"Few tragedies can be more extensive than the stunting of life, few injustices deeper than the denial of an opportunity to strive or even to hope, by a limit imposed from without, but falsely identified as lying within."

Disclaimer: I don't own GoT, it belongs all to Marianne Curley

Matt

The tension in the air can probably be cut with a knife. It's as real as the rope that Jimmy instructed me to hold as we construct a "booby trap" at the entrance to Veridian. The real traps are all set up, of course, but in order to make this seem as real as possible, we're pretending to build another one. I can't tell what it's supposed to do; it seems like just a pile of boards tied together with rope to me. Jimmy seems to know what he's doing though, if the way he's ordering us around and consulting a blueprint is any indication.

We drew straws to see who would be the "bait" besides Jimmy. Rochelle, Neriah, and I were chosen, but Ethan convinced Neriah to let him go in her place. As he pointed out, only one immortal was needed, just in case, but we all know his real reason. His thoughts tell me that he's determined to stop anything from killing Rochelle again, a month after the last battle that almost (well, technically did) took her life. Because, now, we're all out of chances. I didn't mind the switch, because Neriah needs to be kept as safe as possible. I don't think that Marduke even recognizes his daughter anymore, other than as a spot of seething hatred at his failure.

Ethan's got the golden arrow set again, though, which is a good sign. Rochelle hasn't powered up her hands yet, because that would look suspicious. Jimmy's got his bag of tricks, and I'm armed with…well, myself.

The rest of the Named are waiting in Arkarian's sphere chamber, where they can see everything that's happening. Or not happening, as the case is right now. Jimmy is yelling directions at Ethan and I, while Rochelle is standing there watching.

"Hey, Jimmy?" she finally calls out, cocking her head to the side.

"Yes, love?"

"What exactly is this?"

"Oh, just a pile of boards tied together with rope."

"Holy hell, Jim-" Ethan and I drop the rope and start to protest when the change comes. We can all sense the air shift, become darker and more sinister. The sun, which had been shining brightly, sees the opportunity to duck behind a cloud, leaving us in creepy shadows.

"I'm guessing we have company," Jimmy says calmly, rolling up the blueprint. I don't reply, because I've temporarily frozen. This is it. I remember to breathe again, and abruptly it's like someone else, calm and collected Matt, has taken over.

Arkarian, Neriah…get ready…I send the thought out, watching out of the corner of my eye for any movement. It's like the world is holding its breath.

Suddenly, all hell breaks loose. A huge roar fills the air, sending rocks crashing down, and with the roar come the Wrenbeasts. They're even more terrifying than they were in Ethan's mind. This is real life now; there's no separation between me and the hungry look in their eyes. There's no doubt in my mind, either: they want to kill us, and they'll stop only at death to do so.

NOW! COME NOW! I scream. I don't know if I say it out loud, or in my head. I hope it's in my head, because the four of us will never be able to take these fifteen or so beasts alone.

Rochelle and Ethan spring into action immediately, engaging one or two of these monsters in battle. Jimmy is throwing grenades left and right, careful not to destroy any of the carefully laid traps. The pile of boards goes up right away though. It adds a glow and furious heat to the fray.

At least four beasts surround me, drooling and flapping their huge wings. They smell no better than either the Wren or the demons…I think that Marduke probably just combined the two smells to make one really loathsome one. Lucky for people like me, who happen to be standing right in the middle of four of them.

Afraid of doing damage to Rochelle, Ethan, and Jimmy, I realize that I have to lead them further into Veridian in order to defeat them the way I want to. I run as slowly as I dare to make sure that they can follow me as I navigate the twisty underground tunnels. Finally we're in a big enough space. I turn and stand, taking the beasts by surprise. I mutter the necessary words to create a shield around me, and then I release my power. Immediately, all four of the Wrenbeasts implode.

It's disgusting, but it does the trick. Now, I'm alone in the tunnels. I can still hear the sounds of fighting. Using my wings to return to the fighting ground, I can see that there are no fewer Wrenbeasts than before. I quickly pick out Ethan, Rochelle, and Jimmy fighting. But no one else. Where is everyone?

Arkarian! Neriah! Where are you? We need help! I send the thought out quickly. The answer comes from Neriah, and it makes my heart freeze.

MATT! There are Wrenbeasts here, blocking our way out! At least 30 of them! We can't get over there!

So Marduke has gotten smarter, unfortunately. Instead of fighting together, the Named are separated, with no support. Rochelle has heard this too and looks grimly at me. How long can we keep this up? She wonders aloud. There're too many of them, and only four of us. You used the imploding spell, didn't you?

Um, yes.

You idiot, Matt! You know you can only do that once every like hour or so!

Well nobody ever said that being an immortal gave you more brains!

Obviously- But she doesn't get to continue yelling at me, because the demon she'd been fighting makes a particularly aggressive swipe at her shoulder. She doesn't spin out of the way fast enough, and the claws go in. She gets right back up, though, and strikes back. The Wrenbeast falls and doesn't get up.

You okay?

Fine, Matt…LOOK OUT!

I turn to see another beast coming at me. I raise my shield and begin to fight. To my right, another fight is taking place. One that grabs my attention so that I can't kill the monster as quickly as I should. Ethan is fighting…Mr. Carter. That's right. The coward finally came out of hiding.

I don't see any sign of his brother. Marduke is probably on the other side, fighting. It's a thought that I don't particularly relish, so I push it out of my head. The intensity with which they're fighting doesn't really surprise me. I know from their thoughts that this is the final battle between them. Even as teacher and student, they had always clashed. Hatred swells deep within both of them, and it will end today. For one of them.

Jimmy is causing a lot of damage with his grenades, able to take out one or two monsters at a time. Rochelle has the hardest job out of all of us, because she has to get close enough to touch. I watch her go down again, and spring right back up the same way. The battle is waning, and I think it's going in our favor.

Matt! Are you all okay? Arkarian's voice in my head startles me a bit.

We're hanging in there, I answer. Are you alright? Neriah? Isabel?

We're all fine Neriah says. We're coming as fast as we can.

I kill another Wrenbeast and look again to where Ethan and Carter are fighting. Carter seems to have the advantage, but both are sweaty, dirty, and stubbornly refusing to yield. Carter grins confidently as he pivots and lunges towards Ethan's heart.

"No!" I hear myself yell. At the last second though, Ethan moves and plunges an arrow into Carter's black heart. As his old teacher falls, Ethan looks down into his eyes one last time. My friend's blue eyes are no longer filled with hate, but pity and sorrow.

I look around and see that Jimmy is taking care of the last of the Wrenbeasts. I can't help a little sigh of relief. We seem to be victorious. We're all alive. Marduke's latest plot is foiled.

And that's when I hear a weak voice call out "Ethan!", and Rochelle collapses onto the ground.

Ethan's over there so fast I wonder if his feet ever touched the ground. I run over too, and can't help a gasp. Rochelle's covered in blood, but I think that she's going to be okay. But why is she laying there, head on Ethan's lap, looking like she's near death?

"Oh, my…oh Rochelle girl…" Jimmy comes over. "The claws and teeth…must have been poison."

"Poison?" Ethan looks up at me, like a two year old begging for a miracle. "What? Rochelle…did they get you?"

"The claws." I say, remembering with horror. Rochelle just nods slowly. Slowly the reality hits us. She's dying, and there's nothing that anybody can do about it. Except Isabel…

But Isabel is fighting Wrenbeasts on the other side, probably attending to other wounds. By the time she could get here, it would be too late.

"It's…already too late…" Rochelle says gently, touching my hand lightly. She's looking at Ethan, though. "Maybe you can't…change the Prophecy…after all."

"No, Rochelle, you can…you can't leave me again! Not after all this. I love you." The look on Ethan's face will stay with me for a long time; it is the look of watching his love's life slip through his hands again, and being totally helpless. I'm still in shock. This can't be happening. Again. It's like watching a rerun of an old movie. Except this…this is all too real.

"I love you too, baby." Rochelle manages to say, and tries to weakly lift her hand up to his face. I don't think she's going tosucceed when Ethan catches it and presses her palm against his cheek, where the tears are rolling down. "I'm sorry."

NERIAH! ARKARIAN! ANYBODY? WE NEED ISABEL OVER HERE, NOW!

But even as I say it, Rochelle gives one sigh and closes her eyes. The whole woods can hear Ethan's cry of angst.

First off...I'm sorry! For the events of the chapter, which I'm figuring that most people won't like, and for the long wait. This chapter was very hard to write for me, because battle scenes are not my strong suit, and I had to rewrite it a few times. Still not happy with the way it turned out, but rather than make you guys wait another week, I just gave you the 5th draft. The next chapter will most likely be the last, but maybe we'll see. PLEASE review, even if you didn't like it...just nohuge, flaming hate mail. Until next time, (hopefully very soon),

HaLo