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"A Children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."
-C.S Lewis
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Rhiannon grunted as she bashed her iron cuffs against the dungeon’s stone wall. The cuffs glowed a sickly white before returning to normal. The former general leaned her head against the cold stone. Every inch of her body, including her wings and tail, was covered in bruises, cuts and sweat.
Though her wings were free to stretch as far as they wished, but because of the corn cuffs every time she spread her wings to try and lift herself into the air they felt like they had been drenched in tar. She clenched her fists, her fingers aching from hours of trying to summon even the tiniest spark of light. The cuffs held her magic back.
The door opened and in walked a centaur warrior clad in black armor. He pulled out a chain from his armored saddle and attacked it to Rhiannon’s cuffs, forcing her to her feet. In the castle courtyard, the faeries of Camlann wailed and cried for mercy as Rhiannon was brought before the stage and forced to her knees.
“Release her!” They cried.
“Let her go!”
“Spare here, please!”
Rhiannon kept her head down. Her sweat soaked platinum blond hair stuck to her face, marked with dried tear stains and solidified blood. She slowly looked up and was face to face with the elven queen of the face; Lilith.
A growl erupted from Rhiannon’s throat and her tail flicked like a whip. The Shadow Queen stared back at her former general, eyes black as night with no white to be seen. Her lips were as red as the blood that stained her nails and her once golden hair had turned a ghostly white. Almost as white as her skeletal-like body. The transformation took place right after she murdered her husband; King Arawn.
The queen towered over Rhiannon, her expression still as a statue’s yet Rhiannon saw the rage and hatred behind her icy stare.
Beside the queen was her son, Prince Balor. Rhiannon’s former bethroved. As a final act of betrayal, she had struck him in the eye and now he was known as ‘one-eye-Balor’ by the common folk. A name he carried with great distain and wholly wiped out any ounce of devotion he once had towards Rhiannon.
Unlike his mother, Balor’s hair remained as bright as the sunshine, long and flowing like a river of gold. Yet his beauty could never hide his monstrous heart. His now lone violet eye rivaled that of the purest, clean cut amethyst.
Rhiannon remained stoic as Queen Lilith addressed her. The queen was tall, poised as though the air itself belonged to her. “I am offering you one last chance to redeem yourself, General. Tell me where he is, and your sins shall be pardoned.”
Rhiannon stared back in defiance. Balor yanked her hair, forcing her head back. She roared in pain.
“Answer your queen.” Balor demanded, “Answer her!”
Rhiannon clenched her teeth, swallowing the pain before she spatted back. “And you wonder why I left you.”
Balor aggressively released her then slapped her across the face. “So be it.”
His mother turned to the crowd. Lightning flashed in the sky, followed by a thundering roar, if the very forces of nature were figthing against the Queen for the attention of the people. Families held one another and trembled in fear. An icy wind blew, making the starving citizens shiver in their worn-out shoes. The Queen spread open her arms, her long torn sleeves resembling bat-wings.
“Fae Folk of Camlann. Do not mourn this traitor. She has turned her back on her queen, her country and all of Agartha. May her execution be a reminder to those who dare question my holy right as the One True Queen.”
She gave her son a short nod. Balor smirked gleefully as he pulled out his sword, casting a shadow right through Rhiannon’s neck, giving Balor a perfect view of what was to come next. The cries of the people was the only music that stirred up any sense of gratification in his soul.
Rhiannon hung her head, ready to accept her fate. She whispered her final words, giving once final glance at the engagement ring on her finger. “I’m sorry, Brendan.” She sealed her eyes and clenched the ring tightly.
“Queen Lilith!”
A voice called from amongst the crowd. Then, all at once, the world became silent. Balor, with his blade mere inches from Rhiannon’s neck, glared at whoever dared to disrupt the execution.
Queen Lilith raised her hand, commanding her guards to halt in their tracks, their swords and crossbows at the ready. The crowd parted as a group of faeries stepped forward. Whilst the people were draped in rags and worn hand-me-downs, these faeries were armed with a variety of weapons, far more elaborate than anything the guards possessed. Some of the weapons they wore strapped to their arms, legs and torsos.
The Seelies. Faerie rebels that dared to defy Queen Lilith and her son. The Seelies parted, allowing their leader to step forward.
In contrast to his armored brothers and sisters, this one elf carried nothing but a simple wooden staff. His cloths were as common as those of the everyday unfairly taxed villager and he walked around barefooted, yet no dust coated his feet. His short curly hair and beard were as black as ebony with tiny white specks that made it seem as though stars had dusted his head. His skin was as white as freshly fallen snow and his eyes were the color of the natural, uncut gold from the earth itself.
Rhiannon was awestruck to see him, then lost her breath entirely when she spotted her fiancé standing beside the elf. Brendan coughed when he saw Rhiannon. One of the Seelies had to pull him back when he tried to approach her.
With his head held high, the elf walked closer to the queen. “I hear you have been searching for me.” He declared.
Balor laughed, pointing his sword at the elf. “This? This tiny mouse is the so called ‘Great Caladrius’? He wouldn’t even make a morsel for my hydras.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Prince Balor. As I am sure you know well enough.” Caladrius said casually, further enraging the prince.
Queen Lilith lifted her chin. “So, you have finally decided to make yourself known to me.” Her voice was lovely to listen to, capable of swaying even the most devoted of spouses to swoon over her.
“Yes.” Caladrius said, unflinching. “I have come to plead for General Rhiannon’s release.”
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“You are in no position to be making demands, whelp! Her blood is our property!” Balor spat, already preparing to strangle the elf, only for his mother to hold him back.
“Your bloodlust shall be slated, prince. But the satisfaction will not come from her.” The crowd gasped when the Seelies leader kneeled before the prince and queen. “I offer myself in her stead.”
“No!” Rhiannon found the strength to stand up but was held back by the other guards. “Caladrius, please! I’ve accepted my fate!”
“Silence, wrench!” Balor roared, exposing his sharp canines.
“You…would take her place?” Queen Lilith asked. “Sabotage your entire rebellion for a woman who has more blood on her hands than even my own son?”
Rhiannon looked away in shame. The twisting guilt in her stomach weighted more on her than the iron cuffs.
“And what of your followers?” The queen asked, “Would they not fight back in order to avenge you?”
One of the Seelies, a naga, reached for her sword, but Caladrius stopped her. “My friends have given me their word. They will not fight you.” He nodded at the rebels and one by one they unceremoniously tossed their weapons to the ground. The citizens cried out, begging for them to not give up.
“Mother, I would strongly advice against taking his offer.” Balor whispered. “This could be a trick.”
Lilith did consider this. Who’s to say the Seelies weren’t bluffing? Then again, it was Caladrius himself who forged the rebellion to begin with. Before he came along, even the idea of going up against Lilith was beyond imagination, and even if they did posses the foolishness to do so, they would quickly learn how futile it was.
Lilith was above all faes. She was the Immortal Shadow Queen. It was she who conquered death itself by taking the life of her husband—the first fae to take a life—and had found a way to keep herself alive for hundreds of years by devouring the disembodied hearts of young faeries.
If she could get her claws on Caladrius’s heart, who’s mere words appeared to hold some sway over her subjects if they were bold enough to stand up against her…if she could posses this power, then no one would ever question her again. Perhaps this lowly, insignificant elf was brought to her so that her full power would be complete.
The power she had gained when she murdered her husband, the blood of his body caked her skin and the rush of power over life itself had awoken her eyes to the truth. That she too held the power, making her on the same level, if not more powerful, than the Great Phoenix.
Her tounge starved to lick her lips at the thought of bitting into Caladrius’s heart as she had done with so many others. She looked towards her son, smirking and Balor reluctantly withdrew his question, stepping away from his mother who had already made her decision.
“Very well, Caladrius. Your blood in exchange for hers.” She ordered the guards to free Rhiannon. Her cuffs falling to the ground and she jumped off the stage, crashing into Caladrius’s waiting arms.
“Please, don’t do this!” She cried against his tunic.
“Don’t worry, my friend. Everything will be alright, I promise. And you know I never break a promise.” Caladrius gently stroked her hair, his touch soothing her trembling body and haggard breathing. He kissed her forehead. “Now go. Your family is waiting for you.”
Rhiannon rushed into Brendan’s waiting arms and the rest of their Seelie brothers and sisters surrounded her. But their joyous reunion was short lived as Caladrius walked onto the stage and got down on his knees, his head erect.
Queen Lilith scoffed at his bravery. “So much for the Fairest Fae of all.”
Balor swung his sword and once the blade came down…
* * *
… The book closed.
“NO!!” Kymera and Gryffin screamed. “Mami, why?!”
Rita held a finger to her mouth. “Shush! You’ll wake up your abuelos.”
“But Caladrius was about to turn into The Phoenix and defeat The Shadow Queen!” Kymera whined.
“Yeah!” Gryffin said, jumping on his bed, which was already a wrinkled mess from the twins’ excitable movements with every word Rita read aloud.
“I know, but it’s getting late. You guys have school tomorrow.”
“But this is important!” Kymera insisted. “You’re always saying it’s important for us to learn this stuff so we can be Seelies.”
“Just like Papi.” Griffin said.
Rita fought to keep her smile intact as she levitated the Codex back on the shelf. “I know, Mijo. But you two already know the story by heart.”
Kymera flopped on the bed, folding her arms and pouting. “Yeah, but it’s still our favorite.”
Rita tickled her daughter’s chin. “The important thing is that you remember these stories, because they’ll be your light in the dark as you get older. But even future Seelies need sleep. I don’t want to get another geo-call about somebody napping in class again.”
Gryffin nudged his sister’s arm. “She’s talking about you.”
Kymera threw a pillow at his face, knocking him on his back. “You don’t have to be so smug about it!”
Rita lifted Kymera from Gryffin’s bed and he curled up under the sheets. She tucked him in, softly kissing his forehead. “Good night, Gryffin. May The Phoenix guide your dreams.” She tugged on the chain of his lamp and the crystal inside dimmed before going completely dark.
“Good night, Mami.”
“Say goodnight to your brother, Kymera.”
“Good night, Hermano Luna,” Kymera waved.
“Good night, Hermana Sol.”
Mother’s Legacy [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f5df7a88-657d-49ad-a7f5-1aa27a928230/dfwzxut-922ebd59-95d5-4b03-b94c-d932c749972e.jpg/v1/fill/w_882,h_906,q_70,strp/a_mother_s_legacy_by_maggiesheartlove_dfwzxut-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTg0NSIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Y1ZGY3YTg4LTY1N2QtNDlhZC1hN2Y1LTFhYTI3YTkyODIzMFwvZGZ3enh1dC05MjJlYmQ1OS05NWQ1LTRiMDMtYjk0Yy1kOTMyYzc0OTk3MmUuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTE3OTYifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.3VKMOMuNvJFOmLKOtT3MgRueC0Qu3or4RFI730Q4xW0]
* * *
Kymera woke up when her bed, and everything in her room started to shake. Picture frames fell off their hooks on the wall and items on their shelves tumbled over. Kymera jumped out of her bed and flew to her brother’s room, which was also shaking.
Gryffin tossed and turned in his sleep as sharp crystals sprouted from his bedroom walls, encasing everything they touched; the corners, the side of his closet, and the edges of his windows.
Kymera shook his arms. His body was drenched in cold sweat. “Gryffin! Gryffin, wake up! It’s me!”
Her voice got through and Gryffin snapped awake. The earthquake stopped and one of Gryffin’s Golem Morphers action figures tipped over the side of the shelf. Kymera swooped in and caught it before it hit the ground.
Rita burst in, pausing when she saw the crystals. Kymera waved her hand and the crystals disappeared in specks of light and dust.
“I’m sorry!” Gryffin cried, “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay, mi amor.” Rita sat on the corner of his bed and pulled him close. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I had a dream.” Gryffin sobbed into his mother’s arm. “About Papi.”
“Oh, Mijo.” Rita gently rocked him back and fourth and sang their lullaby.
Kymera sat beside him, handing over his favorite Golem Morpher: Lux Galahad. Holding his animated hero, and listening to his mother and sister humming their lullaby, calmed Gryffin’s nerves, even tough his tail still twitched. A nasty habit he could never fully shake off.
“Mami, can I stay with Gryffin tonight?” Kymera asked. Rita agreed. She kissed Gryffin on the head, tucked both twins into bed and turned out the lights. In the darkness, Kymera waved her hands and twinkling lights floated above their heads. Gryffin held Galahad close to his chest with one hand and gripped his father’s pendant with the other. A crystal quartz carved into the shape of a unicorn’s horn.
“I’m sorry I scared you, Kym,”
Kymera blew a raspberry. “I wasn’t scared. Nothing scares me.”
“Really?” Gryffin snorted. “Not even spiders?”
“Ha! I squash those little freaks in my sleep!” Kymera laughed haughtily. “Juuuuust don’t tell Ms. Soto I said that!” she shivered in disgust. “She’s one scary arachne.”
The two laughed. As they stared at the twinkling lights, moving in accordance with Kymera’s hand movements, she started started humming the same tune again.
En la oscuridad yo te escucho, aunque no me veas
Me ilumina tu voz en la noche
Dos estrellas se encuentran
Gryffin sang the second verse; Aquí estoy, con fe y valor
El cuento se comienza con ti
The twins picked up the chorus together; Volamos ya, hacia el cielo sin virar
El sol y la luna, nos libera
Me dirigió hacia ti, mi miedo perdí
Me escuchas, me dirijas
Y se que todo estará bien
El sol y la luna, no liberara y nunca nos separa
De tu y yo
Kymera held up her firebird feather necklace at the same time Gryffin help up his unicorn pendant. “No matter what, we’ll always be there for each other. Like the Seelies always say…” she offered him her hand.
“All for one…”
Gryffin clasped her hand with his, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he finished the Seelie Creed.
“…and one for all.”