Part 26

Spent sowing a seed of doubt

Swords clashing and singing, Cammi dodged several of Altanion's blows and gave a few of his own. Lifting his sword he blocked another attack, and was starting to find it increasing difficult to hold him off, Altanion looked like he hadn't come close to breaking a sweat.

Thrown across the library again Cammi felt himself hit the wall hard and he let out a yelp and he slid down onto the floor beside his mother. She was still unconscious but she would be all right, and he wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. Shakily he stood up again, using the wall for support until he could stand on his own, and he saw Altanion gracefully walking over to him, his sword held high, ready to strike him again.

Cammi tried to raise his sword but found he couldn't lift it and he stared down at it pleadingly wishing beyond hope he had the strength to lift it again, but he was so exhausted. He felt his eyes water but he refused to cry, especially in front of Altanion and he gripped his sword tight till his knuckles turned white.

He stopped in his path, his sword in hand and he gazed at the boy. The boy was faltering, he was tired and he knew it but refused to give in, and Altanion smiled cruelly at the boy. Cammi was strong he could give him that, pity he chose not to join him while he had the chance now the boy would have to die a slow and most painful death.

"Give up Cammi, your no match for me" Altanion smiled triumphantly.

"Oh yeah, we'll just see about that, huh" Cammi replied.

Altanion smiled at the sight of Cammi, the boy was not going to give in even though he knew he was outmatched, he was going to fight till the end.

He watched as Altanion rose his sword again ready to strike at him, but he was not ready, he still didn't quite process just quite enough strength yet to lift his own sword and Cammi could only watch as Altanion sword descended upon him.

"NO!" a voice broke out, followed by a blast aimed for Altanion.

Cammi stared wide eyed at his enemy thrown across the room, and skidding along the floor, he turned to see his mother laid against the wall, her hand outstretched and she let it drop to her side and she smiled up at Cammi, satisfied at what she had done.

"It seems I underestimated you, Meloni" the two heard a voice penetrate the silence.

They turned to see Altanion now back on his feet, sword in hand, and an ugly sneer on his face.

"Nor will you get away with it" he said and in a split second he raised his hand and sent a fireball her way.

Shock and fear registered on her face, and Cammi felt helpless watching the sight. His strength was very much restored but he still couldn't quite lift his sword, and tears came to his eyes and he watched the fireball draw closer to his mother.

"Noooo!" screamed Cammi and lunged at the fireball.

Adrenaline pumping through his body he raised his sword, and struck the fireball that was only a mere inches from his mother and sent it into the nearby wall, causing the room to shake violently, and Cammi dropped his sword and took his mother in his arms, and covered her and himself from the explosion though once or twice he did outwardly wince and the fire seared his fur. Smoke filled his nostrils and Cammi looked up to see the fire had gone and all that remained was a black mark on the wall, and he immediately stood up, sword in hand, and he saw Altanion walk through the smoke.

"Altanion!" announced Cammi and ran through the smoke and attacked Altanion head on.

Altanion smiled victoriously seeing Cammi coming at him again, and he raised his sword, and their swords clashed again. Cammi strength had returned for the time being, but that would soon disparate, and they attacked and dodge each other, but Cammi was angry.

Angry that Altanion was showing no sign of weakness, angry at what he did to his mother, and angry at himself for nearly letting it happen.

He didn't show it, but he was worried, the boy's strength never seemed to lack and he wondered whether someone was helping him and he smiled at Cammi's anger. Cammi was his only enemy he had ever known to show so much hatred and anger through his eyes and actions, and he swung his sword.

Blocking Altanion's attack he felt the wind being knocked out of him, and looked up to meet Altanion's gaze and saw him smile evilly, baring his yellow stained teeth and he fell to the ground on his knees, gasping for air and Altanion removed his fist from his stomach. Despite that he was out of breath, he could the swish of Altanion's blade cutting through the air, and he raised his sword.

It all happened so fast it came as a shock to Cammi, and he raised his sword to defend himself and felt Altanion's sword crash down upon his with such a force that he could feel his arm shake, and the sound of metal cracking and breaking in two, and his blade fell to the floor with a clank.

His mouthed locked open with no sound coming out, Cammi stared speechless at his sword which lay shattered on the ground. Blinking as if slowly coming back to reality, he raised his head to look at his enemy in disbelief.

"Lalaith" whispered Cammi near despair.

"Pathetic!" roared Altanion in disgust, and he grasped Cammi's hair and yanked him up off the floor to look at him in the eye.

"To think that the supposed legendary knight now bows before me, practically begging for mercy" he laughed in Cammi's face, and shook him, causing Cammi to groan out in pain.

However despite the circumstance and situation Cammi was in, he too laughed and he felt Altanion freeze, his laughter died down, and he looked at him with suspicion wondering what could cause the boy to laugh so.

"I don't beg" Cammi replied in a shocked manner.

He didn't need to say anything, but watch to know that he had hit a nerve, and he saw Altanion's eye glistering dangerously and slowly turn into slits, and he could feel his grip tighten on his hair, and he began to shake in rage.

"Lalaith!" Cammi mentally screamed.

"If you can hear me, heed my words. I need your help. I have fought him with everything I know, and have nothing left to give, so if you can hear me…. please, help me" Cammi pleaded for her to listen, and he tightened his hold on the blade, and it pierced his skin, shedding blood.

Then thrown across the room by Altanion, Cammi skidded and rolled across the floor, until his back came into contact with the wall, he groaned in pain.

"Pathetic!" roared Altanion once more, and he strode over to the boy.

Unable to get up, his body feeling weak, Cammi simply closed his eyes awaiting his fate, and only hoping that Lalaith had heard him, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Standing over the young gummi, Altanion could see that the boy's strength was leaving him, and he watched as young Cammi continued to slip in and out of consciousness. Kicking him in his side, he emitted a small groan from Cammi, and he smiled with glee, that the young boy was in pain, though the sight to him was rather pathetic, the young boy could hardly stand.

Raising his sword in the air, he prepared himself to deliver the last blow and end it all, for it was only then he that he could continue with his plan and finish what Tarquan couldn't.

His sword raised high in the air, Altanion couldn't help but smile cruelly, baring his teeth, and his eyes sparkled for a moment, before then letting his sword descend rapidly upon the young gummi.

Then just as he was enjoying his moment of glory, the supposed legendary knight only seconds to being dead, a light so bright yet so pure shone in his eyes, and flooded the entire room, and his sword stopped in mid air, just above Cammi's head.

Snarling, he instinctively took a step back and he raised his gnarled ghostly hand to shield his eyes from the light, and he raised his sword in front of him to protect himself, though he knew of whom was here.

Livid and infuriated at whom had come, Altanion swung his cloak about him, and he disappeared with a pop, his goal destroyed, though Cammi would pay dearly for the next and hopefully the last time they meet.

A smile appeared on Lalaith's face at her success and she allowed her celestial light to tone down, until nothing remained of her celestial light. But as quick as it had come, the smile soon left her face, and she became serious once more, and she stared at the body of Meloni, Cammi's mother lying unconscious in the far end of the library, battered and bruised. Instantly she knew that Cammi's mother had suffered quite a torture with Altanion, and she let her eyes stray to middle of the room where her dear sweet Cammi laid, in despair. Her eyes turned sad at the resignation on his features, and he too lay unconscious.

Kneeling down so she was at Cammi's level, Lalaith brushed his hair out of his face

"Caso baku ei hu letum, Cammi. Herum ni veru. Caso baku ei hu letum. Donum din ui. Desi taku hope. Petu Cammi. Caso baku ei hu letum"

Sighing, she closed her eyes, and with a pop she disappeared with her two companions, leaving the library empty, save for the mess that had been caused by the sudden battle, and now left the library in a terrible state, with black scorch marks on the wall, bookcases and stairs destroyed into mere splinters, and stone pillar's lay on the floor snapped in two.

TBC…

Translation: "Come back to the light, Cammi. Hear my voice. Come back to the light. Don't give in. There's still hope. Please Cammi. Come back to the light.

Plz R&R!