The Titan's Heart

Back in the village, Claudia and the two mages Lairus and Delmar had failed to get any clues as to where the team might be. "I'm really starting to think this is the wrong town," she said as she and the other two regrouped with her brother and Tellus.

"They couldn't have gone too far ahead," said Delmar.

"Well, you guys have magic can't you just use a locator spell or something?" asked Soren.

The mages frowned. "Magic doesn't always solve your problems," said Lairus. Before he could speak again, they heard the growling stomachs of their prisoners who had been gagged and bound in rope for hours. They hadn't allowed them to eat or drink.

"Just give them some food," said Claudia. "We need them alive,"

Tellus knelt before them. "I'm going to ungag you before you can eat. Don't do anything stupid," he pulled the bundles of cloth out of their mouths. He then fed them some apple slices to please their stomachs.

"Listen you two…they're trying to kidnap…" Gren was gagged again.

"For that, you'll get no food or water for another day," said Lairus. He gagged Corvus too.

Something about Gren's desperate face sent tingles up Claudia's spine but she ignored it.

Just then they heard the neighing of a horse. The group turned around and they saw Castor, leading a horse with a tied-up map, who had a sack covering his face.

"Castor, we feared you had lost track of us," said Delmar.

"Who are these?" Castor pointed to Claudia and Soren.

"They're after the children too. And the Moonshadow elf we tried to capture years ago,"

Castor was intrigued.

"And that's not just it…" said Tellus. "We've discovered the children are delivering the newly born dragon prince,"

The former star mage was shocked. "Impossible,"

"So is this your leader?" asked Soren.

"Yes. And our brother who you will do well to respect," warned Lairus. "Who is this?" he gestured to Castor's prisoner. Their frowning lid pulled his prisoner off the horse and pulled the bag off.

"Caldor?" breathed Claudia in shock.

The earth, ocean and sun mage were shocked. "Ihar?" they breathed incuriously.

"Wait you guys know him?" Soren asked.

"How do you know him?' demanded Castor.

"He's the bookseller in our kingdom," explained Claudia. "He's one of your brothers?"

"Yes. Our moon brother. This traitor here has been masquerading as a citizen of your kingdom. He came to Katolis to try and steal your dark magic and secrets,"

Caldor tried to speak back but his gag kept him from shouting out the truth. He saw Gren and Corvus who were eying him in shock. He hoped they still trusted him.

"But he's…Carol's friend," breathed Claudia. For years the kingdom knew how much of a mystery, Caldor was. His collection of books containing magic. And since learning that Caroline had come into possession of a primal stone, she assumed it was Caldor who had given it to her…it was beginning to make sense now.

"Unfortunately, everything your kingdom sees in him is a complete lie," said Castor. "As our moon mage, he was rather gifted with deception and being a master of manipulation,"

"We know the group came here but we've found no trace of where they might have gone next," said Tellus.

"Come on. It's obvious they're crossing the sea," Soren tried to boast.

"I did not give you permission to speak," said Castor. "And yes I already knew that,"

"What do you intend to do with him?" Claudia asked curiously, concerned for Caldor. A part of her didn't want to believe he was a bad person.

"We'll make sure he is punished for betraying our cult,"

"What exactly did he do?" Soren asked.

"That is none of your business," said the Ocean mage. "Now we need to make haste and catch up with your noble friends and our Moonshadow elf,"

"We're gonna need a boat," boasted the soldier.

"We know that. And I will use my powers to move us at a good pace. If our Sky brother was alive, he would have used the winds to catch us up. Now…are we going to get cracking or not?"

"Before we proceed…" announced Claudia. "I want to say another condition,"

Castor, though irritated with her abruptness, was admirable of her strong character. "Speak,"

"Once we have our friends back and you've got your elf, Caldor is to come with us to Katolis. The people need to know who he is. As much as he might be a traitor to your cult whatever it is, he's done many good deeds for the people and it would put your team in a difficult position if someone they considered a citizen was suddenly taken away,"

Castor wanted to refuse but his brother sent him a threesome of firm glances. He could see they were tricking her and her brother and they needed to remain in their good graces for the time being. "Very well. But we will present ourselves as well. Is that clear?"

Carol stared at the scroll in her hand. Zym purred on her shoulders. Felix sat on her shoulders.

You think I should read it? She asked the baby dragon.

You should. He chirped.

You need to Carol. Purred Felix with green eyes. She smiled and cuddled them close. "Where would I be without my boys?" They purred.

Are you ready? Asked Zym.

Carol licked her lips and nodded. "No. But I'm gonna read it anyway," Taking a deep breath in and out, she unravelled the scroll and read the words in ink.

Dear Caroline,

I hope that by the time you are reading this, you and your siblings are safe and sound. These are the hardest words I've written down but I hope that they are enough. There is so much but little time for me to write down what I can on what might be my final night. Over the years, I know that there have been moments when I let there be a distance between us. Because I'm your stepfather, I was trying to give you the space I thought you needed to love your real father, even though he passed away and your mother and aunt never told you who he was. Still, I hope that showing you how much I loved you would have been okay and would not have disrespected your relationship with him.

Harrow observed a five-year-old Caroline in the gardens. She was drawing in the dirt with a stick. Then with some paint, her mother had given her, she made a child's picture of a man with a crown. He wanted to go down there and spend some time with her but he remembered how nervous she was around him. To her, he was a completely total stranger than married her mum. She wasn't sure if he would love her the same way he did Ezran and Willow. He wondered how he could show her.

The next day, Carol and her mother played in the rose gardens. Her mother offered her a rose to smell. She took a sniff and sneezed. Sarai laughed. And her firstborn child laughed too. They then went to the nursery together where the young kid played with her fox toy. Harrow came into the room. Scared the girl hid behind her mother a bit but her mother's second husband bent forward, offering a big art book of many blank pages with a kind smile.

With some convincing persuasion, Sarai gently nudged her to come forward and when Harrow gave her the book, the girl realised that it was a generous gift and she loved it instantly. She said a big 'thank you' to the king and he smiled, already feeling a connection beginning to grow between them.

Carol, I know you already know this but in my eyes and my heart, you always have been and always will be amy daughter. I see myself in you. I'm so proud of you. I love you unconditionally. And I'm sorry. I feel in many ways I have failed you and I'm sorry for not trying hard enough to ensure your life was so happy and you didn't feel so alone. As I write this, the sun is setting while Moonshadow assassins prepare to end my life. I may not have long. So, I'm forced to ask myself…what can I pass on to my children in the short time I have left? In this letter, I will share with you a lie, a wish, and a secret.

When I'm gone, your brother Ezran will become king, and you and Willow will be his partners, his defenders, and his closest advisers. Soon you will all face a lie. The great lie of history. Advisors and scholars will tell you that history is a narrative of strength. They will recount stories of the rise and fall of nations and empires. They will be stories of armies, battles, and decisive victories. But this isn't true strength. It's merely power.

I now believe true strength is found in vulnerability…in forgiveness, in love. There is a beautiful upside-down truth, which is that these moments of purest strength appear as a weakness to those who don't know better. For a long time, I didn't know better. I ask you and your siblings to reject history as a narrative of strength and instead have faith that it can be a narrative of love.

Down below Raylan was staring out at the calm sea whilst Ezran and Willow remained to have an afternoon nap with Bait snoring between them.

"So Raylan…" said Villads as he continued steering the ship. "Quite an unusual name,"

"My family have an unusual taste in names Villads with a silent d,"

"Mm.." he chuckled as he turned the will. "So, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm an assassin," he flipped one of his butterfly blades in the air. "Or more like I'm a trained assassin that hasn't taken a life before,"

"Maybe someday. Never give up on your dreams,"

"Thanks for the encouragement. But the truth, I'm not sure I want to be an assassin,"

"That what do you want to do?"

Raylan sighed and stared out across the sea. "I don't know,"

"You seem to have a strong connection with that girl Caroline,"

"She's my friend. My first ever real friend,"

"Never had a lot of friends in your life,"

"Not really,"

"Sorry laddie. Still, you must be so lucky to have a friend like her,"

Raylan couldn't help but smile as he said that. He looked up at Caroline up on the mast still reading her letter. "Yes. I am,"

Ezran and Willow woke up yawning and stretched their legs and arms. "Had a nice nap?" asked the elf.

"Really needed it," said Willow. "How far would you say we have to go Captain?"

"Not far now,"

"How are you feeling Raylan?" asked Ezran.

"All good really. Feels great not feeling so green again," Raylan hated vomiting; it was one of his worst nightmares when he was on the water. Whilst the kids went to the front of the ship to get a feeling of the wind in their faces, he sat down on the stairs with the captain sitting behind him.

"I may seem like a crazy old man but can I offer some advice?"

"Sure,"

"Life is like a river,"

"Okay,"

"You can't see too far ahead. You don't know where the river of life will turn and bend. You don't know where it will go at all,"

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Don't try to control where the river goes. There is one thing you can know and control. Yourself. Look at yourself. Who are you Raylan? What do you stand for? Once you know that, then wherever the river takes you, you'll be right where you were always meant to be,"

Raylan couldn't help but feel amazed by his words of wisdom. "Thanks captain. That was…more inspiring than I expected,"

"You're welcome. Now if you'll expose me, I'm just gonna catch a few winks," he fell asleep on the stairs, Berto falling asleep in his arms.

The last time I saw your mother, she said "I will see you on the other side." I don't know what lies on the other side. But I do know that I will be watching over you three, always.

Harrow stood in front of a fire, holding a crown, Sarai's. "It should have been me,"

"I am so sorry," Viren apologised deeply. The queen had risked her life to save him as the kingdoms of Katolis and Duran needed him to perform a spell on the Titan's Heart to save their lands. And now the queens of those two kingdoms had been killed by Avizandum.

The door opened, revealing the upset Opeli. "Your Highness, she's waiting for you now,"

Harrow sighed. "Okay," he wiped his eyes clean. He walked with his adoptive daughter's caretaker down the hallway towards the doors of the throne room. He stopped. He couldn't take another step. "How am I supposed to tell her?" he lamented. Standing right now in front of those doors he was frozen with fear. How could he even tell her now that the only birth parent she had grown up with was now gone?

Opeli who had become very motherly to the girl knew exactly why he was so troubled. "Your Highness, she will need you now more than ever," she gave the king a moment of silence. "Are you ready?"

He sighed. "No. But you may open the doors," The doors opened.

Carol sat near the throne with her fox toy, cuddling it protectively. She wished to be back in her mother's arms again. When she heard the doors open, she turned around to see her dad enter the room. He looked sad. He knelt before her. "Where is my mother?"

The king pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Carol…I need to talk to you about life," he gently let her go and raised her chin. "Sometimes when you grow up there are changes you don't expect,"

Telling you that she wasn't coming home was the hardest thing that I ever had to do. But now that I'm writing these final words, I realise that this is even harder. I know you have always wondered for years what your purpose in our family was, why you are so important to us. Ever since your mother passed on, I was so broken. I wondered how you and your siblings could grow up without a mother, without another parent to guide them in their life. I was so buried in my duties and my grief that I felt like I would fail for all of you as a father, that I couldn't be both a king and a parent. But it was always you, Caroline.

Harrow struggled to cope with being a widowed king. He never had a lot of time for his children because of his duties. And he wasn't sure how he could be a good father to them without his wife to share the obligation of parenting with. Finally, after attending to 50 messages from the other kingdoms, he decided to go to the nursery. He was expecting to see some nurses struggling with the infants or perhaps Opeli taking care of Carol as she played with them. But when he opened the door to his surprise, he saw Carol rocking baby Willow in her cot whilst allowing Ezran to play with her fox toy. Once the infant was asleep, she sat down and cuddled Ezran keeping him calm and letting him know she was here for them. He smiled.

It was always you who filled that void that your mother's death had brought upon our family. You were always the one who kept us together, the one who helped Ezran and Willow grow into the people they are…and in many ways…helped me realise that I didn't have to worry or be scared. Because I knew I could always turn to you to provide this family with the love and care and compassion which I know your mother would have given.

As the years passed, Harrow saw Carol raising Ezran and Willow. She would dress them, comfort them, teach them reading and writing…he watched from a balcony as she taught them how to defend themselves. And in the night-time, he would hear her beautiful motherly voice as she sang them to sleep.

You have no idea how grateful I am for everything you've done for us. Don't ever forget how important you are to us and how important to Katolis you have always been. Even if others haven't realised it. I've tried to be selfless as a king, but as a father, I have a selfish wish. And that is for you three to be…free. Reject the chains of history. Do not let the past define your future, as I did. Free yourself from the past. Learn from it, understand it, and then let it go. Create a brighter future from your own heart and imagination.

Harrow was walking in the gardens. It had been a week since he had found Caroline again and he was so glad that she was safe and sound back home. His heart lifted seeing her play with her siblings. He suddenly saw Carol alone with Felix sitting on a bench. Her head was dropped and the cub was nestled in her arms, purring. He walked over. Felix saw him and barked. Carol looked up at him.

"I see Felix is quite settled in," he said. He stroked is head. "I'm glad you've found a friend,"

"Thanks for letting me keep him. He's well-trained,"

"Well, he'll always have your love and care. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Why shouldn't I be?" her tone betrayed her words.

"Come on. What's wrong?" he asked, sitting next to her on the bench.

She cried. "Soren joined in on the bullying with all the other kids. They said that I'm a disgrace and he sided with them,"

Harrow hugged her close. "I'm so sorry," Soren was the only friend she had ever had and now he had betrayed her trust. "Listen, those kids are just jerks. You shouldn't listen to what they say. Nothing they say is true,"

"But that's not how I feel. Kids look at me and they see a clumsy girl that's not fit to live in royalty. Sometimes I think maybe they're right,"

Harrow hated seeing her so upset. And it angered him immensely that no matter how he loved her, no one would ever truly respect her. "Come with me. I want to show you something," He led her and Felix to a horse outside and they mounted it together before they rode out together to the valley of kings.

"You're not the first one to be adopted into the royal family. There is one hero whom everyone didn't expect to accomplish a great deed for this kingdom because she didn't have noble blood," Harrow showed her a tall statue of a brave woman holding a sword into the air.

Caroline stared up at her in wonder. "Who's that?"

"That is General Catania," Harrow said proudly. "When elves came marching towards Xadia because they accused us of invading and taking its treasures, Katolis's current king: King Judow believed that even though he had dark mages on our side, we couldn't win the fight. But his adoptive sister Catania refused to accept defeat. When he was captured by the elves to force our kingdom to surrender, she led the armies and came to his aid. And together they forced the elven armies back into Xadia," his story astounded Caroline. "Even though she wasn't a royal by blood, she was a royal by spirit and honour and justice. She was hailed as a hero of Katolis and this statue was built in her honour. She's an example of how you are not a hero based on your heritage. You are a hero based on your actions,"

Carol was astounded. She thought she was the first adoptive royal in the history of Katolis but she wasn't. And she was surprised that this adopted royal like her had been overlooked unfairly by the people of Katolis until they realised there was more to her than they thought.

"One day you'll earn your place among the great heroes of Katolis. You need your home and it needs you,"

She still wasn't quite convinced. "Nobody needs me," she lamented.

"I do," he turned her around. He hugged her again. "And I always will," She hugged him tightly finding comfort in his love as she did her mother. As they hugged, Viren watched them from afar with a dark frown.

And finally, you must be wondering about the secret I promised to share. Well, good news. The secret is hidden in the Banther lodge, right where you are right now. How's that for planning? Right now, go upstairs to the game room. I have hidden an unusual cube with rune symbols on each side.

Carol pulled the cube with the primal source symbols out of her bag staring at it with wonder.

This cube is an ancient relic that has been passed down through the ages. It belonged to an elven wizard in Xadia, the Archmage Aaravos, a master of all six primal sources. It is hidden in a box of keys because it is known as the "Key of Aaravos" and legends say it unlocks something of great power in Xadia. When you told me how a star unicorn saved your life, it made me realise how there was more to Xadia than all those stories we were told. And when I saw how magic became your passion, I realised that it was your destiny to discover the key's secrets.

Which brings me to another thing. The reason why I wanted you protected all the time was that shortly after I brought you back home, four black-cloaked men attempted to kidnap you.

Carol was petrified. The mages that had tried to capture her back in the village near Caldera had tried to capture her before. No wonder her father wanted her constantly watched over.

Luckily Lord Viren, your Aunt and I were there to stop them. We chased them to the borders of Katolis and they were never seen again. I don't know who they were or why they tried to kidnap you but I have a feeling it's all to do with why you were healed by that unicorn. I believe it is a sign you're destined for something truly remarkable. I am so sorry that I never told you this. All I wanted was to protect you. I couldn't bear to lose you too.

Though a bit angry for being kept ignorant of an attempted kidnapping, Carol had never realised how truly unique she was really was to her father, and to her family. For the first time in her life, she was truly recognising something she never thought she had within herself.

As I finish this final letter, promise me three things.

Never let that key fall into the wrong hands.

Carol thought about the mages that had tried to capture her and Raylan. Would they want to get their hands on a cube like this?

Never stop taking care of our family. You are the heart of it and will always be the source of guidance and contentment.

Never forget who you are.

Love Dad

As she read the final word, Carol felt tears falling down her face again. The words she had just written were the most heartfelt words she had ever recited.

"I won't let you down," she swore to herself.

Felix purred and Zym pressed his face against her puffy cheeks. She hugged them tightly relishing in their comfort again. The fox then noticed something extra was written at the bottom and barked, pointing his snout down to it. Carol read it.

P.S. Another bonus secret. Did you know that Bait, our most sour friend, loves tummy rubs?

She laughed. She then wrapped up the letter again, placed it in her bag and with Felix and Zym clinging on tight, she grabbed a rope and she swung like an ape-woman down to the deck below. Bash! Raylan saw how emotional she was and hoped her letter had given her the comfort she needed to continue with her life. He walked over. "You okay?"

She nodded. "Yes,"

"I know how hard it was," he comforted. "But I want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to…I'm here for you,"

She smiled. Then she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back. "Thank you Raylan. For everything," She was indebted to this elf

"Thank you for Carol. You're the first real friend I've ever had in my life,"

As they let go, Ezran and Willow walked over, carrying Bait. They were quite perplexed to see their sister in such a happy state.

"Did you know that Bait loves tummy rubs?" she tickled Bait and he laughed for joy.

Ezran was surprised. "How did you know that?"

"Just something Dad said. Before we left,"

"Are you okay?" Willow asked. "You seem so happy,"

"It's just…I've been thinking over some things and now…now I realise…how being a huge part in your lives has meant to me. You both are so much to me," she embraced them both. Surprised by her act of love, the siblings hugged her back.

Felix smiled, happy to see that Carol was finally letting go of all that self-doubt that had plagued her for years. Zym licked his face and he licked him back before they played together. Raylan smiled too.

"Look laddies and lassies!" announced the captain. "We're nearly there!"

Raylan looked ahead and to his relief saw land. They were only about 1 mile away. "This is amazing,"

"I can't believe it," said Willow. "As much as I've enjoyed this voyage, I'm so ready to be walking on land again!"

"Boat off the port bow!" squeaked Berto. The elf looked across the sea from the side and to his surprise, he saw a grand glorious ship, sailing out. It was about a few miles away from it.

The children looked out as well. Felix and Zym stood on their hind legs and glanced too. "Mmm…wonder who else is out here," wondered Ezran.

Carol pulled out a telescope from her bag. She peered through. She gasped. On the ship, she saw the mages who attempted to capture her and Raylan and to her, even more, horrifying shock was Claudia and Soren with captives. "Oh no," Sensing her fear, Zym hid behind her feet.

"What is it?' asked Ezran.

"It's the mages. And Claudia and Soren. They've got Gren, Caldor and another guy,"

"Let me see," Raylan peered through and he gasped seeing his former kidnappers. And the guy who attacked. "Oh, mooncakes. That third guy is the one who attacked me before,"

"How did they catch up to us?" panicked Willow. If she had foreseen this, she would have warned them about it. As much as she was scared of her gift of foresight, she wished at times it revealed to her every likely event that would happen.

"Why would they work with them?" Ezran was beyond disheartened seeing their former friend and her brother cooperate with the mages who tried to kidnap their sister and hold some of their close human friends captive.

"We need to get to shore now," said Raylan, his determination to keep all his friends safe burning more than ever.

"But what about Caldor and Gren?" asked Carol. "We can't leave them," She feared for their lives.

"Carol, there's nothing we can do," said Willow regrettably. "We're no match for those mages,"

Carol wanted to refuse but Ezran's sympathetic fingers flipped into her feeble ones. They couldn't risk their mission to return Zym home. And if they attempted anything it would put their friends and allies in grave danger. Raylan benevolently clasped her shoulder, facially expressing a heartfelt sorry to her. "Get us to shore," he requested the captain.

"Roger that," Villads with the assistance of Berto steered the ship towards land and in mere minutes they were finally docked much to their relief. It had been a long voyage, and their cramped legs were just ready to return to their feet.

"Thank you, captain. For everything," Carol shook his head. She offered some money.

"No, please. A fine sail is all the payment I could ever need," he said. "Goodbye, lovely lady. And goodbye to you Sir Raylan,"

"Thank you, captain," the elf was beyond grateful.

"Bye laddie and lassie," he shook hands with the kids. "And goodbye strange dogs with strange names,"

Bait didn't approve of being called that name. Neither did Zym.

"Be careful captain," said Carol.

"Don't you worry about me," he said. "Hope to see you again sometime,"

The team said their final goodbyes and after walking off the port fled into the forest up the slopes as fast as they could, hoping they could reach the border of Xadia before the mages with Claudia, Soren and their captives would catch them. Unfortunately, their arrival on land hadn't gone unnoticed.

And that's episode seven of season two done. Just three episodes to go and then it's two out of three seasons complete for this story. What did you all think? I hope you're all enjoying it. I loved writing the letter and the flashbacks; those were my favourite bits. See you all soon for the next episode.