The Final Betrayal

Bethenil looked at her hands and her arms and admired the pale flesh. She was lithe yet she had fairly firm breasts. Behind her someone thrashed in the large, copper tub. A woman that looked exactly like her had a gag over her mouth as a caustic fume from the acidic water rose like steam into the air. Blood appeared in the water as her flesh slowly began to dissolve due to the acid. The woman that watched smiled delightedly as the woman screamed beneath her gag as her flesh melted. Mixed with the water the acid would work but much more slowly than without the abundance of water it was mixed into.

Morwen sighed contentedly as she watched the elf thrash until her head dropped below the surface. In an hour or so there would be nothing left of her. Nothing but the water in the tub. The acid was of her own design and seductively she rubbed her hands about her naked form. A nearby mirror showed her how her body responded to how she touched herself. And she smiled and tilted her head as she posed vainly and reveled in her appearance. This Bethenil was quite lovely she thought. She was going to enjoy the subterfuge. That and the feeling of Rhazian’s throat in her hands…

Authiel and Trikan had taken time to dress. They had to move quickly if what Yuma had said was true and he was certain that she was. She had watched Aedael and her together and he had been in her rooms during the attack. Confidently they strode down the royal hall toward the large gaggle of people and guards. Several guards flanked them, men and women completely loyal to Authiel.

Aedael had just come from his room. He had donned his Armor and Weapon and entered the throne room with Verya and her family. Caldoren, Suoress and all of their children were there with them. Suoress and Verya were by themselves talking quietly as Caldoren, Edward and Egwana occupied the children’s attention. Aedael would take the Prince and his family to his people. He was now a traitor to the High Elves but in the service of King Jentru he would be immune from seizure...he hoped.

Caldoren had laid with several woman. Sometimes more than one at a time. Some were young...very young while others were as old as his mother. Morwen had entered her dreams as well but her love for Caldoren and her children were so strong her attempts to manipulate her had failed. Not so with Caldoren. humans , regardless of how they felt about someone were far more susceptible to such magics. She had had to…’do things’ to him to break the spell. However what that had done was set Morwen to try to kill them all she explained in whispers and tried not to cry in front of everyone.

Verya would do anything for her family. Her sister was all she had left and as the eldest it was her duty to protect her...even if it meant risking her own life. She knew sending Aedael away at this point was extremely dangerous, but there was nothing for it. It had to be done. Only Aedael could walk her sister and her family into the High Elf kingdom and Verya knew that they would be safe there. She hated the thought of being apart from Aedael, even for a short time, and though she tried to conceal her thoughts from him she knew he could sense her mixed feelings. Verya's duty was to remain strong and show no signs of weakness, but beneath it all she still feared death as anyone else did. However, to let that fear take over her was something she would not allow. Her people needed her and so she would remain with them no matter what the cost to herself was to be. Glancing over at Aedael, she could only pray that he would be safe and free from harm as he entered the kingdom from whence he was now exiled due to her.

She stood off to one side of the throne room with her sister listening as Suoress explained in more detail what Morwen had done to them. It sickened Verya and terrified her to think that this...thing might be disguised among her people at that very moment. How was she to know who to trust? She hugged and comforted her sister as best she could, hoping to ease her fears.

"You and your family will be safe with the High Elves...Aedael will see to that. This will soon be over and you and your husband and children will be able to continue on with your lives. I will not let this...beast hurt any of you again Suoress...you have my word on that."

Suoress tried to be strong. To believe that all was going to be alright but the close calls and the running had taken its toll upon her. She looked over at her family. Caldoren played with Donella. She was on his lap and he bounced her on his knee. She giggled happy to have his attentions. Edward was instructing Tristan on how to properly hold a dagger. He was too young but it made her smile anyway. She had alot to lose. Everything to lose and though she felt like she was tucking tail in flight from this fight. She knew for her babies, for her husband it was what they had to do. It was then that Trikan, Authiel and General Torelin came into the throne room. Several of his personal guard were with him and all of them began to fan out around the room near the Royal Guardians. Torelin had a smug look on his face. Authiel an uncertain one and Trikan exhibited confidence as they strode in without being announced first or bid to enter. Calldoren grabbed up Donella as Edward took up Tristan. Aedael didn’t move but he was balanced on the ball of his heel. A wolf at bay that could spring in any direction in an instant.

“Ah, I hoped you would be here Verya,” Trikan said and then shifted to allow Authiel to take the lead in whatever this was. Several of the royal guardsmen changed their stance warily as they were joined by the other soldiers. Normally no one save for them were allowed to be armed here but most knew who each other were. They were wary but without any further command from the queen they would do little more about it.

Verya looked up as she heard the doors of the throne room open. She frowned upon seeing Trikan and Authiel walk in unannounced. All of her senses were on high alert and she could feel deep in her gut that Trikan was not who he said he was. She just had no way of proving it. However, seeing the look in her eye put her immediately on edge and though she was surrounded by royal guardians and Aedael was in the room, she desperately wished she had a weapon. She felt threatened and uneasy.

"Halt!" she commanded in a tone that broached no argument. "Explain yourselves immediately. Why do you enter my throne room unannounced and without permission?"

Authiel’s whole heart wasn’t ready for this. She loved Verya like a sister. But they were at war and in war sometimes you did things you wouldn’t normally do. In the palace war and strife always seemed so far away but she had been on the front lines. Her and her scouts in which several were climbing onto the throne room terrace silently. They had quivers that brisled with arrows and bows strung on their backs. She was about to speak but Torelin could no longer wait. He stepped forward and pointed an angry finger toward Verya.

“Verya Laurelen,” He pointedly did not address her as queen which was telling. “I hereby call you a traitor to your land, your people and to your family,” he said. Authiel stared bloody murder at him but decided not to speak of that now. She shifted and drew herself up to gain courage. “Verya Laurelen, I hearby call you a traitor to your land, your people and your family,” she said but her expression wasn’t anger. She was obviously conflicted. Obviously not happy at all. Then Trikan moved and came forward. Caldoren’s eyes grew large as did Suoress’s. The children’s expression looked confused though Edward’s and Egwana looked worried. “Verya Laurelen…” he began but Suoress cut him off. “On what grounds do you call my sister a traitor!?” She snapped angrily. Her lips quivered as her anger seethed through her. Trikan’s own face began angry but shifted into a knowing grin just as Tomelin’s did. Authiel’s expression darkened if anything. Aedael didn’t move but his attention shifted to the shadows that moved on the terrace. And then it hit him. The guards were to engage the guardians while the archers coming in killed everyone else. This was a coup, nothing more he decided. And then he reached out with his mind to Caldoren…

To say that Verya was shocked would be an understatement. How dare they call her a traitor! Anger swelled up inside her heart, but she did not allow it to cloud her judgement. She needed to remain calm and level headed and was glad that Aedael was still there. She felt naked without a weapon suddenly and desperately wished she had one. She glared at Torelin, but one look at her cousin was enough to tell her that this had not been of her doing...she was simply going along with it. However, Authiel had made her decision and would now have to live with it for the remainder of her life. Any sisterly feelings she had for her cousin vanished and her eyes hardened as she looked at her. She had been betrayed by her own blood...the deepest betrayal there was. From this moment forward she was no longer her cousin.

Verya became aware from the corner of her eye that there was movement out on the terrace. She knew that in mere moments blood was going to be shed in the very room where they all stood.

"Let my sister and her family leave," Verya said directly to Authiel. She refused to acknowledge Trikan. She would not give him the pleasure. "They have nothing to do with this. Your fight is with me not them."

Trikan’s grin did not touch his cold, pale eyes at all as he listened to Verya. The urgency in her voice, the looks she sent to Authiel, the appeal in her voice made it clear she knew she no longer had the upper hand. Authiel could not be Queen if her sister or her sister’s heirs were alive to replace her. “I’m afraid I…” He began and then Caldoren stepped forward.

“Suoress will renounce her claim to the throne,” he said quickly. His cheeks colored and his eyes spoke volumes of the anger and outrage inside his head. “Her and her heirs,” he added. Suoress was about to continue toward Trikan then whirled to face her husband, hands on her hips in obvious anger at his words. Violet eyes stared daggers at him. “Are you mad husband!” she said in a strangled hiss as if he were the traitor. Perhaps she felt he was. She could not let this...this farce continue! “You will do as I say woman. Now shut your mouth,” he said in a growl. Oddly a relieved look came over Authiel just then. And Verya would feel it also through the bond. Suoress’s eyes looked like they wanted to pop out of her head. Then, without warning Caldoren moved. Before Suoress could get her dagger all the way out of her dress Caldoren seized her wrist then slapped her across the face. The blow knocked her off of her feet and Eqwana bent to help her, tears now streaming down her face. “Foolish woman!” He growled. “She will renounce her claim, you have my oath on it,” he said quickly.

Trikan shifted toward him but Authiel put her own hand on his arm. Trikan’s hand rested on his sword hilt but it was obvious he intended to draw it and begin the killing, starting with Caldoren. “I will hold you to that oath Prince Jentru,” she said as she pressed her free hand over her middle. Trikan shifted back and seemed to relax but something in his eyes changed. Aedael thought that he looked...disappointed.

“Now!” Torelin said in a shout and everything seemed to happen at once…

The guards attacked the guardians and Aedael moved…

Archers appeared from the terrace and as they loosed their arrows Torelin’s soldiers attacked the royal guardians. Shields and spears met with swords in a simultaneous clash of weapons all around the room. The air around Aedael seemed to ‘shimmer’ as he folded it around him. His sword was in it’s sheath on his hip and then it was not as he began to cleave arrows out of the air. All 5, everyone was aimed at Verya’s heart but had been cleanly struck out of the air just as they were loosed.

To her horror Verya realized that Trikan and Authiel still found Suoress and her children a threat because Authiel sought her throne. With her sister and heirs still alive they would rightfully have claim to the throne in the event of her death. They meant to kill not only her, but her sister and family as well. Verya started towards her sister to tell her to renounce her claim to the throne, but before she could speak Caldoren moved and spoke up for her. It was clear from the look on Suoress' face that she was not comprehending fully what was happening and the very real threat of death before her and her children. Trikan wanted Authiel on the throne and he was going to do whatever it took to get her there. It pained Verya to know that the long line of Laurelen rulers was coming to an end. Her family had ruled the Wood Elves for many thousands of years. They had cared for the Wood Elves and their people had prospered under their rule. But now a Dark Elf was about to end it all. It angered her to think of what might happen to her people. She vowed that she would not go down easily. She would not just give up and allow them to take over...she couldn't.

For a moment time seemed to slow down around Verya. She heard Torelin give the command and instinctively reached for a weapon, but had none. There was movement all around her as Torelin's guards attacked her loyal guardians. Five archers suddenly appeared and Verya could hear the sound of their bows being loosened. Five arrows came straight at her heart. In that moment all she could think of was Aedael and her grief at not being able to spend more time with him. Their lives together had only just begun, but now it seemed it would all end with her death. Verya closed her eyes...readying herself to receive the fatal blows...but nothing happened. Verya heard the sound of the arrows hitting the floor. As her eyes opened she saw Aedael before her...his sword drawn. In an instant she knew that he had saved her life.

Caldoren moved then and so did Suoress. Caldoren flung himself into Trikan and Authiel who had weapons drawn and Suoress flung her dagger blunt end leading toward an archer. “Verya!” Aedael yelled as he cleaved arrows that had been renocked to fire. Aedael pushed one of the Archers with a palm strike and the Archer fell back and off the railing. She screamed as she began to fall to her death. Trikan, Authiel and Caldoren fell in a heap together even as Eqwena and Edward moved to help. They had accosted the General who had tried to unsheathe his sword but had been stopped by Edward who put his weight down upon his hand. There were ropes that led down off of the Terrace railing. Good, elven rope that the Archers used to climb up. Aedael kicked one archer in the chest with his boot and slashed at another’s leg in a wounding strike as he moved past them toward the railing. He looked back to see where Verya was. Was she coming? Or was she going to stay and fight?

Verya was unarmed, but not entirely helpless. Her instincts kicked in when she heard Aedael yell out her name and she began to move. She dashed towards the terrace, where Aedael stood waiting for her. Spotting a couple of weapons on the floor she grabbed them and tucked the daggers into the belt. She hated fleeing, but there was little else she could do. It was clear now that there intent was to kill her and she was of no use to her people dead. They needed to get to safety and come up with a plan.

As she reached Aedael she turned and looked back at her sister. "What about Suoress and her family?" she asked with quite a bit of urgency in her voice. It would be clear that she was unnerved and perhaps also scared.

“Worry about yourself!” Aedael said as he cleaved the line of bows that shifted toward them. The wood of the bows broke apart at his slash and the archers were forced to leap back lest they were cut as well. Aedael pushed Verya rudely toward the railing. “Climb woman! And I will follow!” he said in a commanding tone. A soldier held Suoress but she did not attack her. “Go Verya! We will go to the High Elves!” She said loudly.

Verya hesitated another moment as she looked at her sister. It went against everything she stood for to flee, especially knowing that Aedael, her sister, and her sister's family were still in danger, but one sharp look from Aedael told her that she needed to go. Taking one last look around she finally grabbed hold of the rope and began to climb. She could only pray that Aedael would remain unharmed and follow her.

ooc: New Thread and I encourage you to use your imagination. this world can be anything you want. take liberties as you wish as I am.