Celestia's POV:
I was unable to bear the heat of the holy fire. Soon my body was sweating from all the heat. It was like I took a dip in the ocean.
How am I going to survive this? Darius told me that no force in all three realms could kill me. The only thing that can make me mortal is this Holy Fire. This is the fire of the Almighty, and no one can stop this except the Lord.
I sat down in the center of the circle and prayed to the Mighty Aiden that I should be released from this ring of fire soon.
Suddenly, Darius got into the courtroom. He seemed to be tensed. "Celestia, there is going to be a massive combat in the barren ground," he said.
I stood up from the floor and eyed him, perplexed. " There is going to be a combat in the barren ground?"
"Yes, Silver Shadow is standing outside the castle. He is demanding the King to release you immediately from this circle of fire. He threatens to slay the King otherwise."
I started trembling after hearing what he just said. Father Oberon and Theo are going to engage in combat. This can't be happening! They both are powerful, and definitely, one of them is going to get hurt. And I think that it is going to be my father. I must do something to stop this disaster.
"Darius, do something and let me out of here," I cried out.
"But I don't have the power to stop the Holy Fire. No one can stop this," he said. "Only Father can stop this fire."
I started sweating even more than before. My white gown was drenched with my sweat. I can't be trapped in here when my father and my lover are about to slaughter each other. And this is happening because of me!
I have to get out of this fire now. My father says that I am under an illusion, but I am actually in love. Just like the druid said, my heart is filled with love and innocence.
So the Almighty Lord must show mercy on me today. He must answer my prayers now. I knelt on the ground and clasped my hands together.
"Lord, I am going to cross the circle now. If I have sinned, then please burn me into ashes. If I have not sinned, then please subdue this fire." I got up from the ground.
"Celestia, no. Don't cross the circle," Darius yelled. But I didn't listen to him. I started to walk out of the circle with my eyes shut.
After a while, I wasn't feeling the heat anymore. I finally opened my eyes. The Holy fire has vanished. Darius was staring at me in amazement.
"You subdued the fire," he blurted out.
I didn't have time to have a conversation with him. "Come on, Darius. Let us go outside and stop the combat," I announced.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Theo and Father Oberon were standing in the barren ground, which was miles away from the castle. This is where my father combats with his challengers. Until now, he has never lost single combat on this ground. But today, he might lose! And I am going to let them combat.
Theo was glaring at my father furiously. His pale face has now become scarlet with anger. "What are you waiting for? Bring it on," he yelled out.
"No, both of you stop!" I cried out. " No one is going to fight here because of me."
My father was the first one to notice my presence. "Celestia, what on Mother Nature's name are you doing here?" he asked me. "And how did you even get out of the Ring of the Holy fire?"
"The Holy Aiden freed me," I responded and took a step forward to him. "Father, I am not under a spell. I am just in love with him."
"Celestia," my father roared. "How dare you sin like this? You are breaking your oath now."
I shook my head. "No, Father. I have not sinned. If I have sinned, then I would have never gotten out of the Holy circle."
My Father has never been this much frantic. There were thunders in the sky as he stepped towards me. He always manipulates the weather when he is outraged.
"Celestia, you are an Angel. The Lord will agree to everything you say. It doesn't mean that he approves of your actions. You have to acknowledge your sins."
I never thought about it that way. Did the lord let me go just because I am an Angel? But what about the time I stole the crown?. I was able to touch it only because I had a pure heart.
"Father, you do not see the truth. I am pure, and so is Theodore. You are refusing to acknowledge our vitality."
"Celestia…" he roared. "How dare you talk back to your father?"
"But-"
"For twenty-two years, I took care of you as my child. Is this how you repay me? by siding with my mortal enemy?"
I wasn't able to look at his face. I gazed on the barren ground. At that moment, Theo came and stood in front of me like a shield.
"I won't let you yell at her," Theo shouted at my father.
My father's wrath reached the peak now. " Silver Shadow, I am warning you for the last time. Stay away from my daughter!"
Theo shook his head. "Your daughter is my lover now. She has been bound to me for all her eternity. So I will protect her from everything that causes her misery. You shouldn't trap her in the circle of Holy Fire one more time. I won't hesitate to slay you if you try to harm her again in any way."
His words stunned me. So he sensed that I was in misery, and he came here to rescue me? But my father didn't like whatever Theo said.
"Celestia, did you take the Oath of Eternity?" my father asked me.
"Yes, she did," Theo answered on behalf of me. "Celestia belongs to me now."
For the first time, I saw my father cry. It was so heartbreaking to watch. "What have you done, my child? You have sold your soul to the devil for eternity. This is not going to end well. Even the Almighty Lord can't save your soul now."
What is he saying? Theo is not a devil. He is on the side of light. Why doesn't my father understand this?