Arimore

“Elara,” Rowan was the first to speak, “Are you alright?”

Mason chimed in, “What in the world just happened?”

“Give her room,” Ravenstone added. She reached to the table and poured a cup of water and handed it to Elara, “Here, drink,” she said as she held the cup up to Elara’s lips.

Elara took a long drink then sat back, “I’m fine, really.”

“Elara,” the concern in Rowan’s voice could not be masked, “I’m worried about you, about all of us. What happens if Calisto arrives and you have no more control of your magic than Arimore?”

“Please Rowan, I’m trying but it’s a learning process. Don’t forget that until just a short time ago I didn’t even know magic existed let alone that I had it within me. I will learn to control this but I need your help and your patience.”

Ravenstone placed her hand upon Elara’s shoulder, “It’s alright child. We will do this together. Go now and get some rest while we try and come up with a plan to help you.”

“I am weary. I haven’t been able to sleep at night with the pull of the moons.”

Ravenstone took her by the hand and led her to the chamber that had been prepared for her. She helped her undress and tucked her into the soft bed. “Rest now child. I will return for you as the evening falls.”

“Thank you Ravenstone.”

Ravenstone returned to the others as Elara drifted off to sleep. When she entered the room she found the two men arguing.

“How can we help her? She is the one with magic.” Mason paced with worry on his brow.

“We’ve got to find a way. Ravenstone, I’m glad you’re back,” Rowan turned toward the sound of the opening door. “Please, tell us you have some idea as to what to do.”

“I may not have all the answers you seek but one thing I do know is that Elara’s heart is mostly good.”

“Mostly?” Rowen questioned.

“Rowan, I know that you love her and I know that you believe she is the kindest most compassionate person alive and you very well may be right. Do not forget that there are no perfect people. No one is pure, not since the great awakening thousands of years ago. We need to remember how Calisto works. The two moons represent good and evil. Whichever dominates the heart will be magnified during the cycle of the moons. Elara’s heart is good. Sacha’s heart is good. If we are to believe Elara, there is good in Arimore’s as well. What we need to do is remind them, all of them of the good they have done. Make them remember. Don’t bring up past mistakes, past failings, past evil. We must keep their focus on the good part of themselves.”

“That seems almost too simple,” Rowan replied.

“Simple, yes but not easy. Remember that the moons will pull what they see at that moment. We mustn’t let the past be what the moons perceive, only the love and hope for a better future that exists now. For Elara and Sacha this task will be easy, they are young and have few regrets. Arimore will be harder. He has much in his past to overcome and the mere coming of Calisto brings that to the forefront of his mind.”

Mason came forward, “How do we remind him of the good without the bad following close behind? We could remind him of how he saved Calithorne’s future King without bringing back the memory of the destruction that followed close behind.”

“That is where we will have to be careful of the memories we choose.” Ravenstone answered, “Don’t bring up good memories that have evil tied to them. Instead remind him of how he rescued you from the tower. Rowan, remind him of the love he feels for Elara and Sacha. We show him that he is good and that’s what’s important. It’s not about what he was, it’s about what he is.”

“What if it doesn’t work?” Rowen added, “We need to have a backup plan, a way to keep the people safe.”

“I don’t remember much,” Ravenstone searched her memory, “I was quite young. I do remember the devastation of the aftermath. There were no trees unburned, no homes left standing, charred remains of both men and animals scattered across the terrain. We wandered for many months in search of a safe place for our people. I believe the underground caverns will keep my people safe. We may have room for more but there is no way we could house all the people from both your kingdoms.”

Mason looked at Rowan, “What about the dungeons and underground keeps?”

“Brilliant,” he replied, “Ravenstone, if you could take as many as you can and we can place others in the keeps…” he paused, thinking for a moment, “it still won’t be enough to hold them all.”

“Are there more underground caverns?” Mason asked.

“Probably but to find them, get them stocked with supplies and get the people there would take weeks maybe months.”

“What would take weeks?” Elara entered the room in the middle of their conversation.

“You’re supposed to be resting,” Rowan chided.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Mason chimed in, “We were talking about a backup plan to get people to safety.”

“I’m listening.” They filled her in on the plan. “That sounds great but we may not have time. Let’s concentrate on finding caverns if they exist. Ravenstone and Mason, you get the people ready. Tell them to take only the bare necessities, food, water and blankets. Once I send word send a garrison of soldiers with each group to keep them safe and calm. Rowan, you and I will go to Arimore and Sacha. We’ll have them take us to scan the area for caverns. Also have someone ride to Calithorne with instructions to get them ready and await my orders.”

They stood there staring at her.

“Well, what are you waiting for?”

“Elara,” Rowan pointed to her chest, “You’re glowing.”

She glanced down at the pendant. It was glowing a warm golden glow. “Maybe it’s the determination I feel…that’s it…the pendant glows in different hues according to what I’m feeling!”

“Then you can control it!” Ravenstone smiled.

“By controlling my emotions!”

“Yes!”

Elara’s excitement was building, “If I can control it with my emotions, maybe I can channel it!” The pendants glow increased with her excitement.

“Easy Elara,” Mason pointed at the pendant that was getting brighter.

Elara grabbed Rowen by the hand and they walked to the courtyard. Rowen had one of the soldiers ride to Calithorne with Elara’s instructions then Elara called Sacha.

“Sacha, can you hear me?”

“I hear you.”

“We need you and Arimore to come to Mardock. We have a plan but we need your help.”

Sacha turned to Arimore. He nodded and they flew off toward Mardock. Upon arrival Elara filled them in on the plan then they each mounted a dragon and took to the sky. They scanned the base of the hills and found several ravines. Within the ravines they were able to find three with caverns that could safely house enough people to keep the Mardocians safe. They returned to Mardock before the moons rose and filled Ravenstone and Mason in on their finds.

At first light Mason and Ravenstone began moving the people to the caverns. Elara and Rowan returned to the sky and found four more caverns closer to Calithorne. Elara sent word to Calithorne and the guards began moving the people to safety.

Each night the pull of the moons got stronger, just as Arimore predicted. Elara and Rowan remained on Mt Crystos with Sacha and Arimore. Each night they would recount the stories of all the good things Arimore had done. Arimore’s heart was beating strong with pride at the good he had done. Each time they began the pendant on Elara’s neck would glow a soft blue.

As the night of Calisto approached Arimore insisted that Rowan return to the safety of Calithorne.

“No,” he insisted, “I must stay with Elara.”

“Listen to me,” Arimore placed the tip of his wing under Rowan’s chin and lifted his head to look directly into his eyes, “I know your heart but you must go. As these final days come I cannot guarantee your safety.”

“What about hers?” he pointed to Elara.

“As long as she wears that pendant I will not be able to harm her. It protects her.”

Rowan wasn’t happy but he agreed. He mounted Sacha and she flew him back to the courtyard of Calithorne.

“Sacha, promise me you won’t let anything happen to her.”

“I would die to protect her, you know that.”

“I do.”

“What else is troubling you Rowan?”

“Nothing.”

“Do you forget that I am a dragon? You cannot hide your heart from me.”

“I overheard Elara and Mason talking. I think they were planning on marrying after all this is over.”

“Hmm…it would unite the nations but there’s one problem with that.”

“What problem?”

“She doesn’t love him and he doesn’t love her.”

“How do you know?”

“Because my friend, Mason is in love but not with Elara. He is in love with Ravenstone.”

“Ravenstone? That’s wonderful! Sacha, tell Elara that I will see her soon.”

“Be safe my friend.”

Sacha returned to Mt Crystos and Rowan walked the empty halls of Calithorne. As he listened to the echo of his footsteps he began to think about Elara and how he felt about her. “Could she ever love someone like me? She is a Queen and I am not royalty. Even if she could love me we could do nothing about it.” Sorrow fell across his heart.

The final moons of Crystos began to rise. Arimore, Sacha and Elara all became restless as the forces began to pull on their hearts. Elara’s pendant glowed but this time it was red, a deep blood red.

“It calls to our natural blood lust,” Arimore took deep panting breaths.

“I feel it too,” Sacha agreed.

“No,” Elara yelled, “Only if we let it. We are stronger together than any pull from any outside force!” She held the pendant aloft and as she did she began to lift off the ground. She forced herself to float in the mouth of the cave blocking Arimore and Sacha’s path. “We can defeat it! Together we are a force for good not evil!” Her arms shot out to the sides and she formed a force field of blue light that shined with lightening streaks.

“Elara, don’t do this!” Arimore cried, “I must get out! The pull is too strong!”

Elara turned and looked at the sky. The moons were almost at full height. “We can do this! Just a little longer!”

“I don’t want to hurt you!” Arimore screamed. He began thrashing about the cave knocking boulders and dust loose from the walls and roof.

“Arimore…No!” Sacha shouted as he threw her to the wall. She landed with a great thud on the floor then rose with fire in her eyes, “Stop!” she growled.

Arimore whipped his head around to see Sacha hunched for battle with eyes full of rage. “No Sacha!” he yelled but it was too late. Ice and fire flew from the depths of her chest slamming him into Elara’s force field. Energy shocked through his body and he hit the floor, stunned.

Sacha then turned her gaze to Elara, “Let me out!” she hissed in a low growl as she ran full force for Elara.

Arimore threw himself in her path keeping Elara from taking the full force of Sacha’s rage. The two dragons slammed into Elara but the force field held.

“Hear me dragons!” her voice thundered shaking the ground causing more rubble to fall. “You must listen! Hold onto the good that is in your hearts! Remember the love you have for each other. Don’t give in to hate. I have faith in you both.”

The battle that raged on Mt Crystos was felt in the caverns and castles for a hundred miles. The people of both Mardock and Calithorne trembled. Rowan ran to the tower to see if he could catch sight of what was happening. He saw smoke and ash rising from the mountain.

“No,” he gasped, “Elara!”

Elara turned her attention to the sound of his voice as the moons began to descend below the horizon. The battle had been so fierce that the mountain itself awoke with such force that the peak of Mt Crystos shattered raining rock and ash on the valley below.

As the last light of Calisto faded from view Arimore raised his head from the ash. He found himself covered in ash at the base of the mountain. His body was bruised and beaten. He rose on shaky legs and howled a long low cry that could be heard for miles. “Sacha,” he cried as he searched the ash and debris for his love.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement in the rocks, “Arimore,” Sacha’s weak voice echoed through the stillness of the dawn.

He rushed to her side. She was bloody and beaten but she was alive. “Sacha,” he gently pulled her from the rocks and laid her of a soft bed of ash. “Sweet Sacha.” A tear rolled down his face landing on her broken body.

She gasped as the love that filled that dragon tear penetrated her tough hide and mingled with her blood. “There is magic in a dragons tear,” she whispered as she felt her strength returning.

“Strong magic when it is shed for love,” he smiled at her.

As soon as the dust began to settle Rowan rode full speed toward the mountain. The silence that fell upon the world was deafening. His heart was pounding and he could barely breathe. “If anything happened to her I…” he couldn’t even complete the thought. It was too painful to even think it.

The valley of Min lay shrouded in thick layers of ash. Boulders lay strewn across the landscape. Rowan dismounted and began searching everywhere for Elara. He dropped to his knees, threw back his head as if howling at the sky, “Elara!”

Sacha and Arimore both heard the scream and darted for the valley. They landed on a grassy plain and stared at Rowan. He was encircled in blue light. He had caused the ash to blow from the valley. He turned his head and looked at the dragons. His eyes glowed crimson red with anger, “Where is she?” his voice rumbled, “What have you done to her?”

Sacha slowly approached Rowan and lay her head against his chest, “She saved us Rowan, she saved us all.”

“No,” he began to weep, “She can’t be…”

Arimore began to sniff the air hoping to catch a scent but the remnant of ash was too thick, “I’m sorry Rowan.” He said as he hung his head low, “I cannot sense her.”

“Come Rowan,” Sacha nudged him, “we must get word to the others of the sacrifice she made for us all.” She lay low on the ground and Rowan climbed on her back. She flew him to the first ravine and instructed his to tell the people that it was safe to return to their homes thanks to Queen Elara.