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Disaster Not Averted
Last Updated:
2024-11-17 03:33:43
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The One No Rest for the Weary
MaerileeThe rest of the ball seems to drag on forever. My earlier outburst and the whole ordeal with River leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and despite my best efforts to shake it off, I remain testy for the remainder of the evening. The Oceanans have excused themselves for the night, with King Alastair and Queen Lyria offering a brief, tight-lipped promise of a formal apology tomorrow. I can still see River’s embarrassed, red face in my mind, though the satisfaction I initially felt at calling him out has long since faded. Now, I just want the night to end.None of the other guests spark even the slightest interest in me. They all blend into one monotonous sea of faces, false pleasantries, and meaningless small talk. I try to keep up appearances, but my thoughts keep drifting elsewhere, particularly to Brook and Akin. Of all the people I’ve met in my life—nobles, commoners, visiting dignitaries—the only ones I’ve ever felt even a faint connection to have been those two. There’s some
Last Updated : 2024-11-18The One Formal Apologies
MaerileeThe next morning, I sit straight-backed in my chair, positioned on the dais next to my mother and father. The throne room feels colder than usual, though that has more to do with the political atmosphere than the physical temperature.The sun is streaming through the tall windows, casting the room in golden light, but the tension in the room is palpable. My fingers rest on my lap, carefully clasped to avoid betraying any of the unease building in my chest. I’m supposed to be calm, poised. Queenly, as my mother would say.At my side mother radiates composure. Father sits on her other side, his expression one of polite anticipation, though I know him well enough to see the glint of amusement in his eyes. The situation isn’t lost on him, though he’d never show it openly. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but he found the entire situation with River and Brook amusing last night. In his mind, it’s just a bout of youthful indiscretion.Of course, that’s because he comes from Dearlish, w
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The One Wise Counsel
MaerileeNot an hour later, I watch as the council members file into the chamber, the tension from earlier still lingering in the air. I take my place beside my mother as she stands at the head of the long table. Father is seated next to her, his expression nearly unreadable to others, though I can still see the faint humor in his eyes.My gaze sweeps over the gathered advisors, familiar faces who have been part of the council for as long as I can remember. Then, a man I don’t recognize catches my eye. He’s tall, his presence quietly commanding, though he doesn’t seem to be trying to draw attention to himself. His hair is dark, falling just past his shoulders, and even from this distance, there’s something unsettling about his eyes. Who is he?Before I can ask, my mother speaks.“Before we begin,” she addresses them, her calm voice commanding the assembly. “We have a new member of the council I’d like to introduce.”I sit up straighter, curiosity piqued. I glance at the unfamiliar man
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The One Complications
MaerileeI wake up slowly, feeling a warmth that isn’t just from the morning sun filtering through the curtains. There’s a weight pressed against me, solid and comforting, and as I blink the sleep from my eyes, I realize Akin’s arm is draped across my waist, his naked body flush against mine. For a moment, I lie still, letting the contentment wash over me as I recall the events of last night. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced before, this sense of peace, of belonging to someone completely. My heart flutters, and I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I’ve found what I’ve been searching for all along.Could it really be this simple? Could Akin be my One?It doesn’t make sense that it’s taken so long for us to find each other, though. I’ve seen Akin nearly every single day of my life. Why have I never felt that feeling of absolute certainty that my mother always described? Why have my powers not manifested unt
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The One Barriers
MaerileeMy pulse races as I storm out of the council meeting, the heavy doors slamming behind me. I don’t bother slowing down, my steps quick and sharp as I head toward the gardens. Stifling air presses in on me, the weight of Permiton’s words echoing in my mind. Who does he think he is anyway? Even if he is a seer, he’s new to the council. He had no right to interject his thoughts so soon.The moment I reach the gardens, the cool air and scent of blossoms offer a brief, fragile reprieve. My spot among the flowers, where I’ve sought solace more times than I can count, is just ahead. I quicken my pace, eager to be enveloped in the calming silence of nature, away from politics, away from expectations, away from everything.But when I round the final bend, I freeze.There, lounging in the middle of my sanctuary, is River of all people. Of course he is. Because my morning isn’t annoying enough. He’s leaning casually near t
Last Updated : 2024-11-20The One Mounting Frustration
MaerileeI throw myself onto my bed, face-first into the pillows, and scream as loudly as I can. My voice muffles into the fabric, but it doesn’t stop the frustration, the disbelief, the absolute rage building in me. My legs kick out violently, my fists pound into the bed, and I keep screaming until my throat feels raw and my chest is burning.River. River. How could this be happening? Of all the people in the world, of all the fae, it’s him? The arrogant, smug River? No. It’s impossible.He can’t be my One, he just can’t.I flip over, grabbing another pillow and pressing it to my face, screaming again. Hot tears burn at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t cry over this. I can’t. But the anger swirling in my chest feels too big, too overwhelming.How could this happen to me?I roll over onto my back, staring up at the ceiling as if I might find answers in the intricate patt
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The One Nothing Makes Sense
MaerileeI yank open the wardrobe, my hands trembling slightly as I sift through the dry clothes. I’m going to kill River for this. Duchess is still hiding under the bed. I grab a simple dress and some undergarments, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric as I pull them out, my heart racing with anxiety about what this could mean.Akin is standing beside me, quietly changing out of his soaked clothes. I glance at him, my chest tightening with a mixture of emotions I can’t quite name. I know what I felt with him, the certainty that settled in my bones when I woke up wrapped in his arms. But there’s obviously something deeper going on with River. My destroyed room is proof of that.Once I’m dressed, I march to the door, pulling it open just enough to slip through and quickly close it behind me. I hear Akin moving inside, the rustle of fabric as he finishes dressing. I hope he stays put. I need a moment to confront River alone, without
Last Updated : 2024-11-23The One Mother Knows Best?
MaerileeWe walk through the palace corridors in tense silence, River on one side of me and Akin on the other. The air between them is charged, both men radiating barely concealed frustration. I keep my head high, trying to focus on the task at hand. My mother will surely have the answer to this. She’ll know what to do.The weight of the situation presses down on my chest, and I can still feel the remnants of River’s kiss, the surge of power I don’t fully understand. But there’s no time to dwell on that. Not now.When we finally reach the throne room, I pause just outside the grand doors, the echo of raised voices reaching my ears. My mother’s voice, tight with anger, is unmistakable. I motion for Akin and River to stop, pressing my hand lightly against the door to listen. I can hear another voice too, one that sends a chill down my spine.Direken.He’s here, talking to my mother. No, not just talking, arguing. Heatedly.“We’ve waited long enough, Queen Kimalissa,” Direken snaps. His
Last Updated : 2024-11-23
Latest chapter
The One Reality Check
*River*The path winds endlessly through the rocky terrain, the air thick with the hum of magic. I should feel some sense of triumph, I suppose. After all, we’re nearing Bright Waters, the mythical source of all of the power in Oceana. Legend has it that it is the single greatest source of power in the entire realm, maybe in all of the realms. But all I feel is frustration, a simmering anger that burns low and constant, its flames licking at the edges of my thoughts.For days now, I’ve watched Maerilee grow closer to everyone but me. Akin is always at her side, a steady rock she leans on without hesitation. He, at least, I can understand. He has been her bodyguard for so many years. There’s been a trust there that runs deeper than Bright Waters themselves. Even if I don’t exactly like Akin, I can respect their bond.But how the hell has she allowed Permiton to worm his way back into her good graces? None of us missed the way
The One Sweet Nothings
*Brook*The air at the top of the cliff is cooler, sharper, and the electric hum of magic is only getting stronger the closer we get to the Waters. My body aches from the climb, but standing here, looking out over the rugged, unforgiving terrain below and the shimmering haze ahead that marks Bright Waters, I feel an intense rush of dopamine. We’ve made it this far, and we’ll make it the rest of the way too. I also begin to understand that we’re only going to make it together. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.The rest of the group takes a moment to catch their breath, their exhaustion palpable. Maerilee has nearly collapsed against Akin, who has her in a tight grip. After her fall, he’s completely unwilling to leave her side, though he isn’t the only one who feared for her. Still, I know that he needs this more than I do right now, so I don’t let it bother me.
The One Steep Climb
*Akin*I wait for Maerilee, but she doesn’t come back that night. It turns my stomach, nearly sends me into a rage when I realize that she’s spending the night with Permiton. What does she possibly see in him? What smooth words can he possibly offer her to explain away his indiscretions? It’s not that she’s with another man. I’ve gotten used to it. It’s that she’s with him!He’s a traitor, pure and simple. I don’t care what she believes. This is one point I can’t trust her on. I’ve followed her here, and I’ve seen that she is often right, but for some reason, Permiton is a blind spot for her. I eventually slip into a fitful, restless sleep, often hoping I’ll wake up, and she’ll be beside me, but when I awake in the morning, she and Permiton are walking back to our camp, looking freshly fucked and bright as the sun.Part of me wonders what would happen to Maerilee’s powers if Permiton were to “accidentally” fall off the cliff to his death. It’s a selfish thought, of course. She clearl
The One Renewed Faith
*Maerilee*The sun beats down on us mercilessly as we trudge forward, the rocky terrain stretching endlessly in every direction. My legs ache, and every step feels heavier than the last, but I push on. We have to. There’s no room for weakness now, not with the stakes as high as they are.Brook leads the way with Akin and River close behind, their sharp gazes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. I follow, and Permiton lingers at the rear, as silent and enigmatic as ever.The landscape changes as we go. The jagged hills grow steeper, the vegetation sparser. By the time we reach the base of a tall cliff, the sun is sinking low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground. The cliff towers over us, a wall of stone that seems almost impossible to scale. My heart sinks at the sight of it. There doesn’t seem to be a path around it.Brook turns to face us, his usually lighthearted expression somber.“This
The One Pride Comes Before the Fall
*Akin*We’re all exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and I can see the strain on everyone’s faces. Maerilee looks like she’s barely holding herself together, her shoulders tense, her eyes flickering with a mix of anxiety and determination. Brook has a heavy sense of authority on his shoulders, now that he’s taken the mantle of being our guide through Bright Waters. Even River seems less smug than usual, though I’m sure he’ll find a way to change that soon enough.I don’t care to see how Permiton is feeling. After everything he’s put us through, he can fend for himself for all I care. But it’s still my job to protect Maerilee, and now that means I have to protect these fools, too.“We should stop here,” I say, my voice cutting through the heavy silence. “Rest, gather our strength before we move on. We don’t know what’s waiting for us further in, and I d
The One Gateway to Bright Waters
*Permiton*The journey to Bright Waters is far from easy. Even ignoring the difficulty of the mountainous terrain, the Oceanan army lurks on every edge of my awareness, their patrols crisscrossing the region, and I know that at any given moment I could be captured and taken to my death. The path is treacherous, winding through rugged terrain and dense forest, and I keep myself shrouded in shadows, careful to stay hidden. I’ve taken every measure possible to avoid detection, slipping off the main path to blend with the undergrowth and navigating around the pockets where I can feel soldiers lingering like predators waiting to pounce.But I know I’m getting close. The pulse of magic grows stronger with each step, a faint resonance in the ground beneath me, guiding me toward Bright Waters. I feel it more acutely now, like a current running through my veins, thrumming with purpose and calling me forward. My Sight tells me I’m on the right path, that I’m close to the others, and that they,
The One The Weight of Unbearable Tension
*Maerilee*The silence between us is palpable, as if everyone is holding their tongue but projecting their thoughts to the clouds. No one is willing to break the silence, to put their thoughts to words, and it’s becoming infuriating.I worry that Akin is still angry with me, despite his stance to leave Caelan and travel with us. River is smug, as usual, though I have no idea what he could be thinking. Brook leads us with confidence and certainty, and while I don’t doubt him, it’s clear that Akin and River do.I glance at Akin, hoping to find some sign of reassurance, something to tell me that all is forgiven. But his face is closed off, his jaw clenched as he stares straight ahead, shoulders rigid. I don’t need words to know what he’s feeling. Disappointment radiates off him like a pulse. For the first time since I’ve known him, a sort of rift has formed between us. And for all his quiet strength, for all t
The One Flight into the Mountains
*Akin*Caelan stands in front of us, his gaze hard as steel, jaw clenched, and I know instantly that this won’t end with us simply walking away. The way he’s squared his shoulders, planted his feet, every muscle in his body is telling me he won’t let us leave without a fight.And I don’t want to fight him. Not here, not now, when we’re all running on fumes and tensions are high enough to snap. But there’s something militant, almost desperate, in his stance. It’s the way he’d face an enemy, and it feels wrong. We’re supposed to be allies, yet here we are, at a breaking point.“Caelan,” I say, forcing my tone to stay calm. “Let us go. This isn’t about abandoning the cause or betraying the rebels. Maerilee needs this. Altinna needs this.”Caelan’s eyes flash, the determination in them blazing. “And what do you think we’re doing here, Akin
The One Breaking of Ranks
AkinMaerilee approaches me with a tension in her step that I don’t miss. Her shoulders are squared, her expression guarded, and there’s a fire in her eyes that instantly puts me on alert.“There you are,” I call out happily, hoping to break the tension a bit. “I was wondering where you’d run off to.”“Akin,” she says, her voice calm but with an edge I’ve rarely heard before. “We need to talk.”My stomach drops. I’m suddenly afraid of what she might say. Our relationship has always been easy and light. Though I yearned for her in so many secret ways, there was never such a high wall between us as there is right now. My mind races just imagining what horrible information she feels she must tell me.I cross my arms, giving her a small nod, expecting the worst. Perhaps she’s received word from home somehow. My suspicion is increased when she pulls a note
