Here's another chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
The Great Gates Part Two:
"Everyone calm down," Warveth struggled to keep the Sunfire guards and human visitors from yapping at each other.
Ethari tried to help him. "Enough! This will only make things worse!"
Whilst the two elves were struggling to keep the two parties from fighting, Gren stood guard in front of a large tent built into an ancient hut of stone. Amaya emerged and hugged him before analysing him for any injuries.
What happened? Are you hurt?
No, I'm not. But there was a disagreement in the camp about an open flame. And it ended up with the humans getting hurt,".
Who were they?
"Their names are Lucia and Tom. They're the chief architects. They came from Katolis to set up the camp. They are healing,".
"I'm afraid what they have done has caused a lot of tension," Warveth approached them.
"And it's what they have to answer for," Ethari said. "Lucia doused a sacred soul candle. And not just any candle. It belonged to the deceased mother of Sunnus and his brother Yonnis,".
Amaya peered inside and saw the wife with bandaged hands and her husband with a bandaged arm with red stains. Two guards were standing over them, and when their eyes were fixed on Amaya's, they narrowed. They had to talk.
"There must be justice," an outraged Yonnis pushed through the crowd, still wearing his red face paint. "That human snuffed out my mother's flame and her husband harmed my brother,".
"Calm yourself," Warveth implored. "We will sort this out immediately and the queen will decide what to do,".
"There deserves to be justice,".
It was now daytime, and the dragons' shadows loomed over the colourful forests below. "I remember this," Carol observed. "I visited the Drakewood once and Tua showed me her village,".
"There it is," the queen observed a great mountain towering over the trees. "The Great Mountain of the Easts,".
"How do we get into the mountain?" Ezran asked.
"We must enter through the Eastern Gates," Caldor pointed downwards, and already Zubeia was flying down, Pyrrah and Thaisan trailing behind her. They flew over shorter peaks and green and orange and purple woodlands till they saw a stone clearly onto a hill. Two gates of impenetrable stone lay in front of it. And on the side of those gates were two giant totems of boulders.
"We must be cautious," Willow advised. The dragon gently landed and the riders dismounted them.
"Do we knock?" Ezran asked.
"We must be careful," Caldor advised. "This dragon will have a very bad temper. And he will not believe we are on his side even if he does see we are friends with Zubeia,".
"Why not?" Carol asked.
"Because humans are responsible for killing his mate Gaia. Another of the great conflicts, Aaravos caused,".
"It is true. He lost his mate centuries ago," Zubeia said solemnly. "After we imprisoned Aaravos, he hid himself inside this mountain with grief, only choosing to have his unborn egg as a company. His egg hasn't hatched in centuries. Stay close to me at all times,".
Ezran approached the door and knocked. Nothing happened. He knocked again. "Nothing. Should I …,".
The ground rumbled. "Ezran!" his sisters cried.
"Get inside my wings!" Zubeia ordered. The group hid behind her enfolded wings. They watched as the two golems came to life walking about. They had giant crystals poking out of their hides. The large and plumper one had yellow, the other who was thinner and carried a staff, had blue. Stella on Raylan's shoulder was a little scared so she hid behind her back. The Adoraburrs hid in the hood of Carol's cape and she held Benji close to her.
The large one spoke. "We are the Guardians of the Gates of Umber Tor,".
The thinner one scratched his stony head. "Um, I think guardians is a bit much, don't you think? How about doormen?".
"Guardianship of this gate is a sacred duty. I've been saying this for five hundred years,".
"But don't we just open and close the door?".
"Enough bickering!" Zubeia shouted, scaring the totems. "Open the doors. We wish to see Rex Igneous,".
"The Earth Dragon does not wish to be disturbed,". The plump one answered.
"Maybe try back next century,". The taller one suggested.
"Hey! We haven't got a century to wait!" Rashly, Raylan stepped out from behind Zubeia's wings.
"Raylan, get back here," Carol hissed.
"We need to speak to the Archdragon of Earth that the fate of the world is at stake,".
"Lies!" the plumb one blabbered. "You'll say anything to get inside. Now be off with you, little elf,".
"Guys! Please!" Ezran begged. "If you could get us an audience with him, we could …,".
The plump totem stamped his feet and the king and warrior tripped on their feet. Thaisan pounced in front of them and growled protectively.
Zubeia stamped her feet on the ground, stunning the guards. "Enough! I am the Dragon Queen and you will open the doors,".
The taller one was scared more of her than disobeying orders. Still, he said, "We can't just let you in or he'll reduce us to pebbles,".
"Then I'll reduce you to pebbles!". Zubeia's booming voice made the totems nearly tumble off their little feet.
"Zubeia, stop!" Carol flapped in front of her with mage wings. "We'll never get an audience with Rex Igneous if we invade his mountain like this. And don't scare the totems, they're just doing their job,".
"Listen to her," Caldor implored the queen. The queen calmed down and folded her wings back in.
Carol landed and approached the totems who were getting up again, Felix beside her and Ghost and the Adoraburrs on her shoulders. Benji followed her. "Um, hello there. What are your names?".
"Oh, such a kind little human. I'm Chert,". Chert the taller, thinner one offered his hand and Carol shook it. "You're very pretty,".
"Um thank you. And nice to meet you,".
"Such a cute, smaller human," Chert gently ruffled Benji's hair and he laughed.
"That tickles," the kid laughed.
"And I am Terbium,". The plumb golem shook Carol's hand too.
"We don't mean to intrude on your job but danger is coming to Umber Tor and we must talk to the Archdragon of Earth. And it must be in person. From the Queen herself. All we ask is that you ask Rex Igneous to grant us an audience so that we may not disturb him,".
"Very well," Terbium looked up at the queen. "Since this little human showed more respect compared to you, Storm Dragon. We will go to the king of Earth so you may have an audience. It's best if you wait out here. He doesn't like newcomers inside his mountain,".
"Very well," the queen accepted. "Please forgive my impudent nature,".
Clert walked over to a giant wench and inserted his staff with its diamond end into the handles. Together he and Terbium rotated it and the chains grinded till the doors opened slightly. "Wait, right here," Clert instructed.
"Just don't take too long," The queen implored. "Or the world will be in great peril,".
Clert froze. " 'Peril'? Well then we must tell the king to come talk to you at once. We'll be quick,". They disappeared inside.
"Very well done, Carol," the queen congratulated.
Raylan was about to say something but Soren beat him to it. "It never ceases to amaze me how your kindness easily wins people over,".
"Not everyone I'm afraid," Carol said remorsefully.
Benji held her hand. "It's better to have a kind heart than see the worst in people,".
"You're actually very smart for a kid, your age," Soren complimented.
Viren, Castor, Tellus, Terry and Claudia continued to follow the Being through the forests, easily keeping on its tail with the trail of good which Terry couldn't help but enjoy playing around with. Castor unfortunately was getting annoyed with his dopey nature.
The Being was doing strange charades with its paws. "I think he might be trying to say something with his hands?" Claudia guessed. "Like that party game, Dad. Word hands,".
Viren grunted. "How can anyone expect to make sense of these inane gestures?". The Being moved its arm like a wave and made a pointy hat with its fingers. "That's complete nonsense,".
"No. I think he might be saying snake guy, pointy hat,"
"No. That is not what he is saying," Tellus said.
"Well then, smart guy, what is he saying?" Viren challenged, desperate for a go at him.
"Oh, I know," the bubbly Claudia thought of another one. "A lizard in a hat?".
Tellus sniggered. "You think this cosmic guide would be saying 'a lizard in a hat'? You are so funny sometimes, Claudia,".
"Well then what is it saying?" Viren asked.
"You'll see. Anyways, we are getting close to where we need to go,". The Earth Mage kept on following the Being, avoiding their problematic faces.
They heard a loud flap of wings and they saw a wounded dark dragon and his black rider land before them. Castor scrunched his fist.
Everyone was waiting patiently. Raylan wanted to make a move but he was so nervous with Carol sitting near Soren again. Ezran and Willow noticed and weren't sure whether to go over and speak to him or not.
Go on. Stella chittered. Now's your chance.
"I want it to be right," he whispered.
Felix and Ghost were eying Caldor very wearily. He was watching Carol very closely whilst she gently stroked her father's journal.
We need to find out what he's hiding. Ghost purred.
He must know why those mages want our person. Felix's flicked up and he barked.
The ground rumbled and everyone stood up at once, Pyrrah and Thaisan growling softly.
"Easy girl," Willow scratched Pyrrah's chin. "Just calm down,".
The gates opened and the totems came out. "All Hail Rex Igneous, the wise and powerful Archdragon of Earth," Clert introduced. "The Master of boulders great and pebbles small. Oh, shaker of soil and, uh, grower of … grass?".
"Don't overdo it," Terbium lectured.
From out of the mountain stepped out an Archdragon of earth brown scales covered with golden crystal rock armour around his head, shoulders, chest area and down his spine towards his tail. Wings sprouted out of his front legs and two crystal horns grew past the sides of his head. His eyes were lava yellow and his breath smelt like fresh soil.
"Rex Igneous, Dragon of Earth," Zubeia greeted calmly. The team and smaller dragons at her feet bowed.
"It has been some time, Zubeia," The Earth Archdragon greeted with a grumpy voice.
"More like 300 years,".
"You have no right to bring humans to my mountain,".
"They are friends, Rex Igneous. So much has changed in the time you have spent on this mountain. My son Azymondius was stolen by a dark mage more than three years ago. But these humans and the Moonshadow elf who swore to protect them brought him back safely to me. There is now peace between Xadia and the Human Kingdoms,".
"Humans are vermin. They take what's not theirs. They use dark magic to harm our lands, kill its peoples,".
"Not all humans!" Ezran stepped forward.
"Little king, stand back!" Zubeia begged.
"We have become allies and friends to dragons and elves alike. This Moonshadow elf: Raylan of the Silvergrove swore an oath to protect us years ago. We have other elven friends, some who live in your forest,".
"And we're friends with dragons too!". Willow stroked Pyrrah, and she purred. Rex glanced closely at her. The nearer his head came to her, the harder her heart thumped in your chest.
"Perhaps try this tart?" Ezran opened a box of pastries.
"Really? A tart?" his younger sister ranted.
"Just trust me. I am offering it as a sign of peace. Something I know no dragon like you has ever tasted before,".
The dragon growled and leaned his snout forward to sniff the box. "How am I to know it is not poisoned?".
"I will taste it and prove it," Raylan stepped forward.
"A Moonshadow elf trusting humans?" Rex scoffed. "Have you forgotten what humans have done to us?".
"That was centuries ago. But I made friends with these humans and even fell ….," he paused. …. in love with one'. He finished in his mind.
Carol turned away, hiding wet tears. Raylan wiped his nose. Thaisan and Stella shook their heads in sympathy.
"King Ezran wishes to give you this gift, something similar to what the Dragon Queen has tasted, of course,". He took one of the pastries, gave it a bite and swallowed. "You see it is very, very tasty,".
"Very well. I shall try one of your tarts," Rex opened his mouth and Ezran tossed one into his chops. He munched it. It's … creamy, but bitter. Flaky but firm. Sweet with just … the slightest hint of salt," his mouth watered. "And as it melts it gives way to a taste of such depth. This is … it's delicious. In all my centuries, I've never tasted anything like this,".
"Have another one," the king offered.
"Yes, please," Rex swallowed another one. "Yummy. Now. What business brings you here? Are you here to ask a question?".
"Yes," Ezran addressed. "We wish to know the location of the prison of Aaravos,".
Rex Igneous lost his temper. "What? You expect me to tell you where the most dangerous being in the world is imprisoned?".
"You do not understand Rex Igneous," Willow implored. "It's important,".
"What's important is that it remains hidden as it has always been. If it's really that important why isn't Avizandum here?" Rex demanded.
Zubeia fumed through her nostrils. "You will not speak his name?".
"Why shouldn't I? He's the king of the dragons, is he not? Or is your mate too busy picking and fighting with more little humans at the border? That was his favourite sport, stomping on ants and calling himself a conqueror,".
"Everything Avizandum did was to protect Xadia," Zubeia roared.
" 'Protect Xadia? What he wants is an endless war. He loves to provoke and destroy human armies. It makes him feel big and powerful. And it'll get him killed one day too and he'll do that, I'm sure. 'Oh Avizandum, the great martyred hero of Xadia,'. He sang in a mocking voice. "His actions against human armies are what led to the death of my beloved Gaia,".
"You lie!" Zubeia roared.
"Your love for him has made you blind to his arrogance. Because of his actions, humans dared to slay my mate as she came to the Border to give birth to our egg. And she was too weak to fight back! And because of dark human mages, I couldn't save her! I despise humans, but Avizandum is who I hate more,".
Zubeia was losing her cool. She wanted to pummel Rex for talking of her mate that way. The dragons growled but before they could fire, Carol turned her arms to wings and flew up between them. "Stop!". The dragons stopped.
"Carol, no!" Raylan shouted.
"Just trust her!" Soren encouraged.
"Look at yourselves!" Carol lectured. "You guys are Archdragons who banded up together centuries ago to imprison Aaravos. And now you're choosing to fight again like he wants you to,".
"I will not team up with the Queen who can't see that Avizandum …
"Avizandum is dead!" Willow shouted.
All at once, Rex calmed down. "Avizandum is …. dead?".
Zubeia closed her eyes and stood back, allowing her late mate's rival to see her grief. Carol landed between them again, feeling Zym through her connection crying.
At the Storm Spire, Zym was crying. Yonas was stroking him. "It's okay, Zym,".
"I know my dad made awful mistakes. But he wasn't really bad. He was still my dad. And it breaks my heart that Rex would speak of him that way,".
"You can hear him through Carol,"
"Yes. And now she has told him of my father's passing,".
All at once, he felt nothing but sorry for her. "How did this happen?".
Zubeia couldn't answer. So, Raylan spoke for her. "The Dragon King was murdered. A Dark mage used a terrible spell to turn him to stone,".
"And now that Dark Mage, his daughter and the Cult of Aaravos are trying to find Aaravos's prison and free him," Soren explained.
"Avizandum was my greatest rival once. But ages ago, he was my friend," Rex said solemnly. "Zubeia, I am so sorry for your loss. And I am sorry that your son cannot see his father watch him grow,".
Zubeia appreciated his apology. "We have to stop Aaravos's pawns from freeing him. But we need your help,". Willow implored.
Rex took another look at her and reared his head closer to her so she could touch his smooth scales. "Of course, I should have seen it before. Long ago, it was a human who saw through the Fallen Star's schemes and helped Xadia put an end to them. You look so much like them,".
Zubeia gasped. "Of course. Willow was the name of that human,". Willow couldn't believe it. Her father had told her as a child she was named after the first queen of Katolis. And Willow was her name. She was proud of it.
"I will give you the knowledge you seek. But not to the filthy human who's tainted by dark magic," he glared hard at Carol. Felix and Ghost growled. "She is not welcome here!".
"She is a friend!" Zubeia roared, getting angry at him again.
"Carol is different!" Raylan begged, standing protectively in front of her.
"I smell dark magic on her. She is no different than the dark mages who killed my mate, the mother of my egg. Zubeia, you expect me to trust you all with this vital information when you have a dark mage on your side?".
"She is not a dark mage!" Benji defended.
"Benji!" Carol begged; afraid he'd get into trouble again.
"She is the Master of Three Primal Sources. She's the first human in centuries to have done that. She is worthy of your trust,".
Still, the stubborn dragon refused to listen. "I know of what she did. But she used dark magic to save this dragon," Zubeia pointed at Pyrrah who purred and nudged Carol to prove her loyalty to her.
"I had no choice. And this was before I forged my own connection to this was any other way …," Carol's words did not sooth the dragon.
"I cannot take your word for it," Rex shook his head.
"She's our sister!" Ezran defended. "If you trust me and Willow as you did our ancestor, then you will trust her too,". Carol was touched by their love and loyalty.
"If you humans seek this information, you must prove yourselves," he eyed the huddled teammates. "In the Drakewood in the Uncharted Forest, lies another entrance into this great mountain. And through that entrance, you will find trials. Pass those trials and you will enter another way into my home and I will give you the information you seek. Now I must return to nurture my egg,". He entered the mountain again and the totems closed the gates.
Carol walked away to sulk.
Slap. "What happened?" the short-tempered Castor demanded.
"The plan was working," the Black Rider retorted, wiping his face. "We held a child captive and the girl was handing herself over,".
"Then what happened?!".
"A Moonshadow elf appeared out of nowhere on his blinding moon dragon and took a great number of us out. He was fast, lethal and deadly,".
" Wait. A Moonshadow elf you say," Viren scratched his chin.
"What do you mean?" Claudia asked.
Viren gave her a look. "Who else would want to rescue that step-princess?".
"Raylan," Claudia seethed. "He's responsible for your death, dad. I want to kill him,".
"We will get him, Clauds," her father assured. "As a matter of fact, I have three people who mean so much to him,".
"You mean these?" Claudia pulled out a purse full of jingling coins. Viren smirked.
"I don't believe this!" Raylan ranted. "We were so close to gaining the Archdragon's trust and now he's making us solve puzzles which are obviously traps,".
His team were outraged. They had come so close to getting that first clue only to be turned away by a distrustful widowed dragon. Willow complained as well. "How come Ezran and me being the descendants of the human who exposed Aaravos's crimes not enough to persuade him?". Pyrrah growled in agreement. "How come he can't see our sister is on the same side?".
"The stubborn dragon he is," Zubeia cursed. "He's becoming bitter like Sol Regem,".
Carol was slouching on a rock, her forehead rubbing against her fingers. Felix, Ghost and the Adoraburrs couldn't do anything to consul her. Raylan was too nervous to comfort her again. But by the time he plucked up the courage, Soren beat him to it.
"Carol, if you wanna blame someone, blame me," Soren begged. "Cause if I hadn't shot down Pyrrah, you wouldn't have had to use dark magic to save her life,".
"Doesn't matter why it happened. I did what I did and there's no going back. It's pretty much what allowed Aaravos to control me before and there's no telling what he might do to me again,".
"Don't even think about that elf," Benji took her hands. "You are nothing like him or those dark mages,".
"What's past is past," Willow said, walking up to them. "And what matters is what we do now,".
"She is right. We head to the Drakewood, find the entrance and complete these trials,", announced Ezran, pulling on his rucksack.
"No. I have to do this alone," Carol said picking up her spear.
"No. You mustn't let your guilt drive you to do this," Benji begged. "And you can't do this on your own,".
"There's no doubt Claudia, her father and the Cult will be closing in towards us,". Raylan said cautiously. "We must go now whilst we have the time,".
"Then I must stay here and guard the Great Gates," Zubeia said.
"That is our job," Clert reminded.
"You have no idea what dangers are out there. You'll be pummelled by giant black dragons and torn apart by dark mages to be used in your spells,". Zubeia's scary warnings made the totems reconsider.
"Tua's village will be in the Uncharted Forest," Carol said. "She can help us. And we'll need to tell them to help protect the mountain,".
"Excellent," the queen complimented. "Good luck, young heroes. And be careful,".
"Caldor, will you stay here with the Queen?" Ezran requested. "You know more about how they might attack and she could use your help,".
"I was hoping you'd request that," he said. "But please be careful everyone,".
"We'll try," Willow said. "But we can't promise that,".
"And don't worry about Carol," Soren said. "She'll be fine,".
Carol grasped Caldor's shivering hands. "You know I will, Caldor. I know every spell you've taught me and as long as we stick together, there's nothing we can't do,".
"Couldn't have put it any better myself," her brother said. The royals mounted Pyrrah and Raylan, Soren and Benji mounted Thaisan. The Dragon Queen and Caldor watched as they flew towards the nearby forests.
"Look, it's still trying to communicate," For hours, Claudia and the men had cross rivers, hiked hills and climbed over logs, following the Being everywhere. It had managed to do some flitters and flutters, but it had yet to attune to taking to greater heights. "Look, it's drawing something now. Like that other party game,".
Terry admired Claudia's optimism. Viren however couldn't take it anymore. "I am beginning to think that Aaravos is toying with us,".
"How dare you insult our father," Castor warned.
With its claws, the Being traced a triangle and a strange symbol into the dirt. "There it is again!" Claudia cheered. "Lizard in a hat,".
"Lizard … in … a … hat!". Terry high-four / fived her. They laughed.
"No, that is not a lizard in a hat," Viren growled. "That's a …," he knelt to the dirt, peering closer. "It's a … dragon,".
It was now nighttime and the married couple was going nuts with being confined to their ruined hut with guards. "Are we prisoners?" Tom demanded. "For putting out a candle that would have endangered the entire camp,".
'No, these guards are a precaution'. Amaya signed, holding up a serious expression.
Lucia scoffed. "A precaution against what?" Warveth and Ethari entered. "What are they doing here?".
"People are upset with what you both have done," Warveth said. "You have no idea how much tension your callousness has caused,".
"So, they're hurt by us putting out a flame? We're the ones who were injured," Tom retorted. "We worked our hands raw for these elves and look at what they've done to us!". Amaya eyed their injuries with sad eyes.
"They repaid our hard work by burning my hands and scratching my husband," Lucia ranted. "That monstrous dragon could have killed,".
"That dragon was protecting his heartbroken masters," Ethari explained but still they refused to accept any responsibility for their behaviour.
"That does it. We're going back to our tent. And we don't need protection," Tom stood up but Amaya gently pushed him back down.
You should stay here. You both might not be safe.
Lucia became scared all of a sudden. "What's gonna happen to us?".
"Queen Janai will decide," Warveth announced.
She was beginning to panic. "Is she gonna execute us?".
"I don't think she will. But if you two want forgiveness, you need to apologise to Yonnis and Sunus and take responsibility,".
" 'Apologise' Take responsibility? They're the ones who hurt us. And that dragon could have killed me," Tom shouted.
"This is what happens when you disrespect other people's customs and anger their dragons,". Ethari's defence sent Tom's fist flying at him but Amaya blocked him.
That's enough now. She sighed. We must leave this matter to the queen now. Don't leave this tent, you two. As she left with her translator and the elves, Tom cradled his wife protectively. She was scared now.
That's another chapter done. What did you all think? And (spoiler alert) Tua will be coming in the next chapter. Aside from the trials in the episodes, what other ones would you guys like to see? Please let me know in your reviews. I hope you're all enjoying it so far. And I hope you all look forward to Tua teaching Carol about the Earth Arcanum.
See you later