The Newcomer
Chapter 6
Phoebe was in a state of panic. No one was there. But she felt as if she was being hunted. She didn't know by what, but she occasionally heard a snap of a twig behind her. She never saw her foe. She just ran.
Falin, meanwhile, had his bow strung and taut, aimed at Carthite's back. He fired the arrow and Carthite span, grabbing the arrow and throwing a blue ball of energy at Falin. Falin rolled out of the way as the ball of energy cut through the undergrowth.
'Ah, Falin. I have eyes in the back of my head. I can see everything.'
'What is the point of me fighting you Carthite? I can't vanquish you.'
Carthite shrugged. 'So?'
'You want to fight me right?' Carthite nodded slowly. 'If I defeat you, you must promise to not come back. Ever.'
'Fine, I promise. Let's fight.'
Falin drew his sword and leapt from the undergrowth to engage Carthite, who'd transformed into a massive dragon. A fireball came from the dragon's mouth at Falin. He erected a heat shield and the fireball was absorbed by it. Falin began to climb the dragon's flank, trying to avoid the thick tail that lashed about, trying to dislodge him. Falin reached the long hump on the dragon's back, which was its spine. He slowly slid his way up the scaly back.
The dragon reached behind itself and plucked Falin off it, and flung him to the ground.
Falin felt the air rush from his chest as he hit the ground. He turned himself on his back and began to breathe deeply. A scaled limb rose above him, and fell towards him. He raised the blade of his sword and impaled the foot on it. The dragon roared in pain, and lifted its foot away from Falin, who rolled away onto his feet.
The dragon shrank into a fairly muscular armoured foe. A huge sword was in its right hand. It was at least 12 feet tall, and was very muscular.
Falin dodged a slash from the massive blade. A flame exploded from Falin's right hand and it smashed into Carthite. His foot went back to steady himself, and Falin was upon him.
Carthite was tremendously strong, but couldn't catch Falin in this form.
So he changed into his normal form.
Which was also his most powerful.
Falin ran to engage him, and Carthite defended. Carthite used a sword forged seemingly out of his own body.
Falin sustained the first injury. Pain flared across his boy as the blue blade cleaved into his arm. Carthite reversed the cut. He span and Falin blocked the cut with his sword in his left hand.
Falin fell back and rolled to a kneeling position. White flames burst from his hand and smashed into Carthite. The explosion threw Falin back. Carthite absorbed the spell. He began to laugh.
'Is that all you've got?'
Falin couldn't answer. It was the most powerful spell he had. And he'd put all he had into it.
He couldn't possibly defeat him in hand to hand combat. Carthite was so fast, and Falin's right arm was badly injured, both from the cut and the explosion crushing it against an oak.
'What's the matter, little boy? Did you hurt yourself?' Carthite said mockingly. 'Well I'll stop the hurt. I'll stop the pain. I'll stop it forever…'
Phoebe suddenly ran out into the clearing. She saw Carthite and screamed.
'Phoebe…' Falin groaned as Carthite shot a ball of energy at her. It slammed into her, throwing her against a tree.
Falin felt the bolt as well. The pain was tremendous. His rage began to build.
A lizard walked out from where Phoebe had just ten seconds ago.
'You blunderer! I did it myself!' The lizard exploded.
'Now, Falin. I have something to tell you, before I forget '-Carthite's mouth turned into a cruel smile-' riders didn't kill your parents. I did.'
Falin shook his head, trying to deny the thought that he was a murderer. He had a gut feeling that Carthite wasn't lying.
He saw Phoebe lying there. Then he saw his sisters playing. They were so happy…
He slowly rose, ignoring the pain in his arm.
'I…will…kill…you. I will!!'
With a scream of bloodlust, Falin attacked. He held his sword in his injured arm, and he slashed at Cathite, the scream of death flying from his throat, like a bat out of hell.
Carthite struggled to defend, his blue blade randomly lancing out to deflect the wild furious cuts.
Falin span on his heel and cut through the brittle bone that was Carthite's shoulder.
Carthite fell to the ground. He wasn't dead, but his breathing was shallow.
'So…Falin…you have beaten me…'
'Carthite, was…what you said…really true? Am I a murderer?'
Carthite chuckled. 'You elves are so strange…'
'Am I?'
'No. I said it to make you angry. It's a useful weapon, but I guess you used the rage against me.'
'I guess so…'
Carthite held out a hand. 'I'm glad to have been beaten by you.'
Falin shook it. And Carthite turned to dust.
Falin remembered Phoebe. His arm was bleeding freely. So was her belly.
'Falin…she will die without help soon,' Morlfan said.
'Hell, I know that!'
Then Falin remembered the spell. It was simple. It removes a part of the caster's strength and gives it to a target.
But if Falin were to fully heal Phoebe, he would die himself.
He slowly walked over to Phoebe.
She knew she was dying. Then she saw the man move into view. He was holding his right arm in his left. He was bathed in light, and she couldn't see his face. But she knew who he was…
'Falin…'
'Goodbye, Phoebe,' Falin said as he kissed her on her forehead.
He placed his hand where he'd kissed her. He concentrated. He felt himself slip from consciousness.
And Phoebe felt herself grow stronger. She sat up. She looked around, and saw Falin lying there, his face pale.
'Oh Falin…why? Why did you do it?' Phoebe cried and cradled Falin in her arms.
'Because I love you.' Phoebe looked up and saw a ghost. His hair was grey, and his ears were upswept. He smiled sadly, and turned away. He walked and disappeared.
'I love you too, Falin. It took me a while, but now I know.'
Prue and Piper walked into the clearing together and saw their sister cradling the lifeless body.
In a flash, they were back in the Halliwell manor. Falin was gone.
And Phoebe wept for the man who saved her life.