AU/ So... I changed my mind. Mainly because I didn't want to have to rewrite everything. And... I remembered that I had already made a separate story for the POVs of different people called Another Point of View so if you wanted to read that instead, it'd be fine with me.

Sorry for the slow update. Life has been happening quite fast for me. I got a job a couple of months ago and I'm graduating in a few weeks. And that means lots and lots of schoolwork. Not to mention the pressure of the oncoming eighteen adulthood mark that's fixing to come up.

With that in mind know that I am still planning on continuing this story even if it kills me! I'll try and steel moments of time for writing whenever I can. Hopefully after I graduate I'll have a bit more free time on my hands but if not, never fear! There will be another update. I just don't know when that might be.

Anyway, leave a review and tell me how you liked this chapter. I love hearing everyone's opinion on my writing. Reviews are life!

A big thanks to all the people who have supported me so far. You guys are the best!

So without further adue! The next chapter!

P.S. I'm sorry if this chapter is riddled with mistakes. I'm caught in a bit of a rut right now and I needed to get something published or I wouldn't write at all. I'll revise it later if it needs it (which it probably does)

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Italicized thoughts

English underlined

Braric normal

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Chapter XIV

Battleborn Too Early

The danger of failure should not deter you

from continuing the case which

you consider right.

~Abraham Lincoln

.oOo.

I ran, under tree and sky, over the creek and through the underbrush.

I felt the rain hit my arms and face as I broke out of the trees and onto the field. My breath came heavily as I felt the burn in my legs. It had been a long time since I had run like this. Every stride, every step I used my strength to push me faster. Even though the blade I carried was heavy, I did not allow it to slow my pace.

I came to my house and slid to a stop when Kelvin latched onto my arm, "Elanor! What are you doing?"

Yelling through the rain I answered, "I'm going to save my friend!" and I tried to shake him off but he was stronger than I'd expected.

"You can't!" he wrestled the sword from me and it fell to the ground too far away for me to reach.

"Azazel has him! He's gone!"

Fighting against him I cried, "Let me go! I'll find him!"

"You'll get yourself killed!" I heard Kelvin say as he tried to restrain me.

The warmth of my own tears clashed with the north rain as my attempts of escape became weaker. I beat my fists into Kelvin's chest, "I don't care! I have to save him. I have to!"

My knees felt weak and I began to shake as tears flowed from my eyes. I wasn't struggling anymore. I didn't have the strength.

He set me down on the road gently as I kept whispering, "I have to fix it. It's my fault! It's my... fault."

"Come." Kelvin said before he helped me to my feet.

My breath caught as I numbly stood and followed him inside, leaning on him heavily.

"Oh dear, you're soaked to the bone!" Cardia fussed over me, "What came over you to leave? It was a foolish thing to do!" she rushed me to the fire and stared to ring out my clothes while Kelvin ventured back outside. After she was satisfied, I was set down at the table and given some hot broth which I rejected. My stomach turned at the thought of meat.

"It's good." Darcy nudged it a little closer.

'When did she get here?' I thought as I stared at her worried face.

She sat down beside me and took my hand in hers. They were warm; I wanted to pull away. "Are you alright, Elanor?" she searched my eyes.

"No." I murmured. I took a breath, "And I won't be until I know Silvius is safe."

"Forget him." Kelvin said. Evidently he had returned... with Sivevarn's sword.

I looked up at him, "What did you say?"

He returned my gaze after he hid the sword in a bedside trunk, "It is better for everyone if you forget this... Derali."

"For everyone except Silvius." I clenched my fist.

He sighed, "I know it is hard for you to understand-"

"Oh I understand perfectly." I rolled my eyes, "I understand a whole lot more about this world than you ever will!" 'Careful Eleanor.' I scolded myself knowing just how close I had been to telling about my future knowledge.

He stared down at me with tight lips, "You should learn when to hold your tongue, girl. I do not know from whence you came but you will abide to the rules of the East!"

"And what rules are those?" I narrowed my eyes.

He drew himself to his full height, "No one, under any circumstances is to challenge the will of the general. For it is the will of the Master. The punishment for such an act is death." his gaze softened, "This is why you must forget him. Elanor, you have become a part of this family, I will not see you so easily ripped away from us." his eyes flicked to Darcy and I knew what he really meant was that I was her family, not his.

I looked down at my lap before I slammed my hands down on the table and stood from my chair, knocking it to the floor, "No! I won't let him die like this!" I pointed at him, "You may be too much of a coward to face your brother but I'm not!"

Cardia gasped, "Elanor! You shouldn't-"

"Coward?" Kelvin cut her off in a half yell, "Are these the marks of a coward?" he pulled back the sleeve of his left arm to reveal several scars, "I helped those Derali a long time ago and they did not give me any thanks! What makes you think they'll treat you any better?"

I looked down at my feet as I thought of how Silvius stood up for me in front of his grandfather. The pain I knew he felt when he said goodbye, and the many days we spent together before, talking and laughing... as friends.

I looked up at Kelvin with tears in my eyes, "Because they already have." and I walked past him to the trunk and pulled out Sivevarn's sword.

"Fine then. Go. I care not." I heard Darcy call her father as he marched out of his home.

I gripped the sword tight in my hand. "He doesn't mean that." I turned to see Cardia walking towards me. She put her hand on my shoulder and with her other she lifted my chin. "He just does not understand. We women feel differently than men. But there are times when our hearts are wrong." She began to take the sword from me, "Obeying authority is the only way we can make sure our lives."

"No!" I backed away from her, "That is not the way!"

"It is the way of the East, child!"

I stood firm, "Well, it is not my way. Authority can be wrong and wicked. Azazel is horrible, and so is his master! I'm going, and don't try and stop me."

I rushed past her to the door but a voice stopped me. "Elanor. Please don't go." Darcy gazing at me with tears brimming in her eyes, "I can't lose you."

I looked at her confidently, "You won't." and left them behind.

The rain had stopped but ominous clouds still hung over over me. I looked down at the sword in my hands. The rain had washed away the blood and it felt heavier now that I couldn't feel the blade calling out for more, but my resolve was strong.

I gripped the sword and began striding down the road to the town square. Walking, because I now was slowed by thoughts. 'What if I can't save Silvius? What if we both die today? If that were to happen then no one would be reunited with their family. Mom and Dad would have sent me away for nothing. William's sacrifice would be in vain.' I closed my eyes hard, 'No. I'm going to get both of us home even if I have to raise Silvius from the dead!'

I let the sword swing at my side as I began running down the street. Many of a shocked faces I passed in my flight and many of the General guards spotted me, but I didn't care.

I reached the square and came to a screeching halt when I was faced with a dozen or more archers aiming nowhere but my chest. My heart quickened.

"Eleanor, isn't it?" some of Azazel's men stepped aside to let him through. I frowned at his use of English. It was heavily accented. Almost as if he only learned it to pry information out of others.

"The Derali sympathizer. Let me guess. You are here for him." he gestured to Silvius behind him. I gasped. His face was bloody and I could tell by the way he was slouched over he had more than a few broken ribs. He looked up at me and started but fell back with a wince of pain.

"Elanor..., go! Get... away from here!" he gasped.

All I could do was shake my head but Azazel filled in the dead space with his harsh Braric. "He is right. This does not concern you. Go home." he turned away calling off his archers but I couldn't just let him go like this.

I looked at him knowing there was only one way I could do this, "Wait!" he paused. "I have a proposition for you."

He turned with a smile, "Oh? And what would that be?"

I took a deep breath, "I challenge you to a duel."

"No! Elanor!" was all Silvius could manage before one of his guards gave his stomach a silencing kick.

The general laughed, "You? Against me? How shall a worm fight against the heel of my boot?" With that a few chuckles rang out among the crowd of soldiers.

Narrowing my eyes I sneered, "Well, this worm is fixing to make you swallow your teeth."

He took a step forward, "You must know that defying me is the same as defying the Master. I could take your life right now, but... I will forgive you if you will only bow down at my feet and beg it so."

I glared at him in mounting fury. 'How dare he!' "I will never bow down to the likes of you nor your master! He is a deceiver and you will fall with him!"

"How dare you speak out against the great One. Beg his forgiveness!"

By this time several people had emerged from their homes and they were staring at the scene in frightened wonder.

I ground my teeth before yelling out my rage, "I will never beg anything from him or you! And if you want Silvius," I twirled the sword with a smirk, "you'll have to get him over my dead body!"

Azazel gazed downwards with a sigh before looking back up at me, a dark expression clouding his gaze, "Very well."

I blinked and he was in front of me grabbing my blade with his gloved hand and slicing my shoulder open with his sword. I screamed as I felt the metal scraping against bone and let go of Sivevarn's sword hearing Silvius call my name in the far off distance. Gripping at my shoulder I staggered back. Azazel now had both of swords but he cast mine away, kicking me to the ground in a moment and I sobbed where I lay. My shoulder hurt so much!

I felt a hot hand close around my neck and opened my eyes to see the General lift my frame off the ground like I weighed nothing. Forgetting my shoulder I clutched at his hand gasping for breath. He raised his sword and dug the point into my side.

"Did you really think that you could fight me?" he scoffed. "What... a... waist."

The sword began to pierce into my abdomen and closing my eyes I waited for death to come but instead I saw flashed of memory. Silvius and... my parents. Warm tears began to roll down my face in silent trails of salt. 'I can't die. Not now!'

"No." I gasped.

He halted his blade to question and in that moment of hesitation I took my chance. The lack of air had faded my vision but I could still feel his shoulder crack out of place underneath my feet as I straightened out and twisted his arm along the length of my body.

He gave out a mighty bellow and released me to fall to the cobbled street. A ringing in my ears became unbearable with the crack of my head against the stone.

Withe great difficulty I managed to lean up enough to see three generals staggering, clutching his shoulder with his sword still firmly in hand. The ringing lessened and I shrank back when Azazel looked at me in pure hatred, "I think it is time we end this little dance."

He came at me again with his sword in a full ark but it never met it's target. The clanging of swords was heard in the square as I saw Kelvin block the blow meant for me. I couldn't believe my eyes when he advanced on the general and twisted the sword out of his hand.

the soldiers immediately closed in on Kelvin but he didn't pay them any mind as he stood fir mist the point of his blade at his brother's neck.

"What are you waiting for?" Azazel asked, "Go on! Kill me! It's what you've always wanted."

"I don't want you dead. I want you gone. Get out of my city!" Kelvin stepped back and pointed his sword to the road leaving town.

"Oh yes, I'll be leaving, and I'll be taking you with me."

"No!" I vaguely heard Cardia cry as Kelvin was restrained. My consciousness faded in and out as i watched the soldiers push her back from saving her husband. Darcy tried to get to me as well but she was met by the same force. Azazel then said something about Kelvin harboring a spy and how that was a bad thing among other choice words.

Amidst the chaos I felt my shoulder which had fallen strangely numb and felt a warm sticky substance that felt like it was gushing out of me like a fountain. Letting my hand fall to the ground I closed my tiring eyes.

"Elanor!" I heard I whisper. I opened my heavy eyes and slowly searched for the speaker. It was Silvius. 'Strange' I thought, 'He's too far away to whisper.' and I began to close my eyes again but his voice broke through the blackness again, "Do not go to sleep! Please, Elanor!" But even with his words I felt the sweet song of sleep calling my name. "Just a few moments more!" he said, "Don't give up now!"

My eyes closed and a few moments later I heard a faint horn being blown. A clear horn. Full of power and grace. Then I felt two arms lifting me off the ground and carrying me away. I didn't know where. I just felt the soft breeze against my cheek and the bight of the wind in my shoulder.