Sorry the chapter is so long, but it is the last one and there were a lot of loose ends to tie. There is also an epilogue at the end that made it longer. I am happy to end my first story on fiction press, but at the same time I am not totally happy with the entire thing. Some of my chapters are pretty bad and with a serious need to edit, but I am too lazy to do that. I would like to thank all my reviewers and will name them all with my gratitude, as well as place last chapter’s reply. I was going to split this up into two chapters and an epilogue, but I wanted to end the story and I have been at this for a while so it didn’t really matter. I would appreciate reviews on the story as a whole and thank you the reviewed once again. Please keep a look out for my next story as soon as I figure out which one and how I want it.

Thanks to.

Virgo-valentine

Sanghelli snap

Little fox girl

Raine

Follow.the.path

Kita tsuki

RomanceAddict

Timeless send

Beeper

Earth angel

Justcallmebubba

Summer’s light

Moon shine

Ice

Queen of the demons

Raine- I wrote a short epilogue. I am happy Adam his here too it is like he is my son

Romance Addict- Well now you will see how it ends.

Vesta star- well men can’t be perfect all the time and he was just upset (and jerky if that is a word) it is ok that you haven’t reviewed in while because you did most of the chapters anyways.

Summer’s light- Well you don’t have to wait any longer it is here.

Queen of the demons- its ok I get new reviewers on and off it isn’t rare for me.

Adam was smiling in his usual way again. She had never seen a happier child. If it wasn’t a smile it was laughter, the only exception being when you interrupted his feeding. She adored him though his eyes brought back memories. Her father he had had such blue eyes. Not just blue but slanted like Adam’s it made him look so exotic. Some of the advisors had been a little upset with his name. He was not named after any angel, but a human.

“Imagine one that is to be king of angels! Named after a common human soldier. Not even a survivor of war!” it was the same sentence if not a bit altered she received from everyone. Machidiel mostly kept his opinions to himself and she found him to be a bit submissive. It was the opposite of the way he acted with his people, but with her she always seemed to get her way. It was simple things first like opening the castle windows and letting her wander the city. He insisted of coming along though, but she didn’t object for she liked him with her. If she had insisted she was sure she would have been able to wonder alone eventually.

After he had given her those few liberties she had begun to test her boundaries. Her first big victory was him letting her pass the trade agreement with the forest people. He had been reluctant considering the source had caused many grievances and feelings were still tender, but she was not blind to the need of nutrition. In trade they had given them some knowledge on hunting. It was strange to think these people were only able to eat animals they raised themselves.

After that her requests seemed to be only answered by ‘yes love’ and ‘tomorrow’ or ‘it will be done’. Those three phrases were not only his favorite, but that of everyone else it seemed her word had become an unchallenged law. There were certain matters though he did not back down on though like. Yes the war would not stop until he won, and yes Amitiel had to go to boarding school. Another matter he never backed down on was his lust.

Even after the birth of their son he refused to spend even one night without his wife to fulfill his pleasures (Not that she minded at all.) with all the food pushed at her and her recent pregnancy though the queen was still self conscience. Still after a few weeks like with Amitiel her stomach almost miraculously went back to its natural flat shape. Some of the mothers she had begun to consort with called it a miracle and cringed at their own figures. She couldn’t help the luck her mother’s petite body genes had given her though.

She wouldn’t have prevented even if she could for she was just a lustful as her husband. She couldn’t get enough of him. It was all she could do to hope she would not become with child again, Adam was a handful. She was on her room balcony Adam in her arms when she saw the stretch of tress she so loved to wander begin to pull apart. She was amazing watching the roots uplift seemingly of there own concurrence.

She had never seen the Eye of Darta close from inside the castle before. It seemed like magic. Because it was made as a war camp Darta was self reliant and the only trading happened with the forest dwellers that were able to slip in without creating an opening. The inhuman like creatures seemed to be immune to a barrier made of trees. The only other peoples she knew that had this ability were Machidiel. Even the Gate keeper had to open it to get in. still she had become to intertwine with castle affairs to not know that no troops had been dispatched except… Urim. Through the new clearing she saw the lone figure of his horse and from behind birds of fire. Their bodies seemed to scorch the sky ablaze. A symbol that war had finally come prepared.

“I just hope my plans will benefit us to a point of victory,” wheezed a bulging form next to her.

“General San it is an honor to be in your presence. I’m sure you did all you could.”

“It is never enough,” he sighed before going into a fit of coughs. “Forgive me my health is failing. Me the best healer second to only Torius will not live to see the end.

“I left a week ago the king made sure my passage out of the city went unnoticed. He knows a little something of getting in and out of the most flawless structures. It was for an important military maneuver I left, but… on the way I was met with a group of five soldiers. The leg covered by my left pant leg is but an iron rod.” He tapped a wooden cane on his shin. The clang of metal rang confirming his accusation. “I am old and my body will not endure such treatment I will be dead by the morrow.”

“Why do you tell me this?” her voice was shaky with grief and unshed tears.

“When I die tell the king my replacement will be my son Neerangard. He is a good man and though young will learn quickly.”

“It will be done.”

“Thank you,” he said weekly limping his way to her door way. “God save Queen Analia the benevolent.” He whispered on his way out. Adam began to shift in her arms feeling her distress. He cried almost seemingly to share her pain. His beautiful eyes turned a deep gold as he did. It only turned back to its regular hue when both he and she had finished their fruitless bout of sadness. He looked as he did in her dream then as they huddled closely at the mountain peak.

“My comrade!” jubilated a charismatic voice. She whipped her face of ears and put on a bright smile for her dear friend as she faced him. “I am have come to see you before going to see my adorable wife and…” he seemed to pause out of pure excitement and anticipation “My son the soldier of our army before legal age! He was so good the Urin is serving before his age class. I am so very proud. What a wonderful son!” He threw his arms in the air for emphasis before exiting as fast as his legs could carry him. The castle and city was in chaos now. Allies in every spare room and inn lodge. All the castle rooms were filled to the brim.

The most important guests though were Firein, the leader of the phoenixes and Dirthas of the forest dwellers. She and Machidiel were to meet with them and the other race kings that very night, for it was not only angels that fought with them. Eight of the races were already represented in the council, but the kings didn’t serve for they were in their homelands, but now they were here. Still of great importance the alliances between them were strong but the two new supporters would be their biggest problem. The queens would also be present and she wondered how she matched up against them. Machidiel was already at the parlor greeting them as she walked down the hall that night. She still wore the necklace Machidiel gave her for luck, but the evening called for more extravagance.

Over his necklace she had a rather ostentatious collar of diamonds with ruby and sapphire tips. She wore a black silk dress that had one large slit to her thigh and short off the shoulder sleeves. She felt like she should be going to a funeral, yet black was the color of their kingdom Darta. Her maids had arranged her hair up with tight curls and soft feathers. Most were from Machidiel’s wings while others were of ravens, but one that was rather special to her was her son’s. It was the talk of the whole court. Her baby’s wings were neither white nor black, but the most beautiful shade of dark blue. Nobody really knew what to make of this, but the high priest had called it a blessing. The first time she had seen those splendid wings though she had fallen in shock.

They had also scattered a few rubies around her hair, against her will. She felt like a walking bank flaunting all her wealth. They had all assured her that all the queens would look just as extravagant and she wouldn’t want her country to look poor or her to look plane. As her feet came closer and closer to her awaiting doom she began to chant in her head the names she had to remember and their nationality. Her head hurt from all the memorizing she had done last night.

Misyan and Lin of the trolls

Harigorn and kinady of the centaurs

Lun and cinity of the vampires… the list went one what is she didn’t remember all their names. Finally as her nerves hit their peak she made it to the oak doors. Two burly guards with black cloth over their faces were at the door.

“We’re the guards of the king of serpents only friend may pass into the conference room. Identify yourself.”

“Don’t insult me I am Queen Analia the benevolent, of the very realm you walk on.”

“We apologize,” they said instantly “Can’t be too careful with the war” on shrugged. She gave them a glare like it better not happen again, and they let her through. That chamber was her nightmare comes true.

Everyone was already there and waiting for her. She thanked her maids now for at least she was dressed at the same level as everyone else. She just wished she did not look like a widow the other queens wore such exuberant colors. One in particular she identified as Lydia of the water snakes looked so wonderful in aquamarine. She wore so many pearls and emeralds she couldn’t count and she had the most beautiful light blue hair and sea greed eyes.

She would have thought her human had she not had miniature fines for ears and the slits on her throat in place of a nose. Analia looked around as discreetly a possible for Machidiel who seemed to be glowing at her presence. He seemed to be smiling the largest grin she had seen n a long time.

He looked almost like a love struck adolescent. She couldn’t help it no matter where she was or what they had already done together she had to smile just a wide and blush three shades of red. They were both interlocked in a hypnotic gaze of smiles.

“Dear queen you are the last to arrive. May we start the meeting?” she turned to see and old fat king that was hutched in an almost impossible way occupying half the room. It was King Slunk of the giants.

“Of course King Slunk, But maybe we should find somewhere bigger to accommodate you.”

“Don’t worry I’m used to it. I just wish my wife could have come in with me but maybe it is for the best she not here of such things.”

“Of course” she bowed taking her seat next to her husband……

She had spent six hours deliberating war plans. It was ridiculous! How a group of sensible human beings could not come to a single agreement was beyond her. Why couldn’t they all shut up and just listen to her like everyone else did. She didn’t make any bad decisions… well only few. Machidiel unlike usual was very aggressive in his decision, and even went against some of her opinions. The damn vampires just wanted to march up to the enemy and just go straight through and slaughter them all. They even wanted to send them an ultimatum, idiots. After being the second delegate to walk out angry in the middle of the meeting she sat on her lawn drinking cool lemonade.

“May I join you?” it was the glorious Queen Lydia. She had come out of her aquamarine gown, but only for an equally splendid white that still made her look just as flattering. She cursed herself for having changed into simple cotton pants and Machidiel’s new gray dress shirt.

“Note to self,” she thought “Get out of the habit of wearing men’s clothes you are no longer pregnant and make sure to wear the things your seamstress made for you.” Sighing she motioned for her to sit. Of course she had been sitting on the cool grass but Lydia had one of the servants bring her a chair.

“I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that walked out of there.”

“Only the first of many I am sure.” Analia responded distractedly. She was to busy twirling her glass around to pay attention to Lydia.

“You were so defiant in the conference room most ladies such as me did not dare interfere in the really heated subjects but you jumped right in.” She looked down on her with nothing but pure indifference and the protruding lower lip pout of a spoiled child. “You acted strange around your husband too glancing at him, and disagreeing like your opinion really mattered in the relationship. I say you act as though you were a man yourself, but I recognize the lust in your looks to the king you are obviously a harlot in more private affairs.” She had a malevolent smirk on her face satisfied at her carefully clever words.

“I do lust after my husband, and love him. He is too beautiful to even be handsome and so everything I want. I can see why you would find that strange,” she drank the last of her juice. “Your husband was at least three times your age it must be hard sharing his bed, and having a husband you pleasure so well has its advantages. He is much more docile and once his physical needs are met he cares more about your actual opinion so you can speak out more.” She got up to leave letting the hair that was tied in a ponytail fall down her waist. “You remind me of somebody…Rosealy I think you two would make great friends. She shrugged and began her decent to see her son. She didn’t like leaving him with anybody even if it was Tom-Tom.

“At least I’m not a cross dresser.” She yelled back though Analia was too far to hear by the time she could think of a response. Once in her room she found something she wasn’t expecting. Machidiel was on their bed with papers scattered everywhere. She realized they were notes from the meeting. He had immersed him self in one and was currently reading it without a thought towards her. The hilarity of the situation though was as his brow furrowed in concentration for a solution. One bare foot rocked Adam back and forth as the baby gurgled with delight at the motion.

“That did not go well,” he stated not looking up from the book “we need to attack as soon as possible.” She was going to say something to calm his nerves he looked so tense. They were just minor problems though compared to what disaster was brought to them next. The baritone hum of the horn, the beacon. It was being rung. There had to be a mistake the horn would only ring if the city were under attack, and the barrier protected the village. In a frantic scurry they both pushed their way to the window…. It was an atrocious sight. Their enemy was burning through the trees with dragons. Dragons are immune to magic and their fire can burn through anything even a barrier.

The greatest sink her heart endured was when the eye burning brightly fell from its tower burning out on the soil. Dirt flew everywhere coating all the houses across the front border.

“To arms to arms!” Machidiel screamed finally over his shock. Men were putting on clothes and getting out weapons. He himself was putting on heavy armor and she wondered how he would move in it. Once he was dressed he turned to her in the cold way she had seen him look upon his thrown. His emotionless eyes fell to his son. He reached into a pouch that was secured on his waist and pulled it out weighing it in his palm. Twirling his fingers with the grace of a practiced hand to unlaced the purse strings. With his other hand he pulled out a pendant.

“My emblem,” He pronounced. “If I should die in battle it will name him the next king.”

“Machidiel don’t please,” she cried franticly “You’re coming back. You’re not leaving me!” She voice was screams now she was sure everyone could hear her. “Don’t leave she fell to her knees eye begging. “Hold your son Machidiel take him and let’s go both of us. She don’t need the title the money just us.” She held out Adam to her as he began to cry.

“His eyes are of gold when he is upset,” Machidiel noticed stroking his small cheek. “He is truly my son. He took the small child and she thought for a second he would back down, but he only slipped the symbol on his neck. It was the image of a black falcon. In his claws were ten daggers all sharply pointed and gleaming. His nest seemed to be made of rose thorns small buds growing on it.

“It is cold out there.” He cradled him close to himself before wrapping him in a black woolen blanket. “The color of our kingdom. Go to the high mountains and do not look to the combat Analia.” She tilted her head down she refused to leave him. Her dream would not come true. She was pulled roughly by the arms, as was her chin that was made to look at his golden depths. He was cold and emotionless staring at her like he cared not for what she wanted. Her baby was pushed into her arms and she was pulled in a forceful embrace for but a second before being pulled away.

“I will not go!”

“I am afraid love that you have no choice.” Two guards came and grabbed her elbow. As a queen she refused to be dragged away kicking and screaming she was too dignified for that. She let herself be led away her tears dry….

He scurried to place the rest of his armor on. His only vulnerable part when he was completely dressed was the two holes at the back of his suit. He let his wings push through the holes and he was ready for battle. Even his head was covered in his helmet, his crest embedded into his chest plate.

“We are at arms great king,” Urim was at his door crouched to one knee head down. He turned to his most loyal subject, his friend.

“Urim you have helped me our whole lives. You have looked after my love when I couldn’t and have fought so many battles with me.”

“It is no problem,” he got up “Me and you grew up together, as humans and birds. Before all of this we flew together and hunted on rodents. It is strange that as birds we came from the same nest and were brothers, but as angels we were but strangers, yet still we loved each other.”

“Will you die with me brother?”

“Always”, he rose and they locked hands, and elbows. “May teal bring us to victory, or a glorious defeat.” They bowed and made their way to the front lines. She saw him at the head of the army. With the blow of the horns he and the other flying creatures rose from the ground ready for the attack.

The other army was trying to get through the castle wall and they waited for the breach. If they lost this their own families had been evacuated or hidden in the forest so they would at least buy them some time.

Analia was exactly where she thought she would be. She had been informed earlier that the school Amitiel had been in was going to Telion with another group of evacuees. It was a town over the line of mountains she was in at the moment, but she was going to hide away at the mountain peak for her husband had thought it a less conspicuous place to hide. Some of the phoenixes were on the ground in their human form. She could tell them from their red hair. She knew they were there if the other flier fell for the enemy would d not expect more of them.

The thick wall was finally infringed and they flooded into the border fighting heavy resistance from their army. She knew what would happen. Darta was a powerful force to reckon with they fought with courage and a cause at heart. The cause was what would drive them to victory if Machidiel lived through it. But he wouldn’t. There were many dragons of so many colors, but she saw the white own the fiercest and five times the size of any soldier. It seemed almost a stop on all the fighting though it still roared. She realized it was just her own mind making all the death screams and shouts of victory stop. She saw the fiery eyes of the dragon stop at the great king who had just finished killing two white angels by pushing his blade through their skulls.

He too locked eyes with the assassin. It had killed man of his men and remained without a scratch. Machidiel though a powerful warrior though did not appear unscathed. His helmet had been knocked off exposing his beautiful hair that was still so short, but had grown again to a point that because of his speed was in disarray. The locks stood up in spikes that stood up in different directions. She had almost ached to brush it if only she had the chance. She wished she had been able to see him off to war in a large parade. She would have been able to have packed him a good lunch brushed his hair and washed his face.

It wouldn’t have mattered for he would have messed it all up later, but still she would have been able to have done it and it would have made her feel useful. His face was smeared though not as bad as the soldiers on the ground caked with mud and blood, but she wished at least she could blame some of the filth on mud not all crimson blood.

In fact his whole face a blood smeared yet he still looked so beautiful. He was an animal of prey and he had murder in his eyes as he looked at his adversary. Just because you saw the future does not mean you can change it, Torius’s words were drumming in her head.

They headed towards each other head on their cries of battle were the only things she could hear. She wanted to close her eyes to block out the image but her eyes were glued to the scene in front of her. She pulled Adam closer to her as the two made contact. Machidiel rammed his sword into its neck, but it bent down and crushed the king in its mighty jaws. The most sickening sound she could have ever heard was the disgusting tone of his breaking bones. Everything in her shattered with him, and she screamed. She shrieked the sound of her own breaking heart.

Like in her dream she gave away her own position. She saw her soldiers their loyalty shining in their eyes for her, but not one knowing what to do. The formation broke and orders stopped. It was just a struggle to get to her before the enemy that all knew very well who she was. She felt the ripping of claws. She closed her eyes to it all.

“What do you want?” the most beautiful voice cooed in her head.

“Who are you? Where are you? Help me!”

“You want help? Would you like me to save you?”

“No save my husband let him live.”

“It is a failed experiment. Isn’t it?”

“Failed? What are you talking about?”

“I made angels because I was jealous of their creator. I wanted my creatures to feel to, but not my son I wanted him with me. I was so angry he refused that I made a deal with fate to kill him so he would be reborn as a bird again. But you had to get in the way and change his will to die for his cause her wants to live and he has his mind set on it…”

“Avery…”

“Of course, I will not support t any longer this blasphemy. I take it all away. The power the wings all of it all the gods are in agreement.”

“What are you talking about…” she was brought back to reality. She friends were pushing claw and fangs from on top of her. Adam had been pulled away by a young soldier that held him protectively up in the air as others made a circle around him trying to keep dragons from getting near. Her arm had been severely cut, and there was a dagger in her shoulder a lot of blood had been lost.

She thought they would kill her, but they all suddenly fell in pain. Even the mighty dragons fell they shrieked in pain. She took that chance to pull them away and walk to the edge. She would die with her lover, before she could plunge though she saw him. More correctly she saw his sword. It was piercing through the mouth of a dying dragon. One of his wings were limp and broken the other cut in half. As soon as he was able to stand he dropped the sword from his bleeding arm and clutched the other that was contorted in a broken position.

She was knocked out of her trance by the young soldier that had been trying to protect Adam. He had dropped to the cliff earlier using one arm to hold his head in pain and the other to clutch her little child who was also crying uncontrollably. The angel no longer had his wings which was strange because an angel barely ever did that. His red eyes were now a regular brown, and he seemed to have stopped suffering. His long claws and fangs were gone replaced by normal human features. She looked around to find that everyone else was in the same state. The dragons were no where in sight replaced by lizards and the phoenix’s appeared as small finches. He was now holding out Adam to her.

I love him so. Thank you so much,” she kissed his cheek.

“It was an honor to serve my queen” he bowed his cheeks aflame. She noticed then how young he was maybe only fourteen and already serving in something children should not see. She cuddled close to him and nuzzled his nose so he finally stopped crying. His eyes were such a beautiful shade of blue even when he cried. His little nails that had begun to sharpen were as they had been when she first saw him. Adam was human. She looked to the field again others were starting to change as well.

She looked to her lover again. His hair changed from black to white as did his wings. She could not see his eyes from the distance, but she was sure they were green now. Slowly though his broken wing began to disintegrate, and the other just fell off. She knew he had to be in pain but her seemed to be ignoring it as he made his way to her. With grim determination o matter the plain he was feeling at the moment. Half ay towards her though he fell. Worried to death she ran to him down the mountain path that had been carved out of the solid rock. Along the way an old soldier riding a brown mare stopped her. She had another strung to his back bleeding profusely. He wore the armor of her side.

“Queen come one I will take you it will you hours on foot,” she was prone to agree but first she wanted to confirm her suspicion.

“What were you before this battle started soldier?” she demanded in a commanding tone.

“I Mrs. was a water snake, but… I think me along with everyone is human now. I just hope my wife recognizes me”

“Do you know what happened soldier?”

“Yes queen we were all turned human everyone, but no one knows why. No body is fighting for the moment and I doubt they will keep going nobody is very different anymore none of us are monsters. Or,” he laughed “Creatures of nobility just tainted humans.” He talked no more to her as he pulled her onto he horse and sped her down the mountain. After what seemed like forever she made it down.

Franticly she picked through the litter of corpses finally finding his body.

“My lover you are here and you brought Adam too,” his eyes opened but her still seemed in a delirium. Your hurt…” he seemed to snap out of his reverie and sat up from his spot. He examined the dagger in her shoulder he seemed oblivious to his own wounds. “It will have to come out hold still,” he winced holding the knife, and promptly pulled it out. It was then that blood really began to flow from the agonizing wound. Machidiel unclasped his metal plate to reveal his bloodied shirt. He stripped it off himself and applied it to her wounds.

“Oh Machidiel what about your wounds,” he looked at her almost surprised. He looked down at his body he saw his bloodied arm the other broken one of his legs was even crushed. “I have never been hurt this badly before. The pain is unbearable.” He said completely devoid of emotion

“It is alright to scream, or do anything.”

“You didn’t I must be string now people are confused. They are too tired and wounded to do much now but by tomorrow they will panic. Not only have they lost their strengths but everything else.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look around the city is in ruin this was a desperate attack we destroyed the enemy territory and our allies without the protection of a barrio. This was a safe haven the last standing city. Analia I was wring the cause was not worth it. Look at us now this is the punishment we get.” She turned away she didn’t want to see he was the same he angel, Ambitious and strong not this man who admitted to make a mistake “Look at me queen of the dead city of Darta.” He cogently grabbed my chin making me look at him.

“I…”

“King Machidiel!” five men came to them. “They are looting our homes burning everything”

“Let them they will find nothing we sent everything of value along with our families, men. You must look to yourselves now there is no longer a standing government here or anywhere for that matter,” he truly looked defeated wounded to the brink of death and sitting almost defenseless.

“Sir… we don’t understand.”

“You kings and council have fallen I saw each die the monarchs of both sides Even Urim. I am the only one of royal blood alive. Well their wives might still live, but none of you are tied to them you are all free men, for I release all from my service.”

“It is true,” one agreed “let us help you anyways. A few healers have gathered and are setting up tents though they have lost all magic they are using herbs. King of not your wounds must be treated and your wives.

“Thank you,” they pulled him up two holding him by the arms. Another carried her in his arms, and Machidiel gave him a nasty jealous glare. She just rolled her eyes as she was lead away. The rest was a blur she guessed because of the blood lose. She was sent into the women’s tent she remembered that because she had been taken away from her husband. She remembered clutching Adam even tighter, but that had not stopped a petite blond woman from taking him from her.

She had fought so much but in the end she was too weak to do much. They had patched her up quickly and pushed her into a white nightgown. She felt the softness of a bed and couldn’t help, but sleep. She didn’t know how long she slept. It could have been weeks or months even maybe just hours, but the next thing she knew she felt the pull of small hands.

The first things her eye should see after all the traumatic events was, Amitiel. She was dressed as a lady of high court, but had muddy shoes and dusty clothes it was obvious she had been traveling.

“Amitiel! My baby” she chirped happily smothering the little girl into bed with her with so many kisses and hugs she almost crushed her.

“Mom!” she complained in a whiny voice “Your going to smother me it isn’t like I was the one in danger.

“Where am I?” She shook her head to clear it.

“Telion mom one of the last surviving cities of the continent,” Adam began to cry…. Adam! She turned to see her son in a cradle next to her. She pulled him up to suckle on her breast, for he was obviously hungry, but her whole chest was bandaged, so was her arm... she tried to cue him calm, but he wouldn’t stop crying.

“Here ma'am”, a nurse came to her “We have been bottle feeding him. It isn’t as good as mother’s milk. She took the bottle and fed her baby that seemed content with the new substance.

“What about my husband,” she asked casually

“Who is your husband?”

“You do not recognize me?”

“There are hundreds of refugees. That is the ones that were allowed in the city almost everyone is homeless now everything is gone for a cause that no longer matters. She did not panic then only focused on recovering. She doubted he wouldn’t be able to find her. When she finally regained her strength she was cast out of the hospital that had too many sick patents already.

Outside was a living hell. As a woman she was physically weaker than men who already found it impossible to find a job. There was also the problem of her two children she wasn’t admitted anywhere. Loyalty to any king was dangerous for most people blamed them for the conditions of the continent.

Machidiel’s name was the most dangerous to speak here. Not because everyone was against him because that was common, but because people were divided in opinions and that caused violence especially since it was common knowledge that he was alive somewhere…. She for that matter then kept a low profile and made sure to hide the emblem her son still wore around his neck. The only way she survived those days was bye eating berries she found in the forest that was six hours from town.

After two weeks she did begin to panic though. The city was dangerous, and she had been a victim of attempted robbery, and rape though at those times her quick feet had saved her. Many women were prone to prostitution now, and she got many offers for those jobs if only she wanted one. It was sickening watching naked women parade themselves for men and even more horrendous watching he vulgar acts that played out in plain daylight. She praised the gods Adam was too young to understand, but cursed that Amitiel had to see such things. She shielded her eyes as much as possible though.

It was on a humid September day that she came to a store that was selling rather luxurious objects. She realized that it was selling HER things. What was worse the storekeeper bragged that the items came from the queen of Darta. She recognized all the diamonds and silks that belonged in her treasure chamber. This greedy bastard had stolen at least a quarter of all her treasure. She should have walked away. It was only thing she should have told herself, but at the moment she was hungry.

“Thief! How dare you boast of your stolen goods!” the customers had eyes fastened on her now. The storekeeper was red in anger.

“Don’t tell me another fanatic! The reign of the old monarchs are gone. The king no matter what they say is most likely dead. In the battle the leaders were the most heavily targeted. The owner of these items is dead.”

“I saw the king alive with my own eyes you bastard!” she really had attention now. All through the market place people were huddling near her. The silence was so profound you could have heard a pin drop.

“Really a woman in battle, a little whore.” That was it. These people were out of line they dared degrade her, a queen. They dared lute her home and sell her things, yet boast about their treachery. Then they even had the gall to say her husband is dead and she is a liar.

“Yes I was at the battle of Darta.” She clutched Amitiel and Adam near her. “I saw it from the cliff tops, and I myself took fallen corpses from the king’s back and saw that he was taken to a hospital. I spoke to him when the battle was over, and these things aren’t even his as you put it. These are the queen’s these things are mine!” she stood as erect as possible loathing clear in her line of vision. Those caught by the gaze shrunk away. Still the merchant attested her claim.

“What proof have you?”

“My son,” she held out her defenseless babe to the pack of blood thirsty wolves revealing the emblem. They were in shock none of them moved.

“Lynch the bastard that has stolen from our queen!” one finally yelled. “Help us queen. We have not seen a single leader in months.” A woman cried. What had she done? She had put herself in the eye of desperate people that now asked of her an impossible. she had to think she had to… act like a leader again, but not be one these people did not need a monarch making a decision for them they needed to take control of their own lives.

“I am no longer queen of anything! Still since you ask I will do something for you one last thing. I propose a vote of leaders, each in charge of a post. By mid afternoon six men had been nominated, and they set to work organizing the welfare of people. She herself had been nominated, but declined. Analia needed to find her husband, but he was obviously not here so she had to search elsewhere. At least now she had the means again. Even though these people were in desperate need the new leaders decided wealth by stealing would not be a good start for the new empire so they got people to collect the things stolen from the palace to give to her.

She had not got all of it not by far. She guessed the treasure had to be scattered throughout the entire continent now. Still she got a very great portion of jewels enough to make her very rich. She could not care it all in five carriages neither did she want to. She was not greedy and only wanted a simple life with the man she loved. She took one carriage full and gave to rest to the rebuilding of the town. It was at a temporary village that she first found him. These places had begun to spring up everywhere. People built tents camped hunted and moved to different locations. She almost died of joy seeing him though he himself did not see her at first. He sat with his stark white hair green eyes and bandaged body on a chair. His broken leg was perched up in stool. Even in that state he barked orders to what seemed like young surviving soldiers. His clothes must have been the simplest she had ever seen on him. It was all white and made of cotton. Most likely it had been stitched by a village woman, but it was still very good work.

“Excuse me,” she tapped on his shoulders. His rampage on the poor innocent victims of his men instantly stopped.

“Are you really there love come face me,” she complied instantly crushing herself to him with a point of almost injuring him further. They both stayed that way for a while both crying out of desperate need for closeness. When Machidiel finally found his voice again he was able to rasp out. “I was going to go looking for you but I wasn’t even able to walk. They moved all of us while I was still unconscious and found you gone he held on to her tighter. She couldn’t find words to describe his happiness and her explanation was the same as his so she just stayed there in his embrace until Amitiel came with Adam in her arms to join their closeness.

Short epilogue

Analia and Machidiel gave away most of their great treasure. The monarchs found it acceptable to live simply in a cottage in the mountains where Machidiel most loved to live. The great heights made him feel like he could fly again it was said. During their lives together they had a total of eleven children. Much to Analia’s dismay Amitiel was her only girl and all her boys were big handfuls. One died at child birth. Four being their father’s sons joined the military and three became war heroes though one died in combat. Adam the oldest son unlike them became a scholar and a politician that became head councilman in Telion. The youngest son she named after Urim unlike his other brothers was prone to mischief being the baby of the family.

He also unlike his brothers had a soft face most called angelic so had a very good way with women. He got many women pregnant, but when his father finally became aware of one he was made to marry her though that did not change his ways. Urim became one of the most notorious criminals in all of the continents, and gained a large fortune. He was never caught or punished for evidence was never found though his blasphemy was well known.

When Urim was twenty his father disowned him, but Analia always kind hearted never yelled or acted hurtfully to her son and he remained loyal to her always. Amitiel being forever vane and spoiled for her early life as a princess married rich. In fact she married the richest man in Telion she was ever beautiful. One of her sons Nicholas was born quite ghastly though for he was portly and lazy. It was a mystery to both parents how he grew so fat. Still he was merry and so was his equally plump wife. They created a humble restaurant together. Her twins went into business together, and created a chain of imports and exports, another two rich members of the family. The one Machidiel was most proud of though he would never admit to it was none other that Machidiel Jr.

He would have been the favorite even if he had just laid around the house the rest of his life just because he was named after his father. But no he married a queen from another continent where people did not have a democracy, and became a king just like his father. This accomplishment was never lived down by any of his children. Though most of them knew secretly their father blamed the giving of his name to his son’s great success. The one least mentioned is Thomas who caught the fever as a child and was then left a cripple.

He had joined the church so ashamed of being weak since his father was such a powerful man. He became a good priest and was not heard from much for he rarely came home. Machidiel fought one more war in his lifetime against an imposing continent. Analia almost left him that time when she heard his decision, but deep down she would never have been able to do it.

He once again was notleft unscathed and lost one of his beautiful green eyes. He had also been a prisoner of war. There he had met a scientist that for helping him free replaced his missing eye with that of an eagle. Analia had almost fainted seeing her husband with two different color eyes. She thought he had become and angel again. After that adventure Analia made sure he stuck to ships for he loved sailing. It was to her great fury when she found out he became involved in piracy, but when confronted he just expressed how great a time he had had.

Never again did she allow him to go anywhere except Telion that was at the foot of their mountain. After much debate he convinced her to allow him to be captain of the guard, and that was what he did for the rest of his days. Compared to his life Analia’s was uneventful. With a house full of children she was always busy being a housewife. It was not till her last left home at eighteen was she able to do something. She was fifty years old already with graying hair. After he had gone though she refusing to end her life quietly she became an expert at smuggling a new concoction brought from the far continent called marijuana to the towns.

It was extremely illegal and wrong of her to do so. She ignored the fact though because she liked the excitement, and it seemed like her husband she risked other people’s well being for a little fun. She also ran for office at the same time and helped a lot of people when she was elected unanimously. At ninety five years old Analia died of old age while drinking a glass of brandy with her love. As soon as her heart stopped beating Machidiel’s seemed to beat too fast with grief. He died an hour later of a heart attack. In death they were not even separated. In their will they had expressed that they wanted to be buried together in one coffin.

They became the first and last people to be buried in a queen sized tomb. Though their children did insist they had separate tomb markers. They had the biggest funeral in the entire continent along with the most diverse. From pirates to junkies to nobles they all came. As the years went by their markers eroded and their tale lost. The great creatures that once walked the planet became myths; it was the age for morals. It was days of machinery and progress that followed them humanity forgot, and no one was there to tell them.