"No." Lief said in an icily calm voice that disguised his true emotions. "You'll never have Jasmine's heart."

"It's ok Lief. I won't give it to him, even if he is sent by Deltora." She then whispered quietly into his ear, making him get goose bumps over his neck. "It already belongs to you." She then stepped back and faced BID, never once letting go of Lief's hand.

"Fools she'll still live! She won't be able to love, but my magic will keep her alive, just like the dragons. Then when the battle is over I'll give her back her heart and we'll all live happily ever after." He said the last words in an almost singsong voice.

But they stood their ground. Lief bellowed, "I can tell you now because of my link to the dragons. They refuse you're offer and so do we."

Bid looked like he had being struck by a sword. In fact he began to shrink into himself, becoming less and less human. And when he lost all semblance of humanity, the icy lake began to crack and break apart. A beautiful woman rose from the frozen water, clothed only in leaves. Floating just above the centre of the lake she called out to them. But no sound came from her lips. What remained of BID seemed to respond. It moved towards the lake's shore, now more liquid then human. It flowed out into the lake, turning it blood red. And now the paradise began to collapse. Trees split apart and creepers died away, revealing horrid pillars it their place. And the crimson lake, which had being deathly still only moments before became a maelstrom.

Lief and Jasmine held onto each other as the forces surrounding them entered a dangerous climax. And then he heard it, the most beautiful voice in the world.

"The lovers embrace bring about the end of all light.

The Weapon cannot hold back the tide

Raven curls pierced by the sword of a lover

Will kill the evil of ages."

With a final flash of white light the woman disappeared along with BID's small paradise. All that remained was a lakebed, and an egg.