Dian the Just

Disclaimer: I don't own Majesty or some of the hero's names.

Author's Note: Robin Hood's Girl, I finally added one of the characters you requested in this chapter.

Dian's eyes opened. She was alive! She looked around. She stared. Goblin hordes were everywhere the eye could see. The Goblin carcass burdening her was off to the side. Arrows were puncturing its side, and apparently had pushed the carcass off. Dian stood up. Her sword lay in the dirt, a couple of feet away. She stepped on the hilt, pushing it up. She caught it in midair.

Her forearm had a dull ache to it. It was a throbbing sensation that wouldn't quit. Dian gritted her teeth. She took the sword in both hands.

A volley of blue-feathered shafts rained from the sky. Goblins fell, shafts protruding from their unguarded necks. The Elves had taken up arms. Dian rushed forward, a red glow surrounding her. She reminded herself that the Goblins were smarter, which had to have been how they had taken Tearra when she was hunting for Willem. Her sword bit into the flesh of the first Goblin. It let out a grunt and collapsed. Dian pulled her sword free and faced the next Goblin.

Evil green faces came up before her and fell away with each slash. Dian slowly fought her way forward. The Elves must have seen her, for an occasional volley of arrows would fall amongst her foes. Dian swung her blade, cutting through the Goblins. In a way, it was worse than the Golems, because Dian couldn't see all her enemies. The Goblins seemed to keep on coming. Dian's arm began to ache, as she lifted her other arm. She brought it down. Her sword sheared through the first Goblin. Dian fell to one knee. Then the flat of a broadsword knocked a Goblin to the left. Tearra stood where the Goblin had a minute ago.

Tearra held out a hand. Dian took it, feeling Tearra's strong grip pulling her up. Arrows landed around, driving back the Goblins. The next thing Dian knew, she was running towards the Bungalows and Guilds. She shot past them and was set down. She took a deep breath.

"Good thing Sylves saw you," Tearra said.

"Well, it wasn't 'zactly me you know. One of my better scouts, Derwin Wildsmaster. Saw her, and came up with the idea of shootin' the corpse off her," Sylves said.

"Well then where is this Master Derwin, I must thank him, Master Sylves," Dian said. After, all he had saved her life.

"He's up on that Bungalow over there," Sylves gestured.

Dian sheathed her broadsword and walked over. Cupping her hands over her mouth, she called out, "Which one of you is Master Derwin Wildsmaster."

A ranger turned to her. Some of the southern Rangers would wear flashy reds and greens that weren't that great for camouflage. Northern Rangers replaced the reds with browns, and darkened the bright greens. Derwin was a northern Ranger. Derwin wore no hood, letting some blonde hair wave in the wind. His bow was a long yew, with dangerous barbed shafts. He nocked and drew, then fired. Turning down he said, "Well 'ello. I'm Derwin Wildsmaster. You must be the Paladin I saved from them Goblins o'er there." He gestured.

Dian looked over. "Umm… yeah. I just wanted to thank you." She put her fist to the Fist of Dauros emblazoned on her armor. She knelt down. "You have my thanks." She rose up. "Why did you do it?"

"Why should I have a reason to save a pretty lady like yerself," Derwin said.

Dian blushed. "Well, that was a big waste of arrows. If worst came to worst, I could always be resurrected. The sovereign is rich."

"The sov'rin's also missin'," Derwin said. "Just 'n hour or two ago, some fatty royal advisor came up yellin' 'The sov'rin's missin'!' and the like. We finally sent him off, 'fore he caused any more trouble."

Dian deciphered what he said for a minute then said, "Technically, doesn't that make us free to be hired to other kingdoms?"

Derwin grinned. "Maybe. I'll have to ask Sylves. He knows everthin', you know."

"But shouldn't loyalty be our number one priority?" Dian asked.

"Maybe fer you, but fer me it's wherever the money and adventure takes me, if you know what I mean," Derwin said.

"So you would just leave?" Dian asked.

"Yep," Derwin said.

Dian shook her head. She had always thought that everyone valued Dauros' Seven Virtues as much as she did. The Virtues were Loyalty, Piety, Mercy, Patience, Truth, Justice, and Order. She realized that not everybody was as pure. She hoped that Dauros would forgive them all.

"Dian." Tearra's crisp voice cut through the air.

Dian whipped around involuntarily. Tearra's voice seemed to do that to people.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Tearra questioned.

"Do what?" Dian was now confused.

"Change your aura red like that," Tearra snapped, making it sound obvious.

"My-my aura? I don't know. Just after Tymara died, I summoned my Energies of Light, and got this instead. After that, I fought with a Black Phantom. And well, the aura is red now instead of blue." Dian looked up at Tearra.

Tearra began to laugh. "My my Dian. To think, you, summoning the Soul of Order! You!" She laughed so hard she wheezed.

"Soul of Order?" Dian asked.

"Only the most pure Paladins get it. The ones that have received the blessing say that it isn't caused by Dauros, but more by inner feelings. But everyone knows Dauros grants all gifts."

Dian just stared. She had become a legend in only three days! She could something most other Paladins couldn't do, and this was only the third day in her career. She felt a little more confident as she unsheathed her sword. "Then let's show these Goblins what a legend can do." She grinned.

"Now Dian…" Tearra trailed off.

Dian charged forward, her feet slapping the ground as she charged toward the Goblins. Finally, her red aura shot up from the ground and encircled her. Her sword glowed with a crimson sheen that was reflected off her armor. Her vision now had a film of red to it. Dian could hear Tearra behind her. Around her, she could see everybody charging.

Dian knew what she was about to do, and grinned. She brandished her sword, yelling, "Charge!"

And everyone followed.