Song of the chapter - Now That We're Dead by Metallica

Claec lay in the bed, fur lined blanket covering her body in the early morning hour. She had turned over towards what she thought would be a warm companion, but found a cold mattress instead. Her stomach clenched with worry, wondering where Argider had gone, knowing that this would happen, sooner or later.

The past months had been like a dream. Her heart soared every time she thought of him, of their passion and love. Truly, her heart had been his from the moment she saw him, there was a pull like no other she had ever felt. It was stronger than the Starlight that coursed through her system. She thanked whoever had gifted her with her sight, that being what had brought them together in the first place.

Argider had felt it too, he told her later, after they had been together a while.

"I knew first." He had teased her. They had spent a lazy morning in bed, holding one another and talking about their dreams of the future.

"Not possible," Claec told him, "I was like a lost puppy even before you spoke. And once you had, there would never be anyone else for me."

He had turned to her, pulling her close and looking deeply into her eyes, "Our love is powerful, Claec. This is like no other, and together we can do great things." He kissed her, putting every feeling from his heart into the touch of their lips. "There is something strong stirring here, do you feel it?"

Unable to find her voice, she simply nodded her agreement. It frightened her, the strength of the need she had for him, and she worried about what would happen if the others suspected.

"Please, be careful. I don't know what I would do if I lost you." She had pleaded, convincing him to keep their relationship a secret.

"Of course, my love. I cannot lose you either. You are my other half, there is no life without you." Argider assured her, pulling her into his embrace.

They had stayed away from the other Seers, not wanting their obvious passion to be discovered. Watchers had been avoided as well, although from time to time it was necessary for Argider to report to the Captain.

However, their attempts at secrecy could only last so long. A chance encounter with another group of Watchers was what finally let the rest know of their forbidden relationship. And just as Argider had predicted, he was removed from her protection, taken from her. There was a protocol which must be followed, Watchers were protectors, not romantic partners. The lines had been blurred, so a separation was required of them.

Agony like none she had ever experienced engulfed Claec. She was unable to see Starlight for a time, her grief was so strong. All she wanted was to have him back, Starlight be damned. The Ferlands had more than enough Seers to do the necessary work. She would leave it to the rest, just so she could be with him.

Months went by without word from Argider. The Watchers assigned to her continued to change, keeping her from growing too close, she assumed. That was the typical method anyway. But Argider had convinced the Captain early on that she needed a different type of watching, her powers greater than the others. Claec needed someone who knew her patterns, her ways, in order to keep a closer eye on her.

The Captain agreed and the two were able to keep their clandestine relationship to themselves, until they were discovered. But by then it was too late. Her heart was wrapped wholly around his and she would never be the same again.

When somehow he had found his way back to her, it was with a dark plan. They needed to convince the others that their love was necessary, not forbidden. And the only way to do that was to stifle the flow of Starlight to the land.

"You can move it to one location, you can carry it further than any other Seer. Take that Starlight, show them what you can do with it. Show them what we can do together, and this agony will end. No more secrecy, no more hiding. We will be together," he had reasoned with her.

At first, Claec was hesitant. "Will not the other Seers stop me, force the Starlight elsewhere?"

"How can they, you are the one they have already determined to be the strongest. You have the stone, use it my darling. Use it for us."

Argider had captured her face within the warmth of his strong hands, pulling her into a passionate kiss, one that melted away all of her hesitations. She responded immediately, feeling the heat from his lips, the movement of his mouth upon hers. Claec had no ability to deny him any longer.

"Yes," was all she said in response. Then spent the night showing him how much she had missed him, and needed him.

The two became outlaws of sorts, moving through the countryside and absorbing the Starlight for themselves. Argider's persuasive story of their sad tale had convinced a few Watchers to join them. Their small band then was able to turn the tide of support to their cause, many being farmers seeking fertile land for their crops. Argider made many unkept promises to those who followed.

Before long, Argider and Claec had established themselves as leaders of the Ferlands, seeking what Argider described as a less rigid system of control than the Seers had kept for generations. They took control of the northern most Ancient's castle, using the Starlight they had gathered to make the surrounding land lush and desirable, drawing Ferlish from across the land to make a journey to the newly established capital. The low lying town grew exponentially, making it a stronghold for the couple as well.

Argider had used the resentments built up over the years, and the relative ignorance about Starlight and its uses, to bring the people to his side. But it had been deception.

He wanted the power to himself and knew that Claec was the way to that power. He told her what she wanted to hear, made himself behave like a man so in love he would do anything to be with the woman of his dreams.

It was that early morning, as Claec had woken up alone, that she finally saw him for who he was. She rose from her warm cocoon and wrapped herself with the blanket, covering the swollen belly, which carried their unborn child. Her feet carried her to the door, then down the hall. Her trembling hands worked to braid the untamed red locks, attempting to appear calmer than she felt. Claec found herself winding down the castle staircase to the depths of the servants quarters. Her heart didn't want to believe what her head was saying. She had watched for months the way the women of the castle looked at Argider, she knew he was a handsome man. But when the newest of the maids arrived, she also saw that look on his face.

At first, denial was her only response. Claec was carrying his child; he had moved stars and land to be with her. There was no possibility that he would put their love in jeopardy.

But somewhere in the depths of her heart, she knew where she would find him that morning. And opening the door to Marilie's room, her greatest fear was realized. Argider had himself wrapped around the maid.

"How could you!" she screamed at the man who had sworn his love to her.

He looked at her with no emotion. He made no excuses. Argider simply got up out of the bed, wrapped himself in his robe, and strode past where Claec stood.

That afternoon, he suited up in his warrior's armor and declared he would join their band of watchers as they traveled to shut down the beginnings of a revolution. Claec begged him to stay, to fight with her and work things out. Even in the face of humiliation, she wasn't ready to let him go. Argider refused, telling her their cause was more important, they would have time to hash things out later.

Later never came.

Something had snapped within her heart, a tether finally broken. Where heartbreak had been only moments earlier, intense anger filled her soul. She called Dunstle, the man in charge of their battle plan, instructing him to send Argider and his band of dark watchers to the frontline of the impending battle, rather than to the opposing leaders to negotiate.

"Do not inform Argider. Rather, give instructions to the lead Watcher where he should go," Claec demanded.

"Of course, your majesty," Dunstle complied.

Hours later, the consequence of her anger was delivered.

"My lady." The leader of their forces spoke as he entered her chamber, "I bear news from the battle."

Claec knew what the news would be. She had no desire to hear it, knowing her decision was the cause. However, as the self-declared Queen, she had no choice but to deal with terrible news as it came.

"Speak."

"General Argider has left our lands, given his life for our cause. Our pride in his sacrifice is unmatched."

The world spun around Claec, hearing the words spoken by the warrior. She swallowed her guilt, also laced with grief for the loss of the man who had held her heart, as he stood watching her and replied, "I appoint you now as General, Dunstle. Please advise your troops as you see fit."

Her new general saluted her, then turned and left her alone in her chambers. The grief engulfed her finally, overcoming the anger she had allowed to rule her mind, and she allowed it to consume her, body and soul. Claec retreated to her bed and didn't rise for days. She refused food and water, having lost the will to fight for their cause. Her unborn child with the man who had loved her, left her, and then died by her command, no longer claimed her heart. She couldn't bear to think of holding their baby in her arms. Love would never fill her heart again.

Some time later, as she finally gave birth to their child, a midwife tended to her. Her mother was present, but unwilling to give her comfort, never agreeing with their dark plan. It was her mother who broke the terrible news, finally sealing her heart away from the rest of the world.

"I'm so sorry my dear. But the baby has been still-born."

No expression of grief could be seen on Claec's face. No tears of heartbreak would be shed. No signs of a mourning mother would be witnessed. Claec, instead, allowed the final darkness to consume her heart and soul. Her mission was solidified; she would bring the Starlight where it belonged. She would be the dark leader that no one dared to cross. The anger, the pain and the grief would be the driving force behind the reign of the dark Queen.

〰🖤〰

I'm not sure the strength of Claec's story is portrayed here exactly as I envisioned it. I saw her relationship with Argider as toxic, him being a con artist of sorts. On the surface it's sounds like a tragic love story-Why weren't they allowed to be together? But at the same time, he wasn't willing to give up his position for her, nor was he willing for her to leave her role as Seer. Instead he wanted others to suffer, and the two of them to gain power.

Anyway, the background is now in place so that the rest of the story can continue. Next week we will arrive in Travor, discovering just how deep Claec's rule has become.

Thank you so much for reading!!! ❤️✨

Music note- this song gives me Dia De Los Muertos vibes, and I'm feeling it with this story as more of a "we're both dead inside" statement on their souls rather than their heartbeat.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]