Into the Darkness

No sooner had the racing horse landed than the mare tried to free itself even further. The sudden influx of people surrounding her was too much.

The skittish creature reared.

"No!" Devrim, who had moved out of the way, now raced forward to catch the reins of the horse and steady her.

But it was too late.

Aurora went tumbling into the darkness below.

All around her rocks were plummeting, gathering speed with each passing second. The Empress had felt this sensation all too recently. She grabbed hold of the bag at her side and held out her arms.

The attempt was to not only slow her descent but to stop the endless tumbling so she could get her bearings. She was very close to the wall, a situation which became apparent a moment later.

The Empress's shin raked up against the white rock wall as she twisted, sending a surge of indescribable pain through her leg. Her tunic was ripped to shreds along the length of her leg. Blood began to spill from her torn skin.

Her sandal sheared off as she pushed away from the wall, bruising and twisting her foot to an unnatural angle.

Aurora screamed. Her mind clouded with pain and panic.

She continued to gain speed. Even in her muddled state, Aurora knew another run into the wall would likely kill her.

"Can you hear me? Blazing Fates, be quiet and hold still!" A voice finally broke through her unending wail.

Aurora turned to find Reyan looking equal parts concerned and annoyed at what was happening.

"Hold still and don't be so slippery!" The fairy repeated gruffly.

He took her right arm firmly as he spread his wings. The sudden deceleration nearly pulled Aurora's shoulder out of socket.

The Empress jerked.

"I said hold still, blast it!" Reyan tightened his grip with one hand while his other arm came across Aurora's lower ribs. "I'll apologize to His Majesty later," he mumbled.

Hugging the woman from behind, Reyan used all his breadth to lessen the fall of himself and the lady in his arms. For a moment Aurora was glad the depths seemed to go on forever. It meant they had more time before splattering against the earth below.

"Wrap those strips around your hands!" The fairy ordered. He motioned to the shredded and bloodied skirt flying around her in pieces.

While the fairy continued to slow them, Aurora worked at making gloves out of the tatters. It was surprisingly easy to finish tearing away at what the wall had shredded.

"I'm ready," she told him.

"Three, Two, One." Reyan glided them slowly to the wall as he counted.

On the final number, Aurora reached out her arms and took hold of any out-jut she could find. The first crumbled away but the second gave her enough purchase to bring her to a stop. She gripped for dear life. 

Her life was the one at stake, after all.

"I...I'm alive!" Aurora heaved a sigh of relief.

"You cannot die on my watch," Reyan grumbled as he continued to press her against the wall. "It would look bad on my record."

"Noted." The Empress peered up. Although she had fallen a considerable distance, she was not as far from the surface as she thought.

That was a relief. It felt like she had fallen halfway to the center of the earth. That would have been impossible to climb. It was at least ten arrowshots down, but that was a far more manageable distance.

"Aurora!" Devrim called.

"I'm here. I'm fine!" The Empress called back to soothe her husband. It was mostly true. She would worry about her injuries when she got back at the surface. For now: not dying was enough.

A rope began to lower over the side of the chasm. There was a loop on the bottom end. Aurora wondered how the group had any rope left after using so much on the lost bridge.

Then she realized that the advanced party had been collecting the rope of the back up bridges on their final voyage across. That would have been enough to go a long way down instead of across.

But it probably wasn't enough. Aurora would have to climb at least a little to meet them part of the way.

She put her shoe against the rockface and found a stone to support her weight. Then she extended her left leg. The searing pain, which had been dulled by the fear and panic of the fall, resurged with double force.

Aurora wailed, loosening her grip on the wall as her body recoiled.

"Oh no you don't!" Reyan pressed her harder up against the cliff despite her protests. "I am not letting you fall again! Get a grip, woman!"

The harsh words were just what Aurora needed. She fought against the pain as her vision cleared. The Empress gritted her teeth in a pained smile. "I didn't think you were supposed to let me fall in the first place."

"You cannot blame me when you went all squirmy-wormy. I did my best but you did not want to be caught!" The fairy scowled.

Although Reyan had been next to the Empress when the horse reared, Aurora's flailing had caused her to slip through the fairy's grasp. There was no doubt in the curmudgeon's mind this was all the woman's fault.

"I thank you for chasing after me anyway." Aurora could see that it had taken a lot out of the old curmudgeon to dive into the depths and prevent her death.

He was panting heavily and sweat was dripping from his brow.

"What else could I do? You are my ticket to a life of luxury at the palace." Reyan huffed. "The fact that you are my close personal friend and that I would be upset if you died has nothing to do with it."

"Don't forget that I owe you that statue," Aurora reminded him.

"Oh, I remember. You better make him extra handsome after this." Reyan nodded.

"He will be your exact likeness," the Empress promised.

The fairy paused mid-nod. "No need to be cruel!"

The banter had distracted Aurora enough that she was ready to try to climb again. But without the use of one leg, that would be exceptionally difficult.

Aurora moved her leg slightly and whimpered. It was completely unusable.

"I got you, Your Majesty," Reyan's voice was suddenly gentle. "I may not be able to lift you just with flight, but I can support enough to help you climb."

His arms were still around her, and Aurora realized just how much he had been supporting her this whole time.

With a little bit of trial and error, the pair began to ascend. Below, low rumblings began to echo through the canyon.

Had the rocks just now hit the bottom? Or were they settling as they shifted?

The Empress hoped it was not a signal that another earthquake was coming.

There was another option which was even more harrowing, but Aurora did not want to think it into being.

"We need to hurry," she muttered.

"Is that not what we are doing?" Reyan rolled his eyes.

Looking up, Aurora could see the rope slowly lowering. It moved in fits and spurts, lengthening each time another stretch of cord was found.

"Almost there," the fairy confirmed. "Don't you dare quit on me now!"

"Wouldn't dream of it!" Aurora's fingers ached to the point that they trembled, but she would not let that stop her.

She grabbed and pulled until the action became automatic. Her screaming muscles were nothing when compared to her determination.

At last her fingers gripped the loop of the rope. She eagerly draped it around one shoulder and then the other.

Reyan released her and helped tighten the rope such that she could sit in it like a swing.

"All set!" He called to the Emperor. There was a flurry of action at the top of the ridge.

The rope began to reverse direction. Being pulled upward was much easier than climbing. Aurora relaxed a little and turned her head to look at the canyon.

In addition to the tower that had already fallen, two more had joined the first. No one else would be able to follow their path.

Distracted by the devastation, Aurora did not notice her bag catch against the side wall. A sharp stone stuck out, slicing through the strap of her satchel with ease.

"No!" The Empress was not fast enough to catch her bag before gravity took hold.

Her clothes! Her things! Her flower!

"Reyan!" She begged.

"Seriously?!" The fairy could not believe his ears. But looking at Aurora's face, he could see her desperation. He could not let her stare at him that way. His lips formed into a grim line. "Ugh, women and their handbags!"

He flew away from the wall and tucked his wing. Then he dove into the darkness.

There was silence, only silence for a long time.

Then a terrifying scream.