[u]Part 43[/u]
The only thing Isabel knew when the light went out of Elizabeth's eyes was that she had to prevent her brother from reacting swiftly and without mercy. Somehow she knew that it would not be what Elizabeth would have wanted. His wife's murder could not be allowed to change her brother from what he was meant to be and if he was allowed to act within those first moments, there would be no stopping that. Lord Edmund's untried blood would be on his hands and while she knew that Max would be able to live with it, Elizabeth would not have wanted it.
They had failed Max's wife in every way so far. Isabel would not fail her now.
Lord Edmund and Tess would be punished for the loss of Antar's queen and it's heir, but it could not be at Max's hands. His entire reign would be blackened were his people not allowed to render justice on his behalf.
She was trying to control her own tears as she moved in front of him. "Max, stop. Think."
"Get out of my way Bella." His tone was even, so controlled that Isabel truly feared for what he planned to do to himself after he finished with Lord Edmund and Tess.
"Max! Think of Elizabeth. She would not want this," Isabel pleaded. "You know it in your heart. Everything she did was to protect you, to preserve your position, and if you do this - if you kill them without trying them first - we will never be able to go home."
His eyes met hers. She felt her heart break at the emptiness that existed there. "I am not going home Bella."
"Max!"
"Isabel, my wife is dead. They are going to pay for it." His voice gentled as he said quietly, "I have to do this Isabel. But worry not my sister. It will be justice. I will not sully her memory by having it any other way."
She bowed her head, finally understanding that her brother had absolutely no intention of letting go of his steadfast control. Not until he had accomplished this final act. "Very well."
Max kissed her gently on the forehead than moved past her, pulling the sword at his side from its scabbard. "Arm yourself," he told Lord Edmund, who was standing over Elizabeth's crumpled form, looking bemused, as though not quite understanding why he was still alive. Isabel realized that he had truly expected to die moments after Elizabeth, that he knew his king would never allow him to live and, yet, he had done it anyway.
"Max," Isabel called urgently. "Max, wait!" She hurried forward, grabbed her brother's arm. He shook her off impatiently.
"Isabel! If you cannot stop interfering, I command you to leave."
She blinked, unsure if he had ever before used that tone with her, but she refused to be swayed. "Max, he is ready to die for what he did. He is not going anywhere. We need answers my brother."
"Tess will provide them," Max snapped. He turned his head, looked at her directly. "Do not let her escape Bella."
Isabel looked over at the small blonde, astonished to see that she wasn't going anywhere. Sir Kyle had her firmly by the arm and had his dagger at her throat.
"Kyle!" She exclaimed in astonishment.
Sir Kyle glanced at her, then returned his steadfast gaze to the matter at hand before saying, "It's amazing really. Hatred has the most potent ability to counteract mind control." Isabel watched him tighten his grip on Tess, whose face was scrunched up in fury as she struggled to reestablish her power over Kyle. He pressed the knife closer against her skin, ordered her firmly, "Stop it you evil wench. You can't control me any longer."
Isabel could see that indeed it was true. Ironically, committing his father's murder had started Kyle back on the road to redemption and Elizabeth's death had completed the journey. He would not let Tess escape. And, when he was through with Lord Edmund, Max would make her talk. And Tess seemed to know it if the terror which was slowly dawning on her face was any indication.
"Arm yourself," Max repeated firmly, his sword now held at readiness.
Lord Edmund's confidence seemed to be returning though as he realized that Max had no intention of killing him in a fit of rage, that he was actually going to be able to defend himself. "Really Maxwell, you don't think you can beat me this way? I taught you everything you know."
Max did not flinch. "Isabel, get him his sword."
She hurried to comply, seeing Lord Edmund's jeweled weapon leaning against the cave wall near the pods. She moved towards their guardian, thrust the sword at him, hilt-first.
"Thank you Bella," he said, now sounding amused. "This is all unnecessary Max. You have to see that I could not allow her to live once I became aware that she carried a child. She was no longer merely a pawn and could not be left behind. The child might have served as a figurehead to some rebellion in the future. There can be no claimant to the throne other than Tess's."
"That is going to be slightly difficult to achieve," Max ground out. "Considering I would sooner bed every forest creature in a ten mile radius than my former betrothed."
Tess screeched in outrage, making Isabel struggle not to snort in horrified amusement. She wished that Max would end this farce quickly. The tension was becoming unbearable.
Lord Edmund sighed. "Very well then." He raised his sword. "If you insist on dying this way, when all I have done has been to secure your throne, than I am too tired to argue any longer."
However Max did not wait for his wife's killer to stop talking before he was on the offensive. Lord Edmund barely managed to block Max's first blow. Edmund stumbled backwards, almost tripping over Elizabeth's body. Isabel gasped in dismay, could feel Max's fury increase as his attention was refocused on the fact that Liz was really gone. He moved forward, grabbed Lord Edmund by the front of his tunic and thrust him away from his wife.
Isabel hurried over and gently eased Elizabeth away from the centre of the cave, out of the way of the two dueling men. Edmund was playing with Max now, using her brother's anger against him. Max had been more distracted by the sight of Elizabeth's body than was entirely normal. It was only then that Isabel understood that her brother had not yet looked directly at his dead wife. How could she have not realized it? He would not have been able to function at all had he truly looked at her.
And, indeed, that one glimpse of Elizabeth under Lord Edmund's feet was becoming Max's undoing. He was fighting valiantly, but his grief was slowly seeping through his veins, weakening him. Isabel could feel it through the connection that was still open between them.
The least she could do for her brother was to protect his wife's body and so she held Elizabeth tightly in her arms, watching the sword-fight continue, keeping her eyes on Tess, in case Kyle lost control of her, although there didn't appear to be any danger of that.
Isabel tried not to reflect on the fact that her queen was still warm. Tears filled her eyes, her grief for her sister-in-law finally cracking the shock she knew had been shielding her heart from the brunt of her despair over Elizabeth's loss. It was accentuated by the fact that she felt Max's grief mingling with her own.
It was in that instant, when she allowed herself to feel again, that she felt it. It came in the form of a flash, the sudden knowledge, but when she placed her hand at Elizabeth's neck, felt the pulse beating there, faint but absolutely there, she knew that it was true.
Elizabeth lived.
It was then that she made the mistake that she would regret for the rest of her life. Wanting to give her brother back his resolve, his hope, she called his name. "Max! She lives! She is still alive."
But instead of helping him, she ended up distracting him. He had been regaining the upper hand, swiping hard thrusts at Lord Edmund's torso, his gift for swordplay winning out over his momentary weakness and his guardian's experience. If she had just kept her mouth shut, her brother might have triumphed on his own.
As Isabel watched in horror, Max's attention jerked towards her, his flash of hope running through her simultaneously and Lord Edmund took advantage of his lack of attention, thrusting out one of his legs and tripping Max. The young king fell hard, jarring his sword out of his hand.
Instantly his enemy was upon him.
Lord Edmund clucked in disapproval, staring down at Max, who was now pinned at the neck under Edmund's sword. "I taught you better than that Maxwell. You do see why this girl was no good for you? Your preoccupation with her has proven to be your downfall."
Isabel could not bear to watch. She simply could not bear it. She turned her head and closed her eyes, sobs already wracking her body.
Even Tess screamed in horror as the final blow came.
**********************************************
Michael, still more than a mile away, felt his brother's anguish run through his entire body. It was so intense it almost knocked him right off his horse. He reined in his steed, closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and turned to Mary, who had pulled up beside him. Alexander was behind her, having finally been tracked down at the burnt out remnant of the chapel where Max and his Liz had exchanged their vows only days before. They had sent the shire's guard back to Nottingham, knowing that what was about to transpire had to be done in the utmost secrecy and had started to the pod chamber, Isabel's call still clear in Michael's mind.
And now they were too late.
How on God's green Earth was he going to tell them that Elizabeth was dead? They were both staring at him, their expressions trusting and hopeful, both now sure that their new friends were gifted with powers which would assure their victory, confident that the new relationships they had formed would see them through this betrayal by one of their own. But, in the end, treachery had won out.
Elizabeth was gone. Michael knew it absolutely, his bond with Maxwell and Isabel stronger now than it had ever been, aware as they were that because of Lord Edmund's perfidy, they were truly alone on this strange world.
But for a time they had not been. For a time one small lady - one Michael had been hard-pressed to trust at first - had created ties to this planet that he and his siblings were loathe to break. Tess had ruined it all and somehow he knew that it wasn't merely because she had been jealous. Jealousy and heartbreak he might have understood, but this went beyond it. Because what she had done to Max could not in any way be justified.
For the life of him, Michael just wish he could understand why. What had happened to his sister that she had become something so unrecognizable?
"What is wrong?" Mary asked quietly. Both she and Alexander were holding themselves very still, apparently aware now that something was amiss.
Michael swallowed, met her gaze. "Elizabeth."
Mary's eyes widened. Michael saw a tremor run through her slender body, felt a flash of love beyond anything he had ever experienced when her spine straightened and she said, "Let us go to them." Her confidence that they could survive this humbled him. Her compassion for them all when her own grief had to be staggering.Mary knew that they would blame themselves. What had he ever done right in this world to deserve this girl?
He glanced at Alexander, whose face was white, but who nodded resolutely. "Mary is right. We must hurry. She." He swallowed, pressed on. "She would want it. They won't know what to do. She would not want Max to do anything that would jeopardize his immortal soul."
But Michael did not hear this last. He jerked again, horror washing through him as Isabel somehow connected to him in an unguarded moment. He could feel his heart beating irregularly in his chest as he told them softly, "It is too late. It is done."
Elizabeth had been avenged. He knew it inherently. But it was only when they finally arrived at the pod chamber that he understood that no soul had been lost with the action. Rather, someone had been saved.
To be continued.
The only thing Isabel knew when the light went out of Elizabeth's eyes was that she had to prevent her brother from reacting swiftly and without mercy. Somehow she knew that it would not be what Elizabeth would have wanted. His wife's murder could not be allowed to change her brother from what he was meant to be and if he was allowed to act within those first moments, there would be no stopping that. Lord Edmund's untried blood would be on his hands and while she knew that Max would be able to live with it, Elizabeth would not have wanted it.
They had failed Max's wife in every way so far. Isabel would not fail her now.
Lord Edmund and Tess would be punished for the loss of Antar's queen and it's heir, but it could not be at Max's hands. His entire reign would be blackened were his people not allowed to render justice on his behalf.
She was trying to control her own tears as she moved in front of him. "Max, stop. Think."
"Get out of my way Bella." His tone was even, so controlled that Isabel truly feared for what he planned to do to himself after he finished with Lord Edmund and Tess.
"Max! Think of Elizabeth. She would not want this," Isabel pleaded. "You know it in your heart. Everything she did was to protect you, to preserve your position, and if you do this - if you kill them without trying them first - we will never be able to go home."
His eyes met hers. She felt her heart break at the emptiness that existed there. "I am not going home Bella."
"Max!"
"Isabel, my wife is dead. They are going to pay for it." His voice gentled as he said quietly, "I have to do this Isabel. But worry not my sister. It will be justice. I will not sully her memory by having it any other way."
She bowed her head, finally understanding that her brother had absolutely no intention of letting go of his steadfast control. Not until he had accomplished this final act. "Very well."
Max kissed her gently on the forehead than moved past her, pulling the sword at his side from its scabbard. "Arm yourself," he told Lord Edmund, who was standing over Elizabeth's crumpled form, looking bemused, as though not quite understanding why he was still alive. Isabel realized that he had truly expected to die moments after Elizabeth, that he knew his king would never allow him to live and, yet, he had done it anyway.
"Max," Isabel called urgently. "Max, wait!" She hurried forward, grabbed her brother's arm. He shook her off impatiently.
"Isabel! If you cannot stop interfering, I command you to leave."
She blinked, unsure if he had ever before used that tone with her, but she refused to be swayed. "Max, he is ready to die for what he did. He is not going anywhere. We need answers my brother."
"Tess will provide them," Max snapped. He turned his head, looked at her directly. "Do not let her escape Bella."
Isabel looked over at the small blonde, astonished to see that she wasn't going anywhere. Sir Kyle had her firmly by the arm and had his dagger at her throat.
"Kyle!" She exclaimed in astonishment.
Sir Kyle glanced at her, then returned his steadfast gaze to the matter at hand before saying, "It's amazing really. Hatred has the most potent ability to counteract mind control." Isabel watched him tighten his grip on Tess, whose face was scrunched up in fury as she struggled to reestablish her power over Kyle. He pressed the knife closer against her skin, ordered her firmly, "Stop it you evil wench. You can't control me any longer."
Isabel could see that indeed it was true. Ironically, committing his father's murder had started Kyle back on the road to redemption and Elizabeth's death had completed the journey. He would not let Tess escape. And, when he was through with Lord Edmund, Max would make her talk. And Tess seemed to know it if the terror which was slowly dawning on her face was any indication.
"Arm yourself," Max repeated firmly, his sword now held at readiness.
Lord Edmund's confidence seemed to be returning though as he realized that Max had no intention of killing him in a fit of rage, that he was actually going to be able to defend himself. "Really Maxwell, you don't think you can beat me this way? I taught you everything you know."
Max did not flinch. "Isabel, get him his sword."
She hurried to comply, seeing Lord Edmund's jeweled weapon leaning against the cave wall near the pods. She moved towards their guardian, thrust the sword at him, hilt-first.
"Thank you Bella," he said, now sounding amused. "This is all unnecessary Max. You have to see that I could not allow her to live once I became aware that she carried a child. She was no longer merely a pawn and could not be left behind. The child might have served as a figurehead to some rebellion in the future. There can be no claimant to the throne other than Tess's."
"That is going to be slightly difficult to achieve," Max ground out. "Considering I would sooner bed every forest creature in a ten mile radius than my former betrothed."
Tess screeched in outrage, making Isabel struggle not to snort in horrified amusement. She wished that Max would end this farce quickly. The tension was becoming unbearable.
Lord Edmund sighed. "Very well then." He raised his sword. "If you insist on dying this way, when all I have done has been to secure your throne, than I am too tired to argue any longer."
However Max did not wait for his wife's killer to stop talking before he was on the offensive. Lord Edmund barely managed to block Max's first blow. Edmund stumbled backwards, almost tripping over Elizabeth's body. Isabel gasped in dismay, could feel Max's fury increase as his attention was refocused on the fact that Liz was really gone. He moved forward, grabbed Lord Edmund by the front of his tunic and thrust him away from his wife.
Isabel hurried over and gently eased Elizabeth away from the centre of the cave, out of the way of the two dueling men. Edmund was playing with Max now, using her brother's anger against him. Max had been more distracted by the sight of Elizabeth's body than was entirely normal. It was only then that Isabel understood that her brother had not yet looked directly at his dead wife. How could she have not realized it? He would not have been able to function at all had he truly looked at her.
And, indeed, that one glimpse of Elizabeth under Lord Edmund's feet was becoming Max's undoing. He was fighting valiantly, but his grief was slowly seeping through his veins, weakening him. Isabel could feel it through the connection that was still open between them.
The least she could do for her brother was to protect his wife's body and so she held Elizabeth tightly in her arms, watching the sword-fight continue, keeping her eyes on Tess, in case Kyle lost control of her, although there didn't appear to be any danger of that.
Isabel tried not to reflect on the fact that her queen was still warm. Tears filled her eyes, her grief for her sister-in-law finally cracking the shock she knew had been shielding her heart from the brunt of her despair over Elizabeth's loss. It was accentuated by the fact that she felt Max's grief mingling with her own.
It was in that instant, when she allowed herself to feel again, that she felt it. It came in the form of a flash, the sudden knowledge, but when she placed her hand at Elizabeth's neck, felt the pulse beating there, faint but absolutely there, she knew that it was true.
Elizabeth lived.
It was then that she made the mistake that she would regret for the rest of her life. Wanting to give her brother back his resolve, his hope, she called his name. "Max! She lives! She is still alive."
But instead of helping him, she ended up distracting him. He had been regaining the upper hand, swiping hard thrusts at Lord Edmund's torso, his gift for swordplay winning out over his momentary weakness and his guardian's experience. If she had just kept her mouth shut, her brother might have triumphed on his own.
As Isabel watched in horror, Max's attention jerked towards her, his flash of hope running through her simultaneously and Lord Edmund took advantage of his lack of attention, thrusting out one of his legs and tripping Max. The young king fell hard, jarring his sword out of his hand.
Instantly his enemy was upon him.
Lord Edmund clucked in disapproval, staring down at Max, who was now pinned at the neck under Edmund's sword. "I taught you better than that Maxwell. You do see why this girl was no good for you? Your preoccupation with her has proven to be your downfall."
Isabel could not bear to watch. She simply could not bear it. She turned her head and closed her eyes, sobs already wracking her body.
Even Tess screamed in horror as the final blow came.
**********************************************
Michael, still more than a mile away, felt his brother's anguish run through his entire body. It was so intense it almost knocked him right off his horse. He reined in his steed, closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and turned to Mary, who had pulled up beside him. Alexander was behind her, having finally been tracked down at the burnt out remnant of the chapel where Max and his Liz had exchanged their vows only days before. They had sent the shire's guard back to Nottingham, knowing that what was about to transpire had to be done in the utmost secrecy and had started to the pod chamber, Isabel's call still clear in Michael's mind.
And now they were too late.
How on God's green Earth was he going to tell them that Elizabeth was dead? They were both staring at him, their expressions trusting and hopeful, both now sure that their new friends were gifted with powers which would assure their victory, confident that the new relationships they had formed would see them through this betrayal by one of their own. But, in the end, treachery had won out.
Elizabeth was gone. Michael knew it absolutely, his bond with Maxwell and Isabel stronger now than it had ever been, aware as they were that because of Lord Edmund's perfidy, they were truly alone on this strange world.
But for a time they had not been. For a time one small lady - one Michael had been hard-pressed to trust at first - had created ties to this planet that he and his siblings were loathe to break. Tess had ruined it all and somehow he knew that it wasn't merely because she had been jealous. Jealousy and heartbreak he might have understood, but this went beyond it. Because what she had done to Max could not in any way be justified.
For the life of him, Michael just wish he could understand why. What had happened to his sister that she had become something so unrecognizable?
"What is wrong?" Mary asked quietly. Both she and Alexander were holding themselves very still, apparently aware now that something was amiss.
Michael swallowed, met her gaze. "Elizabeth."
Mary's eyes widened. Michael saw a tremor run through her slender body, felt a flash of love beyond anything he had ever experienced when her spine straightened and she said, "Let us go to them." Her confidence that they could survive this humbled him. Her compassion for them all when her own grief had to be staggering.Mary knew that they would blame themselves. What had he ever done right in this world to deserve this girl?
He glanced at Alexander, whose face was white, but who nodded resolutely. "Mary is right. We must hurry. She." He swallowed, pressed on. "She would want it. They won't know what to do. She would not want Max to do anything that would jeopardize his immortal soul."
But Michael did not hear this last. He jerked again, horror washing through him as Isabel somehow connected to him in an unguarded moment. He could feel his heart beating irregularly in his chest as he told them softly, "It is too late. It is done."
Elizabeth had been avenged. He knew it inherently. But it was only when they finally arrived at the pod chamber that he understood that no soul had been lost with the action. Rather, someone had been saved.
To be continued.