Chapter 22: Alessandros

Karigan groaned as she found her way blocked by the dark menacing undergrowth once more, she raised her sword irritably. The progress of the otherworldly army had been slow due to her need to hack away at the black brambles that frequently barred her way; she could not drift unfeeling through the thorns and twisted limbs like the other riders did. She tried to push away the weariness as her sword cleaved through the foremost brambles that blocked the way. They must have entered the forest hours ago, but she could not be sure if time even passed in the eternal twilight that surrounded them. She had fought her way through the undergrowth knowing that each step she took in to Blackveil lessened her chances of being able to return.

The all too familiar presence of Mornhavon had first touched her mind when she had first stepped in to the darkness beyond the Wall, now the light touch seemed to be heavier as she travelled deeper in to his domain. Each step she took towards him allowed his grip on her to grow a little firmer. Why don't you just take me now? She thought at the darkness. I am here, alone, defenceless, why not take me now? It took all the energy she could muster while still moving forwards to keep Mornhavon out of her head, she was too aware that if he fully concentrated on her she would not be able to last long.

As the last of the twisted brambles fell to the forest floor her legs carried her onwards, she was only half aware of the forest around her. Karigan sighed happily as her thoughts retreated to the safety of Sacor City; a pair of almond eyes greeted her as she escaped the darkness around her to the world inside her mind where her love for the King was not impossible. For some reason she imagined him sitting alone in his study, his head resting on an upturned palm, his eyes seemed to bore in to her and a twisted smile crossed his lips. She watched as he approached where she stood, his eyes shone with tears as he reach out to hold her. Karigan waited to feel his embrace but it did not come.

"Kari? Kari?"

She shook herself and a single tear ran down her cheek as she returned firmly to the reality of the twisted forest. Lil stood before her, while her mind had been away they had progressed on to one of the Eletian highways that spanned the vast expanse of Blackveil. Karigan jumped as she felt a cold presence wrap itself around her arm, she looked to her left to see Yates grinning at her as his hand enclosed her wrist, and she smiled weakly at him. Maybe dying won't be so bad, she mused, Yates, Mother, Bard and the others. It would not be a bad thing to see them all again.

She looked Yates straight in the eye. "It feels like you are calling to me," She frowned and touched her chest. "I can feel him... he is everywhere... blackening everything... and yet," Karigan paused again and took in the familiar faces of her friends around her. "And yet it feels like you are all waiting for me to join you... calling me to finish this and depart with you."

Lil looked at her pitifully. "You are the only one that can do this Lass, we can only aid you so far."

Karigan nodded, she had been aware all along that she would have to deliver the final blow alone, it brought her some relief to know that at least here in this dark forest someone could understand that. She could feel Mornhavon drawing nearer even as she stood surrounded by the ghosts of her fellow Green Riders, he was moving at last, coming for her. For some reason she felt peaceful, maybe it will not be painful, she briefly thought about asking Lil, I don't want to waste the time i have left, it doesn't matter if it hurts or not i am going to die today. She shook her head, "How did you die?" The memory of Lil shocked her for a moment, she looked straight in to the ghostly eyes of her predecessor and smiled wryly.

"I am going to die aren't I?" She asked.

"Not necessarily, but yes it is quite likely." Lil sighed.

Karigan turned in surprise as she saw Yates tense out of the corner of her eye. He held her gaze in his as his hand hovered just underneath her face.

"I won't let you die Kari. I won't let him take you." He growled fiercely.

Lil cleared her throat and Yates appeared to blush.

"Mornhavon is approaching."

Karigan nodded again and stepped away from her friends. He was almost upon them, it was time to put her Weapons training in to action and fight him face to face. She paused for a moment as she turned away, her heart was beating madly against her chest, she took another step away from the assembled spirits.

Then without turning she addressed them. "Thank you... for everything."

A slight wind blew her hair out of her eyes, she turned to see the host of spirits disappear one by one until only two where left. Lil took a step forward, her face set. She touched her broach and Karigan followed the motion feeling the warmth of the connection trough her fingertips.

"If you need us just call us, you know the ropes." Lil murmured before she too faded in to nothing.

Karigan knew that this was something she would have to do alone and yet she felt like something was missing; after everything that had happened to her she still loved the King with all her heart... she had always loved Zachary. She would not be able to say goodbye to him. Why doesn't it bother me? She felt so confused. I'm about to die I should be full of regrets, I consciously decided not to see him one last time... I could have gone to his office and told him I was leaving and not to follow me... so why didn't i? Did I want to stop him from following me? I wanted to save everybody. This is what's best for everyone. She frowned. But if I was truly in love I should have stayed with Zachary to defend him. I am defending him, Karigan told herself, this is the only way.

"Karigan?" Yates asked.

She shook herself; none of it mattered now if she survived then she could spend longer pondering her decisions. As she began to walk forward to meet Mornhavon head on she took one last look over her shoulder and noticed that Yates was watching her intently.

"Yates thank you for showing me a ghost can blush." She smiled to herself as she heard him splutter.

The moment was short lived however; a strong wind whipped the dark trees surrounding her in to a frenzy, the darkness deepened as if it was welcoming its Master. The wind pulled at her almost knocking her off balance, she fought against it with her tired body, he was so close now. A chill ran through her spine as a man strode through the forest towards her, she recognised the face all too well, the face that had haunted her since she had had the first dream about Hadraix, Alessandros smiled and bowed mockingly.

"At last we meet face to face, Karigan Galadheon daughter of my dearest Hadraix." His handsome face smiled coldly at her as her took a step closer. "I can restore the house of El Fex to you, adopt you as my own, give you the King you desire. All you need to do is swear loyalty to me."

Involuntarily she stepped back. She did not want to listen to his lies, she was so tired, she just wanted it all to end. She thought of everyone back in Sacor City, everyone she wanted to save, everyone she cared about, she let them surround her, it did not matter that she was alone now she did not want any of them to share her fate.

Karigan drew her sabre taking comfort from the familiar weight. "Alessandros del Mornhavon." The name slid off her tongue as if it was poisoned. "What do you want from me?"

He laughed, it was a beautiful laugh for someone who wanted to destroy all she held dear.

"My dearest Galadheon, all I want from you is your unwavering obedience nothing more nothing less. If you are mine you cannot kill me, but I could give you everything."

She gripped her sabre tighter. She did not want to be drawn in by his words. She frowned as he stepped towards her once more, she could feel the darkness emanating off him. This time she took a step towards him closing the gap between them.

Mornhavon laughed. "Very well we will do this your way shall we?"

Hello again! A longer Chapter this time.

We're getting closer to the end now. What do you think? Too fast? Too slow? Review please

Thanks to everyone that has kept on reading while I've been writing this.

Only a few chapters left! Excited?

Keep enjoying

Rhii :)