~24~ A Vicious Beast, Your Highness

(Lmao, look at the chick at the bottom of the thumbnail, wtf? Anyway, cue the music now)

Ruy ignored his natural impulse to panic as blue fire engulfed the carriage mid-ride. He was warned it was going to happen, doesn't mean it didn't scare the crap out of him. But soon the fire flickered away, and he heard the gasps of people and the sound of Egypitnat. The Dunmer Deligation rode towards Arsinoe's palace in a carriage of solid ebony, ivory, and blue decals running across the sides. People awed at them, squealing and begging for attention from them. Lysandra sat aside Queen Sarai, who was looking at Egypitnat with sparkling eyes. Beside King Dorian sat Zuberi, who insisted that he attended last minute.

Ruy instead focused on the solid white horses pulling the carriages. They weren't real horses, rather an interesting mutation for their underground dwelling. Their extremely thin white fur gave way to their solid black or blue eyes, no iris. Their ears were webbed and their horseshoes slightly larger. Their manes looked like individual strands of water gleaming in the sun. Most horses in the Dunmer Kingdom are underwater cave-dwelling creatures but can handle being above ground for large amounts of time.

Ruy heard people, girls especially, call out his name, begging for his attention, but he just tried to drown it out. The world gaped at the crown now atop his head, and though Ruy tried to ignore it, the heavy metal weighed so heavy it felt like his head was sinking on his shoulders, even though his crown was nothing like the King's.

The thick band of metal dazzling against his combed back raven hair, the thick cape that bore the Dunmer royal insignia, it made him feel dizzy. In the sky, Ricin soared high in the clouds, scoping things out hidden from sight. He wanted to go back to Sophie, but a massive dragon swooping in from nowhere might've ruined the party.

"You are distracted," King Dorian stated. Ruy glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, taking a small breath through his nose.

"Am I?" Ruy answered.

"What is plaguing your mind, my son?" King Dorian asked, leaning forward. Ruy thought about what to say, trying to find words to describe how he felt. Instead, Lysandra, Sarai's handmaiden, answered for him.

"He isn't used to this," She stated plainly, gesturing to all of the lined up civilians and royal treatment. Ruy glared at her, she just returned a feline smile and opened her mirror to adjust a piece of hair.

"I guess I understand, this is all so new-"

"He needs to get used to it." Prince Kalem snapped from the other side of the carriage. Sarai kicked him, her son yelping and rubbing his shin.

"Don't be a smart-"

"He is right." Ruy sighed, fiddling with one of his rings. King Dorian looked like he wanted to say more, but Ruy turned his attention to Lysandra.

"I'm curious," Ruy started, Lysandra plainly looked up from her mirror, "How did you manage to become the Queen Sarai's lady in waiting?" He asked. Lysandra chuckled, going back to her mirror, "She saw my talents and realized that I was so much better than all of the competition."

"I realized that she is a powerful woman that knows how to handle herself, and she is a fine woman to have as a friend." Queen Sarai answered.

"Powerful? Are you a warrior?" Ruy asked.

"In sorts, yes. I was raised learning how to observe my enemies, as you do in your guild, but I handle mine differently then blades and abilities."

"And who are your enemies?" Ruy asked.

Lysandra didn't even hesitate when she spoke, "Everyone was my enemy once."

Ruy glanced at his stepmother, who just worriedly stared at her lady in waiting.

"What are you?" Ruy finally asked. Lysandra finally looked away from her mirror to send a wicked hiss at the prince.

"That seems like a rude question for a prince to ask a lady." She snapped. Ruy shrugged, leaning farther against his seat, "Are you Dunmer? Where are your wings and markings?"

"No, I'm not Dunmer, I was just taken in by those in Dunmer royalty," Lysandra answered.

Alright, that's progress, "So, are you a Vatarian? Lith? Elf?" Ruy pushed.

Lysandra watched as the palace gates opened for them, "None." She answered. They were all silent as they slowed in front of the palace steps, and King Dorian helped his Queen out of the carriage, followed by Prince Cato and Kalem. Ruy just stared at Lysandra.

"Then what are you?"

Lysandra smiled at him as she followed the others out of the carriage, the light coming from within the palace lighting up her sharp and devastating face.

And Ruy couldn't help but feel chills when she said, "A vicious beast, your highness."

Ruy couldn't question any further as they all passed the threshold into Arsinoe's palace.

This place was already suctioning Sophie's very life force away from her, and Maha cut her off the champagne, so now she was grumpy and sober.

"I want to go home and I want my dragon back," Sophie grumbled.

"You sound like a child," Nour answered, helping Maha make sure one of the silver bits on her braids was secure. Sophie was about to snap back at him, but her eyes glanced at the newest delegation entering the party.

There was always a small trickle of people coming through the threshold, seeing as this was a massive party. But everyone quieted down as the Dunmer royal family passed through the threshold.

It was the King and Queen first, and they looked every bit of royalty. The King wore a tight leather jacket with solid silver cuffs and buttons, a cape billowing from his shoulders secured by silver chains. He wore a solid band of silver and white diamonds atop his head, so detailed and elegant the whole world turned to him. His leather wings were tucked behind his back as he walked with a confident tall stride. His horns seemed to almost shine in the brilliant light.

Queen Sarai was that indeed, a queen. Her large crown was molded so perfectly for her head, specifically her ram-like horns, it was like she was the only important queen in the entire palace. It was full of matching white diamonds to match her husband and matched her elegant dress of black and white. The off the shoulder bodice was made with the finest black lace, iridescent bluish-black feathers sewn in to dazzle the room. The layered necklaces filled with priceless jewels matched the sheer black sleeves that went all the way down her arms and pointed at the top of her hand.

The skirt was made of a fabric that matched the iridescent bluish-green sheen of the feathers gracing her collarbone, a gentle layer of lace woven with jewels covering it. Sophie didn't miss how her nails were painted black and filed to have a gentle point, almost like nails. It was a nice touch that also brought out the dramatic shadow on her eyes and her dark brown bob. Her arm was wrapped through King Dorian's as she wore a kind yet somehow brutal smirk to the crowd.

Behind her were the two princes, Kalem and Cato. They both wore something similar to their father, their crowns a bit less extravagant yet just as demanding. Cato's shoulder-length hair was tied up with a blue ribbon behind his head, while Kalem's hair was neatly gelled and combed, not a hair out of line.

And then Sophie set her eyes on Ruy.

He looked so different yet so... similar. His jacket was unbuttoned at the top, along with the white undershirt underneath, giving him room to breathe and the smallest sight to his muscled chest and the Dunmer tattoo's decorating his chest, the very markings Sophie ran her hands over that night when she sought refuge in his apartment. His cape only draped from one shoulder, a chain holding in over his body and holding it back into place at the other side at his waist. His wings were no longer dragging across the floor and were now neatly tucked behind his back. His hair was combed back, but there was still a hint of volume that complimented against his crown.

Gods above, he had a bloody crown.

It matched the extravagance of his brother's crowns but also had a bit more to it. A band of solid silver with swirling streaks of dark metal running up and across it, small points equally spaced out across it. It all looked like it was crafted by a master stylist, all of it bringing together his handsome face and strong body into the image of a prince.

Though Sophie tried to hide it, she was practically drooling.

She instead turned away and took a sip of Mansi's drink to cool her nerves when she wasn't looking. Sophie pulled away from the glass, startled at the taste of apple juice dribbling down her throat.

"Mansi, why-"

"Look, dancing is about to start!" Maha squealed to her, Sophie quickly slamming the glass back on the table to turn to her friend. It cleared out a bit on the dance floor, and a small party of bards started up with dancing tunes while the symphony got a well-deserved break. People flooded the floor, but Sophie's eyes kept drifting back to the Dunmer.

It seemed like two other people apart of the Dunmer party were also with them, one of them being Zuberi, who shot Sophie a gentle smile, the other being a drop-dead gorgeous woman Sophie did not recognize. She wore a flowing sheer fabric dress, an underlayer of dark lace starting at her knees while the translucent fabric atop it glittered like stars as she strode around. Her dark hair was put up in a beautiful up-do, and her pale skin contrasted against it and her dress. She seemed to be Queen Sarai's handmaiden, maybe that Lysandra the queen mentioned?

Sophie and Ruy made eye contact, just for a few seconds, and Sophie gave him a quick smile, before returning to her hardened persona. She didn't see Ruy's reaction, but she hoped he realized how thankful she is for him doing this for her. Another suitor approached Sophie, asking for her hand to dance, but again, she brushed it aside. What she wasn't expecting was Queen Sarai's handmaiden to approach her and hold out her hand. Her hair was pulled half up and her hair was very delicately curled, her pale skin contrasting the dark hair and dark green eyes. It seems Dunmer didn't adhere to the normal blue eyes rule, except, this woman didn't look all that Dunmer.

"Would you like to dance, Mentore?" She asked, her voice sultry.

Sophie blinked before pointing one of her manicured fingers at the rejected suitor, "I said no to all of them, why should I say yes to you?" She asked, her voice sharp. It didn't sway the woman however, as she just hummed and picked a hair off Sophie's dress. The move took Sophie by surprise for a moment.

"Because of multiple reasons. One of them being I know you are just really holding up a front in order to be taken seriously here, another one being that the Elven Council," She pointed her head at them as they all judged over the dancing people, "Have no damned clue what is going on. I heard their music is just a bunch of sounds mixed together and called a song. I feel like it would be a mighty strong statement against them. And finally," the woman shrugged, "I feel like we would be fast friends."

Sophie blinked, her mouth slightly agape.

Sophie absolutely wanted to be friends with her, she seemed fun as hell!

"What is your name? Who are you with?" Sophie scoffed, crossing her arms. She chuckled and made an exaggerated curtsy.

"Lady Lysandra, of the Dunmer Court. Handmaiden to Queen Sarai." She introduced.

"And it seems you already know who I am," Sophie stated, crossing her arms.

"Oh, of course I do." Lysandra scoffed. Sophie glared at Lysandra, then up at the Elven Council, who were staring and gossiping at her in return.

And with the biggest smirk on her face, she took Lysandra's outstretched hand.

"I would love to dance with you," Sophie stated. She glanced at Maha, who was next to Mansi, Nour, and Alvar, so Sophie felt okay leaving her for a dance or two. Lysandra and Sophie made it to the dance floor just as a new song started, they both felt the gaping stares as the two ladies from vastly different species and kingdoms gently pressed their hands against each other and started gently sway in a small circle.

Waltz's and traditional dances were happening later in the night, so simple circle and group dances were happening now. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the Council gaping at her, and she couldn't suppress her giggle.

"I told you it would help show them up." Lysandra smiled. Sophie chuckled as they grabbed each other's hands and twirled in and out.

"It does feel great to rub something in their faces." Sophie chuckled.

"Trust me, there are so many asses in the Dunmer court that deserve worse than this." Lysandra laughed.

Sophie curiously smiled at Lysandra as they twirled around again, "Why did you choose me out of everyone here?"

"Because you seem like the most fun to talk to. I have learned that the brooding mysterious beauts are the most fun at parties."

"I'm flattered. So, you are handmaiden to the queen? You don't seem to be Dunmer though."

"I was adopted into a Dunmer noble family in my youth, but Sarai is mostly the one who raised me."

"How did you get into the Dunmer caverns in the first place if you are not Dunmer?"

"Don't ask me, I barely remember it. It was only a few years ago though, but I don't remember my youth before that."

"Trust me, I've tried the whole forgetting your childhood thing for years thing, not a fan."

Lysandra laughed, and she glanced around at the other dancers.

"But, since I have you, I have a few questions I was hoping to ask?" She proposed.

Sophie met her hand again as they twirled, "Ask away."

Ruy did his best not to stare at Sophie, instead indulging himself in champagne and the fancy nobles sucking up to him. But with that one little smile she gave him, he was out for the count, turning into a lovesick fool. And the dress, Maria made it absolutely unfair to him with that dress. The gold silk against her skin and showed off her hips-

Ruy snapped himself out of it as Sarai approached.

"The Vatarians have been treating us well so far." She chuckled.

"That's good, maybe we can make more progress than I thought tonight."

"Even then, Arsinoe believes the Conference may last a few nights, so she has invited us to stay in the palace during the duration of it."

"That's good," Ruy replied plainly as he watched Sophie and Lysandra take to the dance floor. Sarai just chuckled and took a sip from her drink.

"It seems Lysandra is doing a better job at romancing Amalia then you are." Sarai chuckled. Ruy froze, his mouth agape as he struggled for a comeback.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about." He coughed.

Sarai hummed in response, "Clearly, because it's not like she is my future daughter in law, and it's not like you have been staring at her hips for the past five minutes." Sarai stated plainly.

"How did you- why-"

"I was young once too, I know how the games work." Sarai plainly replied. Ruy struggled with a response, instead just accepting defeat and chuckling and rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at Sophie and Lysandra again, noticing Mansi joined their dance and they all were laughing with each other.

"Yeah, alright, you got me," Ruy mumbled. Sarai just smiled and patted his shoulder.

"At least you didn't try to hide it from me." She grinned. Ruy sighed and noticed the three girls retire from the dance floor, and Ruy quickly rushed towards them. He just missed her and watched as they all walked through the crowd.

He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder and whirled around.

"Hello, I don't believe we have met." Councilor Alina started.

Ruy resisted his urge to gag.

"You are one of the elven councilors, aren't you?" He sighed.

Alina smiled, nodding. Clearly, she didn't recognize him from the battle of Foxfire, "The Vatarians decided it was important we attended the conference."

Ruy plainly took a sip from his glass, "Funny, because from what I heard, the Council demanded that they attended at the Inalian Senate decided to throw them a bone."

Alina faltered slightly, but instead opted to change the subject, "This all seems so foreign."

Ruy looked around, and he felt right at home. Even though the stuffy nobles weren't ideal, the music, the laughter, the native languages, it was home to him.

"I guess you would say that." He muttered.

"I watched you enter with the Dunmer delegation. Are you one of the princes?"

"I'm wearing my crown and walked in with the rest of the royalty, what do you think?" He asked.

Alina opened her mouth to respond, but one of the Councilors came up behind Alina with her assistant.

"Alina, don't wander, we are guests here-"

Councilor Oralie set eyes on Ruy, and she paled.

Ruy flashed back to the council hearing from when he was a young child, his mother hiding out in the Lost Cities after she got banished from both Inalia and the Dunmer kingdom.

Oralie was one of the councilors to vote during his Exile, but she was the only one to vote against it.

"Long time no see, Oralie," Ruy stated.

Alina turned to Oralie, obviously confused.

"Hello Mr. Ignis," Oralie breathed.

Alina whipped back to Ruy, her mouth agape.

"This is Ruy Ignis?! Why is he here?!" Alina hissed.

"I'm here with my father, I left my mother's organization years ago," Ruy answered.

Alina still looked ready to rage, but Oralie just swallowed.

"You look well."

"Yes, well, last time you saw me I was a scared child you sent away just because you didn't want to deal with my mother."

Oralie closed her eyes and cringed as if Ruy's words burned her.

"I tried to convince them otherwise, I tried-"

"If you tried a bit harder, I might have not endured years of agony at the hands of my mother." Ruy cut her off, his voice even and simple.

Oralie opened her mouth, but then closed it.

Ruy sighed, looking over the party.

"Thank you for being the only one who stood up for me though," Ruy muttered. Oralie smiled and glanced at the Dunmer King.

"So, you figured out who your father is?" She asked.

Ruy smiled, "I'm guessing you are going to add my genetic father onto the record you are keeping onto me? Is that why your assistant is here?"

Oralie sighed in defeat, and Ruy glanced behind her to her assistant taking notes.

He nearly snorted champagne up his nose when he saw Keefe Sencen viciously writing on a pad behind her.

Keefe gave him a hard glare, delivering him a clear message.

We. Don't. Know. Each. Other.

"Prince Ruy, are you alright?!" Oralie asked.

Ruy gathered himself, "Yes, I'm alright. If you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." He quickly muttered, striding away from the conversation as fast as possible. Even then he heard the following whispers.

"We should tell our guards, they can have him arrested on the grounds of crimes against the elven-"

"He grew up so well, even with his demented mother. I'm happy he is in a new home."

"Oralie, are you listening?! He is a Neverseen criminal!"

Ruy smiled as Oralie snarled at her fellow councilor, "One more bad word against him, and I will make it my personal mission to make sure you are off the council."

He watched Oralie stomp off and Alina gaping at her, but he made a small gesture to Keefe. He pointed his head towards under the stairs, and Keefe gave him a little nod.

Ruy waited a few minutes under the stairs, and Keefe showed up a few moments later.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Ruy hissed.

"I got an opportunity to get into the council itself! I'm Oralie's personal assistant, I can get close to the Council and figure out who is the traitor!" Keefe hissed.

"Okay, but why are you here-"

"I am tired of prejudice, Ruy, I am tired of judgment, biases, and so much more. And I am taking action to actually stop it, because your species may be used to the abuse you receive, but it's not okay with me." Keefe returned. Ruy blinked, and he heard as the various leaders started their way towards the conference room.

"A-Alright." He whispered.

"Ruy?! Ruy!" King Dorian hissed as he went looking.

Ruy didn't get the chance to say goodbye to Keefe as he snuck out from under the stairs and started towards the conference room with his dad.

The various nobles watched as the select few entered the conference room, and Ruy made eye contact with Sophie one more time.

She looked so calm and serene, but the way she grappled onto Maha's hand, she was so uncomfortable.

Here we go.

It was a massive table they were all surrounding, about 30 total people discussing the future. They were already in there for almost an hour, going through everything and making sly comments to one another, which made Sophie laugh under her breath.

Sophie was placed right next to the Inalian Senate, which made her so uncomfortable as she pretended like she deserved to be there.

But staring at the Elven Council across the way, she knew that if they were there, so should she.

The Inalian Senate were the first ones to speak, and they were going through the status of Inalia. They went through the Fall of Inalia, How Inalia's location was compromised, and their struggle to keep a hold on the rowdy Inalian public.

"Those residing in the Renisanca districts are much calmer, but those in Grecia are rowdy and aren't that big of fands of the Senate." Vincenzo Esposita explained. Maria gripped the arm of her chair as she glared ahead of her, trying not to look at her family's murderer.

"Why is Grecia so rowdy?" Queen Arsinoe asked.

"They are more exposed to foreign ideas and radical political opponents, and they were always loyal fans," Sophie watched Vincenzo's steely stare into the side of Maria's head, even though she looked straight ahead "Of the Cyevan Assassin guild. Since the extermination of most of the higher members many years ago conducted by yours truly, they lost a lot of support for the Inalian Senate."

"Extermination?" Fang Guanyu asked.

Sophie cringed as Maria spoke, "He sought out the Morretti family, the family the founded the Cyevan guild and committed a mass murder against them with no proof."

Senator Fausta, one of the few Inalian Senators that attended and seemed at least somewhat kind-hearted, stood up.

"The Cyevan guild has been centered in Inalia for centuries, and they have always given the Senate strife as their practices aren't always," She glanced at Alexios and Sophie, "legal. We all agreed years ago that they needed to come into check, but that they weren't always bad. It is true what they do, they target enemies of the peace of the world, but they still needed to be monitored. However, Vincenzo decided that we meant to exterminate them all when we sent him to handle them." Senator Fausta explained. Maria stared at all of them, no doubt remembering the barn collapsing on top of her those years ago, her family killed in the main plaza.

Alexios held his mother's hand underneath the table. Sophie stood, her eyes fixed solely on the Senate next to her.

"It is no secret that the Senate has had problems with us for generations, but what I can't understand is why you decided it would be appropriate to allow the Elven traitors to attend the conference on Vatarian Affairs, this doesn't concern them." Sophie snapped.

The Elven Council cringed as Alina stood up, "We have every right to attend this conference. We are speaking about things that concern us as well!"

"Really?! Because last time I checked, this was supposed to be between the Vatarians and Dunmer to reforge an alliance. Yet you wiggled your way into other people's private accordance like the slimy snakes that you are!" Sophie snapped.

Alina smiled, and Sophie saw red. Her hands clenched the table, and Maha tried to get her to sit back down.

"Sophie-"

"I will not tell you again. It is Mentore Amalia Morretti to you."

Alina put her hands up, "Mentore, you must understand. You are only, what? 19 years of age?"

Sophie paled. She felt her Inner Circle, who was standing on the sidelines around her, stiffen as well.

"Yet you act as if you know more then everybody here. You are still a child, one who was handed a fancy sword and armor set and believed you were sent from above to save us all-"

"I was trained by my father, who gave me those weapons because he knew I would need them. I won that armor through pain and misery, through my endeavors of the horrid world we all live in. I must ask you, Alina," Sophie spat her name as she straightened, her eyes fiery and her fists clenched.

"Does age determine intelligence, or does experience?" She asked.

"Amalia, you do not need to be here-"

"Do not condescend to me!" Sophie roared. Everyone gaped at, the golden queen staring down a woman who was out of line, thinking she can show her up.

"Have you ever held the dying body of one of your fallen soldiers, Councilor?"

Everyone turned to Fang Guanyu, who stood with his fists clenched, gaping at his question.

"No, I can't say I have-"

"Have you ever had to open your gates to Inalian citizens who were running from their blazing city? Have you ever had to sit down with a woman and her child and tell her that her husband died protecting their home with nothing but a pitchfork and a torch?" He continued. Alina was stunned into silence, and Sophie stared wide-eyed as Fang Guanyu turned his hand to her, his eyes still blazing at Alina.

"That child? She has gone through torture, she has gone through misery, she has seen the world beyond your crystal circlets and your stupid rules, we all have. Because even though we all hide behind the walls of our cities for our own protection, the Vatarians aren't afraid to step beyond them, to help others, not bring them down. And from my years of experience, which is something you don't have Alina, I can tell you that every single person at this table is smarter than you."

Alina glared at Fang Guanyu, and Sophie shot him a grateful look as he sat down.

"The Council was invited," Senator Arturo started, "Because we want to decide whether or not to charge them with a war crime."

Everyone stopped.

Sophie had to bite down on her cheeks in order not to smile as the Council made squeaking sounds of disbelief. She glanced at the Dunmer royal family, who was watching the chaos ensue while gaping. Lysandra was sipping on tea, trying not to cackle at the Vatarian drama.

"A war crime?! Excuse me?!" Councilor Clarette sputtered.

The Senate straightened, and even though Sophie can't stand the Senate, she knew they were making the right move.

"By selling out Inalia's location, by learning the location in the first place? You broke ancient rules created hundreds of years ago when the Elves decided to create their own society away from the Vatarians. It is called the Leonidas Pact, it is somewhere in your hundreds of files."

Bronte's voice was shaky, "It was three rogue councilors that sold out Inalia's location, not the council as a whole."

"You act as if that makes a difference to us. It doesn't matter if it were rogues or not, because either way, thousands of our innocent people were murdered that day." Senator Arturo snapped.

Senator Fausta glanced at the Morretti family before turning back to the Council, "Heroes murdered, our lands destroyed, widows crying over their spouse's bodies, children begging for their missing parents," Sophie kept her watering eyes on Alina as Senator Fausta stared at her, "Fathers murdered in front of their children."

The Senate gathered themselves, "Your three rogue councilors should've considered that when they sold out a realm of innocent people to a group of terrorists. We have a copy of the Leonidas Pact here if you wish to see it."

In a desperate chance to save themselves the bad image, Alina whipped at Sophie,

"You broke into the Lost Cities with your brutes only a few days ago-"

"Oh shut up, for once in your life! Please! I still haven't gotten a single gods damned thank you for risking the life of my men and women for saving your sorry asses." Sophie begged.

"You speak as if we were the ones who betrayed you, who were prejudiced against you! But we did nothing to you yet you try to turn everything on us. Know your place." Alexios spat.

Alina swallowed, "We are not the villains here-"

Arsinoe stood with her beautiful grace, her sculpted face a stone statue as she addressed the councilor.

"In our narratives, yes, you are," Arsinoe whispered. Everyone was quiet as the Queen picked up her glass, swishing around the priceless wine inside.

"The elves, the same ones who left the Vatarian world to build their own. The elves, the ones who used Vatarian gifts to build their empire. The elves, the ones who then shut us out, spat on us, looked down on us, even tried to invade once or twice." Arsinoe took a sip of her wine, looking up from her glass, "The elves, the ones who don't know when to shut the fuck up and sit down."

Arsinoe's eyes cut through the Council, "Speak up like that again, and I will have you all flayed."

With that, Alina and the Council finally sat down.

But Sophie's blood still boiled. She glanced at the Senate, who was quietly muttering amongst themselves.

"I feel like we should move on to our next topic." Arsinoe sighed. She stared at King Dorian, who straightened.

"We all believe it is time a new alliance was forged between the Dunmer and Vatarians. That way, we can all address the threat of not only the Neverseen but the Mirthless. If we can defeat both of these problems, then I believe we can start a new future and reopen our border to rebuild our kingdoms." Arsinoe explained. A perfect noble, that is what Arsinoe was, spoke with elegance and class, an intelligent woman fighting for the future with her sharp tongue and even sharper wit.

"I couldn't agree more." King Dorian agreed.

The whole table dove into the discussions of the new alliance, the Council smartly remaining quiet. But Sophie couldn't tear her eyes away from them, images of her father propped on his knees and Elrond's sword through his heart. The look in his eyes, the tears brimming them with the look of grief, the blood rolling down his chin and through his shirt...

She felt her Pancras form roll within her, begging to be released out Kynareth's grip, and she felt her tattoo burn. Images of Kynareth showed, and Sophie's head fell into a splitting headache. Ruy was the first one to notice Sophie putting her head in her hands, and he eyes Alexios from across the table. Alexios glanced at him, and Ruy gave him a harsh look at Sophie, mouthing something to him. Alexios turned to his sister, trying to whisper things in her ear.

She couldn't hear them though, not over the sound of whistling wind and stormy skies in her ears.

"I need to go get some fresh air, your highness," Sophie asked, sitting up in her chair and gripping the sides of the table to keep herself steady. Everyone glanced at her, but Arsinoe excused her. Sophie slipped out of the conference room, even as Ruy worriedly glanced in her direction.

"Now is not the time, Kynareth," Sophie muttered to herself, her golden dressing swishing behind her. Sophie's dress dragged against the polished stone floors, the gentle sound of the embroidered crystals in her chiffon strands scraping against it.

"I'm done waiting, Amalia." Kynareth's wind like voice whistled in her ear.

"After the conference, I swear to you, I promise I will-"

"I don't care, I want you there now."

"I can't go now. Please, just a little more time." Sophie begged into her head. Kynareth squeezed even tighter on her bond holding down her powers, and Sophie felt her mind grow even weaker. Sophie's amulet, which was wrapped around her thigh, started to grow warm in Kynareth's presence.

"Ugh, mortals." Kynareth spat. Sophie graciously felt Kynareth's presence subside as she walked down the halls, her amulet cooling against her thigh. She turned the corner, finding herself in what looked to be a library. On one of the tables was a heaping pile of books about Dunmer, most likely Arsinoe reading up before the Conference. Besides the books was a papyrus covered in Egypitnat hieroglyphs, most likely Arsinoe's notes. They were written with a beautiful peacock colored fountain pen, which stood to dry over the inkpot.

Sophie picked up the pen, fiddling with it, calming her nerves. As she flipped the pen through her fingers, it snagged the skin on her pointer finger, ripping open a small puncture wound on the pad of her finger. Sophie gasped, sucking away the blood and muttering to herself.

She sighed, looking out the windows onto the gorgeous view of the Fida river, gripping the pen and trying to cleanse the awful images from her head.

The other kids were playing tag in the courtyard outside the main court, and Lilac was managing to do pretty well. They all ignored the crazed fans and civilians begging for attention. All of them were there with their parents or siblings, just like Lilac was. The adults, at least, the ones allowed to go into the conference room, have been in there for at least an hour.

Lilac scampered away as a young noble child almost tagged her. It seemed so simple being young, and Lilac wildly laughed as two other kids ran and hid in the trees. She was forgetting all about her visions, about her feelings about being a freak.

"Tag, you're it!" A kid called out as he smacked his hand on the back of an Avriman child. Lilac watched as the new tagger ran around, her smile wide.

And then her smile faded, just as her vision just did.

She was suddenly sucked through a tunnel of light, her mind showing her a new scene.

"A vision? Here?" Lilac wondered to herself.

Her sister was in the library, looking out over the Fida river with a pen in her hands, subconsciously twiddling it through her fingers. She looked absolutely gorgeous, the pale moonlight reflecting into the library and shimmering in the golden dress that flowed around her like a pool of golden starlight. Her red lips were whispering things to herself, the hushed whispers lost over the echoing acoustics of the library.

And then the lights flickered out, throughout the entire palace. Amalia immediately straightened, looking around in confusion. Amalia glanced at the clock, noting that it was 10:30.

The palace rumbled, and a dark figure with a green eye sewn on the back approached Amalia from behind as screams erupted from the conference room and the palace shook. The figure pulled Amalia back and shoved something over her mouth, but watched in horror as her irises faded away into solid blue, lighting crackling in her eye sockets.

Lilac stumbled back, suddenly back in reality.

"Oh my gods," She whimpered as the other kids came t check on her.

"Lilac? Are you okay?!" A noble boy asked.

"Do any of you have a watch?!" Lilac asked. A boy quickly walked forward, holding out a pocket watch.

10:28

That vision was going to happen in two minutes.

Lilac's eyes turned watery as she whispered to her friends, "The Neverseen are here."

Hey everybody! YAY! We made it to 100 followers! So, I decided I want to do a bit of a rewrite as a 100 follower kind of a special. I am going to be going back to AAD and rewriting some scenes that really need it, and here are the ones I am planning on updating in the first book.

Act 1

Ch 35- The Loss

Act 2

27~ The Queen has Returned

30~ Swim with the Current

Thank you all SO much for 100 followers, and here is to 100 more!

Please remember to vote, comment, share, and follow!

_Sibylline_