Queen Arrabella

CHAPTER 3

Ten minutes passed since the fight started, with in that ten minutes, Daniel and Michael appeared with a little sweats on their forehead. As expected from the princes and members of High Royal Guards. Both were amazing on their own abilities. Daniel, who happened to held two kinds of elements; lightning and water elements. Plus his special ability which was the Illusion magic. Indeed he was a force to be reckoned with while Michael held only one element; the fire element. But Michael also a powerful healer. His ancestor known to be of Elf bloods who happened to be an ancient healing bloodline. Michael was a former student of High Queen of Mavis Ancienterre. Queen Arrabella firestone known as the best healer amongst the land of mystical world.

Michael healing nature can also be dangerous just like Daniel's Illusion magic. Even though, Michael only had one element, still he was been choosed as one of the member of High Royal gaurds. Because of his healing ability not to mention, his skills in martial arts. It was exceptional, even Nathaniel named as the most powerful man had a hard time fighting Michael when it comes to physical skills. Well, he could not be called the son of ancient Master of physical attacks if his that lousy.

Michael father was one of the seven kings of Mavis Ancienterre. He is Torren Connor half elf, half Marv. His bloodline was one of pure bloods. His abilities was known as physical skills or Master experts of Martial arts also he is known as a healer too, like his son.

"You guys done already too?" Zeke asked to the two men that just arrived.

"Nathan, those men are not from this lands. They has markings" Daniel said still in thought.

"I noticed" Nathan answered.

"Does the man you fight with, his markings scattered too?" Michael asked.

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked whose interest been piqued.

"The one cloak man I fought with, has this marking on its shoulder. It was of a skull and a horn encloses by black circle thats like of eclipse moon. As when we are on the verge of the fight. He undone a force, a very powerful one. Doing it, his marking on his shoulders scattered around his body which abled to give him such power" Michael uttered in curiousity.

"No. My fight ended in a minute. I happened to killed him easily" he said stoically.

"Conceited!" Zeke teased him.

"No. Am not. What I said was true."

The four men laughed boisterously to Nathaniel's crimson face. "Nathan, are you embarrassed?" Daniel asked him chuckling.

"Quit it man. I'm serious here."

"Come one live a little. Its not everytime we can laugh like this and annoy each other" Michael uttered between his laugh.

"What happened?" Raphael who butted in and oblivious to what was happening. When Zeke put the barrier earlier, they decided, Raphael to gaurd the carriage.

"Oh come on, you are said to be the gossip prince, yet you don't know what's going on?" Gabriel who tsked.

Once again the laughter errupted. Nathaniel who's in a stoic mood also laugh but, a though crossed his mind. A mark that scatter huh! This must be resolves immediately. This unknown power that trying to appeared must cut off immediately. Nathaniel has a bad feeling about it.

His gaze scanned the land where the boundary of Marv resides. Just a kilometer away and home sweet home. His gaze landed on his comrades who by chance teasing each other. Admittedly, he misses it too. the naughtiness, the joyous days, their youths. Yes, it was a happy memories to reminisced.

His thought cut off when he sense five pairs of eyes was on him. "What?" He asked.

"Your mind wander again" Zeke uttered.

"Just having a thought" he answered lowly. "Lets get out of here. Its time to step foot again in our primary land" he uttered with little excitement.

"Hell, yeah!" The men shouted at the same time.

Nathaniel went closer to the carriage. Its a good thing, the enemies did not harm their horses. Gabriel awhile ago cast an immobile spell on the horses. It was an art magic that they learned on the academy.

Gabriel was the best in art magic. Maybe, chanting was his forte. While, he- he's good in runes and chanting too. Actually he got thirty art magic that he made on his own. One of it he uses four days ago when he was fighting the Darfetious armies. His art magic no. 20, the purifying death. It was a magic that of light element. A purifying death is a magic that purifies those who has malice inside them which was best applies on the human beasts creatures but, it can also applied in every beings including the mythical creature. When the light touches one itself, the stronger the malice the nearest to death.

Gabriel undid the magic he cast on the horses while Ezekeil did thesame on the barrier he put on the carriage. Nathaniel climbed the carriage and found the youngman in the same position. Soon, Daniel followed suit together with Michael. While Ezekeil, Gabriel and Raphael rode the horses carrying the carriage.

Reaching the Marv boundary, the carriage halted again. The Marvellous land is being wrapped by a barrier a powerful one at that. A barrier that hinders the connecting soils to easily entered the premises of the land, unless they request a passed. But the barrier can be opened outside by chanting the key to open it. The members of the High Royal Guards knew the chanting spell. Only them and the highest officials of Marv knew the key.

Since Gabriel was the best in spells, he's the one tasked to open the barrier. Gabriel chanted an ancient dialect perfectly. The barrier opened, soon the princes entered. Entering the Marvellous land brought a calming feeling to the five men but not on Nathaniel. He still has some business to settle with.

The heart or the center where the palace located with, was one hundred kilometers from the boundary. So basically, Nathaniel and his comrades will reached the heart in about midnight. Looking at the horizon through the window of the carriage, Nathaniel could tell it was passed one in the afternoon. It could not be less than or more than ten hours to reached the palace. Its still a long trekked for them. Decidingly, Nathaniel pushed himself to take a nap for the long hours of their journey.

******

It was midnight, when they reached the gates of the huge palace which was located above the high huge mountains of Marv. The huge gates were made of gold. From high above the gold walls, settled a watching tower, where soldiers in ruby armor lined on gaurds.

"Stop the carriage or we force a drastic measure" a voice boom. The carriage halted again. While the soldiers on watched armed their bows with arrows ready to fire if necessary.

Gabriel hopped off the horses. From his clothes he took a small rectangular plate made of gold. The plate has the marking of Mavis Ancienterre. Also it has the seal of one of the kings. Gabriel's father. King Garette Voughn.

It signifies the position and what bloodlines he belong. Seeing the plate the captain of the look out immediately apologized.

"Forgive me my prince. I failed to recognize you" the captain guards of look out uttered.

"Nonsense. You are doing your job very well. Do not apologize." Gabriel said with a smile easing the unsettled emotion the captain guard felt.

The captain of the look out guards faced his men and gestured them to open the huge golden gate.

The huge golden gate opened. It made a not so slightly screeching sound. Gabriel and his comrades enter the palace premises.

Mavis Ancienterre has a huge vast perimeter. From the golden gates, five kilometer away before you reach the heart castle of Mavis Ancienterre. The castle was huge, it was one hundred hectares in length and width. The castle was made of diamonds and some valuable stones, like rubies and sapphires. Indeed it was a magnifecent sight to held.

The carriage reached the castle entrance, as usual there were guards posted outside. The carriage halted. The guards who saw the men riding the horses bowed their heads in respect. They must have recognize who were the men are.

As the carriage halted. Nathaniel, Daniel and Michael hopped off of the carriage whilst, Nathaniel carried the youngman. Daniel gestures for the two guards to came closer. As they did, Nathaniel let the two guards carry the youngman to bring him to his chamber. No questions asked, the two guards carried the youngman while Nathaniel and the five princes followed suit inside the huge castle while giving recognition to the guards.

The servants who saw the six princes, halted their movements and give respect to the royal men.

Its been half a year since the six princes moved out of the Mavis Ancienterre of the mission the Royal order tasked them to do. Now that the ten notorious rogue men had been illiminated, Nathaniel and his comrades decided to come back home. For there was some matter that Nathaniel need to fixed.Voila, here they are now. So it's not a surprise the reactions they get from the servants.

"Your highnesses, it's an outmost honor to have you back here in Mavis" the head servant of the castle said respecfully while bowing its head.

"Its okay, Aldoure. Send word to the high Queen. I have important matter to consult to her. Send her to meet me in my chamber" Nathaniel uttered in commanding manner to Aldoure who immediately acted his command. The servants immediately took theirselves out from the dreading presence of the princes.

The seven kings has their own place to lived. Nathaniels father who were the High king among the kings lived in the Heart kingdom of the Mavis Ancienterre, which was this huge palace. While the remaining kings has their own castle around the soils of Mavis Ancienterre. The heart castle named Mavienterre, It is where the meetings and conferences being settled with.

Nathaniel reached his chamber, the two guards who carried the young man waited outside of the door. Nathaniel opened his chamber door and gesture for the two guards to come inside. The two guards settled the youngman they carried on the huge king size bed of the prince. The two guards immediately relieved their presence from the prince.

"Nathan, I'll be on my chamber" Daniel said who followed inside his chamber so does Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Ezekeil who also wanted to rest their tired bodies. As the five princes relieved their presence from Nathaniel, the latter immediately fell to a deep thought.

Nicholai! The man he grew up with. The man he looked up to. The man who was there when he fell himself to such darkness. His brother. His confidant. He couldn't believe Nicholai could do it. To plot a war against his kin. His birth place.

Nicholai, was one of the crowned prince to take over the throne. He was prophecied to be the keeper of peace in the mystical world. To reunite again all the creatures and beings, but Nicholai choosed greed over liberality. He choosed power over his people and kin.

Nicholai succumbed to the darkness that brewed with in him. And he, he did nothing to appease it. For he also fell to that darkness but Nicholai helped him. It just he did not know, that Nicholai was already falling to the darkness too. Instead of fighting it, he welcome it with open arms. He embraces the darkness like it was his comfort. Nicholai betrayed him. Them. He just showed them his fake self of being a good son, a best prince and hero of the Mavis Ancienterre but with in, from the start; Nicholai already the prince of darkness.

A knocked at his chamber door made Nathaniel to get out from his trance. "Your highness, her majesty, Queen Arrabella here to see you" the voice of a male guard billows slightly.

His chamber door opened, it entered an ethereal beauty of a woman dressed in elegant magnificent gown that right for a strong intelligent Queen. Her face does mistook her for her real age. Such a very beautiful yet dilicate and sophisticated woman.

"Mother" Nathaniel uttered.

"Nate!" His mother said embracing him. "You-"

He did not let his mother to finished her sentence. "I heard. That's why I am here" he said. "Lets talk about that later. Mother, there's something I need from-"

"Who is this?" His mother asked hindering him to finished his words, while throwing a suspicious gaze at him.

"A friend" he answered short.

"Why was he lay dead on your bed?" She asked in uttered disbelief.

"Mother, I did not harmed him. That's the reason I called you. Can you heal him? He's not dead but his in dreamful state"

"I see." His mother said who came closer to the youngman. His mother righthand encloses the youngman's right wrist. As his mother left hand tapped the youngman's forehead. Then his mother eyes glazes for a seconds.

His mother looked at him, horror on her beautiful face but instantly it gone. Then it changed to such amazement. "He helped you" his mother said.

"Yes, he did"

Queen Arrabella Firestone, the highest queen amongst the queens of Mavis Ancieterre. The best healer amongst the lands of mystical world. A beautiful kind woman yet very dangerous if she deems so. The holder of the ancient magic called Mendiviore Sacierre. A very powerful mind ability. Once you were under this ability, you cannot get out forever. You will be under the spell for the rest of your life. You will be its slave.

Even the highest king afraid of the Queen's ability. Who would not be? Once you struck by it, you will do things she bid to do for you. But Queen Arrabella hinder herself to used this such immensely dangerous magic. She forbid herself to used it anymore.

Queen Arrabella also gifted a sacred ability, her healing power. Like Mendiviore Sacierre her healing ability is as of ancient magic too. Her healing ability called Hellous Ancierre. Hellous Ancierre is a healing ability that cured everything even a powerful cursed marks at that. Hellous Ancierre is composed of light and nature elements being combined together.

"I can not heal him for he's not fit to be healed" his mother uttered.

"Why was he in a dreamful state?"

"He's sleeping. His mind was been shut out. His body was too. To regain his strength, he needs a week. By the flow of energy on his body, I assumed he's asleep for almost four days?" His mother asked.

"Yes, presumably he is."

"Very well, the only thing I can do is to quicken his regeneration of energy. By morning I assure you he will be waken up" his mother uttered nodding her head slightly in agreement.

Queen Arabella put her two hands on the chest of the youngman. A bright orange color of light engulfed her hands as its wrapped the youngmans whole body. The emission of the light happens for just a quarter of seconds.

"There, that would be enough. I quicken the circulation of the flow of energy inside his whole body. The accumulation of the energy have been double up. His body will regenerates the energy he lost for quite a time faster than what his body doing before." His mother said who settled his gaze at him. "You need rest, my son. See your father tomorrow. I'll tell him that you are at rest. The matter can be arrange tomorrow."

"Mother!" He uttered worriedly.

"Am fine, Nathaniel." His mother said but her eyes tells him otherwise. He knew his mother is hurting. He can see it. She maybe hid it from his father, her husband but not from him.

"Very well, I won't press you." He uttered sighing. His mother excuses herself leaving him with worry for him.

Queen Arrabella was indeed a strong woman. Yes, she's hurting. She's in pain. She's in turmoil but she carried herself very well coating her body with unformidable facade. The strength of a true Queen yet weakened by a love of a mother to her son.

The Queen found herself on their chamber. Immediately she succumbed to the comfort of her bed. The tears immediately fell from her eyes while clutching the image of her son on her hands. Her sweet Nicholai. Her eldest child. Why? Why he must be like this? Does her motherly care was not enough? Does her undying love was not enough? The love of a mother to a son is unfathomable. It is immeasurable. Priceless. But she failed. She failed to see her son was no longer hers, but it was of that damn darkness.

Nicholai was her sweet son, a sweetheart to his siblings. A great brother that his siblings looked up to. A hero in the eyes of his younger son, Nathaniel. He adored his older brother too much. So as Nicholai to him. Queen Arrabella saw it all. Witnessed it all. That's why she's in pain for both of his son; the eldest and the youngest.

Arrabella knew, the reason why Nathaniel went home, because of Nicholai. The connecting lands of Marvellous suffered from the hands of Nicholai. The brewing war amongst the connecting soil erupted, it was the doing of his eldest.

Nicholai already invaded the three kingdoms; the kingdom of Wolves. The Enchanted kingdom and the nymph kingdom. These kingdom was already under his reign. The royal order decided to eradicate Nicholai for he stands as the most dangerous beings in the mystical world.

Arrabella can do nothing. She's a queen, yes. As a queen the safety of her kingdom must always comes first but as a mother the safety of his son must adhere. This situations divided her soul and heart. Which among these two must weighed carefully? Must she be a Queen to her people or a mother to her child?

A light knocked on her chamber door awaken her from hee looming thoughts.

"Who is it?"

"Mother it is me, Lucas" her second youngest son answered.

"Come in."

The door of her chamber opened butted in her second youngest son Lucas. The latter was not suprised of what he saw of her. Instead his eyes wrapped with pity and worry towards her, but instantly, Lucas hid it from her. It was too late now. She already saw it.

"I heard, Nathaniel's back?" Lucas asked her.

"Yes he is. Why are you here Luke?" She directly asked. Arrabella saw how Lucas lips formed into a pout.

"You hurt me mother. Its as if you don't want me to be here." Her son said childishly. Instantly a smiles graces her lips of her son's antic. "Am glad I made you smile" he added.

"Thank you. I really needed that." She said. Lucas sat above the bed few distance from her. Silence erupted between the two of them, both lost in thoughts.

"Do not worry, mother. I'll bring him back. I'll knock some sense into him" Lucas said for awhile breaking the silence that wrapped them.

She doubt Lucas can do it. HE must know how strong that man is. But she knew Lucas only saying these, to appeased her feelings.

"I know you would. Its just-" she did not finished her sentence. There's a lump that formed on her throat which a choke came out of it.

Immediately, Lucas face sadden with what his mother's feelings. She already endured worst, but now it worser even more.

"Its okay to cry mother. Its makes our feelings to ease. Don't stop on my account. Let it out. I'm here for you." Just like that, Queen Arrabella let out a wail. She cried her heart out. She cried her pain whilst her second youngest son listened to the tormenting agony his mother had. A pain struck his heart. A pain for his family.

******

far away from the unknown land, a being standing on the flat form facing his subjects. A lot of them. Different creatures in kind. A nymph, a wolves, an Enchanted beings, A Darfetious creatures, an elves, trolls, goblin and those Dark creatures. A sinister smile formed in its lips. A glint of torturous desires promised in its eyes. Indeed, a very powerful being yet so dark. So vile. So catastrophic. Its intent wrapped its subjects that brought them on their knees. No amongst the creatures withstand the immense power radiating from the one being standing on the plat form facing them.

Its voice boom. Billows around and over reaching every each one of its subjects. A promised been spoken. A command been laid.

Chaos of shouts and cheers erupted from its subjects. You could sense and smell the thirst for blood these creatures and monsters has. The thirst to kill. To destroy. To annihilate. To bring sufferings to their intended victims.

The being standing on the platform raised its hands. The chaos of shouts and cheers died down instantly. A very defeaning silents enclosest the surroundings.

"My beloved subjects. Just a little longer. Soon we rose again. Soon we will known. Our existence. Our history. Will no more a myth but instead a reality to be feared" the being voice boomed.

Once again, a chaos of shouts and cheers out did again.

"My respectful leige. Someone here to see you" one of the fifteen guards who stood behind the being spoke.

"I see." Then the being eyes scanned his subjects. A sinister smiles once again graces his lips.

"Everyone dispersed" instantly its subjects scattered leaving the being to stand on the plat form. It face the guard who spoke at him.

"He's waiting on the war room, my respectful liege." The guard said.

"What's of His greatest majesty? Heard anything from him?" The being asked.

"No word from his most excellency, my respectful liege"

"Hmm... ah, must he resting for a while. Very well, I want to see this man"

The being called by its name Darius Archellous, right hand man of his greatest majesty; the darkness king.

Darius and the fifteen guards went to the war room inside the Dark palace of Scarke. Upon entering the room, the man who wants to see him standing there looking at the things around the war room. Its back facing Darius.

"Whats of this, to be grace by your presence?" Darius asked the man. The man turned around and face him. A sinister smirk paints the two men's lips.

"Why, is it wrong to visit my beloved land?" The man uttered.

"Of course not, favorite child of the Dark king" Darius said mockingly.

"Was that jealousy I sensed?" The man said laughing mockingly. "You're his right hand. Should I be the one to be jealous."

"Nonesense. Why are you here?" Darius asked.

"He's back." The man uttered short.

"I see. whats of the three?" Darius asked.

"Dead." The man uttered in scoff.

"Not a surprised for those weaklings." Darius uttered in mock.

"Have you seen the scorching light, four days ago?" The man asked Darius.

"Yes I did. I sensed it. Its energy was unusual. So vey strong. I thought it was him, but the energy emitted was different than him, yet so very familliar." Darius uttered. "Whats of the light. Where it started. I know you knew something."

The man silently walk around the war room, its as if he's on a thought, then he stopped walking and face again Darius.

"He was there, to where the scorching light started. It must be him." The man insisted. Darius chuckled menacingly.

"Well its about time. Its been a very long long time we've been kept."

"Yes. You're right. Thats the reason why I'm here. I need some members of Scarked triad. I'm plotting a war against the Mavis." The man uttered.

"Hypocrite! Are you out of your mind. Mavis a force to be reckon with. The reason why the king amassing important matters in his hands secretly for that Mavis. Do not be on a haste to act quickly." Darius scolded the man.

A glint of anger arises from the man's eyes. A hurt in ego triggered it. "Mavis, should crumble beneath me. I was feared by them. I has plans. Give me what I ask of you."

"Very well. I just warned you"