Back in the forest, Isolde's panicked horse carried her as fast as it could from the impending evil. Isolde looked to her right to see the witch riding not far behind and closing the gap between them. When the witch was merely a few feet away, she stretched her arm out to snatch Isolde off of her horse. Isolde jerked her horse sharply to the left, escaping Aglaramarth's grasp in the nick of time. In her frustration, the dark queen let out a piercing screech. Isolde shouted in fear and buried her head into the mare's back. When she looked back, the sorceress was gone. She kept the horse at its pace; she wasn't taking any chances.
I while later her horse halted and reared up. This caught Isolde by surprise and she fell. She saw that they had come up to the same creek, but that the rain had caused it to swell into a wide and roaring river. Isolde stood to control the raging horse, but as it stamped the muddy riverbank repeatedly, the loose soil beneath it gave way. She watched in horror as the horse let out a screaming neigh and was swept away by the strong current.
"No!" She cried out. But the faithful horse was gone. Just then she saw two riders on the opposite side of the river. At first she shrieked and turned to run but then she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
"Isolde!" Eldarion yelled. She turned and recognized him. He saw her face was wild with fear and that she was stranded. He called out to her again. "There is a tree that has fallen across the river not far from here!" He motioned upstream. "Can you walk?" She nodded and scrambled up along the riverbank. He and his father watched her as they traveled in the same direction. As she neared it, a sharp shriek filled the air. The two men watched helplessly as a rider on a black horse appeared out of nowhere, advancing on Isolde. The woman stared at them and bared her teeth before looking back to her target. Eldarion unsheathed his sword.
"No! Leave her be!" he shouted. She laughed and disappeared. She reappeared in front of them, blocking them from the fallen tree. Their horses reared in terror. It was Ellesar's turn to draw his sword. Aglaramarth's voice penetrated their thoughts.
"Fools! Why should you get in between me and my foe? I am avenging the death of my kin and I will not be stopped by mere humans," She turned her horse towards Isolde. Eldarion and Ellesar moved in. She turned and snarled viciously.
"You shall not touch her," Ellesar said, his voice strong. Aglaramarth unveiled and wielded her own sword and turned back to the king.
"I wouldn't be so sure," She hissed. Another broken smile stretched across her face. "It has been 1,000 years since I have had the privilege of battle. It is only fitting that the first blood I spill should be a king's," She raised her weapon and advanced on the two men. The queen was clever though and immediately stabbed Eldarion's horse between the plates of armor covering it. The horse fell dead, pinning Eldarion's leg beneath it. Ellesar was quicker and swiftly guided his horse from the witch's sword. Aglaramarth slashed at the king relentlessly, eventually knocking him off his horse. She dismounted and, before he had even gotten the chance to stand, slammed him unto a tree, rendering him unconscious. She held his limp form up to her face and stared into it intently.
"You are weak, Ellesar King," she cooed mockingly. "Far too tired from your recent return from battle, no? You are not ready for me, not yet. Therefore, I shall wait. Can't have everyone believing I killed you when you were already vulnerable. Besides," She said, looking back at Isolde, "You are merely distracting me from my current task. We shall battle again when you are worthy of my time," she whispered, stroking his hair. "In the meantime…," she pressed her long nail to the king's neck and slid it across, drawing a thin line of blood, "Must keep my promises," She sneered. She dropped the king's form carelessly, turning to the other two. Isolde, who was halfway across the tree, froze in place. Aglaramarth walked past the still struggling Eldarion and up to the riverbank. She smiled wickedly and took a few steps onto the tree. Isolde, having nothing to defend herself with, scrambled backwards. The queen easily grabbed Isolde's wrist and yanked her to her feet.
"Now you will pay for your mother's crime. Blood for blood. And when I'm finished with you, I will pick off all those you love," She held Isolde at arm's length, leaning her over the raging waters below. The queen, wanting to have a bit of fun with her victim before her demise, tightened her grip on Isolde's wrist. Isolde screamed as her bones were crushed. Eldarion called out to her helplessly. The witch turned to him and smiled again. There was a sickening pop and Isolde gasped in pain. The queen let go and Isolde disappeared beneath the water. Eldarion screamed again. The queen laughed and then vanished.