Warning: A little language and description of violence

Disobedience II

Asterin, Asterin, Asterin.

The name kept repeating in her head, her body, her entire being.

"Asterin."

Manon's voice was barely above a whisper as she clutched Wind Cleaver with her right hand. Going through the tunnels she had known so well, she struck down a Yellowlegs in her way, refusing to acknowledge the fact that her actions meant the agreement between the covens was now broken. The fallen King's aerial cavalry gone before it took off.

If her grandmother didn't want her dead already, she would want to slaughter her now. Perhaps tear her apart herself and nibble on her bones for added effect.

The plan to rescue Asterin had failed, but the Blackbeak Matron had not killed her, instead making it publicly known that she would offer her as a breeder to Perrington, knowing Manon would hear of it and come for the witch herself. It had been a good five days since her encounter with her grandmother, two days since the rescue attempt. Not a single one of her Thirteen could stop her from coming back to Morath. Not her wounds, not Sorrel, not even that stupid Prince turned King-whose insistence had caused her to snap at him.

"Manon."

The former Wing Leader paused, narrowing her eyes as the Yellowlegs heir stood before her, no doubt sent to try and stop her. The smile on Iskra's face was feral, promising a death so cruel Manon considered taking a step back. The only reason she was not enjoying this hunt herself was because Asterin was still missing. As if to add to her discomfort, her left arm throbbed, reminding her that she was still healing...slowly.

Sorrel growled behind her and she could feel Vesta and the twins tensing for a fight. Iskra sneered, revealing her iron teeth, some already stained with blue blood. Manon hoped that blood did not belong to any of her Thirteen or so the goddess help the brown-eyed heir. With a similar expression, she met the challenge with a tilt of her head and a flash of her own teeth.

"Move," she commanded, catching as Iskra's sentinels took their places behind her, "this conflict has nothing to do with you."

The other witch chuckled, though it held nothing more than the heavy threat of violence. "You should have left. Exile is better than what awaits you here."

Sorrel cracked her neck while Manon gripped Wing Cleaver. "Perrington slaughtered dozens in your covens," Manon remarked, "you will stand for that?"

Iskra stepped forward, her grin still there. "You had no qualms killing Yellowlegs, why should I care for a coward of a Blackbeak?"

Iskra's biggest sentinel sprang forward, catching Manon off guard and making her grunt as she blocked a hit. Sorrel was on it however, and as the Blackbeak moved to the side, the bulky witch tackled the sentinel.

Iskra laughed, especially as Vesta and the twins engaged in combat with the other Yellowlegs. "You knew there was no out from this." She smiled. "Let's settle this, just you and me."

Manon growled. "So be it."

They clashed in a battle that was closer to a dance than a death-match, each evading and striking in what a spectator would consider choreographed movements. Manon huffed as she realized they were evenly matched, trained from the same rules, forged by the same steel. With a lurch, she jumped back and slashed with Wind Cleaver, only for Iskra to block with her own set of twin blades.

Her left arm flared at the pressure and Manon knew she had to end this quickly, less the Yellowlegs notice.

A crash and Manon was thrown against the wall, her head knocking unto the stone with a heavy thud, her vision swimming as she registered the hands going for her throat. She tried sidestepping but Iskra was there, her smile a flash of steel as she kicked her right on her left leg.

An involuntary cry left Manon's lips as she was forced on her knees. Her thigh burning as her feet went numb.

Iskra knew.

"Hurt are we?" She purred, as she went for Manon's hair and pulled back. Between clenched teeth, they met eyes. "Stupid girl."

Manon tackled her, Sorrel's war cry from the other side of the room giving her the strength she needed to bring the Yellowlegs down. As the sentinel that had hit her against the wall was taken care of, Manon and Iskra fought for control on the floor, claws and teeth flashing. Despite her wounds, Manon managed to sling her right arm around Iskra's neck, pulling back in an effort to snap it. Wind Cleaver lay discarded next to the wall.

But the other witch saw it coming and with a roar, she stood on her legs only to drop down on her back, crushing Manon underneath her. Two cracks could be heard within the commotion around them. Frustrated, furious, as if the Valg Kings' themselves fueled her rage, Manon's eyes focused enough for her to reach one of Iskra's dagger's-her fingers straining.

As she caught it, Iskra growled, punching her on the side. The cracks had been her ribs, Manon realized with a start. She had to stop Iskra, she had to just raise her hand-just a little push to-

Drive the blade right through Iskra's jugular.

The Yellowlegs' heir startled, gurgling as she went for her neck, trying to stop the blood flow.

Manon would have watched her die, watched the life dim from her eyes, had Vesta not gotten in the way. She was about to move her with a growl, her hand reaching out-

The world stopped.

Manon could feel herself lose a breath, could feel as though she was far from her body, no more a spectator than the gods themselves-watching a scene that could not happen. The blade going through Vesta nicked her own stomach. And she watched her loyal follower, a witch she grew up with, a Blackbeak, her friend-her sister-

There was a scream, of terror and fear and realization.

"Vesta!"

"There are more coming, we have to go!" Someone yelled, going for Manon's arm. "We can't stop! We have to go now!"

A large rumble followed the words and Manon turned to the sound, noticing how Iskra's body was against the wall, her sentinels' gone. "Vesta! Vesta!"

Sorrel was still clutching Manon's arm as Faline went toward the red-headed witch. "Help me!" She yelled, silver lining her eyes.

Fallon was on it, going for the blade, gouging how bad the wound was. "We're not safe here, we have to go," Sorrel said, but her voice held no bite, her gaze dead and saddened.

"We take her," Manon ordered as she sat up. The pain woke her up, and she grabbed unto Wind Cleaver with a blue stained hand. "I don't care how, but we take her now."

The twins looked at each other, muttering things, going over exactly what to do. "Ready?" One said.

"Three, two one-go!"

Vesta screamed as the blade was taken out and Fallon blocked the wounds, muttering things under her breath. A healing spell. Manon went to her side, watching intently, willing the spell to work, that nothing mayor had been hit.

Vesta coughed, "Manon."

"Don't speak, you're going to be fine."

"But-"

"You'll be fine," she told her, lowering her face.

Vesta groaned out as Faline joined in, her voice filling into step with her sister. "You," the fallen witch muttered, her eyes fixed on the white haired witch, "are you okay?"

Silence and Manon's heart ached, so badly she went for her chest. Rendered breathless, her head clouded, she mouthed a 'what' as Vesta's bloody hand touched at her stomach-where there was a tear in her shirt. "Good," she muttered, her red hair mixing in with the growing blue spot on the ground. "Good."

Sorrell, who had been standing watch, turned to them. "We have a minute and then we need to leave."

As if in answer, the mountain rumbled again, debris fell from the ceiling, dust coating the room. "The wound is good enough, it doesn't seem like anything vital was hit."

At the news Manon had to urge to sag, but her eyes went toward Ikra's prone body, the Yellowleg's mouth open in a silent scream product of the blood that had filled her lungs. "Manon," Faline muttered.

When the witch turned to her, Sorrell breathed out. "We have to go back."

The white haired witch sprang up, adrenaline turning the edges of her vision red. "No."

"Vesta can't keep going."

"We have to take her to a healer."

It was almost enough to make Manon pull her hair out. Almost enough to reconsider. "Faline-Fallon, take Vesta. Sorrell, with me."

"We are going to die," Sorrell said harshly, "we can't risk this. We don't even know where she is." Another rumble, this one louder-closer.

"Then go with them." Not waiting on Sorrell, Manon had just turned the corner out of the room when she forced herself into a stop. She had the urge to scream out in frustration.

"Oh, you're alive." Seven witches stood before her, all of them looking fresh and well rested, their weapons hot as they examined the Blackbeak.

"Petrah," Manon said, keeping herself from growling.

The Blueblood heir tilted her head, her eyebrow rising as she took in the state Manon was in. "Some Yellowlegs told me you killed Iskra." A cross of the arms. "Is that true?"

Sorrel was right.

They were going to die here.

"Manon?" Petrah asked, her lips rising at the edges. "Is it true you killed the Yellowlegs heir? You, a traitor not just to our covens and treaty, but to your own clan?"

"Kill me," Manon bit, "if that's what you're here for then do it."

Petrah observed her for a bit. "Why did your grandmother renounce you as heir?"

Sorrel was behind her, but Manon knew there was nothing they could do against the Bluebloods. "I disagreed."

"On what?"

Manon wondered what the Blueblood would look like without a head. "Duke Perrington wanted more covens. Blackbeaks. I said no."

"Why?"

Because it wasn't right. Because they were not mares to be bred. Because it was torturous and painful. Because what they produced was darkness incarnate, an evil so foul, the Blackbeak heir found herself shuddering at the mere thought of its existence, of more being brought into the world by her own coven. "What they want, what it wants," she finally said, referring to the Duke. She shook her head. "I'd rather die than let him touch another one of us. I'd rather kill them myself then let that monster continue this madness."

The rumbling became so loud, it was an effort to hear as Petrah said, "I see."

Her sentinels moved and Manon tensed, waiting for the blow to come-but only found nothing of the sort, because between the Bluebloods, torn and bloody-

"Asterin!"

Manon sprang forward first despite the fact that Sorrel had spoken, catching her Second and falling back to keep her distance. Petrah stared right at her, eyes narrowing. "This war. It will change history."

The Blackbeak stepped back further, holding unto Asterin. "It has already changed," she said before signaling Sorrel and taking their leave, lest the Blueblood heir changed her mind.

Three rooms, two hallways and three flights of stairs later, Asterin moaned. "We are close," Manon told her, hoisting her up despite the pain of her own wounds. "Just a little longer." Petrah had stayed back and they had run into no more trouble on the way. Still, both Manon and Sorell glanced back intermittently, sniffing at the air nervously, feeling for enemies with the rest of their senses.

"You are a fool, you know that?" Asterin chided as she kept the pace, her face pale. "Your grandmother knew you'd come for me."

"My grandmother can go fuck herself."

Sorrel snorted out a laugh, and Asterin even let out a little breath, as if humored by it too. "The rumbling?"

Sorrel answered, looking around a corner for enemies before turning back to Asterin. "Terrasen. It was the only way to get to you." It was a dangerous distraction, but the only way to infiltrate so deep into Morath.

"They are on our side?"

Manon and Sorrell turned to each other. "Only if Adarlan intervenes," Sorrell finally said as they arrived at yet another staircase.

"Adarlan?"

The Third glanced at Manon, who took her time in answering, counting as they went up the stairs. "Their new King predictably disapproves of Morath." But there had been no promises made to intervene or even search for some sort of diplomacy. If anything, Adarlan had allowed Terrasen to invade, preferring to keep out of the Queen's way as she purged the land with fire.

Fire she would use against the Thirteen if it came down to it.

"One more hallway," Sorrel said, the ground shaking enough for them to be mindful of their footing.

Manon swallowed down blood, thinking of how close they were. Only six covens had agreed to leave the aerial cavalry, all Blackbeaks. But six would have to do, she reminded herself. "When we get to the top, we leave. For good." And she meant it. She had no interest in how this war would pan out, or who would win. It had all been a mistake, and as it was even with their mounts, their lands were still not theirs. And now there were less and less of them. It would only get harder to take back the old Ironteeth homes, especially now.

Fighting could be heard outside and the witches kept themselves in the shadows as they arrived at an iron door. Sorrell opened it quietly despite the fact that no one would be able to hear with all the noise. Screams and yells, swords and shields bashing against one another, the odd swishing sound of magic.

Wyvern cries.

"Quickly!"

They made their way through the edge of the fortress, toward the barren trees. Kaya and Lin were there, hiding like shadows amongst the branches, dropping down when the trio arrived. "We have trouble," Kaya told them, her voice like steel.

"What is it."

She turned to Manon. "Fae."

Perhaps all this struggling was for nothing. Valg, Terrasen soldiers, Yellowlegs, a fire breathing Queen and now this? "Where and how many?"

They hurried their pace. Manon letting the lovers take Asterin between them. "A few only, but they are powerful."

"I saw one take out five witches and their wyverns in one blow," the other said.

Sorrel cursed, looking back as if she could see the enemy. "We'll have to be very lucky." Manon internally shook her head. Luck was but a luxury now. If anything, they had to be smart.

Manon glanced at Asterin, at how her Second could barely keep her eyes open. She turned to Sorrel who had wounds on every strip of exposed skin. She thought of Vesta and the twins. "If you spot Fae," she glowered as they kept their heads low. "You run and do not look back."

Together they broke into a clearing. A few of the wyverns cried out, but were shushed promptly. It wouldn't have mattered.

A wind so harsh it blew back two trees on the outskirts of the clearing, swept over them, pushing back at the witches and making the wyverns screech. Manon recognized that wind, had seen it but once before. "Get on the wyverns, go!" She ordered, running after Sorrel, toward Abraxos.

"Strap it in!" She heard Ghislaine shout, just as soldiers began filing in.

"Terrasen," Lin muttered, baring her teeth at those closest. Screams filled the air as the coven on the far end engaged in combat, the wind taking out witches like they were no more than flies.

Already, Blackbeaks were on their wyverns, handfuls of them taking to the air and avoiding arrows. The Thirteen remained, waiting for the rest. "Flank right!" Manon ordered, as they finally reached their wyverns, Abraxos roaring when she neared him.

Edda and Briar took on the few soldiers that reached them, taking them out as they went, keeping the others at bay. "Hurry!" Thea barked, while Manon helped strap Asterin in behind Sorrel, Asterin's own wyvern crying out at her rider. Vesta had been placed in with Imogen, who was ready to go.

"Take off! Take off now!"

The twins and Imogen flew off, their wyverns avoiding arrows and spears expertly, flying up like demons were following them. "Sorrel," Manon gasped, her lungs burning at the exertion. "Go with Asterin! Go!"

"Get on your wyvern!" She yelled back, but as an arrow flew too close to her wyvern's left wing, she sprang up, roaring as they flew into the air.

Manon turned back with the intent of leaving, but hesitated as she caught Edda stumbling. Blowing a whistle, Manon stretched out her hand as she gripped Wind Cleaver, hoping unto her wyvern's back and smashing into a group of soldiers. "Fall back!" She told her witches, watching as Briar speared through two soldiers.

Thea, Kaya and Ghislaine took off, while Lin sent forth arrow after arrow, allowing for Edda to get on her bull. Manon dropped down as Edda flew, and even when the witch's wyvern cried out in pain at being hit she knew not to look. Using Wind Cleaver, Manon smashed into a soldier as she dodged a hit to the gut. Briar was next to her in a heartbeat, both backing away as more soldiers poured in. Valg had appeared out of the shadows and Lin had been separated from them.

Another roar as Abraxos broke past more men, his large paws smashing through armor and skin. "Lin!"

Wind blew around them again, though it had been sent to the air, towards a group of three wyverns. Magic, that wind was magic so powerful it made Manon's bones loosen. Lin fired three more shots before they reached her. "We need to head for the trees!" Manon told her as Briar decapitated a Valg soldier. Lin's wyvern burst through a shield with her tail.

"Go!" Briar yelled.

Wind smashed into them, sending Abraxos and Lin's wyverns screeching away, their wings getting caught in the gust. Manon grunted as she fell on her back, Lin and Briar close by. There was a sickening crack and the Blackbeak could only watch as Briar's bull was literally snapped in two, his neck going limp on the ground after an agonizing wail.

Even though Briar groaned out his name, the witch held her ground next to Manon. But there was no time for running. Barely any time left to fight.

It had been a while since Manon had last seen the Queen, but the strong gaze and powerful posture said it all, those curious blue-gold eyes staring at the battlefield with dark calculation. Beside her, decked in the same colored armor stood the Fae warrior. Rowan, the one with the wind magic. The one that took down Briar's wyvern.

The fights around them seemed to fade into the background as they were circled, the two wyverns growling at the fixed spears, the cocked-bows. Manon stood up, dusting off her cloak as the Queen observed her. To the left, the cousin, Aedion snarled. "Why do you run?" He asked, "cowards!"

"When I say so, we will break through to the back and drop from the edge," Manon whispered, hoping that Aelin would hesitate for long enough to at least warrant an attempt to escape.

"Even if the wyverns' catch us, the wind will tear us apart," Briar told her, flashing her teeth at the soldiers.

Manon glanced at Abraxos taking in his stare, his trust. "We will split off and one of the wyverns will fall."

Briar nodded and Lin raised her bow, making a suspicious looking snow leopard stop in its tracks. "I'll do it. The Blackbeaks are broken and we need a new Matron." Manon turned to Briar who was set in her words. Who was willing to sacrifice herself for the coven-for Manon.

This wasn't what the former heir had wanted. To come to Morath with the plan of escaping, to take with her as many witches as she could. To kill Perrington and her grandmother. That had been her goal, her mission. Instead, barely a few escaped, most of her Thirteen were injured. "On my command."

The two witches nodded, both turned to the Queen, the Fae, the warriors. There were so many. There would barely be any time to break for the edge of the precipice. Manon breathed in…

"Now."

They sprung for their left, the wyverns screeching as they burst through in front of them. Manon slashed at two soldiers on her right as Lin landed a blow on another's head. A lot of yelling ensued and Manon stole a glance to see Rowan run straight toward them-toward Lin, the closest.

"Abraxos!"

Her wyvern turned just in time to stop a sword on her flank as she turned. Growling, Manon threw Wind Cleaver, but her ribs barked out…and she missed.

Lin had noticed however, and she swiftly backed away as Rowan smashed into the ground before her. What was surprising was not that he stopped chasing Lin, even when he had a clear shot at her-it was the intensity with which he turned that focus-that rage-to Manon, pushing through soldiers as he headed right for her.

Abraxos roared, but he had been separated from her.

Wind Cleaver lay on the ground far away.

For some reason, Manon felt each and every wound, every bruise on her body. She could not stop him, she realized. There was nothing else she could do. Aware of what was happening, Lin screamed at her to move, to do something!

Rowan slammed into her with a force so strong she passed out for a few seconds.

Consciousness brought her back, stars dancing at the edge of her vision as hands wrapped around her throat, cutting the airflow and pressing her against the ground. Though she had no energy, Manon still grabbed unto his arms, digging her claws into his flesh, staring into the warrior's eyes as he literally squeezed the life out of her.

"Repayment," he said simply as she unconsciously gasped for air that didn't come.

Someone screamed her name again, but her eyes were on Rowan. If he was to kill her then he would remember her face, her eyes. The fury coursing through her. Let him kill her for trying to kill his mate, let him kill her thinking he had protected his own. Just as she had been trying to do.

She gave Lin and Briar a quick apology in her head for not being able to get them to safety as her grip lessened, the claws retracting. Her teeth pulled back into their sockets.

Rowan growled, tasting victory no doubt.

A cool breeze spread through her.

Who knew, Manon thought, that death would feel so cold.

"…!"

"…on!"

What?

"…non!"

…

"Manon!"

"C'mon, breathe!"

A hacking cough spread through the witch as her body gasped for air in uncontrollable bursts. "Good, good," someone said, as she grabbed at her chest. "Deep breaths."

She recognized that voice.

Beside Lin and Briar, with Rowan nowhere to be found there was a third person. If his scent wasn't testament enough, that annoying face was all the information she needed. Manon frowned in confusion. "Dorian?"

The King smiled at her, brushing back at the hair on her face. "Sorry I was late. I figured I had to do something when I realized Aelin didn't know about your plan."

For some absurd reason, Manon wanted to laugh. She was so sore it was a chore just to keep his gaze. She swallowed back dirt and blood. "I don't understand," she whispered, her voice horse.

His smile remained, though it wasn't quite so full-or relieved. "I know what I said," he told her, referring to his reluctance of taking action on Morath. "I'm sorry, I should have acted. If I am to be King, I have to make tough decisions."

Manon lowered her head on the ground, noticing how the Terrasen Queen observed from afar. Her face showed a myriad of things-surprise, wonder, curiosity, but most of all…acceptance. They were enemies no longer, it seemed.

With a huff, the Blackbeak grabbed the princeling by the shirt, dragging him down toward her, though she was sure he let himself be moved. She stared right at him, her voice serious. "Do not expect me to thank you for this." His timing had been completely off, she had lost witches and wyverns, almost lost her own life. She had no way to know if her Thirteen were safe either.

Blinking, the young King nodded. "I don't expect your thanks so don't worry." She let him go and carefully watched as Dorian Havilliard, King of Adarlan, bearer of ice magic, stood up. He seemed to make sure everyone around them was watching as he looked her right in the eye…and bowed.

What a roller-coaster, huh?

It was great to write, greater still to wonder what you guys think. If it makes you feel any better both Vesta and Asterin survive as does Edda's wyvern. The only casualty was Briar's bull-sadly. So sorry about that. Anything else you can ask me, but most has been purposely left to your imagination.

This chapter is dedicated to Lady Elvira who has given me some awesome feedback. I hope I quelled your questions and worries with this piece.

Miranda- I'm glad you liked my writing! Sorrin will be making another appearance soon!

Guest- It makes me happy when non-Manorian fans read my fanfics and like them! I hope you continue to read despite your aversion to the couple.

SaphraChan- Reviews like yours make me want to update! I'm glad you like my writing style!

Lady Elvira- Such a nice long review! I also received your PM in answer to my own! It's really awesome for people to take such nice interest in my writing choices! I hope you enjoyed this chapter ;3

Thanks to everyone that reviewed, followed or favorited! It really makes my day!

PS: Next chapter will be Yellow Dress II so stay tuned for that! It will be posted on July 9th. Also, did I say the last chapter was my longest? I was so young and naive.