The Legend of the Seven

The humans

As the seven moved further east they came upon a small cave entrance "Perfect." Ailwin said aloud. He turned and entered the cave, the others followed together they set up camp just inside the cave. Ailwin and Arcaena took the first watch, standing on each side of the mouth of the cave "You did well today." Ailwin said. Arcaena looked over at him "I didn't. I didn't kill him, even though I could have." she said in her matter of fact way. He made his way over to her and took her hands with a smile "I know. That's why you did well. You choose to have compassion for your enemy." he said. Arcaena looked down "There's something else." she said "I think Elzae spoke to me telepathically, and she slowed time during the attack, that's how I got to that man so quickly." she finished. Before Ailwin could respond another voice asked "Who's Elzae?" spinning around Ailwin and Arcaena saw Ayred standing behind them. Oddly Arcaena didn't try to speak, she looked to Ailwin who saw the desperation written on her face "Dear brother, didn't anyone ever teach you eavesdropping is rude?" he asked trying to distract Ayred.

Ayred's growing suspicion boiled over "I asked you a question first 'dear brother'." he snapped. Both Ailwin and Arcaena were taken aback by his sudden outburst of anger "What has gotten into you Ayred? This isn't like you." Ailwin asked still a bit shocked. Ayred's ocean blue eyes began to glow as his rage grew, he pushed Ailwin "What's gotten into you?!" he yelled, pushing his brother again "You're the one that has been acting weird this whole mission!" he continued yelling. Arcaena tried to get between the brothers just as Ayred was throwing a punch, which landed square in Arcaena's face. As she fell to the ground bleeding Ailwin's ice blue eyes also began to glow, he pushed his brother back for the first time "How dare you!" he boomed. Ayred made no attempt to fight back, his rage evaporated at the sight of Arcaena's crumpled body on the ground. Ailwin punched Ayred in the face three times "Fight back!" he yelled. Finally Theoden, Wyn, Celaena, and Shael came running out of the cave, Theoden and Wyn pulled the brothers apart as Shael and Celaena went to Arcaena.

Xenraenia and Soulara were high in the sky as a black mist and three men appeared in the living room of the human woman Celestia. Her long brown hair was tied back, her eyes were almost the same color, she rushed over to the young blond man who was now passed out on her floor "What happened?!" she exclaimed. The black haired man spoke "We ambushed the precious elvish princes'. We would have had them if it weren't for one female. I recognized her." he said hate radiating in his tone Celestia turned to the third man "Gaius, what happened to your brother?" she asked. The man named Gaius sighed "The female Bastian is talking about, she used some kind of magic I've never seen before to slow time. She managed to get to Jareth and knock him out before any of us could react." he explained his forest green eyes never leaving his little brother. Celestia sighed as she examined Jareth "Well he should be fine, he'll have one hell of a headache, but other than that no damage done." she stated before standing "Take him upstairs to the spare room, you three can spend the night here. Celestia finished motioning for the three men to leave.

Just as the three men went upstairs Celestia's front door opened and a young man whose eyes where the same color as hers entered. She looked up "It's about time you got home Kael. Bastian, Gaius, and Jareth are back." she said. Kael laughed "Brighten up big sister!" he said, Celestia sighed "I would, but Jareth was hurt, Bastian says he knows the elf that did it. You should have been with them Kael." she finished. Kael's relaxed demeanor shifted quickly to concern "Is he alright?!" he asked almost yelling "You know I wanted to be there Celest, but Bastian forbade it." he said with a sigh. Celestia hugged her brother "It's alright Kael, Jareth is fine, you're fine." she said running her fingers through her little brother's long blond hair to comfort him. She let him go "Come on, let's go to bed that's enough drama for one night." Celestia said. With that the siblings blew out the candles lighting their home and went to their rooms.

As the sun rose so did Jareth, he grabbed his head "Ugh, what happened?" he moaned. Gaius lifted his head "You're awake! Thank the gods." he said. Gaius hugged his brother "I'm so glad you're alright!" he exclaimed. Back downstairs Celestia was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for herself and the four men, as she set the table the front door opened, a beautiful very tall red haired woman entered. Celestia turned to the woman "Andromeda! What are you doing here?" she asked walking over to her and pulled her into an embrace. Celestia smiled taking in her lover's scent "I wasn't expecting you until later." she said letting Andromeda go. Andromeda sighed "I know my dear, but today is the day Bastian and I go to her grave. When he wasn't home, I figured..." Celestia nodded "You figured right, he's upstairs." she said. Andromeda kissed Celestia on the cheek "I'll see you later?" she asked. Celestia nodded again as Andromeda went to find Bastian.

As Bastian opened his eyes and saw the back of a woman with long red hair, he thought for one sweet, brief moment that Arabella stood before him, until she turned and he saw the silver eyes of Andromeda. He let out a loud sigh "How late am I?" he grumbled. Andromeda stood at the door "About an hour. I'll wait for you downstairs." she said bluntly before exiting the room. Bastian dressed himself quickly and headed down the stairs, he could hear the others talking and laughing as he entered the kitchen. Silence fell as the others noticed him standing in the doorway "Let's go Andromeda." he said turning to leave.

Bastian and Andromeda walked along the busy dirt road in silence, the morning was warm as summer was in full swing. There was a soft breeze blowing Andromeda's long red hair gently around her, it reminded Bastian of the last time he saw Arabella, on a day much like this one. As they rounded a corner a man with a cart of flowers was setting up to start his day, Bastian suddenly stopped and picked up three pink roses, he quickly paid the man before turning to Andromeda, he brushed her hair behind her ear and placed one of the roses in her hair. Andromeda gave him a small smile before they continued on. A few minutes passed before the two reached the grave yard on the outskirts of Cresa, they quietly moved among the graves before coming to a newer stone where they stopped. The stone was beautifully cut white marble engraved upon it was the name Arabella with the passage "Go in peace loving wife, sister, and mother" just below the passage was written "Unnamed babe: in love we send you off having never known this world".

A tear rolled down Andromeda's cheek as she went to her knees and began to pray. Bastian shook his head as he laid the two pink roses upon the grave. Rage began to grow inside him "What was she even doing out there?!" he yelled turning to Andromeda. She sighed "Please Bastian, we go over this every time we come." she said not looking up. Bastian growled "I don't care! Tell me again!" his rage was beginning to boil over. Andromeda stood and brushed herself off "She went looking for you, she heard a group of men had attacked a dragon and needed to know you were okay. She got just outside of town when the dragon flew over head and bathed her in flames." she said anger growing in her now "She was out there because of you!" she yelled pushing Bastian. He didn't even stumble, when she tried to push him again he grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. He sighed "I miss her so much..." he said burying his head in Andromeda's shoulder. She pulled away and wiped her face "Your not the only one Bastian, she may have been your wife, but she was my little sister." she said. Bastian nodded "I remember." he stated bluntly, "And I will avenge her." he said as he turned and walked away.

Back at the house Gaius, Jareth, and Kael were plotting their next attack on the seven, the princes' no longer being their main target, but the girl who had attacked Jareth. Gaius placed a map on the table "Now last we saw the party of elves were headed east away from Naellin, from our intel they should have turned north and headed our way, but we got some information that for some reason they are still heading east." he finished plotting the route on the map. Kael raised an eyebrow "Why would they still be going east?" he asked. "That we don't know." Bastian closing the front door behind him. He walked over to the group and leaned over the map "It matters not. Kael you will be coming with us this time." he said looking up. Kael shifted in excitement, Bastian shushed him "We will also be using the centaurs. Every advantage we have we WILL use this time. Failure is not an option." he said looking at each of the other men. Tension grew in the room as the four men prepared themselves to leave the city and track the elves.