Chapter 7: We Need Her
A gust of wind blew my hair into my face, eyes wide, body frozen amidst the morning sun, I stared at them. Who were they? What were they?
"Hey, you didn't let us know the ride would be so rough!" He arranged his shockingly shiny red hair to what I presumed was supposed to be its original state. Something told me that wasn't dye. "Look at my hair for crying out loud!"
"Are you supposed to be complaining? You literally just got a free ride!" The rather short female adjusted the hood of her furry blue coat. In the sun? "You should be thanking her and not pouting like the baby that you are."
The red-headed guy scoffed while adjusting his equally red jacket. Again, in the sun? "Do you honestly think that between us, I'd be perceived to be the baby?" He laughed, gesturing at her small stature. "For heaven's sake, look at you!" He laughed even harder.
"You little-"
Their words were drowned out by the distinct presence of the second female in the middle. Her knee-high, mud-stained boots hit the marbled ground as she approached us, knee-length blonde hair trailing after her as well as her ankle-length sleeveless jacket. She dusted herself off, taking a posture of much poise, holding her head high and staring straight at me.
Getting to the stairs at the front porch, she took a bow with her hands together in front of her chest. "Hoda Nawi, Princess Maraja."
"I'm sorry what?" I blinked rapidly in confusion. Hoda? Nawi? "Who's Maraja?"
She looked up at me from her bowed state, a perfectly shaped eyebrow raised in suspicion. "You are. You are the daughter of Queen…..princess Althea, yes?"
Momentarily confused, I looked around frantically before remembering the burdensome story my mother had told me. "….yes?"
She stood up straight, taking me in. "You seem unsure."
Suddenly I realized I was talking to a stranger. "Wait, hold up. Who the hell are you?"
She bristled at the question. "I am Princess Thora of Aria, the first land of Naltaniera."
"The what now?" I scratched my head in bewilderment.
"I will kill you with my own two hands!" The female from before lunged at the red-haired.
They bickered on. "Ummm Thor?" I struggled to remember her name.
"Thora." The princess corrected me swiftly.
"Right. Ummmm aren't you gonna separate those two?" I pointed behind her where the two were raising hell at each other.
The princess groaned, turning back to face them. With a wave of her right hand, they were blown apart. What-. "Cut it out! I have never seen such a nuisance in all of the four lands! Not to mention you're in the presence of the Nawi!" She hollered angrily at them, straightening herself once more, turning back to me. "I apologize for their incompetence." She spat the words out, annoyance lacing them. "Can we see your mother?"
"Uh of course." I gestured at the entrance of the house behind me. Thora made her way to the door but the rest stopped in front of me.
"Aidos Nawi!" The female dressed in blue raised her right hand and drew a circle on her chest with her thumb, after which she stretched it out open in front of me.
I stared at her in bewilderment. The redhead cleared his throat to get my attention. With his eyes, he gestured towards her outstretched palm. Cautiously, I placed my palm in hers. She bowed, her forehead touching the back of my hand. She released my hand, placing both hands over each other in front of her as she nodded, walking into the house.
The redhead moved, taking her place. "Chaita Nawi!" He brought both his hands together, to form a fist, bowing, so it touched his head.
I nodded in confusion as he walked into the house as well. What is going on?
~~~
His red eyes pierced into me and I shifted uncomfortably beside my mum.
The first female who wore the furry blue coat, realizing the situation, smacked his shoulder. "Can you be any weirder? That's the Nawi!"
"Hey!" He rubbed the spot she slapped while pouting. "What was that for? I wasn't doing anything wrong, was I?"
"It doesn't matter." She spoke through her teeth. "Stop staring at her! We aren't from here and we're in the home of the most powerful Elarans."
He snorted. "Please. Give it a rest, they haven't been to Eryndor in forever."
She shook her hooded head in exhaustion as I toyed with my hands, wondering what on earth was going on.
"Hoda your highness, it's been a while." Thora walked into the room.
My mum stood up to hug the princess, smiling fondly at her, she took her hair, pushing it behind her ear. "I see your elf ears have finally surfaced."
Elf?
Thora smiled sheepishly. "Yes, and it feels wonderful."
"I know my child, I know. Please have a seat." Mother sat back down. Turning to me, she caressed my cheek, smiling at me. "You okay?"
I gave her a small smile, nodding once.
She glanced at Thora and the rest then back at me. "If this makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to stay okay?" She smiled kindly at me.
"I'm okay mum. Besides, I want to at least know what's going on here."
She nodded then turned her attention to Thora and the rest. "So, to what do I owe this surprise?"
"Your majesty we were sent by Arcan, steward of Eryndor. He expressed a great need for the return of our Nawi. Our Kana needs her." She glanced at me. "Your majesty sorry to intrude, but is she aware?"
My mother looked back at me, giving me a small smile. "Yes, but she's not ready. She just found out about the situation yesterday and she hasn't made up her mind."
"I see." Thora looked straight at me.
"Mum, there's a lot I would like to know. Like I practically have zero idea of what you're talking about right now. What's this Nawi for example?"
"Chosen one. The chosen." Thora answered swiftly, her grey eyes staying on mine.
"Kana?"
"Crest. The crest of the four lands is The kingdom of Eryndor."
Taking the new information in, I noticed the red-haired and the other female speaking in hushed tones across the center table. "Who are they?"
The female looked up, Thora turned to her looking her over. "Wisteria, princess of Naiad the third land." Wisteria nodded acutely.
"And that-"
The red-haired raised his hand, cutting Thora off, he leaned forward, his red eyes glinting under the morning shine. "Wisterio." He leaned back into the soft cushion.
"That's it?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah." He answered with a smirk.
Wisteria smacked the back of his head. "Do not be rude to our Nawi, Rio!"
He jerked. "Oh come on Ria!" He rubbed the back of his head.
Wisteria looked back at me, smiling apologetically. "Sorry for my brother your majesty. Wisterio is my twin brother. He takes after our father who is from Vulcan the fourth land."
Wisterio rolled his eyes at his twin.
"Your Majesty Eryndor needs the Nawi. The four lands need her. The attacks have gotten stronger than ever. We aren't given enough time to recuperate anymore. Crops are dying, soldier count waning. They come without warning mostly at night, preventing us from knowing exactly what race is attacking. They aren't from Naltaniera therefore their attack styles bewilder us, stopping us from fighting back efficiently." Thora looked down.
"The decision doesn't rest with me, Thora. My daughter is her person. I can't and will not force her to go into something unwillingly." My mother spoke firmly.
Thoras' eyes land on mine. "Nawi." She stands, her brown jacket covering the entirety of her back. She gestured to the ceiling-high windows overlooking the chaos from yesterday. "This is not even the beginning of what will become of Earth. I understand you might want to hold on to your home but it will be no more in less than a few months. Your friends and family stand no chance against the wrath of Hex and her followers."
"Who's Hex?"
Thora frowned. "Princess, both your homes are in grave danger and you're interested in such trivial knowledge?"
I stood, my annoyance growing. "I can't fight what I don't know, can I?"
"Hex is not the problem, I assure you. Earth may be where you grew up but Naltaniera is where you belong. The races on earth can't fight back."
"No, Earth is my home and it is where I should put my effort to protect. I know nothing of your Naltaniera."
"Ouch," Wisterio whispered audibly making everyone turn to him.
"Rio!" Wisteria whisper shouted at him.
"Well, your home won't exist anymore if you don't help us stop the cause of the attacks. Your mother's presence here has been the only thing keeping them at bay. But they're getting braver and stronger now. This chaos is the proof of that." Thora continued.
My heart sank.
"I'm not the most sympathetic of my kind, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to find out about your true life this way. But we really need you, Nawi."
I looked back at my mum with tears in my eyes. She stared at me silently and I made my decision.
Looking back at Thora and the rest, I spoke. "My name is Mavis, not Nawi." I glanced at my mother again, my heart beating loudly against my chest. "I'll go."
I'm dead.
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