➳ Camille

I was brought to the large meeting room. A meeting had already started, but I had taken a while to get into my uniform.

"We should be ready to attack by the start of summer. We have all spring to train," a grey haired man said from the center of the room.

I glanced down at the marble beneath my feet. White with streaks of grey swirling through it. In it, I could see my reflection.

I examined my appearance for the first time since arriving. My white hair gleamed in the shiny surface, almost like glass. It looked different though, white locks hung dirty and tangled around my face. My blue eyes had lost their spark. My shoulders sagged in the black and blue unisex uniform I'd been forced into.

A sigh escaped my chapped lips. I tried to look deeper; what was good? Where the uniform would've hugged curves, it now met the solid muscles that carved my figure. I was stronger. That was good.

I tore my eyes away from the surface and my haggard appearance and scanned the room. Tall blue columns lined the room and around them stood a great number of people. They reminded me of people I'd seen in history class.

One man stood, hunched in the corner. Shaggy hair covering his small but sturdy body. His dark eyes squinted at the other people. The realization struck. It was not a human or elf, but a dwarf.

I found William and his father standing across the room. William stared at me, apology gleaming in his green eyes. I looked away.

A woman stood closer to me; dark hair flowing down her back and even darker eyes glanced around the room sharply, missing nothing. Her skin was tight around her face, almost unnaturally. An iron crown dug into her skull. Dark wings fluttered behind her. Thinking through the different creatures I knew, only one came to mind: phaeryee.

In the center of the room there was a circular platform made entirely of crystals. Three throne-like chairs all faced outward toward the crowd below. Only one, grey-haired man sat in the seats. He was the only person that was speaking at the moment of my arrival.

"Ah," he said, noticing me. "Our Cerevaux representation is now present. Welcome." He smiled out at the crowd. "She has already agreed to join the war. I hope the rest of you do as well."

I snorted, blue eyes flashing with anger. "I never agreed to this. And just because you forced me into this, it doesn't mean the rest of my country will!"

Light gasps flooded the room and tension began to fill the air, but I didn't regret what I said. I didn't lie and I wouldn't take it back.

"Cerevaux is a direct democracy. We don't have a leader. We vote on everything ourselves," I continued. "To enter the war, over half of the country would need to agree."

The man wasn't shaken. "I'll convince them, don't fret."

"Counselor Boggs," the phaeryee women said. "You will not force my people into this war."

"Asherah-" the grey-haired man started.

"Queen Asherah," she corrected, cutting him off.

Counselor Boggs huffed and shifted in his chair. "Queen Asherah, leader of the phaeryees, will you help us take back Fort Elysium from the goblins? You will get your fair share."

Queen Asherah smiled. "Ask my husband. He will have an answer. Now, please someone escort me home. I have no idea how to leave this wretched place."

"No!" Counselor Boggs shouted, standing upright. "You will answer me!"

Queen Asherah kept her smile. After straightening her crown, she looked deep into Counselor Boggs' eyes. "No."

Counselor Boggs' face of anger turned to confusion. "No?"

"No. My country will not be joining your army. Don't even bother my husband. Now, please, someone get me out of here."

"Yes, yes! Please do! Get her out! We don't need you anyway," Counselor Boggs hurled his words at the phaeryee queen.

"I'll escort you. I don't want to be here anyways," I blurted out.

"Yes, go," Counselor Boggs sighed, sinking back into his chair. I smiled and walked over to Queen Asherah. "Ben and Bee, please go help them," Counselor Boggs said.

One male and one female elf hovered toward us. They quickly opened the doors and let us outside

"I'm Ben," the male elf said. He had dirty blonde hair with dull brown eyes. He wore the same uniform that everyone else was wearing. His lips were almost nonexist and pointy ears were the same shape and size as his nose. I noticed that his army boots were incredibly polished.

"And I'm Bee," the female elf said. She had strawberry blonde hair and big green eyes that stared into your soul. She was also wearing the provided uniform, but her's looked to be extra baggy. She looked like nothing more than skin and bones.

"Come now, let's go to the floating stair room," Ben said, moving forward.

Once we arrived at the floating room, Bee grabbed my hand.

"Hold tight," she said. Directly after, she jumped down. A split second later, we were no longer falling, but we were floating down softly. Right above us, Ben was holding Queen Asherah's hand as they too floated down.

Soon, we touched the ground.

"Goodbye," Ben said, beginning to float upward again. Bee stayed with us, fidgeting uncomfortably. She led us to the front exit of the building in silence.

Bee attempted at opening the door three times, not being able to hold it open the first two times. I could tell something was wrong with this elven girl.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Bee looked up at me with a smile. "I've never been better! Come now, Queen, I'll help you down the mountain. Miss, wait right here."

"Okay..." I looked around the room, guards in uniforms sat around the wall, boredom filling their features. With a short smile, Bee led Queen Asherah outside. Bee closed the door.

"Do any of you know why she is so... scared and weak?" I asked the guards. "I mean, she needs to be strong if she wants to fight. Right?"

None of the guards replied. They just kept staring at the wall as if their boredom-filled eyes were glued to it. I sighed and waited for Bee to return.

When Bee returned, boredom was practically filling my lungs.

"I'm so sorry for the wait. I just wanted to ask if the Queen got all the way down the mountain safely... Boggs would kill me if her wings gave out and she fell..." Bee mumbled. I tried to respond, but Bee was already rushing away.

I quickly followed as she led me to the floating stair room. Her hand was wet with sweat as she grabbed onto me. I wanted to rip my hand away, but it would only send me tumbling down to my death. And, honestly, there were worse things than a sweaty hand.

Bee opened the doors to the meeting room quickly and quietly. She creeped inside, seeming to want me to do the same. I raised my eyebrow in confusion. Why couldn't we just walk inside?

I found my answer a moment later when I foolishly threw open the door and walked inside.

"Bee? Why is Camille so late?" Counselor Boggs asked angrily, cutting himself off from the war plans he was previously discussing.

Bee straightened herself up, no longer crouching down, but her head was still down. "I'm sorry. It took a bit longer than I-"

"Ben was back at a reasonable time, but you took both Camille's time and my time! I'm not sure if I should forgive you..."

"No! Please. I can't go back," Bee pleaded. "I have no food, no family... I have nothing there. I'll try harder."

"It's not her fault. I needed to use the bathroom. That's why I'm late," I said.

Bee looked at me thankfully, but Counselor Boggs didn't take it. His face twisted with something that made him incredibly punchable.

"I don't care," he snapped. "You should have told her to hold it, Bee. You know this. I'm done with you. I don't care how powerful you are! Get back to Skog where garbage like you belongs!"

I watched in horror as Bee, tears spilling over her cheeks, was carried out of the room by two elven guards.

Of course. She was from Skog and was trying to earn her place in Grand Olea.

Counselor Boggs had made a mistake... he should have let her take her place. Bee was powerful, I knew that much. I had seen her fly.

A new hatred of Counselor Boggs burned inside me. How could he be so cold? Why was he so war-bent? I hated him more for the reason that he didn't give Bee another chance.

In my dream that night, I dreamt that he died a sudden and violent death.

Unfortunately, all my dreams come true.