Hair spun from the moon itself laid sprawled across the thousands of grass-blades that covered the top of the mountain.

Aria watched, enthralled by the rise of and fall of Elvin's chest as he slumbered. He looked so peaceful, sprawled bare under the moonlit sky. A slight smile decorated his handsome sunkissed face. One that hinted at the pleasure he had experienced tonight.

Aria desperately wanted to run her slender fingers through those soft strands of hair— down those Mahart tattoos that marked his sculpted chest. But one final touch would not be enough... it would never be enough.

She could spend eternity in his arms and still crave more.

Aria dared not brush her lips against his cheeks, the fear that he would startle and wake too real in her heart. It was better this way. No need to see betrayal twist and taint his face.... She couldn't bear that being the last memory of him.

A trail of tears stained her rosy cheeks. She bit her lips, tasting iron in her tongue.

She imagined laying back down against his warm skin. Smiling as his thundering eyes opened full of passion and his lips instantly attacked her lips... her neck. She envisioned staying and the future that could be. She would engrave that figment of hope and self-delusion in her mind, and she would remember how wonderful it felt. How it filled her heart so much... that she wouldn't want for anything more. She would remember that when she had nothing more.

Aria rose from the grass, ever so careful to mask the sound of her steps, just like Elora had taught her. The grass bent under her feet as she inched farther and farther away. Her numb fingers picked the discarded dress from the grass. She turned. One last look at him. At the fae prince she had fallen in love with.

She meant her words, no matter where she was, her heart would always be with him.

She stepped away, and her heart shattered into a thousand pieces as she walked away.

Forever.

The moon slept at the peak of the night sky, illuminating Aria's journey through the dark and lonesome forest. Her fractured heart beat loud against her chest at every break of a branch and unknown howl in the night.

She stayed tight against the rough barks of the massive redwood trees, taking refuge under their large canopy. 'Just go north-west,' she chanted in her head. She only prayed she did not run into any scouts. She had no weapons... and her power; if she used it, Elvin would sense her.

That mysterious bond that lingered between them meant she will forever suppress her powers. She looked at her fingers and thought to summon the light she commanded. Would he be furious or relieved to feel her? Would he welcome her into his arms?

Pressure filled her chest as her heart twisted. She could feel every lingering brush of Elvin's rough hands, kiss of his lips, and thrust of his... Aria shook her head, rustic hair waved violently against the wind. She needed to focus. There was no point in dwelling on what wasn't possible.

Aria's feet dragged heavily against the ground. This was for her sister. Everything was worth protecting Lily, even her own happiness. Her mind could never rest if something happened to her. Her light.

Moisture touched the back of Aria's tongue as she breathed. 'A nearby river?' She must be nearing the edge.

"HALT!"

The wind swooshed as a green and gold figure plummeted from the treetops, landing harshly on the rough ground. A dark-haired male fae stood in light scout gear, deadly pitch-black eyes locked on Aria. His sword sliced across the air as he stood battle-ready — a silent warning not to misstep. "You have made a mistake, human, walking into fae territory. Kneel, and I will make this painless."

Aria's legs trembled as she took a single step back.

The scout was tall and thin. Everything about his form screamed agile and fast. Aria would not be able to outrun him, not with her tired and throbbing legs. She needed to lower his deadly intent. "The king would be outraged if you killed his valuable prisoner."

The soldier straightened, dark eyes narrowing. "You are the human that has been residing in the palace?"

"The one and only."

He pointed the sharp edge of his sword forward. "You get one chance to prove it, do not waste my time, human." He spat out the last word like it burned his tongue.

A plan formed in Aria's brain. "Do you know why I was brought into the kingdom? My dark seal?"

"I have heard the rumors."

Her hand reached behind her neck slowly. The soldier tensed, hand tightening over the hilt of his blade.

"Down your guard." Aria grasped her tangled hair into a fist and pulled it up, baring her neck. "Take a look for yourself."

The soldier stepped forward, pausing for any sudden movement. Caramel eyes stayed glued on the approaching scout. When he was but arms reach away, she looked away and relaxed her shoulders, laying the trap.

She listened. The soil softly ground under the weight of his leather boots. The blades of grass bounced against each other, rippling under the sole of her feet. His breath brushed her neck.

Aria dropped. Her leg swapped against the grass violently. Drops of water and broken grass needles levitated in the air, broken by the speed of her feet. The soldier hit the ground, flat back. The air ripped from his lungs as he gasped out.

Eyes locked, declaring all-out war.

Aria and the soldier clawed against the muddied ground, lunging in unison for the sharp blade. A hand gripped Aria's leg, yanking her back. She graded against the grass as she struggled to crawl away. She turned. Full force, she kicked the soldier in the face. His nose cracked and blood spilled as his nails buried into her leg. He twisted his hand and her ankle with it. Aria cried out in pain as he forced her on her stomach, his weight pressing down on her back.

"Not bad for a human." He spitted blood next to her face.

Wine woven ropes tightened around Aria's wrist as he tried to subdue her. There was no other way. Her hand grasped his wrist. Needles began to prick her fingertips as wild powers answered her summoning call. Pure energy surged rip her veins, and flooded out as burning light.

A flood of emotions joined with her own. Betrayal. Confusion. Anger. But most of all, longing. Aria where ar--

Her powers receded and the bond snapped close.

"AHHH!" the soldier screamed out in agony. He stumbled back, pitch-black eyes snapped open as he gripped the burned hand in pain.

Aria scurried to her feet. "I am sorry," she whispered to the contorting soldier as she ran.

Aria swapped the fallen sword from the muddied grass and ran into the heavy woods. Leather boots hit the ground harshly, sending vibrations through the forest as the soldiers ran to try to catch her.

She broke through the wall of green leaves, exciting the forest edge. Her heart leaped into her throat. The brown ground extended for a few yards before sharply dipping into a river. It's currents, wild.

She stabbed her feed against the ground. The momentum lunged her forwards Her body rolled against pebbled, damped dirt. She stabbed the slender sword into the ground, slicing through the amorphous soil. She stopped, head leaning over the edge. Her eyes were wide as she watched the tremulous waters with relief.

Her legs shook as she stood as pain shot up her limbs. The long tread across the forest finally started to wear down on her feet.

She looked across the raging water. The hidden swamp. Just past it was Lord Lathik's castle. Her fate loomed over her head the closer she got.

Branches cracked and leave ruffled behind her. It won't be long before the soldier would catch her. She needed to cross the river. 'But how?'

There was always fighting, but she didn't wish to harm him further. Not with this power she didn't know how to control. She grasped the hem of her dress and ripped it. The threads broke into a single long leash, and she strapped the cloth tight around the sword's handle. She swung the sword behind her back and fastened it to her torso.

Aria walked back, just by the tree's edge. She tugged on the knot, testing its hold.

The heel of her feet dug into the edge of the cliff and she lunged forward. She dove headfirst into the torturous cold waters. The river currents ripped across her body, trying to drag her under. She swung her arms, defying the water's deadly clutches as she inched across its massive span.

A gulp of water went down her throat as she tried to remain afloat. Her lungs burned. The world spun as the water took her in its frantic hold.

Her hand grasp for anything to keep her afloat. Aria could not perish. Not here. Not now. She needed to make it to Lily.

Aria's right hand burst through the surface and clamped down on a nearby rock. She pulled with all her might. A heavy breath escaped her lungs in relief as her head rested against the slippery rock. She looked across the rumbling water. She was halfway through. She could do it.

A flash of gold and green broke through the tree clearing as the soldier appeared from the treelines. The soldier stood, lips twisted down into an angry scowl. His hand was covered in boils and red skin -- like it had been boiled in pure energy.

He reached behind his back with his injured hand and pulled a dagger. The sharp blade twisted in his finger and as he readied. He lunged the dagger across the air. Aria snapped her right hand, the sharp edge only missing piercing her skin by the length of a thread.

She grabbed the rock again, heartbeat frantically in her chest. Her arms burned as her fingers struggled not to slip. She could not keep this up forever.

The soldier grunted and reached once more behind his back and pulled out another dagger. The blade swirled across the sky. Aria screamed as it pierced the edge of her hand. Blood dripped down the wet rock, mixing with the clear water. Her nails dug into the rock, trying to keep her anchored against the frantic waters.

He reached behind his back again.

'Think! Aria, think!' Aria banged her mind for anything... Anything that would allow... "Azetherian!" She screamed.

The dagger flew against the air, aimed straightened at her other hand.

A wall of water burst from the surface, catching the blade in its grasp. The water wall fell, merging once more with the river. A fluid and morphing figure emerged from it, taking the shape of a human. Watery eyes turned to Aria, "We meet again, little thing. Now to deal with this disturbance."

The water glistened as the nymph turned to face the shocked soldier. It rose its arms, and the water rose to its beckoning call. The nymph swung its watery limbs forward, and like a tsunami, the river spilled in a violent roar over the land. Washing the soldier away.

The water calmed near Aria, and a vortex formed around her waist. The water twisted and swirled, bringing her to the edge. The human edge.

Aria ran her fingers across the pebbled muddy ground. With shaky feet she stood, looking at the water nymph. "Thank you," she whispered through raspy breath.

"You have a knack for almost drowning, don't you."

"More like terrible luck. I'll make sure to never go swimming ever again," Aria joked dryly. It is not like she would be able to anyways.

The nymph reached forward, its body turning more masculine than before. Long water threads spilled over morphing muscles. "Well, we can't have that." A wet hand reached for her cheek, and with a swift chase, the nymph placed its lips on hers. Rustic eyes shot open in shock. She pulled back, and the nymph chuckled. "A gift."

"Hun?"

"I have strayed from my source long enough. You will see in time. Good luck with the rest of your journey, little one."

With the glistening of the day, the nymph merged with the surface of the water. The river rumbled once more like it had never been calmed.

Aria turned to face the edge of the hidden swamp. If crossing the river had not killed her, the dealy crocodile-infested swamp would. She looked at the rising sun at the horizon and turn into the darkness of the forest. All she had to do was avoid the swamp, simple. Especially when she didn't know where it was.

Green blurred with brown as the ground laid wet and covered in fallen leaves. Aria looked at herself... ripped and dirty dress. Covered head to toe in water. What a bride she would make.

The ground shifted under Aria. Rough scally skin moved against as sharp yaws opened, shoving Aria's feet off. The earth shook, mud fell, revealing a long scaly croc the size of a thick tree log.

The mountainous croc turned. Sharp razor teeth bared as it neared forward.

Aria ripped the strapped sword from her back and swung it, chopping its nuzzle off. Aria swung her sword down, piercing the croc's head through the ground. It convulsed in pain before ceasing all motion.

A reptilian growl came from behind, another giant croc swayed against the ground, sharp teeth ready to rip her apart. Aria pulled on the sword, but it was lodged in the dead croc skull.

She pulled with all her might. It sliced free. But it was too late.

A spear broke through the air, thunder rippling on its edges as it pierced the croc's upper jaw. The forced sent it hurling against a tree. The crock twisted violently, failing to free itself, the spear burrowed too far in.

Aria didn't need to turn to recognize the gold and green twist of the weapon.

"Elvin."

We are nearing the final stretch OoO!