Failed Tears of the Dragons(AU/Mature)Complete 01 /11/08

Finished stories set in an alternate universe to that introduced in the show, or which alter events from the show significantly, but which include the Roswell characters. Aliens play a role in these fics. All complete stories on the main AU with Aliens board will eventually be moved here.

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Failed Tears of the Dragons(AU/Mature)Complete 01 /11/08

Post by suicide_eagle_rath »

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Title: Failed Tears of the Dragons

Author: suicide_eagle_rath

Rating: Mature Subject about war

Pairings: AU

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Melinda Metz, Jason Katims, WB and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement intended.

Summary: The War on Antar against oppression and cruelty: but at what cost???

Collection: Part of the collection of Fall of Antar: short one part stories concerning the fall of Antar and what happened. Others in this collection are:

Captives of Ki'var
Failed Tears of the Dragons
Heretic's Dagger: The Death of a King
Incomplete Dawn of Awakening
Lament for Antar
Political Espionage: The Game of Survival
Rage Against the Dying of the Night
So Passes the Glory of Antar
The Fall of the Dance
Tisiphone
The First Prayer of the Mortals
Zan's Adoration of the Warrior
Last edited by suicide_eagle_rath on Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:36 am, edited 6 times in total.
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suicide_eagle_rath
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Post by suicide_eagle_rath »

Failed Tears of the Dragons
Part One of Two

The world of Antar was savage, brutal in its landscape, mimicking the people who had changed, forced to adapt to the hostile environment or die out. Extensive wars, long hard centuries of warfare had depleted the resources. The concentration on the acts and weapons of war had replaced the simple day to day necessities of invention and growth to sustain life.

Then long decades of ecological abuse had scared and turned the rivers into silt deposits, jungles into barren wastelands, and productive farmlands into deserts. Water became a precious commodity to be bartered, sold as gold.

Even in these harsh conditions, the people found a way to survive, but not to thrive. Children were dying not only from the harsh conditions but also from the lack of imagination and self-determination that comes from a mind not forced to seek food and water for hours day after day. Children no longer grew aspiring to become heroes, true heroes that once championed the great causes of Antar. Living to see the next dawn has become more important than defending a defined set of religious or political beliefs. Virtue, honor, and righteousness had all been lost.

A small child follows her mother, they wear dark heavy clothing to try and protect themselves from the harsh sun, their bodies overheated lost in the layers of fabrics. Their faces are dry; leather-tanned from the sun, darkened brown, no longer does a blush show upon their cheeks. Their eyes dull lifeless black orbs, void of energy. Their lips parched, no longer seek out pleasure of food or kisses, but of water.

The sun was slowly setting, the moons still rise, the one last final constant in their lives lighting their journey. Their goal was a small muddy stream where the water rose at various times from the ground below. It is this muddy water they will bring back to drink for a few days.

They waded into the muddy path, barely and inch or two of reddish-brown liquid skimmed the surface. Taking the clay jar she carefully skimmed of the fluid at the top to flow in. The little girl watched following the actions with her own jar.

“Mama,” spoke the girl, “the water is so shallow. Is this how deep the water was always?”

“No, once they were deep, the water flowed over my head,” mother sighed, her voice was rough and tired. “When I was a little girl I remember the land was rich and green. I use to play and swim in this river.”

“Why does it not rain? You know water that falls from the sky.” The girl asked, “I have heard the elders talking about it?”

The mother knelt down to talk to her, looking at her in the eye, “What controls the waters of Antar? Have you heard the stories?”

“The dragons, is it not the dragons that sent from the Grandolith to control the weather?” The little girl washed her face in the dirty liquid, drying with the edge of her shirt. “Is that not right?”

“Yes, my daughter. The dragons come forth from the celestial heights to control all the waters on Antar, to replenish them, to make the rains come forth.”

“Then where are the dragons?” The little girl sat down on the bank, watching the moon. “Is the Grandolith angry with us and it no longer sends forth the dragons?”

“No we have not displeased the Grandolith” The mother chose her words carefully. “The dragons are busy and have no time to send the rains and watch over the waters.”

“And what of the green lands, do they not have time to watch over the plants and animals?”

“No, they cannot.”

“But is it not the tears of the dragons that flood our seas, and is it not the blood of the dragons that sow the fields.” The little girl fought back the tears of hopelessness, for she knew in her heart the dragons had to be dead, for they no longer came. “Is it not the bones of the dragons that make our cities, is it not the breath of the dragons that send the winds, and is it not the scales of the dragons that protect us.” The girl held up her hand to the mother. “Is that not what you taught me?”

“Yes my child it is,” The mother smiled a small smile, one of pain yet happiness in the ability of her bright child.

“Why?” The girl looked puzzled, “why are the dragons busy? Why has the Grandolith forsaken us?”

The mother turned away, a tear fell down her cheek. How could she tell her daughter the politics of war, of death, and of evil? The children, so young and fragile, they were all Antar had left. How could she explain the dragons, symbolic of the royal power, the power that emitted from the Grandolith, the ancient protector of their world? She took a deep sigh. “They are fighting, my daughter, fighting a war they cannot win.”
Last edited by suicide_eagle_rath on Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Failed Tears of the Dragons(AU/Mature)PT 2 01 /11/08

Post by suicide_eagle_rath »

The Failed Tears of the Dragons
Part Two of Two


The people had begun to tire of the constant warfare, the tearing apart of their lands and hopes. They called on the king to release the dragons, to drive away the enemy. But what the people did not know was their desire; their want was controlled, by those skilled in mesmerizing the masses. The King against his better judgment and even against the pleas of his most trusted advisor, the second to the throne, did as the will of the people commanded and released the shackles and chains and set forth the dragons.

The King sent forth the Grandolith, to the homeland of the invaders. There is an act of unspeakable terror the dragons used their skill. The dragon had let lose their power, their breath of fire swept the skies, till the heat scorched the very terra firma of Antar itself. The seas boiled and rolled with fury, the fish turned belly up on the surface. The forest exploded in hate and a wind stepped fire that cascaded in balls of flames crashing through the trees. In the end the invaders homeland was destroyed, but not before the invaders themselves inflicted immense damage and pain upon Antar.

In the ensuing chaos, one man rose up to claim the throne. A man who had brought the invaders here, a man who was well concealed spy and traitor, Ki'var. As in all coups where the leaders are massacred, as so was the same for Antar. The bodies of the King, his wife, his sister and her husband lay with the castle walls, broken, bloodied corpses. The dreams of Antar lay there in the waste, the life blood draining down the cracks in the slate flooring.

When the death of the King, who had no heirs, was discovered, an emergency council meeting was called forth in the celestial abode of the Antarian Kings, The Palace of the Highest Cloud. This meeting became known as the Council of Confrontation, with the members divided. Those who supported the monarchy called for the denouncement of the invaders, to investigate who was inside working with them, and finally to choose a new King from the royal line. Another sect wanted the military to instill law and order, the reigning general at the head. The smallest, but loudest, faction where those who demanded that the new King was to be selected from the common people.

The hall echoed as the council gathered in the chamber of the heavens of Antar, figuratively the heavens. The chamber had vaulted ceilings of shimmering white frost crystals reflecting the clouds as one is surrounded on the highest mountain peak. The floors were made of jade and gold imitating the lush green floors of the Hebronian Valley in eastern Antar. The walls were of brown tiger-eye reflecting the bark of the ancient forests that still stand, majestic in height and girth.

The majority of the members were old, feeble in physical attributes, yet strong of mind. Their forms varied, some were clean shaven as per their race, while others of a more primitive race had long gray beards reaching the floor in length and yellowed nails. There was also numerous youth in the chambers, junior members who had risen through the ranks quickly to the head chairs, due to diseases or death of their predecessor. These were the ones that were easy to influence, inexperience in the way of politics and the cunning and deceit of the greedy.

At the head of the council the wisest and oldest member sat, Eleghan. It is said he is eternal, having been there for all the Kings, supporting them, guiding them since time could remember. This time the council was different; this time there was no heir, no successor to the throne. Antar would fall, but how far that is what he wondered. The hall was noisy as the men shuffled in, voices raised in anger, until Eleghan slammed his staff onto the jade floor demanding silence with but one word

"ORDER."

Quickly that word went forth, drowning through the audience of men, until they were all hushed one by one.

"Council members, you all know why we are summoned here today, to resolve the leadership of Antar. We must decide today, who shall rule Antar and stop the internal fighting that is tearing our people apart."

Lomanathur, leading general of the Royal Army, spoke first for the military, his voiced boomed across the hall "I have already given my views on this matter. Antar must be ruled by the military, to stop the rebellion that is trying to take over."

"And what would stop you, my esteemed Lomanathur, from you and your cronies committing atrocities against the people and defiling the dragons. With you in power the death count would not stop, Ki'var who is for peace and the reorganization of Antar desires for the bloodshed to stop." Nicholas sneered speaking as Ki'var's second in command.

Many of the council were quiet; they feared Ki'var and what his followers were capable of doing. Without King Zan or the warrior Rath, they felt vulnerable.

"I wish to know why Ki'var has turned his army against the royal army of Antar." interrupted Lomanathur.

The answer came easily. "Ki'var is but trying to stop the slaughter of the innocent by members of the military."

"LIES! Your stubbornness prolongs the war, put down your weapons the fighting will end." shot back Lomanathur.

"If Ki'var wishes to end the fighting, then have him put down his arms and come here to the council and request his right to the throne through legal means. We can confer on this matter," Eleghan soft gentle voice tried to ease the matter.

"Arguing, I come here not to argue to the council but to lay down Ki'var's claim."

"Claim?" Eleghan voice rose sharply, "what claim does Ki'var have on the throne of Antar. He is not royal blood, but he still may request a right and we shall see."

"Ki'var makes his claim." Nicholas smiled in that way a man does when he has the edge on his enemy and is just waiting for the hammer to fall. "Here and Now."

"This arguing will get us now where. If Ki'var does not want to go through council then how does he make this claim?"

Nicholas upper lip curled. "It's much easier to simply conquer Antar and your people," he said laughing. The members in the hall cringed at the raw words that were intended to inflict pain malevolence. "Antar's royalty has grown weak; it is time for another to take the throne."

There was a collective gasp as Nicholas paused watching the faces of the members, swaying them into his control. "Look at how easy it was to kill them, these invaders got into the place. Did not Ki'var warn your members here of this possibility. But no one listened, and now Antar is in chaos and only one man can put out the fires."

"Yea the same one who is causing the fire" whispered Lomanathur under his breath.

Eleghan remained calmed, now was not the time to fight. Now was the time step lightly as a messenger passed him a paper that listed the facts of Ki'var's vast army. I would appear that Ki'var already control vast areas of Antar with his rebel army. They numbered for every Antarian solider at least two at best estimate, maybe three if the speculations were correct

"Ahemm" Eleghan cleared his throat with an uneasy cough. "Nicholas, I do not understand why Ki'var insists on this rebellion when all he had to do was come before the council and request audience to request the throne."

"Do you not get it Eleghan, the council is dissolved. Ki'var now rules with absolute power."

"No it is forbidden in Antarian Law."

"Damn the law, Ki'var is now the law." Nicholas snarled as he rose from his chair and stood in the center of the council. "He loves Antar and the people and this is the only way he can stop the bloodshed is to take the throne. The only way the Antarian people will live and flourish is by this unselfish act Ki'var is prepared to undergo."

"Unselfish? From that I have seen in reports Ki'var does this for his own glory. Is he not the one committing atrocities against the people of Antar." Eleghan finally challenged.

"I see the rumors of the military have reached the councils ears as fact." Nicholas looked over at Lomanathur. "You have heard wrong, it is the military that is hurting the people."

"Then for what reason has this council been summed then Lord Nicholas, if we have no more authority, no more power than an insect."

"To make the announcement that the glory days of the House of Zan are over. A thousand years of rulers, pathetic lot that could not expand or elevate the people. The royal lineage of Antar is flawed, a loss species."

"What is to happen to the council members?" inquired Eleghan.

"Ki'var is merciful even to those who oppose him. The council members may return to their lives as merchants, scholars, or what have you. Ki'var does not need you, Antar does not need you." Nicholas approached the council chair that belonged to the King; he ran his fingers along the wood admiring the carvings.

Eleghan and the council members rose and bowed. They all knew they had no choices they had too leave or die.

Nicholas turned suddenly, "But first Ki'var wants the Grandolith turned over to him."

Eleghan looked at Nicholas and then smiled very slightly "I do not know where it is."

"What!" Nicholas looked confused, "then who among the council does?"

"The only one who knew its location was King Zan and his is dead taking the secret of the Grandolith with him.

"No," Nicholas screamed. "Ki'var needs the Grandolith, you lie."

"Did not the winds of destruction stop upon the death of the King? Did not the flames of the dragon's breath die out as King took his last breath? The dragon is tied to the King." Eleghan shook his head, for an invader these people were so inferior in the common way of man. "Ki'var must find it, we wish him luck for no one outside the kings knew how to operate it or where it is located. And it is only on their death does one King whisper it to his successor."

Eleghan and the council proceeded toward the door, when he turned. "Is it not true that the only one who was with the King when he died was his murderer? Then perhaps that person knows. Eleghan was certain that Ki'var had done the killing, and now if he could trick Nicolas into admitting it, the council could unite the people against this so called savior.

Nicholas blew out an annoyed sigh; he was not sure now what to do. Ki'var was the one who killed King Zan, a fact that was concealed. He had to remain silent. Ki'var would take the throne. But it would be a hallow victory without the Grandolith. Instead Nicolas stood next to the throne and declared loudly as the council parted.

"The old regime is dead. The new has begun!

Epilogue

That day the rains began. The small girl looked up hearing the rain on the roof of the small tin shed. She ran out of the door to feel the rain hit her face, soon she was drenched; her clothes clung to her body, the rain washing away the dirt. Other children had come out of the doors; soon they were all dancing in the streets with the other children, elated over the rain. Her mother came from around the corner where she had been working all day scrubbing the front of a building to earn some coinage to buy some bread.

The little girl ran to her, "Look momma!" She grabbed her mother about the waist. "Look the dragons are not fighting, the war is over. We have rain again."

The mother looked to the air, yes it was rain. She tasted the drops with her tongue, they were salty. The mother sunk to her knees crying,

"Mama? Why do you cry the war is over? Did you not say the dragons could not send the rains because they were fighting a war?"

"My child these are not the rains of the Grandolith."

"What does that matter mommy it is rain we are saved, Antar is saved."

The mother began to weep, she knew her King was dead, Antar had fallen. For the first time in a thousand years, the dragons never again would send the rains, the protective rains of Antar, the rains to save the people from war and agony.

"No my daughter," the mother lifted her head and took her daughter into her arms as they huddled on the street. "These are not the rains of the Grandolith, they do not protect us, and they do not nurture Antar. These drops are salty, drops of sadness, of despair, of death. These drops mean our King is dead, there is no heir. The Grandolith is effective no more."

"Mommy?"

"These are the tears of the dragons. This hell is not over, it has only begun."
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