Chapter 56: Choices We Make

Caspian's temple hurts terribly when he regains consciousness. He finds it difficult to open his left eye, as if something is blocking his vision. However, his right eye seems fine and when he finally opens it, the first image he sees is Princess Aria's worry-stricken face.
"Princess?"
Caspian is bewildered but relieved at the same time to finally be with his Princess once more. He senses the soft lap of the Princess beneath his pulsing head.
"Caspian, do not force yourself. I am here."
Princess Aria's voice is like music to his ears. He closes his eye to ease the spinning sensation. In doing so, he remembers the whole encounter with the orcs with some of his fairy companions perishing. He wishes Cleo made it to the others.
"That is why my head hurts so much."
Caspian says as he reaches the conclusion of why he could not open one eye.
"That stupid orc! I already told him I surrender."
He complains.
"Wait, are you alright Princess?"
Caspian inquires as he slowly forces himself to a sitting position. He observes that they are in a cell of some sort. He feels the binding spell casted to prevent him from using it, when he attempts to use his magic to open the cell door.
Princess Aria appears to realize what Caspian is trying to do. She shakes her head in silence to warn the ranger that he should not make the effort anymore.
"He took my emerald locket. I do not have any magic."
Princess Aria utters as her way of explaining to Caspian that she is not using any magic. She is hoping he understood what she meant.
"Did he hurt you?"
Caspian asks sounding very worried.
Princess Aria gives another head shake.
"So, my nephew, you got my message."
Alirion suddenly speaks mockingly from outside the cell.
Caspian does not immediately notice his uncle's presence. That is the reason why the Princess is very cautious.
"You are such a coward. Why do you have to involve the Princess?"
Caspian shouts at Alirion.
"Be very careful Caspian. I have not decided what to do with you yet. Don't make me regret sparing your life."
Alirion speaks calmly but obviously full of threat.
"Why are you so full of hatred? You act as if you are the only one who had such a bad life. I am the one who is supposed to be angered. You killed my father!"
"By doing so, I was left alone just like you but I chose a different path. I made a decision not to let my sadness destroy my chance for a happy future. Despite what you did, I would not give in to revenge. My mother would not have liked that for me. So would my father."
"Our happiness comes from the choices we make. Is this really yours?"
Alirion stares at Caspian in shock.
"You don't know what it's like..."
Alirion begins to argue but is cut off immediately by Caspian.
"What? To be alone? But I do! You are just using that as an excuse to justify yourself. I know the feeling of seeking revenge but you being my kin afford me some restrain. That helps keep my anger in check."
Caspian bravely argues.
Their argument is cut short when an orc rushes in.
"Dark fairy...more fairies coming!"
The orc reports urgently.
"Bad fairy with fire coming!"
The orc adds.
"Hakan!"
Alirion utters the Fire Lord's name like a curse.
"I shall get rid of him once and for all."
He states as he storms out with the orc.
Once the Dark fairy is out of sight, the Princess embraces Caspian then cries nonstop.
"My Princess please do not cry. I promise we'll get out of here soon."
Caspian tries his best to calm the Princess.
"No, I am not crying out of fear. I am in tears because of so much relief that you picked not to be like your uncle. Even though it is such a hard choice not to avenge your father, you overcome the hate so you will not turn out like him."
Princess Aria clarifies, in between sobs, to her ranger.
"You are truly correct in telling him that the kind of life we live depends on the choices we make. I am so proud that my ranger chose to be in the path of goodness."
The Princess hugs Caspian again.
"My ranger?"
Caspian expectantly asks if he heard his Princess correctly.
"I have always known you are my ranger from the very first time I saw you."
Princess Aria states with such boldness she never had before.
Caspian smiles despite the painful feeling when his swollen eye crinkles.
"Come on, Caspian. Now is our chance."
Princess Aria pulls Caspian to stand.
"Your magic is binded but not mine. He doesn't know I can do magic."
The Princess whispers to him.
"Let's grab this opportunity while he is distracted."
The Princess says with determination. Having Caspian with her gives her more courage to attempt an escape. Her earlier plan to talk some sense to Alirion is fully abandoned. It seems the Dark fairy could not be altered any more than he has done for himself.
Surely, the Dark fairy and his orcs are preoccupied with so many fairies surrounding them.
The Princess freezes the cell lock with her water magic and allows Caspian to force it open. This is easily and quickly done. This also shows how subtlety is much better than brute force. They are able to leave their cell without any open confrontation.
The two young fairies creep slowly out to rejoin their fairy kin.
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Alirion sees the flaming form of the Fire Lord even from afar. He himself is almost ignited with the fiery magic. The Fire Lord emits an intimidating orange aura while his is more like dark smog full of evil magic but equally threatening.
The magical barrier made by Alirion prevents the intruders from approaching any closer. The fairies stand together bent to break that barrier.
Alirion knows these fairies are capable of that. He just meant to slow them down. He stares around his company. He is very confident that they have the advantage with their number. He has more than enough creatures to spare to eliminate his enemies.
His own army lines the perimeter of his barrier. An assortment of orcs, ogres and giants comprise his evil defense. These creatures feed on destruction and chaos. Their hunger for flesh, especially fairy flesh aided the Dark fairy to get their cooperation. He has promised them free reign of the four realms with the exemption of his own supremacy over them.
The Dark fairy could care less if they spread chaos over the realms. He just wants to have them under his rule. Ruling without rules as long as they follow him...
He would spare those among his fairy kin who would bow to him as their new King.
Alirion focuses his attention on the fiery figure of King Hagan. In his mind, destroying the Fire Lord would prove that he is the strongest fire fairy.
The barrier breaks without a warning as an arrow hit the orc beside him.
"Aldar, you missed!"
Alirion shouts at the ranger he once cursed to sleep. He laughs insanely.
"You are mine!"
It is the Fire Lord who shouts out already sending electric sparks like a whip towards Alirion.
The battle commences. Alirion and King Hakan engage in their duel of fire 'til death. The Fire Lord is not known as the forgiving kind.
King Merlion and all the other rangers busy themselves with the giants first, aware that these creatures would be more damaging than the ogres and orcs combined. Aldar releases arrows left and right with such precision that most of the giants have been hit several times in a row. The Earth King commands glaciers to sprout from underneath where a great number of the giants stood. He also makes use of the earth magic he acquired from his Queen. The glaciers emit mounds of earth boulders to destabilize orcs and ogres from their footing.
Meanwhile, Cleo leaves quickly unnoticed to rescue Princess Aria and Caspian.
Princess Ava engages several orcs in a single fight. She hacks each one with her sword with such accuracy that no one would doubt that a three against one fight is possible. The Princess' face is full of anger from these creatures for what befallen Ailsa, her commander ranger. When she finishes with the bloodied orcs, she moves on to a giant near her and sends her daggers straight to its eyes then hacks with her sword.
Aramir and Cleon are also busy with some of the fairies assaulting the other orcs and ogres, combining their magic as well as physical strength. The rest of the fire fairies set the battlefield ablaze with so much precision to only burn the enemies around them.
Haco stays close to his King in a protective stance as he battles any creature approaching the heated encounter of his King and the Dark Fairy.
Alirion is fully concentrated in damaging his opponent. However, King Hakan is not named the Fire Lord for nothing. He becomes the most terrifying fairy in the realm when his anger is at its peak. His wrath is somewhat feared by any fairy.
"Give up now while you still have a chance. I would not be as generous later."
The Fire Lord warns the Dark fairy. He is aware of his agreement to spare Alirion's life during their summit at the White Haven. However, he would end this fairy if he has his way.
"Why would I give up? So you can imprison me again?"
Alirion shouts angrily.
"You have to face your punishment for your crimes."
King Hakan seems to reason with himself too, as he tries to be easy on the unrepentant fairy.
Suddenly, Caspian and Princess Aria arrive with Cleo.
"Uncle, please stop. Surrender now and end this war."
Caspian shouts as loudly as he could manage amidst the chaos of the battle.
"You stupid brat! I shall never surrender! It is too late for me now! I'd rather die than bow to anyone."
Alirion responds defiantly.
Without warning, he shifts his left hand and directs an electrical bolt of fire in Princess Aria's direction.
Caspian is about to shield the Princess but to everyone's surprise, Princess Aria conjures an earth boulder just in time to safely cover not just herself, but Cleo and Caspian as well.
With this split second of distraction, Alirion is hit by the deadly electric fire bolt of King Hakan combined with a burning fire. He stares in disbelief at the Fire Lord. The Dark fairy is in shock that the Fire Lord has beaten him. He falls to the ground lifeless as he burns allover.
Princess Aria screams in horror. This is the very first time she sees someone dies and burns in front of her. This is real, not a fairy tale.
Caspian takes the Princess in his arms and uses his shoulder to shield the sight of his burning uncle from the Princess.
Princess Aria sobs uncontrollably.
Caspian feels sort of ironic that it is the Princess who seems to mourn for his uncle.
The battle continues to rage around them. After a while when the enemies realize that the burning figure is the Dark fairy, some stop resisting and others run away from the battlefield.
When Alirion's burning body turns to ashes, what is left on the ground is the glowing emerald locket. King Merlion picks it up. He slowly approaches his daughter.
Princess Aria embraces her King Father with her sobs a bit softer now. The King places back the locket on her daughter's neck.
All the fairies are silent. They are all muted by the turn of events. The fairies stare at the charred spot from where the Dark fairy burned a few moments ago. They could not believe that it is all over.
The Dark fairy is gone.