Shadows of Lignum Part 3

3rd POV

After Estelle wiped her tears she decided to look in the large book upstairs. She had reread Odin's passage and the Fae passage over and over many times. She flipped through the pages stopping at Lignum.

"No, no, he can't be alive," she said starting to shake. He had dark brown skin, he was bald, and his outfit was black. She didn't need to read the page because she already knew how he killed his victims. Though she did notice something about him being wounded, he was wounded in Camelot, by an infused dagger, and dropped out of the ultimate war to destroy the Fae. She flipped back to the page about the Fae, there was no mention of war.

Was this why they were attacked? Were the demons combining forces to not only destroy her people but every Fae tribe? Why had they not furthered on after burning the Fire Fae village? The Elders! The other Fae tribes must have made a deal with them, so they could be protected. Had her council Elders known of the demon alliance? Had they known of the looming war?

She flipped back to Lignum's page. She noticed a vanquishing potion and spell but she wouldn't need one, she'd kill him using her powers, something she should have done years ago. Just then the Halliwell sisters walked in. Prue then asked what she was looking at and walked over. She frowned and looked at Estelle with displeasure.

"What are you looking at Lignum's page for?" she asked looking at the picture of him.

"Curiosity," she said, "He, he's from Camelot like my book stated, but mine has no picture."

"Why does the picture make a difference unless you plan on fighting him?" she asked.

"I've fought him before," she replied, "I thought I killed him. I saw him go up in flames after I threw the dagger. He's supposed to be dead, but I only wounded him. Because of this he dropped out of some demon army."

"A demon army?" Piper asked.

"There was a war to start against all Fae. Ours was the first battle, we were caught off guard. I think we were anyway."

"What do you mean think?" Phoebe asked.

"My council Elders may have known or they may have received a warning. I was given little explanation before being shoved through the portal; find you, and defeat Odin when I return."

"Back to him, you've fought this demon?" Prue asked, "And here, this wound that caused him to leave the army, you caused it?" Estelle nodded. Prue then said she was not to go after him even though she had fought him once before. Estelle asked what had happened when they were gone, what information they had taken from Lignum. Prue ignored the girl's question and said they should head to the basement for more training.

"The witches confronted me about Odin," Lignum stated, "I've heard of the Fire Faery that's come from Camelot, is it true?"

"Yes, it seems to be. I've dealt with one; they're normally peaceful in nature. She probably won't put up a fight if you attack her, even if she tries she will be no match for you."

"I've fought one, sir, long ago, she wounded me. I couldn't destroy the pesky pixies because of her. These Charmed Ones, they protect her."

"Charmed Ones? I've heard of them, I have no interest in them just the girl. Odin is in hiding right now. He will stay in hiding until I see fit," the young man said.

"This girl, you want me to find her and bring her to you?" he asked.

"Yes, there's a chance she my find you. If the rumors are true and she was sent here for what I think she was, she will find you. She'll seek you out for information. She'll ask about Odin and about her village. Tell her every last faery, women and child, that they were murdered, burned to death," his voice dripped of venom, "Now, get out." Lignum shimmered out to the woods and waited for the faery to arrive.

Several times during their training Estelle asked about what had happened while they were out. She asked if they were going to continue looking for Lignum at all. Prue didn't respond verbally but she continued to throw various objects at her. Estelle made them all burst into flames. When Prue tried using her power just on Estelle she used a force field.

If there had been other battles would it be like this? Defending myself from their attacks? How would I have faced my younger sister and tell her that I would not see her for months at a time while I was away fighting, that I might not ever return? Estelle thought. Since she was so caught up in her thoughts Prue's next attack landed her on the floor sliding to the wall. Estelle transformed back into her human form and stood up.

"This is why you focus on your attacker," Prue said sharply. Before Estelle could reply Piper called down for dinner. Estelle ate her entire meal, avoiding conversation knowing she was to activate her crystal soon. She excused herself saying she'd retire to bed early. She waited to hear the sisters and Leo continue conversation and transformed. After using her magic on the crystal she flew into the now darkening sky.

Estelle's POV

I flew farther toward woods as my crystal brightened. I chose to ignore the sickening feeling in my stomach as I landed. I took the crystal off and dropped it on the ground. I looked around and heard laughing.

"He said you'd find me," Lignum laughed.

"Who? Odin?" I asked and he merely laughed. I felt roots sprout up and wrap around my legs. I easily burned them off.

"Do you not remember me Lignum? It has been nearly eight- hundred years since we last met," I asked.

"Of course, a young faery, one who nearly sacrificed herself for her sister," he spat, "It's too bad that you're too late."

"Where are they? Answer me or the next wound I give you will be more fatal," I snarled.

"The other faeries? They're dead, gone. We burned every last one of them." Then I was on the ground, vines starting to trap me. I burst out of the cage and flew. A branch grabbed hold of my ankle and I fell to the ground hard. I threw a fireball at him but he dodged it easily. I felt the branch coil up my body, wrapping around my throat. I used my force field and the branches crumbled. He was now face to face with me. I plunged the small dagger into his chest and he laughed. He grabbed me and snarled.

"You think you can kill me that easily pixie? That you can defeat me, an immortal demon, with one small knife? He will enjoy your power." He then pressed me against a tree and once more branches and vines wrapped around me. I didn't see Prudence but I heard her.

"Get away from her!" she yelled and he went flying. I used the last bit of my energy to burst out of the coffin and fell to the ground. She threw a potion and she started to chant.

"Changing Seasons changes all, life renews at creations calls, nothing is immune, everything transmutes, so take this demon of wood and give him roots," she said. I heard the familiar sound of sprouting roots and felt Prudence's arms around me picking me up. I was back in my human form and I had several marks of the branches and vines on my skin.

"He had information about Odin," I said, "He had more information."

"He was going to kill you, Estelle. Or worse, he was going to take you back to Odin," she argued.

"I was going to hurt him, kill him," I muttered as she held me up.

"The only way you could kill him is if he was asleep."

"I was supposed to kill him," I replied, "He was going to kill her, I had to destroy him."

"Kill you maybe," she said and I stumbled. I aimlessly grabbed the crystal necklace.

"Hold on," she said shifting to help me.

"Prue-," I said collapsing before I could say her whole name. My vision started to blur. There was something in the roots and vines.

"Hold on Estelle, hold on," she said, "Leo!" I saw blue and white orbs and then the living room. Then I felt no more pain. My eyes widened at the scene around me. I was in the living room and Prue had fallen asleep in a chair angled away from the couch. I sat up and looked at my arms, there were no bruises or any marks from what had happened with Lignum. I also was still in the clothing I was in last night. I put the crystal necklace back on and standing up I checked the clock. It was around three. A crescent moon shined in the sky and the night before my village… there was a full moon. Bad omens, one of the ladies in town would say. I returned to the couch and looked at the sleeping witch.

Why had Prue stayed near me all this time? Was she still fearful of me being near any of her sisters or was it something else? Her touch was oddly comforting, but a comforting touch was rare for me so I wouldn't really know what one was. I gave Gwen hugs all the time and held her when she cried but I usually had cried alone. Prue was a strange witch, she was at first comforting, then fearful and wary, and now she was once more comforting. Was it a cycle she would go through with me all the time? Or did she feel the need to protect me because I was an innocent? That must be it; it was the only explanation why she cared so much. She's a witch it is part of her nature to be protective of them. I pulled the blanket around my shoulders and found that in the pocket of my skirt was the picture of Gwen.

I nearly crumpled it and tossed it aside but stopped. This was the last picture I'd have of Gwen till I returned. Returning it to the previous spot I slowly closed my eyes. The next thing I felt were fingers brushing my hair back. I faced the couch so whoever it was did not know I was awake. Their touch was gentle and they traced around the scar above my ear. It was a woman's touch; I thought it may be Prue's. She moved her hand away and pulled my blanket to cover my whole body. I started to turn around but she shushed me saying to go back to sleep. I still turned around and looked up at her. She was sitting at the end of the couch.

"You don't have to get up, it's only five," she said quietly. I didn't say anything but I did sit up.

"Do you remember what happened last night?" she asked.

"I fought Lignum," I said, "And you killed him."

"I made him a tree," she stated, "You said earlier you had fought him once before. When?"

"About a year ago, he tried to hurt a child and I protected her. I thought he had died but we know now he didn't."

"You were only fifteen," she said and I nodded. She took in this information and then asked why I broke my promise.

"I made one promise to someone when I was younger," I said trying to keep my voice level, "I promised I'd never leave them. Now I'm here and they're dead. I didn't get a chance to even say goodbye. I- I can't make anymore real promises until I fix what happened. I thought that Lignum would have more information than the Elders did. He didn't, he- he told me they burned, that the children burned-," my voice cracked, "It turned out all he is, what he was, was a shadow from my past."

A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to read more please review! The next chapter will be an episode from season 2!