It was early when Iris woke the next morning. Too early. As she rose from her bedroll, she wanted nothing more than to lay back down again. Gods. As she wiped her eyes, she scolded herself for not getting much sleep. The whole night had been such a roller coaster of emotions. Not all good ones either.
She wondered how she would have been feeling this morning if her death wasn't looming right over her head. Would she be smiling? Probably. But unfortunately, impending doom was at her doorstep... and like a good soldier, she'd have to answer when it came. She'd have to answer it with a brave face too.
She sat there, wondering if dying was really as bad as it sounded. It was quick, surely. Just a flash of pain... and just like that, it's all over. The struggles and hardship... the stress of trying to make ends meet... over. In a second. After a second of thought, she figured that that in itself was why it was so bad.
All her life she'd spent trying to get to a point of content... and now? All her work over the years was for naught. She would never get to see it through to the end. She'd never get to experience being married or having a child. She'd never get her own home... or even get a chance to start looking.
Her life was at its end... and it was too soon.
She would dishonor her family... and then leave them for good.
"I would ask you if you're okay," she heard a voice from over her shoulder, "But how could you be?"
She turned her face a little to see Zayn, already dressed and ready to start their journey. Their final journey, as it would so happen. He watched her curiously, as if he was trying to discern exactly what she was thinking. But he couldn't. She stood from her spot completely and stretched.
"What do you mean?" she asked, "I'm perfectly fine."
"Iris," his voice was almost stern, "How can you stand a day before death and pretend to be fine? I don't understand you."
She stopped moving at that moment and just stared at him. "You're being prickly."
Now it was his turn to stare. With a furrowed brow, he was still. Iris sighed, and took a slight step toward him.
"Hey, be jovial," she reworded, "You don't have much time left. Wouldn't want to spend it being angry. Well... you might. I wouldn't."
"How can I not be? You don't deserve this."
"Does it matter?" she asked, "Whether I deserve it or not, it's happening anyway. Being resentful isn't going to make things any better, so might as well move on. Come now, cheer up, like I said. Try and distract yourself from what is to come."
"Iris," he groaned, rubbing a temple.
"Shh, now," she said with a slight smile, doing her best to accept her fate herself, "everything is going to be alright, you just wait. Whether or not we die, we will not perish. We will live on in the hearts of those that loved us... of those that respected us. And we will be okay, I swear it to you."
With a deep breath, he gave her a weak smile. "I hope you're right."
And then, just like that, one of the final days of their lives began.
---
When they arrived at Oraborn the next day, the emperor and the group split ways. He'd left a few guards behind to make sure they stayed within the city limits. Oraborn was bustling with activity. Iris noted that this was by far the busiest city she'd ever been in. She also noticed that news of her was spreading quickly. It wasn't but a moment when she stepped into the marketplace that she saw a painting of herself on the first page of the town's broadsheet.
With another glance around, she could tell that she was being stared at. She wasn't used to it.
People were recognizing her. Everywhere. They simply watched her with a child-like curiosity, with a sort of indistinguishable interest in who she was. Not knowing how to respond, she simply nodded at those she made eye contact with and went on her way. As she walked, she began listening around.
It wasn't long before news caught her ears: the battle at the Krenshai Caverns had succeeded, given, it was by naught but the skin of their teeth. At hearing that, she wondered just how many Eldians had died in the fight. How many of the people that she'd met in the training camp were still here? How did they win?
She'd no idea. Part of her wished she could've been there to see how everything had happened.
"Did you hear that?" the general murmured to her after a minute or so, catching her attention. For the past day, he'd been nothing but stoic... not to mention quiet. She was almost surprised that he had spoken.
"Hear what? That the battle was won?"
"Yes, that. But that wasn't what I was talking about. Iris, the remaining soldiers are coming here to Oraborn."
"Why?"
"I'd imagine some sort of celebration for the victory... a remembrance for the fallen."
"I see," Iris replied, "That is good, then, for them. They deserve it."
"You're not worried?" Zayn asked, his eyes flashing with an emotion that Iris could not discern.
"About what?"
"Then you don't understand," he sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Iris. The emperor himself ordered them here. All who lived will be here in a few days' time. I may be paranoid in my thoughts, but I think... I think that he called them all here for more than just a measly celebration. I feel as if... as if we're meant to die in front of them all. Emperor Rus will give us the greatest dishonor Eldia has ever known."
Iris's heart sank in her chest for a moment. Her father would be sure to receive hell for this and she knew it all too well. "I simply hope my father doesn't face repercussions. Gods, all I wanted to do was save him."
"I know," he nodded, "And you did. You saved his life."
"But not the family name."
"But which is worth more?" the general reminded her.
"I suppose you're right this time," she sighed, "I just hope he finds a way to rebuild himself. I meant the world to him, Zayn. I did. Without an honorable name, without his wife, without his daughter, will he ever mend? My death will be a great toll on him."
"You know, sometimes it's harder to let someone you love die... than to die yourself. I've learned that."
"Shit. Everything's so out of place."
And, with a breath, he grabbed her and hugged her tightly to his chest. For a moment, neither of them cared that they were being stared at. In the end, the curious gazes would be irrelevant.
"Not everything, Iris."
---
At his arrival back to the palace, the emperor was immediately called into a meeting with the council. With a great breath, he knew it might be a long one. There was so much to discuss, after all. In his mind, he ticked over a list of points he would have to go over: the battle of Krenshai's success, his sudden disappearance a few weeks ago, his experience at the Tokenmaster's citadel, and last but not least, the happenings between Iris Gwenneth and General Zayn Rothstead.
The last topic was sure to be a long one, as this had never happened in Eldian history.
As soon as he arrived, he prepared himself for what was to come. Every one of the members was sitting at their assigned seat already, much as Geh'lien had expected. Wordlessly, he took his own seat.
"Good afternoon, my friends. There is much to discuss today."
"Good afternoon to you as well, Majesty," the head councilman spoke up, "And you are correct in that there is much to go over. Are we ready to begin?"
Geh'lien nodded.
In response, the councilman pulled out a sheet of parchment.
"First and foremost, we are glad to see you alive. We were not sure what would become of you when you disappeared; in accordance, we were not sure what would become of this country. As of now, we have received word that the Tokenmaster captured you, is that true, your Highness?"
"It is."
"Very well. And by you being here today, I feel as if I am right to assume he was killed along with the rest of his army."
"Erodyne Maug' Rin is dead, yes. But he did not die with his soldiers. He died in his fortress. That is how I am here today. As for the rest of the Tokens, I am very curious as to how the battle was won."
"Right. Yes. There were many casualties in the final battle. I am yet to know the exact specifics of it, but I do know this: there was a swarm of Erodyne's best soldiers that showed themselves at the very end. From what we can tell, they were sent to finish the job. They were sent to finish the rest of our army off. And, regrettably, they almost did. When the Tokens showed up, Sergeant Tusal led a final charge. Erodyne's men did not expect to be met with such vigor, however..."
For a moment, the speaker looked at his paper once more.
"In response, they tore a hole in our ranks. They rushed as well, meeting in the middle. From then, what is claimed to be the bloodiest battle in Eldian history ensued. The way the Tokens moved against us was like a storm without end. So many of them died... suffered. It is said that we would have all fallen... had it not been for the rumored death of their master. Upon word, they sounded a retreat, leaving us bruised and battered."
"So some of the army yet lives..."
"That is correct, emperor. We must hope that they don't come back, for we are not ready for such a slaughter."
"I hope to hear the full report when the rest of our force arrives. I trust you will be on that, am I correct?"
The man nodded in response, and adjusted his glasses.
"To my next point: the death of Erodyne. If you do not mind explaining your time at his fortress, I would be much interested to hear it."
"Right," Geh'lien nodded, "Straight to it, then. My stay there was a miserable one at best. From the time I was there, I was able to discern a few things... first a foremost, that the Tokenmaster was one of the cruelest men I've ever come to meet. He showered me with promises of breaking my soul before I died... of convincing my men of my supposed betrayal before killing them as well. I am afraid to say that I was lost on what to do for quite some time. I was half convinced that it was hopeless.
At any rate, I had a servant assigned to me. I understand that may sound strange, but I do not feel like delving into semantics at this moment. Just know that she was a semi-essential part in torturing me. Her name, as he called it, was Gwen. She was meant to aid me... to make me comfortable, to make me feel guilty for feeling at ease as my men died before me. And she did her role... for the most part. She was a kind woman... with a lot of stories to share.
Things were going the same until the last day of my imprisonment. General Rothstead and his men showed up. Their march was an honorable one into the fortress... but once they met with the master, things went poorly. As hard as they fought, Erodyne was strong --stronger than any man I've ever seen. 'Twas a long fight, but eventually, our general lost to him. We were all about to meet our deaths... and then we didn't.
The woman I was with... she was hardly what she seemed. She was a fighter. With her daggers, she brought him down. And for the longest time as I watched, I was astounded. It didn't take me long to realize that her being there was no coincidence at all. Which brings us to the next, and most important, point of this meeting: Iris Gwenneth, the Eldian soldier."
"Ah, yes. The difficult woman. I have been anxious to hear your opinions on the woman that broke one of our most sound laws."
"I do not know what to think of her... or how to judge her, quite honestly. I spent two weeks with her, and admittedly, was quite amazed. But... she did break a law. A law punishable by death, we all know this."
"And what about the general? It is said that he knew of her."
"The general is excused by me," the emperor didn't even take a second to think about it, "We need him. And, in addition, I must admit it would take a heart of stone not to be moved by Iris. Even when I didn't know her fully, Gwen was able to keep me going for longer than I could have gone. Her stories and heart were appreciated... and, in the end, so were her skills." He mulled over that for a moment. "But back to the point, it is no crime to care for someone without end. That much I know. Zayn will go unpunished."
"Is that your final word?"
"Yes," the emperor said with a nod.
"Very well," the councilman wrote something down, "and what of the girl?"
"I do not know. I feel like my decision-making of her will be clouded, as she is the reason I still exist. However, I can say this with a clear head... she did save us. Without her interference, Eldia could have very well have been lost. I can also say that she did not seem to do it for glory."
"But she did break the law, emperor," the man reminded him, "What is a stable country when laws can be broken? I am not sure it is wise to let her go."
"Neither am I. I am not sure if it is wise to kill her either, though."
"This is sure to start an uprising."
"I do not believe it will." He took a breath.
"I see..." the man took in a deep breath, "Well, saying all of that... what is your verdict, Majesty? What fate will she meet?"
For a moment, Emperor Rus rubbed his chin. And then... he spoke up.
"I have no verdict for you."
"Sir?"
With a nod of assurance, he delivered his final word on the matter.
"Eldia itself will decide her fate."