Unwanted Beauty: Chapter Fourteen: In Which There are A Hundred Thousand Soldiers

Rebecca Victoria Rushton: I have actually never seen Win A Date With Tad Hamilton, nor have I seen BFGW, my aunt quoted that at me the other day. New TP Book! And there was just the new Paolini book, which is very good by the way.

Sirladyknight: lol, sorry, I really like the names thing, it makes me happy inside…

Magewhisperer: T/L? and G/L? huh? Really? Well then…

Mycatcoco7: Mad for power and a lot like Rasputin huh? You may be on to something dearie.

FanFictionFantom: Hehehe…yes, that is my evil plan, major character flaws! So much fun to write!

On top of cloud 9: yes, uber psychotic Helen.

Lutefa: yay for the nutters people

Some Random Reviewer: I know, its so sad when the babies get big…sigh

Lily was armed and dangerous, well…Lily was armed. She wasn't actually exactly trained to use a sword, but the village idiots could do it, if worse came to worse she was sure she could figure it out.

The wind whipped back her long brown curls, teasing it into thousands of elfish knots that would eventually have to be untangled at a later date. For the time being she was enjoying the feeling of the wind dancing around her body. She stood at the top of Balor's Needle, watching the storm finish out and the clouds roll out into the countryside. The time was now; Rasputin would begin his attack soon, if he hadn't already.

The Army had been ready for three days, Liam and the Lady Guinevere had spent most of that time eyeing each other curiously or fighting. Lily had stopped trying to figure out what exactly their relationship was hours after she had woken up. It was too bloody complicated. Technically Thom and Guinevere were entwined…But Thom looked like he could really care less if Liam took over caring for Guinevere.

The approach of another being startled her. "Care if I join you?" Sir Neal asked her as he perched on the edge of the wall. He's not afraid to fall? She wondered, in awe of him. Lily was by no means scared to be in the tower, but she wouldn't sit on the edge and taunt death like he was.

"Not at all." Lily said quietly, quite often she was possessed by a melancholy spirit. Today was one of her sad days, but really, when fighting a magelord what else can you do but feel a little sad and intimidated?

"So you were sent from the City?" he asked casually, but Lily knew she was in trouble…

"No, not exactly…" She said quietly, forcing herself not to shift nervously from foot to foot.

"Not exactly?" He asked, his bright green eyes flashing angrily, Lily winced.

"I explained my case to them, and they um, well…Well they told me I was crazy and that I ought to shut up and go die." She said angrily. "They told me that I was an idiot. But they're idiots. They ignore the obvious. There is an army outsider this city and I bet if you asked them they would tell you that there isn't! Because they're too bloody wrapped up in peace to recognize a threat when it dances at the city gates and storms the castle!" She yelled, clenching her fists and bouncing up and down in fury. She hated those men. She still hated those men.

"I see." He said doubtfully. "So basically you're a rouge mage who has been discredited by the Magus Council and run away?" He asked snidely. Lily felt her face flush.

"Yes that is exactly what I am, Sir." She said painfully. Shame flooded her body, like a rush of cold air sweeping through her veins, making her toes curl.

"Those aren't good credentials, Lady DeLorento. In fact, most would consider them quite scandalous." Sir Nealan's eyebrows had risen, arched in a fashion exclusive to high nobility. She knew the movement was meant to shame her. Lily felt sick, no one understood! These where the rebels of history. He was a rebel. How many times had her father walked into her room, laughing at the antics of squires and knights. He and his wife openly defied Lord Wyldon, Lord Raoul, the king! And he thought that he could stand and shame her?

"Why should I be ashamed of my indiscretions Lord Nealan?" The shock on his face at those words spurred her on, allowing her mouth to once again run away with her. "All I have done was in the name of truth and protection, was it not? And was I not correct? Do not attempt to shame me! My actions have saved thousands already! Am I not the same age you were when you defied your commanding officer? Several times? Am I not the same age the old king was when he defied both his father and the king? Am I not the age Lady Alanna was? Or the Lady Diane? Our country thrives on the actions of those who disobey their commanders.

"All I have done was defying a council of old men to attached to peace. I defied men who discredited my father's research, my research. I had no reason to respect them. I had nothing to gain from them. So I left to try my hand in this city, and may I say it's worked much better. Until now, you sir, have no right to attempt to put me in my place. I have no place in which to be put because I have not made one for myself. If you want me to leave after this is over, fine. But I have not finished what I have started yet, and I will." Lily's speech was angry, it was passionate, and it was full of hurt. Neal was quite shocked, he hadn't intended to imply that he disrespected her actions, but she had turned on her heel and left by the time he comprehended what her outburst was about. He shook his head, women…

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Tears fell like rain from Guinevere's' eyes. Not out of guilt, or hurt, they were caused by pure confusion. Why in the world did she want them to fight a war for her? Why in the world had she been thinking that she wanted to wield this kind of power? Why in the world had she been acting so horrible of late? It was almost like she was schizophrenic! One minute she was a raving bitch and the next she was bawling in the kings arms. One minute she loved Thom the next she thought he was stupid. You'd think I was pregnant. She thought with a little smile.

"No shit!" She screamed. Am I pregnant? Please, please don't tell me I'm pregnant! I can't be…Whose is it? Thom's? Or Rasputin? Goddess above…help me!

---:---

The army turned to watch as thunderclouds rolled out. This was it, this was their time. Their chance to make history had arrived. Their fifteen minutes of fame and arrived, and terror gripped their hearts. What lay beyond that hill? What terror awaited them? What valiant tale of death would be told of them? Chaos ruled in the minds of the soldiers, her cackling laughter echoing off the insides of their minds like a spider's feet in an orchestra chamber. She terrified them, whispering thoughts of failure and death in their minds, then she cleverly whispered thoughts of lovers, wives, and daughters into their already reeling minds.

A lone man slowly crested the hill, his head and shoulders arriving first, then his torso and legs. He took his time, his languid body movements illustrating the already obvious carelessness the man possessed. The man stood tall, a dark and sinister figure who regarded the gathered army with amusement and disdain. There are moments in time where everyone freezes, the invasion of Troy was one such moment, Arthur's glorious return only to find his wife in another's arms, or perhaps Robin Hood's victory over Nottingham. These are the moments in time in which people everywhere stop and pause, without knowledge as to why, but they feel the need to halt their movement and listen to the earth, listen to the warnings that it is spewing forth.

Some of the soldiers heeded the warnings the earth, fleeing the obvious stupidity of such a battle. Others stood fast, their loyalty to god and country acting as an anchor, or perhaps they were too terrified to move. With a loud, guttural snap a hundred thousand soldiers vanished from the earth, simply gone…