NationStates Jolt Archive

The helicopter landed in the forest's clearing and the passenger leapt out. "...keep it waiting for me." he said to the pilot, smiling his sardonic smile. "And inform the battlegroup that if they don't hear from me in 4 days, they are to waste this entire continent."

"Of course, sire." As the Tsar stepped back, the copter lifted up and flew away overhead. Soon, he was alone. First thing to do is find my way to the main city...shouldn't be too hard, someone will already have heard me. Alyosha's hand slipped to his holster, making sure that he was indeed prepared should that someone be hostile. I have GOT to find that document.

The Priestess of the Stars, Lady Arya of Gorgamin, was in still in bed eating a breakfast of milk tea and scones when the reports of a Roanian helicopter landing on the edge of the forest started to come in.

Even more intriguing were the reports that none other than Tsar Aloysha Chyorny was at the edge of HER forest. She sighed. "I suppose we'd better have someone go and show him in."

She looked at the ten Huntresses who served as her personal guard, "Eliana, take four others with you and bring Tsar Chyorny to me. Make sure to blindfold him. And be careful. He is very dangerous." The half-elf nodded to her mistress and left, followed by four other Huntresses.

Ten minutes later, Eliana and her four companions dropped from the trees to land quietly behind Aloysha, who remained oblivious to the welcoming party. Eliana tapped the Tsar lightly on the shoulder.

"Welcome to Gorgamin, Tsar Alyosha. If you will please put on this blindfold, we will be pleased to escort you to Lady Arya."

Alyosha turned and grabbed her arm tightly. "Do that again, and you will pull back a stub." he snapped. "I've been waiting for ages for you elves to get your act together and meet with me." he looked at the blindfold and shook his head. "That won't be neccessary, I'm sure..."

he inspected his guards and played his charm card, turning on his bright smile. "I'd prefer not to miss an opportunity to look at such beautiful women."

Eliana was not impressed. And that was a gross understatement.

"I'm sorry M'Lord. But without the blindfold, you go nowhere."

With poor grace he snapped the blindfold from her hands and tied it around his eyes securely. "Very well. But mark me, girl, if you attempt to betray me in anyway, I will make sure that you die first."

The Huntresses led Alyosha through the forest in silence. Fifteen minutes later, when they had arrived in the throne room of the palace, Eliana gently removed Aloysha's blindfold.

Lady Arya sat upon her ornately carved wooden throne wearing a white gown and a simple gold circlet. She smiled at the Tsar.

"This is a pleasant surprise Tsar Chyorny. What brings you to Gorgamin?"

He refused to dignify that with a reply at first, instead looking around the throneroom and smiling a bland little smile that hid what he was really thinking. "Yes, that's the question..." but still he didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head on its side, as if listening for something.

Finally, his smile faded and he glanced up at the empress, his eyes revealing his contempt for her. Smoothing back his blond hair, Alyosha answered her with, "To you, ma'am, my name is Alexei Black..." his smile returned. "I trust that is answer enough?"

Arya's eyes went wide, and then hardened and became emotionless. "I'm certain I don't know what you're talking about, Tsar Chy...Black."

"I seek what my ancestor left here with you. It is not yours, and it rightfully belongs to me." Alyosha snapped at her, his eyes cold with suppressed amusement. "I'm sure it's not of much use to you..."

Lady Arya sighed. This one would not be put off easily. "Eliana? Would you and your Huntresses wait outside for me, please? I'd like to have a word alone with the Tsar."

"But M'Lady-"

"No Arguments, Eliana. Do as I say. I'm sure I will be in no danger. You may wait just outside the door."

Reluctantly, the Huntresses began to file out. Eliana was the last to leave, glaring at Alyosha as she went.

When she was satisfied that they were alone, Arya looked Alyosha in the eyes.

"Tell me why you want Alexander's artifact."

"I...seek to gather all five artifacts in order to reunite them and then destroy it once and for all." the lies sprang easily to his lips, having used them once before.

Arya could not keep the surprise from her voice. "A noble goal indeed." Her piercing black eyes locked on his once more. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because you don't have any choice." the temper rose. "Do you want it beneath your palace forever? I can just leave and walk away and eventually its power will seep up into your beloved forest. Do you want that?"

Arya smiled, "I assure you that the artifact is well protected. None of it's evil will ever touch the forests of Gorgamin. I am inclined to leave it where it is, where I know it is safe."

"Do you really believe that?" Alyosha demanded. "Do you really believe that the evil wards set around an evil artifact by an evil man will keep it within its bounds? And even if you do, what you are doing is no better than theft. I have come to claim what is rightfully mine. I discharge you of your duty."

"If I was in your place, I would be glad to see the back of that thing."

"Fine." Arya had run out of patience with Alyosha. "If you want it that much, go and get it. It's yours." She stood up and walked past him towards the door.

As she reached it, she turned back to Aloysha with a smile. "I wish you the best of luck in finding it."

All of a sudden there was a flicker in his eyes and he warmed up. "I'm afraid we may have gotten started on the wrong foot, Lady Arya..." his voice was soothing. "You know how it is...long journeys, tiring debates and walks and all that..."

"I think what I need right now, more than anything, is a relaxing room for the night. In the morning we can approach this in a more friendly way."

The ruler of Gorgamin was unconvinced, but decided to give Aloysha the benefit of the doubt.

"That sounds reasonable, my Lord. I will have someone see to it. I wish you a pleasant evening."

Lady Arya swept gracefully from the room. A moment later, Eliana entered, obivously displeased.

Even displeased, she was very beautiful, more so even than the Lady Arya. She was pale-skinned, like all natives of Gorgamin, with cornflower blue eyes that sparkled when she was happy and penetrated when she was upset.

It was the long honey-coloured hair that fell in waves to her waist that gave Eliana away, more so than the fact that her ears were only gently pointed, and the soft curves where she should have been more petite. Eliana was half human.

"If you will come with me, Your Highness, I will show you to your room."

Alyosha shrugged, deciding to play this role for as long as he had to. "If you would be so kind, m'lady." he even went so far as to look the woman over, his blue eyes sparkling in a friendly, though strained, manner. Finally, he stretched his muscles and smoothed back his hair once more, the rings glinting on his fingers. "Please, do walk with me for a while, first."

Not giving her a chance to refuse, he started down the hall. "Loyal to her ladyship, are you? Of course you are, otherwise you wouldn't be near me, am I right? I quite understand, I've been an arse to you." he shrugged once more. "Do accept my apologies."

Eliana was startled by the admission and apology. So startled that it tooke her a moment to respond.

"I...apology accepted, m'Lord. Here we are..."

Arya unlocked and opened a set of carved double doors and led Aloysha in. The room was beautifully furnished and decorated, containing every luxury that could be desired.

"I hope m'Lord finds this suitable?"

"I do, I do... I only wish that the Priestess would be more amenable to my suggestion..." at her puzzled look, he smiled inwardly and went on. "Beneath this palace is a great evil. I came here to remove it and seal it, but she believes that it is...um...what's it called...oh yes. Safe." he looked at her sadly. "I'm afraid even your beauty won't save you from the corrupting aura that even now builds up beneath this palace..."

"If only I could find the map my great-grandfather had left here!" he stormed, slowly and enunciating every word. "Then I'd be able to save you all!...as it is, I bid you goodnight. I will try once more in the morning and then flee before it is too late." he took her hand suddenly, lifted it up and bent down and kissed a ring. "Goodnight, m'lady." suddenly he was in the room and the door was sealed.

Arya walked slowly back down the hall towards her own chambers, lost in her thoughts.

A great danger under the palace? It's...it's unthinkable. Surely Lady Arya would... No. No I will not second-guess my mistress. Lady Arya would not expose us all to danger. I will let her deal with this.

Putting the matter from her mind, Eliana reached her quarters and sealed the door, ready for sleep.

"My lady, I ask you once again to please grant me my grandfather's artifact and aid me in helping me remove it." Alyosha kneeled. "I came here for that, indeed to BEG for your aid. You may take any steps you desire to insure I keep my promise."

"But I swear to you that you, all of you, are in incredible danger. If not me, then it will remain there and someday, within your lifetimes, it will kill you all!" he looked around the room, fixing all the elves in his gaze. "I swear on my true name that it isn't safe!"


~~

Meanwhile, on another side of the palace, a confrontation was brewing. "Sir, I don't know who you are or where you came from, but you can not go any further along this path. I suggest you turn around now." The elven guard brandished his spear, his company behind him.

"I ssseee." the small dark figure grunted. "Welll..." the words sounded like they came from a long way off, "perhapssss we can come to ssssome...arrangement?"

"You can not bribe me, sir!"

"Bribe you? My good ssssir...I would not. I just want you to look at thissss." he pulled from his robe something. The captain and his lieutenant instinctively bent over to look at it, and suddenly died where they stood, petrified into stone by some awesome power. The creature stood still for a few minutes, then placed the glinting object back into his pocket. "Move assside..." he commanded, lifting a hand slightly.

Before they knew what had happened, the remaining elves were scattered by an incredibly strong gale. The creature laughed, a horrible gurgling sound, and then moved down the stairwell.

The elven guard picked themselves up and looked around in horror. Their captain had been turned to stone, and a monster was loose in the labyrinth. For a few moments, no one moved or spoke; they were in shock.

Finally, one of the senior guards, an elf named Haras, took charge.

"Jora, you're our fastest runner. Go to Lady Arya and tell her what has happened. Make haste. The rest of you, come with me."

She took off, running as fast as she could, not looking back to watch her regiment descend into the labyrinth after the creature.

***
Arya was beginning to tire of the Tsar's arguments. She was barely listening now as he spoke.

"I swear on my true name that it isn't safe!"

"And what good is your word to me, Tsar Alex-"

Lady Arya was cut off as the doors to the throne room were thrown open. Jora burst in, crying aloud:

"My Lady! A monster! In the labyrinth. It has turned Captain Kiron to stone!"

There was silence in the throne room for several minutes. Finally Arya turned to Aloysha, fury in in her eyes.

"We welcome you in peace. And THIS is how you repay us?"

Alyosha stared at her, blankly. "You think this is my work? If I had wanted to take it violently I would have done so!" he shouted, crossing the ground between them. "How dare you accuse me of that!"

Suddenly, all ten Huntresses sprang into his path, their spears barring his way. Eliana was directly in front of him.

"You do not speak to Lady Arya that way. And you do not approach her without permission."

"Step aside." Alyosha's hands glowed black suddenly. "M'lady, I must pursue! I can not allow my great-grandfather's artifact to fall in the hands of someone else! Please! Who knows what he'll do with it?...unless there's other stuff down there?" he forced the blackness down and went back to kneeling. "Please...m'lady..."

Arya rose and went to him, taking his hands in her small ones and raising him to stand.

"Please, Tsar Alexei. You are right. I should not have jumped to conclusions."

She reached into a hidden pocket of her dress.

"This is the only map of the labyrinth. It was created by Eliana's father. It tells the exact location of the artifact you seek."

Arya handed him the map and reached out a hand to her favourite Huntress, who came instantly to her mistress's side.

"Eliana will go with you and help you in your search."

She's what?! "You are very gracious, my lady. I am sure that she will be of assistance." he rose to his feet and snatched the map. "Come on, Eliana. We have to move fast." he sighed and looked down. "I don't know how on earth someone else got here, though..."

Eliana tapped Aloysha on the shoulder.

"M'Lord? The labyrinth's that way." she said, pointing in the opposite direction.

He set off in the way she was pointing without a word, not even speaking until they reach the doorway to the labyrinth. "Well. Firstly, you will address me at all times as Alyosha. You will not ask after my real name." his voice brooked no argument. "I won't ask after yours either."

That settled, he looked around and saw the elven dead. "...whoever this was, your soldiers didn't put up much of a fight."

"As you wish, Aloysha. Now, may I see the map, please? Having been in the labyrinths before, I might be able to provide some insight into where we're meant to go."

He glared at her and then unfolded the map. His lips worked soundlessly and then he threw it to the ground. "Gibberish!" he snapped. "What am I meant to do with that?!" to him, the map resembled nothing more than simple squiggles. Still, the important thing was to keep it up. "I think I can make out..." he walked forward and turned left and fell into a big dark pit.

Eliana picked up the map and looked at it, then shook her head in disgust. The pit was clearly marked on the map. In fact, EVERYTHING was clearly marked on the map. Couldn't Alyosha read?

The Huntress sighed and walked carefully to the edge of the pit, peering carefully in.

"Are you all right down there?"

"A hand, please?" Alyosha waved his hand around a little. "Get me out of here! And no smart remarks. If you're so smart, you can read the map for me."

Eliana lay flat on the ground and reached out to grasp Alyosha's hands and heave him out of the pit. Then she rolled over and began studying the map.

"What did you mean you can't read this? It's perfectly clear. We needed to go west then south."

Working at cross-purposes, the two slowly made their way into the depths of Alexander's dungeon. "...you know, this is kind of stupid." Alyosha said to the girl, lip curling. "I mean, Alexander would have set up all sorts of traps and monsters and things to protect it. Like those zombie elves shambling towards...us...ah." his swords leapt into his hands. "Friends of yours?"

Eliana tucked the map safely into her bodice and pulled the longbow off her back, notching an arrow into it.

"No. No they are not."

She aimed and fired, catching a zombie between the eyes.

Alexander glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Interesting place for a map. But since they aren't your friends..." he spun his twin swords around and took three zombies out at once, then sliced the head off the last one. "...Repulsive. I hate the undead."

Now that the adrenaline of battle was slowly draining from her system, Eliana realised for the first time that the zombies before her had once been elves.

Stunned, she slid down the wall behind her, curling into a ball and sobbing for the poor creatures she had just slain.

The boy looked at her and smiled his secret smile, then put a hand on her shoulder and knelt down next to her. "It's okay... you did them a mercy..." deciding something more was called for, he put his other arm around her and gave her a chaste hug.

Unaware of what she was doing, Eliana clung to Alyosha and sobbed into his shoulder for several minutes, until she cried herself out.

She raised her head from his shoulder and looked up at him. Their eyes locked for several moments until Eliana suddenly realised what she was doing. She pulled abruptly away from Alyosha, face red, and stood up, pulling the map out to read.

"We haven't got all day you know. We need to go that way."

Alyosha made a show of wiping his jacket after she let go. "Yes. Let's go, then. The sooner I'm out of this dungeon the better. And send any undead monsters you see back to the YAAAHHHH!" a rope had latched around his foot and pulled him up suddenly so he floated in midair. "I hate dungeons, too..."

Eliana sighed. "You know? If you keep holding us up, the creature will be long gone with your artifact by the time we get there."

With that, she pulled out a short sword and cut Alyosha down, letting him fall heavily to the ground.

His hand rose to slap her, but then he shrugged. "As you will...where to from here?"

Eliana studied the map a moment and then pointed. "This way." She led off, studying the map and calling out warnings and directions as she began to navigate the treacherous labyrinth.

"So." Alyosha said as they walked through the catacombs, "...who taught you to fight with the bow and arrow?" his voice came suddenly, after a couple of minutes of utter silence. Around them, stonework mouldered quietly into oblivion. The sound of the undead shuffling on whatever errand they were upon echoed through the catacombs, but he could somehow tell they weren't a threat to them right now.

"After all...pardon me if I seem too blunt..." his eyes traced her body up and down for a moment, "you seem a bit too soft to be a warrior..."


~~


"We grow near, my darlingssss!" the creature hissed to himself as he stepped forward and into a large pit. There was a moment or two of confusion and then he levitated right back out and continued walking. "It isss closssse..."

The next thing Alyosha knew, he was flat on his back, an elven short sword pressed to his throat. Eliana straddled his chest.

"Do not make the mistake of underestimating me. My father began training me as a fighter when I was ten years old."

With that, she rolled off of him and stalked off.

Women... Alyosha grumbled as he stood up and followed her. "I didn't say it was a bad thing!" he hazarded. While it would be obvious to anyone with half a brain he was playing a role, it would be very hard to discern what role that was... "Come on! Loosen up. We're perfectly safe and you know it."

"Loosen up? LOOSEN UP?! There is a monster in these labyrinths that has the power to summon winds and petrify and who knows what else; and it happens to be after a very powerful and very evil artifact! I will NOT loosen up!"

"Oh. Yes. Right. Well..." he coughed. HOW DID SHE KNOW I WAS... wait. Petrify? Oooh... "Well, worrying about that won't solve the problem. You have so much more to worry about..." Like what I'll do to you just as soon as I take that power...

"And what is that supposed to mean? What more do I have to worry about?"

Now Eliana was angry as she faced the Tsar, hands on her hips.

"You know, you're beautiful when you're angry." he walked past her and patted her cheek as he did. "You just keep leading me towards the artifact and we'll have no difficulties. I'll keep the zombies busy for you..." even as he spoke, he staggered and put a hand on the wall. "Wha..."

Eliana looked over at Alyosha as he fell against the wall.

"What's wrong now?"

"I tried to get rid of the zombies and my mind got smacked across Nth space like a broken doll." he said, bluntly. "Let's just move faster, okay?" the nice facade vanished in the boiling heat of his rage. "The sooner we get to that artifact, the sooner we can get out of here."

"As you wish." Eliana read over the map quickly and stalked off down one of the labyrinth's corridors.

I hate him, she thought. I hate him so much. He thinks he's so great. He'd still be trapped in a pit if it weren't for me!

Without waiting to make sure Alyosha was following, Eliana made a sharp turn down another corridor and kept walking as fast as she could, not caring if the Tsar was behind her or not.

She walked right into the artifact room. And across from her stood a black robed creature reaching up to an altar to pick up a glistening black gemstone. Suddenly it hissed and turned to look at her. "Elfsies! Tuatha!" it growled and shuffled towards her. "What will I do with you..."

Eliana instantly crouched and waited for the creature. She could hear Alyosha's footsteps behind her, and she counted them under her breath as she watched the creature prepare to strike.

When she knew Alyosha was just outside the door, she reached into her bodice and grasped the amulet she wore around her neck, invoking the artifact's power. Instantly she was crouched on the ceiling, watching Alyosha take the creature's attack.

Alyosha's eyes widened suddenly as he found himself turned into living shadow and then obliterated by the awesome might of the creature's artifact. The black robed monster danced its little dance and returned the weapon to its place. "The ssssSickle of ssssSeth hasssssserved me well..." it murmured, before it turned up to look at Eliana and began to fumble in the depths of its clothes. "The Eye will do for you what it did to the other Tuathe..."

Eliana didn't think twice. She leapt off the ceiling at the creature, swords drawn. She hit it hard and sank her blades into it's back, before rolling off and away.

Bruised and scared, she crawled into a corner under a ledge and pulled her knees up to her chest as tears ran down her face.

Poor Alyosha. He didn't deserve that...

She might have killed the creature, but she couldn't be sure. She had done her best. All she could do was wait and see if it came for her.

There was the sickly sound of swords being pulled from bone and tossed to the side. "I know you're there, Tuathe... I can hear you breathe...I can taste your fear..." it sniffed the air. "I am the Collector. And you have jusssst gotten in my way...I can sssssmell you, too, so don't try anything sssstupid." its face suddenly appeared upside down directly in front of her, and it laughed as she screamed. "HA HA HA huh? YAH!" its face vanished and there was the sound of something crumpling against the wall. "Wings of the Valkyrie... take me away!"

"...coward!" Alyosha's voice sounded out.

Eliana trembled underneath her ledge. Slowly she poked her head out to see what had happened. The creature was gone, and Alyosha was standing there frowning.

"Alyosha! You're...you're alive!"

Overwhelmed with relief, she ran to him, threw her arms around his neck, and started sobbing into his shoulder.

The words "No thanks to you" lined themselves up in his throat but he couldn't say them. Instead he forced them back and shuffled his feet, a hand on the back of her head cradling her against him while she cried. "I'm okay. Are...are you?"

He could feel the artifact calling for him. "...he's gone. It...it's okay. Shhh..."

"I...I'm okay." Eliana looked up at him and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I..I'm sorry for what I did. I thought you would be able to handle the creature. I didn't mean for..." She trailed off.

She leaned up and gently kissed him. "Thank you for saving my life.

Alyosha stepped back in surprise, his hands letting go of her. The young man turned bright red and he coughed. "...yes, well..." slowly, his steps turned him towards the altar, distracted. "...such a small thing...they all are, aren't they..." he reached for the black gem. There was a flash of light, and then he stumbled back, the gem vanished. "...oh...Yes! After all these years! I HAVE IT!"

The hurt was obvious in Eliana's eyes as she watched Alyosha fawn over the artifact.

"I hope you'll be very happy," she whispered as she slowly began to retrace her steps back out of the labyrinth.

Alyosha watched her leave, confused. "Hey!" he shouted after her. "Where are you going? This is as much your victory as mine!...well...almost as much your victory as mine!" he felt the urge to crush her again, but pushed it aside. "...Eliana?"

Eliana stopped and turned back to him. She hadn't heard any of what he said until he asked where she was going. "I'm going to report to Lady Arya. Are you coming? It's your victory after all."

He jogged after her, a broad smile on his face. He hadn't felt so happy in years. "...Our victory! Don't you listen?" not even waiting for an answer he kissed her and pulled back, not even the slightest bit red. Alyosha in a bad mood was dangerous. Alyosha in a good mood was contagious. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Eliana blushed, a slow smile spreading across her face. She followed Alyosha towards the labyrinth exit, slipping her small hand into his.

***

Half an hour later, the pair had finished relating their tale to Lady Arya. She sat back slowly, digesting everything they had told her. Then she looked to Alyosha.

"You have done me a great service, Tsar Alexei. I am in your debt. If there is any further assisstance you require, you need but ask."

"No, I...think I have everything I need." Alyosha bowed and turned to walk out the door, a smile still plastered on his face. 2 down, 3 more to go! he stopped in midstep, though. "Actually, there was one more thing..."

Arya and Eliana looked at each other. It was Lady Arya who spoke.

"Yes...?"

His voice came from a distance. "Lady Eliana has been a great help to me...I would appreciate it if, with your permisison of course, she returned to my homeland with me to help me seek the other artifacts..."

Eliana let out a squeak. Arya smiled at Alyosha. "That is Eliana's choice to make. As far as I am concerned, she is free to go.

Everyone in the room looked at Eliana expectantly. She fled from the room.

"Um..." he shrugged. "Obviously not...well, I'll at least say my goodbyes..." he adjusted his ever-present neck-scarf and pursued her elegantly from the room. At least until he was sure no one was watching. Then he started to run. "Eliana, what's wrong? I meant it! You would be a great help in seeking the other artifacts!"

When no response came, he sighed. "I need your help...please."

Eliana peeked out from around a corner. "You need me? Really? Well...I..." Slowly she came all the way out. "I'll go with you."