The color of Divinity I - The delusion of reality

The color of Divinity
By Ellnyon

First and foremost, I want to deeply thank all my reviewers. You’re amazing! I really, really love you. Your feedback and encouragement flatters and inspires me like nothing else in the world. This story is alive mainly because of you. So, thank you so much for your kind words and your patience. I truly hope not to disappoint you.

I would like to extend my thanks also to all my readers, especially those who rate. I can’t thank you all enough. As always, I honestly hope you enjoy reading the new chapter. If you can spare the time, please leave me a word or two, I greatly appreciate it. Once again, thank you!

YACUMO: Thank you so much for your great feedback. I’m so glad you like the new developments. About Iadden being bigger, I’m getting there. This story’s Part I is almost over. Part II takes place ten years after the current events so Iadden will be 19 already. Hopefully, it won’t take me more than two more chapters or so to get to it… Anyway, hope you keep liking and following my work. Once again, thanks for the great feedback. Kisses!

aki: Oh! I can’t express how flattened and blissfully happy your words make me feel! They encourage me greatly. I’m really happy you like my story that much. Haha, you know, I was very indecisive between the peaceful kiss and Iadden catching them. It would have been funny to see Iadden’s reaction. But then I decided he shouldn’t be aware of their physical closeness just yet. Meanea and Edyane needed to sort out their feelings before anything else and Iadden will be more shocked and hurt when he witnesses their intimacy later on and learns it was his own actions that were responsible for it :) Oh, I won’t stop writing. I may take a little time to update now (because I’m in the middle of exams) but I promise you I won’t let this story ‘end up’ unfinished. Especially not when I receive amazing feedback like yours. So don’t worry about that or the length of your reviews. Long or short, I love them all. :) I just hope not to disappoint you. I really wish you keep following and appreciating this story and I deeply thank you for your kind words. Love you. Kisses!

bambi4real: First of all, I’m very grateful to you for your always amazing feedback. I’m so glad you liked the chapter. I also hate when things start changing, but unfortunately this story is moving forward, mainly due to the turns in the plot. I can’t know for sure, of course, but many more things are still going to happen and I have a good feeling you’ll like where this is going. :) About the Maguenta’s Heir. The Hero was born to be the Hero. Just the fact that Edyane has all those qualities makes of him a very probable Hero. Still, we all know he’s arrogant and too cocky, sometimes. And the other characters know of that, too. He believes he’s the Hero but can we be certain? It’s all a matter of faith. The only one with a sure answer is the dark-haired Ethen (who no one has ever seen) and we all know who he chose. So, who shall we believe in? :) Besides, Edyane is not getting everything he wants, is he? About Iadden, well, he’s still in game and he’ll be very important, you’ll see. About them being adversaries, it’s definitely a possibility. Let’s just say they’ll make a little bit of the two: love and war, I mean. :) Please continue following this story and, hopefully, liking it. I wish it never disappoints you. Once more, thank you so much for your fantastic feedback. Kisses!

Phade: Oh! I deeply thank you for your kind words. I’m so pleased you liked it!! Oh, and I’m a hopeless romantic too. ;D When I started imagining that part I only meant for them to realize their feelings and how those were incompatible with their duties. But then while I was writing it, I just couldn’t resist having them share at least one kiss. Of course, we don’t know yet if that kiss was the only thing they shared that night. ;p Thank you so much for your great reviews and kind words. They make me so happy. Hope you continue liking and following my fic. Kisses!

Child of the Darkened Moon: First, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude for your encouraging reviews. You’re fantastic, really. You know, when I was posting the last chapter I was telling myself that same thing: how probably many would hate the end of it. But you are right. It’s a beginning. Their love affair would be too complicated, right now. So difficult, in fact, it would probably bring them more harm than good. They will still like each other, but maybe now that love will grow into something less troublesome and they will be able to move forward...or not. Anyway, it was the best for their countries and the loved ones they can’t afford to hurt. For now, Edyane gets the prospect of his glorious destiny. And in the future, well, let’s say he’s always been a lucky guy…:) The bittersweet kiss was not in my plans at first, but I realized when I was writing that I needed something physical to make their words seem more real. Besides I just couldn’t resist the consolation prize. :p Iadden catching them was the end I had in my head at first. It would be funny to brighten the chapter and it would be just right. However, I dismissed it because I wanted Edyane and Meanea to make this decision calmly. Also because it opens the door to a event later in the plot that I’m still considering. Eventually Iadden will learn, the hard way, how his actions/situation united those two and how jealous, shocked and hurt he can get. And speaking about Iadden, well, anything can happen. Perhaps you are effectively right. Either way, I’d love it if you kept reading and hope you continue liking my work. Thanks for your wonderful feedback and kind words. I’ll do my best not to disappoint. Kisses!

boring_neko19: Thank you so much for your great reviews. Yes, a goodbye kiss. For now. But it’s for the better. Their love would be too difficult, especially in times of war. Maybe now, they can move on without fear or anything to lose. Edyane will be versus the three of them: the Court, the Council and…Iadden. The kid may be apprehensive because of the title they labelled him with, but I don’t think he will back down from the responsibility. He won’t be happy being left behind when he thinks he’s strong enough, even though people are only trying to protect him. But Edyane has many important and clever people supporting him. And he always accomplishes his objectives. :) I know the Maguenta’s Heir thing is kind of confusing, but I mean it that way. This story is about faith. The characters also don’t know for sure who is the Hero, but they have to believe in someone. Edyane or the Sacred Ethen? Who is right? It all depends on who they believe. Haha. About the MPREG, theoretically only Meanea can get pregnant because he’s an Ethen. Edyane and Iadden are regular males, so they can’t. But Edyane with Iadden’s kid…Hahaha. It would be lots of fun!! Hope you carry on following and appreciating this story. Thanks for the amazing feedback. Kisses!

Itara: I deeply thank you for your great feedback. I’m really glad you find it interesting. Yep, Edyane deserved some serious pain. Haha. Amazingly, his ego only got bigger. Isn’t he a strange guy? Oh, you know Edyane, he always has some sort of scheme to get the things he wants. And with Quera and Athios on his side this time, he can’t fail! Hope you continue liking and following my fic. Thanks for your kind reviews, once more. Kisses!

Previously in TCD: It’s very uncommon for an Ethen to marry outside of his country. Still, Meanea Guinare, a noble Ethen came to N’Alaera to do so with its king: Fenaleos. Iadden, Meanea’s younger Eth brother, favours this marriage for their family’s sake. He’s at odds with N’Alaera’s prince, Edyane, who’s infatuated with Meanea and is against the wedding. Also Iadden’s tutor, Mieri, is plotting a way to stop the marriage so he can claim the Guinare’s heritage. If this wasn’t enough, Meya’s second prince has been meeting in secret with the Death Whisperers’ race who are about to ignite a war against the North Alliance that same week. He has promised them the life or the support of the recently found Dark-haired Ethen of the Legends, in exchange for Meya’s crown. Oblivious to this, N’Alaera continues the celebrations of the royal wedding. However, with the arrival of Meya’s first and third prince, things change. Will they finally open their eyes to the upcoming war? Will they believe Iadden, whose terrifying skills were proven in the Tournament, is the Maguenta’s Heir? Will Edyane fulfil his obligations and lead N’Alaera to war or will he stay and keep his father from marrying the man he believes he’s in love with? And Iadden? Will Edyane manage to prevent the child he has grown fond of, from going to a deadly war?

Part I
Chapter 15

He couldn’t see a thing at first, this ominous, humid, swaying mist enveloping everything around him. He wasn’t able to hear or smell anything either.

Slowly, very slowly, the air began to clear and a rotten smell overwhelmed his senses. Looking down with a feeling of dread, Midaen’niel realized he was in the middle of a scene of shocking carnage. Mutilated bodies littered the floor around his small, bare feet and the boy suppressed the urge to scream. He didn’t want to be the one to break the still deafening silence.

Closing his sapphire eyes with force, the boy willed himself to walk out of there as fast as he could. Taking a deep breath, he raised his head, determined to find a path past the fallen humans at his feet.

Reopening his eyes, he choked on putrid air and glanced quickly around him. His wide eyes filled with tears while he unconsciously covered his mouth with his small hands. Crying, he tried to scream, but no sound came out of his throat. Even his voice had abandoned him at the revolting sight he was witnessing.

The mist completely gone now, the small golden Ethen was finally able to clearly see where exactly he was standing. The field of body parts and bloodied, broken weapons was infinite on every direction. His eyes could not discern an end to it.

The nasty scent of dried blood and decomposing flesh hanged around him, contaminating the air and making it hard to breathe, while puddles of the red liquid could be found among the dead. Small rivers of the same viscous fluid travelled down from a huge mountain of bodies on top of a near hill to pool at its base and create a red lake.

Many shiny black crows and large vultures ripped flesh from the lying corpses. Finally able to hear something, now Midaen’niel only wished the silence had remained. The tearing noises were making the boy even more nauseous.

A rather large bird flew right across him, circling around him for a moment and landing seconds later right at his feet with a long croak. The frightened child merely shivered with his hands on his ears, looking at the ugly creature while large, fat tears fell freely from his eyes.

Fortunately, the vulture didn’t appear to see him, directing his attentions to a severed head a little to his right.

The twelve year-old remained frozen in place for a long time, trying hard to recover from the cruelty of what was in front, to the sides and behind him. It wasn’t easy. Even the reddish sky, filled with brown and black birds flying in circles, wasn’t helping his efforts.

Telling himself that dead people could not harm him and that the birds weren’t interested in him, Midaen’niel managed to calm down and analyse his situation.

He was in the middle of nowhere, those barren hills and valleys unknown to him. Examining better the scattered corpses he realized they were not only humans and Eths but other types of creatures, too. The blond child had seen those before in books alone.

Some were gigantic beasts with poisonous fangs and claws. Others had pointed horns, dark, decaying flesh and weapons instead of arms. Others still seemed normal muscled humans, but with white hair and tattooed skin. Death Whisperers and their magically bred creatures.

His eyes widened further and the golden child realized he was dreaming. He was dreaming of the war. As if on cue to his realization, a deep thunder broke from the cloudless sky and a flash of light blinded him for a few seconds. The small boy closed his sapphire eyes on instinct and fear.

&&&&&&&

When he dared to open them again, the scenery had changed dramatically. The barren hills and sandy valleys with scarce vegetation were still unknown to him, but the evening air smelled of dry summer and cooking food. A faint drum could be heard in the distance to his right, but the boy couldn’t care less: there was no sight of dead bodies anywhere, not even of those creepy birds. He was happy.

Breathing in relief, Midaen’niel turned to his left, following the aromas tickling his nose and saw tall columns of smoke coming from burning fires in the distance.

The extensive military camp of various grey tents had been established beyond a palisade wall of wide logs of wood sharpened at the top. Intense activity could be divined inside. Raised high, diverse colourful flags and crests could be seen as well, and it was with pride but also with some sadness that Midaen’niel identified some of them. There was no mistaking the brown flag of N’Alaera’s royalty or the gold and blue one of Meya’s. His own family crest softly swayed in the wind, the Erephine’s nobility flag right beside it. That meant his brother and Promised one were probably part of that defence force, too.

Tall wooden Watch towers had been hastily built on strategic points of the palisade to protect the improvised fort. They did their job well, giving the alert even before Midaen’niel turned to his right to happily witness the glorious appearance of the biggest army he had ever seen.

The loud drums and horns of war were clear now and they sang of triumph. They were returning from battle and they had been victorious. In front of that mass of warriors, looking very much like a conqueror, with bloodstained clothes and riding a black battle mare, the auburn-haired prince of N’Alaera strode confidently along the flattering chants of his men. A little to the prince’s left, Midaen’niel saw his pale-haired advisor. The child smiled. Even after a deadly battle the young noble didn’t appear to have a hair out of place.

Suddenly a large group of imposing knights in shining golden armours grasped his attention as they galloped from the tail of the columns of men to the front, leaving a trail of smoky dust behind them. They slowed down to talk to Edyane and the Ethen child jumped with joy.

Prince Delaen’niel and his royal guard of two-hundred men. And the commander of that guard was his most loyal friend: Midaen’niel’s beloved brother.

As if hearing his thoughts, Ryaen’ne took his helmet off, revealing tired blue eyes and a deep gash on his left eyebrow. It was oozing a lot of blood but the blond didn’t seem to notice that as he spoke to the auburn-haired prince.

Happy, but also a little worried, the golden-haired boy hurried to his brother, waving his hands in the air. It was amazing the effect the mere sight of his older brother had on the blond Ethen. It made him feel immediately safe and even forget the horrors he had seen in his previous vision.

As he neared the mass of soldiers, however, he apprehended three things.

First, they weren’t able to neither see nor hear him. It was as if he wasn’t even there, which was probably very close to the truth.

Second, not a single soldier had been spared the mark of battle, some of them so injured, they could barely keep standing.

Third, the generals and leaders of the army including his brother and the princes didn’t share the soldiers’ cheery optimism. They might have won this battle, but Midaen’niel had a feeling they weren’t winning this war...

Another thunder, another flash of light and Midaen’niel was teleported to someplace else yet again.

&&&&&&&

This time he saw himself in the corner of a strange large room. The walls were made out of logs much like the palisade walls he had seen before, only the trunks weren’t so wide. The ceiling consisted of planks of wood nailed together in an apparently rushed way while the door and the single, small window were covered with some kind of resistant cloth.

The wooden structure was dark, only two candles burning softly on top of a table in the middle of the room. Midaen’niel was also able to discern four chairs and some parchments on top of the same table. Upon closer inspection, the blond child saw that they were maps, mainly geographic ones. Some had crosses and marks made with chalk, wax or coal, while others had been drawn in haste upon blank sheets.

Heavy footsteps sounding from outside and a flickering yellow light becoming stronger through the gaps in the logs alerted Midaen’niel to the arrival of at least two men. He didn’t bother trying to hide. After all, they couldn’t see him.

The first to pass through the cloth serving as door was Edyane, silent as a tomb while carrying a large candlestick in his hands. He had discharged his armour and cape, wearing only a white linen shirt and a brown pair of pants. The auburn-haired youth had a grave look to his amber eyes and his features and manners appeared those of someone a lot older than the blond Ethen remembered. Midaen’niel couldn’t say if that was because time had effectively passed and he was foreseeing things in a somewhat far future, or if the war had had such an effect on the young human in a short span of time.

Meya’s crown prince entered after N’Alaera’s one. Delaen’niel was wearing just a simple tunic and some pants also, his long strawberry hair secure in a loose braid. Midaen’niel didn’t immediately recognize him in such a simple attire, only the prince’s always impeccable poise giving him the certainty. The deep frown on his pale brows was the only indicator that he too was worried about something.

The two princes barely had time to sit down on two of the four chairs in the room when a blond human entered the makeshift map room. The young noble hurried immediately to the table grabbing a half-buried map and started drawing crosses on the scribbled paper with a stick of coal. The human prince placed the candlestick on the table and was the first to speak.

“Where’s Rya and Fentarr?” he asked, turning to Quera.

“Fentarr is assembling the reports from the squad commanders. Rya’s getting his arm fixed.” The other human replied. It took a little while for Midaen’niel to understand Rya was his brother.

“Thank Maguenta your Royal Troop is as amazing as it is, Delaen... No, let me rephrase. Thank Maguenta RYA is as good as he is.” Edyane affirmed, looking at the blond Eth who sighed with a downcast expression. “Those bastards are targeting you. They’ve been targeting you from the very beginning. We had the confirmation, today.” The amber-eyed human concluded closing his fists in anger. Meya’s prince heaved a long sigh before he finally spoke. His voice seemed tired but his tone was fuelled by irritation.

“It’s not like I mind, if that stupid…IDIOT didn’t get hurt every time.” He uttered with a heated gesture. “Why does he always have to use his body to shield me? I can fight my own battles.” Edyane smirked softly but his amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“He’s the commander of your Royal Troop. He’d be without a job, if you were to get killed.” He said.

“Very funny.” The Eth glared at the human prince. “This can’t go on. I’m not his younger brother or cousin. I have to talk to him…” He added slowly as an afterthought.

“The question here is…” Quera started, pensive. “Why are they targeting you? It doesn’t make sense.” The other two men looked at him.

“What do you mean?” The auburn-haired human asked.

“Well, Delaen’niel leads the astonishing Eth cavalry, but even if each one of his knights counts as twenty of our soldiers, he isn’t the higher leader of the Eth army.” The Eth prince agreed with a nod.

“Our army is organized to prevail even after a deep loss. If something were to happen to me, as long as Ryaen’ne and Lnorien stay alive, we will still remain one of the major military forces of success in the North Alliance.” The blond human nodded.

“Exactly. That wouldn’t happen if we were talking about N’Alaera’s army, for example. If Edyane was killed, our defence force would break apart… It can’t be to provoke an internal crisis in your country, either. You have a brother and a cousin in safety that will succeed you in the throne if you were to be killed, but His majesty, king Fenaleos’ only son is fighting in the front and he doesn’t have any other heirs. It would make a lot more sense if they were targeting Edyane. So why are they targeting you, instead?” Quera asked, furrowing his brows in frustration.

Because none of them knew the answer, they became silent, each one lost in his own thoughts.

A grumbling baritone followed by stomping footsteps announced the approaching of yet another warrior. Surely, seconds later, the drapery to the map room was pushed aside to allow the entrance of the young Siekih lord.

“Brrrrr! Too hot during the day, too cold during the night. Shit, I hate this land!” The blond grunted, grabbing a chair and sitting down with a loud huff. He smelled of soap and medicinal herbs and his eyes still shone with the glow of healing magic. He had a small bandage in his head, but the long-sleeved linen white shirt and lain coat didn’t let them grasp the extent of the damage done to his right arm. He had most likely dressed them on purpose so they wouldn’t know and most probably worry.

“How’s your arm?” The auburn-haired human asked, anyway.

“He’ll survive.” Ryaen’ne answered with an easy smirk. Delaen’niel didn’t buy it for a second.

“You shouldn’t ride with us tomorrow. You will stay in the camp and rest for a day.” He ordered. Ryaen’ne glared at him.

“Sure, as long as you stay with me…” he remarked. Meya’s prince returned the glare and didn’t comment his disobedience.

Somehow Ryaen’ne’s defiance was growing by the day, just as the Death Whisperers’ attacks became more frequent, tricky and no less violent. The young man’s reasons were logical, if not acceptable. He was frightened. Even if such a notion seemed ridiculous regarding the impulsive Ryaen’ne who didn’t fear anything nor anyone, it was a fact Delaen’niel had started getting acquainted with.

This war was not running smoothly for them. In fact, today, for the first time after a whole month, they had achieved a real victory.

At the beginning, looking at the Alliance’s great army and well-trained knights, they had thought this conflict wouldn’t last more than two weeks. They had clearly underestimated their enemies. It had been nothing short of a miracle that they had managed to simply hold back the Death Whisperers’ first incursions on Alliance territories. The amount of soldiers who had brutally died in those fields still haunted his nightmares.

Fortunately, Maguenta had blessed them with a remarkable leader and two amazing strategists. If their army had survived in one piece the first weeks of onslaught, they owed it all to Edyane, Lnorien, Quera and, of course, the determination and loyalty of the Alliance’s warriors.

They were getting the hang of how the Death Whisperers thought only now, a month too late. But they were finally able to fight back fully and begin pushing their enemies away from the Alliance’s lands. However, with that knowledge came along the realization that the two armies were evenly matched. And the scary thought that as long as the Death Whisperers had their Zãìnea’s Supreme Wizards alive, their nightmarish ranks and beasts were unlimited in numbers and power. And those wizards could be thousands, for as much as the North Alliance knew…

The problem was that his best friend was not alarmed of what could be done to him; he was scared for his sake. The sake of his first prince. Delaen’niel knew that meant Ryaen’ne loved and respected him. And sometimes it elated and flattered him in a way he couldn’t afford to. The young Siekih lord only got upset for those he really cared for. But Meya’s prince was a terrific knight as well and he had his honour, strength, pride and reputation to maintain. He was not powerless.

Ryaen’ne worried too much. The green-eyed Eth knew that his best friend had vowed to protect his prince no matter what, but he also knew Ryaen’ne would imprudently jeopardize his own safety in order to defend him from harm. And Delaen’niel couldn’t have that. He too cared too much for his best friend to see him die because of him.

This was not the place for them to talk, but he had to speak with Ryaen’ne soon about his foolishness and insubordination. He had to make him realize his injuries and the prospect of his death were too heavy a burden for the Eth crown prince to bear.

“So, we finally won a battle, fair and square. Nearly a month into this war, it’s about time, I’d say.” Ryaen’ne commented taking hold of one of the maps in the table. He didn’t use his right hand, Delaen’niel noticed. In fact that arm was kept as unmoving as possible, even after healing magic. It was worse than he had thought.

“We’re nowhere near to winning this war, though.” Quera replied. “That supreme wizard of theirs can take fifty of our men with a single spell.”

“Did we sustain many losses, today?” Ryaen’ne asked, glancing at the blond human.

“Fentarr is still collecting the reports.” Was his answer.

“I see. What about Lnorien and Tenaii? Have they returned?” A heavy silence followed the older Eth’s words. Quera made the impossible to sound detached but his voice betrayed his worry.

“We haven’t got any news on them. It’s like they vanished into thin air.” Ryaen’ne waved his left hand and spoke in a soft tone.

“There’s no way the twelve thousand Eths of Lnorien’s infantry could vanish into thin air.” He affirmed confident. ”They’re our best fighters. Tenaii is safe, you’ll see. Trust your army’s strength.” Quera felt somewhat reassured by those words. He was about to thank the Eth when a sudden commotion outside made all of them turn their heads to the door.

The three were rising from their seats to go see what was happening when a sweaty and excited Tenaii barged in through the door with a shout.

“We did it!!!!” The other four people looked at him shocked. Tenaii stared at each face with childish joy.

“We did it!!!” he repeated waving his hands with a huge grin brightening his dark eyes. The others still didn’t understand.

“Did what? Where’s Lnorien?” Quera finally asked, trying to calm him down. Tenaii looked at him with huge eyes and a glorious smirk. Grabbing the blond human’s shoulders he replied proudly.

“Quera, we conquered Citadel Gandaria!”

“WHAT?!” The others asked in unison.

“But that’s way further to the South. That’s where our enemy was camped... How did you…?” The blond human stuttered. Tenaii shrugged and laughed.

“I still don’t know.” He started. “Lnorien came up with this crazy idea to take over the castle and we just said: ‘what the hell?!’ And went along with him.”

“The Whisperers had mobilized all their forces to attack your half of the army and after we cleaned up the few beasts coming our way, Lnorien decided to keep moving forward instead of turning back. We wouldn’t be able to get to you in time, anyway, he said.”

“When we arrived to Citadel Gandaria, we laid siege but we knew we hadn’t much time. Some of the villagers, from the small towns we liberated on the way, told us about this underwater entrance to the citadel. Apparently the Whisperers who had occupied the castle didn’t have time to learn about its existence and it was unguarded. We just had to stride in and kill the few defences inside.”

“When the brunt of their army, the one who you defeated returned, they had no citadel to come home too and our army was strong and refreshed. It was an easy victory. They had to fall back almost to Stronghold Raz’eaz, in their own lands.”

“We can’t be sure, but Lnorien thinks we might have taken Guian country back into the Alliance’s hands.” Tenaii concluded with another joyful laugh. The others looked at each other amazed and joined him with hope shining in their eyes. The cheers inside the map room extended through the whole camp, the Alliance’s army rejoicing as the happy news rapidly spread.

No one but Midaen’niel appeared to notice that Ryaen’ne didn’t share their enthusiasm. His brother’s lips were curved in a bittersweet smile.

“So, the day has come.” He whispered with his eyes downcast, when the others left the wooden structure. Looking around, he finally found what he was searching for, turning to the corner where Midaen’niel stood.

With widening eyes, the blond Ethen saw his brother kneel in front of him. He probably didn’t see him because he was staring a little higher than he should, but somehow Ryaen’ne knew his Ethen brother was there. Knowledge gripped at Midaen’niel’s heart. Something very important was going to happen. Something Midaen’niel himself had tried to avoid by telling his brother of this dream. That’s why he knew Midaen’niel was there.

The older blond sighed deeply, his features displaying so much misery the Ethen felt sad just looking at him.

“I’m sorry, Humming bird… please try to understand: I cannot let him die…he…he’s so very special to me.” Ryaen’ne started, tears welling up in his eyes.

“It pains me so. Not to see you and Iaddy grow up...not to be there to help my Bluebird shut those stupid Council’s mouths…not to see you getting married…” The small Ethen startled. What was his brother saying? A strong sense of loss invaded his heart and mind. No. It couldn’t be…

He unwillingly started crying. No. He would not believe it. Maguenta would protect Ryaen’ne. Their family had lost his Ethenim and his uncles, already… Maguenta wouldn’t be so cruel to them. He would protect his brother…He had to!

“Lnorien is a great man, strong and honoured,” his brother was saying with a gentle smile. “he’ll take good care of you, I know. I have faith in his love and values.” Midaen’niel huffed at that between sniffs and tears, but the older blond couldn’t hear him and continued in the same tender tone.

“Cherish your gift. It might not be able to save me, but it will save many others, you’ll see.” The small Ethen openly sobbed when he heard that, fat tears falling freely, now. So it was true. That was why he had spoken to his brother about this dream. And like many times before, he wouldn’t be able to prevent the happenings he knew he would witness.

“Please, forgive me. I will love you forever, wherever I am. You and lovely Bluebird will always be in my heart. Please, don’t be sad. Forgive me, please…”

Midaen’niel looked at his brother’s desperate eyes and nodded softly.

“There is nothing to forgive. I love you too, my brother.” He whispered even though he knew Ryaen’ne couldn’t hear him…

“My beautiful Midaen’niel, I wish you the greatest happiness in the world.”

And with these gentle parting words, the twelve-year-old Ethen was teleported yet again along with thunders and flashes of light only he could see.

&&&&&&&

This time the tent was illuminated and one figure was already in there when the Dreamseer Ethen popped in. It was Delaen’niel.

He was sitting in some blankets, placed to serve as a bed and he had some scroll on his hands which he appeared to be reading carefully.

The small Ethen wiped his tears with his sleeve, determined to be strong and witness everything it was shown to him until the end. There would be time to mourn later. Now, he had to be attentive. Maybe he could still find a way to save his brother. He wasn’t dead yet.

The small Ethen looked around. Delaen’niel’s tent (Midaen’niel assumed it was the prince’s tent) was so poorly adorned it was more than unexpected. The boy guessed there wasn’t much time during a war to dispense to decorations, but still, it was Meya’s crown prince’s accommodations.

The bundle of blankets and furs the prince was seated on stood to the right side of the rather large tent. On the left side, his golden suit of armour, complete with its long sword gleaming in the candlelight, shone brightly with the glamour and pride of the Eths.

In the far edge of the tent, between the bed and the armour, a small table was the base to the golden helmet, a basin of water and a candlestick with four burning candles.

Another similar candlestick was placed on the other table in the middle of the tent. Along with several scrolls, two jars, some cups and a tray with an empty plate.

The remaining three items in the tent were a chair and two heavy-looking chests that lay quietly to the left, near the drapery working as door.

Contrary to what he had thought, and Midaen’niel knew most of the Eths shared his previous viewpoint, Delaen’niel didn’t seem to be the pompous prince everyone assumed him to. He appeared to be quite the opposite, in fact. Quiet, serious and committed was what Midaen’niel was seeing the prince was when no one was watching. A simple and dependable man.

It was a surprise, to say the least, but that explained his knights’ loyalty and Ryaen’ne’s devotion to his first prince.

His brother often said Delaen’niel would be the greatest king in the History of Meya. And though Midaen’niel knew his brother had a tendency to exaggerate on occasion, he still made a habit of always believing him.

One thing was certain: Delaen’niel would be a better option for Meya’s throne than his younger brother Nlie’sieri. The second prince was too jealous and deceiving in Midaen’niel’s opinion, even if no one else besides him, Iadden and Delaen’niel’s promised one: Iararin’ne, seemed to realize it. It was amazing how two brothers could be so different. Of course that didn’t stop the first prince from loving his younger brother dearly.

Suddenly, a rustle came from the drapery leading outside and a blond head peeked inside. Midaen’niel startled and immediately started crying again when he saw the handsome features of his brother. Yet, this time, Ryaen’ne didn’t seem to know he was there.

“You called for me, my prince?” The knight asked. Delaen’niel answered without looking away from his studies.

“Yes, come in, Ryaen’ne. Fasten the door after you enter. I don’t want anyone interrupting us.” The older Eth frowned as he entered, but he eventually shrugged at the unusual request from his superior.

“As you wish.” He replied and did as he was told.

“So, what do you need from me that require so much secrecy?” He asked intrigued when he advanced further into the room. Delaen’niel finally raised his head, turning his bright green eyes to face his best friend with his mouth open to speak, when he noticed the strange redness to Ryaen’ne’s eyes.

“Were you crying?” he enquired instead. Ryaen’ne startled visibly.

“No. Are you mocking me? Since when do I cry?!” he replied, his voice rushed and defensive. Delaen’niel rose to his feet, looking suspiciously at him with narrowed eyes for a second. Then his green glare left its prey as the first prince turned his face to look at the table where he poised the scroll he had been reading moments before. Ryaen’ne let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding.

“You cried when Lessin Fealiha died…” the younger Eth said gently, still looking at the table. He occupied himself pouring two cups of the yellowish liquid one of the jars in that table contained.

“Well, I was a kid and he was my Ethenim.” Ryaen’ne commented from beside him. Delaen’niel nodded and offered him one of the cups. Ryaen’ne took it, tasted it and his eyes widened.

“Is this the famous Nya’ran liquor?” Delaen’niel merely nodded while sipping from his own cup.

“What’s the occasion?” Ryaen’ne asked before he drank a good mouthful of the alcoholic beverage and made a face at the sting on his throat. “This shit is good!” he added afterwards, muttering.

“Guian country is ours again.” The third prince laughed.

“Well, I see. If I had known we would be celebrating, I would have brought some friends…” he said with a grin. Delaen’niel looked at him in the eye, totally serious.

“Funny,” he commented, taking another sip of the burning liquid. “Somehow, I got the impression you weren’t that happy when Tenaii gave us the news.” Delaen’niel’s intense stare and sure words caught his personal knight off guard. Ryaen’ne broke the eye contact and gazed at his cup.

“I was just a little shocked like everyone else.” He lied and took another mouthful of his drink. Delaen’niel sighed and turned his back on his best friend.

“Ryaen’ne, do you know the Legend of the first Black-haired Ethen? The one who glided across an abyss to speak with Maguenta on the Mague’s?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“He was accompanied by two Eths, his promised one and his guard. Do you remember their tale?” Ryaen’ne shrugged and nodded.

“Maguenta entrusted them with the protection of the Black-haired Ethen. For that he gave them blessings in form of abilities. To the guard who was a lower class captain but incredible loyal to his master Ethen, Maguenta rewarded him with unearthly strength and the ability to see the darkness in people’s hearts. To the Ethen’s promised one who had amazing skills as an archer, Maguenta made him a bow whose arrows where infinite and made out of rays of light. That bow responded only to him, prince Lvek’kia. It’s displayed in Meya’s treasury: the Bow of Lvek’kia.” The first prince hummed at his best friend’s words, still with his back to him.

“And his ability?” he requested softly. Ryaen’ne sighed, looking a little sheepish, but eventually answered.

“Maguenta gave him the ability to see the future in his dreams. He was a Dreamseer.” He said but then added quickly. “It’s just a Legend, Delaen. What has this to do-” Delaen’niel turned to face him with an incredulous look on his face.

“The bow exists, Ryaen’ne. And every Eth on the palace (including me) tried to use it without success…except for you, who always refused.” The older Eth huffed and opened his mouth to speak but the prince didn’t even let him start.

“On the day your Ethenim died I found you crying convulsively under the stairwell to the palace’s entrance, saying your ‘Nim and uncle had died, four hours BEFORE we received the message. And you were so sure no one could calm you. I was amazed but I thought nothing of it at the time. But then you kept doing it. Divining unexpected and sudden events BEFORE they happened.” Ryaen’ne looked at the prince.

“I told you before. It is Midaen’niel who sees things, not me.” He said, honestly. Delaen’niel nodded with a serious face.

“And I believed you. I believed you because that’s what I do. I always unconditionally believe you. That’s why I absolutely HATE when you lie to me. Your arm is BADLY wounded. You WERE crying today. And that sad smile of yours earlier when you ought to be cheering means you’ve been hiding things from us. You KNOW things I don’t.”

A long silence followed the first prince’s angry words. Ryaen’ne sighed, blinked a few times with his gaze turned downwards, but when he faced his prince again, his jaw was set and his eyes showed a kind of determination Delaen’niel knew all too well. The taller lord wasn’t going to tell him a word of it.

The green-eyed prince smiled in disbelief at his cousin, while he shook in head, completely furious now.

“Very well.” He replied in a gelid dangerous tone, raising his head in a proud, aristocratic move and turning his back on his personal knight. “You don’t want to tell me. That’s just fine.”

The first prince placed his cup on the table with more force than necessary as he phrased the last words and some liquor spilled from the near full drink. Ryaen’ne sighed in sadness when he realized Delaen’niel’s closed fists were shaking in rage and indignation.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized softly hoping his words could somehow calm his superior knight.

“You’re sorry? About what? Not trusting me?” The green-eyed Eth asked, turning his head to glare at the other man. Said man sighed, tiredly.

“I do trust you. That’s why I can’t tell you.”

The prince huffed. “You’re not making any sense.”

“I’m only trying to protect you!” Ryaen’ne replied. Delaen’niel turned his whole body completely around, facing the other knight and jabbing his forefinger onto his chest.

“I don’t NEED your protection! I never did. I don’t even want it.” He declared waving his hands in frustration.

“I’m your personal guard. You’re my prince. It’s my job.” The taller Eth said matter-of-factly. Delaen’niel straightened and advanced two steps in the blue-eyed Eth’s direction, closing their distance to try and look more imposing to the bulkier Eth.

“Your job is to follow MY orders. Which, by the way, you have neglected to do so far.” He uttered in a menacing voice. Ryaen’ne smiled bitterly, not afraid but sad at his prince’s words. He lowered his dark blue gaze.

“You never felt the need to order me around before. I’m having a hard time adjusting to it.” He said acidly. The strawberry-blond caught on the tone and answered in his cold one.

“Because I’ve always thought you were my friend, my companion, not just a guard.” The taller Eth raised his blue eyes to look at the prince.

“I am your friend.” He affirmed with conviction. Delaen’niel frowned.

“How can you say that if you don’t even tell me what is so obviously bothering you so much?” Ryaen’ne sighed.

“It doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. I’d give up my life for you.” He countered with the same certain tone, without any kind of hesitation. The prince nodded, looking sideways.

“I know. That’s what I’m afraid of. Tell me this, what use do I have for you if you’re dead? Tell me? I have two-hundred knights to die for me, Ryaen’ne. But I have only one best friend. If you die, who will I confide in? Who will support me? You’re the only one I can be myself with.”

“You can be yourself with everyone. Believe me or not, people would love you even more if they got to see what I see: a great ruler and an even better man. I don’t know what you’re so afraid of. Honestly.” The young Siekih lord uttered rolling his eyes. His prince glared at him.

“Don’t change the subject, Ryaen’ne.” He warned. The older Eth sighed and narrowed his eyes.

“I’m not telling you what you want to know.” He declared. “You can stop speaking to me, you can beat me to a pulp, you can even hang me on the nearest Watch tower: I won’t tell you! Some things you’re better off without knowing…”

“You are scaring me, Ryaen’ne.” Delaen’niel affirmed, slowly. His cousin merely shrugged.

“There’s nothing you can do about it. Have you never hid anything from me?!” he asked, annoyed. The first prince looked surprised for a moment. Then he looked at his personal guard taking in the long neck, strong jaw, firm lips and gorgeous dark blue eyes and a decision formed in his heart.

“I have. But I will tell you what it is now.” He started. Ryaen’ne looked at him, curiosity swimming in his blue gaze.

“I’m in love with my best friend.” The first prince said simply. If the young Siekih lord had been expecting some kind of revelation when he had phrased his thoughts, this clearly wasn’t what he had been waiting for. His eyes widened and his mouth opened in shock. Delaen’niel smiled at the reaction but his seriousness was still evident.

“You have grown up into such a fine man.” He said tenderly. “Handsome, strong, charismatic. I want you like I desire nothing else in the world. I would give everything I have for a single night with you.”

Ryaen’ne stared shocked at his prince for some more seconds while said Eth smiled placidly and patiently at him. Then the taller blond blinked, took a deep breath and cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice had a strange breathlessness to it.

“You have a promised one. Your mere words are blasphemy.” He said looking everywhere but his prince’s exotic green eyes. Delaen’niel smirked.

“I know that. But I’d still happily pay any price if I could have you.” The young Siekih lord looked up then, watching Delaen’niel’s green orbs intently. The prince was so distracted by the strong blue gaze that he almost didn’t feel Ryaen’ne’s left fingers pushing a lock of his reddish blond hair away from his face. He didn’t miss his personal knight’s gentle smile, though.

“As would I.” He was confessing in a soft tone. The prince’s eyes widened. “Certainly you’ve noticed that I’ve always felt the same way about you, my prince.”

Midaen’niel stood frozen in his place, shocked, as he saw Meya’s crown prince and his own brother kissing each other hungrily and fiercely. All that passed through his head at the sight was how miserable a life was waiting for Iararin’ne. Delaen’niel was obviously too smitten with his personal knight to give the young Ethen the attention and love he deserved.

Suddenly another thought occurred to him: perhaps his own promised one, Lnorien, was involved with someone else. That would explain his plain disinterest regarding the young Ethen. Distracted by this thought, Midaen’niel practically gasped when he heard the loud moans and witnessed his brother’s coat and shirt flying through the air to land haphazardly on top of the table, almost knocking down the candlestick.

Looking at the two again, he put his small hands on his waist and glared.

“You two could at least be a little more careful and discreet.” He reproached, but of course they didn’t hear him. He wasn’t supposed to be there. He was shaking his head in annoyance when he noticed a luminous necklace on his brother’s chest. It captured his attention, mostly because he had never seen such a strange jewel before. The golden chain was rather common and thin. It was the single bead who was unusual. Shaped as a large tear, the stone appeared to have a brilliant, bluish, swirling fluid contained inside transparent glass. It was rather beautiful and somewhat magical. Delaen’niel appeared to notice it as well.

“Oh…” he murmured, looking at the strange gem.

“What?” Ryaen’ne asked in a good humoured voice. He sounded so happy, Midaen’niel didn’t have the heart to keep glaring at them. It wasn’t their fault they had fallen in love with each other. You didn’t ask for those things, they simply happened.

“Where did you get it? I know it isn’t something you’d normally buy.” Delaen’niel was saying in a light tone. His brother was smiling beautifully.

“You like it?” he asked.

“It’s lovely.”

“It’s yours, then.” Ryaen’ne affirmed, unfastening the chain and refastening it around the prince’s neck. “A gift from me.” Delaen’niel fingered the blue bead on his bare chest, enticed by its brilliance.

“Thank you.”

“Just promise me you won’t take it off.” His brother asked. The prince looked at his eyes with a tender smile.

“Never.” He vowed. And then they were kissing again. But it didn’t bother Midaen’niel anymore because his brother was happy and in the end that was all that mattered.

The small Ethen smiled affectionately at them and then blushed as they started lying in the bed. He glared at the top of the tent, hands on his hips again.

“I am only twelve. Am I supposed to see the whole thing?” A thunder and a flash of light answered him.

&&&&&&&

A strange wave of magical destruction passed through them, hitting friends and foes alike, neither remaining standing. Neither, but Midaen’niel, of course. But then again the blond Ethen wasn’t even there. He was a mere spectator, not able to act upon the happenings he was seeing, much less stop them.

Several Eth knights fell on the floor right beside him, a horrified look on their dead faces, not even their golden armours able to protect them from the evil Whisperer magic. The small Ethen looked around, tears in his eyes as he watched rows upon rows of knights dead on the ground.

The Whisperers had been furious with the loss of Guian country and they had retaliated with a vengeance. ‘Never awake a sleeping dragon’ the saying goes. And it couldn’t be truer. Only in this case the sleeping dragons were two Supreme Wizards. And their horde of beasts, of course.

If the Wizards’ spells weren’t enough, they had released upon them hundreds of beasts, each more horrendous than the other. They served only as protection to the bloody-eyed men during the time it took them to invoke their curses, because they were eventually killed along with the Eths they were fighting against. Nevertheless, they prevented those same Eths from getting too close to the white-haired Wizards. Close enough to kill them.

Turning to his right, Midaen’niel saw his brother: imposing, strong, fast, perfect, charging a tattooed human-like creature with sharp claws. The impaled beast gave a wild cry as he fell, but Ryaen’ne had his attention directed elsewhere already. The closest Wizard had his black pupils fixed on a rather skilled young brown-haired Eth knight fighting to his left. Midaen’niel felt rather than see the spell aimed at the boy. Fortunately, his brother had foreseen that as well.

“Defence. Level 6. Magic shield!” He cast.

The milky magic shield formed in front of the brunet knight mere milliseconds before the Wizards’ cloudy curse hit. The Whisperer frowned as the shield held his caustic spell for only a second before being shattered in its destructive path.

Still, a second was enough time for the brunet knight to flee that same path and run to his commander’s side, delaying his awaiting death for a little more time. On the other hand, now the Wizard had his bloody eyes on both of them.

“Thank you, commander. I can’t believe the level 6 shields don’t stop those spells. Stronger than 6, only the Black-haired Ethen is capable of!” The brunet knight commented as he ducked a spear flying towards his head.

“I know,” the blond Eth lord replied as he decapitated yet another beast trying to drive a speared-arm through his chest. “but we don’t have a Black-haired Ethen here, do we? We’ll have to make do with what we have.”

The Whisperers’ Supreme Wizard advanced a few steps in their direction and with a devious grin raised his arm pointing a claw-like hand towards Ryaen’ne. Seeing the magic gathering in front of the white-haired man the young Siekih lord prepared yet another magic shield.

At the last moment, the Wizard, smirk impossibly wider, redirected his spell to the blond lord’s right, towards another blond. A strawberry-haired blond who was not prepared for it. With his milky spell already forming in front of him and without time to cast another one, Ryaen’ne didn’t even think on what he was about to do. His only fear as he jumped in front of his prince was that he was going to be too late.

Midaen’niel comprehended what was going to happen before it did. And his scream just didn’t echo Delaen’niel’s, because he wasn’t really there in the same dimension.

The claw-like spell hit Ryaen’ne full force. For a few seconds, nothing really happened: the strange spell didn’t appear to have any effect. But then Midaen’niel’s brother started screaming, screaming like his insides were being torn off. And they were.

Time seemed to stop, even the Whisperer beasts watching with horror as Ryaen’ne screamed and fell to his knees, his hands vainly gripping at his chest. Seconds later, his hands and his head fell forward as a hole in the middle of his breastplate slowly formed and a bony hand was seen ripping his beating heart out. It travelled the air, dropping its prize a few meters later and disappearing right after. Ryaen’ne’s heart hit the floor with a thud, rolled but never stopped beating.

A spray of blood followed the hand, leaving Ryaen’ne’s chest like his heart had short moments before. The rest of the body finally fell backwards into his cousin’s arms, the light of his dark blue eyes rapidly fading. The young Siekih lord still slowly raised a shaking hand towards the place where Midaen’niel stood and his lips curved into a tender smile. ‘Sorry’ they shaped, right before his hand fell gracelessly onto the ground and he finally died.

Midaen’niel simply stared, too shocked to cry or do anything else but look into his brother’s dead eyes. Delaen’niel was in the same state. Having caught Ryaen’ne’s death body on reflex, he was now kneeling on the bloody floor with his precious lover in his arms.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? How his heart still beats even after the rest of his body is dead?” The Supreme wizard said in the Eth language as he approached the place where Meya’s crown prince held Ryaen’ne. He purposely stepped on the heart, effectively smashing it like you would an insignificant bug.

“Don’t you think so, Prince Delaen’niel?” The green-eyed Eth didn’t even acknowledge the white-haired man in front of him. It didn’t stop the man from continuing, though.

“I see. Was he a dear friend of yours? Do not worry, your highness, you shall follow him right about now.” The Wizard said stopping in his tracks and pointing a bony finger to the prince’s head.

Shouts were heard from both sides as the Alliance’s armies finally appeared to help, but they were too late for Delaen’niel. The Supreme Wizard released his spell and it went directly towards the prince.

Surprising everyone including the Whisperer, bluish magic enveloped the strawberry-blond Eth as a necklace with a thin, golden chain holding a brilliant, blue gem in the shape of a tear rose in the air and reflected the spell back to his caster. The Supreme Wizard fell backwards screaming and squirming before he became suddenly still and dissolved into ashes.

Delaen’niel looked at the gem, now innocently lying against his breastplate again and started crying.

“You bastard…” he whispered.

After that everything became dark around Midaen’niel and he was allowed to finally return home.

TBC…

Ending notes: Again, please forgive the lateness of this chapter. Hope you liked it. Love you all.