Thanks to all who found the time to read this and give me great feedback. This the second last chapter of this story and then it is finished. Thanks for all the support.

Chapter 29 Starting to heal

Rath was the first who woke up the following morning. And that just because a light was shining on his face and wouldn´t let him sleep longer. Slowly he opened his eyes and tried to shake off his fatigue. Then he saw that he still was in his clothes from last night and wondered why. But after his mind cleared he could remember what happened. He eyed his hand, which was looking absolutely normal. How could this be? He put his hand through a stone wall last night and he heard the bones breaking. However there was no trace of blood or any other indication that would show him that his hand was hurt. He glanced at his right side to see if Marianna was there or if he had dreamed everything. To his disappointment the spot was empty beside him. Had he imagined everything? If so, why could he still smell her on his clothes? Still a little fuzzy he arose into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

" Look who´s awake".

Rath startled for a moment when he heared Mariannas voice. Surprised he turned to the source of sound and saw her sitting on a chair in front of the window. She seemed to be awake for along time, because she wore different clothes than yesterday. She traded her mourning dress for her trainings clothes. " How long are you sitting there already?".

Marianna stood up from her place and stretched her legs. It wasn´t good to sit too long in a position in a quite uncomfortable chair. Now she had to pay the prize for that. " Since dawn actually", she walked to the bed and made herself comfortable beneath Rath. He was looking a bit better this morning, what didn´t mean that he was automaticall healed. But he was on the righ way there. " How are you feeling?".

" I had better days. But it´s not so bad anymore", and Rath really meant that. The stifling feeling in his chest was bearable and the pressure wasn´t that heavy any longer. The crying really helped him. And he was glad that the tension between him and Marianna was cleared.

Marianna was relieved to see part of Rath´s old ego was shining through his dark aura. Maybe everything would get better from now on. Carefully she raised her hand and stroked his cheek. Immediately he responded by snuggeling with his face into her palm. " You scared me last night. I thought I would lose you to your blinding rage".

Rath felt slightly ashamed for his behaviour. He wasn´t himself the past few days and he let his anger out on the wrong persons. When he just thought about that, he had to remind himself to apologize to Vilandra later. " I´m sorry. I didn´t want that".

" I´m pleased to hear that", then Marianna slapped Rath pretty hard on his shoulder. She wanted to do that for a long time, althrough she had another part of his body in his mind. " Don´t do that ever again to me".

Rath rubbed the spot where he was hit. Damn Marianna seemed not to know how strong she was. She almost broke a bone. " I promise", considering what she would do to him when didn´t stick to it. He didn´t want to know which body part had to be topped the next time.

Marianna stopped caressing his cheek and jumped to her feet. They didn´t have time to laze. There was still so much they had to do. " So now that the first problem is solved, we have to approach the next".

" Which would be?", Rath wouldn´t have minded if she would have crawled into his bed and they would have properly celebrated the ending of their fight. But deep down he knew that it wasn´t the time for that.

Marianna glanced at Rath like a second head was growing from his throat. " Firstly we have to prepare the training lessons, then we have to check if we have enough weapons, after that we have to look after Vilandra and Zan and lastly we have to think how we are planning to attack. Of course not in this order".

Rath let out a loud groan and threw himself on his pillows again. She wanted to do that all today? They wouldn´t made it in that time. She was crazy. Actually wasn´t she the one who suggested that they needed time to set up everything properly?. " Alright. Give me time to make myself presentable and we can begin".

" Great. While you dress, I will pay Vilandra a visit", Marianna bent over Rath and gave him a chaste kiss on his cheek before disappearing from his sight.

Rath enjoyed the last moments in his comfortable bed and then made his way out of bed and into his bathroom.

Vilandras room

Marianna knocked softly on the door and waited till she got the green light to enter. After she received a come in she slowly opened it and carefully stepped into the room. Vilandra seemed to have cried all night long. Her eyes were red and puffy. But despite that she was looking a bit healthier than the last time she saw her.

" Knock knock".

Vilandra looked up from her place on the bed and stared at Marianna like she would be a ghost for a few seconds before she jumped to her feet and made a run in her direction. Then she embraced Marianna really tightly. " I thought you were gone. I got your letter".

Marianna was slightly surprised about the unexpected hug, yet she put her arms around Vilandra. Thankfully her shoulder was almost healed and she could move her arm without pain. " I changed my mind. Or rather someone did it for me".

" Is everything alright between you two again?", Vilandra hoped that it was the case, because she didn´t want Marianna to feel like she wouldn´t belong here. And maybe Rath was finding his old behaviour once more. She didn´t like him at the moment. He scared her actually.

Marianna released Vilandra from herself and smiled at her. " Yeah. In fact we have still to talk, but we´re heading in the right direction".

Vilandra breathed a sigh of relieve. She didn´t want to be fight between them. They only had themself now and it wasn´t good to play against each other. " I´m so glad to hear that. Did say why he was acting so strange?".

" It was just his way of mourning, I think", and Marianna wouldn´t say more about the topic. She wasn´t comfortable discussing Rath with Vilandra. After all he didn´t want her to know at first and he wouldn´t want that she would tell it someone other. If Vilandra wished to know more she had to ask Rath herself.

Vilandra nodded her head. She understood the message. The topic was closed. " So what brings you to my room?", she went to her bed and let her slump on it.

" I just wanted to see how you´re doing. I mean Rath was pretty hurtful to you yesterday", Marianna followed her slowly. Actually she did have a specific reason for coming her. But she didn´t want to go like a bull at a gate.

Vilandra observed her rather closely. Why didn´t she believe that? Maybe it was part of her visit, but not everything. There was more. " Why don´t you just ask me?".

Marianna cursed herself for being so obvious nowadays. She should take lessons from Rath. He could hold his expression still and nobody would know what was going on inside him. She seemed to have lost her edge and she didn´t like it. Especially now. Thankfully it was just Vilandra and not somebody else or she could have been in deep trouble. " Alright. I need your help".

" What for?", Vilandra didn´t have a good feeling about this. Why was Marianna asking her? She had no strength and nothing else to offer. She was just a pretty princess, whose greatest goal in life was to find the perfect man and marry him someday.

Marianna grew slightly nervous. She didn´t know how to approach the subject without inflicting more pain to her friend. She was still hurting. " I need you to go inside Nikolais head and get information from him about their plans".

Vilandra shook her head immediately. How could she expect something from her? She wasn´t that good with her powers. She even had problems to get access to some dreams, but to do it when someone wasn´t sleeping. That was impossible. Besides she didn´t want to see what was going on inside Nikolais head. Maybe she would discover something that would destroy her. " I can´t do that".

" I know it´s much to ask from me. But I don´t have your powers or else I wouldn´t have asked. Believe me", Marianna was desperate and hadn´t much options left. She thought about everything this morning, when she watched Rath sleeping. She imagined every tactic and some. But she couldn´t prepare for something she didn´t know when it would happen. Hence she needed the sleepwalking powers from Vilandra.

Vilandra was aware that Marianna was counting on her support and she wouldn´t have pleaded with her if she would have seen another way. But she was scared. Scared of things she could reveal that would hurt or things that could destroy the remaining trust she had in people. " I´ve never went into a mind that was awake. It´s pretty impossible to do that. Even if I wanted to help. I don´t have the abilities".

" I believe in you. I know you can do it. I even offer my guidance if you need it. I won´t let you go through that alone", althrough Marianna wasn´t to keen herself to wander around in the head of her brother. She was already disgusted to be near him. But to be inside him? Ewww. If you think about it really cleary it´s as nasty as it sounds. " But if you don´t feel up to the pressure than you don´t have to do it. I would understand it. I´ll give you time until tonight to think about it". Marianna stood up from the bed and went out of the room.

Vilandra was surprised about the confidence Marianna seemed to have in her. Nobody ever said that to her. And she liked that feeling. Like she would be a important part of something big. And now she had the choice for either sitting around and doing nothing while the others waged a war or she could take part in all and maybe even be helpful? Actually if one thought about it that way, the choice wouldn´t be so hard to make. But on the other hand, what happened if she failed her assignment? What if she wasn´t strong enough and someone got hurt because of her? She wouldn´t stand it again. Vilandra massaged her temple. All this thinking was giving her a headache. Thank god that she had enough time to decide.

Corridor

Rath was waiting for a few minutes now in front of Vilandras door for Marianna to appear. She just wanted to look after her not tell her a story. She was the one who insisted to deal with everything today and now she was wasting value time with talking. He eyed his timer and thought about going to bed again and maybe sleep for a few hours. Marianna was capable of handling everything alone, she wouldn´t need him anyway. Just as he wanted to make his way to his room, the door opened. Rath watched how Marianna exited the chamber and sighed loudly. The talking seemed to didn´t went well like she expected. Instantly he wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her tightly at his body.

" What happened?".

Marianna snuggled her head against Raths chest and tried to enjoy the warmth of his body. But she had to much on her mind right now to do that. " I asked Vilandra if she could help me. But she refused".

Rath stroked her back soothingly. She was too tense. Maybe she needed to rest for a few hours. Since the attack she was the only one without a break. " Did she say why?".

" She´s scared and she doesn´t think she is capable of using her powers beyond her abilities", Marianna was again deep in thoughts. She had to create another plan. A plan involving sending some soldier into the castle of Khivar and spy for them. But she didn´t want to sacrifice a life if she didn´t have to. It would be easier if nobody had to brought in unnecessary danger.

" Maybe she will change her mind and surprise you", Rath knew Vilandra pretty good and she was a loyal friend. She would do anything in her powers to help. She just needed a push in the right direction sometimes. They had just to wait and see.

Marianna pushed herself away from Rath and looked in his eyes." Don´t count on it", she faced the door of Zans room and thought about going in there. But she couldn´t stand the depressing atmosphere right now and especially in her condition. She would go to him later, when they finished everything. Maybe then she was in another mood. Slowly she turned her head in Rath direction once more. " So where should we begin?".

" Why you´re asking me? It was your idea to do the things, hence you should decide", if it would be going after his head, they would be still in bed and resting. But Marianna didn´t want that, so it was her decision what would be first.

Marianna was under the impression that he wanted them both as equals. But if he didn´t want that anymore, who was she to say something against it. " Alright. You prepare the training lessons and I will go into the amoury and count the weapons".

" I thought we would do everything together?", great. If he knew that beforehand he could have stayed in bed a bit longer. It wasn´t much to do and he would be probably finished long before the first soldiers would step foot in the room.

Marianna heard the disappointment in his voice. Did he think they would made everything in one day if they worked together? That was impossible to do. " No. That would take up too much time".

" Then we should just do what we can today and the remain tomorrow", it was actually a great idea. Besides she said they would need time to prepare everything. Now she wanted everything done yesterday.

" I want to be ready if they try to attack again. I don´t want any suprises anymore. Can you understand that?", it was extremly important to her, that everyone knew what they had to do and when. She had the feeling that they wouldn´t have to wait long before Khivar would march in with his soldiers and try to kill the only living persons who could be dangerous to him. He didn´t attack them for fun. He had a purpose. A purpose they had to find out what it was about.

Rath saw the fear in her eyes and he got a bad feeling in his guts. It was the look she had the day before hell broke loose. Their time seemed to have run out. " Yeah. Alright then let´s get started".

Marianna was relieved that he wasn´t his usual self in this and didn´t start fighting with her. Maybe they finally found a way to work together. Or he could also feel something and didn´t want to waste too much time with an argument. Either way it was very helpful. So without another word they both went seperate ways. Rath was on his way to the training room and Marianna to the armoury.

The Armoury

Marianna stood in front of the wall and waved her hand over it for a few minutes now. At first she thought she was at the wrong spot. But when she looked closer she could detect the little scratch she still could remember from the last time she was here. No she was at the right place. Now she only had to find out how she could open the damn entrance and that preferably today. Maybe there was some kind of scanner or something. She eyed the stones carefully. No there was no scanner or anything else. Dammit. She should have made Rath doing the counting and she prepared the exercise. Marianna breathed slowly to calm herself. Then she stretched her hand in the direction of the wall once more. This time she clenched her eyes shut and tried to concentrate on the picture of the wall splitting in the middle and opening up. At first nothing happened. But suddenly there was a noise that sounded like a rock would be shifting on a solid floor. Marianna opened her eyes instantly and noticed to her joy that she finally succeeded. The door to the armoury was gone and without waiting if she dreamed or not she went inside quickly. Now she could go to work.

Training room

Rath was in a bad mood. First of all he had to go out of bed, although he didn´t want that. At least not so early. Secondly he had to spent his midmorning preparing something that didn´t need so much preparing actually. The soldiers knew what they had to do. They got trained for this situation over and over again. He couldn´t show them anything new. Rath was sure that nobody of the citizens would be present in the training, hence he didn´t need to plan something for newbies. So he just controlled the equipment and checked the practise weapons. After that he stepped to the window and watched the place in front of the palace. He tried to oversee the damage to the front garden, which the other soldiers left behind. There was no indication what really happened here, but he still had the pictures in his mind and he would keep them forever branded there. In the past this was a wonderful kingdom, where everybody was happy and friendly towards the others. The place where you could let your children grow up without being scared something could happen to them. It was the same spot where he played his pranks with Zan or chased his sister around the local market. Sometimes he talked with his father by the tree near the outerwall. Back then he got his first advice how to treat a girl from his father there. It was embarassing, but one of his most beautiful memories. However when he looked at it now,all he could see was the many dead bodies and so much ravage everywhere. He wondered if he would always carry this pain he felt at the moment with him. Or if it went away the more time passed. But actually he didn´t want to know that. Not when he needed his mind occupied with more important things. Like to scheme a really good plan, explain it to all the men and motivate them in the process. Because he knew that it would be a hard battle and everybody was scared.

" Hey Rath, do you know where Marianna is?", a voice asked him and ripped him from his thoughts.

He slowly turned around and was stunned to see Zan standing in the doorway. He didn´t look good, but he at least made it out of the room, that was a improvement. " She´s down in the armoury. Why?".

" No reason actually. But thanks", without any further explanation he took off again.

Rath looked after him rather confused. Since when did Zan seek the company of Marianna without any reason? There was something going on. But he hadn´t the time nor the desire to snoop after them at the moment. When it would be something dangerous or important he would get to know it sooner or later anyway.

The Armoury

Marianna was finally done with counting and checking the weapons. She couldn´t believe how much of them were in this room. There could be at least three weapons for each of the soldiers. Slowly she walked to her armor and regarded it with the same awe like the first time she laid her eyes on it. Immediately the picture from her last visit sprung into her mind. Carefully she trailed her finger over the crest on her chest protector and tears began to sting her eyes. Mael was so proud of them that day und she was touched about this gift that she thought her heart had to burst into million pieces. Suddenly the scene changed and she looked again in the shocked face of him when the sword plunged through his flesh. By now the tears were freely falling down her cheeks and dripped on her shirt.

" Marianna?".

Startled Marianna wiped hastily the tears from her face and tried to hide the fact that she cried. She didn´t want anybody to see how devasted she really was. After all everybody counted on her to be there for them and be the rock where they could hold on to. After she was sure that nothing was to see anymore she turned around to the voice. She was surprised to see Zan standing an the entrance. He looked like a ghost and seemed to have lost weight. But better than the last time she had seen him. " I´m glad to see you made it out of the room finally".

" You told me that you would be there when I was ready to talk. I think I´m ready now", Zan wanted to get out from his black void and return to the living again. He understood now that he couldn´t make it alone and he needed help.

Marianna smiled and started walking towards him. She was relieved that he realized that it wasn´t good to try to go through the pain without help. And she was moved that he sought her out. Not his sister or Rath or even Larek. " Then lets find us a nice place to talk".

" Here is good", Zan pointed at the wall in the back of the room. He didn´t want to pour his heart out somewhere where anybody could disturb them. It was hard enough for him to do it with one person, but if someone would burst in he would lose his bravery.

Marianna was a little confused about the location, but if he wanted that she would not question it. If it would make him feel a little better. Fine. So she went to the wall and let herself slump down there. After a few seconds Zan followed her. Pretty uneasy they sat side by side and starred straight forward. Both didn´t now what to say or where they should begin. Until Marianna couldn´t bear the silence any longer.

" How are you feeling?", alright not the brightest question, but she made a start after all.

Zan sighed deeply and shrugged his shoulders. " Like part of me is missing and this part was responsible for my survival".

" The feeling will go by in time. The only thing you can do right now is accepting the pain and not fight against it. Pain means we´re alive and everything that doesn´t kill us makes us just stronger", that was something Hewik or rather her father said everytime she hurt herself. It was a wise quote and finally she understood the meaning of it.

" I don´t know if I can do that. Sometimes it feels like I will be crushed under all this pain and other times I´m scared that I will lose the ability to feel anything, that I will be just a walking shell without soul", Zan buried his head in hands and shook it. He wanted this hurt to be gone. He couldn´t take it anymore. Everything was so dark and cold at the moment.

Marianna laid her arm around him carefully and stroked his back. She was still a little hesistant, but after she noticed that he didn´t pull back, she took his head and placed it on her shoulder. " I´ll tell you something my mother told me a long time ago. Mourning is like a open wound. At first it hurts like hell and it will bleed. In time the pain lessens and the bleeding stops. And one day all there is left is just a scar that doesn´t hurt anymore. But this scar makes us who we are and sometimes it is a reminder to be more careful or more attentive to other things".

Zan enjoyed the caresses and he felt a little better now. Not that he was over the death of his family all of the sudden. But her words were comforting. Even if they couldn´t heal his wounds. " That was beautiful. Your mother was a wise woman".

" Yeah she was", Mariannas mind flashed to the last time they talked to each other. It was the night before she was murdered. Her mother was visiting her in her bedroom and they spoke about love and how it sometimes wasn´t what it appeared to be. Marianna knew that she was talking about herself and that she wasn´t happy in her marriage with Khivar. She should have done something then and maybe her mother would be still alive.

" Do you think they´re in nice place wherever they are?", Zan thought about that a lot this past days. He couldn´t stand to think that they were somewhere horrible or scary.

Marianna sighed loud. That was a question she asked herself often when she couldn´t sleep. But truthfully she had no answer to that. She hoped that it was better, but she wasn´t sure. Nobody seemed to know it. " I really don´t know".

Zan was grateful that she was honest with him. Anyone else would have told him a tale about a perfect place for the dead souls and how peaceful it was there. But not Marianna, she didn´t tell him what he wanted to hear. He liked it. " I envy you. You went through so much in your life and you didn´t give up. You put everything bad behind you and move on. How do you do that?".

" I just do", Marianna didn´t know herself how she made it so far without breaking down. Maybe it was the way she grew up or she just learned more from Khivar than she thought. It was scary that she had her feelings so under control that she couldn´t let her sorrow out like everybody else.

Zan raised his head and took a closer look at her. She sounded so sad. Just as he wanted to ask her if he could help her in anyway, two persons stormed through the door. Startled Marianna and Zan jumped to their feet and stretched their arms out simultanously. Relieved they dropped them the moment they detected it was just Vilandra and Rath. Both were looking like something bad happened.

" What´s up?", Marianna didn´t have a good feeling.

Vilandra struggled for breath and gave her a sign to wait. However Rath had no patience and so he spoke for her. " We know the date for the next attack and you won´t like it".

Mariannas heart started beating faster and her hands began to sweat. " When?".

Vilandra had finally her breating under control again. " Tomorrow, early in the morning".

" No. They can´t do that. We´re not ready for an attack. It´s too early. Oh godness we have to round up everybody and prepare them", Marianna paced the floor like a lunatic. They weren´t ready yet, they still needed time. They would probably all die.

Zan and Vilandra glanced at each other confused. They had never seen her so out of control. She was usually the one everybody could count on to listen, when everything fell apart. Now it seemed to be the other way around.

Rath knew what was happening to Marianna. Her shaking hands and her fast breathing was a sign for a panic attack. If he couldn´t stop her she would pass out. Quickly he stepped closer to her and grasped her shoulders firmly. Then he made her look him in the eyes. " Calm down. We have still enough time".

" I should have listened to you. You said we should attack as soon as possible. Because of me we all will die", Marianna blustered so into the thing that her powers let a few things explode near them.

Rath shook her a little to get her out of the panic mood. It wasn´t good to lose it now. " Listen to me. You have to calm down",

Suddenly Marianna bent down with her torso and tried to breath normal. She had the feeling to suffocate. Rath kneeled besides her. He didn´t know what do to or how he could help her. He looked back to Zan and Vilandra, which seemed to be as clueless as him. Desperate he faced Marianna again. Just in time to see her falling backwards to the ground. Immediately he catched her before she made contact with it. Carefully he laid her on the floor and sat beneath her.

" I´ll go get a healer", Zan was concerned and had the feeling to do something. So without waiting for a reply he ran out of the room.

Vilandra went instantly to Mariannas other side and placed herself there. She took her hand and noticed how cold it was. " What was that?".

Rath put Mariannas head in his lap and stroked her hair from her face. He couldn´t explain exactly what happened, but he had a pretty good guess why it happened. " I think it was all just too much for her and her body shut down because of that".

" I´ve never seen her so out of control. It scares me. She´s always so strong in everything. If she starts falling apart now, we don´t have a chance to succeed in this war", Vilandra thought it would help the situation if she had a few information. But now it seemed it did the complete oppsite.

Rath averted his eyes from Marianna and looked at Vilandra. " Don´t even think that. We´ll making it throught this", he laid a hand on her arm. " Together", he didn´t break the eyecontact with her while he said that. " And I wanted to say that I´m sorry for the way I treated you".

" Thank you. That means a lot. And I forgive you", Vilandra knew that he didn´t meant what he said and the way he behaved was not his intention. They had a fight, so what? They were family and there are always fights between siblings.

Rath turned his gaze back to Marianna again. She still hadn´t regained her consciousness and was just lying there. He wished she would open her eyes. He needed her with him now. He couldn´t take all this responsiblility alone. If he could at least feel something from her, then he wouldn´t worry so much. But he got nothing. So the only thing he could do right now was to wait for Zan and a healer to come.

Mariannas subconscious

She was standing in absolute darkness. Nothing was around her, just this dark place. There seemed to be no walls or a ceiling or even a ground. It was like she hovering in the air, just that she didn´t feel like she would float. She was standing on a solid floor. Paniced Marianna turned in all directions to detect something familiar. But it was simply to dark to see anything. Slowly fear was settling in and she was on the brink to freak out. Where was she? Was this another dream? Was she dead? Suddenly a bright light came in her direction and blinded her for a moment. Instinctly she protected her eyes with her arm. When she noticed that the light was not so bright anymore she dropped her arm and looked at the thing that was standing in front of her. For a moment she was shocked. It wasn´t a thing, but rather a person.

" Mother?".

Leiana smiled at her daughter. " Yes dear. It´s me".

Marianna rubbed her eyes. That couldn´t be. Her mother was dead. Or did that imply that she wasn´t alive anymore herself? Was this the place where all the souls were staying? " Am I dead?".

" No. You´re just resting for a moment", her mother looked like an angel. The white dress she wore was shining pretty bright. And her face glowed with happiness. A expression Marianna didn´t see that often on her mothers face.

" What are you doing here then? And where is here?", Marianna had so many questions at the moment, that she didn´t realized that she was so close to her mother, after which she mourned so long.

Leiana laid a hand on her daughters cheek and stroked it. " You´re unconscious right now and we´re in your head", the smile on her face didn´t waver. " I was send here to give you the support you need to get thought this war. You´re facing your worst nightmare and I´ll try to help in any way I can".

Marianna felt the touch of her mother and finally she noticed that everything was real. Tears where streamig down her face when she leaped in her arms and hugged her tightly. " I´m so sorry. I´m sorry for not stopping Khivar sooner. I´m sorry for not regnorizing sooner that he wasn´t the man I wanted him to be".

" It´s not your fault, honey. Things happen and we can´t do anything to prevent it. I´m so proud of you and the woman you became. I couldn´t hope for a better daughter", Leiana pressed her strong at her body. It was good to feel her. Even if it was for a little while.

Marianna lifted her head and looked at mother. " Still. I could have done something".

" No. It was my destiny to die that young, just like it is your destiny to lead this army through this battle. Nothing happens without a reason", Leiana was beyond the point of mourning the loss of her life. Actually she was now living in another place, a better place, where she could be what she wanted and be with whom she wanted. It wasn´t bad there, just different.

" I don´t think I can do that. I´m not ready to lead an attack", Marianna was terrified of all the responsibility. So many lifes were depending on her and if she made a mistake there would be no coming back.

Leiana caressed the head of her daughter. She made herself smaller than she was. She was more than ready to take her role or Mael wouldn´t have choosen her. Even Hewik could see what she was capable of and he wasn´t wrong in his judgement. " You were trained for this. I observed you from above and saw how much work you put into this training. You´re ready. Besides I think you have enough help from your family".

" My Family is either dead or wishes me dead".

" You still have Rath, Vilandra, Larek, Zan and Nolak. And we´re there, too even if you can´t see us. We´re always near", why couldn´t she see how much she still had? She wasn´t alone and she never would be.

Marianna glanced startled at her mother. How much did she know? " You know the others?".

" I´m dead. I see and know everything. And I was glad to see that you found people who care about you like I did", how could she be mad about people who treated her daughter like they treated their own children.

Marianna buried her head again at the chest of her mother. It still felt the same, like she remembered from the past. She wished she could stay here with her and forget about everything else. " But it wasn´t the same. Sometimes I think the part that could feel love died the day with you. And I feel guilty for guarding my heart from the others".

" You shouldn´t feel that way, because you gave them so much without realizing it", Leiana noticed that their time was slowly running out. She had to hurry up to say what she wanted to say. " Listen to me. Trust your friends. With their help you can do so much more than you could imagine. Don´t give up and don´t listen with your ears, listen with your heart".

Marianna detected that something wasn´t right. " What´s going on? Do you have to go?".

" We don´t have enough time anymore. Your friends are waiting for you and you have to go back", Leiana wished they had more time. She had still so much to say to her daughter. But this wasn´t a goodbye forever. She would see her sooner than Marianna thought.

Marianna shook her head and more tears leaked from her eyes. She couldn´t go now. " I don´t wanna leave. I want to stay here with you".

Leiana took the face of her daughter in her hands and made her look at her. " You have to go. But remember that you´re never alone. Your father and I will always be by your side".

" I can´t leave you alone here".

Suddenly another bright light appeared besides Leiana. A familiar shape got visible and Marianna almost swallowed her own tongue. It was Hewik or rather her father. " She´s not alone here. And I think you have people expecting you".

Marianna embraced her parents for the last time. " I love you both very much".

" We love you, too, Angel", Hewik gave her a kiss on her cheek and then he took the hand of Leiana. Together they just disappeared into nothing in front of Mariannas eyes.

Armoury

Rath and Vilandra were still sitting besides an unconsciouness Marianna. Both were frantic because a few minutes ago she started to cry and Zan was still gone. One held her hand in a deathgrip and the other stroked her head constantly. All of the sudden Marianna opened her eyes and her torso shot up from the ground. She was breathing heavy and seemed to be confused and disoriented for a moment. She was scanning the room, like she would look for someone.

" Marianna?", Rath was a little concerned. She wasn´t fully there with them. What happened during the time she was gone?

Marianna turned her head to Rath and starred at him like she would see him for the first time. But then a smile graced her face. " I saw my parents and it was wonderful".

" Where were you? Where you dead?", Vilandra didn´t think so, because they saw how her chest was rising and falling with every breath. But she had to ask that, in case something like that would happen again.

" No, I wasn´t dead. My mother told me we where in my head or something. I didn´t really question it. But they gave me something with me", the smile on her face grew wider. The fear and the panic was gone and was replaced with a new feeling.

Rath couldn´t understand the turn about in her personality. A few minutes ago she was a complete basket case and was panicing and now she was the calmness in person. " And what".

Marianna let her gaze wander from Rath to Vilandra. " Hope".

Before either of them both could question her sanity, Zan was storming into the room again, followed by a panting healer. " I´m back with help".

" I think we don´t need him anymore. I´m fine", Marianna arose from her position on the floor and slapped Raths hand away, which was trying to help her back on her feet.

Vilandra scratched her forhead. She had obviously missed something. Had she slept at some point, because the change of mind was disturbing. " I still don´t understand a few things. Why are you so happy now?".

Zan glanced at his sister and then at Marianna, who was emitting this calm glow. " What did I miss?".

Rath stepped closer to Marianna, in case she would crash back to the ground any minute. " Marianna saw her parents and now she´s completely changed".

" You saw your parents? Did you see Ava and my parents, too?", Zan saw a small ray of light shining into his dark hole. Maybe he would feel better if he knew how they were.

" No. I´m sorry. But I can tell you wherever they are at the moment, they are fine there and they´re not gone. You can´t just see them anymore". Marianna went to Zan and laid a hand on his chest. " They´re always in this place and nothing will change that".

Zan had tears in his eyes when he faced her. " Thank you".

" So and what are we doing now? We still have to plan an attack for tomorrow", Rath didn´t want to be the destroyer of this emotional get together. But they still had to think about what to do. They couldn´t forget that a war was knocking at their door and they hadn´t the time to clean the place before opening.

Marianna looked at the people around her. Her mother said that she had to trust her friends and everything would take care of itself after that." Alright. Rath you´re still taking over the training. Try your best to prepare them for the battle", she glanced at Vilandra. " You and Zan will carry the weapons and the armours upstairs and spread them out to the soldiers. They have to get familiar with their weapons and their armours".

" And what is your assignment?", Rath wasn´t against that she took over the role of the leader. But he was curious what she wanted to do in all this.

" I´ll take care of a back up plan. We need something if everything fails", Marianna already had the perfect plan in her head. She just needed to find Larek. He had to help her in this.

Rath nodded at that. That sounded reasonable and he trusted her. " Alright. Then let´s split up. We don´t have all day".

Immediately everybody moved in different directions. Zan and Vilandra started to collect every weapon they could find. Rath made his way to the training room and brought Nolak along the way as a advisor. And Marianna went looking for Larek.

Tomorrow at this time they either had won or they would be dead.

TBC