Revelation

NOVA

Every breath I took felt like it would be my last. My whole body ebbed with pain with each time I took a breath, and Eskarina could barely hold me up. I was dead weight. Almost literally.

"Turi'anel." The girl elf spoke.

Eskarina tapped me on my shoulder while she carried me,leaning in closer toward me as the two siblings continued to speak.

"What are they saying?"

"They're arguing."

"About?"

"Us. They don't trust us. At least the girl doesn't." I said,my mind still a bit foggy. My ears rang,yet through it all, Eskarina's voice remained clear.

"How are you holding up?" She asked.

"I'm not. You are."

"What?"

"You're the one holding me up."

She gave me a friendly punch,far more gently than her usual, and a smile creeped over her face.

I wish... I wish I could tell you how I really felt.

I wanted to. A deep part in me screamed out,yelling at myself to tell her my feelings. But, a fear kept my words at bay. A strong,powerful fear of losing her all over again. She'd left me alone during a time when I needed her the most, and for a while,I blamed her. On nights when I would cut my wrists to ribbons,I would feel a hatred fester in my chest. After a time,I realised I was not hating her,but myself. I was angry. Enraged at my own idiocy. I allowed myself to push her away,to the point where she felt like leaving was her only option. Months passed without her until I finally decided enough was enough. I would fight to get better,for her,but also,for myself.

"Nova?" Her voice came again.

"Yeah?"

"You said something."

"I did?"

"You mumbled something. Something you want to tell me?"

I was silent for awhile,resisting the urge to just blurt out how I really felt. I refused to risk losing her again.

"I will tell you...when we're both ready."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not ready to say it yet. And I don't know if you're ready to hear what I have to say."

Eskarina giggled, which sent a surge of warmth through me. "I can't know if I'm ready if I don't hear what it is silly."

I chuckled under my breath, hobbling as my legs grew weaker.

"Hey Esk?"

My vision grew dim with each step, and Eskarina's eye's fell on me again. "Nove? You good?"

***

That was all I remember. I don't remember much else from then on. My only recollection of events continued when I woke up in a bed,warm and comfortable.

I couldn't move,but I could hear voices.

My mind whirred as I heard the elven tongue,steadily translating it to English.

"It's the Commander of The Empire Woodfather! We need to kill him while he is weak not help him!"

"He is just a boy. He lacks guidance. I will speak with him, and perhaps we can gain an ally who will finally turn the war in our favour."

"He is a nordling! The girl included! We cannot risk keeping them here! They could compromise us! This is the elderwood! Our last remaining city where the Great Oak is located. Sire,this is the centre of our cultural heritage and you wish to jeoparadise that for a plan that may or may not work?"

"It is my decision Alisha. Your father worked alongside the Commander-"

"This Commander also slaughtered several of our people! Countless lives lost to that Monster who lay in that bed! He is a Revenant as well! He is a literal monster, an abomination of the underwood! A walking corpse!"

"Enough Alisha! You will return to your father. I will deal with the Commander. No harm is to come to him,or his companion do I make myself clear?"

A grunt, and echoes of footsteps which slowly faded away into the distance. The curtains were slowly pulled away, revealing a tall, staunch figure. His hair was tied into a neat pony tail, and he wore a crown made from silver,fashioned and moulded in a strange vine aesthetic. His pointy elven ears were a bit longer than others, and his eye's were a beautiful snow white. His clothes consisted of leaves woven into a magnificent coat and clothing, all weaving together and meshed with lime linings,providing a stark contrast to the rest of his attire.

"Good Morning Commander. You appear to be in good health."

So this is King Artemis...the Emperor of all Elvenfolk.

"You nursed me back to health. Why?"

"So the rumours about you are true? You truly do have a blunt, cold personality. I do sense an air of mystery surrounding you. Intriguing."

He stepped inside,his hands placed neatly behind his back as he sat on a chair in front of me.

All around me, I was surrounded by nothing but wood. Wooden furniture,soft,feathery like leaves for bedsheets and duvets.

"You elves truly do love nature."

"And humans continueosly seek to destroy it." He said.

Artemis stood, holding his hand to me. "Can you stand Commander?"

I stood up on wobbly legs,forcing myself to stabilise. One of my legs was wrapped in a cast,which forced me to walk with a slight limp.

"There are clothes for you, a dry set, set aside just for you. I took the liberty of having some of my servants measure you while you slept. I hope you don't mind."

I found myself getting dressed in a colour I wasn't readily used to. Green. Although,the elven clothing was extraordinarily comfortable, soft and smooth to the touch.

When I had finished dressing, in a complete attire not too different from Artemis', I followed him as we walked around the city.

All around me I saw large houses carved neatly into the massive oaks which were all around me. Several elves moved up and down through stairs,which were essentially just the branches of the respective tree,conveniently grown to resemble steps leading to each house.

House interiors were lit by special tree sap which lit up when in dark areas.

Faeries flew freely around the place, their small wings and giggles littered the air while they dropped golden dust across the city. The elven children on the ground beneath us laughed and leapt into the air, trying to catch the dust dropped by the faeries. When they did, the children all slowly hovered above the ground,raising higher and higher until they were right up to where Artemis and I stood. Artemis waved at the youngsters,who all grew excited at the sight of their king.

"King Artemis!"

"Look! The faeries are dropping dust again!"

"Weeeeeeee!"

Artemis smiled and waved at each of the children as they zoomed off,kicking and flying around the city.

"Won't they get hurt?"

"When the faerie dust wears off,it will slowly lower the children safely to the ground. They won't simply flop out of the Sky Commander." Artemis said,laughing. "It is beautiful isn't it?"

Had to agree with him. Elysium was beautiful. As beautiful as I'd last seen. It was a welcomed change to the Imperial Cities busy and dirty streets,filled with junk and beggars. Here,there was not a single piece of paper in sight, not one beggar on the floor below in the marketplace.

"Alas,this is one of the last sights you'll see in Elysium. Your kind has razed most villages to the ground."

"Humans are not my kind. I'm a Revenant."

"So you accept your undeath?"

"Telling myself I was still human when I know I'm not would be stupid. I refuse to lie to myself."

"A boy who has as much wisdom as he does skill in combat."

He led me around the city, where elves readily avoided me. Whispers and some remarks were thrown at me. Yet,no one dared to do anything. Fear gripped everyone I walked past.

"You've gained quite the notorious reputation amongst my people." Artemis said. "Elves are a tight-knit community, almost everyone has relatives in this city, and everyone is very close with one another. We rarely have any enemies or in fighting. Because of this,almost all the elves within my city know you,since its likely you've killed someone they were close to, or perhaps even a member of their family."

I blocked out the sudden feeling of guilt which washed over me. I had slain countless enemies before,yet seeing these elves, and such beauty around me, I felt horrid for playing a part in destroying it.

He continued to lead me through the city,up the branched steps which lead to a balcony overlooking the entire city.

"My Companion. Where is she?"

"She will be here soon. Come here Commander,I want you to have a look at this."

"I don't care about what you want me to look at. Where. Is Eskarina?"

Artemis sighed,gesturing for me to look ahead. Making my way beside him,I found myself looking at the vast lights of the city in the trees.

"You see Crisingr's house? He says you are an acquaintance of his."

"Acquaintance? All I've done is give him hell."

"He clearly sees something else within you."

My eye's spotted Crisingr's house, my blood began to boil at the sight of Alisha.

Artemis' hand set itself gently against my shoulder. "Do you see her mother?"

"My eyesight is not as great as you elves."

"Oh? I thought Revenants had exceptional eyesight."

"In the dark yeah. Daylight is a different story."

"The girls mother is suffering from a terminal illness. She struggles to live with every passing day. Her fathers absence as well as her mothers illness,has made Alisha...bitter toward others."

Artemis turned to face me. "Your friend told me that your mother is terminally ill as well. Breast cancer correct? Your father is someone you bolster a strong hatred for, and you shut yourself off from several other people. You and Alisha aren't as different as you say."

"I want to know how Eskarina is doing. I don't care about her sob story."

"I want to determine something Commander."

"What?"

"Do you really want to kill Alisha? Are you so bloodthirsty for vengeance that it clouds your mind? And what then,when you do kill Alisha? What purpose will you have once you have avenged your dead lover?"

I remained silent. I had no answer. I'd never thought about that. What would I do once Elena had been avenged? If I did kill Alisha...what would I accomplish?

"I can tell, you have a soft spot for the girl you're travelling with. I know love when I see it."

"She doesn't feel the same."

"How do you know? Have you asked? Have you told her how you feel? How you truly feel?"

"What difference will it make? There's a mission that I need to accomplish. I will avenge Elena."

"And to what end Nova? What then? What would Eskarina think of you? I can tell the girl cares for you as well, yet if you continue to be this way, then you'll only end up losing her. In a way your relationship is very similar to what our war is. Two sides with conflicting beliefs. The more Eskarina tries to help you, tell you that you are and can be better than the ruthless killer everyone says you are, the more you slip into a darkness ruled by a man who cares only about the power he's amassed. You would rather listen to Roman, a man who would dispose of you in a heartbeat,than the one person who cares for you the most."

Artemis' ears twitched, and a smile slowly crept across his face. "Speak of Morne, here she is now."

"Nove?!"

I turned to see Eskarina,who ran and threw her arms round me. She chuckled between sobs,pulling away and planting a kiss on my forehead.

"Fuck,I thought you wouldn't make it. I'm so glad you're okay."

I smiled and pulled her close,pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm alright Esk...I'm okay."

"I've prepared special quarters just for our guests. You two will remain here for the time being. The Commander needs to recover. Your wounds may have been tended to,but they are far from healed."

Artemis led us to our quarters,which held within it a queen sized bed,suspended on several sprouting vines. The drawers were elegantly carved with elven embroidery and paintings.

I slid into bed, with Eskarina climbing in beside me. Her face was red, almost as red as my own.

"So..."

"So..."

"When do you think you'll heal up?"

I scratched my head,sighing in exhaustion. "Three weeks give or take. Maybe less if I feed."

I shivered slightly and pulled the blankets over me. I felt Esks hands wrap round my stomach as she pulled me close to her.

"I'm cold Nova."

"I'm a corpse..."

She chuckled and pulled me closer. I turned round,staring into her eye's. She was beautiful...I wished I could tell her...

My throat constricted slightly. I felt a slight pain in my chest.

I'm scared...I'm so scared...

I took a deep breath and brushed my hand through her hair,gently pushing away her hair.

"Eskarina...there's something I need to tell you."

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