The Heroic Legend of
Arslan
The Worth of One's Crown
Part Four
How to Mend Soul
Kishara ran out into the garden. The icy winds of approaching winter bit through her. She stumbled, but caught herself. She was so afraid for her life, and everyone she had put in danger by coming here. She stood in the moon shadow of the statue of Ashii.
"Great Goddess." She whispered. "I do not follow you, you who know all, but please tell me why I must be tortured in this way. Why has he followed me here..."
"KISHARA!" Arslan's voice rang out. She turned and stared him down.
"Why did you follow me?" She demanded.
"I need to know what you know, please. Tell me!" Arslan begged her. She was to emotional now to do anything rational.
"Oh dear king didn't I tell you...I'm working for Silvermask in an attempt on your life. " Kishara drew her sword. Arslan's eyes went wide. Then she rested the sword acÓross her neck. "Or maybe not."
"Kishara! No, I won't believe it! Don't!" Arslan drew his blade at his side for safety.
"You really can't take a joke can you, Arslan." She pointed the sword at his head from across the garden.
"What?!" Arslan shook his head. "Tell me the truth! Stop playing games with me and my court. Why did you come to me?"
Kishara laughed a little and lowered the sword. Arslan repeated the action and stared at her. "Why should I tell you why I came if you already know!"
"What do you mean 'I already know'?" Arslan squinted. Kishara's face was pure anger.
"You were using my exact words. Don't play me for a fool, it's not healthy!" Arslan realized that his kind sentiments before had only revealed his accidental hearing of Kishara's love of him.
"So maybe I know everything about you. That should only prove to make our relationship stronger." Arslan confessed. "I know how much you love me and I only wanted to prove myself to be everything you wan..."
"Yofiu think you know me, HA! All you think is that my life is built around you and and that is far from the truth. I think finding out my secret only proved to boost your ego!"
Arslan laughed, "Maybe, but I need to know this information now, because I have a room full of beautiful womyn waiting for me."
Kishara let out a screech and lunged at Arslan full force with her sword. He threw his up in time to catch it and push back. She was strong though; stronger than he had anticipated. She maneuvered her weapon, like she done thousands of times before, and lifted his out of his hands and across the garden in less than a minute.
They both breathed heavily as Kishara held the blade between their faces. She rammed it down into the dirt between his legs, and put her face closer to his frozen one. His sword clanged on the stone path aways off.
"I'm sorry," She whispered, "Was that yours?" She tried to control her anger and her breathing, but she was wound too tightly.
ArslanÍ pushed up and kissed her on the lips and brought his hands to the back of her neck. He knew that was a stupid thing to say, but he needed to know why Silvermask wanted her...To save her. Kishara went into shock. Arslan's kiss was so perfect. It was more than she had ever dreamed about. Her eyes were open wide then closed to shed a few stressful tears.
She began to cry harder as Arslan released her. She couldn't speak and she couldn't look at him. She was so weak. He looked into her. He took her into his arms. He tried to calm. She ripped from him and they stood apart. he handed her the sword from the ground. She took it and sheathed it. She shivered once and ran.
She ran for her room. Arslan watched her go painfully. How could he have let this happen. He was sure he loved her now. Even though he wasn't quite sure what love was. He shed a tear, his heart ached. Was this heart break? He didn't know. He ran back inside past the ballroom. He was still fourteenı inside.
"Rezzana," Daryun tried to start a conversation again. The room had returned to normal, but all the conversations were about the letter and the dead soldier on the floor. "I think our Rulers had been gone too long."
"I think your right." Rezzana had a feeling. She looked out the main ball room doors to see Arslan run by. "Arslan?" She questioned. Daryun looked out, and saw his King in a panic. They nodded and both followed him.
Arslan turned and headed into his room. He barely got to his bed before he fell. He cried into his sheets as Daryun entered.
"Your highness." Daryun announced his presence.
"Daryun!" Arslan cried. "I've lost her!"
"Who?" Rezzana asked stepping in with out introduction. Daryun kneeled behind his king
"Queen Kishara...I said something, I tried to help her...I care for her a great deal."
"Love her, you mean?" Rezzana smirked. "She loves you, Arslan. I wasn't suppose to tell you but..."
"I know. I heard her when she told Alfurido. I was comÊing back from talking to Daryun, and I heard her. I don't know what I can save her from! She won't tell me." Arslan said through his arms on the bed. Rezzana's eyes shot open. Daryun placed a hand on his shoulder. Arslan looked up at him. Daryun hated seeing Arslan hurt.
"Is there anything you want me to tell her?" Rezzana bent down next to the King.
"I don't know her. I want to know, but she won't let me near." Arslan was calm now. Rezzana could feel Daryun's relief.
"I'll tell her." Rezzana understood, and bowed out.
"I really don't know what that was about, but I'm sure I'll hear about it in detail later." Narsas said to the Princess before him. Alfrido looked up.
"I'm sure you will, Lord Narsas." She said trying to change her voice a little. She had never liked her voice the way it was.
"Oh so the beauty speaks." Narsas smiled. He tried to shake the feeling that he had heard that voice somewhere before. "Do have a name or should I continue to call you BeauÁtiful."
"Maybe I shouldn't tell you my name, because I like what your calling me now very much." She smiled. She felt a bead in her hair slip out of place. "Shit." she thought.
"So what country do you come from?" Narsas said wanting her to keep talking.
"Well," She hesitated. "My people traveled, a lot. We were a nomadic people, until that ended."
"Ended? How do you mean?" Narsas cocked an eyebrow.
"Well, we were attacked, by...An evil man and his followers. We had no hope of escape. I fought back but all my people were killed. I turned to see a great figure off in the distance. He swung in saved me from ultimate doom. I fell instantly in love. Yet, since my father had died, I sought vengeance. I turned and asked in complete coded honor that the man who helped me would let me deal with the foe. But the arrogant Bastard wouldn't give his sword!" Alfurido stood up shaking her fist in the air. She looked down at Lord Narsas who eyes were oh so wide and confused.
SheÀ blushed and quickly took her seat.
He sat there for a second. Then his realization hit him. "WAIT A MINUTE!" He stood up and reached over the table. He looked hard at the girl in front of him. He gently pulled the beads from her hair, as the red strands fell around her face.
"ALFRIDO?!" He said in shock. She sat there, not knowing how to react. "Here I am thinking I'm sitting with a beautiful princess, and I find that you've tricking me the whole time!"
"I never said who I was. It's all your fault." Alfurido stuck her tongue out at him. He rolled his eyes.
"You haven't changed, Giv was right. You haven't changed anything but your clothes and your hair." Narsas sat down and looked at the pearls in his hand.
"What would Giv know?" She said snidely and folded her arms.
"WOULD SOMEONE MOVE THAT POOR DEAD MAN! HE'S BEEN THERE FOR AN HOUR...IT'S JUST WRONG!" Giv yelled from across the room. Pharangese laughed. Two soldiers came and took› it away.
"Well, he knows when to move a dead body." Narsas said monotone. Alfrido giggled. He looked back at her.
"I'm sorry about what Elam said. I should have stopped him."
"No, it's okay. The truth had to come out some time."
"Truth?" Narsas questioned. He paused then laughed once. "You know for a minute there I was very interested." He laughed again as he rocked back in his seat. "It's a good thing that I found out it was you before I lost my heart completely."
Alfurido sat there. She was stunned silent. How could he not have heard what he just said?
"Here I am thinking about settling down with a little bandit girl that I've known for a long time. That would've been disastrous, don't you think?" He looked over at her as she slowly stood. Her eyes welled up, and she slammed her fist on the table.
"I am not a little girl any longer in case you have failed to notice!" She grabbed her hand in pain, as he stood too.
"What are you doing?!" He said eying al"l the people who were watching them.
"Leaving you to find a princess that suits you better than the one you made me out to be tonight." She cried and ran from the room. Narsas watched her go in a flood of tears. He remained standing for a second before considering what she could do in that state. He was filled with horror and ran after her.
"Well, three down one to go." Giv commented.
"Why do you say that?" Pharangese asked.
"What do I have to say to you to get you to leave this room, Pharangese."
"Not much why?"
"Well, then all the beautiful womyn would've left and I would have good to leave." Giv smiled. Pharangese just gave him her 'look'.
Out side on the wall walk way that connected the West wing of the castle to the east wing. Alfurido stood of the edge of that wall. Her red hair was messed up again and blowing in the harsh winds. She looked down to death below her. The wall was unstable and she could feel the rocks loosening blow her feéet.
"Why do I kid myself like I do?" She scolded herself. She was cold and chilled. She had ripped Kishara's dress on the way up the steep spiral stairs. That made her feel even worse. She looked down at the beautiful garment. She twisted her face at it.
"I'm even wearing a lie!" She ripped the dress off her body laying it on the ground so it wouldn't go with her. She was even colder now. She looked down again and whispered to herself. "I should've died with my family. If it wasn't for Narsas I would've." She stopped complaining. It would be over soon. "I won't bother you or your princesses any longer, Narsas-sama." She let her muscles relax and she felt herself fall forward with the wind she would soon be part of.
"ALFRIDO, STOP!" Narsas screamed as he emerged over the top of the stairs.
"Narsas?" She asked weakly, but she was already falling. "AHHHHHHHH! HELP ME!" She fe∂lt the ground below her vanish as she went. She was weightless as if she would never hit the ground.
Narsas reached her in time to see her disappear over the wall. "NO!" He stretched out his arm as far as it would go and grabbed her wrist. He made sure he had a strong hold on her arm before pulling her back to him. He held her hoping she hadn't done something worse to herself before hand.
She gasped for air, in complete shock. He held her until she asked to be let go. She moved away from him still crying. She was only wearing undergarments and a petty coat.
"You shouldn't have come." She said bluntly. She shook with fear and cold.
"What?! I shouldn't have what?!" Narsas now stared at this womyn that he barely knew. "Have you completely loss it! Why would you throw your life away?"
"You mean after you went through all the trouble to save it."
"Don't get sarcastic on me now! I am serious!" Narsas raged.
"So am I." She€ said weakly looking over the edge again. He ran to her and put his hand on her arms.
"Oh no! We're not going through that again!" He turned her around and forced her to look at him. Her big brown eyes were full of tears and emotion. He was so confused. He sighed, "I had no idea, Alfrido. I'm sorry I didn't see you change. You are very important to me despite what anyone says."
She looked deeper at him, she was still lost. "Why would you say that now. Are you just interested in the womyn I can become with those clothes?"
"No, No, No. Don't ever think that. I just thought that you were still a little girl. I didn't want to encourage a child like love. Now I see those feelings were very genuine, and strong. I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I hope, now, you understand why I didn't know what I was saying then." Narsas looked at her. She was still crying.
"I still Love you." She admitted. "I am a womyn now. Can't you see that?"
"I can. Your a beauti«ful, intelligent, and a good warrior. Arslan's glad to have you." He smiled. She attempted one. "I'm afraid your going to have to teach me how to feel that way again, Alfrido. I've been at war tactics and maps too long."
"Does this mean...?" Alfrido's face wound into a big smile. He pulled her to him. She lay her head on his chest. "Does this mean we can try?"
"Yes. Just promise you won't scare me like that again." He smiled. She laughed and nodded. She glanced at the edge and shivered. He laughed as she held tighter to him. "Daryun will not believe this."
"Neither will Elam, I suspect." They both laughed and walked back down the stairs after Narsas helped Alfrido with her dress.
Kishara's room was dark and the balcony doors were wide open. Cold air blew through the room like the arctic. The Queen stood on the balcony with her arms wrapped around her. Her eyes were open all the way as the cold ate away at her health.
"Arslan..." ‹She whispered. The moon was over head, and the sky was black and cloudless. Kishara shook and tears still ran from her eyes. She looked up at the moon, and then out past the horizon. The door opened behind her. She didn't acknowledge it.
"Kishara?" a familiar voice called. Kishara didn't budge. "Someone wants to talk to you. It's important, Kishara. Where are you?" It was Rezzana, and she sounded worried. Kishara lifted her head wearily.
"I'm out here." Her voice was hoarse. She put a hand to her neck after she heard herself.
"Another letter arrived,my Queen. This time from a healthy soldier."
"Really? His timing just keeps getting better and better." Kishara referred to Silvermask as another presence emerged from inside.
"I would suggest, that we give Arslan full military support." Rezzana had already decided this path, but wouldn't go through with it unless Kishara agreed.
"Yes, yes! Give him all the help he needs!" Kishara sounded angry and wanted to‹ be left alone. That was not going to be the case.
"Kishara?" Arslan's voice rang in her ears. She gasped, and froze. "Thank you, Rezzana." Rezzana bowed and left. Arslan turned back to Kishara. She stood where she was. "He sent another letter."
"So I heard." Kishara stated.
"I need your help. He said he's going to attack full force tomorrow."
"We must be ready for him then."
"He must be closer than I thought. Or wouldn't have gotten these letters to us so fast." Arslan deduced.
"Or he could have sent them out days ahead, and is too far away to even think of attacking. Or then he could be right here, outside this castle waiting to pick off my men and yours, when we emerge." Kishara's mind racked up all possibilities.
"How do you figure...Well, we can't suppose anything right now. We wait for tomorrow and attack him first!" Arslan was taken aback by Kishara's sharp strategic intelligence.
"I'll send a messenger for my troops tonight." She answered. She disguised her emotion as best she could, but her voice betrayed her. He laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Kishara." He said her name slowly. She could picture his lips in her mind as they moved over every syllable. She crumbled inside as she relived his kiss. She also saw him stand before his country at his coronation in her mind. She collected these thoughts into one snide. . .
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I want to be everything for you. I know how you feel, but that tells me nothing about you. I want to know you, but you won't let me near. Why? What happened to yo..." Before he could finish she flew to him and fell into his embrace.
"I don't know. I'm scared that's all. I can't be scared though."
"Everyone's scared sometime, Kishara."
"No! You don't understand. I've been preparing for this my whole life. I knew it would come around again." Kishara cried into him. Arslan held her tight, his eyes shocked. He suddenly he got very mad, and he didn't know why. He yanked÷ Kishara to arms length.
"If some one is coming to hurt you! They won't get the chance to think about." Arslan stared at her. She saw in him an anger that all most scared her even though it was for her benefit. He had never felt this way. Why did he want to hurt this thing, that he didn't know, just because it wanted to hurt Kishara. Okay, it was because it wanted to hurt Kishara.
"Thank you. We have a big day tomorrow." She pulled out of his grip.
"Will I get to meet your general, Kishara? If you have a general. I mean with Rezzana and all." Arslan smiled as he reached the door.
"I'll make sure they're there and introduces them self, Arslan." Kishara tried to smile.
"You have nothing to fear, My Queen." He reassured her. She grinned.
"Good night, young Prince." They both looked happy again. He left as she prepared for bed.
The next morning Kishara awoke to the sounds of an angry crowd, and Arslan's voice trying to talk over the noise.
"Huóh?" Kishara sat up. Rezzana was out on the balcony. She blocked the sun from her face.
"Hey Kishara, come look at this!" Rezzana said almost laughing. Kishara came over to the railing as Rezzana pointed down. "If this isn't a labor of love I don't know what is!" Kishara smirked.
Arslan stood on a elevated area over a crowd of angry royalty. He tried to explain himself.
"I hope you all understand." He pleaded.
"Yeah we understand all right!" One princess yelled.
"I've received several threats and I do not wish any of you harm."
"Whatever! You just want us to go home!" That same princess instigated an on coming fight.
"I tell you! I've called off this little beauty contest for your welfare, not because of any decision that has been made."
"Well what do you say ta that!" Rezzana sneered. "He's denying he loves you."
"No, he's not, Rezzana." Kishara smiled happily. She twirled around and plo¥pped down on Rezzana's bed. "He's saving his skin from a mob of jealous womyn." They both giggled.
Arslan's voice cracked as fear crept on to his face.
"You chose that little Nekotan twerp over us!"
"Oh, no she didn't!" Kishara stood up. Rezzana held her back. "Let me at that little...I'm gonna."
"Maybe so. Yet, she has offered her military force as an aid to me. That is the main reason why she is staying. And any other reason is none of your concern." He finished and walked back inside.
Kishara's army arrived. She went to greet her commanding officer. They nodded as he handed her large folded garment and a bag that held something about as big as a human head. Arslan watched them as she thanked him, he bowed and assembled the troops as she went inside.
"Daryun." Arslan called. Daryun came quickly to the throne room as Arslan stood at the window. He announced his presence as Arslan turned. "Are the troops rea¥dy?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Daryun confirmed. "Will you be heading them?"
"Yes. I want to look into Hermes' eyes as I beat him off my country." Arslan spoke coldly. Before he had had compassion and a great deal of sympathy for Hermes, his cousin.
Hermes had been the son of Osirus XVII. King Andragoras, Arslan's father, had attacked Eccubatana with deadly force. Andragoras killed his brother, Osirus XVII, and cast out his wife, son, and daughter and their few remaining loyal servants. He promised them protection to a new home when he took the throne.
Yet, later, Andragoras's troops attacked Osirus's family on their way to the country to the north. They killed the his wife and daughter. During the attack the son, Hermes, and his trustworthy nurse escaped. They found an abandoned barn by the side of the road. Andragoras had ordered them killed, anyway that would get the job done. The soldiers wanted a fast end to thisÕ chase. So, they set fire to the barn.
Hermes and his nurse were trapped. They found a side way out and ran for their lives. The new king, satisfied with the idea that all of his brothers heirs had been wiped out, ruled over a new militaristic Parsian Empire.
Andragoras was always obsessed with winning and his family was known for their strength. He also had the most beautiful wife in the kingdom. Queen Tahaminey's beauty and intelligence was know far and wide. Arslan prided himself in hoping that he was his mother's son. Arslan and his parents weren't close, but he loved his mother and argued with his father about politics that usually was scolded or punished for disagreeing with his father on.
This was one of the main reasons why Arslan felt for Hermes. Another one of his father's victims. Hermes had come out of the tragedy with burn scars on half his face, and one hell of an appetite for vengeance. He wore the Silver horned helmet to scfiare people, hide his scars for himself, and to mock the Parsian uniforms and it's crowned Prince, baby Arslan.
Arslan had thought Silvermask had given up. Yet, here he was back again. Hermes had sided with the Lusitanians to get Andragoras off the throne. Lusitania was filled with Religious fanatics and every one thought that the battle was in the name of god. Hermes planned to use their force until his plan clashed with theirs, and then he would get them out of his way. Hermes's real war was with Andragoras' son, Arslan. He knew the truth and he was going to make Arslan pay for his ignorance. He wanted revenge for his sixteen years of suffering.
Hermes attacked Andragoras' army with magic and defeated them in one day. He caught the king slithering off the field and took him prisoner. He was to be tortured, until Hermes was satisfied. He took the capital that very afternoon and handed the captured Queen over to the king of Lusitania who desired her so. It is c'ommon knowledge that Andragoras died in bear chains from illness, much to Hermes's disdain. Although many stories have been told surrounding Tahaminey's death. Some say she died from loneliness, because of the loss of her son, not Andragoras. Others say she killed herself from being forced to marry the Lusitanian king.
Arslan now stood by the window. The window to the throne room that his father had ruled in. The room his mother had sat at his father's side loyally and watched all his rotten plans take effect. Now his problems after years of supposed death were back.
"What could he want with, Queen Kishara? How could they be connected?
I wish she would tell me." Arslan spoke softly to himself. Daryun looked up.
"Your Highness?"
"Nothing, Daryun, let's go." Arslan said solemnly. "Is Kishara ready?"
"She informed me that she is staying behind. She said her general will take care of everything?" Daryun asked hoping the King knew what she had meant.
"≤Oh, I do want to meet this person she has put in charge of her whole army." Arslan ran from the throne room, but Daryun stopped him in the hall.
"She said her General would meet us on the battle field." Daryun stated. Arslan looked confused.
"Well, all right then." They made their way to the horses.
At noon sometime Arslan's army of at least a thousand men stood on a sandy landscape on the outskirts of Pars' southern border, waiting for Kishara's army. They hoped that Sliver mask didn't have plans that countered theirs.
"Your highness!" Daryun pointed. Arslan behind him. Thousands of warriors rode over the ridge and joined the Arslan's army. He gasped at the size of the army.
"King Arslan!" A voice rang over the crowd. Arslan craned his neck around to see a bronze helmet. It was dull, but it shone with reflected sunlight. The glare was great enough that Arslan had to shade his eyes. "Has the enemy arrived yet?"
{ "Not yet. Are you Queen Kishara's general?" Arslan belted back in awe.
"That I am, your highness." The figure bowed as well as it could on the midnight colored horse below it. It lead the crowd of warriors that meshed with Arslan's own.
"So we are as one then..." Arslan trailed off as he saw a caravan led by a tan horse whose rider wore a silver helmet with great horns that mocked his own golden ones. Arslan controlled his fear and anger. He put his own helmet on and turned his horse.
"I see you have prepared for me ahead of time, Cousin." Silvermask laughed as his troops formed a mass behind him. "And what is this?" Arslan felt his twisted smile behind his face plate. "Help? Don't trust your own power, King." He laughed.
"You have no power here!" Kishara's general raised his sword high in the air. It had a beautiful decorative handle. It was a wave of amethysÄt jewels that seemed to flow up the blade until it reached the edge of the hilt and flowered out. His hand bore a similar pattern. A ring that had a amethyst jewel and a patter of gold that matched her sword. Arslan was puzzled. How could a soldier that possessed such a fine weapon, have such a old broken helmet? He stared at the hilt of the sword and then at the ring. It was a general's ring, like Daryun's. He knew he had seen it somewhere before, it was so familiar.
"I see. You must be Kishara's General." He glanced at Arslan who had a questioning look on. The general lowered his sword. "You don't know, do you? Don't worry General," he mocked. "Your secret is safe with me." He turned to Arslan. "You haven't changed, still as ignorant as ever! Attack!" He began to gallop full force towards Arslan. He pulled his sword back as Arslan readied for him. Daryun was pushe™d back by a separate force that intended to keep him from his king.
Kishara's General gasped as he led a war cry. He sped ahead of his troops as both waves of men collided in war. He rode faster and faster until he reached Arslan. He positioned himself in front just before Silvermask's sword had a chance to crack down on Arslan's gold crown. He kept his horse in between the old enemies, and pushed Hermes back.
"Wha...?" Arslan backed up to allow the much needed space.
"Protective aren't we." Silvermask clashed swords with The General. The General shoved Hermes off his weapon.
"Go, Arslan! Go, NOW!" The General turned and screamed. Arslan was startled, but held his horse still. He tried to look upon The General's face but the tarnished helmet blocked his view. The General turned again to save the king.
"I won't leave the battle!" Arslan protested the protection as The General defended him. Arslan remained b©ehind him as The General kept Silvermask's attacks at bay.
"This is a riot!" The villain laughed. Hermes swung his sword and pinned The General's sword down. He was strong, and The General looked scared for a split second. Arslan watched in horror. He tried to find a way in between them, but his horse couldn't get close. "I'll show how much a 'general' this one is!"
The General struggled with his sword, trying to get it free. The battle around him grew thick. He looked up and saw Silvermask pull something from behind his back. The General gasped and threw up an arm to block whatever he was going to throw.
"Only making my target easier to get at, honey!" Silvermask raised the weapon into the air, preparing to bring it down on The General. Arslan saw the dagger and didn't hesitate to think what Silvermask would do to his new friend.
"Stop!" Arslan charged forward and rammed Silvermask's horse. Arslan's horse r‡eared and kicked, but Sliver mask had already swiped knocking the General back. "NO!" Arslan screamed, not knowing what to call the General. The General managed to miraculously stay on the horse and move from Silvermask's reach. Arslan rode to his side as Silvermask laughed.
"Look upon your 'General' now. That's a lovely disguise, my lady, but a secret known is a dangerous secret to keep protecting." The general breathed hard as he looked down at his front expecting blood. Arslan looked over.
"Are you all righ...Uh?!" Arslan went red in the face. The General blushed too. Arslan could feel it through the helmet he wore. Silvermask had not meant to kill The General, but to slash threw threw chest of his clothes. The general had been wearing a corset of some kind that was holding back her well rounded breasts. The general grabbed what was left of the bra-like cloth and pulled it up and tied a generous knot. Arslan's face was still in shock when he turned to the ›enemy.
"How dare insult one of my officials like that!" Arslan ripped out his sword. He lunged at Silvermask for his dishonorable action.
"Poor little king! Do you fear me so much that you send even your womyn after me? What is she one of your street girls?" His comment reached the general. She took new hold of her sword and brought it down in an arch on Silvermask's shoulder.
"AHHH!" He wretched. Silvermask turned and rode away. Arslan looked at The General. She looked at him. Both we're breathing heavily. They nodded at each other and galloped after him. Hermes tried to stop the bleeding with his cape as he sped away. The General had sliced off his shoulder metal and a nice piece of his skin with it.
"Rezzana!" The General yelled for assistance from the Sargent at arms. Rezzana was with the army, but too far away. She was dealing with her own troubles.
"Get off me!" She threw one man off her as three more took his place. "Goddess!" She screamed. «She swung her blade against one's sword as she pulled a dagger from her belt and ran him through.
She didn't have time for a lavish victory. A shadow swirled on the ground and she spun to block another weapon. She pushed back and tried to tip him off his horse as she saw another ride up on her left. She threw out her dagger and twisted its hilt with the offending sword while holding the other man at bay. She tried not to let the war noises around her block her clear thinking now.
She dislodged the sword from his hand with her dagger. He fumbled for a second, her eyes widened as she turned to deal with the soldier on her right. She got a grip on him and threw him down to the ground and scared his horse away. He swore and lunged at her. Rezzana plunged her dagger deep into the brunt of his chest and drew it forth again to throw it at the other, who had reclaimed his sword. The soldier held his sword stedy as rode at her full speed, not seeiÀng the dagger, that struck him in the throat he was screaming at her with.
Rezzana threw down the dead man that lay across her lap bleeding on her. Just as he hit the sand, she heard a scream in front of her. She turned too late. Another horse rammed hers. She was knocked back a few paces but drew her reins back to her hand and rode forward not thinking. Her sword was ready to knock down someone, but she was too dizzy and tired to notice his weapon in time.
Her eyes saw the glint of sun from the white metal on the unused blade and she pulled a hard right. The sword bite deeply into her left arm below her shoulder. Rezzana screamed loudly and leaned heavily on the right of her horse. Her steed shocked by her yell wasn't ready for the weight.
Horse and rider fell onto the ground. She jumped so the horse wouldn't crush her. She lay on her back and looked up, the sun blinding her. Suddenly she remembered where she was! A sword struck the g®round next to her head. She heard swearing from above the clouds of dust. She held her bleeding arm, and found it useless.
Not being able to find her sword, she grabbed the one next to her head and threw into the dust storm above her. It stuck a faint shadow and a form fell beside her. It was a soldier with a sword all the way through his middle.
Rezzana collapsed, breathing heavily. She ripped a part of her undershirt off, and bandaged her wound. Then she ripped a longer piece off, and tied her usless arm to her side, so it wouldn't get cut off by hanging there. She heard more talking. They were trying to find her under the thick clouds of ground in the air.
"They must know who I am then. They must...Ahh...know that I'm an important part of the army if they persist like this." She commented stifling pain. One thought ran through her head: get away! Just then she heard strange new sounds, sounds she wel∆comed. Someone on a black horse rode through the dust above. She rolled away from the dead enemy soldier. Rezzana lay there out of breath, and closed her eyes, smiling to her self a little for no reason.
Daryun swiped at the last three remaining soldiers.
"I said get out of here, you Bastards!" He yelled, deep voice booming. He made his horse stand still. His broad shoulders trembled a little with the memory of the blood curdling scream that had brought him to that area of the battle.
"Where?" Daryun watched the dust settle. "Oh my ..." He dismounted quickly. He ran to a fallen body. "Rezzana? Lady Rezzana?" He desperately checked for signs of life. Nothing. He sat back on his heels, and shook his head. She didn't deserve this. "A waste of life, Intelligence, skill, and beauty." He grimaced. He went to lift her body. Daryun put his face close to hers trying to get a good grip on her to lift without harming his back. He lifted Ωas an arm came from nowhere striking him in the head.
"Ahh!" He fell back in surprise. Rezzana thrashed wildly, and her voice lashed out almost as badly.
"YOU'LL NEVER HAVE ME! I WON'T LET YOU HAVE KISH...ara?" She sat up finding she was hitting nothing and just hurting herself more. "Huh?" Rezzana sat up. "General Daryun?" She questioned. "Was that you I hit?"
"No, I like grabbing my head in pain." Daryun growled.
"I see you have the same talent for sarcasm that I do." She smiled. She looked down at her arm. She was drenched in blood and felt very faint. Her frame wobbled a bit as Daryun stood.
"Well, we better get go...Lady Rezzana!" He ran to catch her just before she hit the sand dune. He held her in his arms inspecting her cut. He patted her face trying to get her to come to. He knew she was weak but Rezzana still had strength.
"Whuh?" She opened her eyes.
"You cut a muscle, you're arm will be useless unless ©we get that patched up." Daryun stated. Rezzana looked into his dark blue eyes, then at her arm, back at him then keeled over onto his chest. Daryun chuckled a bit as he lifted her up. She awoke a bit as they stood. "We got to get you back to the..." He looked at her black shimmering hair. Then he swept the strands out of her face. She looked at him with unfocused ice blue eyes. He was awed as he commented. "Definitely would've been a waste of beauty." He couldn't take his eyes off her. He hadn't been talking to this womyn of only seventeen, just because of a joke she had made. It was stupid of him to ignore her just because of that petty thing, but maybe his mind was preventing something his heart wanted to experiment with.
"You didn't have to save me. I fought them off myself."
"You must've not been wake then." Daryun laughed
"Then you must not have half a brain! I put up a good fight! Why did you have tÂo come and save me when I was beating them back."
"I think you're delirious from loss of blood." Daryun scoffed-his previous thought gone.
"You can't think...Remember, you don't have even half a brain!" Rezzana pushed away from him and collapsed, her proud attitude always the protecting force. She didn't like the idea of being weak and hated it almost as much as Kishara.
"Oh gods! Here let me...no I won't say the 'H' word if it will make you feel better. He "helped" her back to a standing position. Daryun leaned her on him so she wouldn't fall back. "You can walk, right?"
"I can walk wherever I want!" Rezzana barked and slipped again. Daryun sighed and held her up.
A shadow passed over them as the two looked up. Pharangese sat proudly on her steed and brandished her bow ready with an arrow.
"That's not the kind of tactics you should be using on the battle field, Lord Daryun." Pharangese smiled. Daryun blushed in shock. Rezzana leaned on him completely red.
DaryuÀn was about to protest when Pharangese spoke up again. "Don't deny things to me. I saw your face before she awoke. Just let me remind you that there's a war going on." Rezzana tilted her head up to look at the proud General who was giving her aid to stand next to him. He didn't look at her because he didn't want her to see how much his cross face was blushing. She tried to muffle weak laughter. This pairing was a strange observation, but Pharangese had seen Alfurido and Narsas together before Narsas realized it. Maybe she could see something in her best friend's future husband's general. (AN: Whew! What a title! ^_^;)
"After what Narsas said to me before you arrived," He finally looked at Rezzana's face as Pharangese rode off. "He's never going to believe this one." He bent his head down. Rezzana just cocked an eye brow not understanding the private joke. "Try not to faint anymore, okay." Daryun smiled. They walked together to his horse.¥
Pharangese kept riding. She shot arrows as she went. The soldiers fell around her as she saw Giv through clouds of dust. He wielded the same type of bow she did. They rode together once more as Giv looked up at his companion.
"Saving me from the jaws off death once again are we, Pharangese?" Giv laughed. She gave him a stern look. He rode closer to her. "Well?" He asked again.
She pulled away from his side. "I'm here to save Pars and it's King, your welfare is of little concern to me in battle." She rode off.
"I understand. A nun off your stature couldn't be troubled with the likes of us humble minstrels." Giv bit back. He had learned how to survive next to Pharangese and against her and her sharp tongue. Pharangese stopped turned back to him. She glared and looked as if she was at a lost for words.
"You never could sing!" She snapped not expecting a wise reply from Giv. She rode of into the thick of battle. ™He smiled.
"Score one: Giv." He whispered and rode into a bunch of soldiers. He began to fight again, "Score 3,567: Pharangese. " He knocked down more men as he laughed to himself. "That's one point I am definitely proud of."
Pharangese saw the king through the clouds. Kishara's general was tied back with a blade at her neck on Silvermask's horse. Arslan looked panicked as he tried to circle in and get her away from Silvermask. Pharangese rode straight to them clouds of sand flying into the eyes of their enemies.
"Where do you think you're going?" Two men cut her off. They were too close to use arrows. She spun her horse in a dangerous turn and sped away. The two soldiers blinked and reacted. She waited until they were almost upon her. She screeched to a stop turned sharply back and let arrow after arrow fly at them. She struck them down as more approached. She heard Giv's voice at one point. She co≈uldn't help him she was too busy clearing her own path. She began to ride forward as she shot. She wasn't covering herself though. She only thought about her duty to King Arslan and how to get to his side quickly. She shot one final arrow in to the dust and heard the cry of a now dead man in the distance.
Her path now clear she rode faster and faster until a strange whipping sound zoomed over her head. She looked at her lap and a rope lay there. "What?" She spoke as the rope tightened. "AHHHHH!" She was pulled from the horse at top speed. She hit the ground and blacked out. She felt herself being dragged over rocks and turf. Then she stopped.
"Yeah put her with the other one she killed for us. Stroke of luck, huh?" She heard a soldier say. That she had killed? Who had she killed form her side. It must have been an accident, because she didn't remember any killings other than Hermes's men. She was dragged to another place and left as πthe other soldiers left her for dead.
She held her hip and looked up. Her horse hadn't waited, but she hadn't thought it would. She swore silently and tried to stand. She rotated her waist and yelped in pain. She crawled along the ground, sliding her hands before her through the dust clouds, until her fingers slid into something hard and painfully cracked. She had already been in shock and was shaking so the pain in her hand blended with that of her waist. She grabbed her bow-hand and tried to repress screaming. She looked up and her eyes exploded open. Her mouth dropped and she let out a small cry at the sight before her.
Giv lay sprawled out on the battlefield. She touched his vest gently, but instead of hitting leather she found her self grasping a long thin arrow shaft that protruded from his chest. The leather was drenched in blood and stuck to her fingers. She looked down at him from kneeling. She stared at the arrow..Œ..Her arrow!
"Oh...G..Giv..." She could hardly speak. She cried for the first time since she had joined this war. She cried deeply. Each sob wrenching her soul with pain that overwhelmed that of her body. She moved her hand to the other side of the arrow. She felt a faint rhythm under his skin. Pharengese's face was the incarnation of happiness as she cracked the arrow in half and pulled the top part of it off.
She rolled him over and found that her preferred choice for longer arrows was Giv's life saver. The iron tip protruded through his back. She laughed hysterically and gently slid the arrow out. She felt so relieved that she was out of strength she took his hand and reassured him blindly as she passed out.
Narsas galloped toward the king with Alfurido by his side. They had already passed Daryun and Rezzana walking home to care for Rezzana's wounds. Narsas looked at the ground once and stopped.
"Alfurido!" He yelled behind him. She⁄ stopped too and looked down.
"Giv! Pharangese! How did this happen?" Alfurido dismounted and ran to her friends to lay unconsious in the dirt.
"Most soldiers have run off, I though we won with minimal casualties. This is awful. Alfurido..." Narsas trailed off as the King's voice was heard.
"Yes, Narsas?" She looked up at Narsas still on his horse.
"Give me Pharengese's bow and arrows. Thank you, now watch them until someone comes or I get back." Narsas yelled as he rode off. Alfurido looked worried. She looked back at Giv and Pharangese, and notice something.
"They were holding hands?" Alfurido looked confused at Pharangese's hand that was covering Giv's.
"LET ME GO!" Kishara's General screeched, and writhed.
"One more move like that, my dear, and you might not be able to call for your sweet king anymore." He pushed the blade closer to her neck. She grimaced.
"I said let go of her, Cousin!" Arslan warned and pointed his sword at Hermes.
"O·h, if you could do something you would've done it by now. Also, your cute little Phoenix-bride here, is here in my lap like she was always meant to be." Hermes said slowly and seductively putting his face so close to hers.
"What?" Arslan lowered his sword. "Why did you call her my bri..."
"Careful, Silvermask, don't make me mad. I might torch the other side of your face!" The General spat.
"Your talents do not scare me, girl."
"Stop it! Listen to me." The General's horse was long gone and no longer an obstacle. Yet Arslan couldn't get closer, all he could do was yell, and pray that he would drop her...still alive. He swallowed hard.
"Maybe I should just kill you now, but that would ruin my planning wouldn't it. The planning that you father helped me with. He was such a generous man. Dumb, but generous." Silvermask laughed. The General's anger was rising. Arslan wanted to stop this! But how?
"My father was the same kind of demon you are! His stupitidy was only challenged by your own!...YAHHHH!"
Flame exploded around The General. Arslan's eyes widened in shock.
"How the...?!" King Arslan stood back as Silvermask released The General. Fire ignited his cape as he screamed in terror. Arslan smiled cruelly for the first time as his knowledge of Hermes's fear of fire fed the fact that they had won.
Arslan stopped smiling as Silvermask ripped off the inferno-filled cape, and put out his shoulder. The General stood unharmed by the fall, as Arslan rode over to her.
"Get on." He instructed. She took his hand and sat behind him on the saddle. Silvermask roared in anger at losing the first battle.
He rode straight at them. "I want my throne, you little ill bread dog!" He swore. Arslan turned his horse and started to ride away, but Hermes kept a close chase.
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, an arrow struck Silvermask's already injured shoulder.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed in agony as⁄ he turned. Narsas stood there. Hermes looked back at The General and Arslan. Silvermask said nothing as he sat there on his horse.
"I suggest you leave. You don't deserve Pars on any account." Narsas yelled at him.
Silvermask growled loudly as he sped away. "I will win! Your Life, Love, and Right will be mine, Arslan! Don't forget that! I will have all you took from me and more!" He disappeared into the setting sun.
"Narsas." Arslan pulled his horse over to the Lord's. "Thank you."
"It was nothing, my king. Come we have more important business to attend to as you'll soon see." They rode off. Arslan could've sworn that The General was shaking as she held to his back.
Arslan was lead into a room where the injured were being kept. Kishara's General had gone back to the post, and he still hadn't introduced himself properly. He saw Pharangese who had a wrap around her middle, keeping her from turning her hips to much. She had pulled muscles ther'e.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Arslan scolded. Pharangese smiled weakly and said nothing. Arslan looked puzzled. He walked closer to the bed. He saw Giv and that his whole chest was bandaged. "Giv! Are you going to be okay?"
"That's what I've been told, Thank you, King Arslan, for the genuine sympathy."
"Did you see who did this? We'll keep them out of Pars! I don't care if Hermes is the rightful king! If he doesn't care about the dead and wounded he left in his own city then he's not the rightful ruler." Arslan proclaimed to the room.
"I know you mean well, your majesty," Narsas leaned on the wall, "But we can only wait for him. A blind attack in the middle of the South Desert would not be wise."
"And you would know." Daryun commented. Narsas stuck out his tongue at him.
"I see you've learned a thing or two from your new girlfriend."
"Shut up." Narsas snapped. The two smiled at each other. Their comments fell on deaf ears though.
"I'll be al⁄l right, King. I'm sure you'll slay the monsters who did this to me and make them pay." Giv glanced at Pharangese who was facing the wall and shivering.
"We will, Giv." Arslan smiled. "Where's Kishara and her general? And Rezzana? I heard she was hurt too."
"Tore a muscle in the upper left arm, Your highness. She won't be able to use it again until the fibers bind again. If they bind again, but I'm sure she's tougher than that minor cut." Daryun looked down. "She's with Kishara."
"Well I guess that's where the party is." Giv stated. Every one nodded and followed King Arslan out.
"I see Daryun also has someone on his heart." Narsas smiled mockingly.
"Is the master strategist using something besides his mind...and his..."
"Don't go there, old, but dispensable friend. Daryun laughed, knowing Narsas and Alfurido were meant to be since she had shown up. They all exited and the door was closed.
"Well, I guess you want to deal me some more verbal arrows, ri˛ght?" Giv joked
"Stop it. It's not funny! You know it, Giv." Pharangese turned from the wall where she had been standing.
"I should know it. I'm the one with the hole in my chest. If anyone has the right to joke it's me!" He smiled more.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you, I couldn't see. I was trying to get to Arslan's side." Pharangese begged forgiveness.
"Wasn't everyone. And here I thought is was because you were tired of me getting back at you so many times."
"Please stop." She tried to keep the tears back, but shame had cracked her emotionless exterior. She cried but turned away from him, but he reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry. That was cruel. It wasn't your fault. I wanted you to feel better about this!" Giv explained. "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here now, in a beautiful castle with a gentle king." She spun around grabbing her hip in pain.
"If it wasn't for me you would've never been hurt in the first place. You have every right to hate me I wasn't aiming or thinking..Á.."
"Does anyone during a war?" Giv spoke the truth.
"And I almost killed you! You're just lucky I didn't hit your heart!" She let out frantically. There was a short silence and Giv collected his thoughts. He took her hand and placed it on his chest.
"I'm not so sure you didn't." Giv looked up at her. Her emerald green eyes were shocked and tear-filled. She stood there for one second. She pulled out of his grip. She backed away.
"Giv, I..." She looked at him one more time, and then ran out of the room. Giv sighed and took his eyes off the door. He turned his head and closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
In Kishara's Quarters...
"Oh Rezzana, are you all right. Your arm, Goddess, I should have been with you!" Kishara yelled at her self.
"You did all you could, Queen Kishara." Alfurido replied.
"She's right. I can still fight... OW, barely and the important thing is you and Arslan...well?"
"I fought-he doesn't know."
"Are you going to tell him?" Alfurido asked ÿknowing the secret already.
"I think you should. It's so small to keep hidden. Besides if Hermes knows what's the problem?" Rezzana stood with Kishara and walked to the window doors of the balcony. Alfurido stood too, but stayed put.
"You and Hermes have a history?" She sounded shocked.
"I wasn't my decision to have a history with him." Kishara looked out at another clear still night. "I don't want to talk about it." A knock sounded on the door. It opened.
"Kishara?" Arslan's voice was heard through the room. Alfurido bowed out and Rezzana nodded before she left. "Can I see you in my room, Queen Kishara?" He asked seriously.
"Yes, young prince." She smiled weakly. Kishara followed him out the door and down the long hall to his room. The door was promptly shut as three heads appeared behind it.
"Move over, I can't hear!"
"Shut up, Elam, this is womyn's stuff." Alfurido snapped.
"Who died and made you a womyn." Elam reached for a strange comeback.
"S·hut up both of you! I may have only one arm to work with but I can get very...VERY creative." The other two quickly shut up. There was three seconds of silence, then a very loud thwack!
"AHHH!" The three went flying across the hall and landed with a dull thud. The open doorway contained Queen Kishara and King Arslan. They leaned down at glared at the fallen trio.
"DO YOU MIND!" They chorused. The others laughed nervously and disappeared down the hall. The royalty walked back into the room.
"Arslan, why did you want to talk to me?" Kishara asked.
"Come out here, on the balcony." Arslan motioned. She followed him.
They stood under the black sky a bright blinding moon above them.
"Please tell me how I can help you, Kishara." He paused. "I want to. I love you. Rezzana made me realize that you know." He smiled. "I'm sorry about before in the garden. I was at a loss for how to get you to tell me and I guess insult was not the way...I'm so sorry." She looked los÷t. She turned her eyes toward Mt. Demavont in the distance. She saw a small light there but ignored it. She began.
"I was only five when I began to play with the army personnel. They gave me dull blades and helmets to have fun with. I loved my father then. You were only eight, but I knew of you're existence. I was in awe of your kingdom, when I saw it's maps. To meet you was my dream.
It wasn't until I was ten when I met Rezzana. She was nine, but we had fun together. She was the daughter of my Father's general. My mother died when I was born so I never really missed her. Though I did miss the idea of her. So naturally when I saw you and Queen Tahaminey together, when my father went to talk to Andragoras about international affair,s I was in awe and instantly jealous, but that still didn't keep me from dreaming of you.
When I was twelve I knew I wanted to be a general when I grew up." Kishara stopped as Arslan's sight fell on her amethyst ring.
Î"You?" Arslan spoke softly. "You!" He blushed remembering how he had seen the Kishara last. "That was you! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you would've been against it, yet now I see that was a stupid thing to think. I hadn't known about Pharangese and Alfurido then." Kishara smiled at him, but his stern boyish face told her to go on. She held his arm and continued.
"I grew up a little more and the highlight of my teenage life was seeing your coronation. My father sat next to yours, with other country representatives. I couldn't breath for fear of missing one word that was spoken. I was so proud of you even though I had never met you. Still, I knew you." Kishara looked up at him. He still had his eyes on her. It was reassuring.
"I came back to my country, Nekotan, with feelings that an eagle would be envious of. Then my father announced I was to be betrothed to the next true ruler of the Parsian empire. My heart skipped a beat when I heard those words. I was going tΩo have you all to my self. I told Rezzana and she celebrated with me. When my father called me into talk about my wedding, nothing could take the grin off my face.
I walked into my Father's meeting room. I saw my father, then I saw a hideous sight. I took my seat , but I could not stop staring at the dazzling Silver mask the other person in the room was wearing. He would've been sixteen then."
"No. Not Silvermask." Arslan's eyes widened in horror.
"Do you want me to finish or not?" Arslan nodded apologetically. "My father then told me he had learned of a massacre of a previous royal family before yours. Andragoras's brother Osirus XVII had been killed so Andragoras could take the throne.
Then he told me Hermes was Osirus's son and the rightful crowned prince. He had been friends with your father to get close to him so he could plan an attack with Hermes. My father only wanted power and did not care how I felt. I would hear n±o more. I protested right away, as he kept telling me I would marry Hermes when I was sixteen. It would be for the greater good of my country and Hermes would make a good husband. I knew that it was a lie. He wanted my country not me. I knew he was in love with a neighboring country's Princess, Ilina of Maruyam. As you now know, Maruyam no longer exists thanks to the Lusitanians who were not in Hermes's army.
I demanded that I loved you and would marry no one else! My demands went unheard and I was legally betrothed to Hermes. I cried all that night and made a secret vow to Rezzana that when I was Queen I would have him killed.
My father died two years later, leaving me to be a child Queen. I threw out my father's general, who had instigated the plan against you, and I took charge of my army. I was well liked and was prepared when Hermes came back to me when I was sixteen. Rezzana took her father's place and stood at m©y side. Hermes demanded a wedding and the dowry he was promised. I told him my father had died and anything he promised had died with him.
Then he held a contractual agreement in his hands saying I was his. I had him thrown out of my palace, and he left with threats and warnings that he'd be back, and there would be no way to stop him from killing you.
Later, my revenge would come. Word had reached me when I was seventeen that the last of the line of the Maruyam royalty was within my borders. I knew this had to be the escaping Princess Ilina and her party. This would be my revenge to Hermes. I befriended them, and welcomed them into my palace and offered protection from the fanatics of the Lusitanian government. I found that the princess was not alone. She had met a mountain guide, Melain, that had brought her safely here through the desert and mountains. The princess was blind from birth, but elegantly beautif≈ul. Her nurse had asked us where Hermes was, for the princess was seeking him.
I got the princess alone and told her of all the things Hermes had planned and all the horrible things he had done. She was instantly afraid of him. Melain didn't desert her when she needed him, and Melain had guided her. I helped the two get along for I could see Melain was in love with Ilina. They were married my eighteenth year. Now Hermes was alone, and an invitation had reached me about a little gathering you...or Narsas, was having at Eccubatana. It had been four years since your successful three year battle and you were alone and bored. I grabbed Rezzana and here we are."
Arslan nodded. "Thank you for finally trusting me. I had no idea we were so close. I owe you so much." He held her.
"I owe you more." Kishara whispered. She shut her eyes as a cold wind blew past them. They walked inside together. They sat down on the edge of his bed.
She looked «up at him. His light blue eyes were sad and comforting. Her feline green eyes were flaming with emotion. Her inner fire from Nekotan birth was churning within her. Arslan put his hand on the side of her face. She relaxed into it. She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you." She whispered. He felt her back in his hands.
"I love you. I'll protect you, Kishara, you don't have to be afraid any more." He said reassuringly. She cried a little and sat up.
"Arslan, what are we going to do? Are we trapped, just waiting for him?" She questioned their battle plan. He looked away from her out the balcony again.
"I don't know, Kishara, you don't know how many times I've asked myself that. Before and now." He smiled gently as he brought her hand to his face. "Before you came, I believed I was alone, that no one in royalty could know how it feels to be trapped." Kishara's eyes grew large, she knew what he was saying and that thÀey were ... "You and I...we're the same, Kishara, I know more now. You've taught me so much." She cried a few uncontrolled tears as he came closer to her. He kissed her softly on the forehead, then on the lips. She remembered the feeling from the garden, his perfect lips were like those of a god. She was so intoxicated by his breath in her lungs that she pulled him down to her on the bed. He held her there for a moment as she whispered.
"Thank you, my savior." Arslan's eyes closed. He pulled her close as if trying to pull them together, like to sides of a rift that had once been one. She exhaled and lay back.
The night enveloped them as a cool breeze blew threw the Parsian night.
Rezzana sat in her room. Kishara had not arrived for bed yet. Rezzana thought a second and grinned. She pulled the covers up and fell onto her bed. She kept smiling at the thought and she went to sleep.
"I guess, I won't wait up for her..." Rezzana snicÀkered.
Meanwhile, in a desert camp in the south region of Pars, Silvermask waited. He sat still as stone in his main tent. He had an violent expression on his face, that is if you tell.
"Their messenger said today was it! Where the hell are they!" He roared. His council of renegade Parsian soldiers and remaining Lusitanian troops trembled. A brave one stepped forth from the group.
"They are over the horizon sir. They should arrive here in five minutes."
"Good! I hate this desert camp. I also don't like leaving the castle for very long. The leftover Lusitanians in that area might start getting ideas when I'm gone." Hermes barked. A brigade of horses galloped through and were promptly shoved into Silvermask's presence. The head horseman ran forward through the crowd assembled and fell at the feet of Hermes. He raised the gift high in the air. He had been sent to get it and he and his party had returned successful.
"Silvermask, we searched the whole of Mt. Demavont and found nothing that your sorcerer had described. We were about to leave when we were shrouded by a red light. The full moon had fallen into place. The hole in the peak of the mountain shown with white light that shot down through the ruby blade." Zante, a mentally insane soldier of Silvermask whose father betrayed Andragoras and helped the Lusitanians in the first battle, spoke the story as if was happening now. His father had committed suicide rather than surrender to young Prince Arslan. His son blamed Daryun, who was fighting his father, Kharlan, when he decided to end his existence 'for the glory of Pars'.
"I removed the Ruknabard from it's resting place, just where the mystic one said it would be lying. You can see it truly is the sword you spoke of." Silvermask's hand quivered as he took the handle of the long lost symbol of the king of the Parisian Empire. He held it above his head and just stared at its crimson blade. He was lost in its glow. "This, sire, is the power over that brat you've hated and the so-called general I've hate..."
"I know, don't you think that I did when I sent you out a year ago. This legend was my trump card to reclaim my kingdom! When the leader of an ancient empire clan, King Hebi the Hawk, was slain with this blade it became the first sword of the united empire of Pars!" He ended It was buried with Kai Hoslo on his grave on Mt. Demavont He paused. "You idiots didn't disturb anything did you?!" He sat up swiftly scaring the others who hadn't been scared yet, but now they were. ^_^
"No, No, I assure you nothing was touched other than the sword, your Highness, that you now hold." Kharlan's son bowed and backed away.
"Oh..." Hermes stared at the Ruknabard in his possesion. Everything was silent. Nothing moved, except Hermes seemed to be shaking slightly. Hermes looked at the blade as if he had expected to glow or react to his touch in some way. Nothing. "Slowly and steadily a horrid steelily laughed eminated from his throat. He swiped the sword up and down again. He jumped at Zante and laughed louder. Zante fell backwards in fright. "I've won! HA HA! The blade is mine!" His voice lowered a decible.
"When I thought you fools had decicrated the grave cite...The snake king could've had all our souls! Yet, now I see that his power was only legend and nothing more. And tomorrow we will test the power this!" He raised the Ruknabard into the air.
"This all the magic I need. This sword makes all who're citizens of Pars see that the one˛ who holds this sword is truly their Emperor, whether they want to admit it or not!" His laugher almost echoed with the power he now held. It flowed out of the tent and into the dark sky.
The next morning the bright sun shown through the door's windows. The air was crisp and cool. The sky was a solid blue...just a shade darker than Arslan's eyes. Queen Kishara's eyes fluttered open. She stared at the bright sky color that made her eyes tear gracefully. She yawned lightly and stretched in her queenly manner. She pushed up higher on the pillows. She took the sheets with her, because she was cold and she wasn't wearing anything. She blushed hard as she thought about the previous night.
Kishara rolled over sinking into the bed sheets of royalty. They caressed her body all over as she realized that there was no one next to her, which was not how it was last time she was awake.
She lay back down hoping her king would return to her. She closed her eyes again. She felt a presence sit down next⁄ to her on the bed.
"Can't get away that easily." She opened her eyes to see Arslan's smiling face. "So...Was I everything you hoped for?" He brushed the hair on her face across the other side. Kishara smiled broadly.
"All that and more." She laughed once and rapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her kiss.
After a while of confirming their love (Ahem) the couple stood, dressed, and went to balcony once more. Kishara adjusted her red and purple skirts and stepped forth into cool air that hit her skin nicely.
"Kishara..." Arslan paused as she tilted her beautiful head to look at him. He smiled and got down on one knee. Kishara blushed and her heart didn't beat...It vibrated! "My dear Queen Kishara, I would be greatly honored if you would be..." He blushed hard as Kishara played with her earring. He looked back up at her and his mouth opened to utter the last remaining words of the proposal, when Daryun burst through their door.
The twoé shot stunned looks at the General's rude entrance. They hardly had time to comment.
"My King, he's breached the defenses!"
"Who?" Arslan got off the floor and put a hand on his sword. Kishara went deathly pale.
"He has magic that...ah..."Daryun's eyes clouded and he dropped to his knees.
"Da..Daryun!" Arslan screamed. Daryun's limp body was harshly shoved across the room as a dark menecing figure stood in the doorway. Arslan stepped forward then stopped dead in his tracks and backed up and took Kishara's arm.
"Hello, Little man." A deep familiar voice rang out. Kishara's eyes were wide with terror. "I've come for what's mine." He laughed as he held before him a brilliant sword with a dazzling red blade.
Daryun began to wake. He stood in front of King Arslan again. "Give me what I came for, brat." Hermes took a threatening step toward them. Arslan and Daryun drew their swordÀs.
"You'll never have Pars, you animal!" Daryun yelled.
"I won't let you have her!" Arslan said fimly. Kishara looked across the room to where her broad sword lay. She grimaced and stepped behind Arslan. Daryun blinked.
"Her?" He turned. "He wants Kishara?" Daryun questioned. A swift attack slammed Daryun in the side and back onto the floor. "Wh...Who the...?" He turned quickly and saw Zante standing there holding him at bay with his weapon. His face twisted full of hate as he sat there trapped.
Silvermask took a step forward. Then he took two more. Arslan kept his sword poised as he and Kishara backed up with each movement. They stopped when the edge of the balcony railing hit the small of Kishara's back. She gasped a little and watched as Hermes advanced again. Arslan was mad. He had never been more angry than he was now. He didn't know what he had done to deserve this treatment, this constant tourture from this obscure part of the fa¶mily.
"Come here, Dear. We are long over due for our wedding vows." His arm snaked out and pulled Kishara away from Arslan.
"Arslan!" She pushed and shook trying to get free of Silvermask's grip, but he was nearly cutting off her air, his arm tight around her. Kishara's life was about to be perfect when the past came crashing down on her. She trembled inside. Only her eyes showed the level of fear she was expirencing. Her inner flame died down or else Silvermask's mask would have been part of his face.
"Let her go!" The king roared. "Kishara. I won't let you..." Arslan lunged at him. Silvermask and Arslan were only four years and a couple inches in height apart. He clawed his arm and tried to pulled her away. Silvermask needed only bring the sword close to him to make the effect known. "I...Kishara...I'll protect...you..." Arslan's eyes fogged. His grip on Silvermask's arm loosened and he fell to hGis knees before his cousin.
"The Runkabard! The symbol of the true king. Whoever holds it has power over all Parsian citizens." His metallic hidden grin was felt by the room. "It tells people who holds the power." He began to back out of the room. He turned abruptly as Kishara yelped. "You see the door?" He pointed to the opening leading to the hall infront of them. "There lies all my dreams and fantasies." He hissed in her ear. She cried a nervous tear, and shook.
Arslan grabbed his head. The sword's magic had made him subseviant to Hermes, but not permenently! Arslan, leaving his sword on the floor, ran across the room, not thinking. Daryun looked up.
"Your highness, No!" Daryun cried out. Arslan's heart went numb as Hermes turned abrubtly and held the sword infront of Arslan's charge again. Arslan's eyes weInt hazy once more as he fell to his knees unresponsive. "My king!" Daryun yelled. He looked up at Zante and growled. Zante spit on him, but it only made Daryun's expression worse.
"That'll teach you to attack true royalty! Don't worry, my little fraud, I'll be back for you, after I show you what hell really can be. Then I will destroy you and send you to the genuine article. In the mean time this precious little thing will be my toy until I believe you have been punished enough." Hermes chortled once as he walked out the room. Arslan sat there blankly on his knees. His eyes unfoucused and faded. The words washed over him like a tide of acid burning through the last layer of compassion he had for his loving cousin.
Hermes emerged into the hall in time to see Rezzana, only one arm working, ready to cut him down to theà size he should be.
"Ah, more of my minions!" He held out the red sword over Rezzana's head. She promptly launched an attack t teh sword. "What!" Silvermask reacted quickly and brought the Rknubard down on Rezzana's blade to catch it.
"Sorry, pal, wrong zip code!" She said a she swiped and missed.
Unable to react with only one arm, Hermes kicked her in the stomach into the railing by the grand stariway outside the room. She leaned hard on it, regaining balance, as she saw the height from which she could drop if pushed just then.
She looked back at Silvermask running at her. She closed her eyes waiting for the weightless feeling. Nothing. Upon opening she saw Narsas infront of her fighting Hermes away from her. Kishara yelped each time the swords clashed. Rezzana was maddening as she watched her friends nightmare unfold. She ripped her sword back to life as Zante came chargiΩng out of the room. She saw Daryun on the floor holding his head. She screamed and leapt at Zante, showing a little more care for the life of the General then comrades would've in battle. He deflected her sword with his as he called to his master.
"The window, my King!" Zante pushed Rezzana back as she charged him again. He ran toward the open window. Hermes followed.
Arslan awoke and ran into the hall. He arived just in time to see Hermes pull Kishara closer to him and the window that Zante had just left from.
"KISHARA! Please put her down. . ." Kishara saw Arslan's eyes tear up. She saw the tiredness in his spirit, but the insane glint in his eyes still remained. Kishara began to panic and pull away.
"ARSLAN!" Kishara found her inner strength and ripped away. She ran for Arslan. His face turned overwhelmingly happy as his arms opened to welcomer her into them. Before his finger tips could brush the soft skin of her armQ she was wrenched back by an armored hand into the grip of an impatient Silvermask.
"Now she will pay for you, and your father's crimes. If you wish to cleanse her sin before I do...Come to my desert camp in the south desert, come alone and take responisbilty for the lie your father started with my father's blood. No tricks or Nekotan's queen will be mine, and then god's."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Arslan's scream nearly pushed Hermes out the window. He fliped back with Kishara in his arms. He landed on the ground below. He stood and sruggled with his cargo for one second. The group above watched helpless as he mounted his horse. He struck the queen hard when she tried to fight back. Kishara fell limp onto his lap as he rode off. Arslan's painfilled screams could be heard miles into the desert.