Kora raced Shadow across the open field, reveling in the smoothness of Oginalli's gallop. The first snow of the season had fallen, and no one had wanted to miss a chance to play. The others rode slower, laughing as Shadow won, much to Oginalli's fury. He stamped and pranced, huffing. Kora patted his neck, laughing. Dismounting, she stooped down to scoop up a snowball. She threw it at Shadow as he approached. He caught it in his mouth and ate it. Smiling, she watched as the others approached, pushing her hood back, they had all bundled up for the weather. Families were out, walking along the river's edge while children had snow fights and built snow men. The river would freeze solid soon, and then they could ice skate, hopefully without another assassination attempt. She loved the winter. Everyone was dressed warmly, in bright colors. The work for the year was done. It was time to spend with friends and family. She turned to Royce, who had just dismounted a few feet from her, she twirled, and a barrier of snow popped up with a large pile of snowballs. Before he could react, she began to hurl them at him, and he laughed, scooping snow to toss back. The others joined in, every man- and woman- for themselves. Ben jumped and rolled over behind Kora's barrier and plopped a big snowball on her head and she laughed, embracing him. Ben was about to kiss her when he froze. Out of instinct, Kora shot a sharp barrier of ice up, creating a dome - like shield around them. A blade like her Reaper pierced the ice. Kora whipped around, and her eyes could not believe what she was seeing.
Ikalla freed her double ended blade and jumped back. The woman was exactly as she had been the last time Kora saw her. 6'4. skin a beautiful mocha color, her long curly black hair in braids down her back. She wore the Uniform of the Empire's lead general. Long overcoat, in a soft cream, bordered with black. Grey long sleeved shirt vambraces shining. Cuirass with the Demacian crest on the chest, black leggings, and boots. Her eyes were all black, no Iris, her once Caramel brown eyes gone. Before anyone could react, she ran towards Kora again - Using her magic, she summoned Reaper, and crossed the blades in front of her, effectively blocking Ikalla's advance. Ikalla's face was emotionless. There were too many things wrong here. Ikalla was trying to kill her, and Ikalla was dead. This was not her. But Kora could FEEL Ikalla. Her soul. Kora launched herself into the air, so she could move away from Ben. The others moved in weapons drawn and she screamed -
"Stop! I know her! Let me handle this!" Shadow was not for it. He came sliding across the field intent on destroying Ikalla. She dodged Shadow with speed only a fae could have. Kora was barely managing to block her, she immediately turned, attempting to strike Kora's right side with the other end of her blade. Kora parried and blocked again, turning, she spun her blade in a large arch, scratching the cuirass over her chest, belly to collar bone. Ikalla jumped back, then came forward again at force. She was like a machine, never stopping for breath or even worried about her own safety. Kora's brain was scrambling. She had to break this spell.
"Ikalla please, STOP!" There were tears in Kora's voice. Ikalla's face remained blank. Kora's heart hardened. When Ikalla had been ambushed, Drew must have taken her soul hostage. It was forbidden in ancient magic. Ikalla never rested. She was never at peace in the afterlife. How DARE he try to come at her this way? Fury filled her veins, and she began the onslaught, now Ikalla was blocking. Barely keeping up. Pushing Ikalla back, she slid in the snow, remaining on her feet. Kora connected Reaper's blades and began to spin, approaching at lightning speed. They met in a clash of metal, sparks flying.
"Kill me." Ikalla finally spoke. Her voice was dry and raspy, not her own.
"Can't stop... Please... Kill…. Me." Kora was stunned, and Ikalla kicked her blade up. In an act of pure preservation, Kora called to the Fae within, and froze the air around Ikalla instantly. She became trapped in the ice. Ikalla still tried to move. And Kora fell to her knees in front of her sobbing. The others approached, and Royce went to behead Ikalla. Kora turned and deflected his sword so hard; his blade went flying. Shadow circled them, eyes on Ikalla growling.
"No one touches her! I can still save her!" Kora screamed and stood in front of Ikalla, blades drawn, protecting her oldest friend. The others were confused, and concern was on their faces.
"Kora, are you mad? Even now, she is struggling to get free, the ice is cracking! She tried to kill you!" Malik was furious. The field and riverside had cleared, the civilians running, scared for their lives.
"Touch her and betray me on every level. If she is to die, it will be by my hand only! Swear it on our bond! On our family and our friendship!" Kora was shrieking, and she raised her blades in challenge. The others were shaken. They had never seen Kora this way. Whoever this woman was, she was dear to her, for her to claim such betrayal on her death. The men sheathed their swords. Stella and Ludis approached slowly.
"Kora, we can help. But you need to keep her frozen. The ice is breaking, look. We all swear, she will not die by our hand." Ludis was using her healers voice, trying to reach Kora within her panic. Kora whipped around, even as the ice began to freeze. Ikalla spoke again.
"Please… Kill… Me… cannot stop… protect… Kora… love you …. So sorry…" Though Ikalla's face remained as blank as ever, her eyes black all over-tears ran down her cheeks. A sob escaped Kora, and she cupped Ikalla's face.
"I will save you! I promise to put the lives and needs of my vassals before my own always. To honor you and never ask of you something I cannot do myself. I swear to protect you, and to hold you dear to my heart. Always" Kora closed her eyes and she reached for the heart of the earth within her magic. She had not gone this deep since she had tried to summon her ancestors. She pulled vein after vein of the ancient magic. Her eyes opened and they glowed. The others stepped back hastily. The ice melted, and the pair stood frozen, white light wrapping around them. The others were blinded, and Kora felt her magic moving through Ikalla. She felt the darkness of Drew's dark magic, and she burned it away, daring the laws of magic to defy her. This is the will of the last of the Fae, and she will have this defeat. She will not fail Ikalla. She chased the dark magic all the way to Ikalla's heart and her mind. Just as the last bit of black faded from Ikalla's eyes and heart, Kora felt her knife pierce her belly, and Ikalla screamed, the tears pouring from her eyes now. The light abruptly faded, and Kora collapsed, Ikalla catching her. She heard Ikalla's howl of grief and cupped her cheek, her vision going black.
"I promise to put the lives and needs of my vassal before my own, always." Kora closed her eyes. She heard the footsteps of her friend and family running towards her, and Ben's scream of agony. Shadows howling. And Ikalla, sobbing.
"You fucking idiot, why didn't you kill me? WHY?"
Kora woke in her bed, and she was hurt. Her stomach felt like it was on fire. She moaned and when she tried to sit up, she felt the severed muscles in her abdomen, and she gasped, before letting out a whimper. Her eyes bleary, she saw several large shapes move towards her at once, and she raised her hand instinctively, the bed frame growing roots like whips, ready to defend her. Shadow did not care, he bounded forward, to then stop just as quickly, gently placing his head on the side of the bed. He placed his large nose in the palm of her hand. Kora's vision clearing, she started to see her bed chamber was full. Ben was closest to her, on the opposite side of Shadow, holding her hand. The Roots retreated, and Stella, Royce, Ludis, and Malik came into view. In the doorway stood Ikalla. She had obviously been crying. The large woman looked broken. She had changed clothes and bathed, wearing a deep maroon long-sleeved shirt, black breeches, and brown boots. Kora squeezed Ben's hand.
"Ben, baby, please. Tell me, I see her. Tell me she is real." Ben nodded, holding back his tears, the relief evident on his face. Ikalla moved forward and Shadow growled but did not move his head from Kora's hand. Ludis and Stella admonished him softy, each woman wiping their own tears away. Malik, Ian, and Royce stood at the end of the bed. Ikalla made her way around to Ben's side of the bed. Shadow obviously had not forgiven Ikalla yet. It was clear she had not forgiven herself either. She sat on the side of the bed slowly and placed her hand on Kora's leg.
"You should have killed me, Koraline Demacia. I will never forgive you for putting yourself in such danger. " Ikalla's voice was choked with tears, her face became pinched. She fell forward, laying her head on Kora's lap, and Ikalla sobbed. Her friend, her dear friend was here. Her whole body hurt but she lifted her hands and touched her friend. Ikalla's shoulders, head, her face.
"Ikalla I have missed you so much. I was so alone when … when I thought you had…" Kora began to shed tears of her own. She felt Ben's hand on her shoulder, silently giving her his support. Ikalla sat up and, through her tears, looked Kora in the eye.
"The punishment for betrayal is death Kora. I tried to kill the queen of the Deirdren Empire. But these … Subordinates will not kill me. They say they swore and kept me under guard. Give the order Your grace, and I will take my own life." Kora lurched and grasped her belly in pain. Ikalla immediately stood up and she and Ben supported her. Ludis rushed forward, her magic gathering in her hands. She began to heal Kora's stomach, and Stella came forward as well, putting her hands on Ludis's back. Stella was sharing her magic with Ludis. Kora saw how ragged and thin Ludis looked. Malik's face was tight. Ludis was draining herself to save Kora. She felt the pain easing, and she put her hands on Ludis, stopping her.
"I will be ok now, please you need to recover." She gently hugged her friend and her sister. Ludis kissed Kora's forehead and retreated to Malik. Turning to Ikalla, who was clearly confused- but held her tongue.
"Ikalla we - we have a lot to catch up on. What do you remember?" Ikalla began to recount her experience with the ambush, before coming face to face with Drew. She had been drifting in the sea, for what felt like years and in pain. Constantly. When the pain had stopped, she thought it was finally over, she would get to go to the halls of her ancestors. But she had opened her eyes and came face to face with Drew again, and he had commanded her to hunt and kill Kora. She had lost all control of her body. She did not eat or sleep. Ikalla fought every step- but her body continued to move. She was a prisoner in her own body. When she had come face to face with Kora, and Ikalla stopped, the tears welled up again.
"Kora, I am so sorry. I am sworn to you, please know that I never on my ancestors would have done anything willingly to hurt you." Kora grasped her hand.
"I am so happy you are here Ikalla, I feel my heart is whole again now." Ikalla bowed low.
"My queen you honor this traitor." Kora coughed and looked around. Apparently, no one was going to tell Ikalla anything, but she could see Ian and Royce covering smiles. Malik, who was not used to such disrespect, remained emotionless, face blank. Stella was with Royce and Ian, trying not to laugh, Ludis was too tired to do anything. Ben squeezed Kora's shoulder lightly, encouraging her.
"I am not ruler here anymore Ikalla. It has been 1500 years. We lost the war, and the empire fell. 500 years later, The Edens amassed our people… They led the campaign against the men of the gray and regained our lands. It is now called Deirdre, and the far north is a wasteland, where the men of the gray had been banished. Just two years ago, King Malik the fourth, my adopted brother- "Kora pointed to Malik and then to Stella "and my adopted Sister Estella Eden, led our people against the men of the gray for the last time, defeating all the gray but Drew and small number of his followers. Drew had turned me to Obsidian and had used me as a conduit to summon the ancient magic of the earth. I was set free by Benjamin Althan, who is now my fiancé. After I was adopted into the royal family and became Koraline Eden, I now serve my king with our friends and loyal companions - "She motioned and introduced Ludis, Ian, and Royce. "Until Malik and Ludis wed, and produce an heir, Estella is heir apparent. If you choose to remain here, Malik is king. He decides. You must speak with him. They have sworn on our bond that they would not kill you. But I cannot speak further about what my King and my sister decide. We are family now, and I must respect them, as they have respected my pleas to spare your life." Ikalla was floored. Her tears had stopped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"1500 years?"