Hey guys! Welcome back to this story of epic proportion! So, I know a lot of you probably expected me to update yesterday, but I think I'm gonna try to stick to a schedule. I'm gonna try to update every 3 days, which means I will skip 2 days in between chapters. The main purpose of this so I don't rush the story. I don't want to write a chapter, and then decide I don't like it after I have written more chapters. I need to give each chapter some time to sink in a little, and once I think it's good, then I will continue. Plus I'm lazy, and don't feel like updating every other day; don't want to have this story take up my entire life. It already takes up a huge portion of my life, and most of you don't know that each chapter takes 5-8 hours to write. (You know what? Let's time how long this takes! It is currently 4:20 PM. I will tell you guys what time it is when I finish.) That's 20 chapters, plus two of them were completely re-written. So that is about. . . 100-160 hours of my like taken up by this story so far. That's is about 4-7 days worth of time. That is a LOT of time, and don't even get me started on the amount of time I spend reading. So, onto more casual topics, my birthday is on Saturday! My party is also on saturday, and my aunt is taking me somewhere on sunday, so don't expect another chapter until at least Monday. I already know what I'm getting for my birthday too! Since my parents are clueless when it comes to video games, they had to take me to the store to pick it out. It's the turtle beach XO Seven wireless headset. It's a whopping $160 (I understand some of you don't know how much that is, but I don't know the euros conversion)! I'm also getting Titanfall, which I already know is awesome (I played the beta non-stop). So, enough of my endless rambling, and onto the story! So, I guess I will see you guys after the chapter!
-Tytonic
Disclaimer: I do not own any of The Underland Chronicles, only the characters I make up and the plot itself.
Gregor and the War of the Myriapods
Chapter 21: She Never Said Yes
"Gregor. Do me, and all of Regalia a favor; don't let Hayden become king. I have information to show that he is being used like a puppet by the council. They will rule Regalia through him, if he becomes king." Said Ripred.
Gregor looked Ripred in the eye. He could see it, rager to rager, the importance of this.
Gregor Responded "I won't Ripred, I won't."
-O-
Gregor's mind didn't register what he had just agreed to at first. He heard the words 'don't let Hayden' and instantly agreed. Only know was the weight of what he agreed to finally coming down on him. Except, it wasn't a bad type of weight, it was a determined type. He would stop Hayden from marrying Luxa. Not only because he loved her, but for the good of Regalia, for the good of the entire underland.
Gregor knew he wouldn't be able to kill Hayden. Well, he would be able to, but it would only get himself killed. He needed to find a way to keep Hayden from marrying Luxa. Something that would prevent it, such as a crime he committed. If you have committed any crime, ever, you cannot become king.
Gregor's train of thought was interrupted when Chronos finally landed on the wall. Gregor slid off of Chronos's back.
"Chronos, go help were ever you are needed, just be alert, I may need to call you at a moments notice." Said Gregor. Chronos nodded in response, and quickly flew off. Gregor could see that Ripred finally managed to flop off of the big flier.
"Uhh, I don't know how you guys do it. How you can get off of those things so easily?" Asked Rirped, irritated.
"It isn't hard, Rirped. Maybe your just getting to old for this stuff." Responded Gregor.
"I won't lie, I'm getting old, but don't think for a second that I'm turning weak!" Snarled Ripred right in Gregor's face.
"I didn't say that you were getting weak, though that could be why I keep beating you up, I was just saying that your not as flexible as young Ripred was." Replied Gregor, a little grossed out by the way Ripred's drool was dripping on his shoe.
"Oh you little bra-" Snarled Rirped, before being cut off by Luxa.
"Girls, girls, your both pretty, now come on, we have things to discuss." Said Luxa.
"You have been spending way to much time with Ripred, Luxa. He's really starting to rub off on you." Replied Gregor.
"I have no clue what you speak of." Responded Luxa in a very snide tone.
"Like I said, to much time with Ripred. Now what did we need to talk about?" Asked Gregor.
"Specific ways to fight the slasher. Xano got here about 10 minutes ago, we have been waiting for you two. Now come, he is over here." Said Luxa.
Luxa proceeded to drag both of the pretty little girls over to were Xano was waiting. He was ordering fixes in the defenses, so they would hold up as best as possible against slashers. It took him a few moments to notice them, as he was looking over part of the wall on the right.
"Yes, here you are. There are a few things I must inform you two of. The slashers, as you know, are highly venomous. There venom, if inside of you, will kill you. It will take about 10 seconds before it drains your light, all the time accompanied by a painful burning sensation. I must advise you, if you need to choose between, say taking a slasher tail through the stomach, or getting cut by one of their fangs, take the tail through the stomach. It will be very difficult to avoid their fangs, but it is vital. I don't have to worry about this, myriapods have a natural immunity to this poison. The slashers, as you know, are around ten to 15 feet long. This means that they cannot attack as fast as, say the cutters would, though they make up for this in skill and deadliness." Informed Xano.
"Yeah. . . so how much of a chance do you think we really have at holding Regalia?" Asked Gregor.
"It is difficult to say, though I would venture to say that if either you, me, or Ripred fall, the humans will have little to chance of survival. They have only 500-600 in this specific attack, correct?" Asked Xano.
"Only? 500-600 is an entire army! The Regalian army is around 650 strong! They just about match our numbers!" Explained Luxa.
"Yes, only. They are just testing our strength with this attack. If we manage to survives this attack, we will be severely crippled. In that case, they will send more slashers, many many more. I would assume that they would send around a thousand more. If we survive this attack, we will have to make all haste in completing the quest, assassinating the slasher king. Remember, they have many soldiers to spare. Thousands upon thousands upon tens of thousands. If you recall what I said during our 'discussion', we have absolutely no hope if we face their entire army head on. I know you still do not trust me enough to go on this quest, but I hope participating in this upcoming battle may help gain your trust, for your own sake." Said Xano.
"I will decide who and who is not to be trusted. Until you gain my trust, we will be going on no such quest." Responded Luxa.
"Yes, I am aware. I respect that decision, but it only urges me to hurry in gaining your trust." Replied Xano.
Luxa completely ignored this statement, focusing more on a flier approaching. Gregor could see the dread in her eyes, and he heard her muter a curse under her breath.
"What is it Luxa?" Asked Gregor, eying the approaching flier now as well.
"It's. . . it's Hayden." Muttered Luxa, hardly audible.
"Oh, I met him earlier, just before I got here. He only shoved the fact that he is 'marrying his beloved Luxa and becoming king' down my throat. I swear I was about to slaughter him until Ripred saved me." Said Gregor.
"Just. . . Help keep me busy discussing the battle. I do not want to deal with him right now." Said Luxa.
"Can do. Ripred, get over here!" Shouted Gregor.
"What do you want, pup?" Asked Ripred.
"There's a wild Hayden inbound, and your going to help me keep Luxa to busy to talk to him." Declared Gregor.
Ripred instantly understood, and nodded in response. He began talk of battle formations and the defenses.
"So, queenie. How exactly are the troops organized behind the first line?" Asked Ripred. At this point Hayden was moments from landing.
"They will be spread out widely, having about three feet space between each soldier, as oppose to the normal one foot space. This will allow each soldier to have more space to fight in. The slashers are large, so this will also greatly limit their space to move in, and it will allow more then one soldier to attack each slasher at once, thus surrounding them." Replied Luxa. Hayden had just landed about 10 feet away, and was making his way over to Luxa, who was looking over the battlefield along with Ripred and Gregor.
"Clever. What about the torches? We know that the slashers do not like fire, so the way we scatter the battlefield in them can also assist us greatly." Asked Gregor.
Hayden had just arrived at the trio, and was now starting to talk.
"Hello, my dear. It has been a long time." Said Hayden. Luxa talked right over him, responding to Gregor.
"Yes, we are scattering the battlefield in more torches then usual, so no soldier will be left without light. Along side that, each soldier with an available are will be holding a torch along side their weapon. Some soldiers are even coating their weapons in oil, and are going to light them at the beginning of battle." Responded Luxa.
"They are? How have I never thought of that? Before I go out, remind me to coat Nightfall and Midnight in oil." Said Gregor.
"Luxa dear? Hello? It's me, Hayden." Persisted Hayden. Ripred did not hesitate to talk right over him again.
"What about the issue with the slashers climbing the walls and the roof?" Asked Ripred.
"Hello? Can you guys even hear me? Whats this, a tactical conversation, without me?" Asked Hayden, still getting annoyed.
"We have coated a section of the wall and roof in a mixture of oil and some stuff from the jungle. We do not have very much of it, and the ring around the cavern is only about a foot thick, but we have drenched about a ten foot span of the ground in oil. When the slashers arrive, we will light the oil, and it will keep the slashers at bay for a while longer while we finish the final parts of our defense. Any that manage to get past the fire on the walls or room will be picked off by archers. We have only ten archers ready, but they have the best bows and arrows we could get them." Answered Luxa.
"Warrior? Ripred? Luxa? Anybody? Hello!" Shouted Hayden, ignored once more.
"What about the walls? What type of defense do we have set up for them? I know the slashers can climb the walls like nothing." Asked Gregor.
"They are drenching the front of the walls in oil, and around 5 feet of the ground in front of them as we speak. If we are forced to retreat we will light the oil. This will also halt the slashers in their advance on Regalia." Responded Luxa. Her eye started twitching in annoyance as Hayden continued to try to get their attention.
"Why are you guys ignoring me!?" Yelled Hayden. Ripred talked right over him again.
"So how many troops are we putting in? The rats will arrive around an hour or two after the battle has begun. It will turn the tides on the slashers." Said Ripred.
"We have around 650 soldiers in the army, but we cannot put them all in battle. We are putting 550 soldiers in, the rest are left on the inner walls protecting the city." Responded Luxa.
"Luxa, my love?" Asked Hayden as he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
An ear-splitting crack ran throughout the cavern, which caused every soul to look towards the source. The cracking sound was made when Luxa's hand connected with the side of Hayden's face. It left a large bright red hand print on the left side of his face. Hayden looked absolutely shocked.
"You will NOT call me your love! You have never proposed to me, and I have never said yes to you! I NEVER agreed to be with you at all! We were forced together, so don't think for a second that I am marrying you for anything more then the good of Regalia!" Screamed Luxa, right in Hayden's face, pushing him away from her.
Luxa spun around and and ran to the edge of the wall, where she jumped off of the edge, being caught by Aurora, and flew away. Every single person within in view had their eyes fixated on what just transacted. They kept staring, even after Luxa left.
"What are you all looking at?! We have work to do!" Shouted Ripred as loud as he could. Everybody went busily back to work.
"She is very clever. She put up that display, showing everybody how strong she truly is, and how god of a leader she can be. She puts everything and everybody below the city, and she just showed it. It feels good to know we are in love." Said Hayden. He had Gregor's dagger at his neck in an instant.
"Listen to me, worm. How stupid can you be? She does not love you! You do anything to hurt here, and I will personally tear your throat out!" Threatened Gregor, just loud enough for Ripred and Hayden to hear.
When Gregor pulled away, a paler-than-usual Hayden stumbled back a few steps, then got very angry at Gregor's threat.
"How dare you threaten the king! I should have you executed right now! Slowly tortured to death!" Spat out Hayden. Ripred decided that it was a good moment to step in.
"You are not king. You don't have the power to have him executed, and even when, if, you become king, Luxa would not allow it!" Snarled Ripred.
"So you think it would be wise to execute me? Without me we may very well lose this war! Oh what a spectacular king you will make, kill off your people's only chance at survival!" Said Gregor, voice dripping in sarcasm.
If looks could kill, Gregor would have died a hundred times over by the look Hayden was giving him. Hayden turned around and walked away, having nothing else to say.
"Either that was really brave, or really stupid. If he goes to the council and says you threatened him, they will have you executed the moment this war is over. If he doesn't, then he will probably get his throat ripped out by the all mighty warrior, his choice. Now, you should go get Luxa. Since you left she has done this a few time, flown away and hidden. When she doesn't want to be found, she usually goes to Ares cave. Go talk to her, she needs comfort; her marriage is a very sensitive subject for her." Said Ripred.
Gregor saw the seriousness in the rats eyes. He nodded in response and ran to the edge of the wall, where he jumped off. Chronos had know he was going to go after Luxa, so he had been prepared to catch Gregor. Gregor landed squarely on the fliers back.
"To Luxa, I assume?" Asked Chronos.
"Yes, she is in Ares cave." Responded Gregor, forgetting that Chronos may not even know where that is.
"I have only been there once. My mother took me when I was younger. She said that my father had spent much of his life in the cave, when no other flier would interact with him." Replied Chronos.
The flight took a few minutes, and Gregor made sure that nobody was following them by clicking backwards. Before Gregor knew it, they were just outside of Ares cave. Gregor could already see, using echolocation, Luxa sitting on the ground, knees to her chest, and aurora with her wing around Luxa.
Gregor motioned for Chronos to stay where he was, and Chronos nodded in response. Gregor proceeded to enter the cave. He could hear soft sobs coming from where Luxa was seated. That scene must have really gotten to her, Luxa never cries, never.
Upon noticing Gregor, Aurora gave him a sympathetic look, and she unwrapped her wing around Luxa, and glided out of the cave. Gregor went over to Luxa, and sat down Next to her. She repositioned herself so she was lying her head down in his lap. Gregor stroked her hair, and wiped away her tears with his finger. They sat there in silence for a few moments before Luxa broke it.
"It's just not fair. . ." She whispered, her voice weak and barely audible.
"What's not?" He asked. They both knew that he knew, but it was just what needed to be talked about.
"Why do I have to marry him? He would *sob* not even make a good king. . ." she whispered.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"He was the least qualified of all the suitors. . . yet the council picked him. The council is corrupt, by law I do not need to wed until I am 18 *sob*, it only becomes legal at the age of 16. They are forcing me to *sob* wed him. . ." Whispered Luxa
"Don't worry Lux, I won't let that happen. I won't let them do that to you." He declared.
"I like that. . ." She answered.
"Like what?" He asked.
"What you called me. . . I like it. How you treat me. . . everybody treats me as if they are a slave, or as if I am not even a person." She whispered. "Just because I am queen, I never really had friends. Only family, such as Henry, and we both know how that ended up. It kind of kept me from having a real childhood. If I tried to make friends with any other girls, they were mean to me, because I was a princess, and they couldn't be." she whispered.
"Don't worry, Lux, that's all in the past, it doesn't matter anymore. Just don't worry, I won't let him marry you." He whispered in her ear. He could feel tears touching his leg. Luxa smiled when she heard him use her new nickname, and decided only he would be allowed to use it.
"I talked to Vikus about it, and he talked to the rest of the council about the age thing. They control Regalia, so when Vikus mentioned the rule, they said they had the power to break rules. In the case where the council breaks rules, it goes to a public trial with a jury, or, as of 4 years ago, to the grand council. The council denied that they broke any rules, as the marriage is not official yet. They have only told me that it will be during my coronation, and since they have not told anybody else, I cannot prove that I am being forced into this marriage. I just can't take all of the stress in my life." Whispered Luxa.
"You don't have to. I'll help you, just ask. Anything you need, I will help you with. You won't have to marry him, don't worry, I'll stop it." Whispered Gregor.
"How?" Asked Luxa, still barely audible.
"I have a plan. . ."
Well that's a cliffhanger, and just to make you guys more eager to finish the story, you won't know what the plan is until it is put into action. So, it is now 9:40, that means that I spent 5 hours and 20 minutes on this chapter, and that is as of now, I still have to do the rest of the junk at the end, edit the whole thing, and post it. So I wish you all a merry Christmas, and a happy new year! (I know it's march).
See you guys later,
-Tytonic
Question: What do you think Gregor's plan is?
*CLICKCLICKCLICK*
*POOF*
*Luxa is crying into Gregor's shoulder*
Tytonic- Is this a bad time?
*Gregor motions Tytonic away*
*Tytonic leaves room, and can hear sobs through the door*
Tytonic- Yep, defiantly a bad time. . . good thing I have my iPad with me, I can send them back.
*CLICKCLICKCLICK*
*POOF*
See ya'll later,
-Tytonic