Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Final Chance ❯ Prologue: A New Destiny ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: This story is a spin-off from the original War of Three Nations story; it is not necessary that you read that first, as this is a mainly stand alone story, but it may give some background info on flashbacks and such in this story. This fiction is based in a completely different era then the original fiction, and besides this prologue, the chapters will be in modern times.

 

That said, please enjoy the prologue! I warn you now; it is sad and tragic.

 

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The Final Chance

Prologue

 

The air in the manor was tense. Servants stood weeping in the corridors, hurriedly scurrying off when the lord passed swiftly by. Rye hurried as quickly as he could towards the bedroom he shared with Preia, praying he wasn't too late. His crimson gaze was bright with worry, ebony hair messed from his swift trip upon Midknight's back. He'd sensed something was wrong as soon as he had left the manor that morning, but it hadn't been until Preia's pained voice had weakly called his name through their mental connection that he'd rushed back.

 

He knew that he should've stayed; should've been there for her while she gave birth to their third child. Had Ronin not insisted that he attend Fara's council meeting with him, he would've been there; his father-in-law had refused to take no for an answer, and so he had gone.

 

But now he regretted it; fear crept through his very being as he rushed towards the bedroom, the sobbing servants just causing the fear to edge more and more towards his heart. Reaching the double doors he threw them open, startling the morbid people gathered in the room. His eyes began to scan over the people gathered there, heart growing cold at their looks.

 

Aceline was doing her best to calm a sobbing Jamina, though the Gaian general was having problems keeping her own tears from turning into sobs. Saleh and Sibel were restraining the demon midwife, a strangely satisfied smirk spread on the woman's face.

 

The last person in the room besides himself, Zephyr, stood soberly, a white bundle held in his arms. But no cries came from the bundle, and Rye's heart sunk at the look in Zephyr's blue eyes. Turning to face the bed, Rye couldn't help the pained cry that escaped his throat before rushing to the bed side. Preia lay perfectly still in the center of the queen bed they shared, her eyes closed and a peaceful look on her face. Her blonde hair was spread erratically about her head, and she looked so like she was sleeping that Rye prayed it was so.

 

Fate decided to be cruel this day; the distinct paleness to her skin and the stillness of her body told him that she was gone, gone to heaven with the other angels.

 

“Her last words were `Tell him I'm sorry.'” Rye squeezed his eyes shut to keep the tears from falling, only turning to Zephyr once he was sure he would not burst out in a panic.

 

“And the child…?” Zephyr shook his head sadly, stepping forward to hand the still white bundle to Rye.

 

“Stillborn.” Rye gazed at the silent infant in his arms, and wondered desperately what colour the child's eyes were beneath its lids. The doors sprang open again suddenly, and Rye looked sadly to the horrified faces of his teenage twins.

 

“Mother!” Talim cried, tears falling from her eyes as she ran to the bed and collapsed on the edge, sobbing into her mothers still breast, “No, Mommy, please! Please don't leave us…!”

 

Ryeden crossed the room, hugging his father tightly once the dead baby had been handed back to Zephyr.

 

“I'm sorry, Father, I should have protected her.” Rye pulled back, shaking his head gently.

 

“It's my fault; she was my wife, my duty… I should've stayed.” Turning, Rye caught his daughter in his arms and held her tightly as she sobbed into his shirt, clinging to what seemed to be her last shred of reality.

 

“Rye.” The halfling looked at Zephyr, the elf's face suddenly malevolent, “There is a matter we must attend to.” Rye nodded, gently passing Talim to her brother.

 

“Take her to her room and stay with her, Ryeden,” Ryeden nodded, scooping his sobbing sibling up into his arms before calmly walking from the room. His children out of sight, Rye turned slitted eyes upon the nursemaid, his fists clenching. He could tell by the looks of anger and hatred on Saleh and Sibel's faces that it was the nursemaid's fault that Preia lay dead.

 

“How?” was all he asked, Zephyr producing a small knife from one of his pockets. Rye resisted the urge to cringe at the scent of his mate's blood, and his eyes narrowed at the symbol on the blades handle.

 

“Recognize the symbol?” Rye growled quietly.

 

“Shafira; even in death she haunts us,” Zephyr nodded, once more replacing the knife in his pocket before looking to the halfling once more.

 

“What will you do now?” Rye didn't respond, but he knew what he would do. Taking one last look at his dead love, Rye strode purposefully towards the door, pausing only once at Zephyr's question.

 

“I leave her fate in your hands, Zephyr.” The door clicked behind him as he exited, striding swiftly through the halls and out the front door. Midknight looked up when his master exited, the panther awaiting his command patiently.

 

“We're going to the temple in the center of the city,” he snapped simply, climbing onto the panthers back before Midknight took off, speeding through the streets towards the intended place.

 

Master, I fear I know what you are planning to do.

 

Then you'll know there's nothing you can say to stop me.

 

Reaching the temple Rye leapt off Midknight's back and hurried up the front steps, startling the group of priestesses that were praying in front of the statute if Etaine.

 

“Out,” he growled, “Now.”

 

The priestesses scurried to do as told, Rye slamming all the doors closed after they were gone. Turning to the statue, he took two steps and then collapsed to his knees, head bowed as silent sobs wracked his body.

 

“I know that you've been sealed away,” he began, looking up at the statue with tears running down his cheeks, “I know that these stones are just hollow shells now,” he clutched the pale yellow gem hanging from his necklace in his hand, forcing back the new wave of tears that threatened to fall, “but please… is there any way I can see her again?”

 

“Rye Netherdrake…” Looking up, Rye started at the transparent image of the goddess that floated above him.

 

“Etaine… but…”

 

The goddess smiled sadly. “Just as Shafira managed to release a portion of her soul, as have I. I have good news, but I also bear bad news.”

 

“Tell me, please.” The goddess nodded.

 

“You and Preia will meet again in another life; one many millennia from now, but, this will be your last chance to set things right.” Rye's eyes widened slightly.

 

“You mean…?” The goddess nodded sadly.

 

“Yes, it will be your final reincarnations. If you don't fix things then, you will not ever be able to set them right.” Rye was silent for a moment, then he looked at the goddess determinedly.

 

“I'll fix things.”

 

“Then you know what you must do.” Nodding, Rye bit his finger to draw blood before writing a small note on the floor. Pulling his sword from its scabbard on his back, he aimed it at his heart.

 

Closing his eyes, Rye took a shaky breath, “I'll see you soon, Preia…”

 

That was where Ryeden found his father later, lying dead with his own sword piercing through his heart. The note that Rye had written in his own blood was a request; that he and Preia be buried side by side, and with their stones of light and lightning, and their weapons: the same swords that Zealous and Fayria had used in the great war, over 1,000 years beforehand.

 

Over time, the other stone wielders followed in their comrades path, and people forgot about the legendary guardians of the heart stones. Many decades would pass before their souls were born again, given one last chance to fix what had gone wrong in the past… one last chance for happiness.

 

And so, our story begins.

 

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That was a sad beginning… but it got the plot rolling and that was what I was aiming for. I hated having to make Preia and Rye die so tragically, but I thought that it would add to the drama and such in the story. Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed this and will continue reading.

 

Amaria

 

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Well, since she's back, guess who came along with her! *smiles brightly* Yup! Her ever-faithful beta, Snowy! So, like in Three Nations, I will be beta'ing this one, too!

 

See ya 'round!