Prelude Chapter 15: The Message

Rellana II

She could have dodged the axe, as she laid upon the bed in the private infirmary she thought of many ways she could have avoided losing her eye, Rellana was ashamed that she allowed such a grievous blow to land upon herself, let alone take her dominant eye. She had been sentenced to bedrest not only by Mirriam but by Rennala as well, who had been by her side for the past three nights as she recovered. Many had come to visit her over the past week, mainly her sisters and Moonrithyll. She had met Renna's new wards, if they were to be called that, the two hatchlings had curled up beside her and comforted her, which she found adorable and comforting, although they returned to their patron soon after

"Mistress Rellana?" a voice came from the doorway, and Rellana bid them to enter, as Moonrithyll walked inside.

"Ah, Moonrithyll, how does your brother fare? I hear he is resting from his injuries as well." Rellana said as she moved to sit upright in her bed.

"My brother is capable of speech, and movement. That is enough, he shall return to his duties soon enough." Moonrithyll said softly, Rellana knew that only a day had passed since Moongrum had awakened, as last night she had pretended not to hear the explosion of the dragon egg hatching. Rellana also knew her apprentice's habit of hiding her feelings behind harsh words, a challenge that was often a roadblock in their relationship.

"You truly care for your brother, don't you?" Rellana said, as she stepped onto the cold wooden floorboards below her, her feet feeling the chilliness that she did not feel for days.

"I- I do." Moonrithyll said sheepishly.

Rellana made her way to her ward, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. "You are quite adorable, that is acceptable in my eyes."

"My Lady, thank you." Moonrithyll said, overcome with emotion, without realizing her mistress had risen.

Rellana patted the back of her apprentice, comforting her momentarily, before she quickly made way for the door leading to the hallways of the academy. Moonrithyll quickly followed, realizing her misjudgment.

"My lady, you must rest, please." Moonrithyll said as she chased Rellana down the hallways as Rellana made her way barefoot and determined on her way to her elder sister's study.

"I appreciate your concern, but much like your brother I have things to do, I've had enough of bedrest, where is my armour and my sister?" Rellana said courtly, which was met by Moonrithyll's response.

"Lady Rellana, your eye, you must rest." Moonrithyll pleaded,

"I have not stumbled in my stride have I not? Your concern is appreciated, although I need no rest, my balance remains impeccable." Rellana said, reveling in her freedom, "My armor, where is it?"

"Your armor rests in your sister's office, please I urge you to reconsider." Moonrithyll barely kept pace with Rellana as she attempted to match the Carian Princess's pace.

"Thank you, you may attend to your brother now."

"I respectfully refuse to leave your side lady Rellana, by your sister's word I have been ordered to oversee your recovery." Moonrithyll said sternly.

"Then you shall witness my recovery as I stride through the halls and regain my strength, not by damning myself upon a bed." Rellana said as they finally arrived at the doors of Rennala's study, and she pushed open the oak doors revealing her sister, who sat upon the floor studying a textbook. The room was dark, and many shadows hid areas within Rennala's domain. Moonrithyll readied a complaint but was silenced by the softly raised hand of Rennala.

"I've expected you sister, please take a seat. Moonrithyll if you could please leave us and join Jerren in his training exercise in the courtyard." Renala said as Moonrithyll quickly bowed before leaving the two sisters alone.

"Don't you dare command me to any more bedrest sister, I may have dishonorably tricked Moonrithyll into letting me from my room, but I will do it again so I may train and recover properly." Rellana said sternly to her sister, Ignoring honorifics.

"I would never dare command you to rest when you felt capable enough to move, sister. I appreciate you've let your true self shine; I've gotten quite tired of you being unfaithful to your honest self, using titles and such." Rennala said, rising from the carpet with a smile on her face, as she moved her seating on the ground to resting upon her chair behind her desk in only a few short strides.

Rellana was quite surprised seeing Rennala's complacency, but she was happy to banter with her sister as they did when they were younger. "Has anything noteworthy happened while I rested?"

"Most of our scholars have recovered and returned to their daily tasks, and the students have returned and are taking classes normally." Rennala said kindly. "The only ones still recovering are yourself, Moongrum, and Ogha."

"You said the students would return from Selia when safety was assured, why are they here, are we not actively at war with the Golden Order?" Rellana cocked her eyebrow, waiting for her sister's response. The atmosphere was tense as she looked down upon the seated Rennala, who sighed, breaking the silence as she reached inside her desk and pulled an envelope.

"The students' safety has been assured, by Radagon himself. He sent this letter while you were bedrested, would you like to read it?" Rennala said, passing the letter forward with magic as it floated into Rellana's hands. Rellana opened it and quickly looked upon the contents, which had been scribbled on a piece of yellow parchment with Radagon's signature at the bottom along with the seal of the Golden Order.

Dear Rennala, Queen of the Fullmoon, and Headmistress of Raya Lucaria,

I send my apologies for my territorial aggressions, I realize that this apology may feel half-hearted, although I can assure you by the time this letter reaches you, the Golden Order and the forces of Leyndell have stood down and await my order, therefore the students of the academy are free to return to their studies.

I have notified Queen Marika of a way to unite our families without war, and where our ideals would align without influencing each other negatively. I beg of you, meet me at the Church Of Vows, please bring your sisters and any knights you deem worthy, I will be alone, I promise that. On my word, please hear my proposal.

Radagon of the Golden Order.

Rellana scowled as she crumpled the parchment back into its envelope, "It is a trap, sister do not go, and if you decide to meet him, bring the full force of Caria with you. It is possible he has taken the sacred pastor of the church hostage." Her statement was met with a silent nod from her sister as she rose.

"I am inclined to believe Radagons words, if this letter came from any other emissary of the Golden Order, I would have thrown it away the moment I received it." Rennala said, standing at her full height, looking Rellana in the eye. "He is quite virtuous, as I discovered in our duel."

"May I remind you that he is our enemy?" The knightess said, as she opened one of Rennala's cabinets, finding her armor and slowly equipping her gloves.

"A true enemy would not retreat their forces and then call for peace, I will meet with him this afternoon, please come with me, sister." Rennala moved, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder. When Rellana turned she saw her sister's light smile as she reassured her everything would be fine. The two sisters stood silently, each readying what to say as the knowledge stored around them seemingly emanated tension.

"Then I shall accompany you." Rellana said, from the shadows behind them both, Rellana saw a pair of blue eyes that opened, the pupils lit up the darkness around them, revealing the unusually serious face of the third sister, as Renna stepped forward.

"As will I." Renna said courtly, Rellana wondered why she had not sensed her sister's presence, as usually she could pick Renna apart from crowds easily, although today was different, Renna was unnaturally focused which unnerved Rellana slightly. "Are we all in agreement?"

"We are," Rennala said, stepping away from Rellana to stand at the center of the room where a modicum of light shone upon her. "Shall we?" All three sisters nodded in unison as Rennala raised the royal staff that materialized in her hands in the air, and a hue of blue light encompassed all three. Quickly Rellana grabbed her blade from the cabinet before she completely lost her vision.

Rellana was not fond of teleportation magic, as she disliked the unfamiliar feeling of falling that came with it, usually she elected to travel by foot or horseback between locations. Rellana felt herself pulled through the spell, quickly falling backwards through the stars with her sister. She saw the ethereal entities glow magically as she reached to her side, grabbing the smaller Renna and pulling her close to keep her from falling away from the other two sisters. Eventually the three landed gracefully in the grasses before the Church of Vows, Rellana felt the steel against her armored feet as she touched down first before her sisters who floated down slowly, landing beside her.

The Church of Vows was a beautiful sight, the white marble that the building was made of reflected the orange evening sun majestically as the three approached. Rellana was the first to peer inside the church which had no door, the pastor long ago had wished that his services be free to all, and had the door removed. Inside the chapel Rellana caught sight of its minister, the great turtle, Miriel, who had lived peacefully in Liurnia since the age of the Crucible and was also a devoted friend of the Carian royal family. The pastor seemed peaceful as always, and atop Miriel's shell crouched a familiar figure of red hair, Radagon, who was conversing with the pastor from his seat upon his back. From Rellana's side she saw Renna push past her, with her staff drawn and a hateful expression upon her face as the snow witch lunged through the open doorway, forgetting the nullifying enchantment inside the church as she charged forth.

"Bastard! you will answer for your crimes!" Renna screamed, as she attempted to cast a spell from her conduit, pointing it at Radagon, who instinctively dodged, although no spell ever came as he landed gracefully next to Miriel.

"Please, daughters of Caria, listen to my request." Radagon said, slowly motioning to his hammer that laid on the ground nearby, signifying his state of disarmament. His words were met by another charge by Rellana's younger sister, who ran forth, abandoning her staff and balling her fists, quickly her elder sisters took action holding Renna back as they grabbed her limbs, halting her assault. Rellana felt an unknown strength coming from Renna's petite form as she struggled to withhold her right arm, Renna screamed, her words full of emotion, aimed explicitly at Radagon, although Rellana did not hear them as she was preoccupied in Renna's restraining to hear her words.

"Please, the Golden Order and the House of Caria must wed so no more may suffer from our battles" Radagons response silenced the whole of the cathedral, even Miriel's elderly breath was staggered, and Rellana held so still in her armor that no steel rubbed against itself, Even Renna's mouth hung agape with no words escaping as her power weakened. The only sister who remained calm was Rennala herself, as she had let Renna's weight loose, allowing Renna to topple upon Rellana.

"Explain your reasoning, Radagon of the Golden Order." Rellana heard Rennala say, her voice slightly aquiver. Rellana then caught the shocked Renna, who fell into her arms gracefully, belying her earlier outburst.

"Wed yourself to me, Rennala queen of the Fullmoon, I have fallen in the throes of love with you upon speaking and doing battle with you, I will bathe myself with these holy waters within this church to cleanse myself of transgressions. Let us bring these lands into a greater age, without war between our houses." Radagon said, bending down to one knee and lowering his head, as he raised his hand to Rennala, Rellana felt her heart aflutter hearing the confession towards her sister. Rellana watched as Rennala covered her face to cover her embarrassment, seemingly the first time Rellana had seen in her lifetime together with her sister.

"Your confession is admirable, I must take a second, forgive me." Rennala said, turning away slowly. The two eldest sister's eyes met, and within her sister's eyes Rellana saw a look that she had never seen in her sister's gaze, a look of shock and embarrassment. Rellana recognized this new emotion could make her usually serious sister make a poor decision

"I accept your offer, Radagon." Rennala said slowly, as she walked towards him, "Although I wonder if the pastor of this church agrees with your sentiment." She looked at the great turtle who nodded before he spoke, his voice ancient and inviting.

"Radagon has spoken to me about this matter, and I agree with his sentiment. Queen Rennala, it would be my honor to wed any who walk through these doors who intend to do such." Miriel said, his slowed speech reaching all present except Renna, who remained unconscious in Rellana's arms. Rellana was still shocked by the situation, she decided to stand tall, hoisting Renna over her shoulder, causing her to grumble.

"Rennalla, please reconsider, this man was our enemy not days ago, as your sister I advise that this decision may lead to consequences." She said stepping to her elder sister, Rellana felt unsure of the situation, let alone Radagon's honesty.

"There must be peace in the mainland Rellana, I shall partake in this political marriage to safeguard our subjects from harm." Rennala stepped closer, touching Rellana's free shoulder before continuing, "Dear sister, this route must be taken, and I shall walk it instead of you or Renna." Rennala smiled at her sister, now free of her earlier embarrassments as she turned back towards Radagon.

Rellana did not hear the ensuing conversation between the priest, scholar, and the queen, as she turned and exited the holy ground to care for Renna, to see if the youth could be roused from her state. Upon reaching the outer grounds of the church she leaned down, setting Renna lightly on the ground and lightly tapping her face in an effort to awaken her. Renna's eyes shot open, and she immediately sat upright, only to lay back down, holding her head as she did.

"Sister, I seem to have had a waking nightmare, I confronted the object of my ire only for him to ignore me and purpose to Rennala." Renna said, rubbing her forehead lightly. Rellana thought her younger sister's behavior entertaining as she sat down beside her, leaning on the stone wall of the church.

"Sadly Renna, that horror has come true, they are discussing the procession inside." Renna groaned loudly and turned over to her side, hiding her face and facing away from Rellana as she proceeded to cruel into a ball of white cloth. Rellana was not surprised by Renna's reaction, so she put her hand on Renna's side, "Oh calm thyself, if anything I should be more upset than you, if this marriage happens, I shall not get my vengeance for my lost eye." Rellana tried to smile, although she knew any hope of conquering Godfrey in combat and redeeming herself would be lost if the marriage happened.

"I guess you are right, Rellana, although this sadness inside me seems not to be quelled easily." Renna responded softly, seemingly shrinking in on herself. Rellana knew her sister well, and seeing her so sorrowful and quiet was a sight to be seen, usually Renna was unstoppable in her antics, but now the once energetic seemed defeated as she had crumpled into a ball beside her sister. Inside her Rellana's heart hurt to see Renna in such a state, and the depression became contagious between the two.

"You know, we always thought you would be the first." Rellana said, caressing Renna's back.

"To get married?" Renna's voice was as small and soft as she was as her query floated in the air.

"Indeed, you are the prettiest of us. I often jested to Rennala that a husband would calm you down." She said, continuing her reassuring hand.

"Perhaps that has some truth, although men are like beasts, they have eyes to the front of them, focused on their whims and desires, without view of the ones who surround and support them in the hunt, or even others who gaze upon them. Their eyes are forever forward. is that not sad, Rellana?" Renna said, slowly raising herself to sit against the wall, her legs were curled against her torso as she held herself, "All men are like this, save for one, yet I cannot hold his gaze, despite my hints and clues."

Rellana patted Renna's head, "At least one of us three can fall into the throes of love. I doubt Rennala's marriage will be anything but political, as for myself, I am barred from such acts, the same as the knights under me."

"I am not in love!' Renna grew red as she regained some of her energy, enough to turn away quickly, hiding her face within her massive hat, "I purely want this man to look upon me, love is far from my goal! Love is lecherous, I consider it a heathen." She said, her voice muffled by the comical garment.

Rellana laughed heartily, for the first time in a while as the two broke free of the sour mood that encompassed them earlier, "You cannot hide your desires from me, I've heard them clear and true, you desire to throw the celestial blossom at your wedding like a normal wife!" Rellana teased, wrapping her arms around Renna, "Renna The Bride, Renna The Bride is here to spread her snow and her love across the lands!"

"Stop it…" was heard from the smaller sister, but she was given no break as Rellana continued as the sun set in front of them. Eventually the two lay upon the grass laughing heartily from their jests and teases. Rellana knew that she was often serious and overbearing, but she enjoyed moments like these with Renna, it made her feel less lonely as she was constantly surrounded by the dense creatures Renna had mentioned earlier, and the presence of another woman, like Renna was appreciated by her, for she loved her adoptive sister even if she struggled saying the words.

The sun had long set before they heard the footsteps of another, but they did not mind her footsteps, nor did they stop their tomfoolery, as they were preoccupied in their endeavors to recognize Rennala's approach. Rellana saw the shadow of Rennala's tall crown peering down as she lay upon the grass.

"And what would you two be doing?" Rennala asked, her voice light and amused as Rellana and Renna rose to greet her.

"We are enjoying our time as bachelorettes, unlike you." Rellana said as she felt her smile broaden, even in the presence of her regal sister. Rennala smiled a little, hearing the jest had obviously livened her after the serious topics she had discussed in her absence.

"Well then, time is best spent doing what pleases you. Alas, I am enjoyed to see you and tell you I am to be married on the morrow, we must prepare a great feast and bring it here." Rennala said, much to her younger sisters dismay as Rellana and Renna exchanged glances before listening to the rest of Rennala's words, "Much to my regret, my betrothed has no bed here at the church of vows and I have offered that he stay at Raya Lucaria for but a night before the ceremony and he returns to Leyndell afterward." upon hearing those words Rellana's jaw clenched as she felt her teeth grind against themselves- a side effect of her rage as she readied her words.

"That is outrageous sister, I will not allow an enemy to sleep within our walls. As the first princess of Caria, if Radagon steps within our walls I shall remove him."

"So we may have another war with his people, and take more damage than we already have? If you have not noticed Rellana, you are missing an eye, and Moongrum died and barely returned to us, along with the countless wounded of our subjects," Rennala stepped to her sister, executing her authority as queen as she raised her voice, "I will not see my sister and dear students suffer a pointless battle like that ever again, Radagon shall stay at Raya Lucaria for one night, I shall station Jerren and Mirriam to guard his room. That is final." Rellana felt any will for rebuttal leave her as Rennala turned and raised her staff, beginning to cast the teleportation spell.

Rellana turned to Renna, who had stood looking back at her with a look of disappointment in her eyes. She eventually broke Renna's gaze as she heard footsteps behind her, and she turned as the blue light enveloped her to see the kind face of her enemy, as Radagon bowed to her as they fell through space to their destination. Deep within her Rellana felt uneasy about Radagons presence, she had to obey Rennala, her word was law.