39 The Hilt
"Prince Galen", Haelan said as she avoided the prince's hands. "Please don't tell anybody about me, I'm a warrior here", she plead.
"Of course, I won't tell that I was healed by a woman who appears to be a knight.. from Brandenburg. Like anyone would believe that.", Galen teased with a smirk.
"Shhh", Haelan hushed Galen's lips with her finger. "Someone might hear you", she told the prince with a lowly voice.
"Alright alright. Calm down", Galen held Haelan's finger, and brushed his soft lips on her hand. "It's been so long since I have waited. Now that you're here, we'll never part from each other", he said with a smile.
Haelan felt a little embrassed at the prince's advances. She took her hand back and stepped away a little. "Really?", she chuckled awkwardly. Confused by the Prince's way of thinking and assumptions, Haelan wondered if she have healed the Prince completely and properly.
"My mother, the Queen, told me I'm destined with the woman with the crest. You're my destiny, Haelan", Galen said. "Your name? Is it really Haelan?", he asked.
Haelan didn't answered. The more the prince know about her, the more fear and worry she'll have that she will be discovered from the tongue of a royal. How ironic, that his father despise the likes of her, yet his only son, Galen, and the Queen calls her the prince's destiny. The question is, why would the Queen suggest that her son's destiny is bound to a soul traveler?
"Is it Helen?", Galen tried to guess Haelan's name. "No? Ellaine? Ellen?", he continued as Haelan kept a straight face. "Helena?", Galen asked as he notice Haelan's face glowed a little. "It's Helena! You have such a beautiful name", he said as his eyes twinkle like the most beautiful stars in the sky.
Haelan could almost cry in distress. This prince is too pushy, making her regret healing him. Then, before she could reply to Galen, she sensed a strong dark aura lingering in the bushes. The roses withered, the leaves drooped and wilted right before their eyes. Haelan's chest thumped hard at the danger lurking nearby.
"Prince Galen, stay back", Haelan whispered as she held the Prince behind her.
"What's happening?", Galen creased his brows as he watch the plants die slowly.
"What in the world..", Haelan gaped as a dark figure rise up the tall bushes, a dark cloaked entity floating over the hedgerows of roses.
"That's the ghastly figure that attacked us last time", Galen said. "Watch out!", Galen and Haelan jumped off as the floating cloaked figure blasted them with a black lightning bolt. It left powdery form of a substance that instantly created a hole on the ground.
"Where's your sword?!", Galen panicked as they hide in the bushes.
"I don't have one!", Haelan said as they receive several consecutive blows.
"What?! A warrior without a sword? I guess, we will die now", Galen said as they crawl out quickly to escape. The dark figure followed them around, continously aiming for the prince.
"No you won't", Haelan said as she stood up and called the wind to control the bolts. "Go!", she told the Prince as she divert the bolts to a different direction through her power of the wind.
The prince looked in astonishment and ran farther from the ghastly figure. "We'll have a great chance of living, after all", Prince Galen said as he follow Haelan's orders. Haelan called the wind again to spin the floating entity, before she could follow Prince Galen towards the hedge-maze of roses.
Spinning, the entity flew away and gave time for Haelan to run. In a moment, it came back chasing after them, determined in its purpose. As soon as Haelan reached Galen near the garden fountain, the entity appeared in front of them about to attack with another blow. "Head down, Prince!", Haelan said as she called the water from the fountains and splashed it directly on the ghastly figure, flushing it away. "Let's go hurry!", she said as she pulled the Prince.
"He seem to like you very much", Haelan said as they run away towards the gazebo.
"What can I say, I am a very likable person!", the Prince said as they reach the marbled flight of the gazebo not too far from the palace.
Haelan covered for the Prince as they hid in silence behind the stoned ballustrade of the gazebo.
The entity lurked for a while, as if trying to sense their location. Then, it blasted a few bolts on the pillars of the gazebo where the two were hiding. The pair ran towards the courtyard when Haelan took a blow on the back protecting the prince.
"Helena!", Galen shouted as he carried her towards the nearest gazebo. "Are you alright?", he worriedly asked as he caress her burning back.
"I'm fine, go!", Haelan shuddered as she stood back on her feet. She called the wind once more to push the entity away and buy the prince sometime to escape.
Unfortunately, the dark figure keep coming back until it caught up to the two again - forming another black ligtning bolt with its long crooked fingers. Instantly, Haelan remembered the hilt in her pocket. Inspired with the tree branch sword Stellan made before, she took out her hilt and channeled all of her energy on the bladeless sword handle hoping it will not turn like the health booster bolts she made before. In a few moments, a blue energy blade with vine ornate all over remarkably appeared from the hilt.
"Here Galen!", Haelan tossed the energy sword to Galen since she couldn't wield it and cause harm or death, with the hope that the power on the hilt will shift to a deadly one - drawing her very last straw.
When Galen held the sword, it turned fiery red. Then he slashed it towards the ghastly figure as it disappear into thin air. Then he looked at Haelan with eyes of disbelief. "You're a Celestial Healer?", Galen shockingly asked as he catch his breath. Haelan smiled weakly, before she lose her consciousness together with the light of the blazing energy sword she just made.
MEANWHILE AT THE GREAT HALL
The palace's great hall was flocked with a pretty lavish sight of the high society. Every guest is either gowned with a royal mantle, crowned with the most precious stones, lined with the thickest golds. The royals gathered with their respected high priests, high-ranking warriors and lords to celebrate the complete healing of the prince.
Several round tables, covered with white pristine tablecloths and laced overlays, surrounded the great hall. Each table were decorated with the Queen's favorite red roses, and gold candle holders that lighted the entire hall in lushness. A large gold romanesque harp kept playing in the background, to entertain the guests. The King and Queen sat in their thrones as they watch their guests occupy their seats. It was a marvelous place for a feat.
The guests were served with barrels of ale and wine as they drink generously in gold and silver goblets. The finest crops, most saccharine fruits and softest meat were prepared sumptuously, according to the royal's delicate taste. It was truly a night of splendid luxury for all the special guests.
Yereah took all the credits for the successful convalescence of the prince from his inescapable death. The royals complimented her hard work and never-ending exploration for the prince's cure. And now, they do not fear another attack similar to the prince's, for the priestess, Yereah, is with them.
Vesta, the only Paladin, who didn't joined the impetuous gathering, chose to stay on guard instead of drinking with men, like she always prefer. If there's one event she'll join in, it would be exclusively with the King personally or with the other Paladins.
Alesso and Stellan stood by the large pillar of the great hall, looking bitterly handsome and disconnected. They could hardly drink at the moment considering the kingdom is still in great danger. They averted their gaze on the royals who were laughing, dancing and drinking excessively, a distasteful sight unfit for the real situation of the kingdom.