I've done it. I was supposedly writing whatever's going on about these two. But watching The Dragon Prince again, my brain decided to have explosive and massive diarrhea and vomit rainbows that even I couldn't catch up.
wip process below cut and a little backstory
wip process:
inspired by wavesheep's The Silmarillion artwork. Found it on Pinterest ofc it is and then and there, brain vomit and diarrhea
My oc here is the "Elarion" but also a revered saint in the human's religion. Now, I don't want to follow up certain religions from the real world here out of respect, I do it the same way any fictional world does; there's "god", the "angels" and "devils" and lastly, the "prophets" and "saints". In Tolkien's work: Eru Illuvatar, Valar and lastly Maiar.
oc here is the "Maiar" by human's standard. Aaravos would be too if his plans didn't end him up in a mirror. But since it happen... well, he's Melkor now and Sauron occasionally. oc had to keep her people safe but has an appointment in samarra. humanity were grateful of her deeds and anointed her as a "saint"
Hello fellow internet people! In an attempt to celebrate season 4 coming to us soon, I have chosen to post the story I've made here on Tumblr. Please let me know how you all like it and if you'd want to read more!!
Nesa had done what was necessary, going on this mission could have killed not only herself but the leader of the group as well. But that's what they all wanted, why she was even put on the team in the first place. An abomination who had been born a freak of nature, one who wasn't accepted by anyone. Neither the humans in their territories nor the Elves in Xadia. She had done what she came to do, provide back up to Runaan and his team.
Now that she had completed her objective she can accept that she will most likely die in this cell. No one within the group even wanted her there in the first place, but it was forced upon her. Nesa didn't have any choice, she was a Moonshadow elf if they want you to go on a mission you have to go. She wasn't a fighter, she was a recluse. training with the mages of Xaida who would teach her how to control the Moon arcanum and how it could help her. Studying and keeping close friends with books and the runes that she mastered. Now, because she would rather save the life of another she was locked in the palace they had infiltrated.
Her arms were chained to the wall, keeping them above her head and away from her body. A wise decision as she couldn't perform magic or create anything without having herself grounded to the world. Her protective clothing was forcibly removed and taken away somewhere inside the palace. Her chest and legs covered in teal and black outerwear. Common clothes that one might wear when not on a mission. Her daggers were also taken...can't let a prisoner keep their weapons.
Although it would make for an entertaining escape if Nesa had the chance. She scoffed slightly at the idea of escaping. The King had a Dark Mage within his court, one she was sure would rather kill himself before using her to answer whatever questions he had. He was the one that gave the order for her to be taken away, thankfully it came after she had given Runann the illusion to disappear. Allowing him a chance to escape and go back to Xadia alive.
She had been in the cell for close to six days now and refused to eat. A human woman in dark clothes came each morning with a plate of foods native to the human kingdoms. Much of it was not appetizing to her but she also refused to give in and eat. for all, she knew they could try to poison her, try to drug her and use strange spells to control her, enchant the food to make her ill.
Hundreds of possibilities ran through her head as she tried to make sense of what she had done, and what is yet to happen. She was good at that, overthinking and planning for the impossible. One of her many flaws in her own opinion. The human had tried to convince her to eat, telling her that no good would come from her not eating. That she'd get sick if she didn't get anything into her soon. All the same, excuses, trying to get Nesa to eat to keep her alive.
Now as her stomach cramped up from lack of food, she had begun to regret her choice. She needed food soon but did not want any of what the human offered, knowing that if she took from them shed be bound to their supposed kindness. As if on cue, Nesa heard heavy footsteps approaching the door to her cell, ones that she hadn't heard before.
They weren't the steps of the woman from the past few days, this was someone different. The door opened into the room and allowed some light into the dark, windowless cell. Nesa kept her head down for a few moments longer, allowing her eyes to adjust to the new light before looking up to see the face of this new human. He held a plate of food in one hand and a long silver cane in the other... it was the Mage.
He stood in the doorway looking down at her almost as though he was disappointed by what he saw. His eyes staring into her own, trying to intimidate her and make her fear him. That wouldn't work. And now that she was able to fully see the man that had her captured, she was not afraid. She had accepted whatever punishment, torture, or abuse she will face by his hand. She watched as he rested the cane against the doorway and knelt on the ground before her. Placing the plate of food down for her to see what was there. Despite the pain of her not eating for several days she turned her nose to it and looked to the side. Not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her hunger.
"If you don't eat, you'll die." He commented.
Nesa scoffed and looked at him unamused. "I'm already dead. Why would the dead hunger for anything?"
"You don't look dead." The mage looked her as if he were confused, seeing nothing wrong with her nor seeing anything that would indicate that she was ill. "I went out of my way to acquire Xadian fruits. They are very strange and exotic, nothing like what we have here."
As Nesa looked down to the plate she saw several items there that were native to Xadia, however, she refused to eat any of it as the Mage held a medium-sized red fruit out to her. She turned her head to the side and refused to look at him, doing her best to remain strong.
"No?" The mage ate part of the fruit before sighing and looking at Nesa. "I understand the honor-in-not-eating thing, at least drink something so you don't die."
Nesa once again refused as she watched him pour a cup of juice, possibly made from a kind of berry here in Katolis. She smirked and looked at the Mage unamused, almost like he was playing a foolish game with her.
"How am I to know you haven't poisoned it? That you aren't trying to use ingestible spells and potions against me?"
He pulled his hand back and dropped the nice guy routine, standing up and looking at her as if she were dirt beneath his feet. "I have an offer to make. I simply want you to look at an item and tell me what it does. After that, I will unchain you and you can walk out of here. Your choice. You can be free, or you can kneel there and die."
"And I've told you already. I am already dead." Nesa lunged at him angrily. Not wanting to continue the conversation anymore and wanting to move on. Fully wanting to accept that her meaningless life will come to an end here in this dark and musty cell. The restraints on her wrists preventing her from moving very far also kept her from rising to stand. Forcing her to remain kneeling on the ground and looking up to the mage.
The mage sighed and took up the plate of food turning around as he began to verbally explain why she had said that and refused the food at all. "Let me see... its a Moonshadow elf thing right? Where a philosophy of accepting that you're already dead, makes you not fear death. Perhaps I must find something that you fear more than death."
As he finished speaking Nesa could feel her heart begin to race, she was terrified of dying but that was what Assassins said when captured by the enemy. She wasn't an assassin, she was a mage. One learning to master the Moon Archanum completely before trying to master the others as well. She had a great many fears but death was at the top of the list. As the Mage left her cell and locked the door, she began to reconsider her options here.
She wasn't a trained Assassin for the Moonshadow elves, yet she was behaving like one. She was put into the group, she suspected because no one wanted to deal with her anymore and had hoped that she died during the attack. As she relaxed against the stone wall behind her she let her long silvery-white hair fall into her face, covering the left side of her face and giving her some kind of security.
She was being asked to choose between death or something much worse than death. Perhaps he implemented torture, the question was what kind. Then again she didn't even know what type of magic the Mage used, his cane held a strange purple gem on it and for all she knew it could be a small primal stone. There were so many unanswered questions already and perhaps, even more, to come if she was able to play her cards right.
There was a very small chance that she'd be able to walk out of Katolis unharmed, but if it was a chance to live then she'd take it. Throughout the remainder of the day, Nessa remained knelt on the floor contemplating her predicament. Wondering what would happen when the MAge returned as well as what object he wanted her to look at. For all, she knew he would want her to identify elven items and explain their usage, or perhaps items used for Dark Magic. If it was the latter then she would refuse to help him. Dark magic was not something to be played with nor should it even be used by humans at all, but that didn't stop them from trying.
Nesa smiled slightly as she closed her eyes and rested her head against the stone wall behind her. "Nothing could be worse than what's already happened." She whispered to herself as she began to form a plan in her head.
By nightfall, she could hear the heavy footsteps approaching the room once more before the door opened. This time the light wasn't as harsh as it spread across the room and allowed her to see that the MAge had returned. This time he had dragged a massive object behind him as he entered the room. He first pulled in a small crate and left it several feet in front of her, lighting a small candle before turning around and going back for what appeared to be... a mirror. Nesa frowned as she watched the Mage struggle to push the large metal object into the room and position it so the front was facing her.
As he removed the fabric her suspicions were confirmed. It was indeed a mirror, turned towards her so she may see her own reflection in the glass, with ancient elven writing around the edges of the glass. She was able to see her face and the bruises that had formed under her eyes and across her jaw from the fighting before, but within the mirror, it seemed to be slightly cloudy, like it had either been brought along the way or it was tampered with by magic. The entire item was completely ornate with carvings around the top and bottom of it. It was work that she had seen created by the people within the grove where she had once lived.
Work that hadn't been seen in a long time and for good reason. The mirror not only told of a warning to those who looked into it, and the dangers that were held within. The mage looked at Nesa and kneeled down before her.
"Tell me what you know. My patience wears thin, what is the purpose of this mirror?"
Nesa frowned and looked at the glass and feigned a struggle as she read the writings around the glass once more. "The writing is ancient... I need time to understand it." She made a quick decision before continuing, knowing that she may want to play her cards right and remain here in the cell until she could see if the mirror worked or not.
The Mage did not look amused and simply offered her another fruit from the bowl he had placed on the crate with the candle. Nesa smirked and looked at the MAge seriously.
"I offer my own proposition Mage. Give me time to understand what it is, I will tell you what I know and how it works. I'll even eat your food. But once I have given its secrets away, I want my items returned and to leave here with no strings attached. I hardly expected that you'd let me walk out of here without there being some kind of catch if I knew what this mirror was right away."
The man seemed to be taken back by what she offered, she was essentially offering the same thing that he was offering her. The only change being that she wanted time to ensure that the Mirror was indeed what she suspected it to be and that once she gave over the information shed be given the chance to truly leave the Palace freely. The Mage seemed to contemplate this for what felt like hours before moving to her left and chaining her leg to the wall and released her arms.
"You have three days to tell me what it is. If you can not give me what I am asking for, you will regret it." He turned and closed the door to her cell and walked off.
Nesa smirked happily once she was alone, gently rubbing her wrists and rolling her shoulders as she looked at the mirror. This was how she was going to get out of here, how she was going to gain the upper hand over not only the humans but also the other elves as well. By using the Mirror of Aaravos.
Chapter summary: Heather is faced with the council of the Stars. Forced to relive the past, unsure how exactly to pass this test.
Prologue, Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3 , Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6 , Pt. 7, Pt. 8, Pt. 9, Pt. 10, Pt. 11, Pt. 12, Pt. 13, Pt. 14, Pt. 15
“I am not lying in water. No way!” Heather crossed her arms, tossing her head.
Aaravos stared blankly at her. “Yes, you will. You have never studied how to project your spirit; the water will help.”
Heather sighed, looking at windows filed with cascading beams of pale light from the full moon, its dark filigree lines casting swirling shadows onto the copper-blue floor below them. The pool was an oval-shaped dip in the higher floor ahead over her. She ascended the pale-tiled steps up to the bowl, peering into the moonlight-lit water and cyan tiles.
Heather drew in a quiet breath. Why was she loathing lying in water? She crawled through mud for months on end to become a soldier. Why did this bother her so?
Deep in her gut, something felt… wrong. She felt sick and regret and… scared.
Her pointed ears dipped, and she pressed her thumb into her opposite palm. “And it has to be tonight?” she asked sadly, looking at Aaravos with wide, frightened eyes.
He inclined his head. “The test can only occur on the solstices… unless you want to wait six months?”
Heather couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. She looked down in thought. To wait that long would kill her, plus this unfinished form didn’t quite suit her. “Alright, now is the best time, I suppose.”
She sighed and lifted her bare foot into the water. It was lukewarm, to her surprise. Heather lowered herself into the water, allowing her body to be enveloped by the liquid. Her face was the only part of her body untouched by the water.
Aaravos appeared by her side, looming over her. “Close your eyes and let your mind go blank, ill meet you there.” He paused as her eyes drifted closed and he drew a shimmering purple rune. “Good luck, Heather Scorchmarkdaughter.”
*~*~*~*
All was quiet, and the expanse was dark. Heather looked down; she could see her body as well as if the sun was high. Heather frowned; she didn’t like this feeling. She was weightless in somewhere unfamiliar with no distinguishing features, no way to tell what was left or right, north or south, east or west. It was discomforting.
“Aaravos?”
Her call echoed around her.
Heather spun around, heart quickening. Drawing in a long breath, she closed her eyes, gathering herself. “He’ll be here soon.” She assured herself. “He’ll be here to help me through this. I know he will.”
She opened her eyes, calm again, and determined he’d show up.
A bright light came from behind her. “Your master cannot help you,” a deep voice boomed.
“Mentor.” Heather corrected quietly as she turned around. She winced at the bright light as five figures drifted down from the orb of light, each one tall and elegantly dressed. The one in the centre was the tallest of them all, with milky white skin, long midnight blue robes and the most elegant set of golden antlers Heather had ever seen. She found him strangely familiar. Every one of them had stars scattered across their body. These elves were the council that would test her, according to Aaravos.
A chill of fear ran down heather’s spine as she looked at the tall, glowing figures. “Where’s Aaravos? He said he’d help me.”
The middle figure barked a laugh. He was the booming voice that had alerted her. His body glowed a little brighter as he spoke. “That fool will not be permitted to interfere with this test. If you are truly worthy of a connection to the stars, you will pass this test on your own.” He peered down at her, the light around him fading to the same strength as the others’
She clenched her jaw and drew in a breath. She had the feeling that it was hopeless to argue with him and she wouldn’t be able to get Aaravos’ help this time.
Heather clenched her fists. If she was going to pass, she’d do it on her own, like every other test she’d taken. She glanced at the figures. She had one more question before she went ahead with this.
“What happens if I fail?”
The elves looked at each other. A female elf to her side glowed brighter. She had a tiara of diamonds on her forehead and temples—though it could have been magic decoration embedded in her skin—with a long elegant periwinkle plait falling down her shoulder that ended close to her knee. “The past will be altered, and the events that started this transformation will not happen.”
Heather froze. That was what she wanted, that all this could be undone. She glanced down. It felt wrong to want it gone now. She drew in a breath. Every memory that had happened since Khonsu had struck her flashed before her eyes. The heartbreak and the joy. She looked up at the council in front of her. At her word she could be failed now and have her old life back, with Aaravos still trapped in the mirror… or running rampant around Xadia. She frowned. That settled it for her. “Let’s get this over with.”
The figures exchanged a glance and the centre figure held his arms wide. “Then let’s begin.”. He brought his hands together and, upon impact, a flash of bright light appeared and enveloped them.
Heather winced again and opened her eyes when the light disappeared. The abyss was as black as it was during her first moments here. But this time, she felt warm, like she was in someone’s embrace. She closed her eyes to think. She wouldn’t actually have to do anything for the test, other than react to some memories and listen to a prophecy about her life to come, according to Aaravos. The only issue came when nothing of the prophecy would be remembered until she fulfilled it.
Heather looked ahead. It was time to see what she was made of.
“Sh, sh, sh. It’z alright. I ‘ave you,” a gentle female voice soothed, a thick Sunfire elf accent laced through her words.
Heather furrowed her brow. She didn’t think she knew that voice, yet this was her memory.
An image faded into existence in front of her, and some babbling and cooing responded to the elf’s voice. Looking down at her was a female Sunfire elf with long dark hair in a messy plait. She looked tired, yet delighted. Golden paint decorated her eyes, three small rays extending from each one until it was about an inch long. She held her finger close to Heather’s forehead and drew a golden rune that was out of Heather’s line of sight. She closed her eyes.
“The strength and wings of your father,” she whispered. “The ferocity and magic of your mother. Our perfect little halfling.”
Heather stumbled back as the elf opened her eyes, smiling down longingly at her. “N-no. You can’t be…”
“Welcome into the world, my little Flameburst Savanisdaughter.” She pressed her forehead against the baby’s head, and the image disappeared.
Heather put her hand to her chest, sitting in the abyss alone with only her hyperventilation for comfort. Shock and betrayal rushed through her body. She shook there for a moment, her mind running faster than she ever ran herself.
An orange sun arcanum symbol replaced the memory before merging into a small orb and drifting upward.
Heather rushed to her feet, pushing aside her shock. “Every memory represents an arcanum,” she whispered, glancing around. She had forgotten about that part of the test. If the Stars couldn’t find a connection in her past for her to be worthy of their arcanum, she’d fail. So, she couldn’t prepare for the test… all she could do was sit back and relive what she had already experienced.
She took in a long breath. “Alright! Show me the next.”
This time she felt a gentle, dull prickling on her back, yet it was supportive. Heather rolled her shoulders, getting used to the feeling. Her throat grew sore and the sound of an infant crying filled the void. She sighed and stared ahead of her.
A new picture came into existence. It was a bright, leafy canopy. Sunlight cascaded down onto Heather’s point of view. She sighed again; she knew where this was going. Soon a face came into view. It was her papa. His blond hair was messier and brighter than it was now, his face less tired looking. Apart from his eyes, he looked alive. His eyes were dull, missing the loving sparkle Heather had noticed every time he looked at her.
Heather glanced down. It was because of Flame he was so sad. She sighed, pushing aside her rage and looking back up at the memory.
Scorchmark glanced around and the wailing quietened. “Hey, little one. Where are your parents?”
The infant murmured, staring up at her saviour.
Scorchmark scooped up the infant gently, holding her in front of him. He scanned the surrounding trees. “Hello?” he called.
Heather felt her heart swell and her lip pout in betrayal.
He panicked. “Hey, hey. It’s ok, don’t cry.” He awkwardly checked the area again. “Sh, sh, sh.” He lowered her into the crook of his arm, cradling her gently. He walked in the direction he came, briefly stopping to pick up his basket. “We’ll figure something out,” he looked down at her and smiled, “little heather bush.”
The memory faded much like the other one. Heather felt heavy after watching that sweet, touching moment. A smile curled onto her face as a green rune appeared in the memory’s place. The symbol of the earth arcanum. She looked down. He really never knew where she came from. It was reassuring to know he was telling the truth. She always pondered if he knew something, but it was too awful to tell her.
Heather shook her head and looked up. “Alright… I’m ready for the next.” She did not know if the council was even listening to her… or even what exactly they were doing.
The next three, she could almost predict. For sky it was “the pit”. Three-year-old Heather adored hide n’ seek. But unfortunately, she would insist on playing it outside. And Scorchmark, adoring his daughter, would oblige, rain, hail or shine. And on this wet afternoon, Heather ran somewhere she wasn’t supposed to, slipping into a pit deep in the Malum woods, close to where they lived. Scorchmark caught her, but at the price of his almost healed back… that had never come close to healing since.
Heather sighed and looked to the ground, wrapping her arms around herself. She wished Aaravos was there to tell her it wasn’t her fault, that she was just a child. But she had to relive her betrayal on her father on her own, yet again.
For ocean, it was her meeting Réalta as a foal and finding Phil’s egg deep in the Moonshadow elf forest. It confused her that those were the memories that suited the ocean arcanum, but she dared not question it. If it was worth the connection, she held no need to question its worth.
For moon, it was a bit on the nose. It was what started this domino effect of arcana learning and magic lessons and prison breaking. It was when Khonsu struck her in the heart.
Once the moon arcanum symbol disappeared, Heather was left waiting in darkness, each moment longer and quieter than the last. She sighed, stepping back. “Great,” she said under the breath.
“Indeed,” came the same deep voice as before. The five glowing figures reappeared, standing in front of her. “This is great.”
Heather frowned, unappreciative of his apathy.
“Don’t look at me like that, youngling. You’ve passed.” He stepped closer, the light that surrounded him and his fellow council members fading so she could get a better look at him.
She looked up at his pale face as he towered above her, higher than Aaravos did. How had she passed? She frowned in thought. “But… the star arcanum… the final memory—"
He smiled slightly, which heather guessed was his way of beaming. “The star arcanum is mysterious. But you have already accepted that. You’ve already dived into the unknown by freeing your master and accepting this test. So as the Council of Stars we declare—”
“—you have passed!” they said in unison.
Heather looked down, her heart swelling.
“But you’re not done here yet. There is someone who would like to speak to you.”
