The Princess of Light and Dark

The War

“Not like that!” Aladan shouted at me as I cut the carrots, “In slices not chunks, we are making a stew not feeding the animals” In the last 3 years Aladan had become somewhat friendly with me, we endured all the awkwardness of the first few months, the harshness of his training, the nightmares and fights, the hatred he held against me. We endured all that just so he could comfortably shout at me while we cook together. Our training days were long gone, having realised after a year that no matter what we tried, my powers were weak and useless. Something was stopping me from reaching my full potential, or so Al thought, he fought hard for me to complete my training, unable to believe that the powerful monster who consumed his soul for centuries was in fact this pitiful thing standing next to him, butchering carrots.

Life as a somewhat magical elf in a cottage near a human village hadn’t been easy for me, or Al; even though his life was safer before I came along, the humans had been tolerant of one elf, but 2 it was more than they could stomach. If we ever dared go into the village together, they would threaten and harass us until we left, I had never met such hatred filled people, well, I knew I had been filled with hate and pain, but these humans, they live a life separate from the rest of all the kingdoms. They rejected all things elf, including their king and queen, despised any human who sympathised with elves, had they been stronger and larger in number, I believe they would court war with the elves. Al’s slap to my hand wakes me from my thoughts, lost in my head I have chopped far too many carrots. “Take the ones we don’t need to the horses” he says shaking his head. Lately, Al has been different with me, although he still pretty much treats me like a child, I cannot ignore the longing glances and the lingering touches anymore. I never thought I would think this, but maybe, I could reject my fated and stay here with Al? He would treat me nicely and I could learn to love him.

I shake the silly thoughts from my head and head towards the horses, as I raise the chunks of carrot to Al’s horse, they both whinny, startled. I turn in time to spot the black horses, covered in silver armour, their huge riders far too heavy for the beasts, theyre riding urgently, and I muster all my strength to listen to them. Sweat covers my brow as my breath hitches in my throat, We found the girl, she has returned home, Lord Sarnarel is headed to Blue Forest now, he wants her, dead or alive it does not matter.

I don’t know how but I find myself hovering over the kitchen table, a knife in my hand and 5 whole carrots lay before me, I grip the knife and turn, nearly stabbing Al. “Woah what’s the matter with you girl?” He shouts as he slaps my hand away. Confused I look around the cottage, he notices my confusing and grabs my other hand.

 “T? What’s wrong?” His tone is soft and soothing, I really look at him, his face is that of a middle-aged elf, slightly wrinkled, but handsome. He notices my eyes roaming his face and he flushes slightly.

“I think I had a vision; I saw us cutting carrots, I cut too many and you sent me to the horses, and there I, I saw those riders again, they were whispering among themselves, but I heard them, they found her and Sarnarel wants her dead or alive.” Tears fill my eyes and Al and reaches for the stray ones that run down my cheek, “I’m sorry Thuria, I heard rumours in the village today that the Blue Forest clan had found their princess, but I thought they were just that, rumours. But I’m afraid it must be true. Your powers wouldn’t manifest for a rumour.” His tone is grave, and it scares me. “I need to help her. I can’t leave her on her own.” Without waiting for his reply I rush toward my room, grab a small satchel and pack some clothes, running back I stuff some bread and cheese in there and grab a few kitchen knives. Aladan watches me the whole time, not a sound out of him, until I reach the door and he calls my name, I stop, my hand on the handle but I don’t turn. “It is foolish, but good luck.” And with that I walk out the cottage and run to the horses, I take Al’s horse, he is stronger and faster and I have a 3 day journey ahead of me.

**

Elvira stood at the gates to her parent’s castle, already she could see and feel the devastation that the Lord under the mountain was causing to her father’s unprepared army. The large elven warriors cover in shiny silver armour fought like spirits, one minute they were there the next they were somewhere else, they moved with ease and precision, their joint tactics well-rehearsed, a cluster of silver warriors fought as one unit against Idril’s best and strongest warriors, they were surrounded in a sea of silver and red, but they kept them at bay, Elvira struggled to see beyond that group, and although her feet moved of their own accord towards the battle, she knew it would be insanity to go out there without a good handle on her quasi powers. Just as her foot crossed the threshold into the courtyard, she was yanked back, she turned expecting to see her mother or El, but instead she was looking straight into Tharia’s brown eyes.

“ You can’t go out there Elvira. It’s too dangerous.” The latter shouted in despair.

“ I can’t let him kill them all, he wants me and I will sacrifice myself for my people!” Elvira shouted back, her voice was cracking, that fear of being trapped in the dungeons was slowly but surely creeping up her spine and into her brain, but she would do what she needed to save her people.

“ Are you blind or just stupid? They fight for you, to protect you. You think it was easy for ‘your people’ to lose you too? It was hard for everyone.” Tharia told her with tears shinning in her eyes.

“Tharia, its about time I stand up for my people, I was a silly girl when I let myself get taken away, but now wi can see things clearly.” Elvira turned to leave and surrender herself to Sarnarel, but while she had been distracted by Tharia, ElRey had snuck up behind her and as she turned, he gave her a sheepish smile and using his magic he knocked her out. “Take her to my aunt. They will keep her safe up there. Away from that bastard.”

Tharia picked the princess up like she was weightless and carried her to the castle, the sounds of metal clashing, screams and the smell of blood where making her stomach turn, but Elvira was useless to them if she got killed or taken again.

**

Three days away, in that time Sarnarel would decimate the Blue Forest Clan for her. If only I could get there faster. Stopping the horse I had taken from Al I slide off the creature and slap his hind leg, go back  I whisper to it in hopes it will go back and be safe. I concentrate, I can do this, Al said all I need is focus and energy. I have been to Blue Forest before, I close my eyes and picture it, the beautiful white garden, the large oak tree, the cobble stone courtyard, the grand castle beyond it all. The wind slowly swirls around my feet and my heart picks up beat, I can do this! With my fists clenched I will myself to be in that courtyard and soon the silence of the forest is replaced by the sounds of clashing metal and the smell of warm blood! Screams echo around the place and I shudder. I am ready for this. I open my eyes and survey the situation.

Out in the plains, bodies are Pilling up, the ground is no longer green, its black and red. I spot Rothien in his blue and golden armour, sword skewering soldiers with ease, next to him, his son blasts soldier into the air with his hands, and I know, he has retained Tharias gift. I look for that big cluster of red messy hair but don’t see it. I do however spot Rae, unmissable in his golden armour, they have him surrounded but he is handling himself, that is until a spear pierces his shoulder. The king falls to his knees and tries to pull it out, but he can’t, the blood is gushing from the wound. I feel him before I ever see him. That pull in my lower belly, its a dull ache, and in that moment I know, he is going to kill Rae. I will myself to the battle field and land quietly a few feet from Rae, no-one notices me, too busy watching Sarnarel approaching the King, he says something to him that I can’t make out and Sarnarel raises his sword, I scream and my body vanishes only to reappear between Sarnarel and the king. His movements stop when he sees me. His arms lower but the sword stays in his hand, his grip on it deadly.

“Who are you?” He growls

“Thuria” I offer no other explanation before I blast him into the air, he lands 10 feet away on his ass. The soldiers around me start to get ready for a fight but I know what to do, I enter their minds and inflict pain, not enough to kill them but enough to stun them. They fall to their knees holding their heads howling in agony. I turn and grab the Kings shoulder, I haven’t done this before but I will us both inside the castle and just as I feel the wind swirl at my feet, I feel my back sting, my chin feels wet and warm and I look down to see Sarnarels sword sticking out of my stomach. I close my eyes and will us away again and we land safely in the throne room, where I spot an unconscious Elvira and my sister before I pass out into darkness.