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Dragonslayer Chaos -> RE: (AQW) Arces (12/28/2011 21:30:53)
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Chapter 83
The Frostval Ball
The next morning Arces went around Swordhaven.
Everyone was prepairing for that day's events.
Arces went back to his room late afternoon.
Ten wraped gifts were waiting for him.
The first was from Artix. It was in blue paper and had a white ribbon around it.
Arces opened it. It was small wooden figure of Arces. He stood like a noble with his blade drawn. A small bit of fire swirled up his left arm. His armor was that he wore in the Twin Canyon.
Arces smiled and opened the next one. It was from Alina.
He toke the purple paper off, and looked at the potion. A note on the paper said,'This potion will calm your nerves when the time need be. Use it well.'
Arces rewraped it and hid it under his bed.
The next one was from his father. It was a small wooden box. Inside was a small potrait.
A note said,'This is what your mother looked like. I figured you would want to see it.'
Arces looked at it. The woman had long blood-red hair, red eyes, pale skin, and wore a blue dress. Arces saw the resemblance.
He put the portrait on the wall.
The next gift was from KAGG. A note said,'Thank you.'
Arces opened it. A silver pendant fell to his lap. On it was a small iron hammer.
Gift number five was from Rayst. There was no note.
In it was a rune. It had the symble for 'dragon' on it. It made Arces wonder what it did.
The next one was from snowbeard. In it was a bottle of dwarfen beer.
Dage sent him two gifts. Both were bottles of beer. Each was well aged and had minor enchantments on it.
There were now two left. Arces picked one up. It was from Galanoth.
In it was an emblem. It was shaped like a dragon skull. It was made of metal and enchanted. The enchantment kept it from rusting.
Arces grabbed the last one. It was a wooden box wrapped in a blood-red paper. A wooden skull decorated the top of it. It was obviouly from Gravelyn.
Arces opened it. Inside the box was a cloak. It was pure red. By the look of it, she wanted him to wear it into battle.
Arces put it somewhere safe, and got up. The sun was getting close to setting.
Arces went to his wordrobe and pulled out a black formal tuxedo. He put it on. He tied his hair back, shaved, and washed his face.
When he finished, the sun had sunken lower.
He went down to the entrance.
Arces went to the entrance. People were coming to the castle.
Arces helped greet people when they came in.
He simply told them welcome.
Once people had stopped coming, he went to the table his father was sitting at.
Everyone was sitting. They looked at the main table.
King Alteon stood."Welcome. Today marks a special day. This day is Frostval. We have endured so much this year. The fall of Sepulchure, the betrayle of Maximilion Lionfang, the rise of Drakath and his Chaos Lords, the Alliance, and the return of my son."He raised his glass. Everyone did the same."We have suffered lose and gain. We have lost friends and family. But, we have gained new friends and allys. Were there is dread, there is hope. I say, do not give up the hope, or we all lose."He raised his glass again and said,"For the future!"
Everyone did the same.
The food began to be passed around. Ham, turkey, pie, sausage, pastries, fresh fruits and vegetables, and so on. People began to talk amungst each other.
Arces then noticed who were sitting at the main table.
There were seven people, including him and his father, sitting there.
At the right end sat two men who he had never meet before, both named Nightshade. Next to them sat Sean, one of the greatest heros of the generation. King Alteon sat in the center. Arces sat next to his father. Snowbeard sat next to Arces. Gravelyn sat next to Snowbeard.
Arces looked across the hall. His sister, Britney, Victoria and Terra, sat at a table in the front. Artix sat a table with Zhoom, Cysero, Galanoth, Warlic and Valencia. Everyone else sat at there tables and talked amoung each other while they ate.
After everone had eaten, King Alteon got to his feet. when he stood, he almost fell over. Sean helped him to his feet.
The king thanked the dragonlord."Now that we have eaten, let us enjoy this night."He clapped his hands. Everyone got out of there chairs.
Chair and tables floated out of the room. Two tables covered with small snacks floated in. The floor opened up.
"Now,"continued the king,"let us dance."
Arces stood against the wall, as did a few others. Everyone else was dancing.
His sister, Brittney, was dancing with a knight named Ano. Terra was dancing with their father. Victoria was dancing with Artix.
Brittney wore beautiful blue ballroom dress along with her tiara. Victoria worea blue sleveless dress and nothing on her head. Terra wore her usual dress and tiara.
Arces looked to see Cysero dancing with his wife, Nythera and Ryuuji were dancing, and Galanoth, in his armor, was standing at the opposist wall. Sean was dancing with a girl named Elysia. The two looked very happy dancing together.
Arces looked at the people standing against the wall. He saw Snowbeard, Princess Miko, Vayle, Zhoom, and Gravelyn.
Miko nooded to Arces when his attention focused on Gravelyn.
Zhoom, wearing a dark brown tuxedo, walked up to Vayle."May I have this dance?"He extended his hand to her.
Vayle, who had been staring at Artix the whole time, looked at Zhoom."Sure."he gave him her hand. She kept her eyes focused on Artix and Victoria.
Arces walked up to Gravelyn. She was wearing a red sleveless dress with a golden trim. Her hair was curled and not held back. She had a slight gleam to her lips and had a special oil on her eyelashes. She looked even more beautiful than ever.
Arces stood next to her."It is good to see you again Gravelyn."
She looked at him."As is you Arces."She was smiling.
Arces blushed. He wanted to ask her to dance, but held back.
Dage walked up to Arces."Ahh, Arces, Empress Gravelyn. It is good to see you again."
Gravelyn looked at him."Where is V?"
He pointed over his shoulder."She went to the restroom. i sawyou two, so I decided to came and talk."
Arces looked him in the eyes."What are you planning?"
Dage jumped."Plan what?"
"I can ee it in your eyes. Your planning something. What is it?"
Dage looked over his shoulder."I'm going to ask V to be my bride."
Gavelyn looked at him in shock."Realy?"
He nodded."Its true that I never knew she was a girl until Twin Canyon, but I love her. I want her to join me for the rest of my existance."
Arces put his hand on Dage's shoulder."Now is your chance."
Dage looked over his shoulder. V was amoung the crowd. Dage nodded and walked off.
By this time, V's story had spread. Their veiw on her hadn't changed.
Dage walked up to V, and they continued to dance. The crowd of people dancing covered them up.
Gravelyn lauged. Arces looked at her."What is it?"
"The fact someone as brutial and evil as Dage to find happiness and love. It seems a bit wrong. But, i'm happy. Dage has been like an uncle to me. He was the first to teach me how to summon undead. Thats how I summoned Chuckles' skull. My father taught me from there. I was soon able to summon the rest of Chuckles."
Arces heard a little chuckle. He looked behind him to find the lich chuckles.
"Yes Chuckles?"Gravelyn asked.
"My lady, haha, Tibias wanted me to tell you that they have moved."This was the first time Arces had ever heard Chuckles talk. He had a deeper voise than you would expect.
"Where to,"she asked.
He put up his hand."Tibias' message, haha, just said that they moved, haha, I don't know to where. He, haha, told me he would end word, haha, when he found them."
She nodded."Thank you. You may go."Her eye were closed and her smile was gone. She was thinking.
Chuckles nodded and walked away.
Arces pulled himself together. He extended his hand to Gravelyn."Can I have this dance?"
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She blushed and said,"You may."She grabbed his hand.
The two went to share their dance.
The music suddenly went slow. Arces toke a quick glance to see some of his friends, Artix, Miko, Cysero and Snowbeard nodding to him.
Arces grabbed Gravelyn's waist and her right hand. Gravelyn did the same.
The two began to dance.
People began to clear out of the way. Arces didn't notice, same for Gravelyn. The two focused on each other.
They continued to dance, even after the song ended.
After a while Arces began to lean foward, as did Gravelyn. They were getting ready to kiss.
Just then, a man ran into the hall shouting,"My lord! My Lord!"
Everyone looked at him. He was a Pactagonal Knight. He walked up to King Alteon.
The king looked at him."Yes Sir Valince?"
The knight let out a breath and said."Drakath has come into the city."Everyone froze. He continued."He demands to speak to you, Empress Gravelyn, and Prince Arces."
Arces and Gravelyn walked up. Gravelyn's hands were shaking with anger.
"What does Drakath want?"Gravelyn asked.
"I do not know. He just walked into the city, followed by a carrage pulled by two black fiends."
King Alteon nodded."Then we will meet with him. We can't allow him to belive we are rude. If his attentions are of war, he will not leave. If his are peaceful, for now, we will hear him out."
Arces nodded. Gravelyn, still angry said,"That will depend. I have a score to settle with that monster."
The king looked at her with pity in his eyes."Please, control your anger Empress. It will do no good to think that way."
Arces put a hand on her shoulder."Please calmdown Gravelyn."
She looked him the eyes. They were shaking with anger and sadness. She let out a deep breath and said,"Very well."
King Alteon had to have Artix help him out of his seat and twoards Drakath.
Gravelyn put on her red coat.
They set out.
Drakath walked up. The carrage was being pulled behind him.
He looked at the three of them and smiled."Good to see you."
Gravelyn walked up to him and asked,"Why are you here Drakath?"
He frowned."You're not glade to see me? After all I did to help your father?"
Gravelyn toke a step fowardand said,"You tried to kill him once, and succeded the second time. Why should I not take this chance and have my revenge?"
He laughed."Ha. I've done more than you think little girl."
She toke another step foward, but Arces stopped her. She had her fist clenched. She struggled, but stopped a few seconds afterward.
Drakath smiled again."Now thats what I want. Chaos is always so fun to see. But, enough fun, let me get to my point."
All four faces looked at him.
"I have come to allow my new Chaos Lord to be shown. I have seen the results, and this way will stir the most Chaos."
The carrage started to shake a bit. drakath turned to it."You can come out, my old friend."
Arces focused on those two words, 'old friend.' He then looked closly at the carrage. It was blood red, like Gravelyns' dress. It had charuptid skulls on the sides.
His eyes widened."You didn't!"Arces looked at him with disbelife."
"I did!"He let out a little laugh.
A man walked out of the carrage. He wore doomknight armor. It was a deep purple with a chaotic eye in the center of the chest. His helm looked familiar. He wore a cape of pure black.
Gravelyn looked at him with a scared look."F-father?"
The man smiled."Hellow my dauther."Sepulchure let out a laugh.
King Alteon looked at him with complete disbelife."It can't be."
Drakath let out a laugh he had been dying to let out. Sepulchure did the same.
Artix, who had been quiet said,"Why bring back your old enemy?"
Drakath looked at him."Why not?"
Arces stepped foward."Is it not enought you killed him? Why do you mock us?"
Sepulchure stepped foward."Who say i'm not willing serving him?"
"My father serves no one by his own will."Gravelyn was shaking.
Nodding epulchure said,"Until I saw the true path."
"No."King Alteon was completly in shock."The real Sepulchure would never serve anyone. I was the only one he served, until he lost that most prized to him."
Drakath let out a small laugh."Chaos Lords are people or beast who seek power, reputation, revenge, or anything of the such. You three,"he pointed at Arces, King Alteon and Gravelyn,"each seek one of the things, but you are pure and uncharuptible. It would be no use to try and make you Chaos Lords."
With that, he turned and said,"I only tell you this because the outcome is more...fun."With that, he vanished in a burst of purple flames. Sepulchure pointed at his carrage, and it burst into flames. The fiends were caught in the fire, and burned to death.
Sepulchure laughed and vanished in the same manor Drakath did.
Arces tried to grab him, but was a second to late.
Gravelyn feel to the ground in tears."No, no, no."
Arces put an arm around her. She pushed him away.
Arces forced a hug on Gravelyn. She didn't resist. She cryed into his arms.
Arces helped Gravelyn back to the castle.
King Alteon told Artix to go back ahead of them. He could handle on his own.
Artix told the people there what had just occured.
Gravelyn keptcrying, even after they made it to the castle.
The people there were shocked to see Gravelyn in tears. It made them want to cry as well.
That day had started off so well. Now it had ended horribly.
Arces knew what he had to do. He had to hunt down Sepulchure. Before he could decide on what to do, he needed toconsult with Gravelyn.
That night, Arces helped Gravelyn to her room.
When she was in her room she asked,"Could you stay here for the night?"
Arces looked at her."Sure. Just let me know what you need. at this moment, you need it."
She nodded. She went to her wordrobe and pulled out her sleeping gown. Arces went out of the room so she could change.
Arces went to his room, and changed into his pants and tunic.
When he returned, Gravelyn wasin her red sleeping gown.
Gravelyn didn't blush. Her eyes were very red and puffy.
Arces sat in the chair by the door.
Gravelyn got in her bed.
Arces looked at the stars. He thought about anything to keep his mind ocupied from the event that happened that night.
He fell asleep not long after Gravelyn.
The next day, Gravelyn and Arces et out for Shadowfall.
Arces would wach over Gravelyn until they had found Sepulchure.
Chuckles, V, Dage and Tibias were waiting for them.
They told Gravelyn that a wird eye had been spoted flying around Shadowfall the past night.
She nodded, andwent to her chambers. Arces followed.
When they were in Gravelyn's chambers, she asked,"What do you need to talk about Arces?"
He looked at her."I need to know if it is okay for me to fight Sepulchure. I may have to kill him."
She looked at him with puffy eyes."He is not himself. I woun't accept it easily, but he would want it. You must kill him Arces."
He couldn't belive she had said that so easily, but he nodded and said,"I'm here if you need me."
She nodded and said,"Go talk to Chuckles about you living arangments if you are to stay. I have a lot to think about."
He nodded, and left her chambers.
Arces got a room that was meant for a general. The walls were blood red. Two lamps were all the light there. A black be was in the center of the room.
Arces had a woredrobe there. He put his armor in there, along with his spare clothes.
He looked out his door, and found thattwo undead were guarding it.
He asked them,"Could I get something to eat?"
One of the guards said,"I'll be right back Prince Arces."He walked off.
Arces got ate his food, and soon fell asleep.
This Frostval had been memorible. But he was now wondering if it was the best.
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