The Eclipsed Throne (Book 1 of Throne of Magic Series)

Aurelia followed Amadrya deeper into the castle, her eyes catching upon all of the sights in wonder.

Nimble servants scurried in and out of her peripheral vision, seeming to slide through hidden passageways behind the paintings on the walls. While all of the other castles she had visited were littered with paintings of royalty, the artwork they walked past instead were various pieces of nature, portraying things from the sunset to portraits of Ardwen, the hidden city, itself.

The floor seemed to shimmer beneath their feet as they strolled and they quickly approached a quieter part of the castle, the only sound to be heard the chirps of the birds outside.

Gaping arches opened to the outdoors and Aurelia watched as the once-empty center of the town began to pick up. Elves dressed in plain clothing of varied shades of green and white strolled across the bridges, children playing on the mushroom tops, and a few people fishing in the river down below.

They abruptly turned away from the windows and slipped down a long, thin hallway, the halls no longer bright nor decorated with greenery or artwork. Amadrya paused in front of a thick door, knocking twice before entering, Aurelia reluctantly in tow.

Inside of the room, Aurelia’s eyes fell upon Ambrose, relief flooding through her body. He was resting in a cot similar to her own, his eyes closed. His color had returned and he no longer looked so sickly but as if he was resting peacefully.

At his bedside were two individuals, one of which Aurelia recognized immediately as the king of Ardwen, Xanth. To the right of him was a tall, thin woman with brown hair in a tight bun. She wore an apron and Aurelia presumed she was the healer that had saved Ambrose’s life. The two of them had a look of concern on their faces that did not change at the arrival of Amadrya and Aurelia.

“King Xanth,” Aurelia murmured quickly, sinking into a low bow. “I am eternally in your debt for saving us from what was certain death.”

Xanth did not respond, only glancing at his wife before standing. Amadrya turned to Aurelia, giving her a small nod. “We will leave you be. Imogen here will keep an eye on his full recovery.”

Xanth nodded to Aurelia and escorted his wife out of the room, the door snapping shut behind them.

“Princess Aurelia?” Imogen said softly, careful not to wake Ambrose. Aurelia dragged her eyes away from Ambrose to meet Imogen’s curious gaze.

“Yes,” Aurelia responded, a pink tinge overcoming her cheeks.

“I studied with someone I think you might know,” Imogen began, a small smile hinting on her face. “Nesrin?”

Aurelia’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. “Of course! She told me of her days studying here – I mean, that’s why I brought him here in the first place, because of the minotaur...”

“A minotaur?” Imogen said, her smile disappearing. “Where was there—“

She was interrupted by a small groan from Ambrose and the pair rushed to his side.

“Ambrose,” Aurelia murmured tearfully, clutching his hand in her own tightly. His eyes slowly focused on her and a small smile appeared before confusion took over.

“What—where are we?” He croaked and Aurelia turned to his nightstand to grab his cup of water, holding it to his lips as he sipped eagerly. Her face remained a picture of concern as she watched him struggle. He coughed, clearing his throat, before trying to speak once more.

“We’re in Ardwen,” Aurelia reminded him gently as she watched Imogen preparing some sort of salve on her working table near the cot. “Do you remember?”

He paused for a moment before he regarded her. “I do remember, yes. The minotaur.”

Aurelia nodded.

“Here,” Imogen said, bustling over to the two of them. “Your medicine.” She handed him a small cup filled with a gooey, sparkling substance. “You’ll have to take it for a few more days to work the poison out of your system.” She glanced up to Aurelia. “You’re lucky you got here when you did. I don’t know how he survived that long with lethal poison in his body.”|

Imogen stood as he gulped it down, wiping her hands on her apron. “I need to go grab a few fresh leaves for the salve for your wound. I will return shortly.” Her heels clicked as she walked out of the room, the door snapping shut once more.

“Aurelia...” Ambrose began. “Do you know what a minotaur is?”

Aurelia flinched. “I’m not sure, no.” Her voice cracked and tears began to fall. “I’m so sorry. It was my fault that they came and hurt you. My magic summoned it, didn’t it?” The guilt had been eating away at her for the entire journey and now, she could finally confess to the person that had almost died from her carelessness.

Ambrose’s face remained unchanged, his eyes intense. “Aurelia, they do not just appear,” He said slowly. “Your grandmother sent them. She had to have.”

Aurelia pulled back from him as if she had been struck. “No.” She said quickly. “No, my grandmother wouldn’t do that.”

Ambrose gave her a cold look. “Aurelia, the minotaur is other-wordly, from a different dimension than ours. In order to summon such a creature from another dimension, you have to be powerful enough to create a portal, which takes a huge conjuration of magic. That minotaur attacked me. My brother couldn’t have sent it. Who else would want me dead?”

Aurelia stiffened, pulling her hand away from Ambrose. “I already told you,” she responded coldly. “My grandmother wouldn't do that.”

“To save her beloved granddaughter?” Ambrose replied, raising his eyebrows. “What wouldn't she do?”

“She wouldn't trade innocent lives for mine. She is a far better ruler than your brother is.” Aurelia insisted, her form rigid, her tone angry and in disbelief from what he was insulating.

Ambrose shook his head, clearly frustrated with her unrelenting resolve. “Fine. She may have, she may have not. Either way, do you realize what this means?"

Aurelia stared back at him. “What?”

Ambrose’s eyes stared intensively into her own. “Whether she did or not, Dorian’s scouts will have sensed them. He won't wait for you to wage war anymore, now especially that you've disappeared. Now, he will believe they have taken you, his rightful bride. We have to get back. Immediately. Before he puts Damaris’ people into danger. We promised we would save my people.”

Aurelia’s stomach dropped and for a moment she felt as if she were going to be sick. “You mean, before he harms Calathis?” She said hotly, standing and strolling to the window. “It’s not just about Damaris, Ambrose.” She folded her arms across her chest, her eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

There was something different about Ambrose, now, as if something had hardened within him, his resolve unrelenting in ferocity. Aurelia gave him a odd look, biting her lip in concern as she turned away.

Imogen suddenly burst into the room, a bowl of leaves in her hand. “I've got to treat his wound, milady. I don't think you'll want to see this. Do you mind stepping outside?”

Aurelia nodded slowly, avoiding Ambrose’s gaze as she left the room. Her mind spun from his accusations.

How could he think such things of his grandmother, knowing how kind she was to all of the Continent’s people?

She found herself wandering back to the balcony that Amadrya had brought her from earlier, her thoughts a million miles away.

Aurelia distracted herself with the people down below the castle, wandering from building to building, so bright and cheerful, unknowing of the wars that were to come. She relished in their innocence, their lack of knowledge, of who she used to be.

She sighed deeply, taking a seat with her legs dangling off of the edge. Ambrose was right about one thing – they had to return to Damaris, and fast. If Dorian thought for a moment that Calathis had successfully retrieved Aurelia, then he would waste no time waging war – and the kingdom would be behind him because, in their eyes, their queen had been stolen. That was a reason to go to war if there was any. The only way she could stop it – if it hadn’t already happened – was to return.

“I come up here to think sometimes, too,” A voice said behind her. Aurelia didn’t need to turn around to place it – the light, velvet tone could only belong to the queen of the Elves, her voice the calm amidst the chaos.

“Aren’t they lovely?” She added as she took a seat next to Aurelia, her long, blonde hair trailing far behind her. “It brings me peace to sit up here, watching the passerby.” She glanced to Aurelia. “It reminds me of who I am doing everything for. For their safety, for the home this world provides.” She moved to rest her hand on Aurelia’s. “It’s not once about us, but about every single one of them. But you know that already, don’t you?”

Aurelia looked up to meet her gaze. “We have to return to Damaris,” She said quietly.

Amadrya nodded sadly. “I know.”

Aurelia shook her head. “We have to go today. As soon as possible.” Aurelia’s eyes wandered back to the horizon, to the mountain peaks of the Calathis kingdom. “We have to go before it’s too late.”

Amadrya watched the Elves below them before responding, her voice quieter. “Once you leave, there is no guarantee you will ever be able to return here,” She responded. That was how Ardwen was – so very few were allowed to visit, the sacred Elven magic forever protected in the safe haven provided.

“I understand,” Aurelia whispered. A place that emitted such strong magic, in another time, she would’ve wanted to stay for months to study its complexities, the connections to the earth. Yet now, she had no such luxury.

Amadrya stood, holding her hand to Aurelia. “Then let’s get you ready.”

Aurelia gratefully took her hand, following her as they returned to Ambrose’s rooms. Imogen had finished with the salve treatment and Ambrose, though sweaty and wide-eyed, looked better for it. He was extremely relieved to hear that they were being sent home – right away.

Imogen helped him get dressed in the clothes he had come in, handing over Aurelia’s with distaste. “Are you sure you want to wear this?” Imogen had asked with disgust, holding it away from her. Aurelia couldn’t blame her, after all – it was covered in dirt and grime and looked nothing of what fit in at the clean, natural capital of Ardwen.

“It’ll be the only thing that sells the story,” Aurelia had responded grimly, and she shed the clean, cotton dress for her dirty fur-lined gown and cloak once more.

Though Aurelia was unsure of Ambrose’s condition to travel, he remained stubborn in the idea they would be returning today and gritted his teeth through every movement, refusing help. Despite it, he didn’t complain once, not even when he had to hobble to the main entrance of the castle. In the end, Aurelia supposed, it would sell the idea that they had been attacked, their horses stolen, and left abandoned in the midst of Damaris.

Only a mere hour after Aurelia and Amadrya sat upon the balcony, they were all gathered in the glass castle’s entrance circled around the enormous waterfall.

“I suppose you’ll want this back,” Amadrya said suddenly, waving her hand in which Aurelia’s golden dagger magically appeared. She held it out to Aurelia, a small smile on her face. “Make your grandmother proud.”

Aurelia nodded and gratefully took back her lucky dagger, tucking it back into her belt.

“As you both know,” She regarded Ambrose disdainfully before returning to Aurelia, “The capital of Ardwen is extremely hidden from wandering and bad-meaning magic folk. There are maybe five people in the entire world – not just the Continent, but the world, that know how to find this place. Thus, it would be quite pointless to reveal our secrets to you on your departure, now wouldn’t it?”

Xanth nodded, standing tall next to his queen, his eyes piercing into Ambrose, almost as if he could read his mind and was listening intently to his thoughts.

Amadrya stepped forward right next to the waterfall, waving her hand. The water began to transform to the shimmery, sparkling fluid that was similar to the magical substance Aurelia had fallen through once before.

“Thus, you will be returning through a portal we have summoned for you.” She stepped back as the crystal-like liquid overtook the waterfall and Ambrose and Aurelia stepped forward.

“Wait!” Imogen called from the top of the stairs, rushing down the elegant staircase, mug in hand.

“Aurelia,” She said breathlessly as she came to an abrupt stop before her. “Drink this. For your magic. You must be ready for what is to come. For all that is to come-”

Amadrya cleared her throat, purposely interrupting her. Aurelia couldn’t help but feel like it was to silence what Imogen was about to say.

“Thank you,” Aurelia said as she took the mug and swallowed the thick substance despite the bitter taste. It felt as if she had swallowed fire and coffee together, her body suddenly a ball of energy, her magic bubbling through her veins.

Imogen took the mug from her as she finished, stepping back in line with Amadrya and Xanth as they watched Ambrose and Aurelia step into the small pond of water, walking towards the waterfall. Ambrose reached down to hold onto Aurelia’s hand tightly.

Mere inches from the falling water, Aurelia turned back, looking desperately at Amadrya.

“Tell her I’m okay, will you? That I love her?” She said, her voice cracking from emotion.

Amadrya nodded and that was the last thing Aurelia saw before they stepped through the magical portal, falling through space and time, back to Damaris.

Aurelia couldn’t help but feeling as if she was falling straight back into the darkness itself.