Hmmm, not much comentary for this one, it's late, I need sleep....oh except that after this part if the fun part, the part I know everyone's been waiting for! ^-~ if you haven't guessed by now you'll see soon. It might take some time to write cuz it has to be perfect! Of course knowing me it won't be, but cross your fingers anyway, and enjoy! Warning though, it gets kinda depressing in this chapter...^^()
~Sarah~
Chapter 18- First Time for Everything
"I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter"~ Linkin Park
Serryn frowned. 'Men? Why would anyone...' Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh gods, soldiers," she whispered moving over to Dilandau. She gasped stepping back when the door jolted as someone on the other side banged loudly against it.
"Open up. This is the Therran guard!" A voice on the other side of the wooden door commanded.
"Shit..." Dilandau muttered, stepping quickly away from the door. He glanced up noticing Narina standing by the door. Her expression was one he could read easily. "You say a word and your fucking dead," he promised her in a menacing tone.
"We have to get out of here!" Serryn hissed. She wanted to leave that moment. She already felt horrible over getting Narina and her daughter involved with the Zaibach, and now this. She flashed an apologetic glance at the older woman. "I'm so sorry Narina, this never should have happened.
The banging on the door grew louder by the seconds, and Narina looked a few moments form hysterics, but she nodded. "I don't blame you Serryn, whatever happens, just know that I never blamed you."
That was when the door broke down.
****
Dilandau could instantly tell he was out numbered. The group that swarmed in was little less then ten, and there were sure to be more waiting outside. Under normal circumstances it would take at least five to six soldiers at a time to match the young general. But here, it was like a box trap. Moving would be difficult and he was experienced enough to know he wouldn't last long.
He scowled. This left only one option. Dilandau REALLY hated taking hostages. The little girl would have done better, but the woman was closer. She gasped when he grabbed her by her hair suddenly, forcing her to her knees and pressing the blade of his sword against.
"Don't move," he growled slowly, watching the soldiers pause in their advances, "Or you'll be tripping over this bitch's head."
"MAMA!" the child who'd been hiding in the bedroom dashed forward, but was stopped by the princess.
"No!" Serryn cried wrapping her arms around the child, pulling her back.
Dilandau chose to ignore whatever the girl's comforting words to the child were, he focused back on the men in front of him. "You are all to move aside and let me pass, or she'll pay for your stupidity, do you understand?"
The men all glance at one soldier who most likely was their leader. The man shook his head slowly. "We do not except, our orders are to capture you and any other Zaibach at all costs. Do what you like, the woman means nothing."
Dilandau heard both the child and Serryn cry out in protest, but he smirked. These were his kind of soldiers. It looked like he would fight after all. "Well, then...I certainly can't pass up an offer like that..." he grinned pressing the blade deeper.
"NO!!!!" Serryn's voice was almost unrecognizable as she screamed, but what took Dilandau by surprise what when she tackled him to the ground. His sword flew from his hands, and he lost his grip on the woman's hair. Serryn was on top of him, her eyes clenched as she held him down.
He snarled, moving to shove her away, but the task was done for him as the princess was yanked off of him by a Therran guard. Two more instantly grabbed his arms pulling him to his feet.
Dilandau roared in fury, thrashing about as he tried to escape their grips. Then it was he who had the blade pressed to his throat.
"Well, well..." the leader of the group was smiling now that the general had been detained, "Dilandau Albatou. Who would have thought we'd find one of Zaibach's most valued warlord hiding in the farm lands. This must be my lucky day," he turned then to Narina, who still knelt on the floor being comforted be her daughter, "You do know that harboring enemy soldiers is considered traitorous, and is punishable by death?"
The woman, Narina's eyes widened, and a choking sound was all that escaped from her throat. Her trembling hand clutched her chest to steady her heart. Dilandau was disgusted by the woman's reaction, as well as the fact that these soldiers were foolish enough to think he was actually hiding from them. He was so enraged, he almost didn't hear the princess's words.
"You can't be serious!" she exclaimed, "Miss Narina wasn't hiding Dilandau. He showed up here moments before you did!"
The man looked a bit taken back, but scoffed, "Nonetheless, you can't prove that." Obviously his ego had inflated by now to the point where his logic was beyond reason. Most likely he was fixiating on the reward he was sure to recive from bringing Dilandau in. "Everyone move outside, NOW!" he commanded.
Dilandau's mind was working out a plan by the time the fall air was sweeping over him. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still shrouded by dark clouds that totally blocked out the light of the moons. The surrounding landscape was pitch black. Perfect...All he need now was a way to get the idiots who dared touch him to release their grips.
This came into place. He didn't know exactly when Serryn got a hold of her staff. It didn't matter to him though. Once the soldier on his left lost consciousness the tables turned. The next three soldiers didn't even see it coming. These ones were not so lucky though. When they fell the life had left their eyes. A sword wasn't the only thing Dilandau used to kill a man.
Serryn had knocked a few more men unconscious, and Dilandau was pleased to see there weren't nearly as many soldiers waiting outside as he had anticipated. His grin was demonic as he picked up a sword belonging to one of the fallen soldiers. "Time to die..." he chided in a singsong voice.
****
"Come on Miss Narina! Madine!" Serryn urged grasping the older woman's arm and hoisting the girl onto her hip, "We've got to get out of here!" She pulled them out of the house, nearly tripping over a body.
She felt her stomach heaving. 'No, just don't look. Don't LOOK...' she told herself.
"Serryn, where are we going?" Narina gasped, also trying not to lose her footing. Mud lined the dirt path, making it slippery to walk on, which only added to their hindered escape.
"I'm getting you out of this, you will NOT be arrested because of me," Serryn replied and handed Madine, who hadn't stopped crying for sometime now, over to her mother, "here, take her and get to the barn. Get your horse and leave this place. It's your only chance!"
"Serryn, isn't this a bit drastic? Couldn't we just explain to them what really happened?" Narina asked in alarm.
Serryn shook her head, "No I'm not going to take the chance. You most likely wont go free. Please Miss Narina, I know, I've seen it." She had seen it. She was all to familiar with situiations like this. To many times had unfair punishments been given to the people of her city by her mother's heartless advisors. They did it because they could, not because it was right. To make it a point that they were not to be crossed.
To her relief, Narina sighed and nodded giving up. She secured her grip on Madine and ran for the barn. Serryn turned back, not quite wanting to look. But she had too. Dilandau was paired up against four or five men now... 'Make that three or four men,' she thought grimacing.
A scream from behind her caused the princess to whirl around. A pair of shadowy figures were pursuing Narina and Madine now, and enclosing fast. Serryn swore, taking off after them. "Leave them ALONE!" she screamed as she grew closer.
The two soldiers paused, and turning they spotted Serryn. Deciding she was a more appropriate target then the fleeing mother and daughter they attacked. The first one was younger. A man in his early twenties, and not the most skilled person she'd fought. He got in a few good swings at her, before the princess clubbed him over the head. The mans eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.
The second man was better. He was older, and he was good. Serryn wasn't fairing to well within moments. She dove under his blow to her shoulder and returned with a swing of her staff. The man jumped away but returned with twice the determination. It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the half crazed look in the man's eyes. Like his purpose in life at the moment was to ensure her death.
'This is what war does to people,' she mused nervously dodging another thrust, 'it makes them insane. All they want is death. It becomes them.' She took a swing hitting home then, and the man cried out in pain clutching his left arm. Serryn allowed herself a moment breath then, but it was a fatal mistake.
The man roared in fury diving at her. His hands gripped her staff and catching her by surprise, he jerked the wooden weapon out of the princess's grasp. She gasped blinking as she realized her only defense had been taken from her.
The man grinned, madness evident in his eyes, "Got ya now girlie." He then rose the staff high above him and brought it down hard over his armored knee. The wood was strong, but it couldn't not surpass the strain and instantly snapped in two.
Serryn felt her heart beat stop the moment the staff broke. Her father's staff. Her one possession that held all the memories to the life that had so wrongfully been stolen from her. The cracking of the wood echoed through out her brain like a thousand tree branches breaking simultaneously.
She watched helplessly as the man laughed, throwing the two pieces to the ground. Then something inside her own mind snapped. She let out a shrill scream that was bearly human, diving at the man. She didn't care about his sword. She was to angry to care. Of course anger was a weak word. She screeched clawing at the man's face and neck, beating his chest with her fists.
The man growled, and threw her off of him. Serryn winced as she landed on her leg, feeling the muscles sprain as all her weight was applied to it in one quick movement.
"You bitch," the man snarled, wiping blood from the deep claw marks on his face, "You're gonna pay for that!!" His sword rose above his head.
Serryn glared up at him, an expression of pure hatred frozen upon her face. She grasped her ankle trying to stop the pain that shot up her leg, not that there was much of a point. Her eyebrows furrowed suddenly as she felt something under the smooth leather of her boot. Then her eyes widened slightly, and her fingers trembled as she felt over the cold sharp steel. But one glance up at the man about to swing his sword down on her drove the rage to a total take over.
Her hand ripped the dagger from the hidden sheath and flung it at the man. It landed with a sickening squelch deep into the man's chest. She watched numbly as his eyes went wide and his mouth gaped open taking deep heaving breaths. He choked then, blood spilling from his mouth and nose and finally the soldiers sword clattered to the ground and he fell. Serryn Conil killed for the first time in her short life.
The rain started to fall again then. Not another violent storm, just a soft shower that had rivers running down the mud path in moments. The tiny streams were soon stained red. Serryn stood, still gasping for breath. With the rain, feeling had returned to the princess. She leaned over the man. His eyes were open wide, staring into oblivion. Her hand shook as she grasped the hilt of the dagger, and pulled.
It didn't coming easy, causing her to stumble back as she freed it from the man's chest. A steam a blood followed it, splattering the front of Serryn's pale white dress. It ran down the blade and handle, dripping onto her hand and down her arm. The scarlet color contrasted with her almost translucent skin.
Emotion was like a tidal wave as it washed over her, drowning her in despair. She had sunken to her knees, sobbing long before she'd flung the dagger away from her. The rain washed over her body, mixing with the blood, and soaking her hair turning the pale wheat color to that of polished brass. Her hands wandered over the blades of grass until they came to the broke wood pieces.
She clutched the shattered staff to her chest like a mother would her infant. Her sobs continuing shakily because of her shivering, causing her shoulder blades to rock forward and back in jerky movements.
She wasn't aware when the metallic substance of the Alseides crimaclaws wrapped around her, blocking her from the rain and the cold that seeped through her drenched clothing and through her skin.
~Sarah~
Chapter 18- First Time for Everything
"I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter"~ Linkin Park
Serryn frowned. 'Men? Why would anyone...' Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh gods, soldiers," she whispered moving over to Dilandau. She gasped stepping back when the door jolted as someone on the other side banged loudly against it.
"Open up. This is the Therran guard!" A voice on the other side of the wooden door commanded.
"Shit..." Dilandau muttered, stepping quickly away from the door. He glanced up noticing Narina standing by the door. Her expression was one he could read easily. "You say a word and your fucking dead," he promised her in a menacing tone.
"We have to get out of here!" Serryn hissed. She wanted to leave that moment. She already felt horrible over getting Narina and her daughter involved with the Zaibach, and now this. She flashed an apologetic glance at the older woman. "I'm so sorry Narina, this never should have happened.
The banging on the door grew louder by the seconds, and Narina looked a few moments form hysterics, but she nodded. "I don't blame you Serryn, whatever happens, just know that I never blamed you."
That was when the door broke down.
****
Dilandau could instantly tell he was out numbered. The group that swarmed in was little less then ten, and there were sure to be more waiting outside. Under normal circumstances it would take at least five to six soldiers at a time to match the young general. But here, it was like a box trap. Moving would be difficult and he was experienced enough to know he wouldn't last long.
He scowled. This left only one option. Dilandau REALLY hated taking hostages. The little girl would have done better, but the woman was closer. She gasped when he grabbed her by her hair suddenly, forcing her to her knees and pressing the blade of his sword against.
"Don't move," he growled slowly, watching the soldiers pause in their advances, "Or you'll be tripping over this bitch's head."
"MAMA!" the child who'd been hiding in the bedroom dashed forward, but was stopped by the princess.
"No!" Serryn cried wrapping her arms around the child, pulling her back.
Dilandau chose to ignore whatever the girl's comforting words to the child were, he focused back on the men in front of him. "You are all to move aside and let me pass, or she'll pay for your stupidity, do you understand?"
The men all glance at one soldier who most likely was their leader. The man shook his head slowly. "We do not except, our orders are to capture you and any other Zaibach at all costs. Do what you like, the woman means nothing."
Dilandau heard both the child and Serryn cry out in protest, but he smirked. These were his kind of soldiers. It looked like he would fight after all. "Well, then...I certainly can't pass up an offer like that..." he grinned pressing the blade deeper.
"NO!!!!" Serryn's voice was almost unrecognizable as she screamed, but what took Dilandau by surprise what when she tackled him to the ground. His sword flew from his hands, and he lost his grip on the woman's hair. Serryn was on top of him, her eyes clenched as she held him down.
He snarled, moving to shove her away, but the task was done for him as the princess was yanked off of him by a Therran guard. Two more instantly grabbed his arms pulling him to his feet.
Dilandau roared in fury, thrashing about as he tried to escape their grips. Then it was he who had the blade pressed to his throat.
"Well, well..." the leader of the group was smiling now that the general had been detained, "Dilandau Albatou. Who would have thought we'd find one of Zaibach's most valued warlord hiding in the farm lands. This must be my lucky day," he turned then to Narina, who still knelt on the floor being comforted be her daughter, "You do know that harboring enemy soldiers is considered traitorous, and is punishable by death?"
The woman, Narina's eyes widened, and a choking sound was all that escaped from her throat. Her trembling hand clutched her chest to steady her heart. Dilandau was disgusted by the woman's reaction, as well as the fact that these soldiers were foolish enough to think he was actually hiding from them. He was so enraged, he almost didn't hear the princess's words.
"You can't be serious!" she exclaimed, "Miss Narina wasn't hiding Dilandau. He showed up here moments before you did!"
The man looked a bit taken back, but scoffed, "Nonetheless, you can't prove that." Obviously his ego had inflated by now to the point where his logic was beyond reason. Most likely he was fixiating on the reward he was sure to recive from bringing Dilandau in. "Everyone move outside, NOW!" he commanded.
Dilandau's mind was working out a plan by the time the fall air was sweeping over him. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still shrouded by dark clouds that totally blocked out the light of the moons. The surrounding landscape was pitch black. Perfect...All he need now was a way to get the idiots who dared touch him to release their grips.
This came into place. He didn't know exactly when Serryn got a hold of her staff. It didn't matter to him though. Once the soldier on his left lost consciousness the tables turned. The next three soldiers didn't even see it coming. These ones were not so lucky though. When they fell the life had left their eyes. A sword wasn't the only thing Dilandau used to kill a man.
Serryn had knocked a few more men unconscious, and Dilandau was pleased to see there weren't nearly as many soldiers waiting outside as he had anticipated. His grin was demonic as he picked up a sword belonging to one of the fallen soldiers. "Time to die..." he chided in a singsong voice.
****
"Come on Miss Narina! Madine!" Serryn urged grasping the older woman's arm and hoisting the girl onto her hip, "We've got to get out of here!" She pulled them out of the house, nearly tripping over a body.
She felt her stomach heaving. 'No, just don't look. Don't LOOK...' she told herself.
"Serryn, where are we going?" Narina gasped, also trying not to lose her footing. Mud lined the dirt path, making it slippery to walk on, which only added to their hindered escape.
"I'm getting you out of this, you will NOT be arrested because of me," Serryn replied and handed Madine, who hadn't stopped crying for sometime now, over to her mother, "here, take her and get to the barn. Get your horse and leave this place. It's your only chance!"
"Serryn, isn't this a bit drastic? Couldn't we just explain to them what really happened?" Narina asked in alarm.
Serryn shook her head, "No I'm not going to take the chance. You most likely wont go free. Please Miss Narina, I know, I've seen it." She had seen it. She was all to familiar with situiations like this. To many times had unfair punishments been given to the people of her city by her mother's heartless advisors. They did it because they could, not because it was right. To make it a point that they were not to be crossed.
To her relief, Narina sighed and nodded giving up. She secured her grip on Madine and ran for the barn. Serryn turned back, not quite wanting to look. But she had too. Dilandau was paired up against four or five men now... 'Make that three or four men,' she thought grimacing.
A scream from behind her caused the princess to whirl around. A pair of shadowy figures were pursuing Narina and Madine now, and enclosing fast. Serryn swore, taking off after them. "Leave them ALONE!" she screamed as she grew closer.
The two soldiers paused, and turning they spotted Serryn. Deciding she was a more appropriate target then the fleeing mother and daughter they attacked. The first one was younger. A man in his early twenties, and not the most skilled person she'd fought. He got in a few good swings at her, before the princess clubbed him over the head. The mans eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.
The second man was better. He was older, and he was good. Serryn wasn't fairing to well within moments. She dove under his blow to her shoulder and returned with a swing of her staff. The man jumped away but returned with twice the determination. It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the half crazed look in the man's eyes. Like his purpose in life at the moment was to ensure her death.
'This is what war does to people,' she mused nervously dodging another thrust, 'it makes them insane. All they want is death. It becomes them.' She took a swing hitting home then, and the man cried out in pain clutching his left arm. Serryn allowed herself a moment breath then, but it was a fatal mistake.
The man roared in fury diving at her. His hands gripped her staff and catching her by surprise, he jerked the wooden weapon out of the princess's grasp. She gasped blinking as she realized her only defense had been taken from her.
The man grinned, madness evident in his eyes, "Got ya now girlie." He then rose the staff high above him and brought it down hard over his armored knee. The wood was strong, but it couldn't not surpass the strain and instantly snapped in two.
Serryn felt her heart beat stop the moment the staff broke. Her father's staff. Her one possession that held all the memories to the life that had so wrongfully been stolen from her. The cracking of the wood echoed through out her brain like a thousand tree branches breaking simultaneously.
She watched helplessly as the man laughed, throwing the two pieces to the ground. Then something inside her own mind snapped. She let out a shrill scream that was bearly human, diving at the man. She didn't care about his sword. She was to angry to care. Of course anger was a weak word. She screeched clawing at the man's face and neck, beating his chest with her fists.
The man growled, and threw her off of him. Serryn winced as she landed on her leg, feeling the muscles sprain as all her weight was applied to it in one quick movement.
"You bitch," the man snarled, wiping blood from the deep claw marks on his face, "You're gonna pay for that!!" His sword rose above his head.
Serryn glared up at him, an expression of pure hatred frozen upon her face. She grasped her ankle trying to stop the pain that shot up her leg, not that there was much of a point. Her eyebrows furrowed suddenly as she felt something under the smooth leather of her boot. Then her eyes widened slightly, and her fingers trembled as she felt over the cold sharp steel. But one glance up at the man about to swing his sword down on her drove the rage to a total take over.
Her hand ripped the dagger from the hidden sheath and flung it at the man. It landed with a sickening squelch deep into the man's chest. She watched numbly as his eyes went wide and his mouth gaped open taking deep heaving breaths. He choked then, blood spilling from his mouth and nose and finally the soldiers sword clattered to the ground and he fell. Serryn Conil killed for the first time in her short life.
The rain started to fall again then. Not another violent storm, just a soft shower that had rivers running down the mud path in moments. The tiny streams were soon stained red. Serryn stood, still gasping for breath. With the rain, feeling had returned to the princess. She leaned over the man. His eyes were open wide, staring into oblivion. Her hand shook as she grasped the hilt of the dagger, and pulled.
It didn't coming easy, causing her to stumble back as she freed it from the man's chest. A steam a blood followed it, splattering the front of Serryn's pale white dress. It ran down the blade and handle, dripping onto her hand and down her arm. The scarlet color contrasted with her almost translucent skin.
Emotion was like a tidal wave as it washed over her, drowning her in despair. She had sunken to her knees, sobbing long before she'd flung the dagger away from her. The rain washed over her body, mixing with the blood, and soaking her hair turning the pale wheat color to that of polished brass. Her hands wandered over the blades of grass until they came to the broke wood pieces.
She clutched the shattered staff to her chest like a mother would her infant. Her sobs continuing shakily because of her shivering, causing her shoulder blades to rock forward and back in jerky movements.
She wasn't aware when the metallic substance of the Alseides crimaclaws wrapped around her, blocking her from the rain and the cold that seeped through her drenched clothing and through her skin.
