CHAPTER 11: Silver Fall Stronghold
Hi again! Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
WARNINGS: for non- consensual touching in this chapter.
Graphic description of violence. I apologize in advance.
Len observed the Silver Fall Stronghold from the soldier's camp hidden in the forest. The mountain's peaks were covered in snow and in the middle of the mountain's base there was a monumental structure in the shape of an archway resting on the top of waterfall. The ancient arch was overgrown by trees and covered by vines and moss. The rest of the fortress was hidden behind the massive curtain of cold water. The landscape was breathtaking and The King may have enjoyed the view if they weren't currently at war.
There was a persistent drizzle of rain and the sound of the waterfall was almost deafening. Len felt angry with himself, he was supposed to protect Lisa and he failed. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. He just wanted to enter the fortress and finish with the poor souls that tried to stop him… he just wanted to end this nightmare. His heart was aching. He was so scared of losing Lisa and the Prince. "Barry". He never thought after losing Mick that he wouldn't be able to feel or find love again. He couldn't believe it was possible for him to get lucky twice in a lifetime. He thought he didn't deserve it. But he was the moment he met the Prince, the kid melted his frozen heart in a beat. Barry was definitely a storm, not the kind of storm you run from but the kind you chase. The Prince was a risk worth taking.
"Your Majesty!"- General Mardon said approaching the King. Len turned slowly to see his General and his royal blue cape waved gracefully following with his movements. "The siege is ready Your Highness. We have surrounded and blocked the fortress entrance with the army and we are waiting for your command."
"We wait… we will stick to the plan we decided in the War Council with King Oliver and General Singh…" – stated Len dryly and Mardon nodded.
"What about Lord Wells, Stein, Caitlin and Cisco?" – asked the King.
"They are all still working on the device." – added Mardon. "So far…everything is going according to the plan."
Len nodded. "They need to hurry… Lisa's and Barry's life are hanging on a thread."
"I believe they are working as fast as they can." – the General replied trying to offer a little comfort.
Len glanced towards the mountain. "Not fast enough."
"Your Majesty there is also another matter you should attend…" – The General said uneasily. "We found the traitor."
Len frowned. He already had the idea of who was the traitor but deep down he wanted to deny it. "Bring him."
General Mardon turned to the soldiers and gave them the order to bring the captive. The soldiers pushed the prisoner in front of the King and Mardon ordered them to leave. There was a slight drop in the air temperature and absolute silence when Leonard watched Hartley stand nervously in front of him with his hands tied behind his back and a rune collar on his neck.
"Why?" - the Winter King asked dryly. His voice was frosty and Hartley shuddered.
"I made a mistake Len…" – added Rathaway shameful. "I never intended to hurt you or Lisa."
"It's King Leonard or Your Highness. Learn your place Rathaway." – said Len coldly.
Hartley flinched.
"You know what is the saddest thing about betrayal Hartley..." – said Len watching the kid shook his head in denial. "Is that it never comes from your enemies."
Hartley closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry Your Highness…"
"You know the punishment for traitors."
The young man nodded. He knew that the penalty was death.
"Why did you do it?"
"Because I fell in love with you Leonard…I'm sorry, I heard that I was your first option for the marriage and I was happy, I wanted to be with you, but then the perfect Prince of Central Kingdom appeared and you wanted him…you fell for him and Thawne and Santini offered to kidnap the Prince and take him away from you so that I could be with you again… I didn't knew that they were also after Lisa…I never wanted Lisa to be affected by my actions."
Leonard tensed and clenched his jaw tightly. He wanted to kill Hartley to make him pay for all of this chaos. He didn't even want to think what Santini could be doing to Lisa… or Thawne to Barry.
"You stole and used my royal seal…" – Leonard stated slowly trying to control his wrath. "You wrote a letter to the Prince in my name and set him a trap… You helped Thawne escape…all because you loved me? It seems to me that you know nothing of what love is Hartley… my little sister could be dead right now and this is your fault…. I trusted you! I confess that I never fell for you… but I did care about you Hartley! And THIS is how you pay me?"
Hartley's green eyes were full of tears that refused to fall. Mardon watched as the kid trembled before the fury of the King. He felt sorry for Rathaway, he knew the kid wasn't bad, but he surely took a lot of shitty choices with awful consequences.
"Give me a reason… to not end your life right now." – roared Len holding his wrath.
"I…I can help you…" – murmured Hartley mortified by his self-loathing. "I can get you inside the stronghold."
"Why on earth would I ever believe you Rathaway?" – Leonard replied with disgust. "As far as I know it could be another one of your traps."
"Because I made a mistake and believe it or not I want Lisa to be safe, I love Lisa and I want to make things right again with you… at least before I die by my deserved punishment."
Leonard groaned angry losing his temper. "Tell me everything you know Rathaway! I will decide later your fate depending on how useful is your information… and be haste…if I see you are wasting our time I will not hesitate to kill you right here where you stand."
The kid nodded nervously.
"Do you have a map?" – Hartley asked trying to calm down, but his unsteady voice betrayed him. "I can show you a passage that leads directly to the dungeons, it is going to be guarded, but at least you won't have to move all the army to capture the fortress it could be faster… and you will just need some strong knights, preferably with powers, to fight the mercenaries and assassins blocking the path."
"That could work" – added Mardon looking at Hartley's green eyes full of remorse.
"Let's go inside the tent, there is a map…." – added the King walking towards his private pavilion. Mardon and Hartley followed. The King went straight to the table in the middle and showed Hartley the extended map of the fortress. It was an old parchment and it was a little bit outdated but it could work. Hartley sighed.
"Show us the way Hartley."
The kid nodded. "The arch that we can easily see on the mountain is the main entrance, but this place here in the base of the waterfall has a hidden path, you enter through here and you will find a very steep and dangerous stairway of rock. That path will lead you through a really long tunnel and it ends here" – Hartley said pointing at the middle of the waterfall. "Lisa and Barry are probably there. In the dungeons."
"How do you know all of this?"- General Mardon asked suspiciously.
"Thawne told me their plan in exchange that I set him free from the dungeons and from his rune collar…he also told me that Santini was the one who wrote the fake letter to the Princess using Prince's Bartholomew name… he paid one of the servants in the castle to enter the Prince's quarters during the Princess birthday celebration and use the royal seal to close the letter. That's why I realized too late that they also kidnapped Lisa… I swear that wasn't my intention Your Highness…"
The King was silent with a cold and stony expression on his features. "No… you just wanted my future fiancé dead…"
Hartley grimaced… he couldn't deny it. "I was jealous."
"Mardon take Hartley away…" – said the King with cold dead eyes. "I'm going to see Cisco's new device."
"Yes, Your Highness." – added Mardon taking the traitor to the prisoner's tent, far away from the King.
Leonard left to the other side of the camp where Cisco was working with Harrison Wells, Caitlin and Martin Stein. He entered the tent and to his surprise he found them arguing. Wells seemed frustrated and was throwing things and Cisco was just glaring the man groaning annoyed while Snow and Stein tried to calm them down.
Len sighed at the picture. "What's wrong?"
"Your Highness!" – said Lady Snow bowing curtly. Cisco, Stein, Wells and Lady Smoak, who seemed to have joined recently the group, copied the small courteous bow.
"Nothing is wrong…"- added Wells glaring towards Cisco.
"Yes it is!"- Complained the young inventor.
"It's the best we can do for now Cisco...we don't have time…we will improve it later for the fight with Zoom…for now it is enough." – Wells replied taking the device in his hands.
Len breathed trying not to yell at Barry's friends. "Care to explain what the hell is going on?" – he said with a cold glance.
"We achieved to create a device to form a blast and enhance your powers." – explained Wells.
"That's good."
"The problem is that the radius blast lasts only for ten seconds and if Barry get hits it could harm him as well…" – Caitlin added. "So you need to use it carefully."
"We need your sword, Your Highness" – requested Cisco politely. "We are going to forge the device to the hilt. It looks like a blue gem inside of a metal snowflake. The design inspired in your royal emblem...totally my idea, no need to thank me… It will help you channel the blast. All you need to do is to strike the sword to the ground and it will create a freezing wave that deals magical damage to enemies that use speed force and slow their movements at least for ten seconds. The blast will spread wide at an incredible speed and it will dissipate. The area of effect is centered on the sword, so it will be static… don't miss… but if you do it right it will be almost impossible to avoid for the enemies around you. They won't expect it."
Len nodded taking in all the information and unsheathing his sword to offer it to Cisco.
"So basically I need to strike the sword in to the ground to channel my power into a freezing blast that will only slow down Thawne for ten seconds."
Cisco nodded excited. "It will be awesome…the blast… the freeze wave… but yes you will have to make those ten seconds count."
Len frowned.
"I suggest Your Majesty, after you slow down Thawne to strike his legs with ice to reduce his mobility." – said Wells darkly. "And if you have the chance, don't hesitate to kill him Your Highness."
"Don't worry Wells, I wasn't planning on letting that man alive. If I manage to slow him down I will pierce him with a thousand shards of ice for kidnapping my sister and Barry."
Cisco shuddered and Wells nodded satisfied.
"We will enter the fortress after sunset." – added Len. "We will use the darkness of the night in our favor. I want a small team to avoid unnecessary deaths and be quick. Meanwhile General Singh will attack with the army at the front gates of the fortress to draw their attention to the other side."
"Who will you take in the small team?" – asked Harrison.
"I want Queen, Firestorm, General Mardon, Lady Snow and Cisco to be ready with the best ten soldiers of the army… we will meet at the last tent of our camp near the waterfall."
"What about the escape plan?"- Cisco asked curious." We need a escape plan."
"For what exactly Cisco?" - Leonard smirked. "When no one is left, we will just walk out trough the front door."
Lisa was shivering. The sun was starting to set and the cave was getting colder. She didn't want to imagine how cold the dungeon could get during the night. Barry was still unconscious and breathing erratically. She exhaled concerned and tired. If only she was able to get near the prince and remove the rune collar so that he could regain his healing capabilities…and speed. She glanced to her side and saw the wooden chest full of stones. She didn't want to use her powers to benefit Santini but she didn't want Barry to get hurt again… at least not because of her. She took a small pebble in her hand and with a warm yellow glow the stone swiftly turned in to gold. "I'm sorry Lenny…"
The King arrived to the base of the waterfall, the sun was hiding at the horizon and his group was ready to enter the stronghold. General Mardon created a faint mist hiding them from possible enemies surveying the area. Cisco handed the sword to Leonard and the King inspected the young inventor's handcraft amazed. The new device on the sword looked impressive.
"Thank you, Cisco"
"Remember only ten seconds…"
Len nodded. "More than enough."
The group started climbing the steep path to enter the fortress. The steps were wet and slippery and there was a chilling air surrounding the area. They could barely see where they were walking. "Careful!" – murmured Cisco catching Caitlin by her right arm when she almost skidded and fell from the cliff. Caitlin nodded grateful.
When they reached the end of the path, they found and old metal door. The King froze the metal until it shattered with just a swift kick.
"We are in…" – Len murmured turning to his followers. They entered a really dark chamber. They could see from where they stood the long passageway Hartley described and there were four soldiers walking in the middle guarding the closed entrance at the end of the hall.
"How do we do this?" – asked Cisco behind Leonard watching the four enemies talking distracted. "We need to be swift."
Len watched the group. The best choice right now would be the Arrow. He was fast enough to kill the foes. "Queen your turn…"
Oliver smirked at Len. "Thought you would never ask"
"Oliver you need to hit them fast!"– Caitlin added nervous. "We can't risk them to sound the alarm!"
"Don't worry…"
Oliver took two of his arrows and fired them so quickly that Caitlin blinked and two of the mercenaries were already on the ground. The others tried to react and unsheathe their swords but Oliver didn't waste a second and shoot two continuous arrows at a speed that would almost made Barry jealous and the four men were suddenly dead with arrows piercing lethally their bodies.
Caitlin gasped looking at the Arrow.
Oliver smiled. "This is how my help looks like."
"That was awesome!" – added Cisco impressed. "Deathly but awesome…remind me to never have a quarrel with you please."
"Move!" – groaned the Winter King walking through the long hallway that was faintly lighted by four torches hanging on the cave walls. Cisco grabbed the keys to the door from one of the dead bodies and ran towards the door blocking their way to the stronghold.
"Let's use the key, we don't know what's waiting on the other side, if we freeze and blast the door open the sound could alert them that something is wrong!"
General Mardon and the King nodded in approval and Cisco tried two keys before getting the right one. "Here we go!"
The door screeched loudly while opening and Cisco tensed and Leonard rolled his eyes and continued walking to the next room. The group arrived to a massive place… an underground vault. The problem now was that there were three different pathways.
"Which way?" – asked Oliver annoyed looking at the three ways they could choose.
"We need to split…" – groaned the King. "Cisco and Lady Snow are coming with me. We are going to the right, Oliver take some and soldiers go left and Mardon the same with the middle. Two soldiers will remain here, if we don't comeback in ten minutes run to the outside and give General Singh the order to attack the fortress with the army."
Everybody nodded without complains.
"If you find the Prince or Lisa make a priority to get them out of here as quickly as you can…" – commanded the King. "If anyone runs in to trouble try to come back here, if not just try to stay alive until we arrive. Understood?"
Everybody nodded again.
"Good luck to all" – added Mardon watching as the whole group split.
Caitlin and Cisco were nervous; they usually didn't fight so this was getting their adrenaline running fast. The King was impressed with the place. He knew the fortress was big but he never thought it was going to be so massive. They were walking silently until they heard a scream that made their blood run cold. Caitlin instinctively grabbed Cisco's arm.
"Holy shit! What the hell was that?" – murmured Cisco feeling his heart beat run wild and Caitlin shushed him.
"This is a dungeon Cisco...what did you expect?" – murmured Leonard annoyed. "Now silence… I think we are getting closer."
Barry felt dizzy and cold. He was trembling. The pain in his back and wounds was bad. He needed to regain his speed. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Lisa gasping and shuddering, surrounded by pieces of gold. She looked seriously ill…she used again her powers. He felt his heart clench painfully.
"Lisa!" – he called her with his rasped voice.
The Princess turned to him and smiled. "You are awake! I was so scared to lose you Barry… It was my fault that they attacked you and I don't know what they gave you… how do you feel?"
Barry smiled faintly remembering how the Princess turned Santini's left arm in to gold.
"I'm okay… don't worry… I just feel a little dizzy and it burned my throat when I drank it, but I don't feel different. Maybe it didn't work…"
She nodded worried. She knew very well that Santini was nasty and whatever they gave Barry was nothing good, but she was glad that at least it haven't done anything yet.
"Do you think that they are going to find us?" – Lisa inquired the Prince almost whispering.
"I don't doubt it!" – stated Barry confident. "I just hope they find us on tim-"
A flash of red lightning appeared in front of Barry causing the Prince's breath to stop. Barry flinched instinctively and the movement caused him to gasp, his back was killing him.
"Thawne" – murmured Lisa in shock as the man stopped in front of Barry smiling.
"Did you miss me, My Prince?"
Barry glared.
"You look beautiful… can't wait to having you writhing underneath me."
Suddenly the door of their cell opened and Santini entered followed by his men.
"We have a deal Thawne!" – said Frank glaring. "You can't take him out of the fortress."
"I won't… but I am going to use another room of your miserable dungeon…while I enjoy my prize." – Lord Eobard said smiling at Barry.
"Fine…but don't kill him." – ordered Santini serious. "I want the kid to die in King Leonard's arms just like King Mick Rory did."
Lisa felt her anger boil. "You monster!"
Thawne rolled his eyes bored. "Deal... I wont kill him so you can do your theatric shit."
Frank threw the speedster a key. "Use the middle room, it is big and you will fin that it has all the accommodations you need to have fun with the kid."
Thawne released the prince's hands that were hanging above his head and his arms fell to his sides. He was to weak to try to fight. The evil speedster lifted Barry easily from the ground in a bridal style and the kid groaned, closing his eyes, feeling his back start bleeding again with the movement and rough touch. He was completely limp and defenseless.
"NO!" – yelled Lisa. "Don't! Please! Stop!"
Thawne turned to Lisa with a vulnerable Barry in his arms and smiled before disappearing in a red flash.
"¡BARRY! NO!" – she yelled angry. Santini just laughed at the scene.
"Don't worry Lisa…the kid is in good hands! You should worry more about yourself…" – Santini added watching with excitement the gold surrounding the Princess and smiled. "Now let's make some more gold."
Cisco gasped. That scream was definitely Lisa's. They were getting closer to Barry and the Princess. Leonard felt his heart rate increase. He was going to kill Santini if he hurt Lisa. The King rushed to the chamber where Lisa was held as a prisoner. The door was opened and he saw a red blur exit the chamber and disappear turning right at the end of the hallway. He knew that was Thawne and that the man was probably going to the place where Barry was being held… but he needed to rescue Lisa first. Leonard saw two soldiers exit Lisa's cell and he froze one of them quickly and Caitlin frosted the other one. They entered the room quickly.
Lisa gasped when she saw her brother enter her cell with Cisco and Caitlin. "Len!"
Santini unsheathed his sword with his right hand and with his golden hand ordered his two mercenaries to grab the Princess.
"What an honor… the Winter King in my strongho-…"
Two icicles zoomed towards the two men holding Lisa piercing them in the heart. Both of them fell to the ground and Lisa shivered seeing the corpses and she slowly fell to the floor trembling. Caitlin raised her hand to silence her gasp and Cisco watched alarmed the wrath of the Winter King, the darkest side of King Leonard Snart.
"You must have a death wish Santini… kidnapping my sister." – added the King amused taking a few steps forward. "You are going to regret this."
Santini laughed feeling the temperature of the room drop. The King's hands were glowing blue and frost air was circling them.
"You don't scare me Cold." –Frank replied. "In fact I think we need to talk…there is some stuff that you need to know…"
"Not interested…" – answered Len coldly.
"Are you sure?" – asked Frank raising an eyebrow. "Even if it has to do something with your beloved and dead King Rory?"
The King froze. He didn't expect Santini to mention his death husband.
"What are you talking about?" – he asked confused.
"Do you know why I don't fear you, Your Highness?" – added Santini walking towards the King. Cisco and Caitlin backed off a step and Leonard remained still and silent. "It is because I don't fear death and I am ready for it…All I wanted was revenge and I succeeded it…it is so sweet and beautiful. You see… you killed my brother and you sent me to exile…and two years ago I managed to poison your beloved husband, I made him suffer in agony for a week. He died in your arms… and I was there, watching everything and it was glorious…and addictive…I enjoyed your pain so much, but it wasn't enough I wanted to make you suffer more and more… and suddenly a new opportunity was awakened with your marriage and Thawne by my side."
Len felt rage boil his soul. It was like a knife to the gut, hot and piercing.
"You killed Mick…"
Cisco and Caitlin saw the King's silent tears fall to the ground. The water in the cave's floor and ceiling started to froze. Lisa shuddered. Len was losing completely his control.
"And that's not even the best part Your Highness." – continued Santini with a sickening smile. "Imagine my excitement with the news of a new marriage…and I couldn't stop myself…I used on the young handsome Prince of Central Kingdom the same poison that I used on Mick…you know that there is no cure for that…he is going to have a very painful death"
"YOU BASTARD!"- Caitlin screamed angry and Cisco grabbed her when she was going to try to attack the man. "Barry.. he…" – she sobbed.
"Cait stop!" – Cisco pleaded. "We will find a cure…I promise"
Santini was laughing and The King was in shock. Trapped in his mind feeling pain and hate. He felt like he was confined in a nightmare. Lost in time on the edge of suffering. His memory of Mick dying in his arms… Barry poisoned and fated to suffer the same ending as Mick. All the scars in his soul ripping open again. His helplessness. All the sounds were deafening... Santini's laugh… the sound of the waterfall...Lisa's voice.
"Len" – Lisa murmured faintly trying to make her brother snap from the trance.
"It seems like Barry is going to be a dream that will never come true…perfect to compliment your sorrow… don't you think?" – added Santini loving the expression of overwhelmed hate and pain Leonard had on his face. "A gift to add on to your pain and suffering…another love that I've taken from you."
Len lifted his glance towards Santini. Blue piercing eyes full of rage and blood thirst.
"We are done. See you in the netherworld Santini…"
Len raised his arms fast and a blue glow started to radiate from the King's hands. Suddenly the sound of glass cracking filled the cave with a loud echo. Cisco and Caitlin noticed how the cave vibrated and the frozen water from the floor and the ceiling started floating midair, a thousand shards and spikes of ice glimmering with the dim light of the torches in the dungeon, and in a blink of an eye, all the spikes flew directly towards Santini, piercing every inch of his body. Santini couldn't even react and then there was blood splattering everywhere. It was a gruesome sight. Cisco, Caitlin and Lisa turned their heads; Len just watched the man fall dead and he ran to his sister's side.
"Lisa are you hurt?" – he said embracing her, she was trembling badly and he saw the huge amount of gold lying around her. That bastard made her use her powers. She looked tired but she seemed fine. He was so scared of losing her.
"I'm okay Lenny!... I'm fine…I'm so sorry… I love you…" – she said hugging her brother dearly. "Please Len…go save Barry… please hurry…he tried to protect me and Santini tortured him and he is badly injured… and now Thawne have him and that man is obsessed with the prince."
"I know…Lisa breath...I promise I will save him." – he added confident freezing Lisa's restraints to break them and set her free. "Cisco, Caitlin…stay with Lisa…I'm going to save Barry."
"Remember ten seconds." – added Cisco watching as the King kissed Lisa on her forehead and started running in the direction he saw the red flash disappear.
Barry had his eyes closed. Thawne had him tied to a stone altar with his hands above his head stretching painfully his back. He had removed the prince's black boots and tied the prince's feet with metal chains to the base. Barry was shaking. He was so scared. The chamber was big and it looked like a place for doing sacrifices. He shivered with the thought. He wanted to escape, to run away…Thawne approached the Prince and smiled.
"You are so beautiful my Prince" – said the evil speedster trailing tenderly his finger over Barry's chest. "You are so perfect…"
Barry closed his eyes mortified feeling sick. He didn't want to be touched by Thawne. He hated this.
"That won't do Barry… look at me" – ordered the man taking Barry's face in his hand roughly.
"Open your eyes."
Barry opened them and saw the man leaning forward to crash painfully his lips over his own. The prince grunted and tried to turn his face away but Eobard was kept him still. He was feeling weak and his vision was blurry and hazy, he was tired. Maybe he was going to die of blood loss before he was raped. That would be a relief. Barry stopped struggling and Thawne was surprised with the submission, but he suddenly realized why the prince stopped fighting. Barry was burning hot and shivering. He was sick.
"Damn…" – murmured Eobard looking at Barry concerned. "It seems that Santini already gave you the poison…that wasn't the plan…and I was thinking of taking you out of here, it seems I will have to make haste if I want you conscious while I take you."
Thawne climbed over Barry, straddling his waist. Barry was scared. He felt Thawne's cold hand smoothing and caressing his abdomen in a way that made him feel his bile rise in his throat.
"Stop…please"
Eobard laughed cocky and Barry tensed. "I can't… I've waited for this moment for too long."
Thawne leaned and licked Barry's ear and that made Barry's skin crawl. He was so drowsy; maybe he would be lucky enough to faint soon. Thawne shifted his position and his hand caressed Barry's cheek and started traveling down slowly from his chest to his abdomen and…too far for the prince's liking…. Thawne's hand traveled underneath the prince's pants and he started caressing the sensitive skin of Barry's tight. Barry felt his breath stop. He didn't want this. He wanted to yell but he couldn't find his voice.
"Don't touch me"- the prince murmured feeling warm tears running down his face. Barry's breathing was deep and labored as he realized that he has been struggling against his shackles.
Eobard smiled at his prey so helpless lying at his mercy and he moved his hand up to play with Barry's nipples. The prince's breath hitched.
"I want you to harden for me" – Thawne purred moving his hand over Barry's pants, over Barry's crotch and he started vibrating his hand and Barry reacted unwillingly moaning and arching his back from the cold stone he was tied to. The skin of his back started aching in protest with the movement. Thawne stopped. Barry felt a crippling shame rise in side of him, he gasped…the sensation was too much. Barry's vision was blurring. He was starting to lose consciousness.
"Stay awake…"- said Thawne annoyed releasing Barry's hands and feet to give him more mobility…anyways the kid was too weak to try to escape and maybe that would ease the pain on the prince's back and keep him conscious through their time alone. Barry closed his eyes and Thawne was going to slap Barry to keep him awake when he heard the door of the room froze and crack to later explode and shatter into small pieces of ice.
"Cold…" – said Thawne glancing towards the man entering the room while caressing Barry's face. "How bothersome…"
"Get away from him, Thawne." – The King ordered unsheathing the sword. Barry was barely conscious and the altar of stone was stained crimson with the kid's blood. He feared he was too late to save the prince.
"Make me…" – said Thawne uninterested trailing a thumb over Barry's soft lips.
"Fight me"- Leonard challenged the speedster angry at the touches the man was laying over Barry. "Or are you afraid of losing?"
Eobard laughed. "You don't have a chance against me Leonard. I could snap your neck in seconds and you wouldn't even notice."
"Humor me…" – defied the King lowing the temperature of the room.
"Very well" – said Thawne descending from the altar. "Let's play."
Before Leonard could even react he felt a dagger pierce his leather armor in to his shoulder painfully. Thawne leaned closer to the King and murmured - "Told you. You won't last a minute against me my King." The speedster twisted the dagger and Len groaned feeling the rotation of the blade inside his back. "I will kill you slowly and then I would have my time enjoying the kid."
Thawne returned to Barry's side in seconds. Leonard was angry and gasping. He needed to end the speedster fast or else he would lose. The King sent a blast of ice towards Thawne but the man easily avoided it. Len sighed. He just needed to separate the speedster from Barry. He sent another blast of cold and again the speedster avoided it. Len noticed that at least Thawne was falling in Len's trap and walking slowly away from the Prince. Suddenly a blur of red started running in the room and Len felt a hard punch in his stomach and he coughed, followed by another punch to his face that made him lost balance. He couldn't even see his foe. He just saw a red was clearly teasing him.
"Is that all you got Winter King?"
Len smirked and created a lot of icicles and sent them flying towards Lord Thawne who outrun them and caught one in the air and threw it towards Len piercing the King's right leg. Leonard didn't even saw the attack and groaned feeling the cold sharp pain. The King removed the ice shard from his thigh and winced. He wasn't going to be able to win this battle; their difference in power was too much. He needed to use Cisco's device but he just had one opportunity. If he failed… Thawne will know about his plan and there would be no element of surprise and he would be doomed. Len glanced quickly to the altar and saw that Barry wasn't there anymore. He suddenly panicked. Thawne didn't noticed because he was giving the altar his back… It was now or never. The King ran towards the speedster and Thawne smiled amused with the front attack. Len was near the speedster when he stopped and impaled the sword to the floor creating a massive freeze wave that made the chamber tremble. Thawne saw a blinding white and blue explosion and felt how his powers froze and felt frostbite all over his body. The cold was slowing him down. Barry felt the blast too. He was crouching behind the stone altar and that protected him a little but still he felt his skin burn. Thawne was screaming in pain and Barry saw how Leonard quickly in seconds created a long spear of ice from thin air and impaled the speedster through the middle of his chest. Thawne was surprised to lose against the Winter King. He tried to talk and coughed blood from his mouth.
Barry stood up feeling safe…he wanted to go to Len's side. He has been away from him for too long. Leonard turned to see Barry trying to walk slowly towards him, with a smile full of pain and happiness… but the relief was short lived. Barry's eyes widened and saw Thawne charge his hand with lightning and send it towards the King's back. Barry tried to warn Len but it was too late and with his last strength he ran forward pushing Len out of the way, taking the blast square his chest. Len saw from the floor how Barry closed his hazel eyes and started to fall slowly to the ground and Thawne smiled and took in one last breath…
"NO!" – Len screamed rushing towards Barry who was motionless on the floor and knelt beside him. "No..no please... Scarlet stay with me."
"If you think…" –murmured Thawne…"That t-this story has a happy ending Leonard…you haven't been paying attention…"
Thawne tried to laugh…but he just coughed some more blood and finally the evil speedster vanished in to darkness.
The King with trembling hands quickly froze the rune collar on Barry's neck and broke it without harming the Prince any further. Barry's neck was raw as well as his wrists and back. "Come on Scarlet…heal… heal quickly please…"
Lifeless…
Barry looked completely lifeless.
"Barry!" – Len shouted watching the damage on Barry's body. It was too much. He could feel the speedster heartbeat… but it was too faint…. The prince was too cold. The King removed his blue cape quickly and covered Barry's lean body with it. "You can't leave me Scarlet! You promised me that you would wait for me to make my decision and I want you…I want to give us a chance…please don't leave me. I can't do this again please…I just found you…I can't lose you again."
Caitlin, Lisa and Cisco entered the room followed by King Oliver and General Mardon and all of them stopped in their tracks and gasped at the heartbreaking scene. Leonard was holding a motionless Barry in his arms.
"Oh god…" – murmured Lisa grabbing Cisco's hand. "Lenny…"
"Scarlet… please...don't fall away… don't leave me here to myself…with my love bleeding in my hands again…" – murmured the King tenderly grasping the bloodied and beaten form of the Prince and he leaned to held him closer to his own trembling body. "I need to see your face light up again...I can't … I can't lose you too… you are always on my mind, you are my new light…I never believed that I could love again…you gave a new reason to live."
There was no response.
Time was standing still.
"Come on Scarlet! You are all I want…." – murmured the King tenderly brushing Barry's messy brown hair away from his beautiful face. The King kissed the Prince's forehead fighting his tears. "You are everything I need to be whole again. I'm not scared anymore, please open your eyes…"
Lisa was silently crying watching the scene and Cisco hugged her. Oliver and Mardon just watched holding their respiration. The only sound on the cave was the roaring of the waterfall and Len's words.
"Don't leave me Barry" – whispered the King sadly. "I promise I will make it up to you for this mess. I will take you home…"
Caitlin rushed to the King's side and she knelt at his side checking Barry's pulse… at first it was faint and erratic… but after a while… to her surprise it suddenly started to get faster. He was starting to gain a little color. She smiled. Not everything was lost.
Barry winced and slowly opened his eyes, he felt like fading and losing himself in to darkness… his pain was killing him but he smiled sweetly watching Len's beautiful deep azure eyes. Barry lifted his hand towards the King's beautiful face. "Len…"
The King finally breathed and smiled feeling how a deep curve of Barry's lips could make the world stop around him. He held Barry's weak hand on his own and kissed it.
"Scarlet"
The King leaned slowly to place a soft and comforting kiss brushing Barry's soft lips and it was like, in that moment, the whole universe existed to bring them finally together.
"Stay with me…please. You are safe…I will be right beside you. I'll always be right here now to hold you forever. I won't let go… I'll wait for you."
Barry smiled and closed his eyes… tears falling silently.
"I know…"
Hi guys! Sooo… I'm excited to know what you think of this chapter!? :O
Writing this felt like taking a ride in an emotional rollercoaster.
Feel free to comment and leave a review or feedback! I love comments! As always thanks to everyone who has read, commented, fave and bookmarked this story. You're the best and the reason why I keep writing this story (besides practicing my English writing skills haha) :D
Ps. I had less time to proofread than usual so I'm sorry for grammar mistakes. If you see any typos let me know! :3