Chapter 36: Liam's POV

Sorry its been a minute-

ANYWAYS-

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The moment we land a mob forms around us. They cheer, they cry, they scream, they laugh and clap. I feel myself being brought to tears just seeing the tired faces of my people, still alive. They all look like they haven't gotten sleep in weeks and haven't eaten in days, but most importantly they look alive. Hands come out of the crowd to stroke Amber and kids climb on parents shoulders to get a glimpse of the returning heroes. When me, Kate, and Reid slide off of the dragons back I get engulfed in hugs from people I've never talked to before. Its the first time in months the magnitude of our situation is lifted off my shoulders and for once I can just be. Here, with my people, being the Prince I always wanted to be.

Finally, I break through the crowd enough to see standing a few paces away, my friends. Renate is the first to react. He breaks from his mate's hold and runs on all-fours towards me. I open my arms and invite him into an embrace. He leaps forward and lands against my chest. I squeeze him so tight I think I might actually hurt him, but he only laughs and squeezes me back. I find myself holding back tears as I wrench my eyes shut, letting my joy overcome me from seeing my old friend again. Eventually I let the furry animal go and placed him back on the ground where his mate, Elric, trots up to greet me.

I look to my left to see Reid hugging Terrona, who spots me and gives me a warm, motherly smile. To my right Amber bounds up to her family, her little siblings tackling her before she can get very far. Myshica runs forward in what feels like earth-shattering leaps and meets Amber on the ground, nuzzling her eldest daughter. Viserion follows closely behind, laughing as their family has a private conversation in their minds.

"You made it!" Ren says, laughing. "You actually made it!" I laugh too, ruffling up the fur on Elric's head.

"I know! I didn't think we were going to for a minute." I admit. My smile falters when Ren tries to take a step forward and stumbles, Elric catching his arm to steady him.

"Ren..are you ok?" I ask worriedly, offering my hand to the little knight. And that's when I see it. His tail. Almost the entire thing is sheared off, the tip wrapped tightly in white bandages. I feel myself gasp. His tail is his pride and joy! The thing that lets him do all the crazy stunts he does and climb in impossible areas and jump from place to place. It's what helps him stand like a human and fight like a person too. He follows my eyes and a small smile appears on his face.

"Oh, right. That. It's fine, Liam. Just a casualty from a fight with some of Ivar's knights. It's already almost healed." His husband gives a concerned glance his way.

"But- I mean can you fight? Can you walk? Climb? That shouldn't just be a 'casualty'. I'm so sorry. That must be like losing a limb." I feel my heart break for the little rat.

"Yes, yes. I can do everything I could before, it just took a little practice. It's just that sometimes I forget about it and try to lean my weight on it just to find it not there. I'll be fine." The way he says it makes it obvious that this topic is over, so I decide to leave it and instead leave my worries unspoken.

Terrona makes her way over and I hug my sister's old servant and friend. V moves over to us and he lowers his head to my level so I can hug his neck.

"You've grown." He says, his familiar baritone voice filling my head.

"V, it's only been a few months. And plus, I'm an adult, I can't grow.'' I smile.

"There are other ways to grow than just physically," He says. Since when did he get all illusive and wise? Mysh walks up and lets me hug her too, and finally the triplets come barreling forward.

The first grabs onto my leg, then the next latches onto the other and finally the third slams into my chest. Never had I ever been so happy to fall on my back. Their laughter fills my head as they crawl all over me, chanting "Uncle Liam! Uncle Liam!" until finally their parents gently shepherd them off me.

"Good to see you all. I'm so glad everyone's alright. But isn't there another matter to attend to?" I ask after standing, reaching into my jacket pocket and producing the delicate flower. Their faces fall ever so slightly, but they nod.

They lead me through the semi-permanent camp that seems to be buzzing with life. Word had spread that we returned and now the people who hadn't greeted me when we landed were now coming to see me as I walked by. I try to recognize as many people as possible, but it's impossible to see them all. The smoking campfires are abandoned, the small tents left empty and the various chores and games left unattended as they line a path to the infirmary tent, all craning to get a glimpse of me. I hate how much they idolize me but...they need hope, right? What was it that Sage used to say? "Being royalty doesn't just mean ruling the people, but being their face of hope and goodness." How did she ever handle it? And she didn't even have any training like I did!

Eventually, we find the tent we had been looking for, and Ren, who had been leading me, steps off to the side, Elric in toe. Terrona quietly peels back the flap to let me in, the dragons hanging back. I silently step through, taking a deep breath and fingering the soft petals of the flower.

The physician looks up from her work and her eyebrows rise up her forehead. She hurries over to me, the elder woman taking the plant from my hands without a word. She practically runs back to her desk and immediately starts work on what I can only assume to be the antidote.

While she does that I move over to the only occupied cot on the floor. The burn victims that had previously been here when I left all vanished, hopefully they recovered and could return to their own tents. My hands shaking, I kneel next to her, my eyes filling with tears when I see how pale she is. She almost looks like a ghost, her eyes sunken in and her arms having lost all the muscle that was previously there. Sweat lines her forehead and for a moment I think she isn't breathing, but then I see her chest expand ever so slightly, the sound hollow and weak. I grab her hand just to feel how cold it is.

"You can cure her, right?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"Lets hope it isn't too late." The physician says, not looking up. "If she doesn't wake up in two hours after I give her this..." She walks over and kneels on the other side of Sage, a bowl in her hands with a dark blue, almost black liquid in it. "Well, let's just say we might have a crowning ceremony when we get our castle back." She says, glancing up at me. So I either get to talk to my sister in two hours, tell her all the things that happened, tell her I love her, hug her, cry with her, or...she's dead. I shake off the thought.

"Liam?" Renate calls from the opening to the tent. I turn to look at him. "We have a problem. Scouts say Ivar seems to be amassing some sort of army? It's possible he found our location." I glance back at the physician and then down to Sage. I squeeze her hand and bend down to kiss her forehead.

"Don't worry, Ace. I'll keep them safe while you recover. Don't worry about anything, it'll all be fine. I'll see you in a couple of hours, ok? I love you." I smile and stand, turning to leave the tent.

Outside all of my friends are gathered along with a scout, who gives me the update. Ivar was seen with a large mass of troops, all in formation, all heading our way. This is most definitely an attack. I search my friends' faces and am startled to see a new one. A boy, a few years younger than me, with blonde hair and an innocent face.

"Xandere, sir." He says when he sees me looking at him. He extends his hand. "I used to be a soldier for Ivar, but now I help you guys." He smiles. I nod and take his hand.

"Do you guys trust him?" I ask the others. They say they do. "Alright, then I trust you. Welcome."

I smile back at him as Ren begins to give me a rundown of all the supplies we have. V talks about possible defensive strategies, and Xandere explains what Ivar's typical battle strategies are when going into fights. As we strategize I lean heavily on Ren, and surprisingly Reid, to give me advice on what the best plan is. I've never been particularly gifted in the area of battle, so the battle-hardened warrior and the brainiac do most of the heavy lifting. Eventually, we come up with a plan of action. It doesn't fill me with the most excitement, but its the best course of action we can take. We don't have a lot of options, especially if we want our home back.

Within half an hour we know what has to be done, and I ask all of my friends to fan out and collect the people. All of them, because I want to talk to them. They deserve to know what's happening.

Only a few minutes later hundreds of people stand in the small "square" they had made in their time here. I stand on V's back so everyone can get a clear view of me. Myschica stands to his left, and Amber to his right. The rats are perched on Mysch, and Reid and Kate stand on V with me. I glance at them, and they smile, giving me all the support I need. Out in the crowd I see many faces I recognize but also those I don't. Kids are perched on top of shoulders and carried in arms, people whisper to each other and every single one is a sight to behold. I also notice at the very back a few animals. I glance at Ren who follows my gaze and gives me a thumbs up. I guess he brought his own friends to the party.

"Go get em." Kate mutters under her breath and I smile. I pat V and he gives out a small roar to quiet the large crowd and immediately they go silent.

"People of New Eladea!" He projects into everyone's mind. "Your Prince has returned, and wishes to speak with you." He then turns his head to me, giving me the floor. I smile and put a hand against his neck, gripping one of his spines with the other.

"My people!" I begin, my voice sounding a big shaky, but I shrug it off. "My friends, my servants, protectors, my family. I have been gone for the past few months to find a rare plant that could cure our Queen of the poison she has been fighting. I also left to administer help from our friends in Willow Isle. But it seems while I was gone you all have been suffering, with no home, no food, and no hope. I am greatly sorry that you had to endure this and I wish beyond reason that I could have prevented this from happening. But, my friends, I fear you cannot rest yet." My voice carries over the people, booming through the forest at a volume I didn't even know I possessed.

"Ivar has been scheming. He's been planning and preparing for a large scale attack, intended to finally wipe us out. His troops are on the move as we speak. We must act if we wish to survive. I am not demanding you fight. I am not ordering you as your Prince to take up a sword and kill in my name. I am asking you, as your friend and protector, what you would want to do. You all are the ones with the families. You all are the ones that have already lost so much to Ivar. We could run, if you so choose. We could run and find a new place to call home, and never look back. We would never have to suffer at Ivar's hand again. Willow Isle has offered us a place there, a new home. A safer home.

"Or, we could fight. We could pick up sticks and swords and rocks and whatever else we can find and finally stop Ivar in his tracks. We can take back our destroyed and forsaken home, the one he disrespected and spit upon. We can avenge all those we have lost and finally rid the world of a great evil.

"But it is not my decision. It is yours. I will support you in either one, and you must know that I will respect you no matter what you decide. There is no wrong answer, no punishment. You are free to speak your mind, and to fight for what you think is best for your family and country. So, my friends, I ask you, what do you think is the best course of action for us, as a country, and as a people?" As soon as I finish my speech I feel like collapsing, my legs starting to shake, but Reid puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder that grounds me. I hope beyond hope they choose the option we came to the conclusion would be the best one, but I cannot make the choice for them.

Its silent for many moments before the first brave soul speaks up.

"I say we fight! We've suffered here long enough. Its time Ivar pays!" A man from the middle of the crowd calls.

"I agree! It's time we take back control of our destinies." One of the few remaining knights yells out.

"Yeah! Let's take the fight to em!" Another says. "Avenge the fallen!" A fourth screams. "Take our home back!"

More and more voices rise up, all chanting the same thing. They want to fight. I take a deep breath. I couldn't be more proud.

I smile so wide my cheeks hurt and I feel like laughing, looking down at my people finally feeling a spark of hope after so long of living in the dark. But then my smile falls. This means war. And at the end of it, how many people will be left to actually claim the land we win back? Will anyone live to see the light of the new day? I feel a hand on my elbow and I look over to see Kate standing there.

"That was surprisingly competent." She tries for a joke as the voices start to settle. "We're making the right choice here, Liam." She says when she notices I don't return her smile.

"Then why doesn't it feel like it?" I ask her in a low voice before turning back to my people. "Right then! I hear your cry for a fight, and so a fight we will have! There is a lot to be done before Ivar's troops get here, so we must move quickly. If you are not cleared from the physician to fight then obviously you are forbidden to do so, as well as any person younger than 18. Every child under the age of 10 must have at least one parent stay back to care for them. Other than that, everyone is free to fight, though you don't have to. If you wish to stay back, that is completely understandable and there is no shame on you for doing so. Now, with that said, please report to me, General Renate, or Viserion to get your assignment. For New Eladea!" I shout, touching the tips of three fingers from both hands above my head.

"For New Eladea!" The crowd cries, returning the gesture. I take a deep breath and nod down at them, their eye lit up with a fire that looks as if it can't be extinguished. But I can't help but have this gnawing sense of doom.

What was it that the fates had said? One of my friends won't make it through the battle. Kate, Ried, Amber or me won't live to see us win. They need to live. They can't die. I'm the useless one, I'm the pacifist that hates the sight of blood so much I almost cringe at the slightest drop. Kate can fight, Ried can strategize, and we need as many dragons as possible. Sage will live, so they don't need me. The one to die must be me. It must. I can't imagine a world where they died in a battle I ordered to happen. I have to make sure they survive.

I have to make sure they all survive.

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Word count: 2973

A battle is on the horizon! Oh whatever will happen!! Any predictions?? I would just love to hear them.

Anyways, see you guys next week