Beginning of the End

The Kingdom of Cellestar

        'I wipe the tears from my eyes, turn around to face Cëlisse and slowly walk towards the forest. Breaking into a run, I need to get as far away from this destruction as possible, knowing the urgency of reaching not only the Southern Forest, but the concealment of the Goldenwood, home of Queen Marlena of the woodland realm of Cellestar. I look over and see my friend, walking towards me, fear filling her beautiful eyes.

                “Cëlisse, if you wish to stay with me, we must go faster.” I plead urgently.

                “Why did you just take off like that Lana? What did you see that made you so afraid?” She says, almost screaming at me.

                “I heard their screams, I heard the riders ordering my people to death. Cëlisse, my parents are most likely dead. I must make certain that their sacrifice was worth something. I have to find their lair and kill them, kill them all and slaughter them like they did to Edilya. I will set their home ablaze and they can all watch it burn before death comes knocking on their doors one by one.

                “We are only children Lana. What do you expect to do about this?”

                I ignore her question and keep running ahead towards the forest, the thought of Cëlisse being left behind tears at what is left of my broken heart.

                “Wait Lana! You will never get anywhere on your own, even as a mage. Please, just wait for me to come with you.”

                “I have not the time to wait. Either you catch up or stay here.”

                I cannot believe I just said that to my best friend, the friend who could have easily left me for dead before the Wall. I stop and turn around to face her.

                “Cëlisse, I am truly sorry. I could never leave you, especially after you refused to leave me. I just need to get as far away from death and evil as my feet can carry me.” I say as tears once again force their way out of my eyes and stream uncontrollably down my cheeks.

                “Just stay there will you Lana?”

                “Do not worry, I will always be her.” I laugh.

                The trees grow thicker as we move from the plains of Edilya to the edges of the Southern Forest. It feels so good to see trees again, though I have no time to waste on looking at the spiky pines of the south. I look up at the sun, already past its peak and speed up, loving the wind whipping my hair and tattered gown like the good old times when I would ride to Draevenna to see my step-mother, Alayna and her young girls. There are even the odd animal here and there, from the chirping birds, to screeching hawks and growling bears.

                “This is like back home to me Lana.” Cëlisse says to me, breaking the silence.

                “I know. You used to hunt here a lot did you not?”

                Yes, just my father and I. My sister Theyanne hated to hurt the poor animals but my father needed help so came along.”

                “Do you have a weapon with you?” I ask. “You might need it here in the forest just in case>”

                “I have come bearing just my magic. I had no time to equip myself with anything else. Finding you was worth the time I would have taken to find means to defend against the wild.” She says to me.

                “It will be alright I suppose. Just keep running and we can sleep in the goldenwood trees of Cellestar, the woodland realm.”

                We look around and decide to take a drink from a nearby stream and then follow it, for it collects into the Pyrian at Cellestar. After almost a whole day without anything to drink, the water, although dirty, tastes refreshing and soothing to my dry throat which had earlier today been scorched by the smoky air. I know I must find food before night falls, but for now, I enjoy the paradise and rely on Cëlisse’s hunting to provide food tonight. I have a bad feeling that my friend might take a dislike to being the hunter tonight, but I have another use for myself. If I can tell Marlena, the ruler of Cellestar of Edilya’s destruction, she could never refuse housing us in her land for one night.

*    *   *   *   *

                I collapse on the ground in pain. I am so tire, but it was worth it at least. Cëlisse stands beside me in awe of the kingdom before our eyes, staring at the golden trees bathed in the sun’s last light of the day.

                “I cannot believe we really made it!” Cëlisse exclaimed, jumping on the stone bridge over the Pyrian River.