a friend and ally, but here we are nevertheless."

"You both know the ways of the guard better than most, and have experienced Lorian in command," Alexandon mulled, "it could be possible…"

"No," Arabella whispered shakily. "I cannot… as even at this moment I have trouble ruling myself. I am not a worthy candidate."

"We understand," Elenna said softly. "Lord Penbarin, what say you?"

"I know not. Is it possible that I could accomplish such a task?"

"We know not, but for the future of our kingdom, I hope so."

The duration of the morning was carried out with further discussion, with the exception of the hour before midday, where they were forced to cease as their allotted time had come to an end. Rising slowly, the Tribunal members left the chamber to relax for an hour to wait for the final key members to arrive; the final verdict could only be delivered if they were all together and united as one.