Meant to update a bit earlier. My apologies.

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Chapter 47 – days 38 to 42 - Reul Ghorm

Mulan rode ahead, while the three boys traveled behind her on the wagon. The woman-soldier had informed them they would arrive at the 8th camp in just a few hours. The teenagers were glad they had almost reached their destination. During the first two days, a general euphoria had taken over the boys, in particular Humbert, celebrating and savoring his passage to adulthood and independence. Their spirits were fueled by the thought they, despite being young, could do and achieve anything if they wanted. It was like the world was just a step away. But this euphoric state slowly started diminishing during the third day. As they came closer to their destination, a shadow of uncertainty and doubt hung over them. Reality found them, and the teenagers slowly reminded themselves they would still have to go through complicated trials before they would reach Queen Regina's castle. And of course, the thought Rumpelstitlskin could already be dead was always present in the back of their minds, but no one dared to speak their fears aloud.

It was in the end of the third day when the first worrisome news reached them. Many villages close to the frontiers were being evacuated, because the violent fires were spreading dangerously in the thick woods. They were disturbed by the tales of Maleficent's attacks, under the form of a large dragon. So, while everybody urged to distance from the frontiers, Mulan and the boys urged to reach them as quickly as possible. As they travelled southwards, the air became thicker and the skies darker. Their hearts raced, as they realized the fires only could be massive. They all gasped when they finally reached a high hill that gave them a clear view of the frontier region. The size of the column of smoke was terrifying. The smell of burnt wood was suffocating. The heat overwhelming. Mulan fastened her pace, fearing for the lives of the princess, Commander Byront and all the rest of the young soldiers and children. The teenagers followed her closely, trying to keep her pace, their horse tired of pushing the wagon during four long days. But determination and perseverance brought them to the blackened gates of the 8th camp. The large doors were opened when the guards recognized Mulan and quickly all four entered the camp, which was, surprisingly, still standing its ground.

If the scenario outside, in the burning forest, was bad enough, than the vision of wounded people, under the black of ashes and red of blood, shredded clothing and haunted eyes, was absolutely horrible. Lord Byront, his soldiers, the children and the volunteers who refused to leave the camp, had managed, thanks to their organization and will-power, to keep away the mad dragon during the first night and following day. The attacks persisted and when everybody thought they would finally meet their end, a miracle happened. Horns were heard in the distance, along with the sound of many feet, the voice many men and many horses. The legion from the Country of Gold had arrived. Lord Frederic, the Champion of Midas dispersed his large army throughout the different camps and organized a brilliant retaliation.

Maleficent had never expected such a brutal come back and found herself alone under the fire of retaliation, for many ogres had died in the fires, while others run away from the inferno. Her dragon form was powerful but limited. Her too large and heavy body hindered her from moving fast and swiftly, so she became an easy target. And while she was transformed in her dragon state, Maleficent could not use her magic. She had a dilemma. She could continue blasting her fire mercilessly until the men eventually got tired and gave up, but with the cost of serious physical injuries. Or she could return to her human form, gain back her control of magic and obliterate everything with her sorceress' powers. But returning to her human form would signify admitting to lose ground. It would be a sign she was weakening, a sign of defeat. And that would be too humiliating. Maleficent had already paid once the price of humiliation and she wasn't planning to do it a second time. Because this time, there was no magical sword. Queen Regina had made sure King Philip's legendary sword was destroyed, while Maleficent, with the help of the Dark One, disposed of one of the fairies, so a new sword could not be forged. And so Maleficent chose to remain in her beasty form, attacking now and then the camps, terrorizing its inhabitants, until she ultimately had to retreat due to the showers of large rocks.

Commander Byront came running in Mulan's direction, a bandage on his head and plenty red marks on his arms and hands.

"Mulan! Who are safe and well!"

"My Lord, I apologize for my absence. I was away, for the princess had given me the task of bringing a message. The reason I must speak to her immediately." Mulan felt her heart sink at the look on Commander Byront's face. Baelfire didn't miss the look and quickly jumped from the wagon with a racing heart.

"Please, tell me she's not dead!" Baelfire pleaded, already feeling his eyes prick. Commander Byront looked confused at the boy, not knowing who he was, but looked compassionate at the child's concern for the princess.

"I have no idea. Maleficent attacked almost a week ago. I was paralyzed, like the rest of the men. I could not see or hear anything. But when the spell was lifted, Princess Belle was missing. I have no idea what Maleficent did with her. I'm sorry."

Mulan had to do her best to keep her tears away. She could not accept the other woman's death. Not this woman who proved to be a great leader and a compassionate person. Mulan had truly wished to serve Belle when she would be Queen. It was her honor and her dream. Her soldier's knowledge told her to let go and fight the beast, but the woman in her told her not to give up and believe there was still something that could be done, that there was still hope Belle was imprisoned, but not dead. And so Mulan left the boys and Commander Byront, seeking solitude and think of a plan. Any plan.

Baelfire, on the other hand, felt the world collapse around him. He felt a strange sensation in his heart. It felt like it was ripped apart and all that remained was emptiness. He had lost his father. He had lost Belle. And now he had lost all hope. The teenager was too shocked to cry. His legs gave away and he sat on the ground looking at nothing, feeling lost and alone in the world. He felt arms around him, hands softly shaking him. He heard distant voices calling him. But nothing could get him out of his state of shock. He didn't know for how long he was trapped in his sad blurry and hollow world, but when the tears finally reached his eyes, the pain became so unbearable; he literally thought he would die. Baelfire, for the first time in his life, thought the world was a horrible place to life in. It was hell, a place of darkness and pain, like the fire and ashes surrounding him. For the first time in his life, Baelfire wished he was not alive. And so he cried out all his misery and despair on the shoulders of his cousins, until all the emotions overpowered him and he sunk in the darkness that surrounded his heat.

Baelfire woke up with a stir. He looked around trying to recognize where he was and then the memories returned. He sat up to discover someone had left him sleeping on the wagon. He felt dizzy and he felt depressive. The world around him was as sad and helpless as his state of mind. He jumped off the wagon and walked disoriented in the camp. He had wandered a while without a destiny when he heard someone call out his name. The voice was familiar, but it was not one of his cousins. He looked around, searching for the source of this voice and was surprised to see a girl who was very familiar to him.

"Baelfire!"

"Morraine?" The girl, whose clothes were dirty from ash and mud, came running and hugged the boy tightly. Baelfire was caught off guard, felt his face heat up, not used to have a girl hugging him like this. "I am so glad to see a familiar face!"

"How did you get here? You were sent to the front lines."

"I manage to survive the war. Oh, Baelfire! It was horrible! The ogres…t-they are so huge a-and deadly! And then, one day, Commander Byront appeared and saved me and some children from the battle fields. I'm the only one from our village who survived!" Morraine told between tears. Her hug tightened but Baelfire didn't mind this time. She too had lost everything. Her parents were dead and she had seen the horrors of battle.

"I'm sorry." He told her with all his heart sincerity.

"And you, how did you get here?" Baelfire was too tired to tell her his tale. It was too long and he was too depressed. Knowing they had gone through so many challenges to finally meet their end here.

"My father…" He almost choked at the word. His father, was he alive? Was he dead? Would he ever see him again? "My father and I managed to escape. But now he was taken by the Evil Queen and I was hoping to find the princess here so maybe she could help me rescue him…but, she's gone too and now I have nobody to help me." This time it was Baelfire who was in tears and Morraine gently stroked his back, feeling sorry for the boy. She knew how difficult it was to lose everything you loved.

"But…there is a chance they are alive?" Morraine said sounding hopeful.

"Yeah…but what are the odds? I mean, let's suppose both are held captive. Where am I going to find anybody powerful enough to help me rescue them?" Morraine stared a while with compassion at her childhood friend. Then suddenly she got an idea.

"Reul Ghorm."

"What?"

"I heard about it when I was in the trenches. The other soldiers talked about it. Reul Ghorm is an ancient being that rules the night. The original power."

"But how do I find it."

"At night, when you are alone, call for it." Baelfire smiled at the girl. A little flame of hope filled his heart. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way after all.

Baelfire had spent the rest of the afternoon with Morraine, both recounting each other's adventures. At a certain point, they met his cousins, who had a vague memory of the girl from their short stays by their uncle's home. The boys quickly became friends with the lonely but kind teen. When nightfall came, he moved away to a more remote and hidden part of the camp. A lot of fire had been extinguished from an attack in the morning, but fortunately, the dragon had not appeared the rest of the day, surely attacking other camps. When Baelfire was certain he was alone he sat down and tried to summon Reul Ghorm.

"Reul Ghorm? Are you there? If you can help me, please make yourself known to me." He called weakly. He saw a small blue light come directly from the Wolf's Nose and realized she was the Blue Start. "Can you help me?"

"I can help." The tiny woman said with a gentle voice.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Because there is good magic and dark magic, and I'm on the right side."

"You're a fairy!"

"Oh. And you're not untouched by magic, are you, child? There's something dark in your life."

"Queen Regina. She cursed me and my village some days ago and I think my father is a prisoner of hers, now. I'm scared for him!"

"Oh. I can't free him. But I can help you gain enough power to release him. It is very dangerous though. But it is the only way. Can you do it?"

"If it means I get my father back, then yes!"

"You're a very good son, Baelfire. Hold out your hand." At this the Blue Fairy gave him a small and delicate phial.

"What is it?"

"A magic phial. The very last one that is known to our kind. The others got away from us. You must use it to gather Maleficent's fire in it. Once her fire is inside the phial, you control all flames. But remember, you can only use its powers once, so chose the right moment wisely."

"But how do I get flames from Maleficent in this?" Baelfire asked, but the Blue Fairy was already gone, shining high in the starry sky. The teenager remained alone with his magic phial and his perplexity.

"It is done." A small female voice was heard under a tree on a high hill. "Now give me what you promised!"

"Now, now, Reul Ghorm. Since when did you become this demanding?" A male's voice, slightly high-pitched, taunted her. His face was hidden under a hood, but the Blue Fairy still could see his incomplete teeth. With a flicker of his fingers, a small pink fairy with a huge bag appeared in a puff of purple smoke.

"Nova! Are you all right? Do you still have all the magic dust?" The Blue Fairy asked worriedly. Nova looked tired. Her hair was messy, like her dress and she had rings under her eyes, but she looked fine for the rest.

"I-I'm okay. A-And I think it's quite intact." Nova said, handing the bag with the year's supply of fairy dust.

"Zoso, you are a monster!" The Blue Fairy finally spat. Nova and the fairy dust were safe, but he had forced her to trick an innocent child for his ambitious goals. "That poor boy is going to die confronting Maleficent!" Both Blue and Nova shivered at the mad giggle the Dark One released.

"Oh, don't worry little one. No harm will befall on the boy. I promise."

Staring confused at the ill-intentioned imp, Blue and Nova quickly flew away with the fairy dust. The gold and greenish eyes from the Dark One rested on the yellow light emanating from the fires. He was enjoying this war. He was enjoying its developments. But above all, he would enjoy the following events. It was all going according to his plan. Zoso smiled, revealing the gap in his mouth and giggled madly, alone, under the shade of a tree on the top of a high hill.

I cannot believe I just did this to the poor boy. I'm a horrible person! - -'

I'm terrified about tonight's episode. I will be extremely disapointed if Neil is Baelfire. It's too obvious! And please, keep Cora far away from the damn dagger!

Ahhhhh! Too much pressure!

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