Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

ZURA

Cursing the weakness of this leg, I stumble once again over this broken terrain. The once beautiful forest of my world now lay in rubble. If it's not a twisted mess of limbs, it is burned to ash laying scorched on the ground. The dirt beneath my feet is so hot I can feel it through the soles of my boots. Large craters mar the ground where the huge lava rocks landed, making the place appear as if I am on another planet.

My mind once again is doubting what I am doing out here. Should I have spent the last part of this darkness with OrO ? Instead of being out here fighting the rules and my mother that have always governed Xuias . Even though he does not feel for me, the way I do him. Have I lost the chance to at least tell him of the love I have always felt for him? OrO has always been more to me than a simple friend, from the moment that he saved me from falling as a youngling, I have loved him secretly.

I ran away to Darverius because I was tired of watching him from afar. My foolish mind thought that if I placed some distance between us. I would forget and possibly turn to another, but what if all I've done was waste the time we could have had together? The what IF's running through my mind is enough to drive one mad.

The very next thought as I make my way forward is, when I return, will I find out that I have sent three more Orcs to their untimely deaths because of my resistance to these ridiculous rules? How many more will lose their lives because of me? I have whispered so many prayers on this trip that I am sure the Lord of Light has tuned me out by now.

Not trusting my comm, I pull out a hand-held scanner I have used since I was a youngling to check the coordinates Azog provided me. Two dots show where I am and the location I'm trying to get to. It can't be much further as I have made good time getting here even with each step being a struggle. Pulling my leg behind me, I know that I have done irreparable damage to it as I push my body along this terrain. Lord of Light knows I am not used to this weakness plaguing my body. Just last rising, I was in the best shape of my life, this one I can barely take a step forward.

Pulling myself over a fallen tree, I finally see a structure in the distance. The small light flickering in its window gives me some renewed strength, as relief hits me that the station should still be operational. Sneaking around the structure, I hesitate at the doorway, listening for any sounds inside. I have rehearsed multiple lies in my head all the way here, in case someone has remained here on duty in all this chaos.

Swinging the door open, I peek my head inside, relieved to find it empty. Racing over to the control panel. It takes me several tries to get an outside signal, and even then. I am not sure anything I am saying is getting through. The panel starts to flicker in and out, and with one last attempt I scream out a message ‘ DaR you have to come now they are going to execute OrO at first rising.' Tears flow down my cheeks when I see the words RECEIVED . All I can do now is pray they actually got the message and make it here in time.

Taking a deep breath, I head towards the door, dreading the long trip back. By the time I am topping the last ridge approaching the fortress, the rising is coming up quickly. Gathering the last of my strength, I push myself as hard as I can forward, determined to get to the main gates before it's too late.

I hear the crowd before I see them, many are already gathered in the court area. Pushing my way forward, I see OrO standing in the middle. His eyes roam all around like he is searching for someone. At first, his eyes pass over me, only to return immediately. My heart hits my chest as I can tell he has come to terms with what is about to happen.

Some are screaming for his death. While others, like Radyr and Azog , are having to be physically held back. Mother has stationed guards all around the stage that has been erected for this purpose, but they are having a hard time holding the crowd back. This is the first time I have ever witnessed this type of public display against the rules that have been forced upon them. Stepping out, I try to make my way towards OrO only to find myself restrained by two of my mother's guards.

" Unhand me this second!" I yell out as I try to fight my way forward. I watch in horror as they force OrO onto his knees. Mother stands on the dais above him with a smug look on her face. All this time OrO has never taken his eyes off me as I fight the Orcs holding me like a madwoman. When I realize I am not going to be able to break their hold, I try another tactic.

" Mother , please stop this while you can!" I scream out in a sob, my own knees buckling as they force OrO's head down. When one of the larger guards walks out of the barracks with the executioner's sword in his hand. I practically tear my arms out of the sockets, fighting while OrO kneels patiently, awaiting his fate.

" Take me instead, let me give my life for his, please!" I plead with Mother , but she acts like she doesn't hear me. However , the moment I yell out, asking mother to take me instead, OrO lifts his head, looking straight at me. Time seems to stop when he shakes his head no and then he whispers words I should not be able to hear.

" I would die a thousand times for you ."

The fight leaves me and I collapse into a ball of tears. The sobs leaving my throat wrack my entire body as I watch the male, whom I love more than anything, prepare to die, and there is nothing more I can do about it. Sinking into despair, my only thoughts are, I was too late, DaR isn't going to make it on time, and I will never forgive myself for failing OrO .

The crowd begins to get out of control, as many feel like this is an unnecessary death. OrO lowers down on his own as the guard prepares behind him. Another moves in and I know all they are waiting on is the signal from Mother to proceed. I see her shake her head yes … and I die a little inside at that moment. I will never forgive her for what she has done this rising.

When I see the guard lift his arm, I close my eyes. I can't bear to watch them take his life. A loud gasp from the crowd has me looking up and never in all my risings have I ever been so happy to see another.

Standing above OrO is DaR , his arm gripping the guard's mid-swing. The sword is still in the guard's hand, ready to take OrO's life. DaR's runes and eyes are flashing bright red as he stands there holding the male's arm in an unbreakable grip. XuL and SCOUT appear directly in front of OrO , ready to fight.

The crowd instantly backs away, and I see XuL reach down, pulling OrO up. While SCOUT pushes the guards out of the way, OrO's eyes instantly seek mine out before glancing at his father. DaR reaches up and takes the sword out of the guard's hand, then practically throws him into the crowd.

" Under whose authority was this act to be performed?" DaR's massive voice echoes throughout the area.