They were gathered at the shore. Elias was standing beside Tivon, Rea in front of them. Everyone was holding a lantern, watching their Queen say her final goodbye to the General of The Kingdom of Naydawin. They had cleaned his body and laid him down in a boat in a bed of pink Camellia flowers. Rea's arrow was placed between his hands.
Rea leaned down and kissed Ivan's forehead. She whispered something to him – words that were meant for just the two of them. She placed the last Camellia flower in his hand and pushed the boat into the sea. The waves started carrying him out into the open sea.
Rea turned to Elias and Tivon. Tivon handed her the bow and Elias handed her an arrow. She didn't meet their eyes. Elias helped her lit up the end of an arrow with his lantern. She turned around and aimed the flaming arrow into the boat.
Elias saw a tear fall down her cheek as she fired.
When the flame caught, the archers followed behind, lighting up Ivan's coffin. They watched the sea carry the burning star out into the open sea.
He was only twenty six years old.
Elias didn't see how he died. He had been helping Tivon led the people through the hills. He had only seen Rea clutched over his dead body, sobbing, and screaming. Despite Elias knowing Ivan only for two years, he grew fond of him and now as he watched his dead body, burning, drifting away, he felt this sinking feeling in his stomach. Ivan was a friend, a brother Elias never had.
Tivon reached up to hold his hand. Elias took it and held it tightly. Rea and Tivon knew him for all of their lives. He was their father figure, when both Urien and Hemold failed to be fathers to them. He was their sibling, their friend. They were a trio. An unbreakable trio, Elias thought once. Now they were broken, betrayed, with their kingdom in flames, with their people without homes and the war waiting for them behind closed doors.
She stood by the water, the waves crashing into her feet. Then she turned around with tears in her eyes, looking at everyone gathered around her. Rea raised her chin.
"People of Naydawin." Her voice echoed through the valley by the shore. "I have failed you as a princess and as your future Queen. I have promised you peace, safety, yet you stand here now because your kingdom, your home is in flames. You are standing here because the new ruler of Lucine, who murdered my parents, announced a war on us. I have failed you as a protector and I will face the consequences and trial you will give to me." She steadied her voice. "But I ask of you one last thing. I ask you to go to war with me, fight with me for the kingdom they took away from us. I ask you to fight to avenge our General. I ask you to fight for your home.
"I understand if you don't want to, I have betrayed your trust. And for those who want to leave, I won't stop you and I will provide you a safe passage. I lost so much already. A kingdom, a friend, a general, a home and my parents and I know you've lost a lot too."
Rea stepped forward. "I stand here before you because I care. I care for each and every single one of my people. I am ready to fight for you and I am ready to give my life for this kingdom, but I can't win this war without you."
She fell down, knees digging in the damp sand, head bowed down. The crowed of people gasped. No King or Queen of Naydawin has ever bowed down before them.
"I beg you to help me."
Her head was low, ready for rejection, when all the people went down on their knees, bowing the heads even lower than her. At that moment, Elias knew that these people would fight and die for Rea. They would lose and win wars for her.
At that moment, Elias realized that the people had already seen Rea as a Queen.
The days that followed were the most excruciating thing, Elias ever witnessed. He was used of fights at sea, after all he was a pirate. However, at sea most of your days were peaceful and you could see a ship who would attack you at a great distance.
This, however, was different. There was a constant worry when Luana or Cornelis would attack. They were not surrounded by endless sea, which would provide them of time for preparation. It didn't feel as some regular pirate fight. He could've taken care of the sea with The Rose Sparrow, but they needed people on land, especially now with Ivan, Neirin and Amari gone.
Elias kept running around the camp they've set, preparing troops, and carrying out the weapons and orders. There was a cave carved into the hill, where the kingdom kept spare armours and weapons, for if the war might hit. They've taken the children and mothers there for shelter – at least the ones who wanted to go there. A surprising amount of children and woman volunteered to fight, despite Rea's refusal. They've said that if the Queen fought, they will fight beside her.
They had also spread the word around other villages and towns who answered their call with weapons ready to be drawn at the soon approaching enemy.
Most of his time, Elias spent in the planning tent with Rea, who was now not just their leader but a General too, and Tivon. They went for days without sleep, trying to come up with the most sufficient plan that would cause them as least casualties and as few people as it could. Rea refused to leave the tent until she had a plan she was satisfied with.
Days had passed by with no sign of anyone approaching which made everyone even more anxious and stressed.
Tivon helped carry out the food and helped the ones who needed medical aid. Every time Elias had time to look at him, he saw in how much pain he was. When he was around people, he masked it with a smile, but when they turn around the smile twisted in pain. Elias had gone out into the forest in search of Hyssopy flowers, gathering as many as he could find and drying them out in the tent they shared. He didn't want Tivon to fight on the battlefield, but he knew that Tivon's stubbornness would win, so he planned to dry up as many Hyssopy flowers and giving them to Tivon, so he could carry them with him at all time.
One morning, when they've got time to actually sleep through the night, Elias found the side of his bed empty and cold. He noticed that Tivon's coat was missing, so he jumped out of bed, grabbed his coat, and ran out into the chilly air. It was still dark and most of the camp was still asleep. Elias quickly glanced at the planning tent, where a dim light was still lit. Elias ran through the camp, looking for Tivon when finally, he saw him up on the cliffs looking down at the sea. He made his way up and quietly sat beside him.
"Couldn't sleep?"
It was a stupid question. Nobody had closed an eye in days. Tivon only shook his head and then leaned on his shoulder. Elias took his hand as they watched the sun rise up in silence.
"Are you scared?" Asked Tivon, quietly.
Elias was terrified. No days on sea or even in Bradfordshire, no fight had ever made him feel as terrified as he was right now. Elias would've told him he wasn't scared. Oh, how much he wished he could reassure him now. He squeezed Tivon's hand and nodded slowly. Tivon accepted the answer with a nod.
They waited in silence, Elias brushing Tivon's hand with a finger, Tivon listening to his breathing. Then Tivon spoke, voice low and as quiet as the waves crashing into the distant shore. "We weren't meant for this world."
It was the most painful and beautiful thing he had ever said, because it was true. They weren't meant for it. They kept running into danger, always a foot away from death's arms. Their past hunted them and will haunt them for the rest of their lives – the pain will live on with them forever. They didn't belong anywhere, not on land and not at sea entirely.
When Elias didn't say anything Tivon added. "But we can make it work." He looked up at Elias as he turned to him. "No matter what happens next, I want you to know that I love you."
Elias cupped his face and pulled him closer, so their noses were brushing against each other. "I know. I love you too." Elias closed his eyes, trying to hold back his tears. "If I don't make it back from where we'll go, just know that I loved and will love you all along." He took a shaky breath. "I will love you forever."
"Thank you for everything Elias."
Tears fell down Tivon's cheek as Elias pressed his lips to his. Elias deepened the kiss as Tivon pulled closer to him. This could be their last day, their last touch, their last kiss. He didn't want to think about it. Right now, they were still alive, he was still here and he will make every second count. They pressed their foreheads together, looking at each other. Elias was trying to memorize every corner and detail of his face. With his messy brown hair, forcing its way on his forehead, his long lashes, the kindest brown eye, the scar running down his eye, his soft lips. How can you be so perfect?
Tivon brushed a strand of hair from Elias' face and tucked it behind his ear. "Can I braid your hair?"
Elias smiled and nodded.
His fingers were cautious and gentle. He was gently brushing his hair, braiding it into a delicate long braid. Tivon was the only one Elias allowed to touch his hair or do anything to him. When Tivon went through his hair, he never thought of Luana or the pain he had to feel in the past. With him, he wasn't afraid.
When Tivon finished, he gently put the braid over his shoulder for Elias to see. Elias brushed through it, finding little Hyssopy flowers braided in.
Tivon leaned in and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He sat beside him and Elias put his hands around him. They might have just forgotten where they were and what was happening if the horns of war didn't sound through the valley.