A/N: Happy New Year! I am so sorry for the delay. Let us have a moment of silence for my dearly departed red laptop. I have recently purchased a keyboard for my iPad, which is how this chapter came to fruition, though it has taken quite a bit of getting used to so excuse any typos. I will fix them when I have a computer again. Thanks for your patience, and I apologize in advance for this chapter and would like to say the next one will be the last of the story...I can't believe it...

3 C.V.

Chapter 20- Steel

Morning came far too soon. I dreaded the sunlight that filtered through the canopy and into the cave, and resented how it tickled my nose, forcing me to wake from my comfortable sleep. I was surprised at how well I had slept despite the fact that I was frightened at what the dawn would bring, but I attributed it to the fact that Cian was sleeping beside me. I doubted he'd had much rest over the past few days given the stress of his current predicament, and I was loathe to wake him. Instead, I watched him as he held on to the last precious moments of whatever it was he was dreaming about, and it seemed to me in that instant that he was the most human I'd ever seen him.

Perhaps it was a little odd to perceive him so, when he undoubtedly still looked like every bit the lion he usually did without even the luxury of a voice to prove his humanity. Yet there was something about his expression and the manner in which he lay that was completely familiar to me. I suppose it could have been because only the night before he'd confessed his love for me in such a heartfelt way, and that was why I felt so differently looking at him now.

"If you stare at someone so intensely it's bound to make them feel uncomfortable Briar," I heard him speak suddenly and I was startled. His eyelids hadn't so much as fluttered, and I never suspected he might be awake.

"I'm sorry," I quickly apologized, utterly mortified that I'd been caught.

"That's unlike you Briar, saying you're sorry before making an excuse for yourself," he chuffed his laughter.

"What excuse can I make for myself when I'm guilty of what you say?"

"It would have served to make things a little less awkward. I admit I'm not exactly sure how to press forward after last night, or even how to go about it. Although given present circumstances, it's probably best to wait until tomorrow to answer those questions," he admitted.

"You are confident there will be a tomorrow. I admit I'm not so sure," I muttered.

"Being defeatist will hardly help us now. My father may have many men, and the advantage of steel on his side. But we have a plan, a good one. And he is completely out of his element here. I must have faith that we stand a fighting chance."

"And yet Cian, you were so quick to foretell your death only last night. Why the change of heart?"

"It's quite simple really. I have always had reasons to live on, practical things like my family and the Shi'ran. But this is the first time that I've truly wanted to live on for myself, just to see what tomorrow will bring with you."

His sentiment was so utterly romantic that it made me very embarrassed, and I could feel myself turning a profound shade of red to rival my hair. Honestly, I had nothing to say that could even remotely equal the passion that he had just shared with me, so instead I felt it best to simply embrace him. I didn't know what I possibly could have done to deserve such a kindness.

Our moment of peace was brief however, since we both knew that the women and children would be leaving any time and I wanted to see them off safely.

We left the cave to a beautiful morning. It was as if the sky didn't know what terrible things were brewing here on land.

The majority of the Shi'ran had already gathered in the square, saying their goodbyes and exchanging as much love and hope for the ones being left behind as they could. I saw my family in the distance and leaving Cian to speak with his people I pushed my way through the crowds to them.

Both of my sisters looked incredibly anxious about the journey to come, since even though they were being protected by a number of very capable Shi'ran women, if we should fail the chances that the Duke would find and decimate any survivors was likely. Looking at all of the families, grief-striken and clinging to one another I said a silent prayer that they would be safe. Even in the short time I'd lived amongst the Shi'ran I'd come to regard them as friends, even family, and they did not deserve the battle that was going to commence. It was entirely due to one man's selfish greed for power and status that he was afraid he'd lose, and the thought of it made me feel sick to my stomach.

"You aren't really going to stay here are you sister?" Zinnia asked, a look of concern on her sweet face. I wrapped my arms around her and nodded into her chest.

"I know it isn't the safest decision, and that I'm acting rashly again. But there are so many reasons for me to stay. I want to protect this place because it is my home, and because I feel responsible for bringing the Duke here in the first place. I know it is unfair of me to stay with the one I love while so many must part ways, but I am afraid that should I go with you the Duke would surely pursue you if we are to fail. He is not the biggest fan of me at the moment."

"You better protect her, do you hear me?" Zinnia cried out to Cian, who was giving last minute instructions to Rhymka and Elif. He obviously had heard her, as he offered her a bow of his head in response before turning back to his conversation.

I offered my father a kiss on the cheek, and watched as a tear fell down his face.

"You know, it wasn't so long ago that you chastised me for walking feet first into a dangerous situation, and I can't help but want to do the same to you. I only know that my pleas would be just as ineffective as yours were then, so I shall save my breath for the trek ahead," he mumbled, wiping away at his eyes before holding me so tightly I could scarcely breathe.

"I love you my girl. You are everything your mother foretold when she chose your name, protecting the beauty of this place with all of your might, as small as you may be."

I found myself tearing up then as well, and couldn't help but break some of the tension with what was perhaps a poorly executed joke.

"Well let's hope I sting as well as a real Briar, or I might be in some trouble."

A horn sounded at the front of the group that signalled that they would be moving out, and after embracing my family a last time I made my way to Rhymka to say farewell to her.

"You watch out for Cian will you? I hate that I can't be here with him," she said sadly. I assured her that I would do my best and continued to wave goodbye until the last of the women and children had departed for a safer haven. They carried only sacks of food and water, leaving everything precious to them behind, and I vowed to myself that I would protect their homes until they could return to them.

With what little time we had until the Duke arrived, we busied ourselves setting up every possible trap that we could. Ropes and triggers, animal traps and trip wires made of thin string were put up all around the village, and even deeper into the wilds. The sickle vines and wild animals could only be counted on as a small deterrent given the fact that the Duke had encountered them before, and would have almost certainly prepared his men for them at least a little.

Our tactic was to rely heavily on the element of surprise, since although they might have learned a little of the wilds, there would no doubt still be a strong superstition among the men the Duke would be bringing. Traps would help to reinforce a state of random chaos and panic while doing as little harm to the soldiers as possible. Although I at least hoped that some of the men would be scared enough to retreat, depleting their numbers.

Our other strategy, and one which I felt extremely confident in, was using the special gift the Shi'ran possessed to our full advantage. They were magical after all, and as animals, could easily blend in the forest much more readily than a normal soldier.

It was not quite evening when we received news of the Duke's men drawing nearer. They had been obviously aiming for the cover of night under the impression it would give them the advantage.

Ouen had flown over their camp, and returned to report to Cian what he'd seen as quickly as he could, breathing quite heavily.

"There's at least 300 in their number, and Leto is amongst them. They're resting now, waiting for the night to come since travelling through the woods by day is safer. Now they're resting after marching since yesterday," Ouen explained. Cian thought for a moment before answering.

"Send some of our swifter people to sling whatever they can at them. The less rest they get the better. Exhausted soldiers will make for an easier fight if it comes down to it," he said, and Ouen flew off to do as he was told.

"So it begins," he sighed to me, resting his head on my shoulder. I ran my fingers through his mane in an attempt to be comforting, though I couldn't hide the fact that they were trembling from him.

"You're frightened'" he said sadly. It wasn't even a question.

"Yes, but we've a good plan and Leto on our side. I keep telling myself we're going to win."

"If there is any sign of trouble I want you to leave. If for a moment you think that the battle will turn out for the worst, and if I am lost you must run away from here as fast as you can. My father won't hesitate to have you destroyed."

"You said I could stay!" I protested, a little angrily.

"And you can stay. But if I should die I would hate for you to see it. And if, stone forbid, anything should happen to you I would not have the strength to fight on. It is better this way. Please don't argue with me."

I could accept the truth behind what he was saying, even though I didn't want to- and so I silenced the part of me that wanted to stubbornly refuse in favor of just nodding my head.

The sound of armoured boots on the earth in the distance began to sound, like a deep and steady drumbeat. It seemed Cian's tactic had angered the Duke enough to begin a forced march, and all of the Shi'ran around me were nervously readying themselves with their simple hunting weapons, or when more appropriate, their animal forms.

I felt like I was marching into battle with nature itself as my side as great birds and beasts circled us in preparation for the fight to begin. I could hear the drumbeat become less steady as the soldiers began marching into our traps one by one, their legs being pinched in clamps, or their bodies in rope nets slung to trees so tightly they had little hope of being cut down quickly.

Cian turned to me, and gestured for me to get on his back.

"To your positions!" he shouted at his people, and in a matter of seconds it was as if the village was completely devoid of anyone except for the two of us. The Duke may arrive at the village, but he would see no one there. The hope was that it would anger him enough to delay his torches from setting the place ablaze while he tried to learn where we'd gone.

Cian had made it clear that the first priority was to ensure all of the torches were burnt out before they could do any real damage. He assured me that Leto would do the best he could from the inside to ensure that their number was limited enough for us to handle.

The marching grew louder and louder, until it rivalled my own heart beat drumming in my ears. Cian and I had hidden in his cave, keeping a watchful eye on the main area of the village.

I could see the Duke enter, leading the troops with golden armor and his son at his side. I said a silent prayer for Leto's safety as the Duke began to scream with rage at the absence of the Shi'ran from the village. Urging his men to follow him, he came further and further inside while the Shi'ran waited anxiously for Cian's signal.

I watched as the men began ransacking everything in the village that they could get their hands on. The rope ladders were cut down, wells were caved in and anything left on ground level that was easily broken was. Yet Cian did not make a sound despite the fact that I could feel his heavy breathing and the tightening of his muscles with anger.

"Won't you do something?" I asked him in the faintest of whispers while I watched men climb up into the houses and throw belongings on to the ground below. It hurt my heart to see them destroy the homes of innocent people just because they couldn't see fit to understand those who were different from them. Instead, they followed the commands of a selfish, mad ruler who cared nothing for them.

"Better the houses than my people. We shall let their forces be divided, and cut the ladders and ropes so they can't join the rest of the fray when it begins. They haven't yet brought fire, so Leto seems to have done his part," he explained as calmly as he probably could.

We watched for a little longer, until it seemed as though the organized marching of the Duke's troops had been completely disheveled. Cian bade me to cover my ears, and with no other warning he roared at the top of his lungs, the sheer terror of the sound bringing many of the soldiers to their knees with fright.

And so began the fight I hoped would never have to culminate. On Cian's back the whole scene was a blur as we bounded across the field of battle. It was obvious that we were hopelessly outnumbered, but the soldiers were completely unprepared for the attack, and many had been caught by such surprise that they were unable, or even unwilling to fight back. As Cian had hoped, we watched as many fled into the wilds at the sight of the Shi'ran changing from man to beast and back again. Others still were trapped amongst the trees, unable to descend without jumping from a dangerous height. Those that tried were injured, clinging to broken limbs and making the men that remained aloft hesitant to follow in their paths.

But not all of the Shi'ran were escaping the threat of Mortar steel, and in our pursuit of the Duke Cian stopped a number of times to help his people. I saw Ouen in the distance, doing his best to hold his own against a number of those pursuing him, and just when it looked as if he was done for, he became a bird, his attacker's swords piercing each other instead.

Yet I was so caught up watching my friends fight for their lives I didn't realize that my own was in danger. Cian had been moving so quickly that I'd taken my safety for granted, and in an instant I'd been lurched off of his back with the hilt of a sword. It smashed into my gut painfully, and I cried out while the soldier who'd attacked me loomed over my collapsed body with a lascivious smirk. I cringed, coughing to catch the breath that had been knocked from my body and shielding my body with my hands.. But in less than a moment Cian, who'd noticed by absence had spun around, striking the man with a blow of his enormous paw. I did not look to see what became of him afterwards as I was pulled on Cian's back again.

"Are you alright?" He demanded, growing out of breath himself.

"I will be, thanks to you," I answered, panting a little from the fear.

"We need to find my father. The sooner he is dealt with, the sooner this will end. We're doing well but I don't want to give the tide an opportunity to change."

I scanned my surroundings as best I could given the chaos that was all around me, looking for any signs of the Duke. Cian was so focused on staying out of the path of a sword that it must have been difficult for him to spot, and so I knew that the duty should fall to me.

It was then that I saw it, the terrifying, red glow of fire a little ways away. I realized then that it was reflected on the gold of the Duke's plate metal.

"He's there!"I shouted, urging Cian in the correct direction with my legs. He changed courses quickly and bounded toward the fire which he could undoubtedly see now.

With a growl Cian leapt on the torch, smothering it like it was little more than a candle with his body. It was apparent that the Duke hadn't seen him coming, as his face wore a startled expression before it shifted to one of satisfaction.

"I wondered how long it would take for you to find me beast," he said, his voice so revolting it practically oozed out of him. Leto was not far off, watching the encounter but not stepping in to show his true colors just yet.

"Not long when you're foolish enough to try and burn this place down," Cian growled in response.

"You've done better than I expected, but no longer. It's time to put an end to you once and for all!" The Duke drew his sword and brandished it at Cian. With a great shake of his back I fell off of him onto the forest floor below me.

"Go Briar," he said calmly, and while there were a number of guards around me they had all clearly decided to stay out of the fight that was about to begin. They knew it wasn't theirs and Leto stood by to remind them.

The younger brother shot me a look of concern, and I wanted to rush over to him though to do so would destroy his cover and so I dared not. But just when I hoped the feud between father and son would be over at last, the Duke cried out,

"To me men, to me!" All of the soldiers who stood by to watch silently were suddenly prompted into action, swarming towards Cian with swords drawn.

I screamed out my fury. The Duke had no honor in outnumbering Cian so, and I watched as Leto pushed through me men trying to stop them from approaching the ring that had formed where the leaders of both sides had converged.

"Father you should fight with honor!" He protested, his cries drowned in the sea of soldiers that had began to form around us.

"There is no honor when fighting with a beast boy, a fact you'd do well to remember," the Duke replied, and I watched with horror as swords came crashing down against the one I loved. Strong as he was, he was no match for an army, and while his people fought to protect him so tight was the ring of soldiers that surrounded him that it was nearly impossible to separate them enough to push them away.

My stomach felt violently ill, and my mind felt helpless. I had no means with which to defend him, but even so I knew that I had to try something. Searching quickly on the ground I looked for anything that could help me. Coming up empty I wondered how I might fair in a hand to hand combat situation, though I doubted very well.

Despite all of my hopes otherwise I knew we were loosing, and the sounds of Cian's roars and his cries of pain made me hate the fact I was so useless. I collapsed to my knees and was sick on the ground, my knuckles digging in the dirt. I felt warm arms help me to my feet I realized it was Leto wearing the same helpless expression I had.

After he was satisfied that I would be alright he left, using his sword to help the Shi'ran push some of the men aside, yelling at them to stop what they were doing. It was clear that they were confused at his outburst, and unsure whether to listen to him or his father.

Dimly I could hear as Leto issued command after command to his men, but they were so caught up in the bloodlust of the battle that they did not hear him.

All of these things took only a moment to transpire, but it was the longest moment in my entire existence. It was then I felt the oddest sensation. The ground beneath my feet began to tremble, and I watched as it opened up to reveal growing sickle vines. Yelling with fright I knew that I was done for in that instant, only it seemed as though the sickle vine could care less for me. It slithered its way through the soldiers, picking them up and cutting a path through them. Looking around me, I saw that there was perhaps a half dozen more of them, all pushing the soldiers away from the lion who was still thrashing to save himself from their onslaught.

Leto looked back at me with wonder, and with a shrug I ran as fast as I could towards where Cian still struggled with the Duke. Him the sickle vines had left alone, as if they too wished this fight to be an honorable one. While some part of me wished that they would simply do away with him as well I knew that Cian could never be satisfied with such an ending.

His white fur was matted with blood, but he was still standing, and that gave me hope. I turned to look behind me, and saw a large number of the Duke's soldiers running away from the dangerous plants that had seemingly appeared from nowhere.

The remaining Shi'ran moved towards where the battle was taking place, looking on with concern but not interfering. The vines stood steady where they were, almost as if a moment ago they hadn't been moving men about violently.

"So monster, will you kill me? It seems you've magic on your side too," The Duke scowled, his sword still drawn, brow dripping with sweat.

Cian stared at him, his eyes so cold that they almost looked as if they didn't belong to him.

"You could have just let things be. Why would you go through such lengths to destroy me? Why put innocent people, like Briar and her family in harm's way just to ensure I was dead?" he wondered.

"Because you are a blemish on our family name- and one that needs to be removed before you threaten everything I hold dear."

"And yet I would never have caused you or your people any harm. All I wished was to live in peace. But I guess in the end that I must thank you, for it is by your actions that I have been allowed happiness for the first time. So I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I've realized that I cannot kill you, only because I have no wish to become you," Cian said far more gently than I'd imagined. In that moment I was more proud of him than I could say. My heart was warmed by his goodness, my distaste of the Duke aside.

"You're a coward!" The Duke hissed, to which Cian didn't respond. Leto however, felt it the opportune time to step in.

"You're leadership has run its course father. You led your men here, to their potential deaths to protect your own name. Step down gracefully. Then perhaps you will be able to let your hatred of this curse go."

The Duke examined Leto, a new understanding evident in his expression. He tossed his sword to the side with one, great throw, and Leto picked it up in an acceptance of his surrender.

"You have aligned with this beast from the start. No wonder the girl and her father escaped. I never wanted to believe you would betray your own flesh and blood my son," he said, sounding utterly defeated at his realization. He fell to his knees with a clang of his armor.

"Perhaps I follow in your footsteps more than I'd care to admit then," Leto answered with a grimace, but he approached Cian without reservation and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I will handle the rest brother. You need to get your wounds taken care of. Briar, will you take him back to the cave?"

I curtsied to the best of my ability, acknowledging my willingness to obey him, and nodded.

While Leto addressed his father's remaining soldiers with the truth of the situation, I began to lead Cian away. His motions were laboured and slow. It was evident he was hurt far more than he was carrying himself, but I was still surprised when he stopped stark still all of a sudden, and spun around far more than his physical condition should have allowed. I turned around myself to see the Duke, whom we had assumed was kneeling on the ground in defeat, had instead been lighting the forest floor aflame. Cian had obviously smelled the smoke, and in a split second, the fire had spread far more than it should have. It hadn't rained in so long, and what Cian had feared was coming to pass.

The sickle vines began to practically squeal in fear, retreating back underground where they had sprung, and without thinking Cian began to rush over to the fire, trying desperately to stop it.

The Duke, swelling with the thrill of victory was behind him, and I watched as he pulled a hidden blade from his pocket.

"Cian, look out!" I cried, but it was too late. I watched as the blade buried itself into the one I loved without mercy and he roared in anguish.