The Last True Hope of Tir Asleen

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Synopsis:   With the somewhat abysmal ending of the Willow series, I wanted to try my hand at writing what I believe would be a more suitable end to the franchise.  Think of it as a summation of Volumes II and III if they had been realized for the small screen.

 

Chapter 1—We Can’t Turn Back Now !

                Having arrived at the Immemorial City, Elora was miffed that Willow and the others were turning tale toward Tir Asleen.   Why would they simply turn back after having defeated the Crone and returned Airk to the Light ?  

                ‘I’m unsure why, but I think that Graydon is somewhere else.  He’s not exactly dead.’, Elora said, wanting to turn around.   Their ride, a mudmander, patiently waited for them at the shore of the Shattered Sea, wondering why Greydon hadn’t reappeared.  

                ‘Elora, you’re going to have to let Graydon go.  The Crone evaporated him.’, Jade said, trying not to be overcome with emotion.   Graydon had proven a worthy ally with his Pnycotic language and arcane wisdom, but Elora wouldn’t allow them to flee.

                ‘He’s in trouble.  I can feel it.   I may not be completely prepared for this battle, but we have to return.   There’s a possibility this could still end in our favor.’, Elora stated, boldly.    Willow knew Elora’s true fate and seeing her steely eyes set for rescue and facing the Wyrm, he heaved a heavy sigh.

                ‘Why couldn’t the prophecy have been delayed a bit more ?’, he thought, chiding himself internally.   There wasn’t anything any of them could do to dissuade her, but even Elora knew that the troop needed to rest before returning.

                ‘If he is alive, what then ?’, Kit questioned.

                ‘This time, I complete the purge.   If there is a way for darkness to be overcome, it’s only by the power of love.’, she said, holding on to hope and optimism.   The Wrym, however, was intensely and immensely powerful.   He would have an entire battalion behind him, and only Willow and Elora were true sorcerers, standing against a horrific hoard.      

                Despite this fact, Elora questioned her subconscious mind for more answers, even though she knew she and the others would be greatly outnumbered.    For now, they would sleep, but they would return to the Immemorial City and do their best to rescue their lost friend Prince Graydon.  

 

Chapter 2—Love Conquers All

                While she slept, Elora had a vision.   Like Willow, she could see her broken body, lying dead in the Wyrm’s terrible world.    She gasped, realizing why Willow had been keeping this from her.    She was hurt, but she knew that like Kit, he had been doing his utmost to keep this truth buried deep inside of his conscience, knowing it would make her question why she was going forward in her newfound quest to rescue Graydon.  

                ‘There has to be a way to change that fate.’, she thought.    In her dream, she saw that should she be successful in delivering Graydon, that she would be able to defeat the Wyrm, even if he had been immortal.    Although the future was hazy and anything could happen, Elora had a feeling she could trust in her newfound abilities.   She was still green and learning on the fly, but having defeated the Crone, she felt confident that although this next battle would test her true mettle, she would finally be able to prove to herself that she truly was the Empress that Tir Asleen needed and the savior they had all waited for.   

                The next day, Boorman, Kit, Jade and Willow all waited at the entrance to the Immemorial City.   Elora incited an incantation that she hadn’t been familiar with and it transported them all into the Wyrm’s Dimension.

                ‘Where the blazes are we ?’, Boorman asked, feeling rueful he hadn’t lain with Scorpina a few times more in the Wildwood before having partaken on the rest of this suicidal quest.   

                ‘It’s the Wyrm’s World.’, Elora said, with some sadness to her tone.   All of them came to the realization by default that it was likely that instead of death, something far worse had been reserved for Prince Graydon Hathur.    The lingering evil that had been instilled within him from youth had tainted his mind and he had fallen for the Wyrm’s wiles.    Only the true Elora could awaken Graydon and turn him back to the path of Light.  

                ‘You’re a bit too late, Elora Danan.’, Graydon, repossessed stated.  

                ‘No, we’re just in time.   Do you really want to bring about Armageddon ?’, Elora questioned.    Graydon thought about it for a moment and eerily floated in front of the sorceress, studying her.    It wasn’t until she held his hand that a shudder bolted him out of his trance. 

                ‘Graydon, I know you’re still in there.  If you’re awake, fight.   Fight the Wyrm with all you have !   I can assist, but this is your war…’, she said.   The Wrym, in Elora’s form, seethed.     ‘Get them !  Don’t just stand there, kill the lot of them !’ he screeched.   

                Inside of Graydon’s mind, the darkness that he had been carrying his entire life since birth cowered next to a wall, wailing.   It said nothing, just sat huddled next to a red brick wall, alone, scared, and shrouded in darkness.      Elora came over and bent down to look at the distressed Prince straight in the eyes.

                ‘You’re afraid, aren’t you ?   Well, there’s nothing to be afraid of.’, Elora began, smiling widely.    With her ability, she had diminished herself to a child’s size so she could better reach the man she loved.   It had taken her the entire quest to the Immemorial City that Graydon had been her red thread and not Arik.    Arik could do better, and there were no hurt feelings on his end.   He had been a bit of a roue after all, and she hadn’t been jilted in recognizing this fact.   

                ‘There was nothing I could do, little girl.    I killed my brother !   He trusted me.  All he wanted to do was get pulled up into our secret tree fortress in the sky.   We were only playing at the time, but I…I…’, Graydon stammered, tears rushing from his eyes.    

                ‘That wasn’t you.   It was an accident.   You’ve always had a power residing deep within.    Don’t be afraid to use it.   Trust yourself !’, Elora said, gently.    Any and all darkness that was within him began to depart.   The dark ichor that had filled him was completely gone and his eyes were clear. 

                ‘Deception is quite a low blow.  You should really know better than to pull the wool over my eyes, Wyrm.’, Graydon said, clearly pissed.   Elora had his flute in her hand and tossed it his way.   The villains that had surrounded them had been diminished but the Wyrm still stood tall, towering over them.

                ‘You lot are dreadfully outnumbered.   So you got your namby pamby little Prince back ?   So what?   I couldn’t give a flying flea about that !’, the Wyrm bellowed before sending out his army against them.   

 

 

Chapter 3—Don’t Underestimate Us !  

                Kit could hear the voice of her dad once more, and she thought maybe he had been sent here into the Wyrm’s world as well.   He had been calling out to her and from her periphery, she could see him, strung up in a crow’s cage once more.

                ‘Dad, you really have to stop getting yourself caged.’, she said, obviously.   Madmartigen chuckled.

                ‘I knew you would find me eventually.   I used our bond to reconnect, but now you’re here.   You’ve really made me proud, kiddo.   What did I tell ya ?  You’re me, but better !’, Madmartigen said, his eyes filling with euphoric tears.    His rescue would have to wait but Willow had already shot a magic arrow, severing the chain keeping the crow’s cage aloft.  Before the cage could crumble upon impact, Mads hopped out and joined the fight.

                ‘I’ll need my trusty blade.   You’ve kept it well, Kit.  Thank you.   Now it’s my turn to teach these pricks a lesson.’, Madmartigen stated.  Although the party was tiny by comparison, they bravely held their own prowess against the forces of evil.    The dual headed Eborksisk roared fire straight at them  but Graydon and Elora deflected it, using their own magic even without uttering a single incantation.     The others fought the Wyrm’s disciples, picking them off, one by one.     While Graydon single handedly confused the Eborsisk to roast itself to death, Elora was facing down the Wrym.   It was her battle against the immortal epitome of darkness and her’s alone.   

                Before long, it was only Elora and the Wyrm fighting each other.    Nearly feeling tapped of energy, Elora summoned the last of her willpower and forged a holy sword from the ether and plunged it deep into the Wyrm’s jugular.   Shrieking in pain, the Wyrm rasped, ‘But I’m eternal’ before pure holiness made him turn into ash and soot that blew away in the wind.    

                All around them, the world that the Wyrm had created had begun crumbling. 

                ‘We need to get out, like, right now.’, Boorman stated, his voice shaking.

                ‘No shit !’, Madmartigen concurred.    All of them left through a portal that Willow subsequently opened for them with his own innate power, since Elora’s was spent.    She would have to rest to rejuvenate.    Being too weak to even walk, Graydon offered a piggyback ride to her and carried her out of the hellish realm that had once been subject to the Wyrm and his kind.   

 

Chapter 3—The Vision Was Wrong

                Willow discovered that the future wasn’t set in stone and like rushing water, it changed as it wished.    Even Arik had moved on since the false wedding in the Immemorial city, having found himself another girl outside the palace.    It had taken him a while to get his wild oats sewing out of his system, but this new lady, Yolanda, had proven to be an equal match for him.     She had learned archery from a young age shooting game in order to survive, but it seemed she had a way to speak to the creatures of Tir Asleen just as Graydon did with the mudmander.   

                Willow finally explained how he had been so wrong, although his heart had been in the right place.   Just like his pep talk to Elora long before the battle in Wrym World, he admitted that he had been liable to make mistakes.

                ‘Why I had seen in that vision was so wrong…I might have acted rashly.’, he confessed. 

                ‘You were simply looking after me.   Now I finally have my surrogate dad back and he can return to the throne.’, Elora mused aloud.    Madmartigen didn’t like the prospect of ruling.   He much rather liked being an adventurer and seeing the world.    He had asked for a pardon from Boorman for his bad judgement in trusting the wrong people when the Cuirass had been taken and the Lux Arcana had been hidden.    The Cuirass and the Lux were now placed in the armory after being removed once the epic battle against the Wrym had been won.    

                The only matters that were pressing for the entire court was a double wedding.   It hadn’t been planned this way initially, but the two felt it was better to end their quest on a high note and after all they had seen that life, indeed, was way too short not to seize the day while the light still lingered in it. 

 

Chapter 4—The True Empress

                There was still the possibility that should Graydon and Elora have any children that they would have been considered the Blood of the Six, since Nastur had a sinister bloodline.    However, any probability of that had been completely purged when Elora had healed him of the demonic entity that had been tormenting him his entire life.    

                Graydon had grown into a fine, upstanding, resolute king.   He was fair, equitable and assertive.   His magic was legendary and his flute playing heavenly.   His love for the empress only continued to grow in time and he found himself even more in love with her when she had given birth to fraternal twins that would rule the Hashtur throne someday.    Their names were Tilden and Cessarie.     It wasn’t known if either baby bore magic, but having come from two very potent sorcerers, it was likely that the twins would have to be trained.    Grandpa Willow was more than pleased to impart wisdom, but not until they were of age and their motor skills had improved for wand holding.    For now, he was dedicated to his family and to the Nelwyn.    The Nelwyn could at last, come out of hiding and cease from living underground.   There were no threats above to cause them fear.   From here on out, the kingdom was one of prosperity, harmony, abundance and reassurance that all could live long, happy, fulfilling lives in the varied lands of Tir Asleen.

 

Epilogue

                Eventually, Willow grew old, too old to wield magic any longer.   There had been another Nelwyn of his tribe, one who would have to endure the finger test and casting of bones to see if they had what it took to become the new High Aldwin.    There hadn’t been a High Aldwin in so long, but seeing that Willow was getting on in years, Nelwyn needed another leader just as capable, or even more so, than Willow had ever been.    A young upstart named Elm had been getting herself in trouble and causing a bit of havoc wherever she went.    She was only a teenager, but she was quite a precocious youth.   She passed the finger test easily and was sent to Elora for training later in life.     Any past shenanigans she had to overcome in order to become the high Aldwin.    At first, she thought perhaps, maybe, it was awful choice for her to take upon this role, but over time, the responsibility became a joy.   Also, being with Elora gave her immense joy.    She had heard her comrade Willow speaking so highly of her, and playing with her children had been a real treat, especially since they could understand her magical aptitude.   She didn’t feel so alone among all the other normal people who didn’t understand what it was like to be able to conjure, prognosticate or envision futures for those who asked what their fortunes would be.   Where Elm would go from here was completely unknown, but she was certain that Tilden and Cessarie would become fine rulers of Tir Asleen when their time arose.     They would continue living blissful lives as children now, but one day, their time to shine would arrive.   

 

The End