Chapter Six:
Sam paced at the top of the cliff. He hated waiting while Benny and Crowley handled Dean, who had proven to be difficult and potentially dangerous. Sam needed this to go as planned so that his portion of the demon deal would be complete.
The Man in Black was making progress pulling himself up the cliff, but it was certainly slow-going. Sam pulled out his sword and slashed the air, his footwork precise and steady.
He sighed.
"Hey, um, any chance you could hurry up?" called Sam down the cliff.
The scowl was audible in the response. "Well, if you're in such a hurry, you could throw me a rope or branch or something."
Sam eyed the leftover rope that was resting near the edge of the cliff. "I could do that," he said. "But will you take it? I'm actually only waiting around to kill you."
"That does put a damper on our relationship."
"What if I promise not to kill you until you reach the top?"
"Promises can be broken. You'll just have to wait."
"I'll give you my word, then."
"I'm sorry, but the word of someone I don't know means surprisingly little."
Sam exhaled slowly. "I swear on the soul of my mother, you will reach the top alive."
The Man in Black could hear the pain and sincerity in every word, the heaviness with which the giant spoke. "Throw me the rope," he finally replied.
Sam grinned. He made sure the rope was secure on his end, and then threw the other side down. The Man in Black grabbed it and began to climb. When he neared the top, Sam reached out and pulled him steady onto solid ground.
"Thank you," The Man said. He reached for his sword, but Sam stopped him.
"It's alright, take a moment to catch your breath."
"Again, thank you." The Man took the opportunity to lean against a nearby rock for support. He reached into the bag upon his back and pulled out a waterskin, then took a long drink from it.
Sam gazed at The Man with intense interest. Their eyes met. "You have blue eyes," he said.
The Man blinked, not entirely sure where this was going. "Um, I'm sorry, but if this is a flirtation, I consider myself spoken for."
Sam shook his head. He pulled his sword out and held it out for The Man to admire. "My mother made this sword at the request of a nobleman with yellow eyes. It took her over a year to complete it. It was her finest work."
The Man looked at it. It was a thing of beauty - precisely crafted, with a stunning handle and shining blade. "I've never seen its equal," said The Man honestly.
Sam nodded. "When it was completed, the yellow-eyed man returned and demanded the sword, but at one-tenth his promised price. My mother refused. Without any word or warning, he put his sword through her heart."
The Man in Black heaved a sigh. "My deepest condolences."
"I loved her very much," Sam confessed. "I was only ten, but I challenged the yellow-eyed man to a duel. I lost. He left me alive, but just barely. My Uncle Bobby found me later that night, broken body curled around the sword and lying next to my dead mother. He took me in after that, taught me all he knew about sword fighting, hunting, and lore."
"And now?" asked The Man in Black.
"And now, I am strong enough. I will never stop searching for the yellow-eyed man, and when I find him, this time I will not lose. I will say: Hello. My name is Samuel, son of Mary. You killed my mother. Prepare to die."
"I sincerely hope you find him someday," said The Man. He stood up straighter. He put the waterskin away and this time, when he reached for his sword, Sam didn't stop him.
"You're ready?"
"Even if I'm not, you've been more than fair."
Sam straightened up as well and raised his sword. "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."
"You seem a decent fellow. I'd hate to die."
And then they began the most epic swordfight those cliffs would ever see.
Sam made excellent use of the rocky terrain, moving with more grace than most would think possible for a man his size. He was fast on his feet, but his sword was even faster. Still, The Man in Black was managing to parry every attack. Every time Sam thought he'd gotten the upper-hand, he was proven wrong by a countering flash of steel.
"You're amazing," said Sam.
"Not so bad yourself," replied The Man, sword glinting in the sunlight.
The clang of metal on metal was added to the far away sound of the sea's waves lapping against the shore.
Sam used his long reach to extend from afar, prodding and slashing through the air. Soon he had forced The Man in Black to the edge of the cliffside and every step now became twice as dangerous. The rocks were loose beneath their shoes, and more than once they slipped dangerously close to disaster.
After a particularly close call for The Man in Black, he decided to go on the attack rather than continuing to defend himself. He arched his arm up and came down smoothly, flicking his wrist upward at the last second to catch Sam in his right bicep. Sam grimaced slightly – the sword had sliced through his shirt and grazed his skin in a shallow cut. But the giant smiled. "I have to admit, you're better than me."
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because I know something you don't."
"What's that?"
"I am not left-handed." Sam tossed the sword from his left to his right hand and caught it easily before renewing the fight, now with more energy than ever. There was power behind every swipe and every thrust. The Man in Black was breathing heavily as he attempted to protect himself, and at the first opening he saw, he retreated far back from Sam and away from the edge of the cliff.
"Giving up?" asked Sam. He couldn't help but feel just a bit elated at a victory over such a fine competitor. It had been a long time since he'd been challenged even half as much.
"No," The Man in Black replied, "but I do have something to tell you."
Sam smirked. "Oh yeah?"
"Yes," he said solemnly. "I am not left-handed, either." And with that, he too tossed his sword swiftly from one hand to the other and approached the giant again.
They were at each other at once, every move precise, any mistake now certainly fatal. The Man in Black was unlike anyone Sam had ever fought. Another few steps forward, a few steps back, more clanks of steel colliding. Sam was definitely breaking a sweat just in his attempts to fend off his opponent.
"Who are you?" Sam grunted.
"No one of consequence," came the reply.
"I must know."
"Get used to disappointment."
The Man in Black found another opening, a parry, a flick of the wrist, and he managed to nick Sam's other arm. The giant groaned, but before he could do anything more than that, The Man was at him again. Sam was getting tired and slower and he felt his hope leave him. And all at once his sword was knocked out of his grip, and then The Man in Black had his own pointed directly over Sam's heart.
"On your knees," said The Man calmly.
Sam did so, hating himself. He had failed his mother. This was it.
"Hurry up and do it," growled Sam. He closed his eyes and braced himself for both the pain and the eventual sweet relief.
"Today is not your day to die, friend. But since I can't have you follow me, either…just know that I hold you in the highest regard."
Just as Sam opened his eyes and was about to ask The Man what he meant, he felt the hilt of the man's sword crash into the back of his skull. Sam collapsed onto the ground, vision replaced by the dark embrace of unconsciousness.
With just a brief tilt of his head and respectful nod at the fallen, The Man in Black turned away and hurried onward.
A/N: I'm not going to lie, fight scenes are definitely difficult for me... Anyways, reviews always appreciated!