The young woman lay where she was, unmoving for the several days. The King would watch her quiet form from a far, unsure on what to do. Cordel would come by with a tray of bread and water each day but by the time he comes to retrieve it, it remain untouched. One day, the King sat on his large canopy bed, watching her when Cordel came in with bread and water for her.

"Why feed her? She will not eat." The King said with a sigh.

"One must hope that she will, your Majesty. One must not give up." Cordel unlock the cage door, placing the tray in front of her. Her eyes remain close. Cordel back away before turning his King. He simply place his hands behind his back.

"Out with it Cordel."

"Maybe it would be wise to free her," the servant said. The king rub a hand over his face.

"I can not do that. I declared her as my slave in front of the royal court. I will lose face if I free her right now."

"But you never care what they think. Not when you housed Serible for these past years. Your pride is getting in the way of what you must do."

"You think I am in the wrong? You think I should have had her jailed away?"

"No I do not, you gave her her punishment when you sent her to Örasde."

"Then what should I do Cordel? I will not free her when she can up and take the Heart of Nimue and the Queen's Sceptor right under my nose. I will not have that Cordel!" The King stood up, running a hand through his blond hair.

"Then you show her you are different. You are not a cruel master. Difficult, yes. You just don't know where to begin with her. You are not your father."

"But what if I'm turning into him?"

"You won't, you are a just ruler to this kingdom. You risk your life out on the front lines when you go into battle. You turn this kingdom around when you took the throne from your father. You prove to your people that you are different. You abolish slavery in this kingdom after being exile to a slave camp. You fought to unite this kingdom when it was torn in turmoil of civil war. You are brave and kind. I know you will do the right thing, Alistar." The King, Alistar, stared at him before turning to look back at the cage. He then let out a sigh.

"Thank you, I needed to hear that," he said. He open the cage door and knelt down before the young woman. He took her left wrist, startling her awake. Her eyes were wide with fear.

"I'm sorry for what I put you through." Alistar place the key into the Megi Band, uncuffing it from her wrist. The metal band fell to the floor with a clank. He took her other wrist and did the same thing.

"Why are you doing this?" She rasped, watching him warily. Alistar gave her a gentle smile that appear to make his face boyish.

"I release you. Your free, Little One."

"I'm free to go?" She asked in surprise, pushing herself up into a sitting position. She rub her wrists as she look at him with wide eyes.

"Yes. It was wrong of me to keep you as a slave when I had abolish slavery." Alistar raised his hand out above her head but drop it down to his side.

"Maybe there's hope for your kingdom yet," she said.

"I hope so." Alistar back out of the cage. "Goodbye, Little One."

King Alistar left his bed chamber without a backward glance. Cordel came forward, holding his hand out.

"Let's get you ready," he flashed her his pearly whites as he grin down at her. She took his hand as he led her out of her cage.

Storm clouds were brewing above, rumbling as they grew dark. The young woman watch them with a frown as her magi shudder at the ominous feeling. She was dress in a ankle length yellow dress with a white sash around her waist. Tan leather sandals adorn her feet as her hair lay loose around her face.

"Something the matter?" Cordel asked, looking up at the sky.

"Something is coming," she answered.

"How bad is it?"

"Very bad, something wicked is approaching."

Cordel frowned, eying her before sighing.

"I'm getting too old for this," he rubbed his bald head. "Come, I'll lead you out."

The young woman nodded. She follow him down several hallways when they heard shoutings. They look at each other before following the noise out to the main courtyard. What the young woman saw, made her blood run cold. Fallen guards lay still on the ground, their blood spilling everywhere. Her tormentor stood in the center, her sword dip in blood.

"Where is he?!" She shouted, her eyes surveying her surroundings. Cordel usher the young woman to remain hidden behind the large column, out of site. They turn their heads to see more guards approaching behind them, with King Alistar leading them. A sword strap to his hip, as his eyes were stony with rage.

"Serible!" He shouted

"Finally, you show up," Serible smiled wickedly. "How dare you banish me! Don't you care about me?!"

"Did you honestly believe I wouldn't find out what you did? How dare you lay a hand on one of my people! You have no right! I sent you away because I believe you could turn over a leaf. But I see I made a grave error. Serible, surrender now and your sentence will be lighten."

"Surrender? You should know I don't surrender to the likes of you! I rather die than surrender!"

"So be it," King Alistar drew his sword out, pointing it at her.

"You will be the one dying!" Serible laughed before launching herself at him. The young woman watch with trepidation as they fought.

"Something is not right," she said.

"What do you mean?"Cordel asked her. She pointed her finger at Serible.

"She is tainted with darkness and death."

They could only watch as the duo continue to fight. It wasn't long before King Alistar was able to knock the sword out of Serible's hand. He pointed his sword at her throat.

"Surrender!" He glared at her. Serible raise her hands up slowly before her yellow eyes glow darkly. The young woman gasp and ran out of her hiding spot.

"Wait!" Cordel shouted, trying to grab her but miss. Her magi flare to life around her as she ran. She raise her hand out, her magi swirling and condensing. Serible's face remain blank as her hand went through the King's chest in a blink of an eye.

"No!" The young woman cried out as she could only watch in horror as King Alistar stare down at his gaping wound before collapsing down to the ground. The young woman's magi quickly clash against Serible who nimbly dodge away. Serible jump back several steps before a wall of fire surrounded her. She glare back at the young woman.

"You can't keep me here, Little One! Your flames will not contain me!" Serible yelled, her magi in the color of darkness surround her lithe form before attack her. A shield made out of sand appear, blocking the attack. The shield lower to reveal rune like lines in tan-gold colors appear over the young woman's skin. Her eyes glowing an orange gold. She flick her wrists out as sand appear in the shape of sand coil around Serible. Serible broke out of it, darting away. The sand chains follow her, slamming down only a second later; only to barely miss her as she dodge away.

Thunder echo as a torrent of rain began to fall but the flames remain standing. Their heat warding the coolness away. The young woman growl before launching herself at Serible. She block her attack as the two drew blows at each other. It wasn't long before Serible had the young woman down on the ground, her hands tightening around the young woman's throat. She made some strangle noises as she gasp for air.

"You can not stop me! This kingdom will fall to my hands!" Serible laughed wickedly. The young woman grab Serible's head.

"Die!"

A great blinding light engulf the duo, reaching up to the sky creating a hole in the storm clouds. Rays of Sunlight filter in. The young woman push Serible off of her, gasping for air. Serible struggle to get up.

"What did you do to me?" She asked, weakly punching the empty air only to fall down.

"I took your magi away. It was the only way to keep you from destroying the kingdom," the young woman stood up, wobbling before straightening to her full height. She place her hand over Serible's face.

"May the Gods grant you mercy."

"Your Gods are weak!" Serible spat. "You can't stop me, I will be back!"

"No, you will not." Golden light emitted from her hand as Serible slump forward, her breath leaving her. The young woman gently lay her down, placing her hand over her tormentor's eyes, closing them.

"It is for the best, sister." She turn to see Cordel leaning over the King's body as the guards watch on nervously. Blood staining his hands. She walk over to them, her body weary as her body return to normal.

"His Majesty, is dead," Cordel said, mournfully. The young woman's heart clench.

"No, he is not," she said, dropping down to her knees beside him. She place both hands over King Alistar's chest, her body glowing a ruby red as the runes appear over her skin once more.

"ᚷᛟᛞᛋ, ᚺᛖᛚᛈ ᛗᛖ. ᛚᛖᛏ ᛗᛖ ᛋᚨᚡᛖ ᚺᛁᛗ." She prayed as she channel her magi into the wound. The wound began to close. She could feel the darkness creeping along her vision.

I will save him.

With a snarl, a large burst of magi left her body, entering the dead King's body. His body rose an inch off the ground as her magi swirl around his form before gently setting him down on the ground. The wound close, revealing only clear skin beneath the torn tunic. His chest rose and fell as he breathe in the air.

"It work," she smiled, the runes flickering before disappearing.

"Carry his Majesty to his bedchamber and get Healer Refia at once!" Cordel pointed to some of the guards before them. A couple of them step forward, lifting their king up and shuffling away. One ran off to get the healer. Cordel turn his attention to the young woman whose pallor has gone white.

"Thank you," Cordel said, patting her shoulder.

"I saw...I saw the kingdom in turmoil without him. So much...blood would have been spill before there would be nothing left of this kingdom. I couldn't let that happen. He needs to live. I saw...him reigning over the kingdom, leading his people into a new age." She gave him a small smile before she turn her head away as blood spill out of her mouth. Cordel could only watch in horror as she collapse, her eyes unseeing as her vision turn black.