▪️A L A R I C▪️

Cedric was a traitor.

The throne room was suffocatingly silent, broken only by the soft echo of my footsteps as I paced back and forth. My heart, usually calm and steadfast, now raced with turmoil. My brother's betrayal weighed heavily on me, a burden I could scarcely bear.

Memories from the earlier meeting with the Fae council and the Orc King and his people flooded my mind as I continued to pace the silent confines of the room. Cedric's treachery had been exposed in front of them all, shocking everyone to their core.

I could still feel their accusing stares, their disbelief palpable as Cedric's deceit was laid bare for all to see. How could he have orchestrated such treachery under our very noses? How could I have been so blind to his true intentions?

But now, with everyone gone to fortify defences and recalibrate plans that Cedric would have been privy to, I finally had a moment of solitude to collect my thoughts. Golnar, Kieran, Baldur, and the others were working tirelessly to safeguard the Fae Kingdom, leaving me with precious time to try and make sense of the chaos that had engulfed us.

I paused in my pacing, my eyes falling on the ornate tapestries that adorned the walls. They seemed to mock me, whispering secrets of a time when trust was not so easily shattered. So many questions flooded my mind, but one persisted above all others.

How could Cedric, my own flesh and blood, have turned against me?

"Brother..." I whispered, the word catching in my throat.

The betrayal cut deeper than any wound I had ever suffered, tearing through the very fabric of our shared history. Cedric had been my confidant, my advisor, my closest ally. And now, he was my enemy.

Was Cedric really upset about me getting the crown instead of him, as Kieran had suggested all those years ago? It was a notion I had vehemently dismissed, pushing aside any inkling of doubt that threatened to tarnish the image I held of my older brother. But now, as I grappled with the reality of his duplicity, Kieran's words echoed in my mind with unsettling clarity.

I recalled the conversations we had shared in hushed tones, Kieran's suspicions veiled behind a façade of concern. "Watch your back, Alaric," he had warned, his eyes dark with foreboding. "Cedric may smile to your face, but I fear his ambition knows no bounds."

At the time, I had brushed off Kieran's warnings as baseless jealousy, unwilling to entertain the notion that Cedric could harbour such resentment towards me. After all, we had grown up side by side, inseparable in our bond as brothers and comrades.

But now, as I stood in the shadow of Cedric's disloyalty, I could not help but wonder if there had been a kernel of truth in Kieran's words all along. Had Cedric's desire for power clouded his judgment, driving him to betray everything we had once held dear?

Memories of our childhood flashed before my eyes, each one tinged with the bitter sting of betrayal. We had laughed together, fought together, dreamed of a future where our kingdom prospered under our rule. But those dreams now lay shattered at my feet, broken by Cedric's treachery.

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging within me. Anger, sorrow, betrayal—each emotion vied for dominance, threatening to overwhelm me.

Suddenly, the heavy doors of the throne room swung open, breaking the oppressive silence. Golnar stood in the doorway, her expression a blend of concern and determination.

She approached me with a grace that never failed to soothe my troubled soul.

"Most of the defences have been refortified," she informed me. "Unfortunately, Cedric's betrayal has left us vulnerable. I know that you're hurting, but you can't allow yourself to get lost in your grief right now. We need our King; you cannot afford to let our guard down."

Her words resonated within me. "You're right, my love," I acknowledged, gratitude swelling within me for her unwavering support.

But before I could delve further into strategy and plans, Golnar's gaze softened, her icy blue eyes shimmering with concern against the backdrop of her pale grey-ish skin. Despite the formidable strength that coursed through her veins, there was a vulnerability in her expression that mirrored my own turmoil.

"Talk to me," she said, her voice gentle as she reached out to touch my arm.

I took a shaky breath, the words tumbling from my lips like stones cascading down a mountainside. "I'm so fucking confused, and angry!" I confessed; my voice raw with emotion. "I can't believe that Cedric would do this to us, to the kingdom, to me."

"I know, my love," she murmured, her voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos. "But we can't let anger cloud our judgment. We must focus on protecting our people and reclaiming what has been lost."

Her words pierced through the haze of my anger, reminding me of my duty as King. "You're right," I conceded, a sense of determination rising within me. "I can't afford to let Cedric's betrayal tear me apart."

Golnar nodded in agreement, her unwavering support a testament to our shared resolve. "We will defeat him; we have the orcs to help us now. Together, we will overcome this," she affirmed, her icy blue eyes reflecting the strength and resilience that lay within her.

As her comforting words washed over me, a sense of solace enveloped us, drawing us closer together.

Without a word, I pulled her into a tight embrace, seeking refuge in the warmth of her arms amidst the turmoil that threatened to consume us. She held me close as if to shield me from the storm raging outside. For a brief moment, everything else faded away, and all that mattered was the connection we shared, a bond forged in love and solidarity.

We stood like this for a while, when suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquillity of the moment, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The ground beneath us trembled, the force of the blast reverberating through the very foundation of our kingdom.

Golnar and I sprang apart, our hearts pounding in unison as we exchanged alarmed glances.

Without a word, we raced down into the courtyard where we were met by Kieran, Izara, Baldur, and Khagra, their expressions mirroring our own sense of urgency.

Before I could utter a word, a group of guards approached us, their faces pale with fear.

"Your Majesty," one of them spoke, his voice trembling. "It's another attack. They're hitting the forest border again."

Dread washed over me like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf me in its icy embrace. "Cedric," I breathed, the realization sinking in like a lead weight in the pit of my stomach. "It's him."

"He didn't waste any time I see..." Baldur said, his words heavy with disdain.

Kieran's lip curled in disgust, his contempt boiling to the surface. "He's a coward," he spat, his voice dripping with venom as he uttered the word, his eyes flashing with righteous anger.

"A fucking madman is what he is," Khagra commented.

But there was no time for heated exchanges. With a shared glance, we all knew what needed to be done. The Fae Kingdom was under attack, and Cedric's betrayal had left us with no choice but to defend it with every ounce of our strength.

"We must defend the kingdom," I declared, my voice ringing with determination. "For our people, and for the future of the entire isle."

Without another word, we sprang into action, our movements swift and purposeful as we prepared to face the enemy. Each of us knew our role in the coming battle, our skills and abilities honed through years of training and experience.

As we charged towards the forest border, determination burned within us like a fiery beacon, lighting the way forward through the darkness of uncertainty. But as we arrived at the scene of the carnage, our hearts sank at the sight that awaited us.

Fae and orcs fought side by side, locked in a deadly dance of blades and magic against the enemy.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and smoke, a sickening cocktail that assaulted our senses with every breath. Flames licked at the edges of buildings, casting eerie shadows that danced across the scarred landscape like spectres of death. The once vibrant hues of the forest were now muted by the pall of smoke that hung heavy in the air, obscuring the moon and stars above.

Swords clashed and spells crackled, their echoes reverberating off the crumbling walls of nearby buildings. The ground shook with the thunderous impact of heavy footsteps and the roar of arcane energies unleashed.

Among the chaos, we spotted numerous Bansheewyrms, their wraithlike mist trailing behind them as they unleashed bone-chilling wails that paralyzed their victims with fear. Their sinuous forms slithered through the shadows, striking with lethal precision before vanishing into the darkness once more.

The Thornfiends prowled the city borders, grotesque amalgamations of vine and thorn, their razor-sharp tendrils lashing out with deadly accuracy. They emerged from the nearby forests and marshes, their twisted forms blending seamlessly with the foliage as they lay in wait for unsuspecting prey.

But perhaps most terrifying of all were the Shadowstalkers, their forms shrouded in darkness and their eyes burning with an unholy fire. They moved with unearthly grace, striking swiftly and silently before melting back into the shadows from whence they came.

In the middle of it all were a large number of Fae rebels, fighting alongside these monstrous creatures, their allegiance to my traitorous brother evident in their ruthless attacks. The sight of Fae turning against their own kind only fuelled my determination to stand firm against the darkness that threatened to consume everything.

"Welcome, brother!" Cedric's voice cut through the chaos, a chilling greeting that sent shivers down my spine.

I turned to where the sound came from and watched as my brother appeared out of thin air.

My heart grew heavy with sorrow at the sight of my once-beloved sibling consumed by darkness. Cedric stood at the heart of the battlefield, his figure shrouded in a swirling maelstrom of dark magic that crackled with malevolent energy. His eyes burned with an unholy fire, their gaze cold and devoid of emotion as they bore into mine.

Gone was the brother I had known, replaced by a twisted semblance of his former self. The darkness that engulfed him seemed to seep into every pore of his being, twisting him into something unrecognizable, something monstrous.

But even as I was filled with grief at the sight of his fall from grace, a fierce determination burned within me. I would not let Cedric's darkness consume me, nor would I allow it to destroy everything we had fought so hard to build.

"Attack!" I cried out, my voice ringing clear above the chaos of battle.

With a resolute nod, Izara and Golnar moved swiftly to one side, their swords drawn and ready to face whatever horrors awaited them. Meanwhile, Baldur and Khagra dashed to another side, their movements synchronized as they prepared to meet the enemy head-on. Their expressions were grim, their resolve unyielding as they braced themselves for the coming onslaught.

As the battlefield erupted into a frenzy of clashing blades and crackling magic, I focused all my energy on confronting Cedric.

With a defiant roar, I charged towards my brother, my sword held aloft as I prepared to face him in battle. But as our blades clashed, it became clear that this was not a mere physical battle—it was a clash of magic as well.

With each swing of his blade, Cedric unleashed torrents of dark energy that crackled through the air, searing everything they touched. I countered with bursts of my own magic, weaving protective shields to deflect his attacks and launching bolts of light to pierce through his defences.

But Cedric's mastery over the dark arts was formidable, and with each passing moment, I found myself struggling to keep up. His spells were like shadows, twisting and contorting around me, threatening to engulf me in their malevolent embrace.

Despite my efforts, I could feel the drain on my own magical reserves, the relentless barrage of Cedric's attacks pushing me to my limits. Desperation clawed at my heart as I realized that I was losing ground, my strength waning in the face of his overwhelming power.

"What's the matter, brother?" Cedric taunted as he pressed his advantage. "Is the great Alaric finally beginning to falter? Do you want to call for help?"

Quickly stealing a glance around me, I noticed Izara and Golnar fighting with unwavering courage, their blades flashing as they held their ground against the onslaught of enemies. Their movements were fluid and precise, a testament to their years of training and experience.

On the other side of the battlefield, Baldur and Khagra fought with equal ferocity, their roars of defiance echoing across the chaos. Together they with other orcs, they formed an impenetrable wall of strength and determination, pushing back against the tide of darkness with every swing of their weapons.

Cedric's words had struck a nerve, igniting a fierce determination within me.

With a steely gaze, I met his mocking eyes, refusing to let his words shake me as I retorted, "I don't need help to deal with traitors like you!"

Refocusing on my brother, I pushed back against his relentless assault, my sword flashing with renewed vigour as I met his every blow with unwavering resolve. Despite the drain on my magical reserves, I refused to yield, drawing strength from the light of righteousness that burned bright within me.

As Cedric and I clashed in the heat of battle, our swords ringing out in a symphony of steel, a sudden disturbance rippled through the air, shattering the chaotic melody of war. An eerie hum, low and haunting, reverberated through the forest, sending shivers down my spine and causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

The very ground beneath our feet seemed to tremble in response, as if the earth itself recoiled from the unnatural vibration that permeated the air. Leaves rustled in the trees, their whispering voices adding to the eerie atmosphere that enveloped us.

As the hum grew louder, it took on a sinister quality, sending a chill coursing through my veins. It was as if unseen hands plucked at the strings of reality itself, weaving a discordant melody that echoed through the very fabric of existence.

In the midst of the cacophony, his movements faltered for the briefest of moments as he glanced towards the source of the disturbance. It was a fleeting glimpse, but in that instant, I saw a flicker of distress in his eyes, a recognition of something far more powerful than even he could comprehend.

But before I could ponder the implications further, the hum reached a crescendo, drowning out all other sounds with its deafening intensity. And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the disturbance ceased, leaving behind a palpable sense of unease that hung heavy in the air.

"We'll finish this later," Cedric snarled, his voice carrying a note of frustration as he stepped back from our duel.

I watched in confusion as my brother took a step back, a sense of foreboding settling over me like a heavy shroud. Something was amiss, I could feel it in the air. But before I could dwell on it further, a powerful force seized control of Cedric's form, wrenching him away from the battlefield with unnatural speed. It was as if invisible hands had grasped him, pulling him back into the darkness from whence he came.

Simultaneously, the small army that came with him began to leave as well. Like shadows fading into the night, they too began to retreat, their forms dissolving into nothingness before my very eyes. It was as if they had never been there at all, their presence erased from existence as easily as a brushstroke wipes away ink on parchment.

As Cedric disappeared into the darkness, a chill ran down my spine. Who could possibly wield such power over him? And what did it mean for the fate of our kingdom?

With more questions than answers swirling in my mind, I turned to face my allies, a grim determination etched upon my features. The battle may have ended for now, but the true challenge lay ahead. And as we prepared to regroup and strategize, I knew that the coming days would test us in ways we had never imagined.

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A/N: Dundundun!!! 👀