Hello everyone, I know I have made you wait very long for this chapter so I won't say much up here. Just thank you again for all your continued support, you guys are truly great and the reason I continue to write. All mistakes are mine. I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 4: The Demons of Now and Then

The sunlight was streaming into the off-white stone hallways though the large glassless windows in the south wall, the only things close to shadows falling where huge stone pillars loomed to keep the colossal building at the very center of Sungarden standing. The walls threw back the light instead of absorbing it and the brightness created by this effect was something Lauren thought she would need a lot of time to really get used to as not even stopping briefly to look out over the city provided any relief, especially since the city seemed to be oddly deserted, glowing in the late morning sun but emptily so. No one could be seen walking the streets that had been so busy just yesterday, the only people in sight were those carved into the stone all around her as the pillars as well as the walls of the long hallway were beautifully decorated with stone carvings showing the sun and the worship the Fae of the city bestowed on it, detailed so that the sun casting small shadows along their contours almost made them come alive. As always, Lauren was fascinated by the amount of devotion and time put into the work but as she rounded a corner and walked deeper into the building again to maybe find a bit more shadow she witnessed once more that it was nothing compared to the inner parts of the council palace. The council halls were richly decorated to show every bit of the city's wealth: mosaics of rubies, garnets and fire opals replaced the stone carvings of the outer walls, glinting fiercely in the sun shining in through the ever open ceilings, hence again robbing the General's eyes of any relief from the brightness all around her. Nonetheless, the decorations showed great wealth and the need to show it, qualities that reflected in the garments Lauren had found by her bed this morning: A short, golden brocade tunic the exact color of her hair ending just above her knees with stiffened shoulder pads that made her look broader, the wide-slit silk sleeves tucked under them neatly. Along with it she had found tight black satin pants that now ended in high boots with numerous golden buckles shaped like swords. The tunic was also adorned with intricate embroidering showing flowers and animals, so delicate one could only see it when the light hit it just right. Lauren was surprised to find something this beautiful in her room as the fabric was so precious that it would suit the Queen just as well. The outfit had also come with a black leather belt but the blonde had opted to don her weapon belt with her trusted longsword instead as it made her feel more comfortable after years of always carrying some sort of weapon.

Right now Lauren was on her way to try and find the kitchen or something similar because she was hungry and, like the city beneath it, the whole palace seemed to be strangely void of any other living being than herself. There were no servants bustling through the halls and no guards lining the entrance to the council halls. Just yesterday, she had to precisely state that she would like to be left alone because the three servants she had found waiting for her in her chambers had been just standing in a corner with their head bowed respectfully like statues, waiting for all and any command to be directed at them but when she woke this morning they were gone along with everyone else. Truly, it was as if she as alone in this world. That was, of course until she heard quick footsteps behind her and turned, her right hand already on the hilt of her sword, squinting to better make out concrete shapes in the still blinding mosaic of light. She released the grip immediately, though as she recognized the Queen walking towards her with purpose in her step and a soft smile on her face. She was simply beautiful, dressed to perfection but more importantly, her form seemed to drink the light, her dark hair more than anything but, in stark contrast to the walls around her, her white marble skin did just the same. It provided Lauren with the long sought-after dim atmosphere to any room in the palace and she was grateful. Today, Ysabeau seemed even more breathtaking than usual, unnatural even; not in her usual Succubus way, but rather in a way that seemed too good and excessive all at once. Her long, raven hair cascaded down her back in soft ripples, shimmering in the sun but at the same time it didn't. It seemed longer but that could have just been Lauren's imagination. The Queen wore a ravishing deep golden silk gown with the same intricate embroidering on it as the blonde's tunic which the General found strange, not only for the color but for the exact same motif to be on both their clothes. It created a completely different effect on Ysabeau's body though. Where the sun reflected off Lauren's tunic, the Queen's long gown with its revealing neckline seemed to glint in its own right, not refracting the light but rather absorbing it and making it its own. Finally, on top of her head gleamed the gems embedded into the dark dragon bone crown, shining through the darkness of her hair like they always did, the only thing on her entire body in which the light truly broke, shimmering in many different colors, more than the General remembered but that surely was just the many reflections.

Lauren was so awestruck by the beauty of the creature gliding towards her that she completely forgot that this was her Queen and that she should be bowing but Ysabeau didn't seem to mind one bit as her voice broke the blonde out of her trance, a satisfied smile plastered beautifully on the Succubus' face. "There you are! I've been searching for you for at least the last hour, you know?" Too stunned to say anything, the blonde just looked at her Queen, letting her smoky voice wash over her. It seemed to vibrate right through her skin, making her heart rate increase even more than it usually did in the brunette's presence. "At least you put on what I had made for you. Do you like it?" Ysabeau asked as her smile turned salacious, looking the blonde over with a hungry look in her eyes.

"Uhm.. Of course." Lauren managed to get out through her constricting windpipe but nonetheless her words seemed to please the beautiful brunette immensely. The back of the Queen's hand ran down the blonde's cheek, her skin prickling from the unusually bold contact, but then again, there was nobody to see them. "I'm glad. Now, let's get going or we'll miss the ceremony." She stated, gesturing for Lauren to follow her but the General seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move of her own accord. Strangely, this didn't seem to bother Ysabeau but rather amuse her as she chuckled melodiously, walking back to the blonde and linking her arm with Lauren's before leaning in close and whispering "I've always loved how strongly you react to me." into her ear. She proceeded to nip at Lauren's jaw playfully, a promise of things to come, as if she had done it a thousand times before when in truth this was the first time it happened. It left the General even more breathless as the Succubus slowly guided her through the pompous but deserted halls of the palace that didn't seem so overly bright now that the Dark Queen was next to her, raven hair moving as if from a wind unfelt by Lauren, onyx eyes glancing at her ever so often as they walked. With every step the blonde found herself growing more suspicious of the situation but at the same time more confident in her place with the Queen on her arm. She stood straighter as they halted in front of a large wooden door richly decorated with gemstones in every color ranging from a yellowish white to a deep red. It was beautiful but Lauren only had eyes for Ysabeau as they stood facing each other, holding and caressing each other with nothing but their gaze, unashamed and unafraid now of the attraction that had been there from the day they met. It felt like the most natural thing in the world when the Queen closed the small gap between them, kissing her slowly, lovingly, like the young Bo had so long ago kissed a much younger Lauren under a canopy of trees, back when everything had seemed so easy. "I love you. My Queen, my everything." Ysabeau whispered when they parted, staring deep into each other's eyes.

Lauren didn't have time to be confused or respond as a loud clanging that sounded like the end of a spear being brought down on hard stone broke the utter silence around them, ending their moment. Ysabeau gave the blonde a reassuring smile and squeezed her arm where she held onto it, directing her attention to the massive door in front of them again. That was when Lauren heard it: the sounds of thousands of voices, jumbled together to create the usual electrified hum of an excited crowd. The clanging sound repeated itself, louder now and the crowd that seemingly waited behind the closed doors gradually quieted down until they could scarcely be heard at all, just a whisper in the distance. Another clang and then, as the double doors slowly started to swing open, a loud voice that Lauren believed to be Dyson's loudly proclaimed "Her imperial highness Empress Ysabeau, the first of her noble name, Ruler of all Fae, Queen of all the sun touches, Queen of high- and lowlands in east and west, Slayer of Nine. Her noble wife, her royal highness Queen Lauren, Ruler of all Fae, graced and chosen by the sun, the Sword of Dawn."

The crowd roared and cheered as Lauren was guided through the now wide open doors by Ysabeau. They came to a halt on the edge of a high terrace overlooking what seemed to be the large square in front of the royal palace but Lauren couldn't be sure as it was packed with Fae from one end to the other, all cheering, some raising their hands as if reaching for her and the woman next to her who, by some miracle was her wife. Was the war over? Had they won? Was this all a dream? Or had everything else been a dream? All these questions shot through Lauren's mind at once. If this was a dream, it was more realistic than anything she had ever experienced so she prayed that it wasn't even as the logical part of her brain surmised that it couldn't be real. It was too good to be. She raised her head as the crowd cheered louder still, pointing up into the air where an abundance of white doves just now floated into view, creating small shadows against the still burning sun. It was still very bright but now the blonde didn't find it uncomfortable anymore. No, with Ysabeau at her side she felt like this was where she belonged, right here on the high terrace above thousands of cheering Fae as they watched the doves soar higher and higher. For just a second she let her eyes close in the bliss of the moment.

Suddenly, Lauren wasn't herself anymore, she was flying high above the scene, the high walls of the palace no obstacle for her anymore as she soared higher and higher on white-feathered wings. Down there, above the sea of jubilating Fae stood two familiar figures now waving at the crowd, one as dark as the other was light, though equally beautiful. The raven-haired woman had a dark crown on her head that almost couldn't be seen but for the shimmering stones in it. The blonde next to her was her polar opposite not only in that manner. The crown resting on her hair was delicate and golden, clearly visible as it reflected in the unforgiving sun. A few steps behind them stood thirteen guards in long dark cloaks, holding long spears in their hands. The one in the middle was positioned a bit in front of the others, his sandy-brown curls shining in the light. He wore an expression set in stone, several long scars making the right half of his face unsightly and hideous. It was clear from even this far that he only had eyes for the dark-haired empress who in her joy right now pushed closer to her smiling wife but there was no malice in the one eye that still saw its surroundings. He would serve until the end of his days, no matter what, that was clear. It was what he had fought for, what he had sworn to do.

Soaring uncontrollably higher still Lauren started to lose focus on what was happening beneath her when suddenly the scenery changed. She had just looked up at the sun for a second and when she looked back down again she was above a vast and peaceful green plane with trees and flowers everywhere. Compared to the cheering crowd and the obvious splendor of Sungarden it looked lonely and quiet, but peacefully so. Beneath Lauren, a single black horse with two riders on its bare back ripped along the even grass and she could hear their laughter even from high up in the sky. She came closer to see a shy blonde hugging a wicked-looking brunette tightly from behind as her head rested on the other woman's shoulder, their horse slowing as they reached three trees standing in a narrow triangle, perfectly hidden in the natural dips and curves of the land. The brunette dismounted first, pulling the blonde off the stallion and into her arms with ease, kissing her with the light-heartedness only youth and first love could bring. The two women smiled widely at each other, their noses brushing affectionately, laughing as the great black horse next to them huffed loudly, demanding attention of his own.

Lauren wanted to stay with them, in the time she knew to be easy and happy but the scene dissolved again, seemingly melting away to where there were only blurred colors, an agonized scream filling every single one of the blonde's pores. She saw a thin blade fly as if in slow motion, the only clear form along with it becoming a pool of red, of blood on a wet forest floor. The scream left her ears ringing, shaking her to the very core even after the scene altered itself again. A dark-haired queen was sitting on a black marble throne, tears in her eyes as dark blotches started to stain her blue gown right over her heart though no wound could be seen. Anguished bright blue eyes met Lauren's briefly before they turned away in pain, as if she couldn't bear to look at her. The blonde wanted to run to the woman she knew was Ysabeau but found that she couldn't. Rather, the picture started dissolving and, as much as she fought it, faded to nothing. Just blackness and silence.

"Will she?! Tell me!" A man's voice suddenly bellowed through the darkness that had engulfed Lauren, ripping her into a dimly lit tent to witness a woman whose face and most of her form were hidden in the man's large shadow being struck with the flat side of a heavy greatsword. "Never." Was the whispered answer but it was replaced with an agonized whimper as the sword came down again, this time on her abdomen rather than her back. There was a coughing and a gagging sound, followed by heavy breathing. "We can do this all night. So tell me and maybe I'll give you a quick death." Said the man who Lauren couldn't see either, only his large shadow. The answer he received was a chuckle that abruptly cut off when the greatsword came down repeatedly on her the woman's skin with sickening cracks as bones broke from the force. The woman held her resolve, though, releasing only a pained whimper after her tormentor dealt her the last blow. There was another gagging sound followed by expectant silence but when the prisoner did not speak Lauren saw the large shadow nod to his henchman again who this time twisted the woman's arm behind her back until it cracked multiple times, surely dislocated and broken, probably more than once. A blood-freezing scream echoed through the tent as Lauren stood transfixed, unable to move a muscle. Heavy breathing could be heard but nothing else, ragged and uneven. "Still nothing?" Came the shadow's voice only to be met with silence once again. "Pity." Was the only thing that followed before the prisoner, previously forced to stand up by a rope around her neck and shoulders went slack in her restraints, head lolling to the side.

Lauren wanted to know who those people were, why the woman was being tortured, she wanted to help but the moment she finally found the resolve to move and do something she was forcibly pulled out of the stuffy tent again, only to find herself on a dark battlefield, without armor but rather in a white tunic with a long white cloak. A stray arrow raced right through her as if she were a ghost, scaring her when she didn't feel it hit her or go through her. Panic shooting through her veins, the General looked around. It seemed to be night, a battle larger than anything Lauren had ever seen raging endlessly in the semi-darkness around her but the Fae fighting never even took notice of her. Not that she herself could make out much. It was too dark, not even the moon was gracing her with its presence so she tried to get closer to where the center of the battle seemed to be to maybe find someone she could recognize. Or a banner. Or anything. Feeling like she was getting weaker the further she went she slowly stumbled through the raging chaos around her. It felt like her feet were made of lead, heavier with every step and it only added to Lauren's overall panic even if she by now was almost one hundred percent sure this was a dream. Suddenly, though, something changed around her. Fae were falling to their knees where they had fought fiercely only seconds earlier or running away for dear life, leaving weapons and helmets behind, everything they could get off while making their hasty escape. Lauren didn't know what was happening but she knew that the battle was over. Far ahead dawn was slowly breaking, lighting the scene to show the victor of the night. An army stood strong, bloodied but victorious in front of her and in front of all of them lay a dead body that stood out, Lauren didn't know why. Maybe it was because it seemed oddly small, or maybe because of the blood-red tunic that looked so exquisite even in its tattered state. Above the body that the blonde couldn't make out because it was still too dark and she was too far away, her feet too heavy now to move, stood a tall figure, a woman with hair flying in the wind that blew harshly on the wide plain, her broken helmet lying uselessly on the ground beside her.

Lauren's head whipped around as a large bloodied wolf, one half of his face a mere ruin, raced past the hero over the dead body. The warrior's head followed his movements but gave no notion of what was going on inside her. She raised her sword high into the air just as the sun came over the horizon and it glinted brightly, the still fresh blood on it iridescent in the light of the new day. It reflected harshly off her dark and broken armor but mostly off her hair, blood-caked and dirty but undeniably and unmistakably blonde.

With a scream Lauren bolted upright in bed. She was cold, freezing actually, shivering and coated in sweat, needing several moments to realize that she was still herself in her chamber at the council palace of Sungarden rather than a ghost on a dark battle field. She took deep breaths through her mouth to calm her racing heart, one hand pushing back into her tangled and sweaty hair. Staring at the pale white sheets of the bed, counting the ripples and dips her frantic thrashing had imprinted on them finally calmed her enough to fully leave the trance-like state she was still in but even as she took in her surroundings as if for the first time she still saw the pictures her dream had burnt into her mind. The rich decorations on the yellowish-white stone walls, the early morning sun streaming through the large Sungarden-style windows that knew no glass, the exquisite wooden furniture dotting her room tastefully with a low chair here and a small dresser there; nothing could erase the picture of the blonde heroine in her battered armor standing over her dead enemy, the terror of the unknown woman's torture she had witnessed, the bliss of Ysabeau's loving touch and kiss, the agony in her eyes as she sat bleeding on the marble throne. It had all felt so real, even as she realized that it had to be a mere dream. But had it been? Never in the many years of her life had she dreamt like this, never had she felt so many different things at the same time: fear, love, happiness and pain. They all mingled in her mind, the visions of her dreams flittering past behind her eyes. The first part, the part where she was Queen, she had wanted it, willed it to be true and real. Not because she wanted to rule but because it would have meant that the war was over, that she and Ysabeau could have finally been more than a Queen and her most trusted soldier. She had longed for peace for so long and now her dream had presented her a fleeting reality of just that only to rip it right out of her reach seconds later. Emotions welled up inside of Lauren and she had to close her eyes, a hand clutching at the bed sheets to not cry out in frustration. "It was just a dream." She whispered to herself.

"Are you sure?" A kind voice asked from the doorway that led out onto the high terrace she had taken a bath on just yesterday. Lauren's head shot up, a hand instinctively reaching for the dagger she always placed next to her pillow but when her vision focused in on the soft bronze features of a sun temple monk it slowed though she still eyed the man suspiciously. "Forgive me." He said with a soft smile, bowing slightly. "It was never my intention to startle you, Golden One. I mean you no harm." As if to prove his intentions he turned his hands, showing her his palms.

Lauren, still somewhat fighting with the emotions her dream evoked, let go of the curved handle of her dagger, sitting up straight in bed. Even though the fabric of her sleepwear clung to her quite alluringly right now, she was glad that she had opted to sleep in a wide white linen shirt and equally wide pants. The monk was looking straight at her face, his gaze never wavering but Lauren would have still felt extremely uncomfortable had she been naked. She wasn't even sure she was entirely comfortable right now. "Why are you here?" She asked the man and for a second she could see in his round face that her tone had been too harsh. The monks of the sun temple had been nothing but kind to her since she came to the city yesterday, she shouldn't be treating them this way she scolded herself. Before she had time to apologize the man slowly walked towards her. "I was sent to make sure your injuries were healing properly. That you were not experiencing any side effects." He stopped just shy of the bed, head bowed respectfully but he was still looking at her with almond-shaped dark amber eyes.

"Side effects?" Lauren asked and the monk nodded. "Yes. The healing powers of the sun monks are a gift of the sun itself and sometimes those who are healed by them experience strange connections to our creator high in the sky. The priests agreed that they could be particularly strong because you are already deeply connected to the sun, Golden One."

Lauren's brow furrowed. What kind of connections to the sun was he talking about? She didn't understand but then again this worship of the sun seemed to be something one had to grow up with to fully believe and understand. Over the years she had seen too many Fae worshipping too many different things to believe in any single one but if these healing powers actually came from the temple there seemed to be at least a small piece of truth to all this. "What kind of side effects?" She inquired.

"It seems you already experienced one of the more rare ones." The monk answered but when Lauren only looked at him with a confused look in her eyes he clarified "Prophetic visions." A cold hand clutched at the blonde's chest but at the same time her heart started beating faster. She as Ysabeau's Queen could have been a vision of the future. "So that wasn't just a dream? It will all come true?"

The monk shook his head. "Not necessarily. These visions can be deceiving, just like the future isn't entirely set in stone. It changes depending on our decisions but some things are meant to happen sooner or later, to take place regardless of time or space. It's what we call prophecies. Whatever you saw in your vision, it could have been something that will happen, something that already happened or something that is a mere possibility, meaning that it could show you a day that may never come. Visions are full of symbolism, some things are to be taken literally while others may mean the exact opposite of what they seem to be telling you." Lauren thought about the monks words for a moment before she nodded, looking up at his round, somewhat plump features to see him smiling gently. "I will not ask you what you saw. You and only you will know in time what it meant." He took a breath. "Now. Would you allow me to examine your leg?"

Lauren knew then that the conversation about her dream was over and she was grateful. It planted a somewhat dull nagging feeling in her gut, not quite fear but not in any way comfortable either. She knew that what she saw would replay in her head over and over but she scolded herself to not let it paralyze her like it had just after she woke up. She couldn't afford to be scared of the future so she nodded at the monk with a smile and pulled up her left pant leg so he could look at it. He did so with a careful precision that didn't take long at all. When he was done mere minutes later he took a short look at her head and informed her that everything was as it should be, also telling her to not waste too much time on thinking about her dream. "Living in a tomorrow that may never come is a dangerous thing, Golden One. It can rob us of exactly that future." The monk clad only in the wide white pants and golden belt of the temple monks bowed one last time before he was out the door as silently as he came, leaving Lauren alone with her thoughts.

-x-

Hours later the General was still not fully herself again. Thankfully, she didn't need to be in prime mental condition for the late lunch banquet she had been invited to as soon as the servants noticed that she was awake. The high council of Sungarden had spared neither trouble nor expense and so this lunch was way more than just that. It seemed to be a pre-crowning ceremony of sorts, held outside and under the burning gaze of the sun as seemed to be custom for every important ceremony in this city. Thinking ahead they had set up the beautifully crafted wooden tables on one of the most well-kept grass plains Lauren had ever seen, sparing them all the agony of sitting above the scorching hot stone tile floors of the rest of the city for hours. Instead the General felt cool green grass beneath the soles of the light brown sandals she had exchanged her heavy riding boots for this morning. Not a single cloud could be seen in the sky, the air glimmering hotly in the distance, only moving where the servants behind them slowly moved large and colorfully painted fans up and down. Lauren didn't envy them. The fans made the heat more bearable for the noble high council members as well as Queen Ysabeau, Lauren and Dyson sitting at the tables but the servants themselves were covered in sweat, exhaustion etched permanently onto their dark bronze features and shining in their eyes. Some enviously stared at the delicacies served to the guests and Lauren could not blame them.

Currently, they were eating the innermost part of a cactus that grew sparsely in the lands around the city. The General had sometimes taken notice of them as they rode past but had never thought that one could eat the inner parts. The flesh was almost white with a soft pink note to it and tasted heavenly, like sweetened water but that much more refreshing because, as they were told by their gracious hosts, no matter how hot it was, as long as the cactus was fresh it was deliciously cold. They each were served a few small pieces in between courses, to wash the old tastes away and open them up to new sensations, a custom of the rich and noble of Sungarden's population. Lauren couldn't argue that the food tasted wonderful and the company of the high councilors of Sungarden was also something she found strangely enjoyable. Though the city's Fae seemed to be strictly divided into a hierarchy at which's very top stood the council families they weren't overly pompous or arrogant but rather intelligent and gracious. Every adornment they wore seemed to be not for themselves but a way of worshipping the sun; a devotion Lauren found as fascinating as off-putting in its magnitude.

To her left the Queen was smiling graciously at everyone who stole looks at her, a twinkle in her eyes. She complimented their hosts on the wonderful setting and food numerous times and Lauren had to marvel at how graceful Ysabeau navigated the whole situation, at the true Queen the woman had become over the years. In the beginning the Succubus had somewhat struggled with the etiquette and manners clearly required of someone who hoped to be the leader of a whole race someday. She had been rash and demanding but had learned quickly that it got her almost nowhere. She wasn't groveling now by any means, no, Ysabeau had perfected the silent authority that had surrounded her from the moment Lauren met her and if not her words and actions, it was this fact that made Fae from far and wide join their cause.

Finally, after more different courses than Lauren cared to count they were served a white cream of sorts that was as sweet as it was cold, glinting in the sun. The General could scarcely eat more than four or five bites of the delicacy, though before the sweetness became too much for her. There had been other tastes in the first spoonful she had eaten but by the second the sugar had overpowered all of it completely. If there was something to be said for Sungarden's cuisine it surely was that, as great as most of it tasted, they sure did not use sugar sparingly.

"Your grace." A gentle voice pulled Lauren from her musings and directed her attention back to the u-shaped banquet table where one of the council members, a tall man with soft bronze features and in a long milky-white robe had stood from his chair. The General had been thankful when the council had appeared to the banquet without the face masks that showed their status; it made distinguishing them much easier. Next to her, the queen nodded, turning her head ever so slightly to the left to give the man her full attention.

"The council would like to once again express its gratitude for rescuing our city, thus proving the temple's prophecy. If it pleases your splendidness, the crowning ceremony will be held at sundown. For the Queen of all Fae shall glow when our creator high in the sky rests." He bowed deeply, his hands folded in front of his stomach and the queen smiled in response. By the twinkle in her dark eyes Lauren suspected that she was inwardly enjoying the many new titles the council was giving her whenever they addressed her way more than she probably should. It didn't really get to her head but Ysabeau sure liked to be treated like the queen she was in every sentence spoken to her. Lauren seemed to be the only exception to this rule as whenever the General addressed her formally the slightest of frowns flickered across her face. The thought made the blonde smile softly, throwing a side glance at the queen before again focusing on the council member whose name she couldn't remember.

"Of course. I will be happy with any place or time the high council deems fit." Ysabeau stood from her own chair with effortless grace, her daringly cut midnight-blue gown straightening out around her generous curves. She nodded once left and once right, acknowledging every council member with her eyes before she spoke again. "I thank you again for this wonderful meal but I will have to excuse myself now to get ready for the ceremony." The eight council members who were not yet standing rose as well. As one they bowed "Your grace." By now Lauren and Dyson had also stood and now that the formalities were over and done with the three of them started walking off across the perfectly manicured grass, the Succubus leading as was her right. "Dyson, you look a bit warm in all that leather." The queen was right, the wolf shifter was obviously uncomfortably warm in long dark pants and a thick black leather vest even though his scarred arms were left bare. "You should go change, we all need to look our best for the ceremony. I am sure the council can find you a tailor capable of fitting you for the occasion." She paused. "Also, while we're at it, tell the Legates the same, they will be attending as well. The soldiers of my army and all those travelling with us will find their place with the people of Sungarden." Dyson did not look pleased to be ushered off like a dog to go fetch but he had sworn an oath after all and so he bowed curtly and with a "As is your wish, my Queen." he was gone, striding out boldly across the green grass.

Once again, Lauren was left alone with Ysabeau and, as always, it made her feel her presence even more strongly than usual. If anything, the visions of last night only made it worse as the Succubus turned to face Lauren fully. "General." She addressed her, once more making the blonde's title sound like a lover's whisper, the glint in her eyes brighter than it had been all day but there was also something else in them, as if she was trying to figure out a great mystery. "Walk with me." She simply stated after a moment of pause, turning once more to stroll towards the edge of the grass plain where it went over into soft yellowish gravel pathways leading through a large garden full of plants and flowers Lauren had scarcely seen before, if ever. It took a moment for the request to register with the blonde but when it did she was quick to follow the queen.

Their walk was surrounded by a comfortable silence, the only sounds the crunching gravel under their soles and the fluttering of the quick and small birds that filled the garden with buzzing life in every imaginable color. Ysabeau laughed softly as a bright green one landed on her shoulder for a brief rest before taking off again and Lauren thought it was a beautiful sound, rare as well. For almost half an hour they silently and leisurely walked though the vast gardens created by the architects of Sungarden who had found a most efficient way to pump just enough water from the Diamondtide up to the terraces to keep them vast and green and the small canals all over the city flowing merrily. After another ten minutes Lauren could not stand it anymore, halting in the shadow of a large tree with thousands of large deep green triangular leafs and a strong almost black bark. Soon, Ysabeau noticed and turned halfway to look back, a kaleidoscope of green and gold filtering across her features in a way that made Lauren's knees week with how beautiful she actually was; a feeling that still surprised her because she had known the woman for so long she thought she should have gotten used to her almost reverent beauty by now. Yet there she stood, some ten feet away and all the blonde could do was hold on to the words she had carefully sorted in her mind for long enough to speak them. She bowed ever so slightly. "I beg your pardon my Queen but.." It was as far as she got before a soft, long finger was placed on her lips, silencing her as the queen's unique scent invaded her senses. Lauren didn't know how she had crossed the small distance between them in the matter of half a sentence but she knew she didn't mind or care. They way Ysabeau looked at her through dark lashes from only just below her eye level as the queen was actually smaller than her although it always seemed as if she was taller than most anybody made Lauren's heart beat faster, the soft smile playing around her mouth making it even worse, heat shooting up through her spine, tinting her cheeks already flushed from the heat. "Shh." The queen cooed then, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on the outermost corner of Lauren's mouth, only removing her finger after she seemed certain the blonde wouldn't say anything more. "Something is troubling you, Lauren. Since this morning your face hasn't fully relaxed once." The fact that she had noticed made the General's heart clench deliciously and, involuntarily, she leaned closer to the brunette in front of her. "Yes." She admitted. There was no point in denying what Ysabeau seemed to see so effortlessly.

"Is it the crowning ceremony? Do you not trust the high council?" The queen guessed and immediately, Lauren shook her head. "No. Nothing like that." There was a pause where Lauren didn't know what to say and so unlike her usual persona, Ysabeau waited patiently for her to continue. "I.. I dreamt something last night. Well, more than one thing actually." The blonde finally said, a smile beginning to spread across the queen's face at the words. A hand on her cheek, cupping gently, made Lauren look into soft pools of dark chocolate-brown. "Tell me." She almost asked and the General tried to explain the best she could. "When I woke up a sun temple monk was there to check if my injuries had healed properly. He told me that when they heal someone with the power of the temple there can be some side effects. Prophetic dreams for instance. I saw a lot of different things; some wonderful, some terrible, some that I seem to remember from before and now.. now I fear their meaning. I wish I had never seen them." Her brow furrowed for the umpteenth time that day as she looked down at the ground and all her feelings from that morning came flooding back into her, threatening to suffocate her once more.

The moment the blonde thought she would lose the battle against the fears instilled in her, soft laughter filled her ears. Lauren's eyes snapped back up to see the queen's bright smile as she chuckled, a second hand coming up to now cup the blonde's face fully. "Lauren." Ysabeau said her name carefully, tasting every syllable like it was a fine wine. "Our future is our own design. Me being queen, yes that is a prophecy but what if I had never acted upon it? For me, there is no guarantee that we will come out on top when this war ends but I believe with all my heart that we will." She leaned in close, her forehead against the General's. "Whatever you saw, I don't want to know. You said there were great things, hold onto them, believe them and will them to be your future with every step you take in this life. Don't let anything destroy that and make you doubt." She ended fiercely, closing the small remaining distance between their lips and pressing them together in a powerful kiss. She was still holding Lauren's face delicately between her hands, giving her no escape whatsoever. Not that the blonde had wanted one. After a brief moment of surprise the elf welcomed the contact, melting into it and opening her mouth to the queen's advances. The Succubus' taste filled her mouth instantly, throwing her into a soaring high only rivaled by the amount of love and desperation being poured into the kiss. Their bodies pressed together, Lauren's back falling against the hard bark of the exotic tree standing over their embrace. Ysabeau followed immediately pushing all of herself against the blonde, a pulse involuntarily making her General gasp into the kiss. One of Lauren's hands found dark hair, brushing against the smooth and warm surface of the dragon bone crown, the other wrapping around Ysabeau's waist. They continued to kiss feverishly, completely oblivious to anything but the way their bodies were connected. It wasn't until the Succubus pulled back ever so slightly, a thick blue stream of chi flowing from Lauren's mouth to hers that the queen suddenly realized what was happening. A second later the General found herself pushed back ever harder into the dark wood but then the pressure was gone and Ysabeau three feet away from her and slightly bent over, one hand on her heaving chest, her deep blue eyes fixed hungrily on Lauren's features.

For the elf it was like waking up from another dream only that she knew this one had been very real. The heat their embrace had brought filtered away, leaving only the dry, burning heat the sun brought even in the shade provided by the large tree above them. A minute later either woman had yet to stay a word, Lauren still leaning back against the tree for support as all strength seemed to have left her while the queen was slowly standing up straight again but her eyes were still blue and looking at the blonde like she was the most delicious sight on earth. The general thought that it made her strangely beautiful in a predatory way. "Ysabeau.." She tried, reaching out a hand but she was waved off immediately, the brunette taking another step back from her and squeezing her eyes shut. "No. Wait. I need to.." She took a couple deep breaths before she opened her eyes again, now dark, almost black brown again but with a blue hue still visible in them. "I'm sorry." She finally stated after another long pause, running her hands through her hair and straightening the crown on her head again. "We need to get ready for the crowning ceremony. Go and find a tailor to fit you, nothing to extravagant we only have a few hours." The brunette's voice was pressed, as if she was still struggling with herself.

Lauren finally found her strength again, pushing off the tree and directing a worried glance at the queen. The incident was only now catching up with her and it startled her because Ysabeau usually had a very good handle on her powers, her intense training back at the mansion had made sure of that. There was only one explanation for this, Lauren knew. "When was the last time you fed?" She asked but immediately knew that it had been the wrong thing to say. Angry onyx eyes were directed at her again immediately, the Succubus' body language changing to that of a queen again. "Was my command unclear? Now, General!" She growled, and this time her words sounded like the crack of a whip, striking the elf just the same. She kept holding Lauren's gaze until the blonde relented and bowed. "Of course. Forgive me, my Queen." Quickly, she walked past the stormy brunette, heading for the council palace. The last thing she heard before the happy flittering of the birds and the crunching of the gravel beneath her feet made up her whole world again was a muttered, desperate "I need to feed. Now." Lauren knew it wasn't meant for her ears, not for anyone's for that matter but she couldn't help that it stung, just like being pushed away when they should have talked about what happened. She shook her head as she slipped into the semi-shadows of the palace, heat radiating off its pale stone walls but Lauren didn't even feel it. Who was she kidding, she told herself while she asked one of the servants in her chambers to fetch her a tailor immediately, Ysabeau was still her queen and it was foolish to believe that they would be complete equals in the Succubus' mind. She had never used this kind of authority with Lauren, growling orders at her with malice in her voice. The blonde knew the queen was very proud but it hurt nonetheless because everything up to that moment had been perfect, easily one of the best moments she had experienced in the last couple of years. She thought what they had was different. Stronger.

"You wanted me, Golden One?" A short man with long arms said from the open doorway, heaps of clothes layered in his arms. "Yes. I need a tunic fit for the crowning ceremony this evening." She answered and the man bowed, exposing a balding spot on the back of his head. "Of course." He whistled and an assistant with a small stool and a large mirror came bustling around the corner, placing the items in the middle of Lauren's chamber. "If you would stand here?" He gestured towards the stool and the General nodded, her mind still replaying the last few minutes over and over. At least, she thought with a cruel laugh to herself inside her head, she wasn't thinking about the dreams anymore, at least not solely.

-x-

Just as the sun was slowly making its descent towards the tips of the far mountains to the east Lauren walked down another long and narrow stone stairway. There seemed to be thousands of them all over the city which was odd because the land around was rather flat but as Asfahal, one of the nine high council members of the city and currently the blonde's guide informed her, the architects of the city had designed the whole of Sungarden to be a masterpiece and this style of many different levels allowed the water pumps to work better and more efficiently. The General was still trying hard to block out what had happened in the gardens just hours ago but it wouldn't quite leave her, the images always swimming in the back of her mind. At least the councilor walking just a step in front of her was better company than the tailor who had designed her a new and masterfully crafted tunic in all but two hours. It was a brocade piece in a deep shade of green, formfitting and flattering on her body. Stopping mid-thigh it revealed soft white suede pants that went down to Lauren's calves only to end in high riding boots. The tailor was truly a master of his trade, his obvious talent forged by hundreds of years of service but those years had also made him subservient and so Lauren had found no joy in talking to him. She didn't like conversations with people who thought she could do absolutely no wrong, uttering a praise to her beauty or intelligence with every second sentence.

In turn, Asfahal's company was refreshing, the tall lean man with long oily black hair and small but kind eyes told her about the city's structure and defenses and how the first Fae had founded the city in honor of the sun when they found it to be the reason they lived. The stories were insightful and Lauren repaid the councilor's kindness with stories of her own, of other great cities she had visited with her parents before she was shipped off to the McCorrigans while her parents fought and eventually died for one of the Fae proclaiming themselves ruler over all others. Asfahal gave her his undivided attention, now back at her side as the width of the street they were walking down on permitted it, his cream-colored robe rippling around his legs as he walked. They were silently followed by two city guards here for their protection but as the councilor pointed out, his voice slightly muffled by the ornamented mask he was yet again wearing, this was merely a formality and that they had nothing to worry about in a city as safe as Sungarden.

Talking and sharing experiences of their very different cultures they managed to talk all the way down from the hill the council palace stood on and up the other on which's top sat the high sun temple where the crowning ceremony would take place in just a little over half an hour. They talked all the way up to the doors of the temple and through its whole enormous length before they finally had to part to take their places on opposing sides of the semicircle, the large marble throne in the middle, somewhat to Lauren's relief, still vacant. It gave her time to examine the great temple on top the highest hill of Sungarden, her footsteps echoing on the veined white and golden marble covering the floor. Like almost every building in the city the temple had no roof, at least not where she stood right now at the far end, right beneath the altar that wasn't as extravagant as she had maybe expected. Still, it commanded attention and respect, even reverence. Basically, it was nothing more than an enormous wall of black marble carved to form a semi-circle, fitted against the back outer wall. However, a large sun of what seemed to be pure gold had been cast into a chiseled shape in the middle, its rays long and alive like flames in the evening light falling in from above. It had been rimmed with a mosaic of fire opals, rubies and other gemstones that Lauren could not name ranging from a deep gold to an almost iridescent white. The craftsmanship and devotion put into this piece left the blonde awed and she only turned away when the brightness of the sun hitting the altar directly made it too bright to look at. As she turned she found the whole temple to be lit up in the reflections of the altar, creating a golden atmosphere, like standing in a gilded room with one single light being refracted a million times and more. Just that this "room's" ceiling was held by strong round marble columns over sixty feet high, sixty yards long and by now filling with Fae of all ages and cultures, mostly Sungardners of course distinguishable by their robes and tunics in soft pastel tones but also numerous soldiers of the Dark Queen's army, wearing either their freshly polished armor or whatever best other clothing they had brought with them. Lauren had a slightly elevated look from where she stood on the podium in front of the altar and the sight of people flooding the temple was awe-inspiring. They chatted and laughed, fathers carried their children on their shoulders so they could see and they pointed at the nine high councilors with their gilded and diamond-studded masks of duty as well as they pointed at Lauren, her golden hair braided intricately in the custom of the high-elves of the south. A thick braid was hanging to the middle of her back, held by a black leather band and interwoven with smaller braids coming from the side of her head and finally, two long locks of hair falling down on either side of the face, framing her strong features. The hairdo left her long, pointed ears uncovered, her heritage for the world to see. Lauren hadn't braided her hair like this for so long she was surprised at how well she could still do it, giving her a strange sense of pride for who and what she was. She half had a mind to find herself some charcoal and apply the typical high elven war paint across her left eyelid and cheek but decided against it. At the thought her right hand unconsciously landed on the hilt of her sword, at her hip as always, the leather-wrapped metal calming her racing heart.

"Fascinating, isn't it?" A gentle voice said from behind the General, just loud enough to be heard above the noise of the now almost full temple. Lauren turned to find the expressionless golden mask of Asfahal staring back at her, though his amber eyes made up for this loss.

"It truly is. The amount of work and precision put into this.." She trailed off and the councilor nodded, his mask moving in a way that made the blonde believe he was smiling behind it. "I would love to talk to you about architecture, but some other time, Golden One. Now, I fear, it will have to wait. We will begin shortly." Asfahal was right. As he said it the last Fae had filtered into the temple, leaving a pathway in the middle for the Queen. The Sungardner touched her arm ever so slightly in goodbye and they parted again, this time truly taking their seats on the comfortable wooden chairs placed there for them. Lauren nodded greetings at Dyson as well as the Legates Santiago and O'Brien all dressed in their very best before turning her attention back towards the entrance.

The crowd seemed to have sensed the air crackling with excited tension and so they quieted gradually until only faint whispers or the distinctive sound of a boot placed too harshly on the marble floor could be heard. There were seconds, then minutes of humming silence, feeling like the world was in suspense before cheers broke out in front of the temple where those who didn't make it on time to get into the temple stood and awaited a glance at the queen. Heads turned before elegant footsteps could be heard, heeled shoes on marble, no doubt. Lauren didn't need to look like everyone else did to know who as ascending up the final stairs to the temple, she knew the rhythm to those feet like her own for it was the rhythm captured in her heart, beating faster and faster now again in her chest.

She was through the door by now, Fae to both sides of her bowing like a tidal wave slowly but surely moving towards Lauren. She was all in black. Of course. Her gown was midnight, daringly tight until it softened out at her lower waist, trailing behind her. Her hair was up, exposing a long, perfect, alabaster neck ending into her soft but defined shoulders and then her generous chest where the black fabric clung most tightly, her breasts almost threatening to spill out of it as they swayed gently with every well-placed step as did her hips. She was radiant, not only for her appearance but once more she seemed to be glowing from the inside, bright like a crackling fire and just as wild. Lauren knew what it meant and the pang in her heart wasn't even as bad as she had expected it to be. The queen was a Succubus, she reminded herself once more but it didn't help. She was the very embodiment of perfection, in every possible way, so much so that it was almost unbearable. By the time Ysabeau reached the podium, climbing its steps with calculated grace Lauren, as well as every other Fae on the podium had stood to bow and so as one they did like in a choreographed dance. It gave the General an excuse to look at anything but the queen but of course it didn't last long. They all stood straight and then took their places again except for Ysabeau who had turned to face the crowd.

Once more, footsteps could be heard, this time from behind Lauren. She restrained herself from turning and it proved to be unnecessary moments later as the High Priest of the temple made her way towards the queen, accompanied by two temple monks, one carrying a long golden cloak, the other Ysabeau's dragon bone crown on a pearly-white cushion.

The High Priest came to a halt directly beside the Succubus queen who turned her head to look at her, marble features aristocratic and emotionless. The small, slightly round priestess bowed and just like that Ysabeau sank to both knees, graceful as ever, her eyes directed to the front again.

You're the only one I'd ever kneel to, I hope you know that. shot through Lauren's mind but she pushed the thought back with vigor. This was not the same. This was mere protocol. But she hadn't even looked at her yet, not once. She always did. Again, Lauren chastened herself. She was reading too much into all of this, her dreams and the events from before had left her emotionally raw and therefore vulnerable.

"People of Sungarden, of the Low- and Highlands in east and west" The priestess started and the General had to be impressed by the depth of her voice as it carried through the whole temple with ease, ringing off the walls. "We have gathered today to see one of our oldest dreams, one of the prophecies foretold by the founders of our city come to life and come true. The ruler, the queen we have waited patiently for to come to us has finally revealed herself. Chosen by the sun she will reign over all of us with justice, over all of us the same." The priestess moved, taking the long golden cloak and putting it around Ysabeau's shoulders, fastening it with a sliver clasp shaped like a sun. She then took the dragon bone crown from its resting place and held it above the head of the brunette still kneeling motionless before her. The sun chose this moment to grace them with its last light and the brightness reflecting off the altar forced many to avert their gaze, ohhs and ahhs filling the temple. Over them all, the High Priest's voice carried: "In the name of our creator high in the sky and the noble High Council of Sungarden I now proclaim her royal highness Queen Ysabeau, the first of her noble name, Ruler of all Fae, Queen of all the sun touches." With that, she placed the crown on Ysabeau's head, stepping away from the Succubus who stood just as the light began to wane around them. "Long may she reign." The priestess solemnly stated and it was repeated thousandfold around the temple. Lauren stood with the High Council, Dyson and the Legates only to fall to one knee like the rest of the Fae with them, bowing deeply to their queen. "Long may she reign." Muttered the blonde, the words leaving a slightly bitter taste in her mouth.

Then, ever so slightly, Lauren felt eyes watching her and lifted her head to see the queen staring at her with honest dark eyes, the sadness in them so palpable it made the General's own heart ache. Just like always, the moment their eyes met nothing else existed but them, not temple, not crowd or crown. Just the two of them. Lauren knew they would need to talk about what happened and what should have happened, but not now, not tonight. It could wait. Because when Ysabeau looked at her like that, like she was the only thing in the world worth looking at, there was nothing else that mattered. There had never been from the day their gazes had met for the very first time.

This time I found out that prophecies are really hard to write or to come up with at all. I needed ages to find a version of which I think is confusing enough that I have not just given away everything (or lots of it anyway) ;) But do tell me what you thought of it.. and everything else of course. :) Also, I find myself waist-deep in ideas for this story so I will have to scratch my comment from earlier. There will be more than five chapters of this, who was I actually kidding. Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope to see you guys again soon for another chapter of adalad. You can still find me on twitter (ladywhorocks), you know for update news and stuff since I take so damn long. Have a great day everybody! :)