Chapter 24
Gunner POV
As I flew over our lands, I thought back to the time when Solveig would fly out here with me. When we both needed a distraction from all the screwed up things that took place in that palace.
I missed him. He's been gone for almost a week and a half, and already it felt like he was gone forever. He was my only friend, my confidant. I felt like I could tell him anything and he wouldn't judge me for it.
He had always given up on what he wanted , to make sure that we had everything. Which is why I felt like I owed him everything.
Even my relationship with Freya, was because of him. He was going through something and still he gave up on the possibility of having anything with her, so that I could be with the woman I loved.
I wonder what he's been up to these days.. how'd he survive this long in the ice.. I was freezing my ass off and I'd only been there a couple of hours.
I landed on a cliff and morphed back into my human form. I picked up my clothes and started to dress , when I noticed all the commotion among the soldiers below.
I walked towards them to enquire the reason, when they saw me coming towards them, they kneeled and bowed their heads ..
"We'll have everything ready by nightfall, your majesty.. in time for tomorrow" the commander said. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What is happening tomorrow?" I asked him, not caring if I looked stupid for not knowing what was going on.
I saw them look at each with worried expressions as the commander spoke.
"Did the King not inform you. Your majesty?" He asked.
"Inform me about what?"
"We're going to war tomorrow, Your majesty. The king wants everyone ready and prepared by tonight"
War? With whom.. I knew Solveig wasn't back yet, so who would be leading the west wing of the army.?
I always took the east, him the west and the commander took the middle.. so what the hell was going on here??
"Who is commanding the west wing?"
He looked at his soldiers who had worried expressions,and faces that read " don't say anything"
He looked up at me and said..
"Prince Theon is"
By now I lost it. What the hell was my father thinking?? Theon was just a kid!! And to top it all off.. he couldn't even hold a sword properly, how was he going to lead a third of the army??
"Where is my father now?"
"He is at the swordsmith, Your majesty"
"And Theon?"
"He is bidding your younger brothers farewell as we speak. Your aunt brought him as per your father's request , and she is currently taking your younger brothers back"
I turned around without saying another word. My father was really loosing it. Did he not realize that he was signing his own son's death.
I walked into the swordsmith's workshop and saw my father admiring the weapon he had made for him. It wasn't really his style , but that was the least of my worries right now.
"Have you lost your mind father?" I said out loud.
He turned his head and nodded to the swordsmith, telling him to leave us.
" You boys really have made a habit of barging in and shouting. If it were anyone else I would have had there heads already." He said as he laid the weapon down.
"If you did that, you wouldn't have anyone to carry on this sorry excuse of a kingdom of yours." I said.
"Now watch your mouth boy, I only have so much tolerance these days.. now tell me what is that you want?"
"Why didn't you tell me we were going to war? I had to hear it from the soldiers "
"If you took your position as the next heir seriously, instead of flying around with no care in the world, then maybe I could've told you, but that's not the only reason you're here for aren't you"
"Look I know you don't care about anyone else besides your self and your throne, personally if it were just me I wouldn't give a shit about you either, but when you're dragging my little brother into your bullshit wars , I feel the need to speak up!! He's just fifteen years old.. how do you expect him to lead an army!!"
I got more and more frustrated when I saw that he wasn't even listening to me. His eyes seemed glued onto that stupid thing in front of him.
"Where's Solveig .. why can't he do it instead?"
For the first time since I entered this place, he turned and looked at me.
"Solveig isn't here. He's chosen them over us" he said.
"What do you mean?"
"He's sworn allegiance to that King of Ice. He's turned his back on you and your brothers and chose him instead. "
"You're lying.. he wouldn't do that." I said.
"It's the truth. The sooner you accept it. The better. Now go prepare. Help Theon as well. " He as he turned his back towards and continued with his business.
"No"
"What did you say.?" He said as he faced me.
"I will not help Theon, because I will be leading the East and West wing in this battle. "
He laughed loudly at my statement and said.
"Do you honestly think you can do that?"
"I suppose we will find out won't we." I turned around to leave and stopped just before I was almost out.
"Oh and don't bother to call for Theon. I already sent him away with Anton and Anwyll. It'll take him about a day to get back if you send for him now. I just needed to buy enough time for for Rodrick fly them into new territory."
Rodrick was known to be the fastest dragon in our kingdom, even faster than Solveig. He was also our second cousin and looked for every opportunity to rebel against the king.
I watched his face contour into anger as I turned around and left.
As I walked down the hallway to my room, I couldn't stop the thoughts that were playing on my mind..
Did he really leave us?? Was he finally tired of us and decided to leave??
I decided to get ready. Tomorrow I would fight with all my might, I know that is what he would want me to do.
Whatever his reasons were, I knew that he would explain them to me one day.. maybe even when I faced him tomorrow..
________________
I marched out with my men and met the army in front of us. My eyes scanned the men in front of me, standing in rows, but I couldn't spot "The Saviour" and neither Solveig.
Where were they?
As if on cue, I heard a loud, ear- zinging roar above me. It was so loud that it felt like the ground was shaking.
I looked up and saw the most massive dragon I had ever seen in my life. His scales were a mesmerizing blue.He was breathing blazing blue fames across the land.
Just by flying above, I could feel the power emanating from him and drawing us in. He landed in front of his army and let out a loud roar towards us.
I saw the look of fear spread across the faces of my men when they saw this beast in front of them. I nodded at them, showing them that they shouldn't fear anything.
I watched my father grip tightly onto his weapon as he stared at the huge dragon.
Did he really think he could kill the saviour with that??
He morphed and changed into his human self as it was out of principle, that we would fight in our human forms and avoid using our abilities.
The man standing before us, was definitely not the same man we met that night. He much more muscular and taller now. This man was utterly beautiful.. I could see how Solveig would choose him over anyone.
His men handed him his armor and sword to which he put on and faced us. He seemed to be looking for someone amongst us , just as I was.
Where was Solveig.. wasn't he supposed to be in the front lines with him??
Something just didn't feel right. I could feel the heaviness in the air, and not because there was a battle about to begin, no this was something else.
Aside from our gift of fire, I was, among the very few that possessed special gifts. I had the gift of premonition, I could sense when something bad was about to happen.
I couldn't think for much longer , when I heard my father shout to charge ahead. I watched as the two armies ran towards each other and engaged in fierce battle.
My thoughts drifted to other places, and all I could hear were the sounds of swords clanging and flesh being sliced.. the sounds of screams of agony..
In the midst of all this, I saw two soldiers withdrawing from the fighting and nodding towards my father, who in turn gave a look of approval before he turned around and carried on fighting.
I watched as the two walked towards a side door of the palace and snuck in. That feeling arose again..
Something really wasn't right.
I pulled the commander and yelled at him through the loud noises.
"Something is wrong. Hold the fort till I get back"
"Yes , Your Majesty "
I nodded and turned around, running in the direction of that side door. I conjured a fire ball in my palm giving me some light to see ahead, as I walked down the thin , dark corridor..It seemed to be leading me to the dungeon.
What the hell is going on in here??
As I walked on I used my enhanced hearing to find any sounds that could help indicate what hell was happening. I could hear voices, and made out what they were saying, making me run as fast as I could towards him.
__________
Solveig POV
I heard his roar from my cell and immediately lifted my head up..My dragon scratched inside me, trying to pry his way out, but these shackles bounded me.
I could hear the battle taking place outside and the screams of men as they breathed their last. I banged against the bars and tried to get my hands out, but it was no use.
These shackles were designed to contain our dragons. It was designed for those of us, who couldn't control the shift and had to be chained. I never would have thought that I would one day find myself shackled in the very same shackles , that I had shackled people in before.
I saw one guard enter and look straight in my direction.
"Let me out you son of a bitch!" I screamed at him.
"Looks like today's your lucky day.. you're getting out.. just not the way you imagine" he said as drew his sword and took a swing.
I closed my eyes bracing for that deathly blow, but it never came.. instead I heard gagging and when I looked up, I saw blood spilling out of his mouth as he held his sword in the air with his eyes wide open. I looked further down at his stomach and saw a blade sticking out before it withdrew.
He he fell to the ground, and I saw Gunner standing there, covered in blood.
"Brother.. I have never been so happy to see you in my entire life. Quick we don't have time, untie me now"
He bent down and began burning the shackles off slowly.
"I knew you didn't betray us.. I knew you wouldn't turn your back on us" he said as he was burning them.
"What are you talking about?" I said as I pulled my hands to make it easier and go faster.
"Father said you swore allegiance to The Saviour and chose him. He said that you didn't return home and would fight with him"
"Well technically I did swear allegiance to him, but it was under entirely different circumstances. I came back to talk father into surrendering"
"How'd that work out for you huh?"
"I ended up in here"
I saw that he wasn't even close to getting them off.
"Gunner there isn't time, listen to me.. he isn't the enemy..I don't have time to give you all the details now, but trust me..father is the real enemy here..he has a sword that can kill him. You need to get that sword away from him and make sure he doesn't go near Ragnor..I'll get out of here, so you go"
I saw him look at me with a look as though something had dawned upon him.
"Solveig.. father doesn't have a sword.. he has a spear. He can kill him even if he isn't near him. All he needs is a good aim"
I felt panic rise within me as I heard each word that he was saying.
"Go. Now.. I'll get out of here"
I watched him get up and run out. I only prayed that he would get there in time.
I pulled and tugged the stupid chains that bounded me. I swore that if I got out of here alive, I was going to burn every single one of these damn chains.
In between my tugging I heard his roar.. making my heart stop.
It was filled with pain and anguish. With agony and grief. With sorrow and sadness. With despair and suffering.
It was enough to give me the strength I needed, and I broke the chains off me and ran out.
I ran down the hallway ripping away my clothing as I ran. Once I was outside , I wasted no time and shifted into my dragon.
I roared and flew over the battle field , spitting out fire, as I flew , I saw that all the soldiers had stopped and were all looking at something.
As I roared I saw that all of them lifted their heads towards me and watched me land.
I pushed past them, not caring about my naked state, trying to get to him. Seeing this, they started moving out of my way, and giving me way to pass through, making it easy for me, so I started running.
I ran till I stopped in front of them and dropped to my knees. The sight in front of me was enough to stop my heart completely and render me dead. The only thing assuring me that I was alive, was the sound of my uneven breathing.
Gunner was holding Ragnor in his arms as the blood was spilling out of his mouth and down his bare chest. I looked down and saw the spear going right through his stomach. He must have shifted during the battle, making it easy for my bastard of a father to aim at him.
I couldn't stop the tears that flowed down my cheeks as I made my way towards him. I ignored their shocked faces when they saw my tears.
No one had ever seen me cry before, and now I didn't care at all. All I could care about, was the sight of the love of my life dying.
"I'm sorry brother.. I didn't make it in time. All I saw was him falling from the sky"
I took him into my arms and held his head against my chest as I cried profusely. His eyes were closed but I could hear his heartbeat.. it was faint.. but it was there..
"Nooo.. it wasn't supposed to happen like this.. I was supposed to protect you" I screamed and cried out.
All you could hear was the sound of my screams and cries. Everyone around us made not a single sound, all of them just watched.
"Noo..Please... please .. don't leave me" I yelled out as I buried my face in his neck.
My mind played the images in my head that I saw that night. How I held his dying body in my arms..
I placed my hands on the side of his face and placed my forehead on his.
"Please baby... come back to me" I cried and sniffed kissing his lips gently. I could hear his heartbeat slowly flatline.
I widened my eyes when I couldn't hear his heartbeat anymore. I began screaming uncontrollably..not caring about the tons of soldiers that surrounded us.
I didn't get to tell him. He died without knowing.
Was all I could think about as I cried and held his numb body in my arms. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up through my tears. I saw Gunner with tears in his eyes as he said
"He's gone brother.. I'm so sorry"
I looked around and saw that almost all the soldiers had tears in their eyes. One by one, they all dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.
"Long live the Savior... Long live the Saviour " they all chanted.
"Get up you fools.. what are you doing.. he was weak.. and now he's dead.. let's rejoice"
Once I heard that voice I felt rage and anger flood through me, more powerful than I have ever felt before. I wanted to kill.
I got up and handed his body to Gunner as I walked in the direction of my father. My eyes were now blood-red of the tears.
He saw me walking up to him.
"Well, if it isn't the man lover, you're lucky I'm not.." he didn't get to finish his sentence, as I drove my hand through him, making it come out on the other side of his stomach.
He gagged and gripped onto my shoulders as his knees began to wobble.
"This is for the love of my life" I said as I withdrew my hand and pushed it back in, making another hole in him.
"And this is for my mother. " I said as I felt his spine. I wrapped my hand around it and ripped it out, breaking his spine.
He fell to the ground dead, in an instant. I turned around and was met with everyone's shocked gazes as they stood still like pillars. I walked pass all of them, and took my love's body in my hands and made my way to my room.
I laid him gently on my bed. Gunner had removed the spear from his body, and tied a cloth to it, preventing more blood.
I took his hand in mine and kissed it. I looked at his pale face, and pushed the hair out of it.
He's gone.
I thought. I laid my head down on the bed and cried. In the midst of my cries, I felt a strong vibration around me.
I looked up and saw that everything was shaking. The ornaments on the shelves started falling down one by one and smashing into pieces.
A bright light covered the room making me use my hand to cover my eyes. When the light subsided, I removed my hand, finding Asmodeus standing in the middle of my room.
He walked towards Ragnor and placed his hand on his chest and closed his eyes.
"Can you save him.. please.. I'll do anything .. just save him." He opened his eyes and said.
"I'm afraid his soul had already departed.. however since he already possessed half of your soul, I cannot use yours to bring him back, without killing you"
"Do it. Whatever it takes.. bring him back.. even if it means I have to die."
"Brother ! Does he really mean that much to you?" Gunner asked from where he was standing , in the door way.
He walked towards us and stood behind me, looking at Ragnor's face.
"He means everything to me. He's my heart, my soul, my life... my everything."I said as I kissed his hand.
"I wasn't finished yet. I was about to say that I couldn't split your soul, but I can however split your heart. "
Only true soulmates could share a heart and still live on. I read about it, but I have never met two people who actually lived it.
He laid me down next to Ragnor, as he placed his one palm on my heart and the other on Ragnor's. He recited something, making his hands glow. I felt a searing pain in my chest. Like a sword was being driven through it.
I gripped onto the sheets and gritted my teeth. I felt burning everywhere, before he sunk his hand into my chest, taking out my heart.
I watched him hold it in his hand for a brief second, before I saw blackness.