Drexia watched the battle as it began to unfold around her. Soldiers from both sides began to act like animals in her eyes and the more she watched them butcher each other the angrier she became. She looked up in time to see Bodhe signal his archers to fire. That was the last straw for her. She began to breathe fire and aimed the stream so it would melt all the arrows before they could strike the soldiers below.
"Drexia, you don't have to fight this battle." Gil called out as he parried a clumsy attack from one of Duncan's men and he quickly stabbed him through the chest before he turned his attention back to her. "Please help us. We can end this before anyone else has to die." Drexia walked toward him slowly and one of Macbeth's men took advantage of the distraction and swung his sword in an arc that would have beheaded her, but she saw it in time and raised her arm, so the sword cut deep into her forearm. She cursed and glared at Gil as she held her injured arm.
"You tried to trick me. You tried to kill me." Drexia roared and before anyone could move she drove her good arm into the attacker's chest and within moments pulled his heart out. "My heart belonged to you and now it's…" She crushed the heart in her hand. "…broken," She hissed the last word at him as her eyes began to glow.
…
As the battle began Duncan and Macbeth quickly became lost in their own struggle. Duncan swung his sword in a wide arc that Macbeth easily blocked with his shield. Duncan lost his balance due to the clumsy swing and Macbeth took advantage of it by bashing the Prince with his shield causing him to tumble to the ground. Macbeth leapt forward to finish the battle but two of Duncan's royal guard rushed forward to attack. He saw Duncan quickly get to his feet and start to run as he blocked an attack from one of the guards before running him through with this sword. Then he quickly twisted it around and drove his blade through the throat of the second one.
Whatever they cast on us has made me much faster than before. Macbeth grinned and began to chase after Duncan. "I will catch you and before this day is over I will kill you." Macbeth swore as he rushed after the fleeing Prince.
…
Bodhe watched as all the arrows from his men burst into flame. He looked to the sun and swore under his breath. There's still too much damn sunlight. We need back up now.
"Prepare another volley." He shouted. His men nocked their arrows, took aim, and awaited the order to fire. "Fire," All twenty arrows flew over his head in unison and rained down on the soldiers that were towards the back of the fighting. Several died instantly but a few laid on the ground injured from taking an arrow in various places. Bodhe drew his large two-handed sword that he could wield with one hand and pointed down towards the battle.
"Attack," He spurred his horse and rode down towards the battle. His men drew their swords and quickly followed him. As he neared the battle one of Duncan's soldiers raised his head just in time to see Bodhe's sword slice cleanly through his neck. Bodhe rode his horse through the battle until he nearly got to Gil. He swung his sword arm and he took the head off another enemy. Just as he reached Gil and Vivienne Drexia spun around and used her claws to tear the horses head off causing the animals body to react violently and throw its rider to the ground before collapsing on the ground itself.
…
"This has to work." Gruoch said as she collected the ingredients she would need to cast her spell. Which one do I cast it on? She thought as she studied the four gargoyle statues standing in front of her. Whether it was fate or just random chance she found herself standing in front of Demona and she began reading from the scroll as she crushed several ingredients in her hand and watched them land in the bowl before magically mixing together. A purple light emanated from the bowl and the Demona statue turned purple and after a few more words spoken from Gruoch the stone began to crack and her eyes began to glow red before the stone burst from her body nearly knocking Gruoch off her feet. Demona stretched and she looked around for a moment confused about where she was.
"I know it's early, but I cast a spell to wake you." Gruoch advised. Demona looked at her curiously for a moment.
"I feel strange." Demona stumbled forward but quickly caught herself before she fell.
"Your body wasn't ready to wake yet so you may have some difficulty at first but it'll pass. Please, you must hurry and help Macbeth and my father before they die." Gruoch pleaded.
That's right the battle. Demona suddenly remembered and she rushed past Gruoch and looked over the battlements. She hopped up on the edge and then moved her leg a little as she stretched her arms and her wings. "How long will I feel this stiff?" She asked suddenly.
"I don't know, but I believe the darker it becomes the stronger you will become." Gruoch replied.
"What about the others?" Demona asked realizing that the other three gargoyles were still asleep. She yawned and shook her head to try and clear it.
"I only had enough components to cast the spell once." Gruoch informed her. Demona nodded and leapt off the battlements. She glided as quickly as she could, but it felt as though something was weighing her down. "I will finish this once and for all." She growled. She grinned wickedly and dove to pick up speed.
…
"Drexia, I don't know what Duncan has told you, but we are not your enemies." Gil said as he took a slow step forward. "I have been and always will be your friend."
"He's being truthful Drexia. He has always told me how he has nothing but respect for you. I know that living with Duncan could not have been easy, but we want to help you now." Vivienne began.
"You would dare to speak of my father that way?" Drexia growled. "You know nothing of what he has been through." She wiped tears from her eyes and continued. "I trusted you both. I worked with you, while I was growing up you were very special to me. How could you do this even after I allowed you to spare that man's life?" Before anyone could say anything further Duncan came rushing up toward them.
"Dr…Drexia darling, I need your help…He's going to kill me." Duncan had difficulty speaking because he was out of breath. Vivienne pulled an arrow from her quiver and quickly nocked it. Drexia pushed Duncan to the ground and breathed fire. Gil stared in horror as Vivienne's body caught fire and he watched helplessly as she burned alive. He couldn't tell at that moment if it was her that was screaming or him. His vision began to blur as tears stung his eyes. He drew his sword and leapt toward her and Drexia used her claws to leave huge gashes in his chest that began to bleed out as he dropped his sword and slowly fell to his knees.
"Why did you make me do this?" Drexia asked bitterly. Duncan laughed and clapped his hands together as he walked towards Gil.
"Did you really think that this brainless, disgusting, and dim-witted animal would turn against her master for you?" Duncan laughed and didn't notice Drexia glare at him. "She is my slave to do with as I please. Now, she's going to finish this. Don't worry though, she'll make it quick." Duncan yanked Gil's head back and looked to Drexia. "Finish this and then we will end this war."
…
Macbeth and Demona both arrived in time to see Duncan standing over Gil and Vivienne still smoldering next to them. Before Macbeth could move Demona dove down at a nearly reckless speed and slammed into Drexia's chest as they both tumbled to the ground. Macbeth ran towards Duncan and stopped as Duncan put a dagger to Gil's throat.
"Please keep walking forward. I haven't slit a throat myself in a very long time." Duncan grinned wickedly. "Throw down your weapon unless you wish to see how much blood I can get out of this traitor."
"Enough Duncan, it is time for you and I to finish this once and for all. I challenge you to a duel. Just you versus me and if you defeat me then I will call of my army and surrender unconditionally." Duncan started to laugh, and Macbeth raised his voice. "If I win, then you will leave here with your army and never return." Duncan grinned and shrugged.
"Very well, you're no match for me anyway and this will at least prove to be entertaining." Duncan kicked Gil and watched with some satisfaction as his old ally fell to the ground. He drew his father's sword then and waited for Macbeth to make the next move.
"I nearly killed you before you ran." Macbeth reminded him. Duncan's smile widened.
"You got in a lucky strike and caught me off guard. That will not happen again." Duncan lunged forward in an arc intended to sever Macbeth's head. He raised his sword and barely parried the blade in time. Instead of going through his neck it left a large gash on his left shoulder. Macbeth gritted his teeth and returned the attack. Duncan parried the blow and backed up slowly as Macbeth swung again and again in such a fast pace that Duncan could barely keep up with. As they both took a moment Macbeth noticed something was different.
"Your creature has left." He grinned and lifted his sword as he prepared to strike again. Duncan looked around in shock and he felt a pit in his stomach as he realized that Drexia was still fighting with Demona and wouldn't be able to assist him.
"Let's finish this." Duncan snapped irritably and charged towards Macbeth again.
…
"You look tired, Demona. Perhaps you should have stayed in bed." Drexia grinned wickedly as they both got back up to their feet. Demona blinked her eyes quickly and shook her head to clear it.
"You were supposed to be our friend." Demona said as her eyes started to glow. "Why are you doing this?"
"I don't even know you. I tried to stop this because I thought my father was wrong. After I helped you save that human I spoke with my father and he told me what the Fates told him." Drexia began.
"You can't believe anything he says." Demona interrupted her. "He's evil and corrupt. We need to stop him before anyone else gets killed." The memory of what Duncan said began to play in Drexia's mind over and over until she shook her head to clear it.
"Stop trying to confuse me. I know what I have to do." Drexia leapt forward to attack but she was so used to fighting weaker creatures that she was unprepared to fight the well experienced gargoyle warrior. Demona caught Drexia's arm before she could use her claws against her. She delivered a swift kick to Drexia's side. Drexia fell to the ground as Demona towered over her.
"You have spirit young warrior, but you are outmatched this time." Demona grinned at her as Drexia scrambled to her feet while clutching her side.
"I'm going to tear you to pieces and then roast them." Drexia roared and she began to attack. She leapt forward and lashed out with a kick that struck Demona in the mid-section causing her to slam against and nearly go through the tree behind her. She twisted around to deliver another kick but Demona was expecting it and caught her leg and lifted the young creature up off the ground and spun her around quickly slamming her into the tree with such force that it was ripped out of the ground by its roots. Drexia grinned as she got back to her feet and wiped blood from her lip.
"Drexia, listen to me. That man is not your father. He is a monster who stole you while you were still in the egg for his own twisted and evil purposes." Demona said as she slowly stepped towards her. "We have more in common than you could ever have with him and that's why I think you came to tell us about the execution."
"I gave you three days to let the fear of what would happen destroy you." Drexia smiled wickedly at her. "Soon, now our army will destroy yours."
"That's not you talking." Demona replied bluntly. "You may have said those words to appease your master but if you truly believed that then you wouldn't have come to help us save anyone." Suddenly, they heard battle cries and they looked up just in time to see Brooklyn, Cold-Fire, and Xena join the battle.
…
"Where's Demona?" Brooklyn asked as they woke from their sleep. He looked around for a moment but couldn't find her, so he ran towards the edge of the battlements. Xena and Cold-Fire walked up next to him. He looked at Xena for a moment. "Now, you sleep as we do?" Brooklyn asked curious about her transformation.
"The Fates spell must have changed me permanently." Xena replied after a moment. Then a thought occurred to her. What will Hercules say about this?
"The one you call Demona left a while ago." Gruoch said as she stepped forward. "I wanted to give our side the best chance to win so I cast a spell to awaken her early." Brooklyn didn't stick around to hear anything else she might say. He dove off the battlements and quickly soared towards the battle with Cold-Fire and Xena following close behind him. I know this sounds terrible, but I really hope to never see them again. When they arrived Cold-Fire grabbed two swords and tossed one to Brooklyn.
"Just like old times, huh?" She smiled wide as she parried a clumsy strike from one man and used her claws to tear through his chest.
"A little too much like the old times I'd say," Brooklyn pointed out as he quickly severed the head of a soldier that had been rushing towards them. Two more men ordered them to halt while aiming crossbows in their direction. Cold-Fire and Brooklyn slowly raised their hands and then Xena landed hard driving both of her clawed feet into the two ambushers. One of the men pulled the trigger just as they both fell to the ground. He was aiming for Cold-Fire's heart, but the bolt flew to far to the left due to being jarred by Xena's attack. It struck the gargoyle in the shoulder and she growled in rage as she started to pull it out. She realized then that the bolt must have been poisoned because the wound began to feel hot and the skin around it had started to turn a dark purple. Brooklyn caught her as she fell to the ground and wiped the sweat that was beginning to pour from her forehead.
"I…I think that was…" Cold-Fire closed her eyes and Brooklyn held her close to him. Demona and Drexia's battle took them near the newcomers and they both stood there silently as they watched Xena and Brooklyn tend to her wounds.
"It was poisoned." Demona said grimly as she pulled a pouch off her belt. "This is the kind and gentle master you fight for?" Demona snarled angrily. She didn't wait for an answer but instead leaned over Cold-Fire and sprinkled what looked like silver glitter into the wound and mumbled something that none of the others could understand.
"What can we do to help?" Brooklyn asked feeling helpless as he watched Demona try to help Cold Fire.
"Help me get her out of here. She can't stay here." Brooklyn nodded and they both took a side and lifted Cold-Fire gently. They carried her away from the battle as quickly and carefully as they could. Every moment or so Cold-Fire would make a small moaning sound, or her eyelids would pop open and she would look around before slowly closing them again.
"Can we cure this?" Brooklyn asked.
"Only time will tell." Demona replied with a deep sigh. Drexia watched them walk off as she experienced a series of conflicting emotions. Then one thought focused her and told her what she should do next. Did Duncan order his men to use poison?
…
"You've grown weak, Macbeth." Duncan sneered at his opponent. Macbeth had fallen to the ground as a heavy rain began to fall. The mud had become slick and he lost his footing and looked up in time to see Duncan staring down at him as he lifted his sword high in the air. Duncan suddenly screamed as Bodhe's sword was swung in an arc that took off the Prince's right hand causing the sword to fall harmlessly to the ground.
"That's my son you're speaking to." Bodhe stepped forward. Macbeth looked at him in shock. He could hardly recognize the old man. He was covered in mud and had blood all over his armor and sword. He looked weary but there was also a fire in his eyes that Macbeth had never seen before. "Your time is over Duncan. This is for Findlaech."
…
Gilcomgain had put out the flames that had seared his love's flesh as best he could, but she looked up at him now knowing that her time was quickly coming to an end. She took his hands in hers and looked him in the eye.
"It's alright, I'm happy to know that even though my time here is over I got to spend my last days with you." She cracked a smile and tried to lean up to kiss him, but the pain was too much for her and she collapsed back in his arms and closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. "I love you, Gil." Those were the last words Vivienne would ever speak. Gil could feel the tears pouring down his cheeks as he began to cry uncontrollably.
"Vivienne," He shook her. "Vivienne, wake up!" He screamed as he shook her harder. When she didn't open her eyes then he held her close to his chest and kissed her forehead. He sat there for what seemed like hours and the memory of how Vivienne died played out in his mind over and over again. "I will not rest until the monster that did this to you dies. This I swear. The Hunter is reborn." He swore before he dug a grave for his beloved and laid her gently down inside of it. He tore his necklace from his neck and put it on top of her chest before he began to fill the hole again. "I love you, Vivienne." The Hunter had buried his heart and all the compassion it had once been capable of.
…
Gruoch, unable to wait any longer took the fastest horse and rode out in the rain towards the battlefield. She didn't know what to expect when she arrived but the sight that greeted her was not even close to what she imagined. She saw her father looking as though he was near death standing over Duncan and Macbeth. Duncan was on his knees holding his arm. That's when she noticed his hand was gone and Macbeth was slowly rising to his feet. Before anyone could move Drexia joined them.
"Oh good, you finished that gargoyle bitch off. Come and help me." Duncan grinned widely. Drexia began to walk forward but she did not reach down to help him. Instead she threw a crossbow bolt on the ground with a green tint on the tip.
"Did you order these men to use poison bolts?" She asked in low growl. Macbeth and Gruoch listened in shock as Drexia asked the question.
"Of course, I did, you take every advantage you can to win in a fight like this." Duncan pointed out.
"That's barbaric and the laws specifically say that poisons will never be used in combat for any reason." Bodhe replied.
"How could you do such a vile thing?" Gruoch asked and Macbeth backed up towards her once he realized that she had arrived.
"I do not answer to you." Duncan grinned and suddenly the Fates appeared in front of them.
"You answer to none of these people that is true." The blonde Fate said.
"You… however, do answer to the will of Fate." The white-haired Fate added.
"You have played your part and now it is over. Fate only has one thing left in store for you." The black-haired Fate completed.
"What thing?" Duncan asked curiously but the Fates had vanished. Shaking his head to clear it he looked around and they were still gone. Must be the blood loss causing me to hallucinate. He thought. "Alright creature, I've had enough of this. Do your job and kill these traitors so I can go home." Duncan ordered. Drexia's body went stiff and her eyes went wide but then she began to visibly relax.
"Yes Duncan, I will kill the traitors." Drexia grinned as she walked towards Macbeth's group. Before anyone could react she turned and began to breathe fire on Duncan who began to scream. His screams continued for what seemed like hours until Bodhe drove his blade into the dying Prince's chest. "Why'd you do that?" Drexia growled.
"Even evil such as him deserves mercy. If we do not provide it then we are no better than he was." Bodhe replied slowly as he leaned heavily on his sword to keep from falling over. "I…I think I may need…to rest." Bodhe fell over on the ground and Macbeth, Gruoch, and Drexia quickly rolled him over and Drexia quickly noticed the broken crossbow bolt that was still in his chest. It had been concealed by his armor. Drexia quickly tore the armor off and removed the crossbow bolt. She shook her head sadly.
"I'm sorry. The poison has already spread too far." Drexia said in a near whisper. Gruoch began to shake and then as Macbeth went to console her she threw herself on top of her dead father.
"No, you're lying. He can't be dead. I've seen him fight a mountain lion with his bare hands. Come on Father, wake up. Wake up…Wake up!" She began to scream and kept screaming and hitting Bodhe until Macbeth gently but firmly grabbed her wrists. She fought him at first but slowly let him pull her to him and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close as she began to cry.
"Their retreating," One of Macbeth's generals called out. "With Duncan dead and Drexia turned against them they seem to have lost their will to fight." Drexia couldn't believe how humans spoke of these matters when their own people were lying dead all around them.
"Excuse me, but if I'm no longer needed." Drexia said bitterly as she began to flap her wings. She quickly took off and began to fly. She didn't know where she was going or where she'd end up, but anywhere had to be better than what she had just seen and heard. Macbeth took the crown Duncan had been wearing and placed it on his head.
"This war is over now. I now give both armies three days to remove their dead from the battlefield. After that any soldier from Duncan's forces who will swear fealty to me will be allowed to remain. All others will be exiled from this kingdom on pain of death for eternity.
…
"I think we caught it in time Demona. She looks as though she'll be fine now." Brooklyn said as he wiped sweat from his brow. It was hot in the cave that they had hidden in so they could treat Cold-Fire. Demona sighed in relief. Between the spell she cast to slow down the poison and help her sister heal and Brooklyn's care it did look as though Cold-Fire was beginning to regain her natural color.
"I agree," Demona grinned. "I think the only think she needs now is to rest."
"What do we do now that the war seems to have ended?" Xena asked as they heard the victory shouts from Macbeth's army.
"I think we should stay for a few more days." Demona said. She hugged Brooklyn and he gave her a confused look. "That was for helping me save my sister." She grinned at him.
As Demona and Brooklyn were working to save Cold Fire, Fate was standing over a crib and looking down at baby Canmore.
"He will be the greatest warrior of them all." The blonde Fate grinned to her sisters.
"Yes, he will set Fate back on its proper course." Her two sisters agreed, and they all grinned wickedly before they disappeared.
