Author's Note: Here we go. The chapter before the big climax. The chapter title references something, the same thing this chapter has a few ideas taken from. Revenge of the Sith, and the idea of two friends turned against each other, I used a few of the ideas from that (but no real direct quotes). The title is the name of the music track for the final battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin, but I felt it suited here.

The drama is piled on for this chapter, which I'm not normally very good at. So sorry if it's a bit crappy.

CHAPTER 56

THE BATTLE OF THE HEROES

Olose awoke with a jump. Arcadia slept peacefully next to him. Something was wrong. He could feel it. He got up slowly, as to not disturb his wife, and walked over to the nearby cot. Talia slept peacefully, undisturbed. He smiled warmly. But something was wrong. It felt as if the air hung heavily around him. Trouble was coming. He quickly slipped into his trousers and threw on his shirt and brown jacket, strapping his sword hilt to his belt. He knew he was much better off trusting his instincts.

He ran down the stairs quickly of the main hall, and saw Nadia stood before him. Arcadia's manor was huge, and the main hallway had balconies jutting out around it, as well as the main raised platform the stairs had led from. Nadia looked dwarfed in the middle of it all.
"Nadia? What's wrong?" He quickly whispered. He didn't pick up any foul scent, but he just had a feeling.

"Nothing Olose." Nadia answered. "I actually think things are finally going to be put right."

"What?" Olose asked, confused, and still sleepy. Nadia drew a silver sword from her scabbard. "What are you doing, Nadia?" He quickly questioned.

"You got away with it for a long time Olose, but I found you out." She growled.

"Found out what?" Olose asked in confusion.
"You dare stand there and pretend you don't know?" She yelled, lunging at him. Olose jumped back, quickly drawing his sword.

"Nadia! What the hell are you doing?" Olose bellowed.

"Getting revenge for Norg." She smiled.

"Norg? What? What's that got to do with attacking me?" Olose asked in shock.

"For Altana's sake Olose, stop playing dumb! I know. Abaj told me." She laughed.
"Abaj?" Olose cried. "Abaj is alive?"

"Unlucky, huh? He happens to be your Leader friend." She smirked, swinging in for Olose's head. Olose blocked the blade and jumped back once more, trying to put distance between himself and Nadia.

"Stop this!" He yelled. "Abaj is alive? What did he say? What did he tell you?"

"The truth!" She spat.

"I don't know what he's said." Olose spoke quickly. "But he's lying."

"I found evidence. I found the letter." Nadia laughed.

"What letter?" Olose asked, startled.

"Norg's spirit even came to me to guide me. Don't hide it, Olose." Nadia lunged forwards again, and Olose blocked her sword to the side. She attacked again quickly, cutting Olose across his leg. Olose yelped as smoke hissed from the wound, and he leapt away. The silver weapon would mean his end, he knew, if she got a good blow.

"Stop this Nadia! You've been lied to! Tricked!" He screamed.

"Yes! By you!" Nadia countered.

"Abaj is evil!" Olose yelled.
"He would say the same for you!" Nadia countered. "He only told me the truth. Nothing more."

"It is a lie!" Olose growled. "Everything we've been through, don't tell me that means nothing!"

"You murdered Norg!" Nadia wept. "I loved him and never told him! You killed him, so I'll kill you! Murderer!" She ran at him again, and Olose parried her to the side. She swung in again, but Olose leapt, his lycanthropic muscles allowing him to jump up to the balcony above.

"Nadia, don't make me fight back." Olose warned.

"Sorry, Captain." She snarled. "But that's one order I won't follow!"

"I will do what I must to stop you." Olose warned.

"Give it your best shot." Nadia laughed. "I know you, Olose, I know that this blade will kill you. Your immortality won't save you this time."

"Don't do this Nadia!" Olose begged. "You've been tricked! Manipulated! You can still turn back!"

"Turn back? You want me to do that, don't you?" She argued.

"Yes!" Olose exclaimed. "Please, Nadia, we're friends. Hell, we're practically siblings. Me and you. The legend of the Destiny. Don't do this! Let's sort this out!"

"It's all there Olose. I've seen Norg's spirit. I've seen the evidence. Even in the official elvaan logs." She seemed to almost be crying. "Olose. You betrayed me. I hate you!" She ran up the main stairs towards Olose. Olose leapt upwards onto the guard rail.

"And I loved you Nadia." He said simply. "You were like a sister to me."

"Don't give me that crap Olose!" Nadia snarled. "A brother wouldn't kill his sister's idol, would he?"

"I did not kill Norg!" Olose screamed.

"Liar!" Nadia kicked Olose to the chest, knocking him off of the rail. He crashed down on the ground fall of the main hall below. She ran up and leapt down, driving her blade downwards. Olose rolled to the side and got to her feet.

"Nadia, I loved you. You were my sister." He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry it has to end like this."

"So am I." Nadia replied angrily. The two swung their swords at each other and they clashed.

"He's been hit badly. I couldn't stop them. They ambushed us!"

"Shee-niou orc cowards!"

"I'll get him back to town. I'm faster than any of you."

"I'll help the girl get back. I'll meet you at the barracks."

"Alright. See you back at the city."

Olose ducked as Nadia swung and hit her in the face with the hilt of his sword. She stumbled back but swung in again. She was fast, using a very light silver rapier. It didn't take much to kill Olose with silver, and she was moving far faster than he was. She took the offensive and began to drive Olose back. Olose was left blocking wildly, until he got an opportunity and drove Nadia's sword to the ground, using his superior strength and the fact that she could only fight back with one arm. He hit her to the face with a left hook, knocking her to the ground. She swiped outwards and his feet, causing him to jump back, before twirling back to standing. She didn't pause before lunging at him with a snarl. Olose blocked overhead, and grabbed her wrist with his other hand. He pulled her to the ground before him and she lunged upwards. He sprang back, knowing that he had to dodge the silver blade. She charged at him once more instantly. Olose growled and charged her. The two swung their swords, causing them to clash with an echo that rang throughout the entire manor.

"Olose? You're not Olose!"

"Nadia."

"You are him, aren't you?"

"I was."

Nadia went for Olose's back and he blocked behind his back. The sword sprang back but she brought it about for another hit. He stopped it before him and pushed outwards, causing Nadia to stumble against the wall. She hit her head against it and shook off the pain.

"Please, Nadia!" Olose wept. "It's a lie!"

"The elvaan records don't lie, Olose." She angrily snapped.

"Look, if Abaj manipulated the events at Kazham and in San d'Oria, he could easily have been behind the Cardinal too. If he was, he could have easily gained access to the records." Olose suggested. "Let's talk about this! Norg was my friend too!"

"You want an excuse to talk your way out of this?" Nadia laughed. "What's the matter? Afraid you're losing?"

"Nadia, listen to me! I didn't do any of this!" He begged. "Don't make this go on! You're my friend! I Don't want to hurt you!" Tears were streaming down his face, seeing Nadia want to kill him. He couldn't stand it. What had Abaj done?

"You arrogant bastard!" Nadia lunged at him and Olose blocked it away. She swung her blade around at his head and he ducked again. She brought it back, swiping at his feet. He jumped over the blade and she brought it around for a stab. Olose pushed it aside with his own sword and sliced downwards, cutting Nadia diagonally across her forehead and down to her lip. She sliced upwards quickly, hitting Olose with her silver blade in the exact same way, leaving a burn mark running upwards across his face, much like she was left with a deep cut. Olose growled in pain and threw a powerful punch, slamming into Nadia. She stumbled backwards, every one of her senses pounding. Olose didn't attack. He stood there, waiting.

"Nadia. I'm not going to finish this." He stated.

"Your loss!" She ran at him and lunged. Olose sidestepped but she brought her blade around in a wide slice, cutting Olose across the chest. He screamed and fell to his knees.

"Where are you going to go?"

"That little port town probably, the one that Bastok just constructed between themselves and San d'Oria. Seblina was it? I'll hit the waves. Get a boat, get a crew, keep sailing, nobody'll catch me out there."

"A life on the waves, leaving this place behind? Need a first mate?"

"Welcome aboard."

Nadia lowered her blade to Olose's neck, and held it there, allowing it to burn against his flesh. Olose closed his eyes, growling in agony. Nadia paused.

"This is it, Olose." She was fully crying now, much like Olose. "I'm so sorry it ended like this."

"Nadia. It doesn't have too." Olose begged.

"Yes it does." She stated. "I'm sorry Olose. But it's destiny." She swung the blade, but as she did, wailing could be heard from upstairs. Talia was crying loudly. Nadia wavered for a moment, and that was all Olose needed. He sprang to his feet, sword in hand. He blocked Nadia's sword wide and then cut downwards, slicing off her hand. She screamed in agony and dropped to her knees, feeling sick with pain. Her sword, severed hand still clutching it, crashed to the floor.

"I'm sorry too, Nadia." Olose stated, throwing his sword to the ground. She held the bloody stump to her body, sobbing, looking up through blurry eyes. "I didn't kill Norg. I hope one day you can accept that." He explained. "When you do, I hope we can still be friends." He turned away from Nadia, who was sobbing on the floor.

"I HATE YOU!" She venomously yelled after him. "DO YOU HEAR ME? I HATE YOU!" Olose closed his eyes, letting the tears fall down them. He walked away quietly, trying to ignore her screaming behind him. "YOU MURDERER! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" Echoed throughout the building. Olose suddenly perked up. He turned to the screaming, bloodied Nadia, and then looked around the building. Nobody was responding to the sound of the fight. Talia had stopped crying. Olose's eyes went wide.

"Nadia." He whispered in shock. "What have you done?" Nadia stopped screaming, and looked at him.
"What?" She croaked.

"Arcadia! TALIA?" Olose bolted up the stairs at lightning speed, leaving Nadia behind.

He burst into the bedroom, and found Arcadia slumped against the dresser. He ran to the cot. It was empty. His eyes went wide.

"Arcadia!" He screamed hysterically. "ARCADIA? SPEAK TO ME!"

"I'm sorry Olose!" Arcadia sobbed. She was badly bruised, but alive. "He's taken her! I couldn't stop him!" Tears streamed down her face. Olose rose slowly.

"Abaj." He growled. He ran out of the room, his mind becoming single tracked. He didn't even care about Arcadia. All that mattered was saving his daughter.

He ran down past the sobbing Nadia and scooped up her silver sword.

"What's happening Olose?" She sobbed. Olose shot her a glare.

"Abaj has taken Talia." He answered.

"Oh goddess!" Nadia cried through her tears. "I-I swear I didn't know!"

"Save it Nadia." Olose replied. "I have an appointment to keep." He ran out of the manor at speeds only he could manage. He skidded into the street and ran. He could smell her scent. His daughter. Nobody was going to take her from him. Nobody!

He ran through the darkened street and thunder rumbled. Rain began to fall from the sky. Lightning crashed, lighting the streets. Had Olose been in any other mood, he would have observed just how dramatic it was becoming. As it was he ran without a second thought, skidding into a huge street, lined with buildings and shops. Abaj Tuh stood in the middle of it, holding Talia. Olose's child.

He laughed.

"Olose Sampson." He greeted. "I didn't expect that wench to finish the job."

"Abaj. Give me my daughter!" He yelled over the thundered rain. Talia was sobbing and squirming in his arms.

"Her?" Abaj smirked. "She's not your daughter anymore. She's mine."

"Give her to me!" Olose roared.

"If that poison could make Princess Astra so powerful, what would it do to a werewolf?" He asked. "Years of repressed lycanthropic urges finally breaking free at puberty. She'd be the most powerful werewolf ever. She'd be a God! And I would be in control of that god. Do you know what that makes me?"

"A crazed lunatic?" Olose growled.

"Greater than the Gods themselves." Abaj cackled.

"She is my daughter. You will not take her from me!" Olose spat. "You will not succeed in your plan!"

"I won't?" Abaj sounded honestly surprised. "No. I won't." He began to think. "Locked for years in the eternal pain of death but never being allowed to die. Can you know that pain?"

"Abaj, whatever happened to you was your own fault." Olose told him.

"Don't act so self righteous." Abaj spat. "I'll make you feel my pain."

"Abaj, if it's a fight your looking for, you've found one. Just leave my daughter alone." Olose stated.

"Oh no, Olose." Abaj laughed. "You misunderstand. You shall feel my pain. And your daughter shall be the key." Abaj placed his hand on Talia's head and pushed. A sickening snap filled the air.

Olose's world collapsed.

Author's Note: I figured I needed to say something here after that chapter end. If you're a bit confused, yes Abaj did just kill Talia, a week old baby. Did I go too far? Probably, but I realised I needed a real climax, and have been planning this for quite a while. Talia was only introduced to die. I'm now hoping people will care a lot more about the outcome of Olose's final battle with Abaj, rather than it being 'he's evil and I'm good' which it normally is when I write. This time it's a lot more personal.

But did I go too far? This is still rated 'teen'. I know rating it as mature will lose me some audience since it'll disappear from the main page under usual browsing, but I really feel it may belong there with stuff like this happening in it. Any opinions on that would be appreciated.

I'd also like to point out I feel almost physically sick having to write that. I planned it and set it up with Talia's birth, but getting to writing it and I barely could. I mean, it's just so evil I felt really bad just writing it in a story. Hell, I felt evil. Sorry if it disturbed anybody as much as it disturbed me.

Hopefully now tomorrow's chapter will pack a lot more punch.

It's worth pointing out this chapter was edited to fix an error TheFrogKiller pointed out (thanks!) where Nadia was somehow clutching the bloody stump of her arm….with no hands. That's the second time I've done something like that!

Word of advice, never have a one armed character. They're hard to write!