Aurora's Vision (Arc1:Chp4)

 Arc 1

Chapter 4 - The Prodigal Daughter

They had to take the long way up to the budding chamber, a never-ending staircase to the sky. The tree’s dire status meant that all magical pods were out and whatever makeshift lifts the fae had built to traverse the massive tree were being used by the sileni to move around during the emergency.

Emma transformed back into her human form as a show of solidarity, knowing Ruby couldn’t do anything but walk the distance between places. Her broken wings kept her grounded. A sprinkle of fairy dust and flying would have been faster, but Emma’s recovery was slow. She could barely manage to summon her weapon, let alone carry along an adult-sized burden as well.

Ruby didn’t mind the walking. She would reach the top without breaking a sweat, but it only wasted precious time for Emma. She could tell the nature fae was impatient to reach the top but didn’t have the heart to leave her behind.

“Ahh!” Emma exclaimed as pain shot through her arms.

She held her trembling arms up as she flinched and grimaced at them. There was nothing more she could do about them except bite down and growl.

“Does it still hurt?” Ruby asked.

It was a stupid question. Of course it did, even though the burns were days old, but she didn’t know how else to comfort her friend. If she could take on the pain instead, she would. Her suffering would make sense.

“It feels like they’re still burning, but it will pass. We have more important matters to worry about,” Emma said, grabbing her hand and pulling her up the stairs at her faster pace.

“What’s that mean?” Ruby asked, hoping the nature fae would finally come clean. If she was going to piss off Castyr, she’d like to know all the facts first. “Emma, what’s going on? What did Myrrah mean by you abandoning them and the tree?”

Emma stopped suddenly and turned around, hunching over like a child that had just been scolded. She looked guilty and afraid, like she expected Ruby to yell at her when she confessed. She fidgeted with her arm bandages ruefully.

“Exactly that,” she said softly. Her voice was thick and had a teary tremor. “I abandoned them and shirked my duty.”

“You were meant to stay and heal the tree instead of going off and helping me,” Ruby guessed.

“Not quite,” she answered, avoiding Ruby’s eyes. “The Great Tree is Nature’s Will. She talks to the nature fae through it. Apart from fighting on her behalf, we are her spokespersons. Messengers that relay her wishes to the others.”

“And she doesn’t think this ritual will help?”

“No, maybe. I don’t know. She’s… stopped talking to me.”

Emma grew sullen and it felt as though the sky had darkened and all the joy had been sucked from the world. She took Emma’s hand in hers. She wanted to give it a comforting squeeze but feared the action would aggravate her wounds.

“I don’t hear her anymore,” Emma mumbled tearfully.

“She’s dying. Perhaps this ritual is a blessing and will help,” Ruby said, trying to provide some hope. She realised how much weight Emma was carrying and how her cheeriness hid much of her suffering.

Emma smiled at her attempt, but it never reached her eyes and failed to hold as she sighed.

“There’s more, Ruby. The Great Tree cannot fall. it would be disastrous to the Twin Realms if it did. There are contingencies in place to prevent it. In worst-case scenarios, a successor must take its place. The strongest among the Nature Fae… Me,” she cried.

“Emma…” Ruby said, reaching up to wipe the tears from her friend's cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Ruby,” she sniffled. “I didn’t go with you to help in your quest. I was afraid I would lose myself and ran away like a coward. And now the tree has turned its back on me. I have no anchor and feel lost.”

“I understand,” Ruby said, taking Emma’s other hand in hers resolutely. She felt the same way. It was Emma who had helped her see and Emma who had kept her from falling into despair when her mind had cleared. Now, it was her turn to help Emma through this. “How can we make it right?”

Emma sniffed and smiled, and the world brightened again. Ruby couldn’t help but feel giddy at the pixie’s newfound cheer as well.

“Help me get to the Budding Chamber,” she requested, squaring her shoulders and taking a deep, resolute breath. “I must take my place as the Great Tree’s Successor. it’s the only way to save it. This ritual, whatever it is, it’s not the way of things and must be unnatural.”

“Alright,” Ruby confirmed. It felt great having purpose again, albeit temporarily. “Then we stop the ritual and save the tree.”

It took forever to reach the top. Ruby could never understand how humans and dwarves travelled on foot. It felt like a huge waste of time. It was dark by the time they reached the budding chamber. This part of the tree was mostly unharmed, peaceful and felt like it was a section cordoned off from another time and place—a time and place before the chaos of the Shadow War.

Which was understandable, apart from the tree's roots, this was the place the fae would make their last stand. The place they would protect with their lives. If the Budding Chamber fell, so would the fae.

“Let us pass, dammit!” Emma shrieked as she stomped her foot. This time it didn’t result in a mini earthquake.

“Begone!” a court guard ordered, flicking her hand out in annoyance for Emma to leave. She was one of two who stood before the chamber’s vine-covered doors and prevented them from entering.  “Our orders were to allow no one through. We will not warn you again!”

“We are only trying to help,” Ruby pleaded.

“That’s rich,” the second guard cut in. “Since you’re the reason we are in this predicament in the first place, demon spawn.”

Emma snapped, her rage palpable. Ruby could feel a slight tremor rumbling as she gripped the second guard by the collar in a tight and choking fist. The guard’s pike clattered to the ground as she squeaked in fear.

“Watch what you say about my friend!” Emma muttered in a low growl that sent a shiver down Ruby’s spine. “Now let us through before I break you!”

“Come now, Emma. That’s hardly necessary, isn’t it?” A deep, lazy, melodious voice echoed inside the chamber. At the sound of it, Ruby’s courage shattered, and her knees shook weakly.

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