Kieran, Dana and an army general gathered within a tent's confines. The fabric of the walls and ceiling were plain with visible wrinkles and creases from its hasty setup. The ground was covered with a simple carpet and the chair, upon which Kieran sat, was made of plain wood with a few hastily added cushions.
The tent was dimly lit with only a few candles and lanterns, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
"I don't know how much longer the troops will hold," the general said, "Our soldiers are tired, hungry. They can't keep going, my lord,"
"We cannot yield just yet,"
"My lord, we are outnumbered, outsupplied. It'll take a miracle to survive the night,"
"It's a good thing I'm here then," they looked up as Tieran entered the tent.
"Tieran," Dana said softly. She quickly stepped to the side and bowed her head, like a child who was about to be punished.
Kieran stood from his seat. He marvelled at his brother before coming back to his senses, "It's been a while, brother," he said.
"It has. I see you're still as reckless as ever,"
"Reckless?" he scoffed, "You're the one who ran off to fight an already losing battle and never returned,"
"And you've done any better?,"
"I've done what is right. I've protected our family's legacy,"
"Legacy? Brother, you've stained our legacy. And you," he looked to Dana who bowed her head once more, "You waste the blood of our people on silly feuds. You disgust me the most,"
"My lord," the general stepped in, "our situation is very dire. We're down to the last of our soldiers, my lord. Lord Kô is advancing with Lady Ivelle at his side. Our soldiers are holding off as best they can, but, it won't be long now,"
Tieran sighed and looked at his brother and ashamed sister, "As such as when we were children, I shall go and clean up your mess," he turned and left. Kieran and Dana quickly followed after him.
The vast dark expanse of Nyoxia Plane was filled with chaos and destruction. The ground was scorched and filled with craters from blasts of magic. The air was thick with dust and the smell of sweat whilst the sound of clashing steel and screams rang through the air. Trees were in splinters, their branches broken and charred.
Tieran walked past bodies of the fallen. Some were still and silent whilst others were writhing in agony, their cries, a plea for aid. It pained him to see his people spent so unnecessarily. Amidst the carnage, he spotted the lords. Their steel clashing and magic dancing on their fingertips.
Tieran opened his palms and the wind began to surge and thunder boomed above. Along with the rumbling, lightning struck, sending a flash across the dark clouds, its jagged path etched in radiant white. The deafening boom of thunder shook the ground and vibrated through the air.
The soldiers hesitated and looked up. This was once a familiar scene to them. Lords Kô and Ivelle began scanning the crowd of soldiers and among them, the spotted Tieran.
"It's the king!" a soldier yelled, "King Tieran has returned!"
Soldiers dropped their weapons and knelt, bowing their heads. Words of praise left their lips.
"Lord Tieran," Kô said, "You've returned,"
"I have," Tieran replied and waited. Almost as though reluctantly, Kô bent his knee and knelt before him. Ivelle opened her hands beside her and bowed as well.
Tieran looked over them to masses of soldiers on their knees. The looks of admiration and pride on their faces made Tieran's chest swell. Past them were the mountains. The forests and the rivers. He had finally returned. Tieran was finally home.
~~~
Lily had never slept so well. She sighed in content as she stretched her arms above her. Slowly she opened her eyes but was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. Her gaze wandered, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The room was a jumble of strange shapes and colours.
Her eyes searched for something familiar. But every object and piece of furniture was foreign to her. Even the bed beneath her was not her own. The sheets were a soft black velvet and the blanket was thick and warm.
As her vision sharpened, she noticed the large window to her right. She didn't recognize the view. The dark coloured sky and ashen buildings were unfamiliar to her.
Panic began to creep in as her mind raced to piece together where she was and how she had gotten there. And then she remembered. He called himself Tieran, as in the fallen king of Darkhaven. How was that possible? Then again, she should have suspected something when she found him trapped inside a mountain, but he was so gentle and complacent that she would never have imagined he was the mass murderer the history books spoke of.
The door to her room suddenly swished open and Eiden stood by the door with a tray of breakfast in his hands. He entered and placed the tray on the table in the corner of the room.
"You're awake?" he said.
"Where am I, Eiden?" she asked softly.
"Darkhaven," he said simply, "This is Lord Tieran's castle,"
So this was real. She had hoped, deep down, that she had been dreaming. That Vale was not Tieran.
"My lord wishes to see you after you've eaten," Lily looked at him in despair. He smacked his lips together, "I'll be outside the door," he left.
Lily plopped back down on the bed and dragged the blanket over her head. Perhaps if she stayed there, Tieran would forget about her. Who was she kidding? This was probably her last meal before Tieran smited her for all the times she had been rude to him, laughed at him, teased him. This was truly the end for her.
She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, the blanket was ripped away from her. She jumped and found Tieran standing at the foot of the bed, tossing the blanket aside.
"Skipping breakfast?" he said, "That's unlike you," he crossed his arms.
"I'm not hungry," she said, keeping her eyes low. Tieran walked around to the side of the bed and leaned over, stretching his hand out to lift her chin, making her lock eyes with him. He stood there for a moment before stepping back and standing up straight again. She took a breath, "Why am I here, Be-Lord Tieran,"
It felt strange, having her call him by his real name. Foreign even. That was probably the first time he realised that their relationship would never be the same. She'd never trust him again.
A book appeared in his hand and he tossed on the bed in front of her, "Read this,"
Lily recognized the markings on the book. She picked it up and her eyes widened. It was an ethereal book, "How did you get this?" she asked, "Whose is it?"
"It doesn't matter," he replied, "I need you to read it,"
"I can't," she whined.
"You can't? Or you don't want to?"
She closed her eyes in pained frustration, "My mistress never taught me to read ethereal books," she looked at him.
"Then I suggest you learn how to before I longer have use for you," he walked back around the bed and to the door. His footsteps, a light echo throughout the room.
Once the door closed behind him, he sighed. He didn't like the way Lily looked at him. Full of fear and reverence. He couldn't believe it, but he actually missed the way she treated him. Like an equal. Like a friend. He noticed Eiden standing beside him.
"Make sure she eats something," he said.
Eiden nodded.