Last Chappie. Sorry, but it seems to be dragging on.

Dedications:

First off, I just want to specifically thank Wake-Robin for their reviews. I honestly wouldn't have written so bloody much on this story if they hadn't been there. I always knew I would get at least on review per chapter from Wake-Robin. Thank you!

Secondly, AngelAnimeFan, Lady Bee and Midnight Unicorn. You guys are right up there with Wake-Robin. I love reading your reviews, and hey, if your interested, I write HP fanfics too! Lol. I might start a new TP Fic, just so I can read your reviews again. I'll miss you, and I never really even spoke to you!!!!

The rest of the people I LOVE:

Carmen(Random Numbers), Warrior of Destiny, Ophelia-Waterhouse, and psycho Lioness 13. You guys were great. Thank you.

FreakShow, Xiko, Bookgoddess, Monu, Anasha, Alanna*geek*, afro soak, wild goddess, Lana and Me. You all made me feel so much better when I signed onto MSN to see a bunch of new random reviewers that I could look forwards to hearing from.

LOVE YOU ALL TONS!!!!

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Lera stepped into the joy sucking darkness of the chamber. Her ordeal began.

The scrapping of the huge door against the cobblestone floor sent chills rushing through her. Darkness engulfed her. No sound cam as she lowered herself into a corner of the room. Nothing happened. Her breath came quickly and she could hear ringing that wasn't there. She feared this. It knew her fear of nothingness. She couldn't feel heat, or pressure. She could taste nothing in the air, sense no emotions. Suddenly Saban came forth, holding a torch.

"You don't know how long I have waited in the depths of the darkness of this horror. Waited for you." His voice dripped with loathing. Lera scrambled to her feet, drawing her sword from its sheath. She longed to scorn him. But all was forgiven.

'I don't fear you.' She thought, loudly. He seemed to have heard her, for he cocked his head, a leer plastered on his lips.

"I don't think you heard me, dearie." He scratched his scalp and stepped into a beam of light, coming from nowhere. "I waited here. After they healed me. You see. You missed my heart. Punctured my liver. I was in a coma for five weeks. But I did heal. I came to the chamber. I waited for you. For years, I snuck out and ate then snuck back in with nothing to do but wallow in my fears. You think an hour in the chasms of this hell is bad? Try years. Counts days, the minutes slipping by like sand in an hour glass, only not nearly as fast. I was slowly beaten at by this chambers walls, its powers. But alas. I am still alive. And able enough to kill you."

Lera withdrew a breath sharply. She didn't speak. He whispered to the walls, pressing his hands flat against their coarse surface. She could hear the lecherous hiss of his words drifting through the silence. They filled her mind.

He drew his sword in unison with hers, the ringing of the metal as it was pulled from it's sheath echoing in the hollow room. Lera stepped forth, meeting his challenge. 'I killed you once, I'll do it again.' She thought, brining her sword to his and squatting into the starting stance. Saban moved with the liquid grace of a spirit, causing Lera to wonder whether he was indeed still alive, or if he had passed on in the depths of the darkness in which they now fought.

The only sounds to be heard were the clinking of their blades as the smashed together rapidly, nipping through the air, whistling around them. Lera could hear her feet padding against the stone floor as she pivoted and shuffled, keeping her balance. His ever strike, and her every block jarred her arm. Soon it was numb and Lera gritted her teeth, biting her tongue. It was all she could do to keep from dropping her blade.

Time stopped. Lera could see his blade lunging towards her unblocked chest. As if in slow mode, she twisted, avoiding it, and dropped to one knee. She slammed her blade home. Blood trickled down the length of her sword and dripped off her elbows. She didn't move. Neither did Saban. She could hear his gurgling gasps as he fell to the ground, run through with her sword. Lera stood, peering down at him. She dipped her head.

Closing her eyes and sliding down the wall, Lera was oblivious to what went on around her. She thought she could hear the sound of bats, fluttering above her, but she didn't so much as shudder. She relaxed against it's walls.

'You cant beat me.' She thought, clasping her hands before her eyes to keep from bringing the horrors to life.

Suddenly all went silent.

'I cant.' The chamber whispered, its words flowing through her mind. 'You are right. I cannot. Go from this room, knowing you have earned what ever is to come. You are the one, the first, the only to have bested my powers. You must tell no one. For you are truly from the gods.'

'From the gods?' Lera asked, brushing her legs as she stood, light streaming from the door as it was pushed open.

'Yes. The gods.'

Lera stepped into the light, a roar of clapping going through the hall. She blinked, her eyes unadjusted to the brightness. People swarmed around her. She couldn't see. Or move. Her arm was numb from her duel with Saban.

"Wait!" Someone called. Lera turned on her heel. Saban's body was dragged from the chamber. Lera didn't move. She didn't know what happened. "We shouldn't be able to find this." He looking at Lera.

"He." She coughed, swallowing a few times, her voice hoarse. "He waited for me there. Since I killed him the first time." She staggered them fell, hitting the floor like a rock in a pond.

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Lera rubbed her wrists, blinking at the floor. The cold steel of the kings sword tapped her shoulders lightly and his voice rang out through the palace.

"Sir, Lady Leralinda Quirana of Sharta."

Lera rose and turned to the audience, her eyes wet with emotion. So many years. SO many trying years. And what now. She saw Carlyn in the crowd, towering over everyone else. He didn't say anything. But his eyes said everything.

Oblivious to everyone around her, Lera ran across the room and wrapped her arms around Carlyn's neck. She pressed her lips against his, feeling as if nothing was so right. He looped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. Lera's heart pulsed and she could feel his beating through his chest, in unison with hers. She could sense she heat that fizzed through her, starting at their locked lips.

Lera was vaguely aware of the thunderous applause and the hoots and cat calls echoing around them. She opened her eyes and peered into Carlyn's blue ones. Their foreheads and noses still pressing together.

"I don't want to let go." She whispered, smiling softly

He shook his head. "Don't."

Lera blinked slowly at him. She wondered if he could feel her eyelashes. Her heart was racing and she felt like she was in a fairy tale.

"Marry me?" he asked, below his breath. Lera didn't move. She didn't know what to say.

"Yes." The answer was simple. The promise lasted forever.

"To a new beginning." Carlyn wrapped his hand behind her head, cradling her in his palms, his fingers entwined in her hair. He brought her to him and kissed passionately, ignoring his friends. Lera smiled against his mouth. He pulled away, staring into her eyes, grinning back.

"I love you Lady Knight."