Chapter 6: A Battle, and an Alliance

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Bast's Point of view:

I took off running down the path where I had told my troops to wait until we had spoken to the Council of the Elders. Winter had taken off to find Miranda, and Jason to warn them of the danger. And by the time I hadmade it to my destination, battle was already commencing.

" Defense position men!" I shouted as I grabbed my two handed sword out of it's scabbard.

"Sir Bast behind you!" One of my men shouted, and I turned to see a soldier clothed in the uniform of the Shotan Army about to strike me with his sword. I turned just in time to parry the blow, and managed to cut him down with my own sword. I could see that we were vastly outnumbered, and the commander of the Shotan army ordered his men to surround us. I was prepared to fight to the death, and was just thinking to myself how stupid I was to get my men into this mess, when an arrow came whistling past my head, and embedded itself into the nearest Shotan soldier.

" Volley up!" I heard one of the Viera shout, as another volley of arrows plagued the Shotan army.

"Gather your men Bast! Shouted Mjrn who was dressed in full battle armor, after they had driven back the other soldiers with their arrows." It's going to be a miracle if we survive this battle, and we need to be focused!"

I gathered the rest of my men, and could not help but think of Winter, where she was, and if she was safe. Strange what one thinks of when they are possibly facing the end.

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Winter's point of view:

" Randa! Jason! Are you alright?" I shouted as I ran up the slope where the two young Singers stood holding their ground against a group of Shota's soldiers. Randa turned to look at me, and before I could shout a warning, one of the soldiers cut her leg with his sword, and she fell to the ground with a startled cry. I was still to far away to help so I did the only thing I could think of,

" Sing Jason, Sing !" I shouted as loud as I could. I could see that if he didn't do something fast ,we were going to lose Randa.

" I don't know how!" He cried,

" Open your heart, and let it take control." I said desperately,

He stood there with his eyes closed, and as I watched time seemed to slow. I could see the Shotan soldier's sword poised above Randa ready to strike, and Jason with his lips barely moving. I could see a dim red mist pouring slowly from his mouth, so I knew he had found his power.

"Louder Jason! I shouted, It's working!"

Just before the soldier could strike the death blow to Randa, Jason's song cast a red wall forming a shield protecting them from harm.

" Das vah danya!" I shouted in my native tongue, and the nearest soldier fell to the ground without a sound.

"Randa, I said coming to kneel beside her." Are you okay? " She nodded, and I began to heal the deep leg wound.

I turned to Jason as Randa stood up, " Alright I need your help, I am going to sing, and I need you two to join in. I need both of your help to do this. You are doing great. " I said to Jason, when I saw that he had began to turn pale.

As I sang purple mist began to flow from my lips. I turned, and smiled to Randa when I saw her pink mist join mine.

"Come on Jason.... " Randa said kindly .

Soon Jason's smooth voice rang out, and his orange mist joined ours. My voice began to rise, and so did the others as they followed my lead. Our voices began to spin around one another, and formed a swirling tornado. I lost all thought, and feeling as my power took over. When I opened my eyes there was nothing left of Shota's soldiers. Randa was looking dazed, and Jason was sitting on the ground looking sick.

"I can't believe we killed all those soldiers." He muttered

" You did great. I told him, I know it hurt you to do that, but it had to be done. I can't say it gets any easier, but if it consoles you at all those you killed were evil, and would have killed us had we not acted first."

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Miranda's point of view:

I looked solemnly over the battle field that was once the beautiful Eryut Village. I was helping Winter heal the fallen, and easing the pain of the dying when I heard her shout,

" Fran! Fran!"

She ran over to a striking white haired Veira who was laying still on the ground.

"No Fran you can't die on me now! She cried as tears fell from her eyes, and ran down her dirty face.

"Winter....." I began as I felt of the Viera's pulse, She's gone, I'm so sorry....." I jumped as she threw of the hand I had placed on her shoulder.

" No she can't be dead she can't! I will kill you Shota I swear I will!" she cried helplessly.

"Winter look." I whispered. There standing in the shadows was a lone feminine figure covered in a long crimson cloak, so it was impossible to see her face.

"Damn you!" She shouted running after the strange figure with her sword raised over her head.

"No Winter!" I shouted, but Winter's sword went through the figure with no resistance. The dark figure let out a cruel laugh, and then faded into the mist.

Mjrn, and the other Viera were standing over the body of Fran, when Winter made her way back up the hill to where her friend lay still upon the ground.

" I will not stand for this! "She growled at the Viera, who were saying their final goodbyes.

"She was our sister as well. began Mjrn, And we all knew her opinion of you was above all others."

"No!" she shouted as Bast made to restrain her. She threw back her arms with a feral yell making him fall to the ground, and began to sing in an unearthly voice. A blinding white light began to rise out of Fran's body, and rose into the air. It flew up above Winter's head, and what I saw next both scared, and amazed me. Being a Singer I could sense what she was about to do, and I knew there was nothing I could do to stop her. She was about to combine her life force with Fran's, in an attempt to bring her back to life. I knew from reading old records in the palace's library that this had been tried numerous times, and had only been successful two times before in all of Idendryll's history. And in all the other cases that failed they had resulted in death for the Singer singing the spell. I was sure Winter had no idea what she was about to do, or that the two Singers before her that had managed to survive the spell were the leaders of the group of Singers who had named themselves the Fates. The Fates were all powerful, and answered to no one. One day they just disappeared, and told no one where they went. It was one of the great mysteries of Idendryll.

"Winter!" Bast shouted as she began to rise into the air.

Her head was thrown back, and a smile was on her face as her silver life force flew out of her, and joined with Fran's white one. We watched as the combined strands of their life forces flew back into Winter, and then Fran. Winter glided gently back to the ground, as though some invisible hand was guiding her, and laid her gently on her back among a bed of violets that had sprung up around her.

Bast, and I ran over to her, and to our relief she slowly opened her eyes.

"Fran?" began Mjrn as her sister opened her eyes, and struggled to sit up. " Your alive! Winter, how can I ever thank you for this?"

"By getting me some food I'm famished." She mumbled struggling to stand.

"Of course, Bast, Mjrn ordered. Carry her inside so she can rest in peace."

"No that's okay I can walk." Winter insisted struggling to stand.

But Bast would here none of it, and scooped her up gently into his arms. The minute her head hit his arms she was asleep.

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Jason's point of view:

I was looking out over the destruction that was once my beautiful home, and could not help but feel lost. I jumped when I felt a hand touch my shoulder.

"It's only me. said Miranda softly, I'm so sorry about your home I know how you must be feeling."

I looked at the tiny figure with her kind pink eyes, and said " I have made my decision. I will accompany you, and Winter on your quest to defeat Shota. The minute she entered this forest she made a terrible mistake."

Miranda was surprised at this outburst coming from this quiet boy. She guessed there was more to him than met the eye.

"What was that song that Winter sang to make Fran come back to life?" I asked her.

" Murin Betha Dan, was the name of the song. She replied. It is an ancient song now known only to those of the Royal line. She was to learn it when it came time for her to take her place as Queen of Idendryll. That time has never come, so I wonder how it is she was able to sing it. My guess was that grief tore so far down into her heart that it uncovered her birthright that was once hidden to her."

"Oh, I replied becoming quiet. And, we said no more, as we stood looking out over the barren battlefield.

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Winter's point of view:

When I opened my eyes I saw that it had turned to night.

" Hello sleepy head." I heard, and turned to see Fran sitting beside me on the bed.

"Your okay!" I shouted moving to hug her.

" All thanks to you." she replied with a smile, her mocha colored ears twitching slightly a sign that she was happy."What where you doing out here Winter?"

I began to tell Fran what I had been doing for the last 46 years.

"Well Winter you know you now have the full support of the Viera. She said after I finished my story. But you know I can't let you go off on your own right? If you still get yourself into as much trouble as back in the day you are going to need all of the help you can get!"

I laughed, and said "There is no one else I would rather have on my side than you. But tell me how did you come to be back home?"

"All in good time you must sleep now. Bast will kill me if I keep you up much longer. He waited for you to wake up, and would not leave until Mjrn made him get some rest."

" Alright, I replied. But one more thing. '

And so I asked Fran to join in the Resistance.......................

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