Rea 48

TW// Blood, death

It was early in the morning and it was still dark when Rea walked up on the deck to get some fresh air. Ivan was trying to persuade her to get some sleep. She had tried knowing well enough that she wouldn't be able to close an eye. The morning air was still cold, but Rea could smell the upcoming spring. Rea loved spring, especially in Naydawin. She was always so excited for the visit to the kingdom in spring. Of course, Lucine was beautiful in the flowering time, however Naydawin had its special charm – the forest. In spring it looked so magical with its green trees, mossy flowery ground and the sound of birds echoing through the forest. It was enchanted.

It was alive.

For the first time in her life, Rea was not excited to see the spring in Naydawin. She didn't want to go there because it meant she would have to tell her people, that their home will be attacked, by Rea's homeland, that accused her of murdering its rulers – her parents.

She had no fate in this plan, as much as she wanted, Rea knew the people of Naydawin wouldn't stand up with her. Not after what Urien told her.

Despite the sun still not rising, the crew was busy running around the ship, tying down the ropes and securing the sails. Rea sat down on the stairs leading up to the Quarterdeck and leaned her head against the railing, watching the sun rise up from the sea's horizon.

"Secure the gaff sail!"

Rea looked up at the yard of the main mast where Neirin was siting, tying the ropes. Her hair was put up into a messy bun, hoop earrings dangling down her ears. The sleeve of her shirt were rolled up. Even from down below, Rea could see the muscles in her hand tensing with every move. When the morning sun hit her, the earrings and nose ring gleamed. The first rays hit her dark skin, making it shine.

Neirin was working, climbing, and running around the ship despite her injuries. She almost died by the hand of Luana, yet it looked like it was only a scratch for Neirin. She is definitely a Saint.

"It's not respectful to stare with a mouth wide open."

Rea snapped out of her daydreaming and looked at Tivon standing before her. "I'm not staring." Rea said, her face heating up. "I'm just looking respectfully and making an observation."

Tivon smirked and sat beside her. They sat there in silence, still Rea knew Tivon wanted to say something and was just looking for the right time to say it. When he opened his mouth Rea said.

"Don't." Tivon looked at her. "I don't want to talk about it. I will grief them when this is over."

Tivon looked forward, nodding his head. Then he reached for her hand and entwined his fingers with her. Rea leaned of the railing and tilted her head on Tivon's shoulder.

"Does it hurt?"

"Right now? A little bit." He sighed. "It is a constant. I've forgotten it was. I'll just have to get used to it again. It won't kill me."

He said the last part quietly, as he was trying to believe his own words. Rea could never imagine how much pain Tivon had to go through daily, still he always stood strong, never showing his pain. Rea squeezed his hand.

"I'm sorry. I should've known about Cornelis."

"Don't be. We couldn't of have known."

Rea looked up at him. "No, I should. She knew too much. Cornelis knew how to find you under the sea, she knew you were in the village when Elias attacked, she knew Elias killed the boys when he was under the curse, even though nobody told her. She knew about Elysis, Tivon. She knew my aunt when everyone else ignored her existence."

Rea couldn't overlook Tivon's jaw tensing when she mentioned Elysis. "Tivon?"

He looked at her, his eyes darting over her face. Was it pity or sympathy in them? Was it grief?

"Rea?" She nodded at him. What is it? Just say it Tivon. "Cornelis m- "

"Prepare the ropes for landing!" Shouted Nick from behind the helm.

Rea stood up and looked over to the approaching harbour and the castle of the kingdom rising behind it. A gasp stuck in her throat. This was it. She started turning around to allow Tivon to finish what he was saying, but he was already running to the ropes, helping the crew with the landing.

They went straight to the castle. As soon as Rea walked through the main entrance, she stumbled upon Margey. Margey quickly ran to her.

"Your Majesty? Weren't you visiting- "

"Did the words from Lucine spread around." Interrupted Rea.

Margey looked at her confused. "What words?"

Rea didn't want to say it. She trusted Margey, but they were still out in the open. Someone might hear them. "Did the words of what happened in Lucine three days ago spread to Naydawin?"

"N-no, Your Majesty. There was no talk of Lucine. Why?" Her expression suddenly turned into concern. "Your Majesty, what happened in Lucine?"

"I will tell you everything later." Rea took her hand. "I just ask you to trust me. Can you do that?"

Margey looked at her hand, held by Rea and then up at her. A smile crossed her face as she placed the other hand on top of Rea's. "I trust you, Your Majesty. Always."

Rea smiled and looked over her shoulder at everyone. "We should split up. Tivon and I will go in Urien's chambers, Ivan, and Amari to the castle's library and Neirin and Elias should look through the books in every office. If you find anything, come to me."

They all silently nodded and went their separate ways. As Tivon and Rea ran to Urien's chambers Tivon looked at Rea worryingly.

"I'm not sure the others will find anything. I've read every single book in the library and the offices. There was nothing particular useful of witches."

"I know. That's why we are going to Urien's chambers."

Rea knew she was sending everyone on a goose chase. Tivon had literally read every single book in this castle. Every time Rea came to visit he would ask her to bring new books for him to read. Rea always admired his passion for reading. Now she understood why. It was Tivon's escape from his life – it was his distraction from the pain.

They entered Urien's chamber which was left as the previous King left it. The chamber was enormous, the walls surrounding the room covered in bookshelves filled with thousands of books.

"I should've called everyone here."

"There's no use, I've already read these."

Rea looked at him confused. "How? Urien strictly prohibited you from coming here."

"Did that ever stop me?" Smirked Tivon. His eyes were fixed on the door opposite from where they stood. "But I never went behind those doors." He walked to them and tried to open them. "They were always locked."

Tivon squatted down and pulled out his lock picks from his pocket. He looked over his shoulder to Rea. "Do you want to learn how to lock pick?"

"I don't think we have the time to do that." Said Rea, but still came to him and watched.

"You can still watch. You know a lock is like- "

"Let me guess. A lock is like a woman, you approach her carefully, learn what words to use to seduce her and then she gives in."

"N-no. What?!" Tivon looked at her, baffled. "Who told you that? It's more like someone you love. You have to listen to it – to its soft voice, guiding you till you find it and fall into their arms."

The lock came undone from underneath Tivon's fingers.

"I see," Said Rea. "So, the lock is Elias."

She laughed as she saw Tivon's face turn red. She placed her hand on the handle and opened the door. They stepped into a smaller dark messy room. Rea picked a candle by the bed and lit it up. There were books and journals laying on the ground and scattered over a desk. Rea picked one up and opened it on a random page. It was a journal, text too ancient for her to understand. She picked another one. This one she understood, it was written by King Nirmal. Rea showed it to Tivon.

"Wasn't he the grand grandfather of Urien?"

Tivon came closer, looking at a page. "Yes."

They quickly ran over the page. It was a list of woman being accused of witchery.

"How long did the killing of these woman went?" Asked Rea as she browsed through the book.

Tivon immediately started looking through the other books.

"What are you doing?"

"Urien's grandfather's book. It could help us."

Rea helped him search. Suddenly she remembered Urien's words. They said he died in his sleep. But I saw her. She should tell him.

"Tivon?" Tivon nodded, his eyes still on the books "Everyone said Urien's grandfather died in his sleep. Well, he didn't."

Tivon's eyes went up at her. "What?"

"He was murdered."

"What are you talking about? How do you know that?"

Rea turned away, embarrassed for some reason. "I visited him."

"You went to see Urien? Rea, he's gone mad, why would you go there?"

She turned around. "Because I was desperate! And he told me he saw a woman kill his grandfather. She had dark skin and at first I thought it was Cornelis, but-"

"She had white hair." Said Tivon quietly as if he realized something.

"How do you know?"

Tivon looked at her with worried eyes. "That's Cornelis' sister." He turned back to the books. "We need to find this book quickly."

When they found it and Tivon immediately went through it. He stopped on a page of a town that was far too familiar to him. Rea looked over his shoulder – Rhiamon.

"Wasn't that where-"

"Yes." He swallowed. "Something must've happened there. Something connected with Cornelis and probably her sister."

The book said that Rhiamon was known for witches, particularly one really powerful witch. It was believed she had given birth to two children. The King has heard prophecies of two witches – the witch of life and the witch of dead. They would be born to bring the death back to life and to kill millions in one swift motion. If they lived, the world would come to its end. They, and all other witches, should be burned alive.

Tivon looked at Rea, her eyes still on the page. Witch of life and death. That must be Cornelis and her sister. Her eyes met Tivon's. "Fire."

"No."

"What?"

"I don't want to be my parents, my grandfathers. Rea, I don't want to make the same mistakes they did. I don't want to kill innocent women."

"Tivon, Cornelis isn't innocent. Do I need to remind you that she murdered millions, that she cursed both you and Elias. She tried to kill you!"

And then they heard screams. Both Tivon and Rea turned towards the door. "That came from-"

"The library." Said Rea and started running. Though she hasn't known them for long, she knew to whom that scream belonged to. Amari.

They ran straight to the library, meeting Elias and Neirin along the way. Rea's eyes briefly met Neirin's, and her frightened look just confirmed Rea's worries. They all stormed into the library and stopped. Amari was on the ground in a plash of blood. Their own blood. Ivan was beside them, putting the pressure on their wounds. Cornelis was turning her back on them, hands raised towards Ivan.

"Amari!" Cried Neirin as she started running towards them.

Cornelis turned around with a smile.

"Neirin, no!" Shouted Rea.

It was too late. Cornelis swung Neirin into the bookshelf. Cornelis eyes went straight to Tivon.

"Oh, so you've survived." Elias' swords were at once in his hands as he stepped before Tivon. "And you just don't seem to die."

There was dried blood splashed across her shoulder, teeth stained with blood as she smiled.

"Cornelis don't." Said Rea as she stepped forward.

"Rea!" Tivon screamed. "Her sister could be near."

"Evelin?" Cornelis laughed, her crocked laugh echoing through the library. "She is not here. You see Tivon, everyone keeps betraying me."

"Because you break their trust! Because you are dangerous!"

Neirin had recovered from the impact in the meantime and was already crawling towards Amari. Cornelis didn't notice her.

"That I am." She laughed. "Oh, I am dangerous. Everyone fears me."

"The witch of death." Said Rea quietly.

"Yes. That's one of the names." Her lips curled into a vicious smile. "But Elysis called me other names too."

Rea froze. Cornelis knew Elysis, yet Elysis never bother to tell Rea about her, and Rea was certain she was murdered. Her eyes found hers when she realized.

"Yes, Rea darling. I murdered her and you were there, watching me do it."

"It wasn't a dream? I was there when you killed her?" She stuttered. "I don't remember seeing you."

Cornelis waved her hand. "I wiped your memory of me. If you'd remembered, I couldn't proceed with my plans. Now excuse me, I was in the middle of doing something."

Before she could turn around to Amari, Rea took a torch by the door and locked eyes with Ivan. He nodded as Neirin, and he picked up Amari.

"Tivon." Screamed Rea, but he and Elias were already crushing down the bookshelf and pushing Cornelis over the books.

Witches burn, don't they?

Rea threw the fire on her, and the books lit up in a second. Ivan and Neirin joined them by the door as they watched Cornelis' body fight against the blazing fire, her screams growing louder and louder.

Till they turn into laughter.

Yes, witches burned. But not Cornelis.

She stood up amongst the flames, screaming with laughter. She tilted her head back as she laughed on. Her skin didn't burn, her hair didn't burn – she didn't burn. Cornelis snapped her head to them, her eyes glowing brighter than the flames.

Rea, and everyone else, stood there gaping at her. Cornelis' smile widened.

"You can't burn me. I was born in flames of Rhiamon, that your bloodline set." She slowly started walking towards them, flames curling up her hands. "I was born in fire!"

She reached her hand towards them as flames gathered around her hand.

"Go!"

Screamed Elias as he pushed everyone through the door and closed them before the flames hit them. They all ran as far away from the library as they could. Ivan had placed Amari in Neirin's hands and turned to Rea. Her mind was rushing, trying to make sense of everything that was happening. Ivan grabbed her shoulder.

"Sound the horn."

Rea's eyes darted over his face. "W-what? No, we can't- "

"There's no time and no other option. Sound the horn."

Rea turned to the others. "Go. Go to the hills, take everyone with you. They will know." She turned to Ivan. "Go with them."

"No, I'm coming with you."

"You are the General. Lead the army and the people away. It's an order."

Before Ivan could disagree, Rea picked up her dress and ran back into the castle. The horn. It was placed on the tallest tower of the castle, and it was meant only in crucial emergencies – when a war was coming or when the kingdom was falling. Every person knew the sound of it and knew its meaning.

Rea took a right turn, but was greeted by the roar of hot flames. The whole castle was burning. She turned around and headed into the other direction. She will warn her people and if it meant her death, then so be it. Rea ran as fast as she could and when she again turned to her left, she crashed into Margey.

"Your Majesty?! What's going on?" She coughed. "Why is the castle burning?"

The rooms were filled with smoke, and it was getting harder to breath. "We need to sound the horn."

"Horn? But that means- "

Rea pushed passed her. "We need to hurry."

Margey took her hand and pulled her back. "Your Majesty, get outside and go with your people. I'll go sound the horn."

"M-Margey, no you can't."

"You are my Queen and I pledged my life to serve you."

"N-no." Tears gathered in her eyes, stinging her. "You can't."

Margey brushed her tear away and smiled. "You will make a great Queen, Rea."

She let go of her and started running towards the tower. Rea wanted to follow her. She knew Margey wouldn't make it back and so wouldn't she if she stayed there. Rea turned around and ran back outside as the flames grew hotter. When she got out to the Bailey, she heard the sound of the horn. She turned around to see Margey at the top of the tower, the flames slowly crawling up to her. Rea shut her eyes and turned away.

Thank you Margey.

The people and the army immediately started fleeing their homes and running up on the hill looking down on the castle. Rea pulled a quiver of arrows around her shoulder as she caught eye with Amelia, helping a family going up the forest path. Rea was last in the group of them, following. When they came at the top of the hill, Rea looked behind and her heart broke.

The kingdom was in flames. Her kingdom was in flames. She could hear the cracking of the wood from afar, the stone crushing down on the ground. The wind blew at her, filling her nostrils with the smell of smoke. Tears stung her eyes as she watched everything she had been fighting for in the last few year crumble into dust.

Ivan stood beside her. Rea turned to him and placed her head on his chest. Ivan said nothing as he hugged on arm around her shoulder and watch the burning kingdom with her. He had promised her to stay with her and he did. Rea's vision was blurry with tears, but as she watched the flames, she saw someone standing in the midst of it. She brushed away her tears and looked again.

Cornelis was standing on the tower looking straight at the hill – at her. Even from afar she could see Cornelis' hands rise up.

She thought later if she could change anything if she noticed her quicker or if her vision wasn't blurred. Could she stood before him and take the hit? Could she save him before a dark mist penetrated him through the chest? Could she catch him before he fell? Would he be still alive if she noticed her earlier?

"Ivan!" She screamed as Ivan pushed Rea away. The mist pierced his chest and he fell down. "Ivan!"

Rea dropped on her knees, putting her hands on his chest where blood began to spill out. It was spilling out in waves.

"No, no, no!" She looked up at the people and screamed. "Help. Help him!" But they all knew and saw that the wound was already too deep. Rea saw Neirin, holding Amari in her arms. Neirin could help her, she knew about wounds, she could – but Neirin only looked down at Amari and back at Rea, angry. Why was she angry? Then she turned away and started leaving. Why was she leaving?

"Rea?" She looked down at Ivan, the colour from his face leaving him in rapid waves. Rea couldn't hold her tears anymore. "Don't cry."

"You p-promised. You swore on your life."

"There's always e-everyone's time to go." He coughed out blood. "I was wrong Rea. In all my life in serving, I thought you needed to be p-protected." He smiled, blood dripping down his chin. "When in truth you were always strong." Ivan placed his hand on her cheek. "S-stronger than anyone I ever k-knew." His eyes fluttered and Rea grabbed his hand as he whispered quietly. "From dusk till dawn Ameer."

"Ivan, please, don't go." Rea sobbed through the tears.

Ivan's eyes laid on her. "I'm glad I could be y-your friend, my Q-Queen." He reached to her arrows and pulled one out and pushed it into Rea's hand. "Please, t-take me to h-him."

"I-Ivan I can't, please don't make me do this." She could barely see him now, from all the tears that had fallen down her face. "I don't w-want you to leave me."

"I won't." He said quietly. "I'll be with y-you."

Rea sobbed as she raised the arrow in the air.

"I'm s-sorry." Rea whispered.

She screamed as she pushed it down into his heart. Ivan tilled his head back, looking up into the night sky.

"The stars are beautiful tonight." He whispered, his last words into the cold night.

Rea pressed her shaking lips on Ivan's forehead and closed his eyes, smearing the blood on his face. Her head fell down on his chest as she wept.