Chapter Text
A stream of lilac darkens the marble flooring.
The chime of the silver goblet still echoes in Prince Charlemagne as he gazed down at his sister.
“Yes, change is coming.” Prince Charlemagne said, the princess’s blonde hair falling across his blue velvet encrusted sleeve.
Six months ago, her crown of gold had a hint of black, now the black spread like ink reaching past her ears.
The pressure in his jaw lessened. “I’m sorry.” Putting the princess on the chair by the fire, Prince Charlemagne picked up the goblet and before the spiked wine could reach the cream rug wiped it with his handkerchief. He glances to the main entrance as he stands then moved to a tapestry between two paintings.
A small blacken door to one of the tunnels bult through and under the castle.
Prince Charlemagne opened it and grabbed the cloaks ready for the trip. He threw one on and then wrapped the princess in the other. Cradling her the prince gave the room a cursory sweep then slipped into the tunnel. Locking the door with a flick of his wrist a murmured word following.
Prince Charlemagne traveled down the passageway his steps light and when he had to go down any stairs he whispered a prayer that none would hear. There was a part of him that wanted to be caught, to have someone take his sister back to her own room.
The time for a union between the Greats nears
Her hair of ebony, skin like gold, and lips of a rose
Nobel wolves you shall have your princess,
For when the phoenix rises from the ashes of the kingdom
A she-wolf as white as fresh snow shall emerge.
She shall save this world and many from the Dark Spirit
Yet, should she stay on this world she will die before her eighteenth year
If she leaves it there is a chance she shall live through the War
Prince Charlemagne bit the inner side of his left cheek, that damn prophecy had changed everything. He shoved that doubt down deep and continued out of the castle and to the stables. This plan was crazy, unpredicatble, but if it insured his sister would survive this war he would do whatever it took.
This was right, it had to be the answer to everything. He had to believe this would solve all the problems going on, Nathaniel would have no way to get to her once Prince Charlemagne crossed the mountains. For though he had only been a child during the excitement of the prophecy he understood the ending better than most.
Prince Charlemagne glanced into the stables, no stableboy or sign of the stable master. Moving as silent as a cat, Prince Charlemagne reached The Sunchaser’s stall. The stallion had agreed to Prince Charlemagne’s plan the first time he asked, all the unicorns actually agreed to not tell. Instead they pretended to be asleep, but a few had an eye or two open watching as Prince Charlemagne placed his sister on the great bronze back. Sunchaser had been tacked earlier, laying down in the sawdust so none of the grooms saw him.
“The stable boys have all gone down to the Howling Dog inn.” The Sunchaser said stepping into the alleyway.
“Good, we’ll be able to pass through the North Gate without a problem.” Prince Charlemagne placed Princess Selena on to the saddle wrapping a rope around her waist and tying it around the horn. Taking the reins Prince Charlemagne and Sunchaser stepped out of the stables and towards the back of the wall. From there they would go through the hidden door in the hedges and out into the city passing the three walls that surrounded Cathair castle. Prince Charlemagne would have to be careful at the last wall, there would be more guards there at least until the builders finished it. Three walls to protect the people, but the rumors of the Dark King’s powers made the walls sound like a house of cards ready to be blown away with one puff.
People in Arawn were disappearing and word from Maisha had gone silent. They used to receive constant information from the royals in both countries, the last they had received from Queen Horatia was that wandering travelers were being killed by fashigos and agoni. Queen Zhenga’s advisors had said that smoke was rising from the Asgard mounains. Asgard Mountains hae never shown activity at least not sense the beginnings of the planet. It would not be long till Guardia Aguderha and Ejderha Ailes became involved.
What ever this new enemy was they were preparing for something big and Prince Charlemagne could only assume it had to do with Princess Selena. Why her? Was still something he was figuring out.
Prince Charlemagne glanced over his shoulder at the sound of footsteps.
They were in the quieter part of the city only a few candles lit. If anyone was out they would be at the pubs on the opposite side of this section.
The footsteps faded away. Prince Charlemagne guided Sunchaser further down the road moving north to the entrance in the wall the road would be in the direct direction of the mountains.
The Sunchaser’s ears flickered back before he came to a halt. Prince Charlemagne turned about to question the stallion when he saw the ears moving. Picking up the lightest of padding, an experience trakker, no less. Prince Charlemagne pulled Sunchaser into the shadows of an inn.
Prince Charlemagne stepped out into the middle of the street. Moonlight beams shining bright from the castle down to the street. It cut across the streets and buildings, a small shop had an odd shadow part of it was larger than one end.
“Show yourself shadow dweller.” Prince Charlemagne’s deep voice cutting clearly in the wind that was picking up.
The shop’s shadow did not budge, but then slowly it began to split apart.
The man wore a cloak its hood up but as he stepped before the prince the hood was pushed back with a gloved hand.
“F’lar? What are you doing here?” Prince Charlemagne peered up the street looking for any other hidden figures.
“I want to know why you are taking the princess out for such a late night ride, Your Highness?” F’lar said crossing his arms causing his cloak to raise up, moonlight glinting off the silver hilt on his belt.
Prince Charlemagne’s brow drew close together. He did not need to tell his plans to a dragonrider. Prince Charlemagne could fight F’lar, but he was not as skilled as F’lar it would be a fight he would lose. The dragonrider cared for the princess a feeling that was mutual between the two from what Prince Charlemagne had seen in the past weeks, but his sister’s safety was of more concern than love. Maybe explaining the threat of her safety would convince the dragonrider to let him go.
“Do you know the prophecy told to the King?” Prince Charlemagne said softly.
F’lar took a few more steps, “What?”
Prince Charlemagne repeated the question but louder.
F’lar looked to the bronze unicorn with the princess resting on top. “What does that have to do with Princess Selena? The oracle described Princess Ava, a brunette with dark eyes.”
Prince Charlemagne shook his head, “No it is Selena, she is the first princess to be born of the Larkin line.”
“That does not mean it means her. The prophecy states-“
“I know what it says!” Prince Charlemagne yelled hazel eyes changing to a bright green. Lowering his voice he glanced away from the dragonrider, “All of the things that have been happening. It is her no matter how impossible it seems.”
F’lar stayed silent. He was well aware of the things that were happening even seen enough to question things. Yet, why did it have to be her? F’lar was just beginning to know her.
“Despite it all you think sneaking her away will help?”
Prince Charlemagne turned his now hazel eyes back to F’lar, “Nathaniel went after Selena, not Avalaine. That proves she can not stay here, if she does he will kill her and there will be nothing we can do to stop it.”
F’lar shook his head a dark lock fell over his right eye, “There is not mention of it.”
“That’s what many think. She will only die if she is kept here.” Prince Charlemagne smirked reciting the line he remembered. “If I can get her somewhere safe away from Nathaniel, she will live.”
“Where are you taking her? If you need a safe place let her come stay at Valahur, Nathaniel will not think to look for her there.” F’lar tried to convince the prince. Suscpion began to grow as he watch Prince Charlemagne look to the mountains.
“No, Nathaniel might look there, however, it is said something powerful guards the mountains between Guardia Aguderha and Ejderha Ailes. Not even dragons go over those mountains.”
“Absolutely not! None have survived those mountains, nothing goes in or out. The Blood Mountains will be her’s and yours’s death.” F’lar snarled, “Take her back to the castle, Charlemagne.”
Prince Charlemagne pointed a finger at F’lar, “I know what I’m doing, dragonrider, do not underestimate me.”
Tension hung in the air as a gust of wind blew down the street. Prince Charlemagne glanced away, dawn was still hours away the once black sky turning a dark blue. The alarm would soon go up once the maids find the princess not in her room then the entire city would be looking for her.
The soft clattering of hooves on cobblestone draws the attention of both men. Sunchaser stopped between the men.
“If it would ease the matter, I have been told by the Dreamspeaker to retrieve the princess when things are better. If after three years things have not I will bring her back and Selena and Nathanie shall have to encounter each other in order to end the War.”
F’lar and Prince Charlemagne shared a look. F’lar sighing first and nodding.
“Fine, but when three years have passed I’ll go get her back. I’ll head back and see if I can stall the search parties.” F’lar gave the princess’s one last look before he jogged away.
Prince Charlemagne turned to the stallion, “The Dreamspeaker really told you this Sunchaser?”
“Yes, last night she came to me.”
He sighed, “Very well then, that just proves I am doing the right thing.”
Prince Charlemagne took the reins once more and guided the Sunchaser down the street.
Prince Charlemagne bit the inner side of his left cheek, that damn prophecy had changed everything. He shoved that doubt down deep and continued out of the castle and to the stables. This plan was crazy, unpredicatble, but if it insured his sister would survive this war he would do whatever it took.
This was right, it had to be the answer to everything. He had to believe this would solve all the problems going on, Nathaniel would have no way to get to her once Prince Charlemagne crossed the mountains. For though he had only been a child during the excitement of the prophecy he understood the ending better than most.