Serial Saturday: "Clan of Outcasts" Season 3, Part Final "Catch A Falling Star"

FINALE (Part 2)

"Catch A Falling Star"

"Princess?"
"Zayra, we're here!"

Raedyn and Edri appeared in the cavern, just in time to see Zayra crumple to her knees. They rushed to the princess' side. Edri whipped off her glove and began searching for wounds under the blood soaking Zayra's gown. "The others aren't far behind, she whispered quickly.
Zayra couldn't tear her eyes away from Polaris' debilitated figure.
"It's too late..." she choked, as tears fell down her face.

"Polaris!" Jaran's voice carried through the cavern, as he and Beren, Damaris, Azelie, Aurelle, Tessa, Denahlia, Markus and Korsan arrived, borne by Erlis, who shifted from dragon to human as they joined their friends in the cavern.

Denahlia's eyes shifted from the two dead bodies she recognized to the rapidly-declining one she didn't. "Wow," she muttered under her breath. "Is that him?"

The ground began to rumble, as more of the shed blood seeped from the wounds and spread in red, branching rivulets farther than it should have, all the way to the six stone pedestals, and as the blood pooled underneath the statues, the rumble increased, until the statues began to crack and crumble, giving way to bright-glowing skin underneath.

Trevon looked up at them and gasped, as the familiar faces took shape, and the wings began to beat again.
"Gemmar!" He cried as they surrounded him. "Allhenn! Scathys! You're alive!"
"Tyrven!" Boomed the tall Angel with long dark hair tied back in a tail. "It is good to see that you have survived... but--" His eyes wandered to the devastation before him. "What happened--"
A female Angel gave a quick glance toward the back wall of the cavern and warned her compatriots, "The Gate collapses! Look out!"

As she spoke, several booming cracks shattered the Gate, and threatened to collapse the entire cavern along with it.

The Angels did not hesitate, and Raedyn helped along with Sir Roger, bringing all those who were still alive--including Polaris--out of the cavern, and down to a high platform just below them, at the edge of the city.
As soon as her feet came to rest on firm ground, Tessa ran over to Polaris and wrapped her arms around him. The six Angels withdrew to observe without interfering.

"I don't believe it!" Tessa choked as she sobbed. "All this time... You're real! You were actually there!" She ran her hand over Polaris' face to brush his silvery locks aside. "I can see you now!"
"Tess..." Polaris grunted, reaching a feeble hand toward her.

Tessa grasped it in her own. "Polaris," she said. "My guardian Shadow!" Her face crumpled, and she wept, although she kissed his hand and pressed it against her own cheek.

Sir Roger--or, as the others knew him, Juros--stepped forward so that Polaris could look at him.
"Do you now understand my intention for giving you this--" he gestured toward the Knife in his hand and to Polaris himself, "assignment?"
Polaris managed to form his answer in just one word, "Yes." His eyes traveled to Zayra, standing forlornly at her husband's side.

Juros nodded. "Since you now understand why I give the mortals these Gifts, and you recognize their ability to stand with what they are given... Polaris, I release you." With the tip of the knife, Juros pricked the heel of his own hand, letting his own blood drip down and wash away the wicked stains left by Mallory.

In Tessa's arms, Polaris felt his strength return, and he let out a deep sigh. The color returned to his pale cheeks, and after a moment he was able to sit up, and even to stand. Tessa supported him up to his feet, aiding him in moving very slowly until he nodded to signal that he could support himself.

The young woman looked at the old soldier, her eyes squinted as she searched his face. "How did you do that?" she asked. "Who are you?"

The Gifted friends all exchanged knowing looks and grins. Markus finally leaned over to his cousin and whispered, "I guess Polaris wasn't just referring to a star, after all."

Polaris, meanwhile, took this opportunity to kneel in front of Sir Roger, and he glanced up to Tessa.
"Lady Tessa," he murmured, "It is my honor to present to you my own ruler, Juros of Justicia."

Tessa's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, and she tremblingly took to her knees as well. "You're Juros?" she gasped. "You're him! All this time... just a soldier?"

Juros chuckled. "The White Castle has been the center of much contention--I wanted it to be the nexus of those who would honor me in the mortal plane, a safe haven for all those who believe in my name. I did not mind taking on the persona of Sir Roger, seasoned knight and trusted protector, as it gave me the chance to personally see how my Gifted people were getting along." He nodded to Edri and Zayra, and also to Beren and Jaran. Everyone respectfully nodded their heads.

Juros returned his attention to Tessa. "I chose you to be the bearer of Polaris' Dagger because I could see your noble heart, and the way others would underestimate you, and I wanted to know what you would do with unlimited protection and awesome power." He glanced over his shoulder, in the direction of The Roque. "You have done well, Milady. The Roque is truly a bastion of sanctuary and security outside of The Realm, and by your deeds, Gybralltyr is saved from the tyranny of evildoers who would have invited my wrath and judgment upon this island."

Tessa ducked her head as a deep blush stole over her face. "I have only done what I could to defend the innocent and strengthen the weak," she murmured.

Juros nodded, reaching down to raise her and Polaris together to their feet again. "And for that, you have earned yourself a favor from me. What is it you desire?"

Denahlia noted how Polaris suddenly went rigid, and wondered why he would be so concerned about what Tessa wanted. Why would it have anything to do with him?

Tessa glanced at Polaris, a bashful smile playing about her face. "Well, if you had asked me that a few hours ago, I would have said that I desired for Polaris to be set free from his obligation to the Knife--but you've already done that, so..." She paused, folding her lip between her teeth in careful thought. "My Lord Juros," she continued in a clear, confident tone, "I would like to be Gifted, as these others are." She gestured around at the group.

Juros nodded slowly. "Gifted? Why do you suppose that such a thing would be profitable for you? Why not desire any of an infinite number of things that I could give you?"

Tessa shifted her hand to clasp Polaris' hand in hers, and said, "I know that Polaris, now that he is free from his obligation, will be returning to Justicia, and I will not have his protection any more. I know that only those who are Gifted may enter Justicia. Furthermore, I know that even if I cannot be with Polaris any longer in this life, I very much want the assurance that I will see him again in the next life."
The pair gazed into each others' eyes and Polaris smiled even wider than Tessa did.

Juros nodded. "It is high time that one such as you would receive a Gift to aid you in the work that you have before you. Seline!" He beckoned to the back of the group. "Seline!" he called.

The Angel lifted above the heads of everyone, and alighted beside them. "Here, my lord," she said.

Juros gestured to Tessa. "Gift this one with the ability of Industry--she has much rebuilding to do, not just in improving and expanding The Roque, but also restoring Gybralltyr to somewhat of its former glory. With this Gift, she will be able to clearly envision the optimal future, and comprehend what is needed to reach said future. And in the end," he smiled at Tessa and Polaris standing side by side, "she will see her protector, and they will be together in Justicia."
Seline nodded. "As you have said, so will it be," she answered.

Tears of happiness sprang into Tessa's eyes, and she grasped Juros' hand. "Thank you, sir!" she whispered. To Polaris, she said, "I hope you don't mind. Even though I couldn't see you, I did like having you around."

Polaris grinned and wrapped his arms around Tessa, like he never wanted to let her go. "I confess, I've been thinking that once the Crow Queen had been vanquished and the spell of the Knife had been broken, that it might be time for me to retire as a Knight--if it meant seeing you more often."

The sun broke over Gybralltyr, and in Tessa's newly-Gifted sight, the future had never looked brighter!
>>>>>>>>

That same sun had reached midday by the time Elvish lookouts came to announce before Prince Aspen and Princess Mignonette that the King and Queen and all their entourage had returned.
Jaran and Azelie paused in the courtyard of the castle to appraise the changes that had gone on in their absence.

The courtyard was no longer a scene of chaos, but a well-tended parade ground, with clean cobblestone walkways and lush patches of grass. The holes in the stonework around the garrison had been repaired, and everything looked to be in working order.

The Elvish servant led them across the castle to the gardens, where Aspen and Mignonette sat in the pavilion enjoying a midday repast.
The two Elvish rulers stood in deference to the returning Royals.
Jaran nodded in return. "It is done," he declared. "Mallory is no more."
"And the Enchanted Knife?" Mignonette asked.

"No longer enchanted," Zayra answered with a smile. "We had some assistance from Juros himself, and he ended the spell that had trapped the Shadow Knight."

Aspen nodded slowly. "Very good--and I trust you'll find that we have upheld our end of the bargain here," he gestured to the castle grounds.

Javira stepped away to inspect the new flowers growing among the hedges. They were unlike any she'd ever seen--but they responded to her Gift in much the same way. Damaris and Anahita slipped away hand-in-hand, to see how the kitchens had been maintained--or at least, that was the excuse Damaris gave, while Anahita only blushed and giggled without saying a word.

Aurelle instinctively glanced toward the window of the library, and Mignonette supplied, "Our archivists have sorted and re-shelved all the records and scrolls that the conflict left scattered."

"And your scientists will be happy to know," Aspen added, with a nod toward Lizeth and Nyella, "that all of your experiments have been preserved, and your ingredients for the synthetic tinctures have been resupplied."

Nyella got a strange look on her face, but by the time she vanished and reappeared, she wore a smile instead of a frown. "It's true! Everything is better than when we left it!"

Princess Tamarind observed the group with a tilt of her head. "Where is your new friend--the half-giant?"
Azelie smiled. "Tyrven chose to stay behind, along with Lady Tessa, to help her rebuild Gybralltyr as a Gifted community outside the Realm. Even though he is the last of his race, he wanted to use his knowledge gained by living with the Angels, plus what he had picked up from being warped by Mallory in her diabolical experiments, to reclaim the city as a remote community for Gifted individuals--much the same intentions we had for Wildhaven."

"In fact," Beren spoke up, "Brinley promised to make the portal between Wildhaven and Gybralltyr more accessible, so that if things get too crowded or unsafe for anyone here, they can easily get to there, where there will be more room for them, and they still wouldn't be cut off from any resources or community on our side."
Aspen nodded. "The Realm expands, I see," he mused.

At this point, Markus stepped forward, with Hadrian's Wyrmling crouched on his shoulder. "By the way," he said, nudging the Wyrmling from its perch, "This little fellow has agreed to say in your sanctuary until he's strong enough to be out on his own. Hadrian reserves the right to come and go as she pleases, but she acknowledges that the sanctuary does have all the protection and nourishment a growing Wyrmling needs--something she hasn't found in the outside world." He smiled as the Wyrmling warbled and bopped him on the leg with its head. "He'll live there for a time, she'll come and go as she pleases, but I think she's hoping that it will go a long way toward repairing relations between Elvendom and The Realm."

Aspen nodded slowly. "I will consider it," he said, well-aware of the red-scaled, sharp-fanged shadow hovering overhead.

Mignonette giggled at the Wyrmling's antics. "Does he have a name yet?" she asked, reaching toward the little dragon with a steady, non-threatening hand.

Markus watched the Wyrmling study the Elvish princess for a moment, before cautiously extending its neck for scratches. "Actually, Hadrian decided on the way over here. His name is Roger."

Risyn stood by with one arm around his sister, and the other hand tracing the runes carved into his staff. 

Quilla leaned against her brother's shoulder. "Korsan seemed only too happy to live out the rest of his days in Gybralltyr, wouldn't you say?" she mused.

Risyn nodded, and even chortled a little. "I couldn't tell who was more excited: Tessa, at getting to cook for and host both Korsan and Tyrven at The Roque, or Korsan, to be fed by someone who could really cook!"

Quilla snorted. "Are Damaris and Anahita really that bad in the kitchen?" she asked with a hint of apprehension in her voice.

Risyn shrugged a little. "I suppose you'll have to decide that for yourself, little sister!"

As the others conversed out in the garden, a lone figure ascended the steps onto the patio of the White Castle.

A golden-eyed Elf stepped out of the shadows to greet her.

"Lady Vel-Thane," said Prince Spruce, beginning to bow his head in deference. Halfway through the motion, he stopped, and straightened to peer closely at her. "Wait... Not thane--but how can it be? Your own blood was far too poisoned by the Dragon-Blood..."

Erlis smiled and gave a breezy chuckle. "It was not the blood poisoning me, but my own fear of what I was supposed to do with it. It was that same fear that drove me to agree to Velora's offer to seek a cure from the Elves, and that fear continued to haunt me and cripple me until I no longer knew myself..."

Spruce's lips thinned, and he tilted his head. "What changed?" he asked.

"I met Juros," answered Erlis. "He gave me a portion of his own blood, and showed me how the Gift I'd been given--that of healing--was not something to shy away from or be afraid of, any more than I should fear the Dragon's Blood, in the way that it gave me shifting abilities and also heightened my healing capabilities." She straightened and shifted the cowl back from her face. 

Her ears were still softly pointed, and her skin was very pale indeed, more like Mignonette's complexion, but there was a clarity and consistency about her demeanor that Spruce had never seen in her before. "Juros redeemed me with his blood," Erlis said, "and his blood protects me from harm, so that I can continue being his agent of healing, and also a defender of the weak and vulnerable with my dragon form--but in all of this, I carry out his will."

Spruce nodded. "I think you will find good reception across Elvendom's borders hereafter, Lady Erlis."
Erlis nodded. "Thank you very much."

By the end of the day, the Elves had returned to their kingdom, and the various leaders around The Realm returned to theirs. King Jaran and Queen Azelie ruled their people well and wisely, acknowledging the truth that Zayra had spoken in Gybralltyr, in the face of one who tried to control the future and thought that mastery over all things was the key to lasting peace: A community's strength didn't lie in the Gifts one could wield, and those who had Gifts weren't necessarily more important or better than those who didn't have any. Rather, a community could draw its strength by its citizens' capacity to work together, and support each other, and the Gifts were merely a means of doing that even more.
And so the Realm did flourish. The Lost Boy found his home, and when the time came, the Lady was reunited with her Star. And they all lived in community, one with another.

(Are you sure you want to end it like that, Kaidan?)

(Yes, Aurelle, I'm sure.)

Thus Ends 

THE COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CROW QUEEN, 

By Kaidan Clissander

Read More Of The Clan Of Outcasts Saga:

--> Season 1, Part 1: "The Storm"

--> Season 2, Part 1: "Upgrades"

--> Season 3, Part 1: "Always A Party"