Balance of the World
Chapter 10-Plans

Chapter 10: Plans

Moriflitted through the dark throne room in the Castle Agaru Gurtha until her darkpurple light illuminated two faces at the head of the throne.

“Mylady,” the Dark Fairy called.

“What?”Uaine groaned. “What could be soimportant that you would interrupt my moment with General Rada?”

“Theking’s first mate went to Edan,” Moriexplained as Uaine craned her neck back, allowing Rada to trail sloppy kissesover her neck as she straddled his lap while he sat in her red marblethrone. “She told Fry, Zeller and theGriffin General Velaro of the King’s behavior. Verlaro volunteered to report it to Blackwood and the Enuria.”

Uainesighed and laid her head on Rada’s shoulder as she ran her fingers down his armbefore saying, “Our arrangements aren’t ready yet. We need a bit more time for preparation.”

“Perhapswe should send a hindrance for Velaro?” Rada suggested, fiddling with a lock ofUaine’s hair and she looked up at him in surprise as he smirked, “Maybe Keijicould catch up to him?”

“Velarois on his way to Roch where Blackwood and the Enuria are,” Mori reported asUaine smiled and kissed Rada again before turning to Mori.

“FindKeiji,” she ordered. “Tell him to stallVelaro any way necessary.”

“Itwill be done, my lady,” Mori said and flitted out of the room as Uaine turnedback to Rada, nipping at his lower lip.

“Thatwas a very good idea, my sweet,” she murmured.

“Ihave my moments,” he smirked.

“Rada,I want you to be with Jellina whenshe fights that girl,” she ordered, making Rada look at her in shock. “General Blackwood will no doubt be withher. You’ll have a chance to kill him.”

Radagrinned and pulled her a little closer, growling, “You know exactly what to say to me, my lovely.”

“Iknow what you like to hear,” she chuckled before his mouth crashed into hers.

Morning...

Eliasand Zoey rode silently through the Edhel forest, the morning sun shiningthrough the leaves of the trees making little rays of light hit the grassyground beneath Phantom’s hooves. Zoeyleaned back on Elias as he held the reins in front of her while she slept.

“We’realmost there,” Phantom reported. “Youshould wake her up.”

“Why?”Elias wondered. “She’s so peaceful. Leave her be until we meet up with GeneralXaunder.”

“Youreally love her, don’t you?” Phantomsnorted, making Elias jab his heel in the horse’s side. “Oi! That hurt!”

“Ofcourse,” Elias smirked, triumphantly. “It was supposed to.”

Zoeysuddenly groaned and snuggled closer to Elias. He couldn’t help but pull her closer and nuzzle his face behind her ear,making her giggle as her eyes fluttered open.

“Wha—?”she breathed in a raw voice as she sat up a little straighter. “Where are we?”

“Onour way to the Elf encampment,” Elias replied.

“Elves?”she smiled, looking up at Elias and he nodded. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Youwere so ‘peaceful,’ he didn’t want to wake you,” Phantom replied and Eliasjabbed him with his heel again. “Ouch!”

Zoeygiggled and kissed Elias’s chin before snuggling against him again. Elias smiled and rested his chin on hershoulder to whisper, “Did you sleep well, Angel?”

“Yes,”Zoey nodded. “I had a nice dream.”

“Really?”he murmured into her ear, “Tell me.”

“Ican’t,” she giggled. “Your horse iseavesdropping.”

“Goahead and tell him, love,” Phantom replied. “I’ve probably heard worse.”

“Doyou ever shut up?” Elias growled.

Insteadof answering, Phantom came to a stop and Elias looked to his horse in confusionbefore looking around as well.

“Whatis it?”

“Ihear something,” Phantom replied, his ears moving in all directions.

Eliasand Zoey looked around as they stayed very still. Phantom suddenly turned his head to the rightand the couple looked to the same direction. In the shadow of a huge tress was a figure in a long, hooded, canvascloak, a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows strapped to his back.

“GeneralBlackwood,” a deep, male voice called. “What brings you to Edhel Forest?”

“Thewar,” Elias sighed. “And a need toshelter the Enuria.”

“Igot word from Hernethat you would be heading my way,” the figure replied, walking towardthem. “Is she the one?”

“ZoeyWalsh, say hello to General Elastan Xaunder,” Elias introduced, holding a handtoward the figure. Elstan pulled downhis hood to reveal short sand blonde hair and ice blue eyes with slits of blackdown the middle of the irises, pointed ears emerging from his tousled hair.

“Itis a pleasure to meet the Savior of Kalina,” Elstan smiled, taking her hand andkissing it, politely.

“Th-Thankyou,” Zoey sputtered, a blush on her cheeks. The Elvin General smiled again and turned to Phantom, releasing Zoey’shand to pat the horse’s neck.

“Andhow are you, Phantom?” Elstan wondered. “Still driving Elias nuts?”

“Morethan ever,” Elias muttered and Zoey giggled.

“Ihope so,” Phantom replied and felt Elias lift his foot to jab his side again,but Phantom retorted, “You hit me again, I’ll buck you off my back and onto theground, bum first.”

Eliassneered and lowered his foot as Elstan took Phantom’s bridle and said, “Comewith me, and follow close.”

“Whyis General Elstan so familiar with Phantom?” Zoey whispered to Elias.

“Hegave him to me,” Elias replied. Elstanturned and smiled at Zoey making her frown in confusion as he turned back. “Elves have excellent hearing. Don’t be surprised if he hears some thingsyou whisper.”

“Soyou’re saying I should be careful about what I say when I’m talking alllovey-dovey with you?” Zoey smirked, but she looked ahead in realization andshe looked to him with wide eyes as she slid a hand over her mouth. Elias stared at her with wide eyes as well asElstan simply led Phantom through the forest toward his camp.

“Love?”he breathed.

“I-It’sa phrase,” Zoey sputtered. “They useit…where I come from. It’s the waypeople…dote on each other. I thinkthat’s the word you would use.”

“Oh,”Elias sighed then nodded, “Yes, that is the word.”

“I’msorry if I scared you,” Zoey murmured. “Sometimes I forget who I’m talking to.”

“It’salright,” he smiled, warmly. “Some ofthe newcomers do the same thing.”

Zoeynodded as she still looked up at Elias, she noticed a figure in a cloak likeElstan’s standing on the limb of a tree. She looked ahead to see more Elves bustling around tents with horses andweapons.

“Welcometo the Elvin Army, Angel,” Elias whispered into her hear. “Elstan’s legion.”

“Ican see that,” Zoey smirked as Elstan stopped Phantom and walked to the two onthe saddle.

“MissZoey,” Elstan entreated, holding his hand to her.

“Thankyou, she smiled, taking his hand as she swung her leg over to slide down. Elias dismounted as well and took Phantom toa hitching post with other horses tied to it.

“Wouldyou like your own tent?” Elstan asked Zoey as she watched Elias walk away.

Sheturned to the Elf General with a start before smiling sweetly, “Elias and I…”

Shetrailed off, not knowing if Elias would want anyone to know that they were‘doting’ on each other.

“Iunderstand,” Elstan nodded. “He canprotect you properly if you share a tent. Correct?”

“Uh…yeah,”Zoey breathed with a slight nod.

Elstannodded and Zoey suddenly saw a purple light flit around his head, making hersmile.

“Coria,is that you?” she giggled.

Elstanfrowned in confusion as he looked around him, turning and spotting the SleepFairy.

“Coria,”he smiled, holding up a finger she could perch on. She landed on his finger and he brought herclose to his face. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How are you, my sweet?”

“I’mwell,,” Coria replied, floating into the air and touching his nose making himchuckle as she floated into the air again.

“Zoey!”Elias called drawing hers and Esltan’s attention. He was standing near a tree on the edge ofthe camp. “Come here! I have something to show you!”

Zoeyfrowned in confusion and after excusing herself from Elstan’s presence, she rantoward him. He held his arms out as sheran into his arms, throwing her arms around his neck. He chuckled as she pulled away to look at himwith a bright smile.

“Whatis it, Elias?” she wondered, her hands on his shoulders.

Insteadof answering her, Elias gently placed his hands on her cheeks and pressed hislips to hers, his eyes closed. Zoeymoaned in contentment as she pressed into him, wanting him to be closer to him,closing her eyes as well. They slowlypulled away and Zoey smiled with a sigh.

“Isthat what you wanted to show me?” she murmured.

“Actually,that was half of it,” Elias smiled.

Heplaced his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face the tree infront of him. He wrapped his arms aroundher shoulders as he placed his chin on her shoulder as well.

“Whatam I looking at?” she asked, looking around.

“Yousee that white flower up on the branch?” Elias whispered in her ear.

Zoeylooked up on one of the branches of the tree in front of her and saw a fourpetaled flower that looked familiar to her.

“Thatlily up there?”

“Yes,”Elias nodded. “Can you get it?”

“Notwhile you’re holding me like this,” she smirked.

“Try,”he murmured into her ear. “I’m notletting you go.”

Zoeychuckled and raised her hand to the flower. She thought of what she wanted and the flower gently came off the treeto float down toward them. Elias liftedhis hand and Zoey let it land there. Heplaced the lily in her hair above her left ear, making her giggle as she turnedto face him as he took her hands in his.

“Lovely,”he whispered and Zoey giggled, blushing as he kissed her hands.

“What’sgotten into you?” she smiled, placing her hands at the curves of his neck. “Once we got here you…” She trailed off for amoment before murmuring, “Are you…dotingon me?”

Eliasglanced around as if distracted then looked back at Zoey with a smirk,replying, “Perhaps. Do you mind?”

“No,”Zoey giggled. “I’m just wondering whatbrought it on.”

“TheElves bring out the romantic side of me, I suppose,” he smiled, closing in onher lips. He suddenly froze and Zoeyfrowned in confusion.

“Whatis it?” she wondered.

“Ialmost forgot,” he murmured in a smirk. “You were supposed to sing for me.”

“Rightnow?” Zoey sighed, hoping he hadforgotten.

“Youpromised, Angel,” he reminded her, leaving an Eskimo kiss on her nose.

Zoeysighed and nodded them grinned as a light bulb went off in her head and shewrapped her arms around Elias’s neck.

“I’llsing for you,” she agreed. “But you have to sing for me, too.”

Eliasstared at her in astonishment before nodding and swallowing in nervousness,making Zoey smile widely and leave a grateful kiss on his lips. He sat on the ground and she leaned back on atree, taking a deep breath to begin her song. Elias smiled, closing his eyes to enjoy the sound of her voice, makingZoey smile at him, but she didn’t move as she continued. It was a short song, but it was enough tomake him smile as she hit every note perfectly, and he couldn’t believe thechills that ran up his spine when she hit the very last note and held it justas perfectly as the others.

“Elias?”

Hiseyes opened when Zoey suddenly sat next to him, a worried look on her face ashe looked back at her.

“What’swrong?” she wondered, running her fingers over his cheek.

“Nothing,Angel,” he smiled warmly, touching her hand with his. “I was so mesmerized by your lovely voice, Iwanted to savor it.”

“Elias!”Zoey giggled, leaning her forehead on his shoulder, still giggling. “You’re making me blush!” She looked up at him with am embarrassedsmile on her lips, a red blush on her cheeks. “Do you enjoy doing that?”

“Yes,”Elias murmured, nuzzling the side of her head, making her giggle.

“Yourturn,” Zoey whispered, closing her eyes to savor the feeling of his lipssuddenly kissing her neck. “You have tosing for me, now.”

“MustI?” he murmured back. “I would muchrather stay her…like this.”

Zoeyshivered but she managed to push him away to look him in the eyes.

“Iwant to hear you sing, my Masked Knight,” she whispered and he sighed, knowingshe wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Eliasstood, but for Zoey held his hand to keep him from walking away, making himlook down at her in confusion.

“What’swrong, Angel?” he wondered, kneeling down next to her again.

“I…”she trailed off for a moment before resuming, “I want you to stay near me.”

Eliascouldn’t help but smile warmly and sat next to her, gathering her in his armsand nuzzling his cheek to the top of her head.

“Singfor me?” she requested, timidly and Elias smiled taking a deep breath.

Zoeysmiled and sighed in contentment as Elias began singing and she snuggled closerto him. Elias pulled her a littlecloser, still singing. It was a shortsong, like the one she had sung, and when it was over, Zoey sighed again.

“Thatwas wonderful,” she smiled as he kissed her temple then snuggled his cheek tothe side of her head.

“Elias?”

“Yes,Angel?”

“Youcared for Eona, didn’t you?” Zoey wondered.

“Yes,”Elias sighed, hugging her. “For a time,I was very much in love with her.”

“Fora time?” she wondered, feeling a pang of jealousy in her heart.

“Yes,”he replied. “But it was a very long timeago. I was young and it was before Ibegan wearing this mask.”

Zoeyhad to fight the urge to ask him about his mask again and Elias seeminglysensed her inner conflict.

“That’senough of my life story for today, Angel,” he whispered, making her look up athim in surprise. “We should prepare outtent for tonight.”

Meanwhile...

GeneralVelaro glided through the air toward Roch. He had to tell Elias and Zoey what the King was planning to do. A shadow suddenly flew over him and he lookedup to see Keiji above him, diving toward him. Velaro screeched in pain as Keiji’s claws dug into his back andwings. The dragon grabbed Velaro’s faceroughly and roared at him as the griffin struggled to be free and tried toscratch at Keiji with his talons and pecking at him with his beak. Keiji grabbed a hold of Velaro’s front andhind legs then dove straight down, Velaro first. The griffin tried to free himself without anyluck.

Dustand dirt filled the air as the two landed on the ground, hard. Keiji stood away from Velaro as the griffintried to get up, but the dragon head-butted his side, sending him across theground and he hit a tree with a grunt of pain. Velaro tried again to get up and Keiji hit him in the face, tossing himlike a rag doll to the side. The griffinfell fully to the ground, unconscious and Keiji stood over him triumphantlywith a sneer then turned and flew away.

Later...

Zoeyscanned the trees around her carefully, poised to defend herself with Elias’ssword, listening intently for any sort of sound. She suddenly felt cold steel on her neck andlifted her head to avoid being cut.

“You’retoo good at this,” Zoey smirked as she gave a sideways glance to Elstan.

“Youcan learn, Miss Zoey,” he smirked back lowering his blade and backing away asshe turned to face him. “Tinechor is askill passed down from generation. Askill learned through years of training.”

“Thatdoesn’t make me feel very confident about learning it,” Zoey muttered, leaningon Elias’s sword.

“Butyou are the Enuria,” Elstan remindedher. “You can learn it easily, I’msure.”

“Aren’tyou, a flatterer,” Zoey smiled then stood at attention. “Ok, show me Tinechor.”

Elstannodded and stepped next to her, sheathing his long knives and explaining,“First, you must feel the rhythm of the things around you. Everything has a rhythm and once you replace it,you can disguise and hide yourself in it. That is Tinechor.”

“Rhythm,got it,” she nodded.

Zoeyclosed her eye, listening to everything around her. The howl of the wind. The rustle of the leaves through thetrees. Rhythm. She opened her eyes slowly, still able tohear everything around her. Elstan wasgone, but she knew he was around. Shescanned the trees and shot her gaze toward a glint of silver behind a tree.

Thewhistling of the breeze disguised her first step. Her next step was hidden by the rustle of a branchand before she knew it, all the sounds of the forest hid her footsteps as shecame closer to where the glint had come from. She lifted the sword and rounded the tree, holding the sword at neckheight. Elstan lifted his blades to stopthe sword from slicing his head off. Zoey froze and gazed at Elstan in worry as he lowered the blades andsmiled at her.

“Verywell done, Miss Zoey,” he complimented with a nod. “I almostdidn’t hear you.”

“Almostisn’t good enough,” she sighed, lowering the sword fully with a disappointedexpression. “Not when I go up againstthe Mor Witch.”

“Still,you’ve managed to learn more in five minutes then I did in a month,” Elstaninsisted.

Not good enough, she thought to herself.

“GeneralElstan—!”

Thecall was strangle by a cry of agony as he and Zoey ran back toward the camponly to replace a battle raging. Zoeylooked around frantically to replace Elias and spotted him fighting an ugly, bulkycreature, one of the many.

“Trolls,”she breathed in realization.

Elstangrabbed her arm and hid her behind a tree, snatching Elias’s sword from herhand.

“Stayhere,” he ordered.

Beforeshe could reply he was gone. Zoey peekedout from behind the tree to watch Elstan toss Elias his sword as the battlecontinued. She suddenly noticed anexceptionally large troll spot her and ducked behind the tree with a gasp ofhorror. She suddenly heard his footstepswalking toward her and kept still. Sheremained still, hoping her hadn’t seen her, but a moment later the treesplintered above her head and she ducked to the ground, covering her head asshe screamed.

“I found you!”

Zoeylooked up in terror to see a huge troll looming over her in black armor with amace in his hand.

“Ifound you, Enuria!”

Zoeyscreamed and ran deeper into the woods, not looking back. The ground suddenly shook as the troll ranafter her, making her steps falter slightly, but she quickly regained herbalance.

“Younot getting away!” the troll bellowed as Zoey hid behind a tree.

Thetree crumbled, just as the other had and once again she ducked, covering herhead. She cautiously looked up at him ashe grinned a crooked tooth and evil grin at her.

“Youwill die now!” he growled, lifting his weapon.

Zoeygasped and threw her arms over her head just as he swung at her and her shieldstopped it from injuring her. She shotto her feet again and ran to her left as fast as she could. The rumble of the trolls steps followed herand this time she stopped and faced him head on. She lifted her hands and shoved at the air,shoving the troll back as well. She ranagain and ducked behind another tree, suddenly disappearing and hoping Elias orElstan would replace her.

Meanwhile...

Eliasswung his sword, mercilessly at the enemy troll and replaceing an opening for thekill strike. He suddenly froze when heheard a scream from the woods and turned his gaze there.

“Elias!”

Eliasturned as Elstan stopped the troll’s weapon from coming down on Elias’s head.

“Gohelp Miss Zoey!” Elstan strained under the force of the troll’s strength.

Eliasdarted toward the woods, running through other fighting trolls and elves to getthere. When he finally came into thewoods he saw two trees blown to smithereens and the Troll General, Moria on theground not too far away.

“Zoey!”he called and saw her suddenly appear from behind a tree. He breathed a sigh of relief when she camerunning toward him, unharmed and he wrapped his left arm around her as shethrew herself into his arms and he whispered, “Thank Seldarine you’re alright.”

Moriasuddenly groaned and began to get up, catching Elias’s attention. He shoved Zoey behind him and held his swordto the troll as he stood.

“Ikill Enuria!” he rumbled.

“Notif I can help it,” Elias growled.

Eliasand Moria charged at each other as Zoey ducked behind another tree forsafety. The sound of steel hitting ironfilled the silence of the forest, making Zoey jump. The Troll General attacked and Elias parriedbefore Moria brought his mace down to crush Elias’s head, but the MaskedGeneral held his sword up just in time to block the attack. Moria jerked his weapon, taking Elias’s swordwith it and it fell to the ground.

“No!”Zoey cried. “Elias—!”

“Stayback!” he barked when he noticed her trying to run to help him.

“Youdie for Queen Jellina!” Moria boomed, raising his mace again.

“She’snot my queen,” Elias snarled,kneeling to one knee.

Hissword suddenly slid into his hand and he plunged it into Moria’s gut as hetried to make the killer stroke. Thetroll choked in pain as Elias yanked his sword from him and moved to let himfall to the ground. Elias panted as heturned to see Zoey with a hand toward him and nodded his thanks. She’d taken the cue to levitate his sword tohim perfectly.

Hesheathed his sword and held his arms toward her as he still caught hisbreath. Zoey bolted toward him and threwher arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her and buried his facein her hair.

“Elias,I was so scared,” she shuddered breathlessly, holding back sobs.

“Iknow, Angel,” he whispered, stroking her hair, soothingly. “It’s alright. I’m here now. It’s alright.”

Shelooked up at him with a tear socked face, her lower lip quivering as shesniffled. He brought his hand up andtried to dry her tears, but more kept flowing as he gazed into her eyes.

“Nomore tears, my sweet,” he whispered, leaning his face closer to hers.

Zoeyclosed her eyes and breathed in as his lips touched hers, pressing them fullyonto hers, closing his eyes as well. Heheld her tightly as he heard her whimper.

“GeneralBlackwood—!”

Elstanstopped when he saw the two and only smiled as neither one of them looked tohim. When they finally emerged fromtheir kiss, Elias looked at Elstan as Zoey leaned her head on his chest.

“Isit over?” Elias asked. Elstan nodded andElias looked down at Zoey to whisper, “It’s done, Angel.”

Zoeylooked up at him and nodded with a sniffle but when Elias moved to walk themback to the tents, she wouldn’t move. She was rooted to the ground in shock, making Elias sigh before he bentdown and swept her into his arms to carry her. Elstan frowned at him in worry as Elias approached.

“She’sfine,” he assured him. “She’s in shock,that’s all.”

“Isthere anything I can do?” Elstan wondered and Elias only shook his head as hecarried her to their tent, ducking in and sitting her down before he sat nextto her.

“Icouldn’t even fight a troll, how canI fight Jellina?!” she cried as Elias held her in his arms.

“Hushdarling,” Elias whispered. “We all riseto the occasion when it’s required of us. We all have faith in you courage, Angel.”

“But,Elias—”

Heplaced his fingers on her lips to gently silence her.

“Don’tdwell on it, my sweet,” he whispered. “When the time comes, you will be victorious, I have no doubt.”

Eliaslaid them both back and left soft, tender kisses all over her face. Zoey couldn’t help but smile as he did, butshe was still concerned and she had a feeling that the faith all Kalina had inher was for naught.

Night...

Nikolairan into Varen’s tent with Nim, the Truth Fairy flitting behind him.

“LieutenantGeneral!” he called, and Varen looked up at him as Namir stood in a corner. “General Velaro was taken down by Keiji theDragon, just outside Roch. He was badlywondered, but he is alive.”

“Theenemy knows of our plans,” Varen ground out. “Someone is watching.” He turnedto Namir and asked, “Can you get me on board the Mela Ear?”

“Varen,if he catches you, he’ll kill you!” Namir warned. “They way he’s acting right now, he’ll think you are conspiring against him as well!”

“Hewon’t catch me,” Varen assured her. “He’s not seen me yet. One of hismen will stay here and I will takehis place. Trust me, friend.”

Namirstared at him in uncertainty, but remembered Varen’s skill in making himselfunrecognizable and even invisible. Shenodded, hesitantly making Varen grin as she said, “I’ll pick the man that staysbehind.”

Varennodded, turning to Nikolai and ordering, “Inform Ayaki that he will be incommand while I’m away. Tell no one else of our plans.”