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Team, Chapter 5

The Herald of Candracar

After the audience with Queen Elyon was over, the Princess gave a tour of the palace. Noylé was a tiny little thing, about the size of Lilia in human form; however she carried herself with a grace that set her apart from the Guardians.

The audience with the Queen went well. The Light of Meridian had given them her blessing and her promise to assist the Guardians whenever they needed help. Izzie had asked if there were any problems at all in Meridian. Ellis had snorted in response- since Elyon was crowned as Queen, some fifty-five years ago, peace had come over the land and the darkness in people's hearts had become dormant.

- - -

Leaving the palace later on, the Guardians and Favik walked towards the marketplace, where they had materialised five hours before. The portal that had carried them there remained, glowing and purple.

"Where to now?" asked Lilia as the six of them stood before the portal. They all looked toward Talia, who was bright red and whose eyes wandered towards Favik and then to the floor every now and again.

"Um..." Talia started, "Let's just go back to Candracar. See what to do next."

They all said their goodbyes to Favik, who shook hands with Ellis and gave Talia a parting wink. The Guardians, including a flustered Talia, entered the portal and watched Meridian disappear behind them.

- - -

"Woah!"

"OW!"

"Where are we?"

Ebony looked around from the top of a flight of stairs which she had landed on.

They were not in the room that they had been in before, the room the Oracle had led them to. They seemed to be in a courtyard of sorts, another entrance to the centre of the universe and the surrounding land. The place was blissfully white and airy, a gentle breeze just tickling the skin and taking a sweet fragrance along with it.

Ebony looked around her, spotting the four other Guardians; Lilia was sprawled on one of the many cloud puffs that peppered the land, Talia and Izzie were both sat on their behinds, looking around them in wonder...and Ellis was at the bottom of the stairs, talking to someone.

The two voices were quiet, only barely being carried along by the breeze. Ebony stood at the top of the stairs and slowly descended, seeing the three other girls getting up and also approaching Ellis and the stranger.

"...So, do you think you can show us where to go? We need to get home." Ellis was saying, scratching his head.

"Of course. I'll show you to the entrance, where you will find a portal which will take you back to Heatherfield." the stranger replied.

The voice of this stranger was like sweet music to Ebony's ears. Ebony paused for a moment, frozen as she tried to comprehend the amazing sound that had come from this person's lips. Nobody talked like that.

As the Fire Guardian stared at the back of the mysterious person's head, Lilia, Izzie and Talia had all arrived and were standing around, looking normal. Ebony glared at them...how could they have not reacted the same way as her to this beautiful birdsong? Did she hear wrong? Was there something wrong with her?

Ebony huffed furiously. Ellis, whom had noticed nothing, smiled at the strangers' last comment. He jumped up, looking around at his fellow Guardians.

"Guys, this is Angelo," he said, gesturing to the stranger, "he's the Herald of Candracar, and he's agreed to show us home."

"Thank you," Talia said to Angelo, "we can't thank you enough."

"It's no problem at all." More blissful music. Perfectly articulated English. Angelo, dressed in a long white cloak, stood and addressed each of the Guardians in turn. He shook hands with Izzie, Lilia, Talia and Ellis, and then turned to the still fuming Ebony.

Everything stopped. All of the air rushed out of Ebony's lungs in a rush, her mouth hanging open. Her eyes narrowed slightly, before softening. She went down one more step, so she was level with this incredible creature.

Angelo was tall and heavily built with muscle. The clothes he was dressed in fit him perfectly, as if they were made for him especially. His skin was pale as snow, and seemed to send off the delicious aroma Ebony had sniffed before. He had bright white hair which stood up in an unusual style which seemed to suit him perfectly. And his eyes...oh, the eyes. They were the colour of melted steel, onyx jewels set into the pale white, god-like face. He couldn't be older than nineteen.

And yet no time seemed to have passed at all.

Angelo's face thawed out of it's previously frozen state, and smiled at the Fire Guardian.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you." and he offered his hand.

Ebony stared down at his hand. What to do? She knew what she wantedto do, which was take his hand and not let it go. However, the rational side of Ebony's brain began to take over, as the rest seemed to be paralyzed. She took his hand and shook it, trying to avert her eyes from his before the working fraction of her brain stopped working as well.

"H..hi. I'm...Ebony." she had almost said her real name for a moment. What an effect this boy had on her!

Angelo widened his smile briefly before dropping her hand and turning away. He began to lead the Guardians away, the rest seeming to be...almost oblivious to the beauty of this peculiar alien.

Ebony paused before following. She stayed slightly behind, her eyes locked on the flowing white cape that seemed to be an extension of Angelo himself.

The six of them walked for a short while, Ellis and Angelo engaging in small talk, whilst the holder of the Heart and the Water and Air Guardians walked together in silence.

- - -

That night, in bed, Ebony slept peacefully.

It was because, in her dream, Angelo had offered his hand to her again. She had taken it, and had no need to ever let go.