There was only silence between them for a long while. No one was willing to be the first. Cecilia forced her gaze upon Lucifer’s sleeping form. He looked so calm and peaceful, that it enraged her further. She staggered uneasily onto her feet, pulling the roses out of her hair. She dropped the flowers onto Lucifer’s lap and vowed never to let another man near her again.

She became distracted by the ears sticking out of his white hair. Cecilia crouched, which was a painful process. She touched the tip of one ear to make sure it was real. In fascination, she seized the tip and started playing with the elf’s ear. Lucifer did not stir and the others stared at her.

“What are you doing?” Antoine voiced what everyone was thinking.

“They’re so weird looking…it’s kind of cool. They’re like handle bars or something really. Look at it go,” Cecilia answered somewhat giddily spinning the ear around.

Antoine raised an eyebrow at the others, wondering if Cecilia was really all right.

“Ceese, are you okay?” Brianna rested her hands on Cecilia’s shoulders.

Cecilia wanted to bite the ear. She did not know why, it just seemed like a good idea.

“It’s chewy,” she commented.

“Oh god, Cecilia cut that out. It’s gross…and weird,” Antoine sputtered.

“You really liked him didn’t you?” Brianna cooed.

Cecilia finally released the ear from her experiments.

“He was very kind, but I should have picked up on him when he started using those cheesy lines. I guess it was charming. I think he looks better with the ears. Elves are rather curious looking,” Cecilia said shakily.

Brianna pulled her away from the elf, seeing that it would only make things worse.

“You won’t have to worry about him anymore, Lady Cecilia,” Sebastien said, thinking that the information might offer her comfort.

“I know. I’ll…I’ll…I’ll be fine. You know…I’m going to be sick…I’ll be back,” Cecilia scuttled off clutching her stomach. The others did not follow her.

“Will she really be all right?” Antoine asked.

“Father Andy and I can help her out. Although, I really wish we could go with you,” Brianna confessed, blinking back tears.

Sebastien sighed, not in annoyance but with pity.

“Oh Brianna,” he said holding out his hands to her.

Brianna ran into his arms and held him tightly. She began to cry.

“I think I love you, Sir Sebastien,” she hiccupped.

“You know you have to stay here. This is your place here. Cecilia needs you more than I.”

“Please don’t go. You can stay can’t you? Your brother is going to be king, not you,” Brianna pleaded hopelessly.

Antoine snorted and toed Lucifer’s foot in a vain attempt to ignore the scene. When he looked up at them again, he was sorry he did. Brianna and Sebastien had locked lips again. He frustratedly kicked the bottom of Lucifer’s shoe.

Without warning Lucifer’s eyes shot open. Antoine yelped and jumped back, fumbling for a weapon he no longer had.

“What is going on? Where am I? Why…why is my ear wet?”

“Seb! Seb! He’s up! Get the priest quick,” Antoine shook his brother in alarm.

“Your highnesses? What in God’s Green earth are you doing here?”

“You just tried to kill us!” Antoine accused.

“I did? Oh…oh I guess I was, wasn’t I. Oh dear, this is a mess.”

Father Andrew appeared out of nowhere and to Lucifer’s side.

“Why are you up already?”

“Someone was kicking my foot,” Lucifer complained. “Who are you?”

“Father Andrew Timothy Watcher, Tempus Gate Guardian. The only one on this side of a gate,” he winked. “I am going to send you and the princes back to Pravignon where you belong before you cause anymore damage.”

“Terribly sorry, I guess I lost control.”

Father Andrew cuffed the side of Lucifer’s head.

“You never had control. Demons are not play-things. You only had a fairly minor one, luckily.”

“I never played with demons,” Lucifer argued, gingerly rubbing the side of his head.

Father Andrew glowered for a moment and shook his head.

“Well, it’s all over with now. Have you boys said your good-byes?”

“Ceese ran off to be sick after eating the elf’s ear,” Antoine reported, slightly amused by Lucifer’s expression.

The priest sighed, “She might not come back.”

“Cecilia…she was that other girl, correct?” Lucifer asked.

“The one with the darker hair, yes. You tried to kill her,” Brianna accused angrily. “You may have broken her heart with your atrocious behavior.”

Brianna instantly regretted scolding the elf when his expression changed to the deepest sorrow. His ears drooped and he shielded his eyes.

“What have I done?”

“Enough. It’s time to go,” Father Andrew motioned towards the font.

The knights looked at each other wondering what to do or say. Brianna bit her lip, trying not to make it any harder.

The water in the font swirled and bubbled. Sebastien looked down into the void timidly, before turning to Brianna one last time. Feverishly, he tore off his elf-stone ring and shoved it into Brianna’s hands.

“Keep this. It’s a small token, but I want you to have it.”

“I will. Thank you. I’ll miss you,” Brianna sniffled.

She felt him turn to mist in her arms.

Antoine looked aghast as if his brother had beat him in some sort of game. Cecilia had not returned. If Brianna had an elf-stone, Cecilia would be left out. He tore off his ring too.

“Do me a favor and give this to Cecilia. It’s only a little bit of my debt to repay,” he pleaded.

Brianna laughed a little and nodded. “I will. Don’t worry. Good-bye, Sir Antoine. I hope you become a great king. I’ll miss you too,” she said, giving him a quick hug.

Antoine turned to mist like his brother before him. The elf was the only one left, but he was gone! Had he gone before the knights? Brianna looked to Father Andrew who was equally confused.

“You better find him, I’ll keep the gate open.”

“Right. Be right back,” Brianna said, striding off with determination.

Cecilia wiped her mouth which tasted of bile and filet mignon. She could sense in her bones that they had left. It would be safe to come out now. She could go to her room and cry for hours alone.

“Cecilia,” came a familiar voice.

In alarm Cecilia looked up. She was tired from being sick and running, but adrenaline might be enough to take him out.

“Go away,” she said miserably, not feeling at all aggressive. She was tired of fighting. Maybe he would just go away now.

“I will in a little bit,” Lucifer said comfortingly. “There is no excuse for my actions towards you. I want to make up for it, but I know there is no way in the few moments I may have here. I wish there was something I could do or say to help you.”

He held out the wilted roses to her. Cecilia squeezed her eyes shut and sputtered a sob. Swiftly, she felt Lucifer’s arms wrap around her and press her against his bosom. He was shaking. His body racked with sobs of his own. It made Cecilia stop and she found her arms wrapped around him. Playfully, she glanced at his ear so close within reach. With a choked laugh, she nabbed it and tugged playfully at it.

Lucifer stopped crying and started laughing.

“I’ll forgive you, Luki. Promise me you’ll help the knights. You are very smart and clever. You even fooled me,” Cecilia whispered.

Lucifer stopped and held her tighter, “I will never forgive myself. I can not. But I will do as you have asked, Cecilia. You are a great woman and wise. I would be pleased to serve under your command forever.”

Cecilia blushed and patted Lucifer’s back, feeling her old self return.

“You better go. I’m sure they’ve wondered where you have run off to. Go on now. And, I will pray that you find your Silvia again,” she said, pushing Lucifer away.

Lucifer wiped his eyes quickly and nodded. “Thank you, Cecilia. I will never forget you.”

“Nor I you, Luki.”

“Ceese! There you are. Father Andy is waiting. He can’t hold the gate open much longer,” Brianna gasped.

“I’m on my way,” Lucifer announced. “Good-bye, my ladies.” He said with a graceful bow. And then he vanished. The girls blinked in awe, as if he disappeared into thin air.

Father Andrew reappeared, looking exhausted. It must have been hard work sending them all back and exorcising a demon. Cecilia picked up the yellow roses and replaced them into her hair. There was still going to be plenty of tears to shed. She was going to miss that elf. The elf that had stolen her heart.

Brianna held a ring with a blue stone on it in front of Cecilia.

“Antoine asked me to give you this. It’s an elf-stone, Father Andy told me.”

Cecilia accepted it and slipped it onto her finger. It was far too big.

“Well, guess I’ll have to put it on a chain necklace or something,” she smirked.

“Are you really okay?”

“Are you?”

Brianna laughed a little and shook her head.

“I won’t be for awhile.”

“Same here. That was quite a little adventure wasn’t it?”

“Hopefully, one that won’t be repeated,” Father Andrew chuckled hoarsely.

Cecilia nodded in agreement.

“Do you think anyone else could come through those gates?” Brianna asked, looking hopeful.

“If those two knights are the Ones spoken of in the prophecy, then it will be all over. The Halls of time will be forever sealed and I will retire.”

“What is up with this hall business? Wouldn’t history change all the time?” Cecilia asked.

“The Halls have only been open for the past twenty-five or thirty years according to Pravignon records. They were opened for the purpose of the bearers of the Golden Kingdom.”

“Sounds like a cliché anime,” Cecilia retorted.

“Or generic fantasy novel,” Brianna added. (This is me mocking myself).

Father Andrew shrugged and sank into a pew.

“In times of trouble, God has always sent a leader. Moses, Noah, Mother Teresa, Saint Francis of Assisi, et cetera. Sometimes there is a sign to expect them or to expect some sort of intervention from God. There is still a Church in Pravignon, can you believe that?”

“Well, Mohammed thought the same thing too, look at the mess we have with Islam,” Cecilia argued.

“You…you are too smart for me sometimes. You got me while I’m tired,” Father Andrew teased.

“Tired? I’ve been beaten up by elves and chased and gotten sick.”

“I’m old then,” Father Andrew argued jokingly.

“Fine, age over beauty. Well, I need a good bath, a good cry, and a good night’s sleep. Can you make it back to the monastery okay?”

“Go on. I’m sure I can make it,” Father Andrew smiled. “I am very proud of you two. You have handled this situation better than I could. Great things can be expected of you.”

“Don’t be too disappointed in us if we get lazy and don’t rule the world,” Cecilia smirked.

They laughed once more and parted ways. Brianna supported Cecilia back to the dorms. They washed and returned to their room, suddenly remembering they would have to pack.

“It will be a new day for us. And even if we never accomplish anything great here, we probably helped save Pravignon,” Cecilia shrugged trying to keep in high spirits although she was falling apart inside.

“You’re right. I never thought of it like that,” Brianna exclaimed.

“We might even be celebrities over there,” Cecilia continued.

“Yeah! You think so?”

“We better be. Those ungrateful knights owe it to us,” Cecilia remarked snarkily.

Brianna giggle and agreed. She was surprised how Cecilia was handling this and jealous that she was so mature about it.

“We should do something fun this summer before college starts. And we should get together for spring break and do something,” Cecilia suggested, already thinking ahead.

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