-Yorda's Battles-
By Julie Danskin (Invader Jed)
Chapter 19 - Light and Shadow -
Author's note: AAAAARGGHHHHH! This is the second last chapter, well actually LAST chapter because it's only an epilogue after this! AAAAARGH! Don't want it to end! Noooooo! Oh well, I'll go play with the monkey. And eat tacos. I like tacos.
Ahem. Yes.
So, I have written the chapter which the story has been anticipating, it's all come down to this and will be expressed in one, probably quite long chapter. I hope it SATISFIES YOUR GREAT DESIRES and ends how you hoped it would. Sob! It's been so cool writing this.
Anyway, on with the chapter. As a reminder, last chapter, Giannias and Keoden killed Biocha (noooooo who would write that? Oh, hang on . . . ) and Keoden was about to kill Yorda when Ico bounded like a merry marsupial into the room. With a sword. Okay, maybe not such a merry marsupial, more of a - um - angry ex-horned kid? No sorry he's not a kid anymore!
WOO! Go Ico!
Hang, on, I know what happens!
Ohhh yeaahh . . . ^__^
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The pupils in Keoden's cold unfeeling eyes dilated as he saw Ico standing in the doorway, clutching his sword. He stormed into the room and slammed the door behind him, no one was going out until this was over. The boy had decided that. Either he would die or Keoden would die. That was the way it was. Giannias was a pawn in this that had played his part and would suffer the consequences.
The look on the boy's tanned face was enough to make Keoden wince, but only quickly, when he regrouped his emotions and found himself again. He was a prince, he'd been trained in combat since he had arrived at the castle, he could handle this peasant. That's all he was.
Ico took a step forward, staring Keoden hard in the face. His eyes shot to Yorda, her head back and a small trickle of blood creeping down her neck. Ico felt his stomach churn unpleasantly as he realised he hated Keoden. He hadn't been brought up to hate, not by his biological mother nor Kiassa. He had been brought up to forgive, but Keoden . . . he could never forgive Keoden, he need only look at Yorda to tell him that.
Yorda . . .
If only he had gotten here sooner, if only he had ridden faster and not stopped to wonder about whether he should go into the castle or not. The servant in the garden clearing up the wedding things had told him that the three had gone up with Biocha to speak about an important matter. Ico didn't know why, but his instincts led him to this room.
Biocha . . .
The man that had been Ico's, and especially Siania's friend lay dead and bleeding undignified on the floor, sprawled on the ground, his head propped up by the wall. Ico swallowed feelings of anger, betrayal and unfairness mixing with guilt forcibly, and forced his eyes to meet Giannias'.
That worm. He had attacked Yorda, threatened her, given her no choice but to submit to his will, or rather, Keoden's. They were all just little pawns in the prince's big game of chess to the throne. Yorda was the biggest obstacle he had had to overcome, until Ico had come along. Ico had found his feelings for Yorda and vice versa, creating a disturbance of trust between her and Keoden when Ico had told her about the plan.
How young he had seemed then, how silly and naive, he had been here for Sai then, now he realised he had come for Yorda all along, that he had unknowingly come to find her, like fate. Ico had never believed in fate before, but his love for the Princess of Light and Shadow had driven him to emotions he had never before felt plausible. Yorda was dangerous, and he loved her. Keoden was deadly, and he hated him. Fate was testing Ico, teasing him, like an exam he had been training for without knowing it. And this was it, right in front of him.
Keoden, Giannias, Ico. An inevitability that each had hoped would be avoided. Each one stood in the way of something for someone. Ico stood in the way between Yorda for Keoden and Giannias, Keoden stood in the way for Giannias being able to keep the throne, and now, right now, Giannias was standing in between Keoden and Ico who were staring at one another with absolute loathing.
Ico's brow was as low as it was possible for it to be, and watched his only love lying helplessly in the chair with Keoden standing over her. Keoden caught Ico looking at her and smirked horribly, making Ico shudder briefly.
"Come on then, peasant boy," Keoden snarled, "If she's so precious to you, if it's meant to be, I won't be able to stand in your dirty little way."
Ico growled and started forward across the large room towards Keoden and Yorda, when Giannias stepped out half-way across the chamber. The man put a hand on Ico's chest haltingly, and they stared each other down. These two had been competing for Yorda's affection, and she had chosen the one who she loved, the peasant boy, the poor boy that had once saved her life. But it wasn't a pity based relationship.
It was, as Ico now thought, fate.
God, it was ironic.
"Giannias," Ico snarled.
"Boy," Giannias returned.
"My name is Ico," Ico told him coldly, "Now step out of the way before I kill you."
"I'd like to see you try." Giannias challenged.
Ico's heart sank. But there was no other way. Giannias would kill him without another thought.
'Come on, Ico.' He urged himself.
"Very well," Ico replied, and lifted his sword. Giannias did likewise and they stood for a couple of seconds before attacking, Ico's improved skills far outstanding the slow and clumsy Giannias.
Ico knocked the man to his knees very easily and his watery eyes began to bubble.
"Oh God, I don't want to die, I was never willingly apart of this, Ico, I never wanted to hurt Yorda I was dragged into it, he threatened my family . . . " Giannias pleaded, and Ico could only pity him for his patheticness.
"You have no family, coward," Keoden retorted from the other side of the room, leaning on the chair Yorda was in.
"Oh Ico please, don't kill a man on his knees begging for forgiveness, please, I'm a good man, really-" Giannias gabbled, and Ico pulled him to his feet angrily.
"Die like a man fighting me or run out of that door and don't come back," Ico growled, and Giannias, unsurprisingly, headed for the door. Ico turned to face Keoden, beginning to walk across the room once more. Then:
"FOOLISH PEASANT BOY!" Giannias yelled from behind him, and Ico's mind was a blur as he spun around to meet Giannias' dagger soaring towards him. Ico hit it away with his larger sword, watching the smaller weapon fly against the wall and clang on the floor. He gripped his sword and plunged it into Giannias' ribs. He had given him a second chance yet the coward who was going to stab Ico in the back had not heeded his advice and had paid a fine price for the consequence.
The man fell back into an unpleasant heap on the ground, blood seeping out of his skin and staining his clothes. Ico swallowed back his disgust and forced his eyes to Keoden, trying not to stare at Yorda lying at his mercy, useless in the chair. Something told Ico the prince would not be as easy to defeat as Giannias.
"You could have avoided this, boy," Keoden snarled, "you could have ridden back to your dirty little village with all your little cursed friends and stayed there with your sister waiting for me to come and kill you for all the trouble you caused."
"You were going to kill me anyway!" Ico cried, rage taking place of anger, he was long past common sense, "You made Yorda believe you were going to let me and Siania go free, but really you were planning on killing us anyway!"
"Clever boy," Keoden nodded, "And Yorda knows too. She is going to die knowing that no matter what she did, she couldn't have saved you or your precious foster sister. You have just shortened your life expectancy, and will die today, right now. Or will I make you watch Princess - oh, Queen Yorda die first?"
"She is not a Queen until she is married to someone she loves," Ico snarled, "Forcing her to become one is just cowardly. But that suits you, doesn't it, Keoden? Anything it takes to get the crown!"
"I have more to offer the people than Yorda-"
"Liar! And you know it. Without Yorda, this city, and then the island, then all the islands, will fall. Darkness will reign, so you can't even control your shadow demons!"
Keoden's face turned scarlet as he searched his hate-filled mind for a comeback. He hadn't been expecting this. He was just a boy, a peasant boy. Why was he letting this delinquent twist his arm so?
"And the crown Yorda wears bears no appeal to you!" Keoden challenged, "Who's to say you weren't just using her to get your sorry self up to a respectable status of oh say a King?"
"The only appeal Yorda's crown bears on me is that it makes her eyes shimmer beautifully," Ico replied calmly, "Have you never noticed? When she wears it, it brings out her eyes."
Keoden frowned.
"Simple boy. You're younger than her! Nearly three years!"
"What does that matter?"
"A woman older than a man - it just doesn't fit!"
"Why not? Why shouldn't Yorda love me if I'm younger or less important than her? We were meant to be together, which is why I turned back, it's why I came to stop you killing her! No one can stop what we have, not you, not the city, not the world!" He looked at Yorda, "Not even she can keep us apart, no matter how she tries, we're made for each other."
"I've had enough of this."
"Then go and never come back. I give you the same chance I gave Giannias. Make your choice wisely, Keoden, and don't underestimate me. I may not be a prince, but I was trained well."
"We'll see."
Ico scowled and tensed his shoulders, preparing himself for the fight of his life. This would be nothing like killing Giannias or a wild animal, this was holding his life, Siania's life, his family's life in the winning pile. Not forgetting Yorda's life.
Never forgetting Yorda's life.
It was up to him, a peasant, to save it. A peasant that loved a Princess, a Queen, whatever she was he loved her, he always had, he knew that now, and this man could not stand in the way of what they had. He couldn't allow him to, it couldn't end like this, he had only just found Yorda again, it wasn't fair, how could emotions come so easily. Emotions that flooded him, immersed him, drowned him. All because of her.
Ico gripped his sword tightly and took a few steps forward tentatively, his body stiff and angry. Ico knew now Keoden would never back down until he was dead. Ico's opponent unsheathed his sword and drew it across Yorda's forearm. The scratch shed blood but it wasn't life threatening. It made Ico's throat dry to see her bleeding, and Keoden was getting a kick out of seeing Ico writhe.
"What's wrong, simpleton?" Keoden sneered, "Not like blood? Make you feel sick?"
Ico looked up, staring Keoden straight in the eyes.
"No." he replied, "You do."
"Owch!" sniggered Keoden, "Come on, show me how much you hate me. Cut me into pieces, stab me in the heart if you can."
"You don't have one." Ico snarled, and Keoden shrugged and stepped forward.
They circled each other, not taking an eye off of either one. There was nothing but hatred and Yorda between them. The inevitability that was coming hit Ico just then. Brows furrowed, muscles tensed, swords ready, adrenaline rushing, the two young men flung themselves at each other and their swords clanged. Keoden threw Ico off balance but he maintained it, attacking Keoden from side to side, but the prince hadn't lied, he had been trained well. But then so had Ico.
"Not bad," Keoden snarled, "But I've never lost a sword fight."
"From how you're doing I'd say that's because it's your first," Ico retorted, and struck a nerve, as Keoden roared and put more force into his attack. They fought back and forth along the room, up, clang, down, clang, left, clang, up, clang, right, clang, down, clang, up clang . . .
They could have gone on forever if they weren't human and tired. Neither would give up, neither would let a weak blow strike or a faulty evasion occur. They were locked in fierce combat, one that made Ico a little daunted. He wished Yorda were out of the room, shut safetly in another without any knowledge of this happening. She could wake up at any minute, but then if he didn't pay attention, she may not have a chance to wake again.
'The island bathes in the sun's bright rays, distant hills wear a shroud of grey.
The lonely breeze whispers in the trees, sole witness to history.
Fleeting memories rise from the shadows of my mind
Sing "nonomori" - endless corridors
Say "nonomori" - hopeless warriors
You were there
You were there
Am I forever dreaming
How to define the way I'm feeling?
You were there
Countless visions they haunt me in my sleep
You were there
Though forgotten all promises we keep
Slaves to our destiny, I recall a melody
Sing "nonomori" - seasons lit with gold
Say "nonomori" - legends yet untold
You were there
You were there
Happiness follows sorrow, only believing in tomorrow
You were there
Countless visions they haunt me in my sleep
You were there
Though forgotten all promises we keep
The island bathes in the sun's bright rays, distant hills wear a shroud of grey
A lonely breeze whispers in the trees
Sole key to this mystery'
Remembering the song Yorda had once sang to him, so long ago, it strengthened him, and he pushed Keoden away, then jumped onto the sofa. Keoden flew at him and they were both standing on the cushions, swords poised for attack again.
"Give up now, boy, and I'll kill you quickly." Keoden promised.
"My name is Ico," Ico replied, and launched an attack in response to Keoden's offer.
* * *
Yorda, the numbness disappearing, felt a pain in her arm. She tried to ignore it, trying to return to her dream of her and Ico together at last with everyone happy and Keoden good.
Keoden. He had once been good and compassionate. Maybe he had even once loved his sister, she didn't know. Her family had been a disaster, her father died of a disease, her mother died by Ico's hand, and Keoden -
She opened her eyes wearily and looked at her arm, bleeding. She didn't wonder what happened to it to make it bleed as she noticed that Keoden was fighting Ico. They were standing on the couch, their swords lashing at each other. She didn't know the big heavy weapons could move so fast, and it made her feel a little nervous.
She looked over to Biocha lying in the corner, and then to Giannias, covered in blood and so very still. Yorda's stomach churned, and yet she knew it was Ico that had done it. He had come in, she had fainted, and he had killed Giannias and was fighting Keoden. Would he kill Keoden, too? Would he be able to? Her mind was fuzzy, she might have been drugged, she couldn't think properly.
It was then that Keoden shot out his foot and Ico tripped in the folds of the cushion, and fell. He banged his head off the arm rest and groaned as it was wooden. Ico seemed dazed as if not quite sure that the fight was over, and his enemy was standing over him victoriously.
"A good fighter, boy, I'll give you that, but your time is up. You lasted well." Keoden was saying nastily, and Yorda was confused.
So confused.
What should she do? Ico would die if she didn't do anything, wouldn't he? Keoden wasn't going to step back and help him up, not even to fight again. He was going to kill Ico, but why? Was Keoden wanting revenge for Giannias' death? Why wasn't anything clear anymore?
Then Keoden put his blade to Ico's chest and said some words she couldn't hear. After a blurred moment, she made out "Long live the Queen", and suddenly everything was clear. Keoden was taunting Ico and there was nothing he could do. But there was something Yorda could do, there was, wasn't there? She forced herself to her feet and scrambled as quietly as she could over to Keoden, who hadn't noticed her. She clambered up onto the sofa and he sensed her presence.
Ico opened his closed, ready eyes to see Yorda leaping onto Keoden's back defiantly, pounding at her brother's back furiously. Ico scrambled to his feet and grabbed his sword. Keoden was swinging Yorda backwards and forwards, she had her hands over his eyes and he was yelling out. Ico stood dazed and confused for a few seconds, then came into focus.
"YORDA!" he yelled, and she looked up.
"Ico . . . " she murmured, "I lo-"
Keoden used the couple of seconds she was off guard to throw her off his back and fling her against the wall, where she banged her head and fell down on the floor heavily.
"YORDA!" Ico cried again, and attempted to run to her, but Keoden's sword blocked his path, held out by his enemy's outstretched arm.
"Don't think so, Ico," sneered Keoden, and Ico growled, throwing himself at Keoden again, the swords clashing continuously. Why didn't anyone come to help? Anger and desperation to save the one he loved flooded Ico, giving him a sudden spurt of extra strength. It made the heavy sword lighter and he seized the moment and held it, tilting the sword back and plunging it into Keoden's chest.
Not quite believing, not quite trusting, Ico drew his sword from the prince and watched him fall. Ico knelt down and kicked both the swords away. Keoden choked and coughed up blood, Ico bit his lip.
"You - you beat me," Keoden whispered harshly, "You were the first one who ever - it doesn't matter now, does it?"
Ico shook his head numbly.
"No," Ico said softly, "No. It doesn't matter. Go to sleep."
"Yes," Keoden murmured pleasantly, "Sleep. I'll sleep forever . . . "
The prince's heart stopped, and the Spirit threat stopped as the evilness the Queen had held over Keoden could not spread any further. The wilderness would be safe to ride in, food would be varied more as more land could be used and cities could at last grow.
But none of that mattered to Ico right at that moment.
He rushed over to Yorda as fast as his limbs could carry him and cradled her head in his lap.
"Yorda!" he cried, "Yorda, are you okay? Speak to me, Yorda. Just speak!"
Yorda's eyes opened sleepily.
"Sarro . . . marri . . . " she muttered happily, and fell into darkness again, but not for long.
She was free.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: WWWAAARGGHH! I finished! Well, there's the aftermath in the epilogue next chapter which will be up shortly as it should just be quite short, but WHEEE MAN! I finished the story! I never finish stories! I'm so proud of myself! Thank yous will be in the next chapter, or epilogue, or whatever.
breathes heavily (hyperventilates)
I . . . finished . . .
Now review it! I NEEEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!!!!!!
Review!
By Julie Danskin (Invader Jed)
Chapter 19 - Light and Shadow -
Author's note: AAAAARGGHHHHH! This is the second last chapter, well actually LAST chapter because it's only an epilogue after this! AAAAARGH! Don't want it to end! Noooooo! Oh well, I'll go play with the monkey. And eat tacos. I like tacos.
Ahem. Yes.
So, I have written the chapter which the story has been anticipating, it's all come down to this and will be expressed in one, probably quite long chapter. I hope it SATISFIES YOUR GREAT DESIRES and ends how you hoped it would. Sob! It's been so cool writing this.
Anyway, on with the chapter. As a reminder, last chapter, Giannias and Keoden killed Biocha (noooooo who would write that? Oh, hang on . . . ) and Keoden was about to kill Yorda when Ico bounded like a merry marsupial into the room. With a sword. Okay, maybe not such a merry marsupial, more of a - um - angry ex-horned kid? No sorry he's not a kid anymore!
WOO! Go Ico!
Hang, on, I know what happens!
Ohhh yeaahh . . . ^__^
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The pupils in Keoden's cold unfeeling eyes dilated as he saw Ico standing in the doorway, clutching his sword. He stormed into the room and slammed the door behind him, no one was going out until this was over. The boy had decided that. Either he would die or Keoden would die. That was the way it was. Giannias was a pawn in this that had played his part and would suffer the consequences.
The look on the boy's tanned face was enough to make Keoden wince, but only quickly, when he regrouped his emotions and found himself again. He was a prince, he'd been trained in combat since he had arrived at the castle, he could handle this peasant. That's all he was.
Ico took a step forward, staring Keoden hard in the face. His eyes shot to Yorda, her head back and a small trickle of blood creeping down her neck. Ico felt his stomach churn unpleasantly as he realised he hated Keoden. He hadn't been brought up to hate, not by his biological mother nor Kiassa. He had been brought up to forgive, but Keoden . . . he could never forgive Keoden, he need only look at Yorda to tell him that.
Yorda . . .
If only he had gotten here sooner, if only he had ridden faster and not stopped to wonder about whether he should go into the castle or not. The servant in the garden clearing up the wedding things had told him that the three had gone up with Biocha to speak about an important matter. Ico didn't know why, but his instincts led him to this room.
Biocha . . .
The man that had been Ico's, and especially Siania's friend lay dead and bleeding undignified on the floor, sprawled on the ground, his head propped up by the wall. Ico swallowed feelings of anger, betrayal and unfairness mixing with guilt forcibly, and forced his eyes to meet Giannias'.
That worm. He had attacked Yorda, threatened her, given her no choice but to submit to his will, or rather, Keoden's. They were all just little pawns in the prince's big game of chess to the throne. Yorda was the biggest obstacle he had had to overcome, until Ico had come along. Ico had found his feelings for Yorda and vice versa, creating a disturbance of trust between her and Keoden when Ico had told her about the plan.
How young he had seemed then, how silly and naive, he had been here for Sai then, now he realised he had come for Yorda all along, that he had unknowingly come to find her, like fate. Ico had never believed in fate before, but his love for the Princess of Light and Shadow had driven him to emotions he had never before felt plausible. Yorda was dangerous, and he loved her. Keoden was deadly, and he hated him. Fate was testing Ico, teasing him, like an exam he had been training for without knowing it. And this was it, right in front of him.
Keoden, Giannias, Ico. An inevitability that each had hoped would be avoided. Each one stood in the way of something for someone. Ico stood in the way between Yorda for Keoden and Giannias, Keoden stood in the way for Giannias being able to keep the throne, and now, right now, Giannias was standing in between Keoden and Ico who were staring at one another with absolute loathing.
Ico's brow was as low as it was possible for it to be, and watched his only love lying helplessly in the chair with Keoden standing over her. Keoden caught Ico looking at her and smirked horribly, making Ico shudder briefly.
"Come on then, peasant boy," Keoden snarled, "If she's so precious to you, if it's meant to be, I won't be able to stand in your dirty little way."
Ico growled and started forward across the large room towards Keoden and Yorda, when Giannias stepped out half-way across the chamber. The man put a hand on Ico's chest haltingly, and they stared each other down. These two had been competing for Yorda's affection, and she had chosen the one who she loved, the peasant boy, the poor boy that had once saved her life. But it wasn't a pity based relationship.
It was, as Ico now thought, fate.
God, it was ironic.
"Giannias," Ico snarled.
"Boy," Giannias returned.
"My name is Ico," Ico told him coldly, "Now step out of the way before I kill you."
"I'd like to see you try." Giannias challenged.
Ico's heart sank. But there was no other way. Giannias would kill him without another thought.
'Come on, Ico.' He urged himself.
"Very well," Ico replied, and lifted his sword. Giannias did likewise and they stood for a couple of seconds before attacking, Ico's improved skills far outstanding the slow and clumsy Giannias.
Ico knocked the man to his knees very easily and his watery eyes began to bubble.
"Oh God, I don't want to die, I was never willingly apart of this, Ico, I never wanted to hurt Yorda I was dragged into it, he threatened my family . . . " Giannias pleaded, and Ico could only pity him for his patheticness.
"You have no family, coward," Keoden retorted from the other side of the room, leaning on the chair Yorda was in.
"Oh Ico please, don't kill a man on his knees begging for forgiveness, please, I'm a good man, really-" Giannias gabbled, and Ico pulled him to his feet angrily.
"Die like a man fighting me or run out of that door and don't come back," Ico growled, and Giannias, unsurprisingly, headed for the door. Ico turned to face Keoden, beginning to walk across the room once more. Then:
"FOOLISH PEASANT BOY!" Giannias yelled from behind him, and Ico's mind was a blur as he spun around to meet Giannias' dagger soaring towards him. Ico hit it away with his larger sword, watching the smaller weapon fly against the wall and clang on the floor. He gripped his sword and plunged it into Giannias' ribs. He had given him a second chance yet the coward who was going to stab Ico in the back had not heeded his advice and had paid a fine price for the consequence.
The man fell back into an unpleasant heap on the ground, blood seeping out of his skin and staining his clothes. Ico swallowed back his disgust and forced his eyes to Keoden, trying not to stare at Yorda lying at his mercy, useless in the chair. Something told Ico the prince would not be as easy to defeat as Giannias.
"You could have avoided this, boy," Keoden snarled, "you could have ridden back to your dirty little village with all your little cursed friends and stayed there with your sister waiting for me to come and kill you for all the trouble you caused."
"You were going to kill me anyway!" Ico cried, rage taking place of anger, he was long past common sense, "You made Yorda believe you were going to let me and Siania go free, but really you were planning on killing us anyway!"
"Clever boy," Keoden nodded, "And Yorda knows too. She is going to die knowing that no matter what she did, she couldn't have saved you or your precious foster sister. You have just shortened your life expectancy, and will die today, right now. Or will I make you watch Princess - oh, Queen Yorda die first?"
"She is not a Queen until she is married to someone she loves," Ico snarled, "Forcing her to become one is just cowardly. But that suits you, doesn't it, Keoden? Anything it takes to get the crown!"
"I have more to offer the people than Yorda-"
"Liar! And you know it. Without Yorda, this city, and then the island, then all the islands, will fall. Darkness will reign, so you can't even control your shadow demons!"
Keoden's face turned scarlet as he searched his hate-filled mind for a comeback. He hadn't been expecting this. He was just a boy, a peasant boy. Why was he letting this delinquent twist his arm so?
"And the crown Yorda wears bears no appeal to you!" Keoden challenged, "Who's to say you weren't just using her to get your sorry self up to a respectable status of oh say a King?"
"The only appeal Yorda's crown bears on me is that it makes her eyes shimmer beautifully," Ico replied calmly, "Have you never noticed? When she wears it, it brings out her eyes."
Keoden frowned.
"Simple boy. You're younger than her! Nearly three years!"
"What does that matter?"
"A woman older than a man - it just doesn't fit!"
"Why not? Why shouldn't Yorda love me if I'm younger or less important than her? We were meant to be together, which is why I turned back, it's why I came to stop you killing her! No one can stop what we have, not you, not the city, not the world!" He looked at Yorda, "Not even she can keep us apart, no matter how she tries, we're made for each other."
"I've had enough of this."
"Then go and never come back. I give you the same chance I gave Giannias. Make your choice wisely, Keoden, and don't underestimate me. I may not be a prince, but I was trained well."
"We'll see."
Ico scowled and tensed his shoulders, preparing himself for the fight of his life. This would be nothing like killing Giannias or a wild animal, this was holding his life, Siania's life, his family's life in the winning pile. Not forgetting Yorda's life.
Never forgetting Yorda's life.
It was up to him, a peasant, to save it. A peasant that loved a Princess, a Queen, whatever she was he loved her, he always had, he knew that now, and this man could not stand in the way of what they had. He couldn't allow him to, it couldn't end like this, he had only just found Yorda again, it wasn't fair, how could emotions come so easily. Emotions that flooded him, immersed him, drowned him. All because of her.
Ico gripped his sword tightly and took a few steps forward tentatively, his body stiff and angry. Ico knew now Keoden would never back down until he was dead. Ico's opponent unsheathed his sword and drew it across Yorda's forearm. The scratch shed blood but it wasn't life threatening. It made Ico's throat dry to see her bleeding, and Keoden was getting a kick out of seeing Ico writhe.
"What's wrong, simpleton?" Keoden sneered, "Not like blood? Make you feel sick?"
Ico looked up, staring Keoden straight in the eyes.
"No." he replied, "You do."
"Owch!" sniggered Keoden, "Come on, show me how much you hate me. Cut me into pieces, stab me in the heart if you can."
"You don't have one." Ico snarled, and Keoden shrugged and stepped forward.
They circled each other, not taking an eye off of either one. There was nothing but hatred and Yorda between them. The inevitability that was coming hit Ico just then. Brows furrowed, muscles tensed, swords ready, adrenaline rushing, the two young men flung themselves at each other and their swords clanged. Keoden threw Ico off balance but he maintained it, attacking Keoden from side to side, but the prince hadn't lied, he had been trained well. But then so had Ico.
"Not bad," Keoden snarled, "But I've never lost a sword fight."
"From how you're doing I'd say that's because it's your first," Ico retorted, and struck a nerve, as Keoden roared and put more force into his attack. They fought back and forth along the room, up, clang, down, clang, left, clang, up, clang, right, clang, down, clang, up clang . . .
They could have gone on forever if they weren't human and tired. Neither would give up, neither would let a weak blow strike or a faulty evasion occur. They were locked in fierce combat, one that made Ico a little daunted. He wished Yorda were out of the room, shut safetly in another without any knowledge of this happening. She could wake up at any minute, but then if he didn't pay attention, she may not have a chance to wake again.
'The island bathes in the sun's bright rays, distant hills wear a shroud of grey.
The lonely breeze whispers in the trees, sole witness to history.
Fleeting memories rise from the shadows of my mind
Sing "nonomori" - endless corridors
Say "nonomori" - hopeless warriors
You were there
You were there
Am I forever dreaming
How to define the way I'm feeling?
You were there
Countless visions they haunt me in my sleep
You were there
Though forgotten all promises we keep
Slaves to our destiny, I recall a melody
Sing "nonomori" - seasons lit with gold
Say "nonomori" - legends yet untold
You were there
You were there
Happiness follows sorrow, only believing in tomorrow
You were there
Countless visions they haunt me in my sleep
You were there
Though forgotten all promises we keep
The island bathes in the sun's bright rays, distant hills wear a shroud of grey
A lonely breeze whispers in the trees
Sole key to this mystery'
Remembering the song Yorda had once sang to him, so long ago, it strengthened him, and he pushed Keoden away, then jumped onto the sofa. Keoden flew at him and they were both standing on the cushions, swords poised for attack again.
"Give up now, boy, and I'll kill you quickly." Keoden promised.
"My name is Ico," Ico replied, and launched an attack in response to Keoden's offer.
* * *
Yorda, the numbness disappearing, felt a pain in her arm. She tried to ignore it, trying to return to her dream of her and Ico together at last with everyone happy and Keoden good.
Keoden. He had once been good and compassionate. Maybe he had even once loved his sister, she didn't know. Her family had been a disaster, her father died of a disease, her mother died by Ico's hand, and Keoden -
She opened her eyes wearily and looked at her arm, bleeding. She didn't wonder what happened to it to make it bleed as she noticed that Keoden was fighting Ico. They were standing on the couch, their swords lashing at each other. She didn't know the big heavy weapons could move so fast, and it made her feel a little nervous.
She looked over to Biocha lying in the corner, and then to Giannias, covered in blood and so very still. Yorda's stomach churned, and yet she knew it was Ico that had done it. He had come in, she had fainted, and he had killed Giannias and was fighting Keoden. Would he kill Keoden, too? Would he be able to? Her mind was fuzzy, she might have been drugged, she couldn't think properly.
It was then that Keoden shot out his foot and Ico tripped in the folds of the cushion, and fell. He banged his head off the arm rest and groaned as it was wooden. Ico seemed dazed as if not quite sure that the fight was over, and his enemy was standing over him victoriously.
"A good fighter, boy, I'll give you that, but your time is up. You lasted well." Keoden was saying nastily, and Yorda was confused.
So confused.
What should she do? Ico would die if she didn't do anything, wouldn't he? Keoden wasn't going to step back and help him up, not even to fight again. He was going to kill Ico, but why? Was Keoden wanting revenge for Giannias' death? Why wasn't anything clear anymore?
Then Keoden put his blade to Ico's chest and said some words she couldn't hear. After a blurred moment, she made out "Long live the Queen", and suddenly everything was clear. Keoden was taunting Ico and there was nothing he could do. But there was something Yorda could do, there was, wasn't there? She forced herself to her feet and scrambled as quietly as she could over to Keoden, who hadn't noticed her. She clambered up onto the sofa and he sensed her presence.
Ico opened his closed, ready eyes to see Yorda leaping onto Keoden's back defiantly, pounding at her brother's back furiously. Ico scrambled to his feet and grabbed his sword. Keoden was swinging Yorda backwards and forwards, she had her hands over his eyes and he was yelling out. Ico stood dazed and confused for a few seconds, then came into focus.
"YORDA!" he yelled, and she looked up.
"Ico . . . " she murmured, "I lo-"
Keoden used the couple of seconds she was off guard to throw her off his back and fling her against the wall, where she banged her head and fell down on the floor heavily.
"YORDA!" Ico cried again, and attempted to run to her, but Keoden's sword blocked his path, held out by his enemy's outstretched arm.
"Don't think so, Ico," sneered Keoden, and Ico growled, throwing himself at Keoden again, the swords clashing continuously. Why didn't anyone come to help? Anger and desperation to save the one he loved flooded Ico, giving him a sudden spurt of extra strength. It made the heavy sword lighter and he seized the moment and held it, tilting the sword back and plunging it into Keoden's chest.
Not quite believing, not quite trusting, Ico drew his sword from the prince and watched him fall. Ico knelt down and kicked both the swords away. Keoden choked and coughed up blood, Ico bit his lip.
"You - you beat me," Keoden whispered harshly, "You were the first one who ever - it doesn't matter now, does it?"
Ico shook his head numbly.
"No," Ico said softly, "No. It doesn't matter. Go to sleep."
"Yes," Keoden murmured pleasantly, "Sleep. I'll sleep forever . . . "
The prince's heart stopped, and the Spirit threat stopped as the evilness the Queen had held over Keoden could not spread any further. The wilderness would be safe to ride in, food would be varied more as more land could be used and cities could at last grow.
But none of that mattered to Ico right at that moment.
He rushed over to Yorda as fast as his limbs could carry him and cradled her head in his lap.
"Yorda!" he cried, "Yorda, are you okay? Speak to me, Yorda. Just speak!"
Yorda's eyes opened sleepily.
"Sarro . . . marri . . . " she muttered happily, and fell into darkness again, but not for long.
She was free.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: WWWAAARGGHH! I finished! Well, there's the aftermath in the epilogue next chapter which will be up shortly as it should just be quite short, but WHEEE MAN! I finished the story! I never finish stories! I'm so proud of myself! Thank yous will be in the next chapter, or epilogue, or whatever.
breathes heavily (hyperventilates)
I . . . finished . . .
Now review it! I NEEEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!!!!!!
Review!