Chapter 5

Laverne continued to tear through the army, decimating everyone in his path with his newfound, god-like power. As Valka was using his magic to control the water of the lake to freeze the perpetrators of his kingdom to the walls of buildings, he could see the blue haze in the distance. Valka spoke quietly to himself upon seeing the haze. Maybe he prayed, maybe he wished for the gods to grant his kingdom strength. Maybe it was his final wish.

Laverne grew closer to his father with every villain he slaughtered. When he finally got close, Valka noticed Laverne out of the corner of his eye, hesitant of what he had seen at first. When he twisted his head around from the fight, he saw his eldest child soaked in crimson. Laverne's hair was no longer white but a dark scarlet. It no longer burned with fire, he'd reached his limit. His son was unrecognizable. The boy ambled closer to Valka, one thought on his mind.

Please, body...Hold out...until I can finish this...one final...task…

Laverne's body caved-in in front of his father, Valka yelled out his name, finally realizing who it had been holding a sword of legend. The legendary sword fell and rattled on the stones and Valka brought his knees to the ground, taking Laverne in his arms. "Oh my Gods...oh my Gods. Laverne?" His communication trembled with every breath. Just this once, Valka had been okay with seeing blood.

Valka rested Laverne on his lap, holding him tightly while a hundred-million notions ran through Valka's head. Why? Why him? Why, my son? He didn't deserve this. I wanted to keep my children out of this! He closely watched Laverne's eyes, they seemed faded. Maybe that was all the blood on his face. He didn't deserve this. He still had a long life ahead of him...and they took it away. She took it away!

Laverne struggled to keep his eyes open. He was getting sleepy, his entire body stung. Valka put his hand on Laverne's cheek. His child's skin was turning cold and beginning to change color. He knew what it meant but had no intent of accepting that after today he might have to bury his son. The air filled with the sound of Valka's shrieks, unlike anything any of the Elves or Dragonkin had heard today, the sound of pure emotional pain. He felt like he had squealed until his lungs begged for air.

With that, Valka felt something touch the breastplate of his armor. He had been too wrapped up in his emotions to notice at first. He looked down at his son, Laverne's eyes wide open and flickering with light like a wildfire. Laverne could barely speak but managed to get out, "Are you still going to love me when I am gone?"

Laverne's body went limp, and his arm fell to the side as he closed his eyes for one final time and slipped into the dark.

Do not save me, for I am lost.

Valka cried a hurricane, unaware of the person standing behind him. He hadn't been the only one crying. When Valka's sobs came to a still and silent tears rolled down his cheeks and landed on his dead child's chest, only then did he hear it. Moria had stood there. There are some in the world who would agree a parent screaming from mourning the loss of a recently deceased child was the worst sound imaginable. Moria had heard the worst noise she'd ever heard tear from Valka's throat.

"I didn't...mean...for..." her voice cracked, quickly becoming unsteady.

"Does it matter now?! Are you happy now, Moria?! You've...you've killed your own son!" Valka refused to look at her. He simmered with rage. He'd felt this angry once before in his life and it made him do something he long regretted.

Moria could hear the anger in his voice, it was unlike anything she'd hear coming out of his mouth. Moria had never seen this side of him. She'd seen the irked parts of Valka but not the pure unbridled aggression he harbored in the moment. She was sure if he turned to face her, there would be fire in his eyes.

Moria composed herself, listening to her ex-husband. She knew she had been wrong now. A long pause of silence between the both of them, hushed crying took place.

"I know why you're here," Valka stated, slumping his shoulders, soothing himself out of his raging fit. Laverne's body had gone limp. Valka brushed the blood-soaked hair to the side of Laverne's head.

"No, you don't," Moria retorted to her ex-husband. He was always so sure. More accurately, cocksure, as she had said.

"Then tell me," The words parted Valka's lips, quiet and smooth while tears still streamed down his cheeks.

Moria couldn't bring herself to look at him. She brushed off the selfishness of her ego to hand it to Valka Ingerman. "I wish to fix this."

Valka inquired, "By executing me?" He knew what the past mistakes had cost him.

"Now...I'm not so sure about it," Moria rubbed one of her arms. This was a mistake. She held in her hand an Elvish blade that had yet to be stained. Valka's right. Laverne wouldn't have gotten caught up in the crossfire if I wasn't so irritated by his father.

"It doesn't matter what you do to me. When Laverne wakes, his name will become the definition of vengeance after what you have done."

I will make sure he wakes. He will live out his days like it was intended for him to.

That sentence made her irate. Deep down she knew he was right. She knew how Laverne worked. Valka may have known their child better, as he spent the last three years with their son while Moria went back to living in her hometown after their divorce. Valka held Laverne close to him, apologizing to his corpse through an undertone. Valka felt as if he failed as a father. Ultimately, he couldn't protect his little boy.

Both Valka and Moria heard a rustle in the bushes. Moria looked over to it, her entire head swiveling. Valka knew what it was yet he paid no attention to it, only letting his eyes drift towards it and jerking them back to his ex-wife. Moria sensed some familiarity from whatever was watching them. Whatever it was, it stayed hidden.

Moria turned her attention back towards Valka. "Valka, I'll call them off if you think we can...fix this," she whispered the last part as she gestured all around them. "This" had referenced their relationship that was broken for many odd years. She desperately wanted to call off Xirrhul after the damage she'd seen them inflict onto other elves. "I made a mistake, Valka. I've come to a decision! I was wrong!...Valka, I want you. I want you to be my husband again! And I'll take your daughter and make her mine if it means we can be together again...and I want to make things right." She paused before continuing, "We can be a family again!"

Valka shook his head slowly, "No...not after what you have done today. This is an act I can never forgive...Not now, not ever!" Tears fell onto Laverne's chest as he heard himself cry to his ex-wife.

"I understand," Moria thrust her blade into the middle of Valka's back before hightailing it out of the area. Then you're better off dead. We'll see each other in hell, my love. Indignation and resentment filled her to the brim like a bathtub prepared to overflow. The enchanted sword went through Valka's armor and out the other side. Blood dripped down the front of his chest and mixed with Laverne's.

Valka gasped for air, spitting up his own blood. It hurt like hell.

Did she puncture my lung? He hunched over Laverne. Laverne was no longer covered in the enemies' and his own blood, but Valka's too. It hurts...so badly...Though I have no right to complain. Laverne has had it much worse. He lived through hell, only to die moments later. Tears soaked Laverne's night robe, imperceptibly washing small quantities of blood out. In the end, Laverne lived up to his name. There is a reason your name is the Elvish word for "lionheart", son.

It didn't take King Valka long to decide what to do in his last moments. He put his hands on Laverne's chest. It was an awkward feeling with all the blood and missing pieces of the Prince's flesh. He put his forehead on Laverne's, lightly touching it and whispered to nobody with his final breath, "My son, I have nothing I can give but this chance that you may live."

Moria—and anyone else—could see a blinding light come from the direction of Valka and Laverne's bodies lay and ran back towards them. The crows in the trees of Arün flew away in their mass numbers when Valka's lifeless body hit the earth.

Sellion and Moria had run up to the dead king and prince at the same time. Moria glared at him. He did the same. Sellion saw the blood on the blade she was still carrying. He was rudely awakened to see she had killed both of them.

He was too late.