Just in case you don't remember, I do not own any of this. I only own Jessica, Finian, Cadman, etc. As well as the plot.

Enjoy!

Jessica watched as the men practiced their formations on the base of the mountain. Suddenly she looked up, eyes narrowing. Something wasn't right. She played with the hilt of her sword and continued to look up at the peak of the mountain.

"What's wrong?"

She turned to face Cadman. "What makes you think something is wrong?"

He motioned to her hand, which still played with the hilt. "You always finger the hilt of your sword before a battle or when you find a flaw, or when you think something is wrong. That is why I think something is wrong."

"Can't you feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"Something is going to happen soon and I think it will be in the real world."

"Are you suggesting we start this earlier than planned?"

"Ask the men if they are ready. If they want to get out of here."

Cadman nodded and quickly left. It didn't take long for the word to get around. Just before he returned, Severus showed up.

"I was told to come tell you that we are all ready."

She looked at him, her eyes cold and emotionless. "Tonight we begin our climb."

"What? We need at least a bit of rest."

"Take the next three hours to sleep."

Jessica pushed her spear hard into the ground as they climbed higher. They were all covered in ice and snow, a stark contrast to what they had been living in for many years. Her men were quite a few feet behind her, making her literally in the lead. She paused to make sure they were on the right track before continuing hard again. It wasn't until they were forced to camp that Severus managed to approach her.

"Are you crazy?" he snarled.

She looked at him, the same look in her eyes that she had had only a few hours earlier except now she had determination. "Yes."

"Why are you pushing so hard? You will have no energy to fight!"

"I know what I can and cannot do, Severus. The day is drawing near."

"What day?"

She shifted, looking torn. "It doesn't matter. We need to get rid of the fortress."

"How can you say that? What proof do you have of any real danger?"

"I feel it. That is proof enough for me. Can't you feel his apprehension?"

"His apprehension? Who is he?"

"Voldemort," she responded as though he were a slow child.

"You can feel him?"

She rolled her eyes. "This is his wand. Of course I can. At this rate we should be able to make it to the fortress by morning of the day after tomorrow."

"Will you let your men rest for an hour?"

"I will give them 5 hours to sleep before we prepare and attack. I promise that we will win. I swear that we will get out of this hell and make it to the final battle."

Severus watched as her eyes coated over as though she were gazing somewhere else, somewhere far, far away. Her face was hard and her jaw clenched. The look in her eyes appeared somewhat crazy but still determined. Something was going to happen, something that shouldn't happen. Severus was starting to feel what Jessica had explained. Only he sensed dread and death. A lot of death. Blood would run down this mountain soon.

DarkAngelJTBSS: If I were nice I would post my next chapter. But perhaps I should wait until tomorrow?

Next up, the battle.