The Queen's Promise

BENTZGRICH VILLAGE:

The crackle of burning wood, the bubbling and sizzling of lava, the steam of the lava meeting water, the cries of the families that have lost their home. The combination of the consequences of Hilfa's plan.

The group are making their way down the road to the village as they see families rushing to save whatever items they have left, rushing with their partners, children, pets, everything that holds importance to them.

The group then come to a stop, seeing the full extent of the destruction.

The Queen's eyes widen as she sees that everything is ruined. Whatever is left of the remaining houses are soon going to fall, succumbing to the flow of lava.

They see magic users trying to halt the flow from lava, and it's definitely slowing the spread, but it's still moving.

"We need to help!" Terra says, rushing forward with Virra and Amilia in tow.

"What does she expect us to do?" Musha asks. "Lava isn't exactly cooperative."

"Doesn't matter. We need to do something." The Queen answers before walking forward, trying to come up with a plan.

The group all enter the village, seeing Terra has already begun to use her magic to try and offset the lava that's still flowing towards them.

She creates holes to try lessen the amount of lava, but they're quickly filled and sealed off by Terra as Virra and Amilia make sure that the villagers are ushered to safer ground.

"EVERYONE! START HEADING UP THE HILL!" An elderly woman of the village calls out.

"WAIT! MY DAUGHTER IS MISSING! HAS ANYONE SEEN MY DAUGHTER?!" Another woman calls out, her face covered in soot, haggard, and obviously stressed as all hell.

The villagers begin talking amongst themselves, trying to find the aforementioned girl when they hear a girl shouting.

"MOMMY!"

"ALEXINA!"

The mother tries to rush over to her house, but the lava has ruined any sort of way to get into said house.

The villagers scramble to save the mother from hurting herself whilst trying to find a way to save the girl, but that's when they see the Queen walk past them, and they all back away in fear of the giant.

The Queen gets as close as she can to the house, and Terra creates a small bank so the Queen doesn't lose any feet to the lava.

"Little girl! I'm here to help you! I just need you to get onto my hand!"

The girl cowers behind the door frame, obviously terrified of the giant speaking to her. The Queen doesn't blame the child, after all, giants have been the villain of many a bedtime story or the subject of a tale to scare children out of disobedience.

"Little girl! Your name is Alexina, correct?!" The Queen asks, and the girl nods her head in response. "Nice to meet you, Alexina! My name is Chaxar! I am the Queen of the Giants! Now, I know you are afraid, but you have to trust me! It's dangerous to stay here much longer! Your mother is waiting for you! So please, climb on!"

"Alexina! Trust her!" The girl's mother pleads.

The girl is still hesitant, but even the young lass can see the danger is the lava below, and not the giant in front. She looks to her mother, and the girls mother nods her head, signalling the girl to do as the giant asks.

The girl takes the metaphorical leap and climbs onto the Queen's open palm. The Queen carefully carries the girl from the house, over the lava, and back down to the waiting arms of her mother.

Tears of joy start streaming down the mother's face, reunited with her daughter. The reunion is brief as the lava is moving closer to them, the group, and the villagers who came to help.

Terra wants to continue to fight to save what remains of the village, but even she can see that the little the remains wouldn't stand for much longer. The fatigue from the fight earlier, and the descent from the mountain has taken a toll.

The elf joins the retreat, and soon, the group, the giants, and all the villagers watch as their homes finally succumb to the tide of lava.

The village is no more.

The cries can be heard once again. The young, middle age, and the elderly grieving in symphony over the lost of their homes, memories, lives, everything.

"Just like that... everything is gone." The elderly woman from before says as she looks on at the destruction.

"Not everything. The people are still here." The Queen says.

"Most are, yes. However, there are bodies down there that we will never have the chance to bury." The elderly adds before walking over to the villagers.

"Your majesty." Musha starts as she stops next to the Queen. "I don't think we should stay much longer. I know you helped the girl, but I believe we are an unwelcome sight in an already terrible situation."

"No. We cannot just leave without doing something."

The Queen walks over to the villagers, and immediately she sees the mixed reactions fear, anger, and hatred staring back at her.

"What'd you want, giant?! We don't have anything left for your kind to take, so piss off!" A furious man spits out.

"I am not here to take anything, I can assure you. I heard about the event that took place here, and I wanted to come down to... offer a hand."

"A hand?! A fucking hand?!" A woman scoffs. "Your hand is what did this in the fucking first place! It was your mountain that did this!"

Another man joins in. "Plus, we've heard all about what your kind have been to the other villages and settlements! Taking their food! Ruining their crops! How'd we know you didn't cause this just to get rid of us?!"

A large chunk of the villagers agree with the sentiment, and the Queen has suddenly never felt more outmatched in her life. Maybe it was because she's never been the most diplomatic ruler? Maybe it's the fact that she's dealing with different races? Or maybe it's because she's still trying to act like a Queen in a place where that title holds no meaning?

"I hear all of your concerns, insults, and opinions. If I'm being truly honest, we've earned all of those, and more. As for what happened to your village, I cannot do anything to bring it back, but what I can do is accept the blame for its destruction."

The Queen takes a breath, closing her eyes as she inhales before opening them again.

"My name is Chaxar, and I am the Queen of the Giants. What happened today was the result of one of my own betraying us, and trying to enact her own plot, but the fault lies with us. If we had stopped her sooner, or I had actually paid attention to what was happening around me, none of this would not have happened, and for that, I am eternally sorry."

The villagers mumble amongst one another before Chaxar continues. "As for the reports of giants attacking and raising villages, those are also true. I may not have been the one to give the order, but they were a part of my clan, so I solely take the blame for their actions, and I promise you that they have been swiftly dealt with."

The villagers talk amongst each other once again, words like liar, monster, and evil being thrown around numerous times.

"I am surprised you all haven't attacked me yet. In fact, I'm surprised that you haven't launched any attack against us for all that we have done to you. To be completely honest, I am very grateful for that."

Those last words confuse the villagers before Chaxar continues. "We are nowhere weak mind you, and any attack would have been swiftly dealt with, but I have never been fond of killing the smaller races. I was born into the lineage of honourable warriors, and I only relish in victories against those who are similar in size or strength, but today, right now, I am as weak as I have ever been."

Chaxar looks down at her missing hand. "The fact that I am missing a limb isn't what makes me weak. I am weak because for all these years, I have been failing as the leader of the giants in the Skygrabber Mountains. I cannot promise that I will make everything better for all of you overnight, but I will promise that now will be the start of a better future, a future where you don't have to be afraid of us giants anymore."

Chaxar takes a knee. "I pledge that I will do all in my power to help you all rebuild your village, and prosper better than you ever have. This isn't just a pledge to your village alone. I promise that we shall help every village who needs it. We shall help every village that we have wronged in the past. All I ask for is the chance to prove it."

The villagers mumble, trying to come to some sort of consensus when the elderly woman steps up.

"Your people have hurt ours for years. You have taken husbands and sons to use for your own sick ways. You have destroyed lands, regardless of if you were in the know or not, your people did that. You and your people destroyed our home."

Chaxar feels a burning shame in her stomach. As much as it pains her to hear, the elderly woman did not tell a single lie.

"But..."

Chaxar's breath stops, not in a bad way, but in careful anticipation.

"This was the first time that you have come down to see the damage yourself. This is the first time that you have actually seen the consequences of your actions, and I believe that I am quite good at reading faces in my old age, and I see regret. I see shame, I see humiliation, I see hurt in your eyes."

The woman steps closer to Chaxar.

"I cannot give you the chance you seek."

Chaxar's heart drops.

"But I can give you the chance to earn that chance."

A wave of relief washes over Chaxar. Her breathing returns. Her heart continues to beat. She feels happy.

"Thank you." Chaxar says, getting back up to her feet.
"I will make arrangements to make lodgings for all of you. I would offer shelter in my stronghold, but it is nowhere near suitable for smaller races to live. I will return soon with members of my clan to help out with the efforts. In the meantime, please pick an area that you wish to set up at for now."

The villagers agree with the plan, and so they begin grabbing whatever valuables they have left to begin finding a place to settle down for now.

"My Queen. You never fail to impress me." Musha says as she walks up to Chaxar.

Chaxar chuckles. "Well, what can I say? I am the Queen. I may as well start acting like a proper one."

"You do know that kings and queens were abolished like an eternity ago, right?" Virra asks.

"Funny. It appears I missed that notice." Chaxar chuckles to herself. "In any case, let us move. I have relationships to build, and the opinion of our people to change!"

Chaxar begins proudly walking back to the mountain, but she quickly stops as she realizes that only Musha is walking along with her.

"What? Do I stink or something?"

"A little bit, but that's not why were not with you." John says.

Chaxar looks at them confused.

"We're not giants, your majesty. It's about time that we leave." Terra explains.

"Ahh, yes, I suppose that makes sense. I guess I had forgotten that fact for a moment." Chaxar chuckles a little as Musha walks over to put her hand on Chaxar's shoulder.

"I believe it's time we say our goodbyes." Musha says to the group.

Chaxar nods her head before looking at the group.

"It's been quite the experience."

"If you can count you threatening to fuck John, get d to fight a fuck tonne of giants, and then see the aftermath of a volcanic eruption, then yeah, definitely been an experience." Amilia comments.

"We could have gone without the first part." Kyuala adds.

"If it's any consolation, I didn't actually do anything, but in any case, do we agree to put that behind us?" Chaxar offers.

"Gladly." Kyuala bluntly responds.

"Anyway, I want you all to know that despite what has happened, it was an honour to fight with you. I know it wasn't easy for all of you to do battle with giants, but considering there was no major injury, I would call it a success."

Everyone, including Musha, looks at the Chaxar's missing hand, and she quickly notices.

"Well, at least there was few major injuries."

Everyone chuckles.

"As I was saying." Chaxar continues. "I have grown quite fond of you all. I will be glad that I don't have to watch my footing when walking around my stronghold, but I will miss the brief injection of insanity that you brought with you. I am also eternally grateful for your help. I wish you all well on your journey back, and if the time ever comes, You may count on the Giants of the Skygrabber Mountains as your allies."

"Thank you, your majesty. It has been an honour fighting alongside you as well. I know that it might not seem much, but if you ever need some smaller allies to help with whatever, we will be happy to assist you in any way." John offers.

"I appreciate that, more than you may know."

With no more words to exchange, the group with the new additions of Kira, Clarva, and Karray, head over to the cart.

"Wait!" Chaxar calls out.

Everyone turns around.

"Clarva. May I speak to you in private for a moment?"

"Sure." Clarva responds before turning back to Karray. "I'll be a minute."

"Alright, but don't expect me to warm up your seat."

Clarva chuckles at her friends remark before heading towards Chaxar, who is now standing away from Musha.

"If this is a last ditch attempt to kill me, we probably should move some place more private." Clarva starts.

"Do not worry, I have no intention of fighting you at this current juncture."

Clarva smirks. "Good, because I don't want to have a hand up on the competition."

Chaxar is the one to smirk this time. "Oh, I don't plan to be missing an appendage for long. I already have plans for a replacement, and the next time we meet, I'll be sure to give you a royal welcome in the Pit."

The two share laugh, easing whatever tension was left between them.

"All jokes aside, I just wanted to say how proud I am of you." Chaxar says, obviously with more in mind. "I know how proud your mother would be of you right now, and so, I thought it would only be appropriate if I were to let you know."

"That... means a lot, Chaxar. Thank you."

Chaxar smiles before giving the half-giant a pat on the back. "Now, you better get going before your friends leave without you. As for me, K have to get back to Musha. I believe she's finally found the courage to admit her feelings to me."

Clarva is stunned. "Wait, you've known this whole time that she's got the hots for you?"

"Of course." Chaxar says, seemingly a little more smug than normal. "She hasn't exactly made it a secret after all."

"And you haven't thought to make a move?"

Chaxar chuckles. "I prefer a woman who makes the first move. You've got to be bold to admit your feelings to a Queen, and I love when a woman is bold."

Clarva is left speechless as Chaxar begins walking away. "Have a pleasant journey, Clarva Mightenos! I hope the weather stays kind to you!"

Clarva gives a quick two finger salute before walking back over to the cart, that stunned expression still on her face.

"C, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Not a ghost. Just a lesbian." Clarva mutters, confusing everyone. "Anyway, let's get going. I want to get a good distance before nightfall."

"Hop on then!" Virra says before looking at Kira. "Uhh, sorry, but I don't think you're gonna be able to fit."

"Don't worry. Centaurs have been walking much further than this cart can go since we first arrived. It's no issu- HEY!"

Kira's slight taunt is interrupted by Clarva lifting the centaur up, and placing her down onto the large torso below. "All good! Let's move!"

"Suits me!" Virra says before infusing her cart with her magic, and setting off as soon as she can.

"Hey! I'm not good with this! Don't I get a say?!"

"No." The group say in unison as the cart heads off down the road, heading to the nearest town: Hynesgar.