The Unnamed Saga: The Four Thrones, Chapter Eighteen: "Broken Borders"

Chapter Eighteen: Broken Borders

 

Open on Silverthrone Castle from above, a large estate filled with large, well-tended glades and gardens.  Ponds dot the landscape, connected by beautifully built and maintained bridges.  The area is a focused, artistic expression of function and aesthetic.

Show the front gate where two guards stand at watch, one at the ready, the other yawning.

A bird flies by.

Show the bird land on a nearby tree branch.

Silverthrone Guard1, who was yawning, points at the bird while Silerthrone Guard2 looks warily at it.

Silverhtrone Guard1: “Look! A bird!”

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "What in the world are you on about now?"

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "That bird is flying in.  Means winter is about over."

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "It doesn't mean anything.  It's probably just lost."

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "Why do you always do that?"

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "Do what?  I didn't do anything?"

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "Crush my dreams, man.  You're always crushing my dreams."

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "Oh, not this again.  I didn't crush anything."

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "I'm just saying, you're negative.  A real pessimist."

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "I'm not a pessimist.  I'm a realist."

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "That's what all the pessimists say."

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "You're an idiot."

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "I'm not an idiot, I'm an optimist."

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "Same thing."

 

Silverthrone Guard1: "I'm not going to engage you.  I would just like to ask you, in the future, to respect my dreams."

 

Silverthrone Guard2: "Fine, whatever, dream however much you like, but we've got at least a few more weeks until spring is here."

 

They go silent as a wind blows.  Silverthrone Guard1 shivers.

Silverthrone Guard1: "Just can't stand this damn cold."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Silverthrone Castle’s wall interior.  Castle guards walk in groups, eying the area and carrying with them spears and halberds.  Attendant in cloaks work busily to maintain the landscape.

Cut to a castle balcony and show Dawn seated upon a banister, her small, powerful legs having over the railing.  She wears a thick dress with a cloak over it and has her unstrung bow at rest on her lap.  She looks out toward the city.

Show the wall from her view, a thicket of trees pressed against it from both within and without and the city just beyond it, small ribbons of smoke drifting from their chimneys.

 

Cut to the Silverthrone Castle interior guest room where Mary is at rest on an enormous bed propped up by embroidered cushions.  She is wearing a silken Silvaran nightgown.  Bandages can be seen, tightly bound beneath the gown.

Mary stretches as Zelos appears in the open doorway.

 

Zelos: "You don't even rest when you're injured."

 

Mary: "I've said it many times before: I'll sleep when I'm dead.  You, on the other hand, should be sleeping much more than your busy schedule allows for."

 

Zelos: "I'm still trying to convince Glenn that we should go.  He's being difficult."

 

Mary: "That is a considerable understatement."

 

Zelos: "You still agree with him, though, don't you?"

 

Mary: "I think the best course is a cautious one.  These waters are tumultuous, to say the least, and might I take the time to commend you and your uncharacteristic patience."

 

Zelos: "The last time I charged in you..."

 

Mary: "Apology noted and accepted, pumpkin.  I'm just glad that you've learned to be more prudent."

 

Zelos: "For now. Patience really isn't my strong suit."

 

Mary: "It's not the strong suit of any Ferenn."

 

Mary slips from the bed while pulling a thin robe from the nightstand beside her.

 

Mary: "Come, let's conference with the Sir Glenn and the king and ponder our circumstances."

 

Zelos: "Yes, ma'am."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Silverthrone Castle inner court where King Estein is meeting with the Fionan Emissary with Glenn at the throne’s side.  King Estein is a brawny man with a neatly trimmed beard and his crown crooked on his head.  He is seated at the throne but leaned forward in conversation.  The throne has a crescent moon at its head with the image of a fox cut into its surface.  Glenn stands with his hands folded behind his back.  The Emissary has his hands open and is speaking sharply.

Emissary: "We ask only for what is our right!  Regicide comes with a heavy sentence."

 

King Estein: "And I am refusing your request.  Your accusations are made with no evidence."

 

Emissary: "You will pay in blood for your stubbornness."

 

King Estein stands from his throne.

King Estein: "I will not suffer any threats in my own halls!"

 

The Emissary reaches for a pouch at his side while Glenn grips his sword.

The Emissary stops.

Emissary: "So be it.  This is a waste of time."

 

The Emissary rushes out of the court, flanked by escorting Fionan soldiers in black plate.

Zelos and Mary enter as King Estein comes to rest in his throne.

 

Zelos: "Were those Fionan arms I saw?"

 

King Estein takes a calming breath.

King Estein: "Good morning, prince!  And I see the lady Mary has joined us."

 

Zelos: "Yeah."

Zelos goes to Glenn.

Zelos: "Glenn, did I just see Fionan soldiers?"

 

Glenn: "Yes.  They left."

 

Zelos: "I had noticed.  What I want to know is why were aren't going with them."

 

Glenn: "They wanted the princess' head."

 

Zelos: "Then we refuse and return home to argue the case ourselves."

 

King Estein: "Prince, please,..."

 

Zelos: "Listen, I appreciate everything that you're doing for us.  I appreciate it endlessly, but I don't belong here.  I have a nation, a family, and they need me.  Staying here will only make us look all the more guilty."

 

King Estein looks warily as Glenn while sighing.

King Estein: "Prince Zelos, they didn't come only for my daughter."

 

Zelos: "What?"

 

Glenn: "You've been implicated in the king's murder as well, remember."

 

Zelos: "But..."

 

Glenn: "By now that is the popular opinion in Fiona.  For now, we should avoid Fionan soil.."

 

Mary: "Obviously, another one of Metis' manipulations."

 

Zelos: "Mary, Metis would never..."

 

Glenn: "This is a conversation for later."

 

Glenn gives Mary share a quick glance.

Mary takes Zelos by the arm.

Mary: "Right then, come along with me if you would, pumpkin."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the exterior of a small inn on the outskirts of Silvara.  The Emissary can be seen through the windows looking out on the forest.  He is speaking with someone obscured by frost.

Show the inn’s interior, the Emissary a mug in hand, the forest shown through the windows beside him.

Emissary: "Say what you want about the Silvarans, but they do have fine wines.

The Emissary sets his mug down.

Emissary: "Now, back to the business at hand.  As it stands, there will be no peace between us.  They refuse to negotiate the return of the traitors, so we must take them by force.  It is unfortunate—the exact thing Prince Metis had meant to avoid, but it must be done, if for nothing else to bring closure to this matter.  Now then, we have a plan in motion, one in which your involvement is most integral.  Such matters have dire need for precision, and I can think of no one more precise than you, my lord."

 

Kratos, off-screen: "This is for the best, then."

Show Kratos sitting across from the Emissary.  His face is slightly darkened.  He looks tired, even a bit numb.  His beard is unkempt.  His eyes intense.

Kratos: "This way I can find Zelos and make him answer for his crimes myself."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the interior of the Black Castle war room.  Show the room from the top, with Metis bent over a map of the island of Albion.  Zion stands at his side.

Show Metis from the front, staring intently at the map.  Zion stands straight, his arms folded behind his back.

Show the map.  Markers are spread across the edge of the Silvaran borders.  Everything else is marked as Fionan territory.  Little figures are put in strategic points along Silvara’s border.  A large marker is placed at the center of the invasion force.

 

Metis: "It is an unfortunate turn of events, but this must have been Fiona's destiny."

 

Zion: "I agree entirely, my king."

 

Metis smiles.

Metis: "Not a king, not yet, Zion, though I do appreciate your commitment."

Metis stands straight.

Metis: "I knew from the start that peace would never be an option."

 

Zion: "The Silvarans bring it upon themselves."

 

Metis goes to and stares out at the ocean.  Snow can be seen falling outside.

Metis: "Soon, Zion, soon I will finish the work my forefather's started.  Soon, this island will be united as one land under one crown."

 

Zion: "And you will be the one sitting upon the throne when it happens, my lord."

 

Metis: "You forget Kratos and Eros in your flattery."

 

Zion: "No, I don't, sir.  Neither are so suited as you are for rule.  Respectfully."

 

Metis: "Thank you, but I honestly think either one would make a worthy lord in their own rights."

 

Zion: "With due respect, my lord, no.  It must be you."

 

Metis: "And why do you say that? Speak freely."

 

Zion: "Prince Kratos, while strong and brave, hasn't the resolve to do what must be done.  Peace has made him soft.  Until the death of his family, he doubted Zelos' treason, did he not?"

 

Metis: "Indeed, he did."

 

Zion: "And Prince Eros, while well-liked by the people, is little more than a child playing at manhood.  Besides, recent days have found him...My lord, he is unwell, wandering the halls, thin and pale, a ghost of his former self."

 

Metis: "Indeed.  Fear not for him, for I shall see to him soon enough."

 

Zion: "I trust you will, my lord.  You always have a plan in mind or action, and that is foremost the reason why I want you at the head of this united land."

 

Metis: "Well, thank you very much, Zion.  You have always been my most loyal subject, and should I take the throne, you will be rewarded accordingly for your service, of that I assure you."

 

Zion: "To be at your service is reward enough, my lord."

 

Metis laughs.

Metis: "Well, enough of that now.  Please, leave me to my thoughts, and close the door on the way out."

 

Zion bows.

Zion: "Certainly, my lord."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Silverthrone castle’s exterior gate by night.  Two guards stand at the entryway, each holding a pike.  Another guard walks the wall above them.  Moonlight covers the wall.  The guard on the wall walks with a torch lit.

A cloud drifts over the moon, leaving the area dark.

Show another part of the wall, a rope hanging from the wall.

Show Kratos atop the wall stringing his bow.

Kratos charges down the wall, toward the guard, and shoots the Silvaran guard in the throat.

Before the guard atop the wall falls, Kratos fires two more arrows into the guards waiting at the entry way.

Kratos stops with his back to a watchtower within the wall, breathing heavily.

Show the distant part of the wall where torch light can still be seen.

Kratos scoops up the still lit torch of the guard he felled.

Kratos hops over the wall with the torch in hand.

Show the front gate swing open, Kratos holding a clothed arrow in one hand and the torch in the other.

Show a burning arrow streaking into the night sky.

Show Silvara from above, a red magical burst lighting the sky.

Show a series of colorful magical bursts following.

Show birds taking flight from the forests as a low rumble fills the night.

Show the forest interior, wildlife running from a spreading sickly green light.

Show the green light catching on the far mountains.

Show the green light filling the Silvaran streets.

Show a shadowy figure rising from the wooded area just beyond Silvara, green light spilling from its form.

Show spinning fans.

Show the bottom of a ship hovering above the treeline.

Show a bird-like figurehead.

Reveal the airship, green light spilling from its interior and trailing after it, fans spinning as it lifts up, dirt, stone and branches falling in its wake.

End on the image of the airship drifting over Silvara, Silverthrone atop a hill in the distance.

Chapter End.