Immortal: Part Two

The Faerie had tears in her eyes when I ended my onslaught. I could see the trembling fear within them. I should have felt ashamed of myself for what had just transgressed. A battle ground was no place for one as delicate as she. But I felt proud of what I had done. "You’re safe now." I said reassuringly.

     "You did that to save me?" she asked. I nodded. "Thank you..." she said softly.

     I blushed a deep red. "I had to didn’t I? You didn’t have any weapons of your own."

     "I don’t have any weapons yes, but I know how to use magic. I’m just not supposed to use it at this point in time though." She took the hood off once more to reveal her face. My blank face told her I didn’t know what she meant. She held a finger to her lips and a ball of lavender fire appeared in the other, floating above her palm. I spluttered in surprise, my mouth full of questions about it. "Its the essence of life, a gift us Faeries have learnt to use, and to bless others with as well," she explained carefully. "My name is Fyran," she added.

     "And I am Sir Daniel of Paren, from the Bloodline of Zenith," I introduced myself with a sweeping bow and kissed her free hand gently.

     "Sir Daniel, I must reward you for your heroic deed. No doubt my mother would want to meet you. So please, come outside the village tonight and I’ll take you to our hiding place. Until tonight Sir Daniel." Fyran gave one last sweet smile and with a swish of her cloak, she was gone.

     I was in a daze, adrenaline rushed through my veins and my heart pounded. I suddenly realised my coat was stained with blood, a shallow gash lay across my arm. Ripping my cape, I created a bandage for it and sheathed my sword. I would have to clean myself of the filth later. I gazed past the trees to the battle ground. I then remembered there was still a confrontation going on outside there. Running like fire was on my heels, I rushed over the hill. The fray was over with both sides carrying their wounded off the field. A gnarled clawed paw rested on my shoulder. I turned my head to see the old Draik standing there. His head was low.

     "Daniel... I know this will be a shock for you, but Zack, he’s gone. I’m sorry. He asked me to give you the Zenith Sword." The sword was placed in my shaking hands. The Draik gave me a respectful nod before leaving.

     A tear trickled down my cheek. Zack was gone. His sword remained though, and it was mine now. Mine. I couldn’t help but at least feel a little pleased about it. No more would I have to contest with my sibling to be considered the best fighter and most handsome Zafara of Paren. I didn’t let my true emotions show as I left the hill and my fellow knights bowed in recognition of my loss. The night crept along slowly after I reached my home. When the pearly glow of the moon rose I was went to see if Fyran’s promise was real. She was there, waiting for me. She took hold of my paw and a pale glow consumed us.

     "We’re here." Fyran dropped her cloak to reveal her elegance. "Welcome to Faerieland Sir Daniel."

     My eyes bulged. I was standing on clouds! I was surrounded by exquisite towers, flowering gardens and golden statues. I felt dirty and unfit for this wondrous place. I had tried to dress my best, but compared to what was around me it was like I was wearing rags. Fyran started to glide towards a gleaming wooden door, bigger even than the castle door in Paren. "What is this place Fyran?" I asked.

     "This is where I live. I forgot to tell you didn’t I? I’m Princess Fyran, daughter of Queen Kylan." She stopped me before I got on my knees to acknowledge her title. "Please don’t. I’m in your debt. Now quick, my mother requests an audience."

     She led me through the door into a large vestibule and up the length of a magnificent staircase. We went through another set of doors and into a chamber that seemed even larger than Paren all together. At the far end a Faerie that looked like Fyran stood and fluttered down the length of the room. She held a long blue staff with a purple orb set on top. I remembered my manners and bowed to the lovely Queen.

     "Sir Daniel, thank you for saving my daughter. You have proven to us that not all of your kind are the ruthless uncaring killers we once thought you were. Pray please, will you attend to dinner with us?" Kylan waved a hand to a table adorned with a feast of food.

     I swear upon ancestor Zenith that hadn’t been there before... I thought uncomfortably. All this magic was unsettling to someone as unaccustomed as me. I nodded however and joined them at the table. I sought to try the dish closest to me. It was so strange from anything that I’d ever seen that I couldn’t describe what it looked like. It tasted sensational though. I felt more alive than I had ever been before.

     "Your fur is such a beautiful colour Sir Daniel," commented Fyran. "The most purest white I have ever seen. You must have a pure heart."

     "Oh, thank you. I am very proud of it." I replied politely. Her remark that I had a pure heart made me flinch. She didn’t know the true me, the me that was on the verge of delight with my brother’s demise.

     The meal went far too quickly, almost like Queen Kylan was trying to get to something important. Finally she cleared the table with a wave of her staff and rose. "Sir Daniel, I would like to reward you for your heroics this morning. I am willing to give you almost anything you desire."

     My mouth opened and closed like a Pfish out of water. Anything? But what? So many wishes flooded my mind. I could become King of Paren, I could be Neopia’s best knight, I could live forever... Live forever? That intrigued me. What would it be like to live forever? With my handsome fur I would be the envy of Neopets all over the world! "I wish to live forever..." I said.

     "You wish to be immortal?" asked Kylan. I nodded. "So be it, your wish is granted!" The Queen raised her hand and a bright light erupted out of it.

     The radiance spread throughout me. A tingling sensation filled my very being. It was strange. It was like I was between the real world and someplace else I had no knowledge of. Was this what the Faeries felt? I opened my eyes. Fyran was in front of me. She smiled at me and whisper something I could not hear. My vision went black.

*****

"And that was how you became immortal?" Amber was bouncing around under the covers. "But, what happened to Fyran and Kylan? How come I haven’t heard about them before, and why aren’t they here now if they’re immortal?"

     "Even Faeries have to move on. They don’t exist in one place like Neopets do. When they feel they have done their work, they go somewhere else. I’m not quite sure about it myself..."

*****

I was over two thousand years old and was still taking life in full swing. The Faeries had established themselves on Neopia and magic was now a common thing to hear about. Fyran had moved in as Queen only a few years after her mother had granted me immortality and I now worked with the new Queen as an official adviser. Fyran’s daughter, Fyora, was almost finished with her lessons in the Faerieland Academy. I was having so much fun with my new job. Fyran and I worked hard and thought up many innovative ideas to help Neopia. Including the introduction of Petpets, which had been taken up by the citizens of Neopia very quickly.

     "Any reports, Dan?" Fyran asked one day. She looked tired these days. I didn’t know why. Maybe she just hadn’t had enough sleep? This new war was taking a strain on everyone. They called it the Elemental War, for it was the greed for magic and power that started it. There were too many mighty sorcerers on Neopia, a battle for supreme reign was bound to happen eventually. We should have seen it before, but we were ignorant while working on our other ideas.

     I glanced over my notes. "The Elemental War isn’t going to give up anytime soon Fyran. We’ve been trying as hard as we can, but nothing has been successful so far." I brushed some flecks of dirt off my shining white fur.

     Fyran sighed heavily. "I see..."

     "Are you okay, Fyran? You’ve been looking awful for a while now." I approached her throne and kneeled beside it.

     She waved a weary hand. "I’m fine, Dan." She stared at me earnestly. "Really, I am. I’ve... I’ve just been thinking though..."

     "Thinking of what Your Majesty?" I enquired respectfully.

     "Dan, please. Remember how many times I’ve told you not to say that. You’re a friend, not a servant." She shook her head and tried to smile. Her voice was gentle and calm. "Maybe it’s time for newer ideas than mine. Fyora has been showing great ingenuity at collage. She’s been trained by the best Faeries of our time. My notions have been good, but, I mean, I was so focussed on myself that I didn’t even see this accursed war coming..." Her fingers tightened into a fist.

     Realisation flooded over me. "But... you can’t! Not now! And its not all your fault. I’m your advisor, so I have at least some of the blame! Please Fyran, you can’t..." I placed my hands over hers. She pulled them away tenderly.

     "No, Dan. Fyora’s the one. I know she is. She’s the one to stop the war and bring Neopia together in peaceful unity. I must leave." She rose from the chair, leaving her staff behind, and walked to the centre of the throne room. She smiled gently at me with tears in her sparkling eyes. "Sir Daniel of The Queen’s Court from the Ancient Bloodline of Zenith." I forced myself to stand and look her in the eye. "My oldest and dearest friend... Tell my daughter I’m sorry we could not spend more time together." She turned to leave, but looked back for a fleeting moment. "And Dan... Maybe I’ll see you again one day... Farewell..."

     I watched as a door of light opened in mid air. Fyran was enveloped into it. The door closed, sealing me off from the wonders behind it, and away from my Queen. "Fyran..." A tear slid from my cheek to splash on the floor below.

To be continued...