Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 14

Elowen laughed heartily, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let me explain something to you, Wraithkin," she began, her tone shifting to one of earnestness. "Dogs, in their essence, are quite simple creatures. They possess an unwavering loyalty, but it's often tied to whoever provides them with food. They place their trust in what they perceive as their 'master,' believing that they are cared for as long as they are fed. But when food stops coming, where does that leave the dog? It’s a stark reminder of how easily loyalty can be swayed by the most basic of needs."

Raven folded her arms, a knowing smirk playing on her lips as she exchanged a glance with Elowen, fully aware that she had spoken the truth. In stark contrast, Wraithkin was a tempest of rage; his face flushed with fury as he advanced toward Elowen with menacing strides. Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of punches, each blow landing with a sickening thud as Elowen crumpled to the ground, only to be met with a relentless series of kicks that echoed through the air. The sounds of Elowen's pained grunts and the harsh impact of Wraithkin's boots against her ribs filled Raven with dread.

Desperate to intervene, Raven rushed to Wraithkin, her voice urgent as she pleaded, "My Lord, please stop! If you continue this way, she won't be able to bear your heirs." The weight of her words seemed to momentarily halt his assault, and he paused, panting heavily as he considered her statement. Raven's gaze shifted to Riven, who was watching Wraithkin with a fierce intensity, his eyes promising vengeance. Grateful for the healing vials she had given Elowen, Raven felt a wave of relief wash over her; without them, Elowen would surely be dead right now.

"Clean her up, Raven," Wraithkin commanded, his tone cold and unyielding. "Tonight, Elowen, you will bear my heirs," he seethed, a sinister edge to his voice. With blood spilling from her mouth, Elowen retorted defiantly, "Then you will die." Raven's heart sank as she retrieved a washcloth, crouching beside Elowen, her heart heavy with the horror of the scene that unfolded before her. Elowen's vision was blurred, and as Wraithkin observed Raven's every move, the tension in the room thickened.

"That's enough," Wraithkin finally declared, and Raven instinctively stepped back. Wraithkin’s voice commanding as he said, "Leave us unless you want to watch." Raven exited the tent but remained close, her heart racing with concern. Wraithkin seized Elowen, tossing her onto the bed before stripping off his shirt and pants, climbing onto the bed with a predatory glint in his eyes. Elowen kicked him squarely in the face in a moment of defiance, sending him sprawling off the bed.

"Run, Elowen!" Riven's voice echoed with urgency, a desperate plea that resonated in the air as he watched her flee, praying she would escape the clutches of danger once more. As Elowen unfurled her wings going to take flight, but the moment was marred by an encroaching darkness that wrapped around her, rendering her immobile. From the depths of the shadows emerged Wraithkin, his voice dripping with malice as he taunted, "Tsk, Tsk, Elowen," while the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a grim pall over the desolate landscape. With a chilling command, he ordered her capture, and Cimmerian approached, seizing her arms and binding them to a post, ensuring her helplessness. Wraithkin savagely ripped away her Illyrian fighting vest and the shirt beneath, exposing her bare back to the cruel world. "Hand me the whip," he demanded, and as the instrument of torment was placed in his hands, he unleashed a torrent of strikes upon her, each lash met with her agonized screams that echoed into the night, a desperate prayer for salvation that seemed to go unheard.

As the brutal assault finally ceased, Wraithkin, drenched in sweat from exertion, turned her around to face the jeering crowd, her vulnerability laid bare for all to see. "This will teach you a lesson, Elowen, not to defy me," he sneered, his voice laced with sadistic satisfaction. "Take her back to my tent! NOW!" he barked, and Cimmerian complied, lifting her from the post and carrying her away, leaving her trembling and broken. Wraithkin followed closely, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he noticed Cimmerian's lingering gaze on Elowen. "Don't worry, you'll have your chance when I am finished," he assured, dismissing the other man with a wave. With a flick of his wrist, shadows enveloped them, concealing the horrors he intended to inflict upon her.

In a swift, brutal motion, he tore away her pants, leaving her completely exposed, and as realization dawned on Elowen, tears streamed down her face. "Please!" she cried, her voice a haunting echo of despair that shattered Riven's heart, his own tears falling as he felt her pain from afar. "Hold still!" Wraithkin barked, his patience wearing thin as she fought against her fate. "

"NO! PLEASE! PLEASE! NO!" Her voice pierced the air, a desperate cry that echoed with anguish. Riven, bound by chains that rendered him helpless, strained against his restraints, yearning to reach her side and offer solace. Elowen's sobs filled the space, her spirit unyielding as she fought against Wraithkin with every ounce of strength she could muster. Just then, a towering figure emerged, his eyes ablaze with rage as he pushed through the tent flaps, drawn by her cries. Raven followed closely behind, eager to assist. The massive man moved like a shadow, seizing Wraithkin and yanking him away from Elowen, leaving him naked. "Get her out of here," he commanded, and Raven swiftly unshackled Elowen while another man entered, draping his jacket over her battered form. The shadows that danced around the giant seemed to whisper his name, poised to obey his every command, and in an instant, Wraithkin went limp. The man unleashed his fury, kicking Wraithkin mercilessly, replicating the torment Wraithkin had inflicted upon Elowen. Outside, chaos erupted, shouts and screams mingling in a cacophony of desperation. The man turned to Riven, striding over and using his shadows to free him from his bonds. "Come on, you're coming with us," he urged. Riven hesitated, "Is..." he began, but the man cut him off. "Yes. He got what he deserved for touching my mate." They exited Wraithkin's tent, leaving him to rot as turmoil reigned outside, with every Court rallying to help rescue Elowen. As the last shadow-fae fell, silence enveloped the battlefield. "Xander," called a redheaded woman, her voice steady yet urgent. Xander approached her, while Riven and Raven joined the group, the sight of Elowen's blood-soaked legs sending Raven reeling in horror. Wraithkin had stolen Elowen's innocence, and the weight of that reality made Raven retch. Xander's rage remained unquenched; he stormed back into Wraithkin's tent, unleashing a flurry of kicks on the lifeless body. The redhead rushed to him, "Tauriel!" another man shouted, trying to intervene. Tauriel reached Xander, urging him to stop, reminding him that Wraithkin was already dead.

Emerging from the tent, Xander and Tauriel approaching Thorin as he held Elowen in his arms. "I'll take her," Xander said, as Thorin passed Elowen into Xander’s arms. "We must get her to a healing sprite," Thorin urged, concern etched on his face. As Xander cradled Elowen, he felt the weight of the situation; the onlookers from all the courts were visibly alarmed by the blood seeping from her legs. Raven, filled with remorse, spoke up, "I apologize for this tragedy. I had no idea she was here; she was unrecognizable when I entered the tent to help. I truly tried my best." Her gaze fell to the ground, burdened by guilt. Xander stepped closer to her, his voice steady and sincere, "Thank you for your efforts to assist my mate." He then turned to the gathered crowd, expressing his gratitude, "And I appreciate all of you for coming to our aid once more, reclaiming Elowen the High Lady of the Light Court. You are all invited to Celestial City for rest and nourishment." Finally, he addressed Riven and Raven, asking, "Can you both fly?" They nodded in unison, affirming their ability. "Then let’s go," Xander replied gently.

Tauriel wept for Elowen, her heart heavy as she witnessed her friend’s lifeless form cradled in Xander's arms during their flight back to Celestial City. The sight of Elowen's motionless body ignited a fierce rage within him.The memory of Elowen's cries echoed in his mind, and in a moment of blind fury, he had ended Wraithkin's life swiftly, unable to bear the thought of him continuing to exist after what he had done. As they neared Celestial City, Liora's voice resonated in his thoughts, urging him to bring Elowen to her for healing, and he complied without hesitation, determined to save his mate.

Upon landing gracefully in front of Liora's home, the group was met with a somber atmosphere as Liora opened the door, her expression shifting from curiosity to horror at the sight of Elowen's condition. "Bring her inside," she commanded, her voice trembling with concern. Xander nodded, stepping around Liora to let her follow him as he carried Elowen upstairs, gently laying her on the bed and covering her with a soft blanket. Liora began to speak, her tone cautious, "Xander, I know you're upset over this situation," but he interrupted, his voice thick with anger, "Upset isn't the right word for what I am feeling right now, Liora."

Just then, a healing sprite entered the room, her eyes widening in shock as she took in Elowen's battered form. As she pulled back the covers, revealing the gruesome evidence of Elowen's suffering, she sighed heavily, "I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do for today."

Liora's heart sank as she realized the implications of the iron shackles that had once bound Elowen, asking, "Those iron shackles have left their mark, haven't they? Rust runs through her veins," Liora remarked thoughtfully.

"Indeed," the healing sprite replied, her voice heavy with sorrow as she covered Elowen back up in the blankets.

Xander's rage caused the earth to tremble beneath them as he shouted, "THEN WHAT ARE YOU GOOD FOR?" His anger directed at the sprite was palpable.

"Louder isn't better, Xander," Liora interjected, her tone steady and soothing.

The healing sprite quivered, clearly intimidated by the confrontation.

"It's alright, Maggie; there's no need to be afraid," Liora reassured her gently.

"When will you return?" Liora inquired, her concern evident.

"I'll be back next week once all the rust from the shackles has been purged from her system," Maggie replied softly before vanishing into the air.

Xander approached the window, staring out into the distance yet perceiving nothing, his fury clouding his vision and his guilt gnawing at his insides. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the overwhelming emotions. "You’re not truly angry at the sprite," Liora said with a soothing tone. "Your anger is directed inward." Turning to face her, Xander's tears flowed freely, a testament to his despair as he sank into the chair beside Elowen's bed. "She told me to leave when all I wanted was to save her," he confessed, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Liora regarded him with empathy, recognizing the depth of his anguish. "Xander, she understood the dire consequences of your return at that moment. If you had gone back, you, Thorin, and Tauriel would have faced capture, and your sister and her mate would have perished, along with you. She sacrificed her own safety to protect you. She wishes she had heeded your wishes, but her decision was made to ensure your survival. Had she not left with you, you would have met a grim fate, your wings displayed as trophies on Wraithkin's wall. As a High Lady, it requires responsibilities and risks. If she wasn't the High Lady of this Court, her powers and gifts were made known that day at The Field of Blood. Adversaries will always seek her out. She is your mate, feeling an undeniable connection to you, yet she struggles to comprehend it, having only been Illyrian for a year. Her unique heritage, being half human and half Illyrian, combined with the ritual she underwent, has transformed her into an unparalleled force in this world. You have a choice to stand beside her and accept the mate bond, or you don't. The choice is up to you, Xander."

Xander gazed intently at Elowen's bruised visage, his heart heavy with emotion as he declared, "I will always choose her; my feelings for her deepen with every moment." His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of his conviction. Turning his attention to Liora, he inquired softly, "What makes you so knowledgeable?"

Liora met his gaze with a calm assurance, responding, "I am an oracle, Xander. The truth I revealed to Elowen about Rowan's demise shook her to her core, especially considering the vows they exchanged, which also involved Blaise and Blaine. Blaise wanted to use her as a power trip for his own gain, desiring her to bear his heirs, while Blaine treated her as if she were a delicate flower, ready to shatter at any moment." She continued, "I unveiled the concealed truths of her heart, revealing her love for Rowan, though I withheld the fact that he was not her destined mate, knowing the elders would disapprove of such revelations. You also possess the same power as Elowen, Xander. You are also a first powerful force to be reckoned with, which is precisely why Thomas selected you to be by his side, with the hope that you would help him confront her. However, when you witnessed his treachery towards Elowen, as he attempted to manipulate her into joining his cause, it became clear to you that you wanted no part in his schemes. The mention of the word "daughter" struck a chord within you, causing you to instinctively withdraw you felt a pull to her then. At the spring equinox ball that’s when the mating bond snapped into place for you.”

"Let’s head downstairs; the maids will inform us when she wakes up," Liora said softly.

Xander nodded, allowing Liora's words to resonate within him. He cast one final glance at Elowen before stepping away.

With deliberate care, he exited the room, ensuring the door clicked shut behind them. Xander trailed Liora down the hallway, their footsteps muted as they made their way down the staircase together.