Chapter 6: Sage

Ahhh I'm so excited! I've been looking forward to this chapter >:)

Also I listened to that song up there while writing and it makes it so much better-

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I take a deep breath in, relishing as the cool air flows into my lungs, rejuvenating them. I open my eyes as I let the breath out, looking over the side to my kingdom down below. The Harvest Season is always so beautiful, with the array of warm colors hanging on the trees and the light tans of the crops as they begin to die off as the cold sets in.

"I love The Harvest Season." I look over in front of me at Renate, who had been looking along with me.

"I do too. It's my favorite season. So pretty, not too cold, not too hot." I explain. He nods, smiling along with me. He reaches up with his small paws and adjusts the bandana wrapped around his head. It's silent for a few moments as we ride atop Viseiron.

"The signing is later today, right?" The smooth and deep yet loud voice asks in my head. Ren looks over to me as V glances over his shoulder.

"Yeah, at high sun."

"How are you feeling about it?" Ren asks, watching me shift on the dragon's broad back into a side-sit.

"A little nervous, so many things could go wrong, but mostly excited. Us and our allies will finally be at peace with Cald Feri. And naturally Cald Feri's allies will have to keep the peace to avoid war and the destruction of their alliance. All this fighting will finally come to an end in a few hours." I answer with a tired huff.

"You've done good, Sage." Ren says, putting a paw on my knee. "No one else could have kept the kingdom together and as strong as you have throughout all this."

"He's right. Any other ruler, past or present, couldn't have kept the hope in people as long as you have. But after today, you can finally rest easy knowing it's all over, right?" V comments.

"Thank you guys. And yeah, tonight maybe i can finally get a good night's rest." I say fondly.

"Maybe alongside Ivar Quentian, eh?" Ren teases, poking my shin with his elbow as he wiggles his eyebrows.

"What?! Ew! That's disgusting." I say with a laugh at the rat.

"Awe come on! It's not like everyone can't see how much time you guys have been spending with each other."

"Only because he's a ruler of an enemy kingdom that we're about to make a peace treaty with. I needed to get to know him!" I say defensively.

"You know you like him." Ren wiggles his eyebrows again, sticking his tongue out in teasing.

"He is very handsome." V chimes in.

"And strong. Very good build." Ren continues.

"Superb eyebrows." V carries on.

"Extremely hot voice-" Ren tries to say.

"Ok, ok! That's enough, guys!" I say, laughing despite myself. They laugh as well until they fall silent for a moment.

"Point is, you're an amazing ruler, married or not. We couldn't ask for a better queen." Ren finishes.

"You're so sweet." I comment before the conversation dies off, us all looking back at the kingdom below us. I listen to the sound of V's wings flapping and the wind rushing past me, thinking.

"Guys?" They make noises of acknowledgement. "What would happen if something happened to me?" I ask. I look up to them both giving me worried glances.

"Wait- I-I'm not- nothings happening, I'm just curious. No one ever told me." I try to explain myself. They both seem skeptical but let it go.

"Well, after the announcement to the people there would be a week-long mourning period where everyone would be off work and stay home, only coming out for your funeral service. After that Liam would be appointed King and he would take over ruling like normal, unless he wouldn't be able to for some reason." Ren explains.

"What would happen then? If Liam couldn't take charge?" I ask.

"There would most likely be a fight for the throne among the knights and court members, and if someone didn't obtain it we would probably either be combined into our allies' kingdoms or be overtaken by another." V says, thinking about it for a moment. I'm silent for a few moments as they keep glancing at my stoic face.

"If in that situation, which I know is very unlikely to happen, can you guys...I want you guys to rule as joint Kings." I say hesitantly. "Of course only if you would want to."

"Sage...there's never been a King Or Queen that has been anything other than a human." Ren says.

"Well you can be the first." I say to the two of them.

"I guess it's not impossible, just...different." V explains further.

"Change is good. And plus, the people know you two. Trust you guys as their protectors. I'm sure there would be no problem if you took over ruling." I say.

"Fine. If in that obscure situation that most definitely will probably not happen, we would take up ruling together. Right?" Ren says with a sigh.

"Right. But only in that obscure, definitely not likely to happen circumstance." V confirms.

"Thank you two. I know this is really out of the blue but you guys are the only ones I trust enough apart from Liam. It makes me feel better." I confess.

"Of course, Sage. Anything for you." Ren says.

"Yeah." I look back over to the kingdom I rule. To the kingdom I protect. "Anything."

~

The peace treaty went as smoothly as it could have. With Liam at my side, Ren at the other side of the room and V laying just inside the wide doors to the balcony, I gave my speech about unity and all the works, then signed the large parchment. Ivar had walked up, bowed to me, I returned the bow, then took the pen and signed his name. Person after person walked up to sign, both from my and Ivar's kingdoms. Even V had to sign, which was just him drawing the letter V with the point of one of his large claws.

It was all so surreal. New Eladea was finally at peace. It felt so freeing.

In celebration, I had invited Ivar to my quarters for some drinks after the signing. Now I sat at my desk, doing some final paperwork waiting for his arrival. I jump as a knock sounds on the door.

"Come in!" I shout to the person. The wooden door swings open and in comes the blonde himself.

"Hey!" He says informally.

"Hey!" I reply, moving to stand. He holds up a bottle.

"I brought some red wine some of my soldiers brought from home. It's the finest in the whole world." He explains.

"Wow! Red wine's actually my favorite. I'll get the glasses." I go to move towards a counter in the back corner of my room.

"Actually, I'm allergic to grapes. Just bought it for you." He laughs.

"Oh, well, good thing I have a stash of mead then, right? Unless you're allergic to that too."

"Oh, no, mead's fine." He says, putting the bottle on the table. I return with two cups and a pitcher of mead. I pour the mead into one cup, and uncork the wine and pour into my cup. I offer the mead to him and he gladly takes it.

"To peace." I say, raising my cup. He looks at me for a moment, his eyes squinting long before his smile.

"To...peace." He replies, clinking his glass on mine.

I bring the cup to my lips and tilt it, bringing the red liquid up to my lips. It tastes sweet but with an ample tinnin to balance it out. As I bring the cup back down I catch him eyeing me as he lowers his cup as well, probably waiting to see what I think of it.

"Oh it's very good." I reply, taking another large sip. He doesn't taste any more of the mead. He sets his cup down, leaning against the table. In only two gulps I down the cup, licking my lips to savor the taste.

"Say, Sage, you know we're building our palace at the moment, right?" I nod, suddenly feeling slightly tired. Must be the events of the day catching up to me.

"Well, where would you say would be the best place to build a vault, a place to keep all valuables." He asks.

"W-well uhm we ha- I mean I think the best place is in the middle of the castle in the basement, allowing for ample security and the opportunity to shut off all entrances to it." I say, slurring my words slightly. Am I really this light a weight?

"Interesting. Thank you for your help." He says as my hand grabs the edge of the table trying to steady myself.

"Oh, Sage, you don't look so good." He says. Something in his voice changed. It's colder...more sincester.

"I-I...I'm j-just tired is all." I stutter out, my mouth seeming to be too tired to work properly. Since when was it this hard to breathe?

"You know, Sage Emmerson, my father visited this castle once." He begins, walking towards me. My arms feel so sluggish. "It was to meet the all powerful King Tempus the Morbid. A true ruler. My father was going to be his right hand man. Before some little girl had to come along and kill him to take the throne as a false queen. A commoner, sitting on the throne of all Eladea. How crazy is that?" He stands above me, glowering down at me.

"Wh-what d-did...y-you do?" I barely slur out.

"I merely finished what King Tempus started all those years ago. On Doomsday. The final battle, you remember it? Oh of course you do, you were there." He says teasingly. I come to a realization. The wine. Oh god...how could I have been so stupid. My arms shake as I try to hold myself up on the table, my legs feel like jelly.

"You see, you pretty little thing," He brings a hand up and caresses my cheek, running a thumb over my lips. He pulls my bottom one down, letting it go with a pop as it goes back into place alongside my top one. I want to spit, shout, punch, do anything but it's impossible. Every muscle in my body seems as if it's asleep, unable to function. "I don't think you should be queen. You're just a commoner, a fake ruler that has manipulated the people into following you."

He takes his hand from my cheek, making a show of pushing my chest slightly. But it's enough. My limbs finally give out, my elbows and knees buckling. I fall, my head slamming on the wooden table with a sickening crack. I land on the stone floor, my whole body screaming in agony as pain erupts from the back of my head. I'm on my side, facing my window. My eyelids seem to have been the last thing to be affected, but even now they're getting heavy.

"You know, planning to take over a kingdom is so much work. That's why I had to get close to you, to gain knowledge of your kingdom and how it works. But then, once the time came, I had to make sure you'd be out of the picture. I could stab you, but no, you're too handy with that sword of yours. I could shoot you with an arrow, make a trap. No, that's not painful enough, too quickly. Ah! I know, I could poison you. And it just so happens the queen herself has invited me to drinks in her own, isolated quarters where no one will interrupt. Perfect." He explains from behind me. No, no, no, this can't be happening. I can hear his footsteps as he walks around me.

"Killing you in a slow and painful way was of topmost priority." His feet come into view as he touches my chin with the tip of his boot, tilting my head to look up at his cold, blue eyes. "And I can make sure of that." He says before letting go of my face, my limp head falling back to stare at my curtains. I watch with heavy eyes as he makes his way to the fabric, reaching up and pulling them back with a dramatic flare. The receding sunlight streams into the room, blinding me for a moment.

My eyes widen at the view from my window. Soldiers clad in black armor stream through the streets, hundreds of them. They knock at the gates, a sickening slam echoing through the castle as the metal gates break and swing open, allowing passage for the enemy knights straight into the castle. The knights won't be ready. They won't be prepared. V, where's V? Why hasn't he sounded the alarm already? And Liam? He'll be so frazzled. How will they know where I am? Liam's not ready to lead. No, goddesses this can't be happening. Not now. Not after all we've been through. Please, don't. No no no no no!

"Take a good look, your majesty." He turns and crouches so his face comes into focus. It sounds as if he's speaking through water. "Because the falling of New Eladea is going to be the last thing you'll ever see." His sickly smooth voice says. He stands up watching me as my eyes grow heavier. I feel him spit onto my face, the warm saliva rolling down my cheek. My eyes finally close as my strength gives out, the pain in my head magnifying.

This is my fault. It's all my fault. If I hadn't invited Ivar into New Eladea. If I hadn't told him the things I did. If I hadn't gotten so comfortable. If I had kept my guard up. If I hadn't arranged for the peace treaty at all. So many things I did wrong. So many reasons to blame me. They're all going to be killed. The townspeople, the knights, Ren, V, Liam. All of them are going to be murdered or captured and tortured. And it's all my fault. How could I have been so stupid? So blatantly oblivious to being manipulated into telling my deepest and closest kept secrets. How could I have been so naive to sympathize with the son of a maniac. How could I have been so ignorant? Goddesses...Liam, Ren, V, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

"Go to hell you arrogant bastard." I barely make out Ivar growl before my hearing shuts out, plunging me into total solitude. My limbs one by one go numb until I can barely feel anything. I can feel my very soul collecting at my chest, as if waiting at a door to open so it can be free of its flesh prison. Is that what those dancing gold orbs were that floated from Lance's chest to the sky that night? Was it his soul?

Oh, Lance...please forgive me, for I wasted the sacrifice you made. I was careless with the life you gave me. I threw away the second chance you allowed me to have. You died so I could have a chance at life, and here I am, dying a mere six years later. I am so sorry, love...forgive me...

Those are my last thoughts as all feeling is finally stripped away and I'm plunged into the silent solitude of unconsciousness.

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Word count: 2690

...please don't kill me. I beg of you.

Anywayyy now that you've gotten your anger out on my previous sentence how we feeling? Apart from the obvious. Any theories and what's to come next? How V, Ren and Liam will handle this invasion? I'd love to hear them all!

Again, please don't be too mad. I promise I'll make this chapter worth your while.

Cya next week!