Brother's Plot

Ammon

I looked at Felix, who was still on his knees, as fresh blood escaped his wounds, his breathing becoming more uneven, "You have done well, Felix, lie down, I will have the doctor treat your wounds and make this less painful, Leonard will not go unpunished for his crime against you, little brother, I promise you that."

I bent down to his level, guiding him into my arms, cradling him as tears made their way from his eyes, blood mixed with tears. I stroked his sweat-drenched hair.

"Ammon, I'm sorry. I was a brat growing up. You and Ara probably hated me." I could tell that it was becoming harder for him to breathe.

I couldn't help but smile still stroking his hair, "I didn't hate you, Felix, I wasn't that fond of you, but you have redeemed yourself, your support and sacrifices over the years have made up for your actions as a child. I had forgotten about it all. Just rest now. Forget about it, just know that Ara had no bad feelings towards you, we understood."

I watched as he took his final breath as the color drained from his face and his body grew limp, his empty blue eyes staring at the skies. I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to escape stinging my eyes. I lay my head on Felix's, finally allowing the tears to roll down my face. "I had lost Ara a year ago because of Nicolae, and I now I am holding another fallen brother because of the Shepherd Princes." I bit my lower lip. "They have taken everything away from me. I vow here and now that I am going to take their prized treasures." I looked to the skies, "This means War Leonard, you too Nicolae, protect your treasures, even children lose their lives, I will come for my prize." I looked at Felix, closing his eyes, standing to my feet, carrying him for burial preparations.

Graceona

I stared at the large glass dome of the large room that I sat bathing in. Leonard and I had briefly spoken upon my arrival, and it was due to his request that I took this bath. Despite the mistrust of the man who claims to be my husband thinking about the reality that the dead couldn't walk, especially those killed with the Affliction Magik. This year I have seen my share of imposters with those thoughts I sighed and relaxed, leaning my head back, with a moan of pleasure as the hot water calmed my aching body. Closing my eyes, taking in the scents of pine and forests surrounding the environment, as well as the bath soaps with the same smell, the peaceful music of the Affliction Magicians behind the door soothing my thoughts. This whole place seemed like a dream, though I had concluded that this was anything but the hopes of one day seeing my family together once more, didn't seem too far out of reach I felt a warm feeling. The gladness in my heart seemed to be so foreign, I had almost forgotten what a happy heart felt like it felt good to just let my excitement take over. I took in the spring, as water droplets fell onto my already wet hair, and dripped into the water. The events of the previous year slowly became a memory, a painful distant memory.

"My Lady, the Prince, is here to discuss matters. Are you dressed?" Came the soft voice of the young Siren maid.

I stood up, getting from the spring, putting the bathrobe that was left for me, around me, tying it to cover myself, "I'm decent, Rosalinda, thank you."

Moments later, Leonard walked into the spring house, he looked at me, "You need to rest, my love, I picture our time apart wasn't the best." He smiled, placing a hand on my cheek as I held it, "I've longed to hold you in my arms once more, my beloved. This time apart made me realize how much I truly care for you." I looked at him, a smile now on my lips, though I still had my doubts about this man, I wrapped my arms around his neck, finding myself squeezing the beautiful creature that claimed he is my husband to assure myself that he was real. Though I know, there is no way this is my Leonard, but the feeling of having someone to hold me again like this, was a nice change, "Something wrong, my love?" Came the voice of the man whose name I knew not.

I looked at him with a smile as he smiled, kissing my hair, "How much longer?"

"How much longer for what, dear?" His voice muffled from his kissing my hair.

"How much longer until the Eternal Calm? We have seen nothing but grief and sadness. During this period, when will it all stop?"

Though I didn't see the smile he wore, it felt as if though I sense it there. He finally looked at me and confirmed that he was indeed smiling. " Is the mighty Lupir Warrior getting exhausted?" I looked at him, as he smiled, " I understand the desire for peace and happiness, I kind of would like to see those times as well, but, I won't be able to, I've done too much wrong to enter the new Uzeterra" his smile faded into a frown, and a sigh parted his lips.

" I don't understand what wrongs could one do to not enter the Eternal Calm?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "You don't understand, Affliction Warriors can't get into the new world. It was because of our race that this madness took form in the beginning, the Sirens had nothing to do with starting this war, they just continued it, we will be 'dealt' with after the Great War." He swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Dealt with, how?" I raised my brow, as this information was new to me. I had studied the outcome of this time and the Eternal Calm and having someone tell me different from the scrolls. I was excited to see how this would end.

He smiled, "Eternal Rest. Our fate is to die with the corruption of the world we created while the world is being reborn. We will survive the War but will die more gruesome destruction, burning alive, slowly, and painfully, but I knew what I signed up for back then, I thought it was just a fable, but it's the truth, and there is no way I can undo anything."

I folded my arms across my breast, "Who are you really? What kind of fool do you take me for? I know about this prophecy, and I am aware of the outcome of the Afflicted Ones, and nowhere in my studies does it recite that this race will end in burning. Liar's, and murderers will receive that punishment, Leonard wasn't a murderer, he was a leader who did the right thing towards his people, he wasn't much of a liar either, the War, he fought was to protect a child, where do you get off at dragging my husband's name through the mud, and trampling it, then giving the remains to the swine?" I grabbed the collar of his jacket, glaring at him, "As I told Ammon, keep your opinion of my husband to yourself scum, I guarantee you I won't be pregnant forever I'll have this baby out faster than my grudge will go. I promise you that." I shoved him into the spring, taking my leave.

Christian

The room that I shared with my son grew tense, along with the rest of the east wing. I sighed. "You were correct about her, my son. She's as fiery as her hair. Perhaps the prophecy speaks of your wife, the warrior is genderless and unnamed."

"I wouldn't advise you to get your hopes built up father, Grace studies the prophecy, but her faith in it happening, she isn't a supporter of the theory."

"She mentioned it. That's enough for me to believe that it almost persuades her."

He looked at me with a sigh, taking a drink of his wine." Almost persuaded is as far as you're going to get with her, save your feelings, father. She's not supporting this. Grace isn't that type of Lupir. She's going to demand proof of what you claim. She's not their queen for her beauty, though that doesn't hurt her case. She doesn't need it. Her fighting and the fear she brings to those who know her are all the reliance that she needs to be queen. This minor incident is a piece of cake compared to what she is truly capable of. With August offending her with lies, he got off easy. He better be glad that she is pregnant or there would have not only been tension but also a serious brawl. Grace, don't put up with someone attacking her family." I watched as he smiled. " She is more woman than August can handle, pregnant or not, I suppose. That's my girl." He chuckled, placing his glass on the table.

I looked at him, " Are you going to go calm this tension down, help August? He's one of us, rather you want him to be or not, he may be cowardly, but he is still young-"

"Let me stop you right there, father. Being young doesn't give someone a right to ignorance. Ask Kyra, she knows I don't uphold ignorance, and she learned her place early in life, and look at her today. She's smart, beautiful, and just as lethal. This was because both of her parents believed in discipline, not overlooking acts of stupidity of children." I watched as he stood to his feet, " I'm going to take the wine, after August I feel that I'm going to need it, As much fun as I'm having I'll calm your kingdom down before things get crazy, for my unborn child's sakes, as for August he could use some manning up."

He took his glass and wine, leaving the room.

"That was my best bottle," I sighed, gulping the rest of mine down.