Here is the next chapter. Hope you all enjoy it as it is a little extra long.
Through the Looking Glass Part One:
The people were afraid. Soldiers closed in around the royal families.
"How dare you invade these lands!" Zubeia roared. "Unless you wanna get hurt, leave at once!".
"We'll leave," the one in charge said. "But we want something in return".
"What do you want?" Ezran shouted up to them.
"We want the High Mage you call Caroline,".
The crowd gasped. Caroline shuddered. Quickly, Soren and Tua nudged her under one of the four dragon's wings to hide her. Ghost whimpered in her arms, and she hugged him and Felix. Across the canyon, Murtagh reached for his sword, and Thorn growled. "We are not letting them take her,".
"They haven't seen us. So, we have an advantage," his dragon said.
Raylan's heart accelerated. He became scared. But courage burned in his eyes. " He reached for a butterfly blade. "Stella, Thaisan, get ready,".
Stella's paws glowed purple, and Thaisan glowed white and disappeared.
"Never!" Ezran shouted. "You are not taking my sister!".
"Leave now, or we will strike you from the sky!" Zubeia threatened. Caelus raised his fist, and the dragons breathed to shoot lightning. "You are outnumbered and have no chance of defeating our might,".
"Our leader told us you Archdragons are as arrogant as you look, and he was right. For too long, you have underestimated us, and we have overestimated you. But not now. We gave you a chance to do this the easy way, but now we'll have to do this the hard way. " The leader scanned the stone platform in front of where the Dragon Queen was and saw a scared boy holding his pink dragon. "Perfect," he clicked his fingers. Poof! Benji disappeared, and Pliph dropped to the floor.
Benji! He roared.
The crowd gasped. Benji reappeared again, a dark blade under his chin.
"Benji!" Carol screamed, coming out of her hiding place. Her friends tried to hide her again, but it was too late.
The leader smirked. "Just as the leader of our Cult said. You'll never let anyone, even a child, get hurt on your account,". As he said 'cult', Caldor turned pale, and so did the king, seer, vizier and dragon prince glancing worriedly up at her.
"Carol, no!" Zym begged.
"It's your choice, young mage. Either come with us, or the boy gets it!".
Carol cringed at Benji's screams as the cruel man pulled on his hair. "Alright! Alright!" she shouted. "I will come with you! Just don't hurt him!"
"Carol, no!" Soren begged.
"You can't!" Tua said. The others pleaded with Carol to reconsider, but she could not bear to see her new friend be hurt on account of her.
"Please don't do this!" Willow begged in tears.
"I have to, guys. There's no other choice. It's me that they want, and it's me they'll get. Soren, please take care of Felix and Ghost for me,". She lifted her fox to Soren, who took him with wet eyes, and she passed Ghost to him, too. "Bye, guys,".
Her best animal friend's wet eyes and desperate pawing made her cry as she turned her arms into wings.
"Carol! I order you not to!" Zubeia roared. Ghost teleported out of Soren's arms and reappeared again in front of Carol, begging her not to with his wet eyes.
"It's alright, Your Majesty. No one else has to get hurt,". The people watched as the prized mage took flight. Carol glanced down at her siblings and Caldor, screaming at her to stop, but still she refused.
"Don't!" Benji cried, but the blade under his skin silenced his tongue. The leader cocked his head, and the two other riders brought out chains to bind their upcoming prisoner so she couldn't use magic to free herself.
She hovered directly in front of the leader. "I will come with you if you let the boy go and you leave these people alone,".
"Surrender first, and I will let him go,".
Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light and the leader and his dragon were blinded. The white-haired masked rider flipped onto the dragon and swiped Benji from the dark rider's grasp before flipping back onto his dragon.
With the distraction, Caelus shouted: "Fire!" and the Strom dragons shot bolts of lightning at all their enemies surrounding them. Carol dove down and followed the white dragon.
Thaisan swooped down, and Benji was reunited with Zym and Pliph. The white dragon took off again. "Who was that?". He wondered.
Thaisan swooped up and faced Carol, who saw the rider's purple eyes, and all at once, her heart stopped. The mask was pulled down, and she saw it was indeed Raylan.
"Raylan?" she breathed.
"Hey," he simply said. At all once, everything was quiet around them. As if the battle wasn't surging around them and the people weren't screaming. Now that he was looking into the eyes of the human he fell in love with, Raylan was so speechless that he couldn't master the proper words to speak. "Carol…I know I'm the last person you wanna talk to, but I …,". Carol shot off, not looking back at him. "Carolily! Wait!"
"Hey! Over here!" she shouted. "Come and get me!". The Black Riders saw her and flew after her.
"Carol!" her loved ones and friends shouted.
"We have to help her!" Willow was about to mount Pyrrah, but Soren stopped her.
"It's too dangerous for you! Stay with your brother and the queen!" Soren mounted his dragon with Corvus and took off instantly, with Felix riding with them. The elves, including the Sky patrol under Zubeia's orders, took flight, too, and Raylan shot after them. Willow and Pyrrah flew down to save Ezran, Caldor and the other leaders.
Carol led them away from the valley and the kingdom. But even she wouldn't be able to outfly them for long. Tua ordered her dragons to attack, but the Black Riders shot powerful spells that blasted them out of the sky.
"No!" Carol cried.
Caelus managed to dodge another blast. "Fulminus!" she shot a bolt of lightning from his palm, but the leader of the riders looked back and waved his hand. Magenta magic made the bolt circle around his dragon and shoot right back at Caelus's dragon, who was struck in the chest. He fell from the sky.
"No! Caelus!" Carol screamed. "Guys, get out here now!" she begged her friends.
"No," Zubeia breathed. She tried to fly up, but two riders manoeuvred back and fired dark fire upon the people. She shielded everyone with her wings.
Carol screamed out to her friends to abandon her and save themselves. But no matter how many times the Black Riders struck at them, they would not leave their friend to be captured.
Raylan knew he had to help. And so did Stella. "Go, Stella!" Stella created a portal and leapt through. She appeared in front of a rider and clawed at his face, causing him to lose balance and fall off. Thaisan flew close enough for Raylan to perform a flying flip again onto another rider and take him down. Unfortunately, the black dragons were loyal to their riders. They dive-bombed and caught them on their saddles before they could die from the impact.
Zubeia was barely holding out against the fire as her wings protected the people. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!".
The black dragons were close to finishing the queen when, all of a sudden, the Dragon Queen saw a red dragon drive his red sword into one dragon's belly, and it instantly turned to ash in thin air. He took out the other one. Zubeia raised her head, and everyone under her wings saw the red dragon who flew off.
"Who was that?" Queen Aanya wondered.
"Whoever he was, he saved us," Grark breathed.
"We have to help Carol!" Willow panicked.
"Stay here, everyone!" Zubeia ordered. "You too, Zym," she flapped her wings and took off to aid the others.
Murtagh on Thorn saw Carol struggling to escape the Black Riders, even with Raylan and the others trying to strike them down. Behind him, he saw Zubeia, who showed no grudge when her piercing eyes were glued to him. She knew he was an ally.
Carol was losing breath and slowing down. The leader prepared to catch her. "Oh no, you don't," Raylan climbed down to the end of his dragon's tail. "Get ready to fling me, buddy. And make a portal, Stella!".
She chittered worriedly. "It's the only way," he argued. "Okay. Aim!" Thaisan narrowed his eyes and kept his tail in line with his focus spot. "Fire!" Thaisan catapulted him through the air, and Stella opened a portal.
The leader threw a chain, and it lassoed around Carol, who got caught. "Got you. And you thought you could escape me!".
"No!" shouted a voice. The leader turned his head, and he saw Raylan jumping out of a portal in mid-air. He pushed him right off his dragon, and they plunged to the ground, Carol falling after them and the black dragon diving down.
"No!" Soren and the other shouted. Zubeia shot lightning at the black riders whilst they were distracted and took them out. Murtagh on Thorn dived down and threw his red sword Za'roc across the air, and it pierced the heart of the black dragon. He then swooped down and caught Carol in mid-flight, unbinding her from the chains.
Raylan crash-landed into an acre of trees, but with luck, he managed to use his lasso hook to break his fall before he could hit the ground. He lowered himself down, cringing from all his bruises. He looked around but saw the leader he had grappled in mid-air was nowhere to be seen. Was he dead?
"Carol," he remembered. He looked up and saw Zubeia and the other dragon riders hovering in mid-air. But no sign of the girl he loved. Until a red dragon appeared in view in another direction.
Everyone in the Valley of Graves was afraid. Ezran and Willow were worried sick. "Soldiers look for the fallen riders!" Ezran ordered. "Make sure our allies are okay and tended to if they're still alive,".
"Don't say that!" Willow begged. "Just don't!".
Ezran hugged her. "She's okay, Willow," she has to be.
"She is," Zym told them. "I read her mind. She's safe. That red dragon rider saved her. And so did Raylan,".
"So, he's returned," Willow said a little coldly. She began to whimper and cry. "Oh Ez, I should have known this was gonna happen,"
"Willow, none of this is your fault," Ezran consoled her.
"But I should have known. That nightmare I had of those men trying to kidnap our sister all those years was a sign that these riders had come back for her,".
"This is all the Cult," Caldor cursed. "They sent her. I should have known Castor would make a strike,".
"Caldor, we searched for him for two years and didn't find a trace of him. None of us were to know," Ezran reasoned.
Whilst the siblings were discussing matters with their royal vizier, Zym was comforting a petrified Benji. "It's alright, Benji,".
"I can't believe Carol nearly gave herself up to save me,".
"She would never let any harm come to you. I'm going to go and find her,".
"Take me with you," Benji begged.
"Okay. But you gotta keep hold tight and not lose balance,".
"Are you alright?" Murtagh asked Carol, who was recovering from another attempted kidnapping experience.
"I'm fine," she panted, disguising her fear. "Thank you,". Thorn purred, and she scratched his chin. "I'll never thank you enough,".
"Don't look now, but your elf guy is back," Murtagh said quietly. "I must speak with Zubeia now. Come to me in the clearing where you were before,".
"I will,".
Murtagh disappeared into the forest with Thorn, and Carol turned around to see Raylan approaching her. She didn't know what to feel.
"Hey again," he said awkwardly.
"Ray, what are you doing here?".
"I came back. I saved you," Still, his love was speechless. "You look nice, Caroline,".
"Thanks. I guess. And so do you,".
Raylan wanted to express all his joy whilst he had the chance. "I'm so happy to see you again. It's been two years,".
"Yeah," her voice was emotionless. "Two years since you left me at that Nexus,". She turned her back on him, hiding her wet eyes.
"Carol, I know my leaving hurt you," his heart cracked. "But you have to understand, I didn't have a choice,".
"You said we were gonna go together!" she shouted, shocking him with her tone. "Do you have any idea how long I searched for you? How worried sick I was? Did you even find Viren?".
"No," he sighed. "I didn't find him,".
"So, you disappeared for two years for no reason at all!".
Suddenly, a portal opened right in front of her, and an angry Cuddlemonkey poked its head out. She fell back on the grass.
"Stella!" Raylan criticised. Stella leapt into his arms and instantly cuddled his face.
"And who's this?" Carol asked.
"This is Stella. She's a cuddlemonkey. I found her all alone,". A flap of wings hovered above them, and Thaisan landed before them. He stepped towards Carol, sniffing her.
"Oh, and I take it he's your dragon, too?" she asked uneasily.
"Yes. His name's Thaisan,".
Nice to meet you. Thaisan purred, and she decided to give him a scratch under the cheek.
Raylan wished he had prepared better for this first talk in two years. "Carol …".
"Carol!" shouted more voices. Soren, Corvus, Tua and everyone landed on their dragons, and instantly, Carol was pulled into their arms.
"You're safe!" Tua cried for joy. Felix jumped into his person's arms, and she hugged him. Then Ghost appeared spooking her for fun, and hugged her too.
"Thank goodness you are safe," Corvus patted her back.
"I'm perfectly alright,".
"Thank goodness your Spirit Guide saved you," Hestia said.
" 'Spirit Guide'?" Raylan's voice made everyone remember he was still, and they all eyed him. Stella screeched, but his strokes calmed her down. "Easy, girl. If they're friends to Carol, they're friends to us," he cleared his throat. "Hi, guys," he waved awkwardly. "And elves who I've never met before,".
"You look decent," Soren replied casually, but his eyebrows were bent. "And I see you've made some animal friends whilst you've been away from us whilst we searched for you,". His hard voice sent tingles down Raylan's spine.
"Your dragon's cute. Cool light show, by the way," Hestia complimented. Hakucho elbowed her. "What?".
"Have you forgotten how he broke our friend's heart?".
"It is good to see you again, young Moon warrior," Zubeia greeted. "But there are more pressing matters at hand. This attack and Ibis's warning means I must return to the Spire at once,".
"Zubeia, wait!" Carol begged. "There's someone I need you to meet. And it's very important,".
"I shall meet this friend of yours, but it must be hasty,".
"It has to be us alone," she gently requested. "He won't show himself to anyone else,".
"As you wish," the queen trusted her.
"We trust you, Carol," Soren said. "Go to the clearing where we were before,".
"We'll head back to the Valley of the Graves and help the wounded," Drayleen added.
The queen and mage nodded and flew off together, leaving the human and elf friends to glance wearily at Raylan. They then mounted their dragons to head back. Thaisan was about to take off to follow Zubeia, but Soren and Corvus's dragon stopped him.
"I want to speak to Carol," Raylan demanded.
"She's not talking to you," Soren spat. "And she specifically said she and the queen had to be alone. Now, come on. "King Ezran will be expecting you,".
Raylan sighed, silently agreeing he needed to give Carol space after what just happened. "Now, to face the siblings," he told his Cuddlemonkey, who chittered sorrowfully.
Benji, Zym and Pliph had watched everyone take off.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Benji asked the dragons. They nodded.
Murtagh polished his sword, which he managed to find. "I've searched for the other Black Riders, but they have vanished," Thorn cursed.
"Thank goodness we were there to save Carol when she needed us,".
A large shadow loomed over them, and they saw it was the Dragon Queen they had saved, along with the people of Katolis and the rulers of the Human Kingdoms.
Carol saw them and gestured for them to come out, and they did.
"Who is your young friend?". The Queen asked.
"I'm Murtagh, and this is my dragon, Thorn," Murtagh introduced himself.
Zubeia inspected them with narrowed eyes. "You are neither of the Human Kingdoms nor Xadia,".
"That is correct. Thorn, and I hail from another world much like your own. But we were sent here by the Archdragon of the Stars: Aeesias,".
"I have not seen Aeesias in centuries. Not since the Fallen Star was imprisoned. And for what reason did she send you Murtagh?".
"To protect her," Murtagh patted her back. "I am her Spirit Guide and protector,".
"I saw you taking care of those dark riders in the sky. Thank you, Murtagh …"
"Just Murtagh, please. My last name is one I carry with hatred,".
"I am forever in your debt for saving me and all those humans. But tell me, why do you wish to address me alone?".
"Because Spirit Guides are forbidden to talk to anyone aside from those they are told to protect. But you, however, are an exception/ I bring a message from Aeesias. She had told me that the Fallen Star was trying to Xadia, and his minions were already at work. And they need Carol for something truly vile,".
Zubeia was worried. "If this is true, then you must stay here in Katolis, where you're safe," she told the Mage.
"Your Majesty, I cannot hide in Katolis. I just won't," Carol shook her head. "If I stay here, I will put everyone in danger, and I can't bear for that to happen. The Cult who sent them have been after me ever since I was a child, and I need to find out why. I need answers,".
"She is important for what's to come," her Spirit Guide advised. "Aaeseris said so herself,".
"Then that means I cannot stop you even if I wanted to," the queen acknowledged. "If you cannot show yourself, Murtagh, to anyone else, how can you protect Carol?".
"I will always be watching her from a distance. And I am not the only Spirit Guide who will accompany the heroes of this world. Some have already appeared to others,". Carol remembered Soren telling her about a man in his dreams. And when Raylan repeated those two words, it was as if he had met his own. "And now you should make your way to the Spire," Murtagh advised. "I will always be watching,".
"One day, Xadia and the Human kingdoms will acknowledge how you saved its leaders," Zubeia promised. "I hope to speak to you again, great rider,".
Murtagh bowed, and so did Thorn. He mounted him and gazed caringly at Carol. "I will be there for you when you need me,".
"Thank you. I'll not forget this,".
"Be careful, young mage,". Murtagh bowed, and Thorn took off into the night, disappearing.
"Before we return to the others, Zubeia, I have something that Lord Viren stole from your home aside from Zym's egg. A looking glass which I was trying to use to find out what happened to the elf whom you sent to my home two years ago. I wanted to return it to you,".
"Then please do. We must make our way back to the Spire in haste and hope that Ibis is alright," Zubeia prayed with all her heart he would still be alive.
Carol was about to turn her arms to wings again when something tingled in her head. "Zym! You can come out! I know you're there,".
Zym marched out with Benji and Pliph riding on his back. "Zym! I told you to stay where you were!" his mother lectured.
"I just wanted to check on Carol!" he whined.
Carol embraced him. "I'm perfectly safe,".
Benji dismounted her and hugged her. "I'm so sorry, Carol,".
"No, Benji. You've nothing to be sorry for".
"They used me to get to you, and you would have been captured,".
"No. It was not your fault. None of us knew this was going to happen. But we're going to put a stop to it,".
Viren was sitting silently at the rocks, twiddling his fingers. Nearby, Tellus, Delmar and Laius were eying him dangerously. When he noticed them, he said: "I do not need you eying me with that distaste all night,".
"You betrayed us before," The sun mage retold. "Who's to say you won't do it again,".
Castor and Claudia, with dragon wings on their backs and Terry, clinging tightly to the latter, landed before them, and the former held up the staff of Ziard.
"At dawn, we cast the spell to open the chrysalis,". Castor announced. "For now, we must rest. And once we open the chrysalis, we leave at once,". Right after he spoke, his pocket started glowing. He pulled out the orb and walked off.
"Are you alright?" Viren hugged Claudia.
"I am perfectly alright," she assured him. "I'm just glad we got the staff,".
"That's my girl," Viren's proud smile faded when he saw how nauseous Terry's face was. "What's wrong with him?".
"We had to kill an elf to get it," Claudia said. "It's not easy when you watch someone get killed in front of you,".
Before Viren could criticise Terry's reaction, Castor came back, hiding his eyes.
"What has happened?" Claudia asked.
Castor's face hadn't changed colour, but his voice had. "They failed,".
At the Sunfire settlement, Sunus and his brother Yonnis knelt before a sacred memorial candle. With wet eyes, they dipped their fingers into a bowl of red pigment and speared it in lives over their eyes and cheeks. Then
Holding hands, they created a circle of flames around the candle. Together, they said the prayer of passing. "Soul flame burning in the dark, guide our mother through the night,".
"May she rest in peace," Sunus closed his eyes solemnly. The embers drifted up into the sky.
Ethari walked out of his tent to stare up at the night sky. He closed his eyes, imagining how he, Raylan and Runaan used to do that in the Silvergrove all the time when Ray-Ray was a kid. He had been given decent camping quarters, but he preferred the huts back at the Moon Nexus. Still, he would do his best to be grateful for everything the Sunfire queen was doing to keep him safe from his people.
Warveth came to him. "How are your sleeping quarters, Ethari?".
"Most decent, thank you, Lord Warveth. I truly am sorry for the trouble I am bringing here,".
"There is no need. Anyone who is a friend of Caroline will always be offered sanctuary here when they need it. Feel free to walk around the camp. It's a beautiful moon up there,".
Ethari glanced upwards and couldn't steer his eyes away from the Arcanum he was connected to. "It sure is,".
"Man, my hands are killing me," the muscular human architect Lucia was dipping her hands into a bucket of water. She wore a light green bandage over her black hair and green eyes.
"I just wanna tuck in and lie beside you, honey-pie," her flirty husband Tom had short dark hair swept the side, partly covering his blue eyes. Like his wife, he wore a sleeveless white and blue shirt but with black pants instead of grey and brown boots. They unfastened their tool belts and hung them on an outside rack.
Tom's noise shrivelled. "Something's burning,". They turned their heads and saw embers floating up from behind some tents. "Oh no. The camp will catch fire if we don't put that flame out,". They dashed off.
The wounded were tended to. Many Skywing elves were badly wounded. Caelus had broken a wrist, but he was still alright. Yonas hugged him, and he embraced him back. "Don't worry, Yonas. It's gonna take a lot more than a batch of riders to take me down,".
"I'm so scared for Ibis,".
Raylan was quite nervous to be around everyone again, but he decided it was time to approach his friends. He came to the platform and saw Ezran and Willow waiting for him. "Hey, guys. Look, I know I …," Ezran suddenly hugged him. "Hey, Ez. It's good to see you,".
"It's great to see you too,".
"Hey Ray," Willow sounded more upset than overjoyed.
"I know it's been some time, and I understand if you guys are mad at me,".
"I'm mad. He isn't," Willow was disappointed in Ezran for his lack of consideration.
"I'm mad, too. I'm just too overjoyed at the moment to be mad," he argued.
"As am I," Caldor addressed Raylan. "We are overjoyed to see you again, Raylan. We feared for you,".
"I know. There are many reasons why I didn't come back. One of them is I was trying to protect Caroline not just from the rest of the Cult that was still out there but also from my own people. They were hunting for me and Ethari and … wait. Where's Ethari?".
"He's safe," Willow promised. "He's with the Sunfire elves, including Queen Janai. They're protecting him,".
Raylan breathed normally again, and Stella hugged him to comfort him."Your monkey's cute," Ezran adored her purple eyes. Serena honked.
"This is Stella. And this is Thaisan," he stroked his dragon. "See, you got yourself a star swan, King Ezran,".
"I did. I found her in the forest with a broken wing,". Ezran got so carried away that he failed to notice Willow's annoyance. When he did, he said: "What?".
A shadow loomed over them, and they saw Zubeia preparing to land. Carol landed beside her, turning her wings to arms again. Zym, Benji and Pliph dismounted the Dragon Queen. Ezran, Willow and Caldor threw their arms around Carol, relieved she was safe.
Soren complained. "How come they got to eavesdrop on the conversation?"
"We're just sneaky," Zym goaded, much to his annoyance.
Zubeia's eyes beamed, seeing Caelus again. "Caelus, I am glad you're alright. How are the other soldiers?".
"Mostly injured. And it looks like we won't be flying for a few days. Those Black Riders are more powerful than we thought,".
"Thank goodness that another rider was there to help. He's a dear friend. But we must leave now," the queen informed.
"I hope Ibis is okay," Yonas was scared.
"I'm going to go with them," Carol declared. Her siblings refused. "I can't stay here. Those Black Riders will come back for me, and I can't put everyone here in danger,".
"No, Carol!" Raylan begged, but she ignored him, much to his distress.
"You can't leave," Willow begged. "We can't just let you go,".
Ezran rubbed his forehead. He wanted to go, but he couldn't leave his kingdom. "Go with her," Opeli encouraged him.
"But Katolis needs me; it needs all of us,".
"The world needs you all right now. The high council can take care of the people, I promise you,".
"You all need to go together like you did before," Corvus offered Ezran's large rucksack.
"Then that's what we'll do," the king decided. "But if anything happens, I will return at once,".
Barius walked over, carrying a box in his hand. "Ezran, I've been working on something. A new kind of jelly tart! Uh, but instead of jelly, it has this mushy brown stuff I invented. I call them Brown Sludge Tarts!".
Ezran gave the strange-named pastry a sniff. "Are you sure about this? Brown sludge? This isn't going to be like that weird bread you made that only Bait liked?".
Bait pawed at Barius's feet. "Oh, you mean Grumpernickel?" the baker laughed. "No. No, no, no. I promise the brown sludge is remarkable!"
"If you guys are going, so am I," Soren declared. "You're gonna need protection,".
"We would appreciate that more than anything," Carol patted his shoulder, and they exchanged smiles.
And Raylan was just there, jealousy painting his cheeks. "I'm coming too. With all of you," they sent him unsure looks. "I've been trying to track those black riders and their followers for months. I don't care what you all think of me now but …,".
"We want you to come," Ezran replied. "It'll be just like the old times again,".
"But that doesn't mean we're not mad at you," Willow reminded. Pyrrah growled, but Thaisan growled harder even though she was twice his size.
"Before we leave, there is something we need to collect from my office,". Carol reminded.
"Then let's go collect it," Soren mounted Pyrrah after giving Corvus a goodbye hug.
Ezran addressed the kings and queens. "These Black Riders may return and perhaps attack your kingdoms too. You must be prepared,".
"We will," Queen Aanya nodded. "I have special resources that I will gladly distribute to all of you should anything happen,".
"Thank Queen Aanya," Queen Cairalin praised. "We will do what we can to provide support to Duren and all the other kingdoms as well,".
"We cannot ask that of you," Ezran refused gently.
"Nonsense. We cannot wish to avoid war no matter how much we want," King Galadadin spoke up wisely. "We must be prepared. And the best way to do that is together,".
"We wish you and your family all good luck and safe wishes," King Ahling said gratefully. "Do you not be afraid to ask for our aid should you need it,".
"Thank you, fellow kings and queens," Ezran bowed.
Benji stepped forward. "Benji, you can't," Carol genuflected and held his shoulders. "The last thing I want is to put you in any more danger,".
"Let him come, Carol," Zym begged. "He really wants to help,".
"I know Zym, but he's just a kid,".
"Then I'll take him myself," Zym allowed him to mount. "He may be a kid, but he's good with dragons since he has one. You never know how handy that could be,".
"No way are you saying 'Yes'!" Soren hollered.
"Soren, we were just kids when we returned Zym to his mum. Look at us now. We're wiser and stronger people," Ezran said proudly. "Perhaps it's Benji's destiny to help us on this quest,".
"I know it's gonna sound weird, but I feel I need to go. I'm not asking you to believe me. I'm just asking you to trust me," Benji begged.
Carol wasn't sure. But Benji reminded him so much of her younger and adventurous self. "Promise me you'll stay with us at all times,".
And that's the first part of Season Four, Episode Four down. I hope you all enjoyed it. If you guys could, please could you give me some rough ideas on what it is like for Carol when she is controlled by Aaravos and Murtagh appears again to release her. If you could, it would be most helpful.
See you guys with the next part tomorrow or the day after. The new year is coming up.