155 Glacier Phoenix

"How?! In the dream or here, in reality?" Jareth asked.

"Well, perhaps from here, in reality. Because at one instant I was angry at the fake you and wanted to go berserk on him, but all of a sudden I felt calm inwards. It was as though someone was soothing me and calming my rage."

"I see." Jareth said thoughtfully."But I stayed watching over you, I didn't notice anyone come and go."

"You were sleeping Jareth. How were you watching over her?" White-Fire asked him.

Astrid chuckled at the question and stopped when he glared at her. "Anyways, at first I thought you were the one, but when I woke up and found you sleeping…"

"I wasn't sleeping," he quickly cut in, defending himself.

"Yes, you weren't. When I found you standing watch…"

Immediately Astrid and White-Fire burst into a fit of laughter. It was more hilarious with Jareth frowning face.

"Whatever." He sighed and went to sit down. "Females!"

"A troublesome bunch I bet."

Everyone's head turned at once towards the direction the voice was coming from.

–––––––

~ELVEN FOREST~

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, the other soldiers barely rested and continued on their journey, trying to catch up with the princess. They were getting close to the boundary and decided to rest for sometime before continuing.

"Lieutenant Flynn," Aelfdene called out.

Flynn looked towards his side and saw the two Elves standing side by side, with Cleon waving at him.

"Handle things the way I instructed. I need to meet up with them," he instructed the soldier he was with and walked up to them.

"Commanders?"

"We needed to discuss our next line of action," Cleon informed him.

"Okay, I am all ears."

"Good."

"So far, there has not been any activity since a day ago. We can either assume Princess Avery crossed over the boundary or that she is waiting outside," Aelfdene addressed them.

"True."

"We would rest for some hours to replenish our energies, as the air around is less thin going further up and we would tire out easily," Cleon suggested.

"Also, in about a day's time, we should arrive at the boundary. Which also leaves us with this question."

"What question Lieutenant?" Aelfdene asked.

"At this point, Princess Avery wouldn't return to the palace. She would wait till she finds the hybrid. So what do we do? Disobey his majesty and fight by her or obey his majesty?" Flynn asked.

"We all know she wouldn't agree to it if she is outside the boundary. So we would fight side by side with Her Highness," Cleon added.

"Then it is decided?"

"Yes," Aeldene and Cleon replied.

–––––––

~ELVEN PALACE~

In an open field, soldiers were lined up and standing straight awaiting their orders. 

King Regin and Prince Terrence stood on a podium in front of the soldiers, with King Regin standing behind and Terrence forward as he addressed them. 

To the left-hand side of the podium stood, four other elves. They were all dressed in different raiment, with their swords at their waist belt as they listened to the Prince. From their attires and cape, one could deduce they were of a higher rank than the other soldiers.

There were more than a thousand soldiers standing at attention in the field, all armed and ready for their mission. 

"Each of you present here today, has been selected for an important assignment. You are to head over to the forest and protect Princess Avery at all cost. If you face the hybrid, attack with full force. She is dangerous and powerful, so proceed with caution, but bring her back alive."

He paused to let his words sink in before turning around to speak with his father. "Your Majesty."

Taking the cue, King Regin stepped forward, while Prince Owen moved back to where his father once stood.

"I have just two requests from you today. As a king, capture the hybrid alive, and as a father, bring the princess back home safe and sound."

––––––

~FOREST PEAK~

Everyone's head turned at once towards the direction the voice came from.

Two White Tiger-Phoenix Beasts stood at the entrance of the cave behind White-Fire, one looked bigger and older than White Wing.

White-Fire walked forward to where Astrid stood and paved the way for them to enter. The two bigger beasts walked majestically inside the Wellspring.

Jareth on the other hand stood up from where he was sitting and moved towards them. 

"Elder, you came," White-Fire announced. It tried not to sound happy and surprised but its voice betrayed it and came off just like that.

Jareth and Astrid took a glance at each other and then back at White-Fire. 

"Yes, I came, Granddaughter."

"Granddaughter?!" Both of them said in unison. The puzzled look on their faces disappeared upon realization of who the bigger beast was.

"Astrid, Jareth, meet my grandfather, Elder of White Tiger Beasts Clan," White-Fire introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Elder."

"Greetings, Elder."

"Call me, Glacier. Glacier Phoenix."

"Such a nice name," Astrid complimented.

"Thank you." Glacier's eyes brimmed with joy at the compliment it got from Astrid. 

'Leia thought so too.' It mentally noted.

Astrid reminded it so much of Leia. It was the same reaction Leia had when she named it. She was smiling when she told it that it was a nice name. All this memory almost brought tears to its eyes, but it shook it away and focused on them.

"I see you're up, young ones," it said, moving further into the garden.

"Wait, it was you. You were the one who came when Jareth was sleeping. It was you who helped me. I can feel the same soothing feeling I felt before just by looking at you."

"Clever one, girl," it praised Astrid.

'Just like her grandmother.'

"Thanks, you really helped me back then. It was all thanks to you."

"I only assisted you, nothing more, the rest was all you." Its gaze moved over to Jareth and spoke, "I see they were bullying you."

"Bullying? Your earlier statement just confirmed our theory. He really was napping. We are the ones who are bullied by him," Astrid protested.

"Thanks for the support Elder," Jareth thanked the bigger beast with a forced smile.

'You only made my claim look worse.' He sighed.

They all laughed at his reaction. It was obvious he lost big time.