Chapter 23: Guardian Angel

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

Before Karigan even had a chance to react a shaft of pure darkness pieced her shoulder, she screamed in pain. She clenched her teeth against the pain as a warm trickle of blood ran down her arm and pulled the tendril of darkness out of her arm. She unconsciously swapped her sabre to her good arm and threw all of her weight behind her sabre as she lunged towards the elegant young man.

As she threw herself towards him she felt a force crash in to her side knocking her off course and in to the cracked surface of the road. Karigan cursed, how many times had Drent told her to be ready to defend against anything. Her body shook as she stood to face him, how was she supposed to beat him. Her shoulder was bleeding freely now but she could not do anything about it, it would have to wait until this was over.

Another wave of force crashed in to her, even though she was ready for it this time it still pushed her backwards by several meters. Mornhavon laughed as he approached her, her body froze in place just as it had during the Kings wedding. He was so close to her that she could have killed him hundreds of different ways if he had been a normal human. But he was not normal, she would never be able to finish this by merely swinging her sword.

"What now Galadheon? You cannot kill me with your toy, what did you come here for if you did not wish to join me? Did you come here to die?"

Karigan gritted her teeth. She would not give him the pleasure of tormenting her.

"How precious you would die for the man you love. You would die for he who forsook you for another? You are here to give your life for him and where is he?" He laughed again.

A vision hovered in front of her, she tried to look away but she could not move her head or close her eyes. A luxurious suite, she presumed was the Kings private quarters, hung before her. Two people sat alone by the fire, she recognised Zachary immediately, he looked so relaxed sitting back in his chair listening to the woman read to him. Estora sat looking as beautiful as ever reading from a small book in her lap. As Karigan watched Estora seemed to pale, concerned Zachary moved towards his wife and smiled encouragingly. As the vision Karigan thought she heard him say something about a child.

Karigan tried to hold back the tears, she did not want Mornhavon to see that he had struck a nerve. Zachary... he looks so happy. Has he already got over me leaving him? She wondered. Does he love Estora? She sighed. All is as it should be then, I must fight for my country and he must produce an heir. Estora deserves to be loved. Her heart beat quickened. Me and Zachary being together was never possible, I should be happy for him... A single tear escaped from her eyes. So why does knowing he likes Estora hurt so much?

"He never loved you." Mornhavon announced coldly. "You were always a game for him, nothing more. Does he really deserve your loyalty?"

"Zachary would never do that." She replied fiercely staring him in the eye.

"You are no Lillian Ambriodhe girl. What would the High King of Sacoridia want with a Greenie? Don't you think if he loved you he would have tried to stop you? There are others following you but," He paused dramatically a grin spreading across his face, "none of them are your precious King."

There are people following me? She was shocked, how could he have known that. Please let the other Riders be too late to face Mornhavon. Don't let them cross the Wall.

"And now Karigan Galadheon I am going to destroy you."

Estora paused as she reached the bottom of the page and looked across the room at her husband. Zachary was leaning back in his seat his eyes closed and a small smile on his face, smiling to herself she closed the small book and shifted in her chair. He is asleep to doubt dreaming about her, I shouldn't wake him. She still felt uncomfortable about destroying the connection between the King and her friend, but he had insisted on going on with the marriage. She admired his strength to keep to his word and yet... What about Karigan? If she returns she will find him officially married in front of the kingdom. Then what will she do?

Estora felt a wave of sadness overcome her. Despite the Green Riders leaving for the Wall and the Eletians following quickly in pursuit she wondered how many of them truly believed Karigan would return to them. If she defeats Mornhavon will she return the same person? She sighed heavily. Why did it always have to be Karigan? Hadn't she done enough for the country already. Karigan deserves to be happy she has already done too much for this country. She looked across at her sleeping husband and found him fully awake watching her.

"Are you alright you look a little pale?" He seemed concerned.

She nodded. "I am fine."

Her eyes widened as she felt a movement from within her, she looked down at her stomach that was covered in deep blue silk. Understanding hit her, no wonder she had not been eating properly and feeling sick in the morning. She felt a light touch on her sleeve; Zachary was leaning over her, his eyebrows knit with concern.

"Perhaps you should go to the Mending Wing?"

Estora smiled up at him. "I don't think I'm unwell."

She could have laughed at the look of confusion on his face. "I think you could have an heir on the way."

The King smiled at her, she could tell Zachary the man was not happy with this news, she could see the conflicting emotions clearly in his eyes. She had expected him to be happy about this development, he was going to be a father. He seemed to fight with himself before excusing himself quickly saying he was going to bring her the Master Mender to check on her health.

Why is he not happy? She wondered. I am going to bare him an heir. The truth hit her hard. Karigan! Oh gods! I wanted to help them, I wanted to make her happy. Zachary will not cast me aside now even if he could be with her, he is not that type of man. She sobbed. Oh Karigan, forgive me. What have I done?

She watched frozen by magic as the young man conjured another spike of darkness seemingly out of nowhere. She strained against the enchantment upon her, she could not move. Is this how it ends, she wondered, trapped unable to move. Mornhavon smiled at her in a way that made her heart skip a beat, he was done playing with her.

"Kari!"

Karigan blinked as the ghost of Yates stood between her and Mornhavon. She knew that even with Yates there the spike would go straight through his spirit form and in to her. Karigan shivered. Yet with the other rider there she felt less alone, what are you doing? You can't save me you idiot, she smiled despite herself, I'm glad you're still here.

"Kari..." Yates murmured. "I will never let you fall. I'll stand up with you forever. I'll be there for you through it all, even if saving you sends me to heaven."

Karigan fought back the tears as she realised he was quoting a song, she could not recall where or when she had heard it but she did not care. Yates was still there for her, he would not leave her, and she was not alone. That thought gave her enough strength to break through the enchantment holding her.

She brushed her hand against her broach in an old habit; fading would not save her against Mornhavon, not when he could feel her presence from across Sacoridia. She felt warmth pulsing through her broach, magic pulsed through her body like molten fire, she saw Yates solidify as the sound of hoof beats took over her senses.

"Westirion." She felt herself say

Hello again! This Chapter was Inspired by Guardian Angel a song by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

Tell me what you think. My sister was playing iTunes while I was writting this and I thought it brought out Yates' character brilliantly.

Anyway I don't own the song lyrics in this chapter. For those who don't know the song the link below is to a youtube video with lyrics:

.com/watch?v=jRehmX3zlwE

I've written the epilouge now. I just need to work the rest of the story in to one maybe two chapters.

Please Review, tell me what you like and don't like. I'm getting a little aprehensive now.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed in the past. It lets me know that you are enjoying what you read.

Thanks for reading.

Rhii :)