RuneScape Forum Archive | Fall From Grace

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2020

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His eyes searched, combing every inch and gazing at every flower. Quickly, flying from place to place. It was then that his eyes went into the center... There she was, just as he suspected. She was there, laid out on her knees in the heartland of the beautiful village of flowers.

He gulped saliva nervously, questioning his preparedness. Was he up for this confrontation? He sighed, letting out his angst. Raphael walked forward, readying himself for what's to come.

Lucia was there in the field of flowers, her left hand wrapped itself around the neck of a golden flower. Its scent was fresh, as wondrous as the land of flowers all around her. Her eyes gazed at the flower, seeing the sweet nectar flowing. She was so focused upon these flowers, but there was much to do. There was a lot going on in her mind, so much to think about, yet she was so short on time.

She then closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh, left strayed by many things that had no answer. At least, not an easy one. But she then felt something, someone was very close by. To confirm this, she waited... and waited. Her ears then suddenly caught the sound of grass being crushed under the foot of another being.

This sent an alarm up in her head, she was swift to react. Within the blink of an eye, she had clenched onto her blade's handle, drew it, stood up onto her feet, and pointed her blade at the throat of whoever stood behind her. So fast was she that the pedals of the flowers were swept up into the air, falling now all around her and the person who she pointed her blade at.

Her adamas blade, known as the Queen's Blade Eshenel, glimmered in the sunset. Her glowing pale blue eyes stared off onto the visage of whoever was behind her, and she saw his familiar face. His purple eyes gazed back at her, intense yet held out a kindness. He didn't at all seem startled by her actions, keeping focus that looked forward onto the onyx-headed queen's face.
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16-Jun-2014 18:11:16

Jul

2020

Serene End

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After the powerful gust of wind she caused with her movement, their clothing finally resettled back into place just as their eyes did upon the other. Raphael didn't even reach for his blade, as though he knew that he wouldn't need it. His hood had been blown off, revealing his entire face and head to her. They were both unfazed to see the other, growing very still.

A gentle breeze flew by the two as the staredown of a lifetime was being waged at this very moment. Silence was a focal point, no sound could break the acute quiet. Raphael's face was stared upon intensely. But still, this knifelike glare could not faze him. "I knew I would find you here..." said the silver-haired young man. "...Elena."

The adamas blade's sharp tongue was very close to Raphael's throat, tempting the young queen. Her emotionless glare dug a hole into Raphael's eyes, but still he was not bothered. "My name is Lucia Gaiane Barn," angrily corrected the queen's whipping yet strangely trembling voice. "Give me a reason not to kill you where you stand."

Raphael shook his head. "You won't," he stated, his voice as steady as a calm sea. "you can't."

"That's quite arrogant of you to assume," she replied to his perhaps overly-confident belief, putting her blade even closer to his throat. So close was it now that it tasted flesh, cutting his neck very lightly. "Perhaps I should prove you wrong."

"Maybe it is arrogance," the young leader returned, not even making a single motion to defend himself. "or maybe it's the truth. Only one way to prove it's not the latter."

Her head turned to the left a little, but her eyes were glued to him. She actually did ponder it, Raphael could see it on her face. Even though it was for but a moment, she had the idea of killing him in her mind. This alone was enough to confirm what Momus was telling him... She really has changed.
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16-Jun-2014 18:12:17

Jul

2020

Serene End

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"Listen," Raphael said to her, raising his hands up as if he were signalling surrender. "I'm not here to fight you, or do anything like that. I'm just here to talk... to you."

Lucia's eyes were frozen solid upon him, so very cold and completely unmovable. A moment of silence carried on by as she pondered for that time, Raphael very anxiously waited for her answer. "You have five minutes," she stated quickly.

"Thank you," he gratefully responded, a smile was gently craved onto his face. His face then grew grim, knowing full-well he had to speak directly out from his heart. "I wanted to say... I'm sorry. For everything. I don't know why I said what I said, but I do know that absolutely none of it is true. You were only trying to help the humans, and you did! I'm just so ashamed that I brought you to this. I mean, I don't want to fight you... I don't want to hurt you."

"Is that it?" she callously replied, brushing off the sincerity of Raphael's words.

"No," he quickly replied to her stolid return. "I wanted to ask you something: are the tales about Falador true?"

"Yes," Lucia confirmed, though Raphael could hear the painful strain far behind the emotionless mask she played on.

But something did boil there like the acids of his stomach: anger, rage. He felt it well up inside of him, ready to be unleashed. "...Why?" he then spoke a word, almost in a demanding tone.

"Simple," she explained to him. "It is my duty to kill our enemies, to punish any who would oppose my people. You should know that by now."

"So, you're willing to slay your own comrades and friends in the name of a kingdom you hate?"

"While others ravaged their armies and tore them apart like paper mache, I delivered them to a swift, merciful end," Lucia clarified. "I spared Audley this fate, however, for a rather special purpose."

"And what might that "special purpose" be, exactly?" the young leader asked, curious but the ire in his voice began to rise.
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16-Jun-2014 18:14:12

Jul

2020

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"You'll find that out once you've returned to Lumbridge," she told him.

"Don't give me that!" he shouted then suddenly, his facial expression took on the shape of his fury. His out-of-nowhere shout still did not poke a hole through that steely gaze that Lucia brought, her stolid armour virtually impregnable. "You slaughtered innocent humans, smiling as you did too! You killed human beings, people your father wanted to help save! What the hell would he think of that, think of you!?"

"My father is dead," the queen replied. "he can't think anymore."

"And you choose to stand by his killer," Raphael riposted, this anger of his was unfounded to Lucia.

Lucia closed her eyes, digging deep within herself to just push through that quick counter-thrust Raphael made. "I have a question for you," she stated, shrugging off the topic. She then reopened her eyes, their glowing, piercing stare beamed for Raphael. "You came from the city, correct? That must mean you went in there, and I want to know why."

"What makes you assume that?"

"You knew I would be here," she answered. "If you knew I would be here, why bother going into Governanti?"

Raphael sighed, closing his eyes. He knew within himself that she had to know the truth, just as he learned of it. It would be wrong to keep it from her, and he thought it about time. Pushing aside himself and his feelings, the young leader rushed into the fray. He reopened his eyes, his strong gaze came back to find her sharp glare.

He reached his hand inside of his cloak, but his sudden movement didn't faze the onyx-haired queen. She was still, her blade giving him no inch. His right hand was the one to reach into the cloth, it came out from the darkness with something gripped. Lucia's eyes shifted to her left, looking upon whatever it was that Raphael pulled out.
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16-Jun-2014 18:15:34

Jul

2020

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She immediately realized that it was a letter, and it had a very particular seal: a blue colored one with a lion's face upon it. She seemed surprised, seeing that envelope's mouth kept closed by the seal of the king. Her eyes quickly bolted back to Raphael, turning into a harsh glare. "Where did you get that?" she angrily questioned. "Did you steal it from one of my brother's messengers?"

Raphael shook his head. "No," he answered frankly. "It's not from your brother."

Lucia paused, her face resounded with confusion. "...What?" she muttered softly. Swiftly though, her face returned to a stolid, bitter expression. "If not from Balor, then who?"

"I think you know the answer," Raphael believed, slowly reaching his right hand out to her. The queen felt a warmth for just a moment as Raphael spoke his words, he was able to see it melt away the cold, frigid expression upon her face. She almost seemed like the person he knew for a moment there, emotion clouding her eyes.

Indeed, she knew exactly who it was from. Her eyes jumped onto the letter, quickly taking it from Raphael's hand. With her left hand, she quickly peeled off the seal while staying her blade upon the silver-haired young man's throat. The sheet of paper stretched out, she clenched it tightly in her hand.

Words in black ink written by a fine pointed quill stood out in front of her, drawing her eyes. Her eyes then found the first word, and she began to scroll across the paper wasteland.
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16-Jun-2014 18:16:18

Jul

2020

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I write this now, thinking about many things. What more I could have done, what more I should have done. I lament my poor choices, but what is a man without regrets? You were just a boy when Markus passed, and most likely because you are read this, I will have as well. I know well what my son has done, and I fear that my life is fast approaching its end.

My tongue has spun many lies, and many of them around you. But with this, I hope that I might be able to finally tell a truth to you, perhaps even several.

It was but a month after my wife passed away when your mother first arrived, I was a bitter man. I killed her father and kept her as a slave, but she secretly served as my guard. She stood by me for another year, protecting my family. When Lelantos died, she told me about it and even apologized for not being able to stop it. She was there as I buried my son, as I mourned him, and even was there in the process of recovery, if even possible for a father.

More and more, I grew to care about things again. And despite our laws, I grew to care more and more about Astrid. Your mother changed everything in me, and still to this day I love her with all of my heart. With this end, I'd like now to depart the meaning behind this letter. I've no better way to say this, but Raphael... you are a Barn. You are my son, our wonderful son.

Lucia's stoic guise was shattered in this instance, the second she finished reading that paragraph. She was completely and utter shocked, her eyes wide open. She was dumbfounded, unable to make anything of this. Raphael could see this, air ripped out from her lungs by the hands of an overwhelming feeling. Her blade slowly began to fall from his throat as she continued on...
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16-Jun-2014 18:17:56

Jul

2020

Serene End

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Markus Béla insisted on taking you in as his own, and I know he cared about you like you were his son. I entrusted your training to Malik, who would always accept without question. I knew I could trust them, they were people that I befriended.

You have my profound apologies that you had to find it out like this, but I simply could not risk others finding out. If others did, then you and your mother would have been killed. I couldn't possibly bear that thought, it ripped me apart. So, I've trusted this letter to Momus, in faith of his knowing the perfect time to give this to you.

I remember sometime ago a young man came to Governanti looking for her, claiming to be her brother. I know not what came to be of him, but you should probably find him. At the end of this, I wish to make a request. Please show this to my daughter, Lucia. Although, in the Resistance, she goes by the name of Elena.

Lucia, if you're reading this, I am sorry that you had to learn about my being with Astrid this way. You must absolutely feel disgusted with me, you've all the right to feel that way. I shall take it in... But know that I love you, that I miss you very much, and that you know not the rivers of tears I cry as I think about you. I know I wasn't the best, but you have made me very proud... and I know your mother would be as well.

You both are everything to me, my wonderful children. I will always love you, and I will always watch over you. Forever.

Yours in confidence,

Lord Divus Nomos Barn

The letter finally ended, leaving Lucia with a rather questionable expression on her face. An unsettling chill ran down her body, causing her to break into a cold sweat. That chill was familiar, she had felt it before. But this time, she felt it was much stronger. These words truly seemed as though they were written by Divus himself, she knew her father by heart afterall.
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16-Jun-2014 18:19:00

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2020

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Her right arm -- the arm she held her blade -- dropped like a branch on a tree just snapped off. Her eyes were so far back, her mouth a gaping, quivering hole. She took a step backwards, her gaze still upon that paper. "I... don't understand," she mumbled in confusion, shaking her head.

There was no reason for her to believe this, she realized. That signature on the bottom, the entire letter itself, could just be false manifestations. But this wasn't the first time she's heard this. "I-I thought my father would never..." Lucia went on to utter, appearing very overwhelmed. "I m-mean, I suspected it, b-but I never thought it could possibly be true. N-no, I-I can't believe this at all."

She suspected it? Raphael raised his eyebrow, curious and questionable of what she meant. What did she mean, he wondered. "Wait," he said. "what do you mean, you "suspected it"?"

"This isn't the first time I've been told this," the queen truthfully informed him, she then turned to him. With this thought forced into her head, her eyes began to see him changed. Her heart sank at this truth, as the more she thought about it, the more Raphael truly did resemble her father. Her shocked face turned to grief, to sorrowful.

She thought of Raphael's smile, kind and upbringing as it was. His face, which almost appeared like a mirror image of a younger version of Divus. Even his personality was a lot like her father's, so gentle and compassionate, but not without flaws. Everything was so altered, but she had really begun to realize. Now that she had begun to make the comparison, it must really be true.

"...It is true," she quietly confirmed to herself. "We really are siblings."

"Who told you about it?" Raphael earnestly asked in a haste. "I can't let anyone else know what truth is on that paper."
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16-Jun-2014 18:20:04

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2020

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"Telvern," she threw out a name, a name that Raphael didn't appear at all surprised to hear. "He had told me about it, as with many things. Of course, I-I didn't believe him... I didn't want to believe him."

"Telvern..." the young leader angrily growled the name, his voice irritated by the sound. "It seems like he always knows something we don't. No more, I'm done having to run back and crawl to him for answers. I'm going to talk to him and get to the bottom of this, once and for all."

Lucia's left hand reached out in front of her, handing the letter back to Raphael. How strange, the only proof of his lineage was right there on that paper, and yet she intended to hand it back to him. Raphael took the paper back, sealing it up in its envelope once more. Lucia then sighed, recomposing herself once more.

She then put her blade back into its scabbard, no longer requiring it. Raphael raised his eyebrow, made rather uncertain of Lucia's intentions. "You're letting me go?" he questioned. "You've no plans on capturing me?"

"I sense no threat in your living or your freedom," she gave him a response. "However, the next time we meet, I cannot say I can extend this mercy a second time. I'm sure you're aware and prepared for that."

"The question is: are you?" Raphael returned.

It took her a moment to gather the strength necessary to answer that question frankly, her frigid stare taking aim upon her now half-brother. "I am," Lucia calmly confirmed.

Raphael seemed disappointed by her response, hoping to see even just a little uncertainty upon her. But there was none to offer, she was as earnest as a storm, quick and to the point. The young leader sighed, taking a step away from her. "Very well," he was sad to acknowledge, walking forward. He then stopped just as he moved beside her, fixing his grief-stricken purple eyes upon her. "...I'm sorry that it has to come to this."
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16-Jun-2014 18:21:21

Jul

2020

Serene End

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She stared back at him, their eyes meeting in combat. "Don't be," the queen told him, there was a hint of veracity and kindness in her voice... Perhaps the person he knew was not just a figment of the past, perhaps she truly was not entirely gone. "My presence there was a discomfort to everyone, even to those I once called 'friend.' At least with my being here, their minds are at ease."

Raphael smiled meekly, staring upon the cold exterior of his now half-sister. "Still thinking about others," he was quick to point out. "You really are still the girl I knew."

"...Just go before I change my mind," she said. With a single shake of his head, he knew well what she wanted. He looked forward, turning his gaze to the next part of his life. Down a long, dark road of confusion and doubt, he went forward. He was headstrong, steadfast... Confident of what that road's path would lead him.

It was true suffering, the two bodies parting ways. Each on opposite sides, in between them was a bottomless, impassable crevice. More and more, they lamented their being apart. Lucia watched him shrink smaller and smaller, departing from her presence. His warmth and affection faded, leaving her once more gelid and heartless. He was her brother, one she never knew she had. She still couldn't grasp it, this truth that covered her mind like fog.

She wished more than anything to run over to him, to stop him before he disappeared. But she was bound to this, as though shackled by the cruel and deterring fate placed upon her. As the Eternal Sunflies spiraled all around her and him, her mind was like a snowflake swept by the foul, tyrannical wind. She closed her eyes, turning away while he stopped in his step.

He turned around to find and face her, to see her just one last time. But she was gone, leaving only pedals to float behind her.
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16-Jun-2014 18:22:14 - Last edited on 20-Jun-2014 21:24:04 by Serene End

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