Uneasy Proposal

Balin held his head, the room was tilting, and the air felt thick like before.

“I can’t remember anything since I was on Galleria and I’ve got the biggest headache ever.” Balin bellowed.

Earendil took a step forward but 129 extended their arm to stop him in his tracks, he frowned at their expressionless face.

“Before I tell you anything else about the proposal...’ Dietrich grabbed Balin’ hand and took a moment to look into Balin’ eyes. ‘Amoeba wants to see you do your speech magic, maybe you could help her with her magic as well.” Dietrich started to change his tone. As if he were commanding Balin instead of asking him, Balin’ face grew warm. He turned and coughed.

“Speech magic...’ Balin coughed again ‘Elves only use speech magic in combat or as torture. Surely, there’s no need for that between comrades.” Dietrich let his hand go, and Amoeba sighed.

Dietrich's stomach ached, and the inside of his mouth tasted tart and pungent, but he tried his hardest to push through his pain.

“Where the dark weakens and the northern winds begin,

I hold my dreams close to me with rage when fears creep in,

I rhyme alone constantly and await here for my end.” Amoeba whispered. Balin looked down at her with empathy in his eyes.

“Which Elf cursed you? Why would they have you utter such riddles?” He questioned her. Amoeba responded with a wide-eyed gaze and Dietrich turned his attention to Balin.

“The pixies have always conversed in rhyme, for hundreds of years it’s how they speak,” Dietrich replied in disbelief.

“No one ever replies in riddles. It’s a curse and a very strong one at that. I may be able to break it for one Pixie, but you would need to find the one who cast the curse or a close relative to break the curse for all the Pixies.’ Balin said, the sorrow thick in his voice, ‘Speech fix, please release.” As Balin spoke his eyes glowed bright, Amoeba opened her mouth and a gold string of pixie dust started to roll into a ball that rose high above them.

Dietrich watched it float above them; each nerve was tingling profusely, the overripen part of him started to sweeten, he started to laugh. The ball spiralled out of control knocking over pillows and crystals in its path eventually smashing itself against the wall. The group watched as the pixie dust fireworks fell gracefully. Balin breathed a sigh of relief, Amoeba placed her hand on Dietrich’s back-patting him softly as he laughed.

“Well, that was no joke!’ Balin chuckled, Dietrich interrupted catching a liquid cough in his hands, the group watched in horror as Dietrich pulled back his blood-stained hand, ‘That wasn’t me, was it?” Balin asked.

“No... this is all me.’ Dietrich said kneeling to the floor and wiping his hand over the moss-covered ground. An idea swept across his mind and a smile spread across his lips, ‘I just need to find a healer who can help me plant the Deodar.” He said aloud rubbing his palms together.

“I thought you were going to get-” Amoeba started but paused when Dietrich shot her an indifferent look.

“I’m a healer... I mean I am a royal born healing high elf’ Balin joined in, taking Dietrich’s hand in his own. ‘There are some illnesses I can’t cure. Are you-”

“Royal Highness Dietrich and Empress Amoeba, your presence is requested in the council Chambers immediately.” The royal guard spoke, his thunderous voice and massive wings filling the entire doorway.

Dietrich sighed, Amoeba smiled at the guard and waved him away.

“Let’s discuss this after the Council Meeting, there are a lot of things to talk to your father about.’ Amoeba said grabbing Dietrich by the forearm, separating him from Balin in the process. ‘Balin you can get ready here and I’ll send a nymph to fetch you when it’s time to sign the treaty.” Amoeba said dragging a hesitant Dietrich as she followed the Royal guard out the door.

“129 initiate protocol guard,” Dietrich whispered as he passed 129.

“Command granted, Captain.” 129 replied.

In the hallway, she kept her hand on his lower back guiding him every step.

“I need him to agree to this because without him I'm as good as dead,” Dietrich whispered over the heavy footsteps of the Royal guard.

Amoeba waited until the Goblin guard was several yards away to reply, still focused on navigating Dietrich down the stairs into a dark abyss. She let her wings stretch out behind her, she started to glow in the black, her skin shimmering brilliantly, illuminating the walls around them. Dietrich coughed, the liquid in his lungs audible more than ever now.

“Even if you get him to agree to heal you, how can you be so certain that he’ll heal you and not just stall planting the Deodar. How do you even know if the Deodar isn’t being harmed whenever you get healed? I think we should consult the council about the Deodar being reborn. It’s another extremely powerful source of magic.” Amoeba discloses as they stepped lightly down the flight of stairs in the shadows.

There was light shining at the very bottom of the steps where the royal guards were, there was a soft vibration emanating from the walls of the staircase as they drew closer to the Council Chambers. Dietrich’s back was damp, and Amoeba held onto his arm instead of patting him, she could sense his strength draining from him when he hadn’t responded to her. The air grew colder as they neared the end of the staircase.

Amoeba and Dietrich both groaned when the sunlight hit them in a wave.

“Remind me, why must we always host these meetings in the Chambers?” Dietrich whispered to Amoeba, she passed him and took her place amongst the Goblin guards as they passed through the long narrow hall.

“Let your eyes adjust before we enter, I don’t want to have to guide you like a cane for the blind.’ Amoeba smiled and twirled around, to let her golden curls ricochet around her shoulders, moving her silks to cover her arms more before reaching out to Dietrich to take his place. ‘Come on, already!”

The doors started to open on their own and the Chambers came into view, the glass floors covered in clouds and the grand pillars of black marble sparkled in the light of the sun. Dietrich clutched his stomach as he slowly took his place alongside Amoeba, a sharp pain etched within him. They entered the room quietly, letting the voices of the council members drown out their very own presence. Amoeba parted from the entourage taking her place among the Pixies next to her father and mother. Dietrich entered his booth amidst the last of the Faye.

An Elder Faye patted the seat beside her and smiled, Dietrich returned the gesture although the smile was not as sweet as her own. Sargon looked down from his throne, his eyes resting on Dietrich warmly, he stood and let the conversations of the members die down.

“Now that all sectors of the Alliance are present, I’d like to be the first to offer a toast to the Alliance guards over their recent victory on Galleria.’ Dietrich caught sight of his father, adorned in priceless gems and soft velvet black, the tops of his peach-coloured wings visible. ‘To the Alliance Crusaders aboard the Cryislis Runner; the brave warriors who fight every day for peace and protection among the stars, to the Emperor to-be and their Captain, my son, Dietrich, may you always be appreciated and rejoice in life together.’ He paused briefly when their eyes meet but continued. ‘For we are Strongest Together, let our hearts never be pulled apart.” He announced taking a swig from his Chalice, the other members echoed him, including the elderly Faye.

Sweat weighed down Dietrich, the pain in his stomach started to spread, every nerve in his body was warm.

The smell of lilac and liquorice bathed the air as Balin scrubbed Earendil’s back gently, he’d rinse it off and start scrubbing his shoulders. Earendil turned and caught Balin’s eyes lost in thought. Earendil extended both his thumbs making a fist with each hand, he kept a fist down at his waist and put his other thumb to his forehead before bringing it down to the other, then patted Balin’s chest.

“I remember Earendil, it’s alright. Once I sign the treaty, we can return home and mourn father... and Lia.” Balin whispered; his eyes stung from the hot tears that started to roll down his cheeks, he turned Earendil back around dumping a pail of water over both their heads and sinking back into the water.

Something within him was dishonest and soiled, no matter how much he scrubbed the feeling wouldn’t wash away and he had no idea why.

The nymphs’ started to dry off Earendil and Balin when 129 stepped into the room, the nymphs’ sprinkled perfume into the air and pour scented oils over the boys before adorning them in satin and silks. One of the nymphs, Maia patted spices on Balin while 129 dried Earendil thoroughly. For a moment his mind was quiet, and he could relax.

> In Council Chambers on the planetary unit: Nepxus<

“We should propose the intelligence sector conduct agriculture production upon Galleria. It’s been known for its agriculture since the time of Ages.’ Titan remarked, his hoofs beat the ground to solidify his sentences. ‘The last two conquered planets are used to refine minerals and host life. Food is a staple which breeds cultivators and life on each terrain surface.” The centaur puffed up his chest as he continued to spew facts.

“Were there no surface representatives that could make the eight clicks journey for this deliberation?” Fenton stated, leading the other council members to start whispering amongst themselves.

Amoeba was starting to feel uneasy at the mention of the Elves, she met eyes with Sargon for a moment. He was still deliberating over what Titan spoke about. Dietrich felt a chill slither down his spine, he didn’t know how much longer he could take the poison inside the Deodar seedling.

That's until he heard the doors creak open and his eyes landed on Balin.