A/N: And good triumphs over evil! Oops...have i said too much? R&R please!

Chapter 25

I heard Jem cry out as I collapsed. Numbly, I felt his hands on either one of my shoulders. He placed my head in his lap. I couldn't hear him very clearly, but I knew he was frantic.

I felt heat draining out of me. I was getting colder by the second.

I murmured, but I'm not even sure what I meant to say. I could hear him sobbing.

"No, El, stay awake!" I heard him say. "Don't leave!"

With tremendous effort, I lifted my head and kissed his cheek. My eyelids fell shut, and I felt more heat leave me.

"NO!" Jem yelled. I felt him smooth hair from my forehead and he planted a kiss on my cheek. He kissed my nose, forehead and cheeks and I felt his tears fall onto my face. He then kissed my lips very, very softly. I almost didn't feel it. Warmth spread through my face.

Warmth?

Slowly, my whole body began to warm, as if small fires were flowing through my veins.

Finally, my eyelids fluttered open. Jem looked at me, so startled that I smiled weakly at the sight.

"Hi," I whispered. His face was blotchy, but he was still his handsome self. I had missed him so much.

Chris came stumbling through the trees.

"El, Jem," he panted. "Where-what-what is going on?"

"We'll explain later," I said. "Right now, we've got some things to take care of."

Jem took my hand and we walked out of the forest. We'd face Augusta together.

The courtyard was freezing. A cold moon shone down on the frost covered gardens. Jem gave me his cloak, which was considerably warmer.

The ground between us began to shudder. We stopped suddenly and looked down. The soil was parting and long, twisted thorn branches grew rapidly in between us. The thorns grew at least 20 feet high, so sharp that even the slightest touch drew blood. I could in no way pass the murderous wall. The castle was behind me, and Jem was trapped backed only by trees.

I heard shrill laughter come through the ugly plant.

"I must say, this whole performance of yours was quite entertaining, your highness. But show time's over."

There was a great hissing noise and I watched, horrified. A dragon had materialized on the other side of the thorns, so huge I could actually see it's ugly head protrude over the prickly wall.

I heard Jem's arrows clank uselessly against the dragon's scaly hide as I searched for a weak spot in the wall.

I heard him scream after a loud roar from the dragon.

"Jem!" I yelled. I grabbed the thorns, sharp as they were, and pulled them apart. I struggled through the plant, prying away branches with my bare hands; my filthy gown was being torn to even more pieces as well as my flesh. Finally I reached the other side.

Jem was on the ground, his cloak on fire. He was clutching his leg and his face was contorted in pain.

"El! How did you-"he stopped while I ripped off his cloak and threw it onto the wall of dry thorns while it was still alight. I helped him up and he leaned on my shoulder for support.

The dragon looked at me, bewildered, then it's fiery gaze returned. It inhaled, ready to exhale a blazing sheet of death.

But Jem was too quick.

Together we picked up his sword, put all of our remaining strength behind it, and threw so hard we both tumbled over backwards. The last sight I had before I passed out was of Augusta, lying in a heap with a raven sitting on her back, pecking at her dead flesh.