The Seeker and the Source Pt. 07

Gosh I can't believe this is the final chapter. I have to say this has been a fun experience for me. I hope you enjoyed it too.

They say write about what you know. Well, my fiancé is often plagued with nightmares. One of the reasons why Aurelia has so many is because she's sort of modeled after her. That and her fear of the dark. She sleeps with the lights on whenever it's just her. Sleeps fine with me in the dark though.

Which actually brings me to the reason why I wrote this story to begin with. You see whenever my partner wakes up from a nightmare, I usually wake her up, very gently, to make sure she doesn't end up hurting herself. Then I'd pull her into my arms and we'd just lie there together until she fell back to sleep. One night I started making up stories just to distract her from her recent dream. One particular story she loved was about an elven prince who fell in love with a human. Eventually every time she'd wake up I would hold her close, stroke her hair and continue the adventures of the elven prince and his mate.

However, due to the nature of our jobs, we end up having to travel quite a bit. Which means I'm not always around to comfort her. During those times I know she religiously reads stories from this website.

This is her favourite category.

So after much research (including reading other erotic stories to learn how to write within this genre and what shouldn't be written about) I decided to write out the tale of Illandriil and Aurelia.

Anyways, I know dedications usually happen at the beginning of the story but I also know she starts reading the forward part way through the story so:

This goes out to my fiancé,

A pandemic may have postponed our wedding but I don't need an alter to know that you're my forever.

My beautiful bride.

I love you.

Good night and sleep well.

Love love,

dove dove,

C-Bear

Oh and cheers to the rest of you! Enjoy the finale!

Anyways without further ado.

#####

The smell of burnt cedar, ash and flesh choked the air. Her eyes watered as the acrid smell filled her lungs.

Aurelia stood, mouth gaped, in horror and disbelief at the sickening scene in the outpost courtyard. Bodies of those who failed to escape the onslaught lay stacked in a gruesome pile. Males and females dressed in the silks and tunics of servants. Staff, not soldiers, people who likely had never picked up a weapon in their life, let alone use it to defend themselves. It was one thing to kill an enemy soldier, but it was another to butcher innocents who could not otherwise fight back.

Her stomach doubled over as she braced herself for the wave of nausea that came over her. Bile rose at the back of her throat as she clutched herself and bent over to the side. She heaved what little contents she had in her onto the grass.

When she finally brought herself to grips she approached. Her pale blue eyes scanned the charred stack of bodies in front of her. Scanning for one specific person amidst a pile of death, praying silently to all the Gods. Surely she had seen something like this before? No, because up until now she had been safely tucked away from the war, on the run, fleeing an unknown enemy on the false words of men. Kept in the dark, kept from completely knowing. Naïve and oblivious. Innocent.

Though she wasn't really innocent now was she? She may not have been the cause of their death but how many other deaths had she caused? Those executed by the Elves for racial treachery, found only through the use of her powers. Augustes. The man she had helped execute, for the sake of fulfilling a decades old prophecy surrounding her existence. Even when her powers weren't being used against her will. The men and women who perished that night the prince kidnapped her.

She sank to her knees as her eyes finally caught sight of what she was looking for. The small hand slumped to the side, small palms facing up. Grey Halfling eyes gazing skyward, its spirit long since banished from the realm. She grasped the rigid forearm and pulled her friend from the pile.

Words and prayers escaped her lips and she worked her hands around her body as if to will life back into its sallow husk. Nothing. Empty eyes, remaining glazed forever locked in her last moments before her end.

Aurelia closed the eyelids of the servant who had cared for her during her stay there. Why would they do this? She was innocent, unarmed. A Halfling at that, they were peaceful and had nothing to do with the war. Silent tears for her fallen friend welled into her eyes and she wept.

A strong calloused hand clasped onto her shoulder breaking her from her vigil, accompanied by a soft masculine voice.

"Hey 'Relia"

Aurelia gazed up at the man who now stood above her, her grief stricken image reflected in unfeeling dark brown eyes. Lepidus.

Once upon a time she would have considered him among her closest friends. Her only friend as most of the other children were either too young or nervous to be around her. They were thick as thieves growing up, never once did he treat her like she was anything different from him. That was until he joined the Order that is.

Ever since his initiation into the mages guild, he became distant, cold. She now knew why. Why harbour feelings for someone who you know must die at the hands of the group you've pledged yourself to? He had found out about her place in the prophecy, why she had powers.

Yet here he was now. Somehow he had become the defacto leader of the order.

"Why?" She asked, her voice choking as the word came out.

"She was one of them" he shrugged un-phased by her tears.

Aurelia stood up and whirled around to face him. Her eyes practically glowing with anger meeting his cold hard stare.

"She was just a servant, she had nothing to do with this bloody conflict!"

"Anyone who isn't us is against us. Make no mistake they're the enemy, every last one of them."

Lepidus frowned but didn't provide much more reasoning beyond that. He rubbed her back in a feigned attempt at comforting her before finally speaking again.

"I'm sorry 'Relia, I don't know what else to say. I'll personally see to it that she has a good burial."

The comforting familiarity of her childhood nickname felt out of place in such grim setting. She looked over at her old friend gauging the truth in he said before finally nodding her head reassured by his words.

His hand circled around her forearm as he lead her toward a small column of rangers he set aside for the protection of the Source instructing them to escort her out to the main camp they had set up a distance away.

###

Illandriil and Cerrella's ships made landfall that night docking a small distance away from the outpost sure to be unseen even while they could see the burnt building. They both stood on the bow of their respective ship startled at the sight of the charred wreckage of the outpost. There was a look of regret on Cerrella's face and Illandriil knew why.

His cousin, in all her feigned arrogance and callous attitude, like him, took the lives of every soldier under her command very seriously. Not just soldiers, prisoners too, human or elf. Despite her prejudices against humans, she would never torture or kill them unjustly. Like him, Cerrella didn't like gambling with the lives of her followers. He knew she'd make a great general one day. Unlike her father.

Despite her pain Illandriil couldn't help but feel grateful that she was her fathers heir. That one day they would be in charge of the Dominion, with him on the Lapis Lazuli throne and her leading the army. For now they had to split themselves.

"We find the girl and get out of here." She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, the flames of rage and anguish lurking just beneath the surface.

Malloryn stepped up to help set up a small team to deal with the dead outside the building whilst Cerrella mustered her men for the attack. Illandriil didn't feel right leaving Cerrella to lead the counter-attack on the outpost. He could tell that by the looks of it Cerrella too, felt like something was off about the smouldering structure in front of them.

"You should go. After I retake the outpost, I'll come help you find her." Said Cerrella as she gripped Illandriil's arm reassuringly, after they had gone over the plan thoroughly for the third time since they arrived.

Illandriil nodded his head, agreeing though not feeling overly reassured despite the plan.

Illandriil looked over at his own contingent, battle hardened and ready, unlike some of the newer warriors that made up part of Cerrella's. While she had the numbers, some of the fighters she was bringing in were relatively green. Some with only one or two gold rings on their heavy austere armor.

If he stayed, he could provide some assistance; but with Aurelia so close.

Illandriil could feel it the moment they landed on shore, the distant hum of their bind, the fluttering beat of her heart. Having spent so much time in her presence, the sound was almost unmistakable.

Malloryn stood front and centre waiting for his word. Their plan was to head into the forest tracking Aurelia, and flank the Order from the side. With hope they would be in and out of there before Cerrella even finished clearing the outpost.

He motioned his people to action as they departed from Cerrella's hoard.

I'm coming for you my veela.

###

Cerrella watched as Illandriil departed into the woods before she lead her formation into the outpost grounds.

The place looked abandoned with the lifeless bodies of the guard stationed there littering the surrounding area. Cerrella motioned two scouts to her, instructing them to inspect the area. She lead them through a private signal to let her know if the area was safe before sending them off.

Her eyes remained glued on the building as she readied an arrow, in the event that the two didn't make it. Time seem to stop once they disappeared behind the cobbled walls.

A few long minutes passed before a large ball of white light illuminated the starless night sky, cut against the billowing black smoke of the walls surrounding it.

Cerrella moved in.

As they rounded the courtyard, she felt her heart sink into her stomach. The grotesque pile of corpses they had left in the centre. All civilian.

"It looks like they rounded every resident and executed them." A lieutenant murmured next to her before walking over to examine the body of a halfling woman that lay just in front. The she-elf glanced over at her leader searching for her input.

Cerrella balled her fists up fighting back her tears in front of her troop. Her voice spoke, low, heavy tone, her rage bubbling beneath a stony exterior.

"Build a pyre, we'll hold a funeral here for every one of them. As soon as the last spirit has been burned free of its body we'll go join his highness. With any luck he'll be back before the funeral rights."

"Where is his highness?" said a mysterious voice from the walls.

Cerrella looked up at the looming faces of humans filing in around them in the inner courtyard and perched along the grey stone barrier. They had the elves surrounded on all sides. Cerrella's heart sank to her stomach. Ambushed. She kicked herself internally as the humans advanced around them trapping them within the walls. How could I have been so stupid? She walked herself right into an ambush. Worst still. She lead others to their downfall in the process.

She readied her bow and braced herself for the attack.

###

Aurelia had just settled in for the night, as she laid on a comforting familiar bedroll before a large campfire. She gazed into the flames, to disturbed by the images in her brain to sleep. The dancing embers too similar to the ruined outpost. The varying sounds of clinking chains, shuffling and marching feet drew her attention to the western entrance of the encampment. A distant sound of revelry drawing closer with each second.

"Akash has smiled upon us tonight" said a familiar baritone.

Aurelia looked over to see Lepidus arrive in the camp, strutting boastfully followed by a group of Elven warriors. Each elf had their arms tied behind their back. Many of them were cuffed together through stiff metal collars at their necks. Their normally pristine black leather armour looked beaten, as did many of their faces. Some of them looked to have sustained considerable damage during their scuffle, leaving large bloody gashes criss-crossing exposed bits of skin. Those that survived the attack to be taken prisoner that is.

"Captured us a whole contingent of Elves. This one must be their leader. Walked right into the Outpost. Didn't think we'd stay did ya?" Torius guffawed pointing at one hooded she-elf who stood between the two men. She was decked out in the recognizable black dominion attire; her face partially concealed by the hooded cloak. Despite her current state, she carried herself with the grace of a true warrior with her back straight, head held high. Like she was above it all.

She snapped at his outstretched finger causing him to yelp and flinch back. This earned her a sharp slap across the face, though the smug look she had plastered over her expression told Aurelia that it was worth it.

"This all they could spare for the Source? They must be running out of men if they're sending their women." Lepidus joked back enjoying the sweet taste of victory, basking in the glory of having captured such a lovely prize. It wasn't his highness for sure, but this was the next best thing.

Aurelia sucked in some air when she caught a glimpse of the silvery blond locks and verdant green eyes from underneath the hood. Cerrella

"Careful not to get too close" Torius grumbled. "Don't like the teeth on that one."

"Good thing their cunts are nice and soft, no teeth there" Said another ranger, running his hands through his dark greasy hair playfully as he examined her.

Aurelia looked on appalled at the disgusting scene taking place in front of her. Watching men and women taking digs at the captured prisoners before them.

"She sure is somethin', Elven women really are as pretty as they say. 'Wonder if this one will scream just as prettily with my cock buried in her" Lepidus laughed while rubbing his groin suggestively sending peals of laughter amongst several of the men.

"You said I could have her first since I was the one who risked my life to save the Source" Torius whined.

"Sure, sure my friend. Plenty to go around for everyone. Of course you can have first go at our honored guest." He japed. Turning to address Cerrella he asked sarcastically. "So where's your cousin, princess? Shouldn't he be the one gallivanting over to protect that one?" As he said this he gestured to Aurelia as she sat by the fire. Cerrella's eyes briefly met Aurelia's, her eyes were fierce.

Dragging fiery her gaze away. Cerrella schooled her expression keeping her face staring straight forward, refusing to dignify his questioning.

Lepidus frowned at the lack of response from his elven captive but then shrugged his shoulders with exaggerated indifference.

"Oh well, he'll turn up to the party soon, I'm sure. In the meantime we're going to have such fun with you and your friends. Once we're finished, you'll even get the pleasure of watching us slit all their throats, that way you'll die having watched them all suffer. Save the best for last as they say." Lepidus sneered, causing Cerrella to briefly shudder.

Torius moved to yank the resistant elf away from the group of prisoners.

"Stop!"

Cerrella, startled at the voice, looked over to see Aurelia hurtling toward them to intervene. She managed to cross the short distance of grass between them and campfire she had only moments ago been laying by.

She grabbed hold of Torius' sleeve and tried, somewhat futilely, to yank him away from her. He turned around his face first surprised then angry to see someone get between him and his prize. Aurelia let him go, realizing that she lacked the strength to actually pull him off Cerrella, before turning to plead with the muddied eyed leader of the order.

"Let them go Lepidus. Please."

"Why? What is this bitch to you anyways?"

Aurelia froze, unsure how to answer. All she knew was that Cerrella would never have been captured if she hadn't been sent after her. While she had no uncertainty over Cerrella's feelings for her, no one deserved to die because of her.

"You've already taken away their weapons, there's not much more they can do. Just let her go."

"And what of the men and women in the camp? The ones who lost their husbands and wives to these abominations? Look around you girl, everyone of us has lost a family member to these creatures. Where is our justice?"

"Mercy Lepidus! I'm asking for mercy. I can't have anymore people die because of me."

"What don't you understand 'Relia? They're the enemy. Mercy is for the weak. I will never ever release an elf. They deserve to die a thousand times over! Her especially." He spat.

"No one deserves to die."

"Sorry" He bit out the word in disgust. "But this is my camp, my rules. They die."

Aurelia was frantic now. She couldn't let this happen. This wasn't part of the plan. Her eyes roamed the faces of every elvish prisoner they had. The beaten looks of defeat. Some of the younger ones looked petrified at the idea of dying.

"You will release them because I am the Source and I will not help you fulfill the human side of the prophecy unless you do!" Aurelia demanded as her last resort.

"You'd turn against your own people at the last second?"

"If I must to protect their lives, then I will."

There was a pregnant pause as the two humans stared the other down. Lepidus furrowed his brow as he debated the seriousness of her ultimatum.

Deciding she wasn't jesting with her threat he relented. "As you wish. Allow me to personally see the prisoners back to shore." He grunted through gritted teeth before gesturing to the large group of rangers to follow him. Torius shot her a scathing look, dismayed at the turn of events before he assisted in herding the prisoners back where they came.

She begged Lepidus one last time as he moved to leave, grabbing his arm to slow him down to listen. Her eyes wide with fear of what nearly came to be. Hoping that their past friendship still meant something to him.

"Promise me you'll let them go Lepidus."

"You have my word." He responded gruffly, yanking himself from her grasp. He turned and trailed after them.

## Cerrella ##

The walk back was laborious, as Cerrella stumbled along the uneven forest terrain. She was lost in her thoughts, thinking of the way Aurelia had tried in vain to step between her and the skinny human. It was bizarre to see the small human try to take on those bigger than she was especially since up until then, all she ever seemed to do was weakly follow her cousin around. Valiant as her efforts may have been it was her words that caught Cerrella off guard. 'Mercy.' She asked for mercy on her behalf.

'No one deserves to die'

Cerrella recognized the direction they were headed wasn't toward the shore as she and her warriors were forced into a distant clearing.

"You have no intention on sparing us do you?" Said Cerrella as their human captors forced them all to kneel.

The man, Lepidus she thought he was called, crouched down in front of her and stroked her cheek and smiled maliciously at her.

"No not when we have such a prized captive. Especially the second in command of the entire Dominion Army."

His face was close to hers, she could smell his foul smelling breath with each word that spewed from his mouth. Cerrella scowled back at him refusing to let him see the horror she felt at his words. It was easy to feign anger when the humans seemed intent on addressing her by the wrong title. Princess. How annoying.