I watched behind Leonard as the soldiers were pose to strike while Eric's face looked like his was on the verge of dark bloody murder.
I smile inside because the fan in me rejoice at seeing such an almighty sight.
His face even though mad was still as handsome and prefect as ever. He did looked much younger than before. The crows feet that would surround his beautiful murderous red eyes when ever he would give me one of his deadly smile we're nor longer there. The streaks of gray hair that ran alongside side his black messy hair were nonexistent. The scar that ran along his face from one of his battles was no longer there.
The Eric, I knew was no longer here. In front of me stood a different individual that had reverted back in time. His world was much smaller then before. So we're his worries. His main priorities were his wife's health's and the borders.
When I meet him I was use to blond hair and blue eyes that the contrast must have been the reason why I choose to be with him. While my green eyes must have reminded him of Amelia. I chided us.
First loves were always tricky for us huh Eric.
Of course I met Eric I was twenty-one not a lass of seventeen as I was now. It reminded me of how much he had to go through to look as tired as he did in my other life. This time though I was going to make sure that wasn't going to happen. I was going to help him save his wife and give him the happiness he deserved.
The bit of happiness he gave me for that time.
Even though we married in my other life for connivence Eric first love was always his wife Amelia.
No one could replace her, even I was just a substitute for his guilt on not being able to save her.
It also created a lot of conflict between me and her in my last life because I yet again got in her way and her daughters happiness.
I scoffed at the idea. She didn't want her daughters happiness she was a cold blooded person through and through.
Eric much of a muscle brain wasn't a stupid as the queen assumed but he figured out latter on that the queen purposely poisoned Amelia because she needed Eric at the border.
The North Duke wasn't in need of money, fame or title but the queen needed leverage on the aristocracy fraction. Eric's was known to be very powerful individual just alone. It was in her best interest to keep Eric busy instead of any thoughts of challenging the fractions power. The queen wanted one thing only and that was to put her son Greyson on the throne. Of course no one knew this at the moment. No even the Emperor Lyon himself.
The atmosphere was dangerous at the moment to even say anything to break the tension. Eric stilled held on a slim ray of hope that the queen was going to help him save Amelia.
What do you wanna do now dear cousin?
Leo sent telepathically. He voice sounding sarcastic. I wanted to scowl at him because even though he always held in place a stoic expression of nothingness. The Leonard I knew was a lively individual that if given the
provocation would truly tell you want his thinking.
In my past life I didn't allow him to withdraw like he did in the original novel so me and him we fairly close up until he left to the tower. He would ruthlessness play pranks on the poor unsuspecting individuals all throughout our childhood. Mara being his favorite victim. Right now though he was playing his role as Master of the Tower, a lonely individual that was in charge of a bunch of lonelier individuals. It was sad to say the less but the tower even highly regard was basically a isolation chamber to people that couldn't control the amount of magic they wielded. Sure it focused on controlling their powers and emotions but it also put into how mages were oostracized by society. They were meant to be locked up or just used for their power.
Usually mages manifested there powers at an early age of six or seven. So in the tower their were a bunch detach individuals that didn't know how to fully initiate human relationships. There were basically children that were taught to suppress a important stepping stone in their life. Leonard had it the worst. He was oddity and a prodigy at same time since early on. His powers manifested at the age of infancy.
It must of been lonely for him all these years given a role of Master of the Tower from a early age. Since the tower didn't know what to do with Leonard til he turn seven he spend his childhood raised along side me and Daniel. Of course it helped that I pleaded to spend time besides him. The servants in the household were scared of him but didn't stop the relationship. I think because even though Leo always had a stoic expression he always silently threatened those that opposed.
I looked behind Eric trying to see a familiar face but only found Horus faces. He was the only one I knew that was trustworthy among the bunch. When I meet Eric he had disband his soldiers and was more focused in politics.
I couldn't come out of the wood work saying, "Hey guy we were married and we're both going to die if we don't work together."
Knowing Eric he would have me burning like a witch at the stake. Nice and crispy.
"Tell him we know about the dark stone."
The dark stone was something the queen gave Eric. It was a powerful stone that held ancient magic inside. It was given to the first emperor from the first Master of the Tower Marlin. It represented the oath of loyalty to the empire. The bitch gave it to Eric in false sincerity for Amelias health. The only thing that the piece of junk did was hold to Amelia soul. Her body though was dying. Once Amelia body dies it was only a matter of time before the dark stone broke and Amelia died in finality as well.
"If I say that am assuming he'll become even more enraged. Should I start a magic ward?"
I inwardly rolled my eyes at his tone, more sarcasm. Oh how I wish this world would see the comedian I had created.
"Yeah, but…no on knows about the stone expect him."
"Then everyone would know."
I didn't really think this through. I grimace. Leo had a point, but this was the only way I figure Eric was going to take us serious.
"Yes and no… but in the bigger picture no one really knows what the dark stone is."
So this might work…. Maybe…. Ughhhh…
Only handful of mages knew. And Eric and the King of course.
"You better be right about this."
Leonard sounded exasperated this time, but he anyways went along with what I said.
"I know that you have dark stone is in your hands."
Erics eyes widen in realization then just as fast was masked in pure black rage that emitted solely through his red eyes.
From where I stood I could seriously hear him grind teeth flat.
His soldiers sensing his mode instantly were waiting for his command.
"The stone isn't going to help her get better Duke. We can help."
And there was Leonard with the one, two strike. I wish he was quicker with saying the second part though as Eric raised his hand in command and his soldiers sheath their weapon.
So this was the Captain of the North. It was amazing, and to be honest frightening too. With a single hand command he gave was able to command his authority. Goosebumps raised along my spine in awe.
We all stood in tense silence just waiting as my main focus was on the bulging vein on the neck of the very much handsome and fearful Duke of the North.
After several minutes of tense silence finally it was broken with Eric deep voice.
"Everyone out now."
His solider all stood in shock.
"Out."
Eric said softer but with more command. I felt like I was going to expire on the spot as they all existed the tent with death stares. They truly were the Elite Savage Wolves of the North. I so wanted to silently clap of how in awe I was of Eric at the moment and of his crew of maundering soldiers.
"Speak."
I felt the tingle of shiver of fear race down my spine. His rich voice as smooth as glass spoke quietly but I knew the calm before the storm when it came to Eric. My heart broke a little at the amount of distrust Eric held.
Either way, Leonard knew of everything so I could leave this for him to him.
"Do you trust the queen duke?"
I tensed, this wasn't what I expected Leonardo to say. I wanted to find the nearest brick wall and slam my head into it as Eric pointed his sword at Leonards neck in a blink of an eye.
Forth life here I come.
Fuck. From that statement alone Leonard sounded like a traitor.
"That wasn't what I meant Leo."
All I heard was a deep aggravated sigh from Leonard.
"You asked me to handle it and I am, we can't just continue to beat around the bush."
"She poisoned your wife."
I could feel the weight of those words as the pressure inside the tent mounted.
Aura.
The amount he let loose should have had us on our knees but all I could hear clinks and clanks of the soldiers dropping there weapons outside of our tent.
Eric aura was unbelievablly impressive. Out of his lineage he was probably the strongest to ever exist.
While soldiers had aura, they lacked something to balance them. Usually they were given powerful weapons infused with magic like swords or other instruments. Of course that was curtesy of the blacksmith mages of the tower.
"Why should I believe you?"
His red eyes piercing Leo, while the pressure started to grow and unstablise the surrounding grounds. Leo didn't flinch or react. Speaking in the same monotone voice that alway grated my nerves he continued on.
My agitation starting to rise. This was going no where fast.
"I have a feeling you know am right."
Of course you were.
I was the only one that knew that Eric didn't trust the queen at all. Everyone considered Eric a loyal subject to Emperor Lyon. He was, he just wasn't all that particle to the the emperor beloved queen. Eric relationship with the king stemmed from the king being his almost a foster parent to him. After Eric was left orphanage, King Lyon step in and raised Eric as if he was one of his sons.
In the novel it was explained that Eric mothers was someone that the King treasured dearly. Of coursed the Eric's mom fell in love with Eric's father.
Being emporer of a empire was basically all about duty and lineage. King Lyon was widow shortly after his first son and then remarried to the current queen Helen. Helen though was never fond of Eric. He was basically an eye sore to her.
In my pass life though Eric confided in me that he never trusted the queen. You see Eric had just cause.
When Amelia death took place it was during a transition of power between the nobles and the queen.
Right now no one was going to dispute the queen's authority with the nobility fraction. I came back to where a political shift was just starting. No I didn't come came in time. This was a whole different story line then before. It was already hard to explain the fact that I traveled back in time to Leonard but it was harder to explain that I wasn't the Elizabeth he knew before this time. In reality I was stuck in romance fantasy book that I loved.
The main character of this novel was the kings first son Dion that held a mysterious power called the "Kings Eyes". In this romance novel he had fallen in love with young mage girl "Ellie" that was also a commoner, Ellie was deemed special because even though she was mage her powers weren't dangerous or out of control for someone that was basically self taught. Of course his father didn't approve of there love affair because he had already planned for his son and soon to be king of the empire to marry a foreign princess. All this was in the name of unifying two empires that in fact never united because said " foreign princess" was murdered and war broke out. Dion was sent into battle by the queens fraction to be hopefully killed. In the end though love prevails. Ellie becomes the heroine because it is found out that she's the direct descendent of the first mage Merlin and ends the war with all the evil deeds of the queen reveal. Basically the cider road to those two idiots lovebirds.
Blah blah blah … it all was another crappy love story that over looked all that happen to the other supporting characters.
In honestly when ever Dion was described in novel I would skim over it because to me he was just irresponsible good for nothing idol that had a shiny sword.
In my pervious life I would go out of my way to avoid him due to the fact that he killed the original Elizabeth because she try to poison his sister, the second princess.
Of course Elizabeth to plot such a big ordeal was too good to be true and behind the scene was actually framed. She was basically a small up in coming villainous that had the mentality of a child.
Regardless the whole novel described a tag-o-war of political struggle that ended up in a lot of people dying.
When I read the novel for the tenth time I always cried for my one favorite characters Daniel.
For the tenth time with book in hand I died in the middle of the street mourning for my favorite character Daniels unjustly death. Out of all the death I read his was one of the most saddest and potent in my heart.
He sacrifice himself to save his best friend and his true love.
Sigh
Daniel was truly one of the good ones.
What happened next to me was even more remarkable then my lame death of getting run over by a semi.
Next thing I knew I woke up as the Elizabeth Reeve, Daniels childhood friend who parents died early in her life.
In the original novel I was an overly obsessive individual when it came to Daniel angel like appearance. Since being raise spoiled and entitled I didn't see Daniel as a childhood friend more as property. Due to Daniel pampering and helping her throughout the story Elizabeth for some reason never saw wrong in her actions. She would always find a way to embarrass herself in trying to win Daniels affection and love.
Daniel on the other hand alway considered Elizabeth a pitiful individual that needed a big brother guidance.
In my last life I saw it as a chance to give Daniel a happy ending since I woke up at a time when my parents were still alive. I even presumed I could save them.
Apparently dead parents built characters in this world.
Regardless after Daniels father decided to foster me as a step daughter because of there relationship with my decease parents. I solely decided to dedicate myself to being Daniels true friend hopefully avoid our death flags. Which became even more complicated because I truly fell in love with him and destine us both to misery. Our childhood friendship eventually became a torrid love affair where I ruined myself for him. Even to the last moment of my death he was the only one I thought of.
Daniel, I had to stay away from him.
Sigh
When I woke up back again and realize I was back in the past I raced to him and cried tear for remorse. What made it worst was how confused and estranged was his expression was.
I inwardly cringed again as I looked at Eric face once more. In the past I married Eric to hopeful change his death flag but still it was all pointless.
Daniel still married the princess regardless of his love for me. Princess Cecil did confront me later on to tell me he didn't want her even on their wedding night. It made me a bit happier to know that his feelings were honest.
It sorta reminded me of the original plot of the story too. Daniel was suppose to be in love with Cecil. But I even ruined that last time.
I wanted to pull my hair in the frustration of it all. I just wanna to survive and live happily.
This time though I was going to make sure everyone had a happy ending. Including Daniel and his princess.
The only problem right now was that I was in the original story line and was only at the age of seventeen. So everyone knew me by Elizabeth the stupid villainous.
Sigh…. I deserved it messing with the timeline.
~~~~~~~~~~
Eric watched as the three mages stood besides his wives bed. Amelia face was even paler than before. The dark under her eyes were shallow and bruised and her lips dried and broken. He felt so powerless, no matter what he did he couldn't save her. No matter how many campaigns he went on all he could get out of it was a little bit of more time for Amelia. For what though? Now that he knew the stone was a scam. His anger was starting to boil over. If what the mage said was true then he had to be on alert. He knew the King personally, he just didn't believe what he heard. At heart though he knew it was true. Amelia was always sickly but to hear the following of her being poisoned made bile rise in his mouth. Lyon really had no remorse and had become derange.
Eric had to trust the Master of the Tower because so far his actions were showing true of nature. He wanted to help him.
Leonard already had his mages helping heal and push back the borders with ease. The small amount of clerics from the temple finally got a break and had real help. It was truly amazing the power that mages held. Clerics and soldiers still had trouble with stabilizing aura or magic. Regardless mages were dangerous that's why they were very exclusive individuals and tended to be solitude beings but for the tower to personal get involve meant something else was at play.
But why was saving Amelia important to them?
He couldn't fathom why.
"Anything that happens in this room must remain between us three."
Eric scowled. There was four of us.
Illion didn't bother looking up and said what Eric was probably questioning.
"Its a doll to store my powers."
Erics scowled deepen. He knew mages were powerful beings that when they reach a certain point of power. They had a limitation and needed something to store their power. So far his seen small animals and a couple of staff but the so call doll was the big enough to be a person.
"I see."
Eric wasn't going to argue or question what needed to stay in this room. He made sure to empty out the castle before him and the mages arrive before word leaked out that they helped Amelia. He also did it to make sure if any of the Kings spy were on the estate were not aware of the help. Before they arrived Illion also mentioned he placed a spell on the castle. The only people that were to remember today was him and the two mages.
"How long as she been like this?"
A soft voice spoke, it was of the smaller mages behind Leonard that asked. Eric felt like he heard this voice before but that wasn't possible. The amplitude of power he saw on the battle field was something his never witness before.
"Two months."
Eric answered his eyes now on the smaller mage. Something about him felt different. Familiar almost, watching as the small mage move in front of Tower Master.
"The treatment."
The mage paused and small hands reached out to touch Amelia forehead.
"Might take several weeks"
Eric took a step toward the mage and tensed, his reflexes on high alert but what he witness made him pause in awe. Long burette hair cascaded down and the mage lifted their hood. As a pair of emerald eyes that were surrounded but the longest lashed turned to him. Small eyebrows scrunch in question at his actions. Eric couldn't move any further as he stared at what he assumed was Amelia herself. While Amelia hair was lighter and blonder. The eyes. They were the same. She could pass as Amelia sister if she wanted too. Who was this girl?
~~~~~~~~
I saw Eric eyes widen as while he continued to searched my face in question. All I could really do was give him a small smile in return.
Right now Amelia health was more important instead of the questions I knew he wanted to ask.
"We can start now if you wish your grace?"
I wanted to make sure it was okay to do this. I knew Eric loved Amelia but I didn't think he either trusted me or Leonard.
It was what helping Amelia came down to it.
Trust.
I grimace because even with my own experience in it, it became hard holding on to it especially with people you loved. Imagine strangers barging in and demanding it.
I grimace.
"Can you save her?" Eric voice, full of worry ask.
His eyes searching hoping I was telling the truth.
"Yes." I said with convention as I looked into his eyes and recalled our time together. I had to save her. He deserved this much from me.
Without hesitation Eric took to his knees and took my hand into his own.
"I put all my trust in you please save my wife."
My eyes starting blurring as my throat felt like a lump was stuck in it.
The emotion that's I couldn't suppress started to overwhelm. This man that even when proposing to me stood, was kneeing in hopes I saved his one true love.
I felt the weight of his action in that instant. My whole body trembled as the wave of emotions took hold of me.
Oh Amelia if you only knew how much you mean to him.
My shoulders rocked as tears now streamed down my cheek.
I felt I had cried a river in the battlefield as my frustration and anguish was unleashed but apparently I had more as I jerked my hands out of Eric's and silently turned to Amelia. My goal at the moment was to save her.