Falling Walls

Fanella stayed quiet and out of sight as she followed the tracks of the Water Panther. She had gotten lucky before, but it also proved a point, she couldn't let down her guard. She knew it was dangerous for anyone to move solo, especially a little girl and a light elf. As time went on she had this feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She didn't want Damon to be upset about her losing his sister. And in that moment she smelled pure magic filling the air. It made her overwhelmingly home sick and very curious. She then began to hear coughing. It was Iona. She was cuddled into the Water panther fur and imbuing pure magic into animals who came to join her.

She was stunned when she watched the ancient dark elf practice being used by Iona. Its not like she didn't believe Damon when he told her about Iona's ability, but seeing it was something different all together. Slowly approaching her she could hear Iona crying and her eyes were reddened.

"You did well my friend." Fanella smiled approaching the Watch Panther who greeted her with a purr.

"Fanella!! I didn't know where you were! I was so scared! I… I… thought I lost someone else…" She swallowed crawling over the fur and into Fanella's arms.

"You are so young, who else could you have lost?" Fanella stroked her hair keeping her pulled in close.

"My mom, my village! They were destroyed." Iona continued to cry.

"You have much built up fear and anger. Let me put you to ease, I was there during the fire. I assisted your brother in the saving of your village. Your mother is alright. She isn't aware of the kidnapping." Fanella soothed Iona's tears.

"I don't normally cry." Iona speaks softly after taking a deep breath.

"You don't like to be a burden?" Fanella questioned sitting Iona on the Water Panther and climbing on top of it.

"I think we have far more in common than they ever thought possible."

"They?"

"Our ancestors. I think they made mistakes. The only reason the bad thing is coming is because we haven't fixed the mistakes." Iona wiped her eyes of the last tears and held on tight as the Water Panther began to move.

"What do you think we need to do?"

"Humans need to stop fearing elves, and elves need to show humans that they aren't bad. I think that if we don't get help from the light elves we don't stand a chance. You need me, to help the light elves, why?"

"Well, you know how I was telling you that fear and anger is bad, it really affects light elves. We first start acting on hatred, then we get blue veins, and lastly our eyes lose their color turning black. We turn into beasts. Right now the future king has gotten the first symptom." Despite this information being extremely confidential Fanella felt that if Iona was going to help she needed to know.

"You were talking about the status and the way the kingdom works."

"You do understand that all I am telling you now can never be told to another, right? Not even your brother?" Fanella tightened her grip on Iona's shoulders.

"I understand."

"In my culture a brother and sister born from the previous King and his wife are the future King and Queen. The king dictates how the kingdom relates with other species, while the queen works with any civil matters. The children then learn from their respective parents how to do their jobs. If the King dies, then the future king, or prince must rely on the previous kings council til he turns of age and makes his own council. If the future queen dies, there are very few who can assist the future Queen. This is because the Queen holds secret traditions and ceremonies that are necessary for our survival. If these secrets get out it could get a powerful person to become unstoppable."

"I don't understand." Iona interrupts her. Fanella takes a deep breath.

"You know how you have a special connection with the animals?"

"Yeah."

"Now if a hunter could do what you do, wouldn't that be bad?"

"Of course, lots of animals would die. So if the wrong people got the secrets they would do something similar?" Iona makes the connection.

"Exactly, but in our instances both the King and Queen have passed. I don't think the advisors to my brother are good ones. They are allowing his anger and fear to dictate his motions, they are of humans. I asked that if I found a human that was similar to elves, then he would work on forgiving and possibly start to understand."

"Fanella?"

"Yes."

"I don't think this is a good idea. I know your heart is in a good place, but if fear and hatred are controlling his actions he could use this situation as a motivation for war." Iona shivers.

"I know, and I hope that it doesn't come to that."

"Why is that?"

"Because then the same thing that happened to my father and my aunt will be doomed to repeat. By law if the queen finds the Kings judgements to be unkind or unfair then the Queen must end the King. By doing so, end herself."

"But you are not Queen yet. Why do you have to die too?"

"A bond of life is formed when the King is of age and that is when the next rulers are crowned. He will be king in 10 days, which is why I went when I did. I have never ended the life of another, and I don't want it to be the first and last thing I do as Queen."

"That is a lot of pressure on me. What happens if he hurts or you?" Iona asks.

"That is a possibility. If thats the case I can connect you to your mother. If something happens to you or you are worried about something life threatening then you will have a forcefield around you that no one can break through, until you get to your mother."

"Can I bring the Water Panther in with me?" Iona asks.

"Of course. If she wishes to come to protect you, she will be wary of those who have ill intentions towards you. Is there anything else you have a question about?"

"If more of your people have this… virus… will you be safe?" Iona asks as if she is scared for Fanella.

"In a way… I got blessed by the former Queen at my birth, it allows me to see myself more clearly. I can tell how my actions impact other elves. I can still get it, but I can tell how far I can go before there is no going back. Plus if its anyone but the king, I can purify the elves."

"So, why not purify the king as well?"

"Just as I was blessed to be more aware of myself, he was blessed to not be affected by my magic. It's sort of an equalizer between King and Queen." Fanella explained.

"Oh so if the Queen had ill intentions towards the king the magic wouldn't work, so the only way to get rid of him would be to get rid of themselves as well."

"Right, and if the King wished to harm the Queen the only way to do so is causing the end of themselves as well. It is supposed to strengthen the unity between the king and queen, a shared fate." Fanella nodded.

"And so what happened to your father, might have passed to your brother?"

"Only Rilien, Maeron was born to be great."

"You have 2 brothers?"

"Yes."

"Why can't the other be king then?" Iona was asking all the good questions.

"It must be the youngest male and youngest female. Therefore the elder children can help guide them."

"Well thats stupid… I am sorry… I think that is a bad idea and I think you should be in charge of things outside the kingdom." Iona thought about it.

"You really think so?" Fanella laughed at the idea.

"I mean you believed in humans enough to come out here during a war. You understand humans more than anyone in the kingdom. The ogres would be more than happy to meet you. And you could lead your people back to helping stop the war."

"It is a cute idea.... Look we are here…" Fanella smiled seeing the seemingly empty space that held her heart.

"Before we go inside, Iona you can't tell them about Damon." Fanella slid off the Water Panther and helped Iona down.

"Why not? You think he's amazing." Iona took Fanella's hand. Once she had finished her statement Fanella bent over and tilted her head.

"Thoughts like that will get me in big trouble here. When did I say anything in that manner?" Fanella was very confused. She had always been very careful.

"You didn't say anything. You didn't have to." Iona smiled softly to the ground.

"No more talk of this. I should prepare you. No human has entered my kingdom. We will be absorbed in pure energy. Our senses will heighten, and well it's nothing like you have ever seen before." Fanella took her hand as they began walking towards the case around the kingdom.