Chapter 62

"Arriana?"

"Yes, Deacon?"

"I'm proud of you," he told her, his cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.

"Really? Why is that?" She asked him, smiling softly at him.

"You've become one hell of a woman, that's why." He smiled back at her.

"I see."

"And you are a magnificent queen," he told her.

"I'm not queen yet. Let's see how tomorrow goes first." She looked slightly worried.

"Everything will be fine tomorrow. You will be great," he replied.

"Thanks." She smiled weakly, turning to walk away.

He reached an arm to stop her. "Wait."

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"You've already told me that," she said bluntly.

"I know and I've still been a jerk."

"Yes, you have."

"Well, I am sorry. Friends?" He offered.

"Yeah, sure whatever." Arriana turned and stalked off.

"Geez, now what did I do?" Deacon asked himself flabbergasted.

He watched as Arriana headed toward the main table and took her seat between Henry and Barwick. He shot an icy glare at Henry who simply smirked at him.

Arriana and Henry finished eating and sat back watching everybody else. Her parents laughed and looked happy for the first time since their arrival to Coresova. Danni; however, looked worried. John was going into battle with them tomorrow but Arriana promised she would make sure he made it back safely and she intended on keeping that promise. Once everyone had eaten their fill and were relaxing Arriana stood up. She looked from family to family. From face to face and they looked back. She was getting braver about speaking to crowds, even though this crowd was turning more into family and further from strangers.

"Good ,friends and family. Tonight is a special night for all of us. Some of you may be thinking this is your last supper with your families but it's not! This is our freedom banquet! Tomorrow brings war, brings our revolution! We will not stand by while this monster continues to slaughter us. He wants to extinguish us! Why? Because we're witches, wizards, mythics, animals who can speak or because you simply believe in equality for everybody. Is it so wrong to be different? No. What does Coresova deserve? Peace and freedom. Enough blood has been spilled onto her beautiful soil. Tomorrow ends it! With the battle tomorrow we will end his reign of terror over the people, animals and land. Tomorrow I shall be restored to my family's throne! Do not despair for we will be triumphant! You have all worked so hard and I could not ask for anything more from any of you. You are an army any king, queen or leader would be proud of. That is why I have a surprise for all of you. With the help of Xander, Adia and Caleb we were able to make armor for everyone." They all brought out the golden armor of Coresova. While the people stared in amazement at their new armor Arriana smiled. Before you get used to it there is one more thing I must add in order for it to be finished." She waved her hand over everyone's chest plates. In the center a burnt looking weeping willow appeared. "The symbol of our life. The weeping willow is a mighty tree that is resistant and survives. We are resistant and we will survive."

Arriana pulled out one of the chest plates for the armor and held it up to the crowd. The shiny golden metal gleamed in the firelight. The edges were trimmed in silver with the newly printed weeping willow in the center. The crowd erupted into cheers while music began to play again. The evening seemed to go by too quickly. As everyone got up to go to bed Arriana just sat at the table, even when everything was cleaned and put away she still sat there. Lost deep in thought as usual.

"Arriana?" Beau asked.

"Yes, Beau?"

"Come to bed?"

"Okay." She stood and followed the dog to the couch.

She curled up under the covers while he took his usual spot near her legs and feet.

He slowly drifted off to sleep while she lay there, thinking. Hoping that if she stayed awake, morning would never come. She did not realize it but she was falling asleep. Her eyes grew heavier and heavier and eventually stayed shut. It was her last night of sleep before everyone's lives were flipped upside down, again. She finally slipped fully into a dreamless sleep.

 Arriana lay awake most of the night. She watched as the twilight hour gave way to the persistent sun that crowned on the eastern border of the village. The morning silence was broken by the scuffling of shoes on the hardwood floor, frying food and the people scurrying about outside. It was morning. The morning. She sat up slowly. Barwick and Marc were sitting at the table drinking their coffee, Victoria sitting next to her father holding his hand and crying.

Poor kid. Don't worry dear, little Victoria. You're daddy is a mighty warrior. An amazing man, he will come home to you.

She knelt down by her trunk and dug around. It shouldn't have mattered what she wore, but to her, it did. Picking out her clothes was the one thing Arriana could control for the day. After staring into the trunk for twenty minutes she decided on one of her mother's dresses. It was crimson red with royal blue trimming. She carefully unfolded the dress, her mind already made up that she would wear this to war, and looked it over. It was so hard for her to imagine her own mother wearing this very gown at another period of time.

Where did she wear it too? Was this one of her favorites?

Arriana sighed knowing she would never get the answers to her questions. She stood up and headed toward the bathroom. As she tied her hair back she stared at the reflection in the mirror. She hardly recognized it. That girl, no, that woman staring back could not possibly be her. Just six short months ago she was a fresh faced senior in high school getting ready for the state championships with swimming, preparing for prom and for graduation. Now she was a hardened woman. Today would have been her, Deacon and Zoe's graduation. She should be preparing to go to college, not to war.

"Well girl, are you ready? It's now or never," she told herself, walking out of the bathroom.

She grabbed her cup of coffee and stood in the doorway looking outside. Cartra, Rotet and Edgar were going around waking everyone. Arion and his herd were preparing. Arriana was surprised when she saw them; they were wearing golden saddles and bridles that had the Coresovan crest on each side surrounded in crimson red. He bowed his head and smiled at her. She smiled back. She knew the sacrifice they were taking by wearing the saddles. A sign of respect and unity, she had finally won their complete trust and loyalty. Aroman and his warriors were putting on their armor and sharpening their swords and bow tips one more time before they all headed to the eastern clearing.

As she scanned the surroundings, the center of the village is bustling with life. People and creatures were running from here to there doing last minute errands and saying their goodbyes. Arriana turned and went back inside. Her Armor was lying on the couch next to her sword. She picked up the chainmail shirt and slipped it over top of her gown. The chest plate was next. She turned it over in her hands feeling the crest and the smoothness of the metal. She slipped it over her head and pulled it down. It fit snugly against her frame. She snapped it into place and tied her scabbard around her waist tightly and picked up her helmet. She turned and looked at her family and friends who were in the house. Her mother and Danni had tears in their eyes as did her father. They knew the sweet and precious little girl that they raised was a woman. Not just a woman but a queen and a warrior.

"You guys ready?" she asked them weakly.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Zoe said.

"Same here," Deacon added.

Henry smiled at her. "We're right behind you, Queen Arriana."

"Let's go and save our home," Barwick said, pulling his breast and back plate into position as well as pulling on his leather gloves.

They all walked out in front of Arriana who wanted to go last. She took a deep breath and stepped out onto the porch. The villagers stopped in their tracks as they saw the young queen emerge from the house. She stood there, staring right back at them. The emotions were running high. Women were crying as they hugged their husbands and sons goodbye while others hugged their daughters. Once the goodbyes were said, tears shed, promises made, the troops presented themselves in front of the modest cottage Arriana was calling home at the moment. Arion trotted over to her and bowed.

"Are you ready Arriana?" He asked.

"I suppose."