Chapter 14

Final Task

Holly stood on the dais in a tunic, pants, and boots. A sword was down her spine and dagger at her leg. Tamlin stood right next to Amaratha. Holly's eyes were on the doors. The doors were flung open the room went silent. Holly's hands were folded in front of her. No one said a word as Feyre stepped towards the dais, straight to Amaratha. The Queen smiled when Feyre stopped in front of Amaratha.

"Two trials lie behind you." Amaratha said, picking a fleck of dust on her blood-red gown. "And only one more awaits. I wonder if it will be worse to fail now, when you are so close." A few laughs came from the guards. Everyone stayed silent. Rhys appeared on Holly's other side.

'You look ready for a fight.' Rhys spoke in her mind.

'I got a bad feeling about the outcome of this task.' Holly said.

'Same here.' Rhys said.

"Any words to say before you die?" Amaratha asked. Feyre looked right at Tamlin.

"I love you. No matter what she says about it, no matter if it's only with my insignificant human heart. Even when they burn my body, I'll love you." Feyre said. Tamlin didn't react.

"You'll be lucky, my darling, if we even have enough left of you to burn." Amaratha said. Holly clutched her hands tighter as Feyre stared the Queen down. Amaratha popped her chin on her hand. "You never figured out my riddle, did you?" No response. "Pity. The answer is so lovely."

"Get it over with." Feyre growled. Amaratha looked at Tamlin.

"No final words to her?" Amaratha asked, quirking her eyebrow. No answer. "Very well, then." She clapped her hands twice. A door swung open and three figures, two male and one female with sacks tied over their heads were dragged in by the guards. Holly took an intake of breath. The guards forced the three faeries to their knees at the foot of the dais, but facing Feyre. Amaratha clapped her hands again, and three servants clad in black appeared at the side of each of the faeries. In their hands, they each carried a dark velvet pillow with a single polished dagger. The dagger was made of Ash.

"Your final task, Feyre." Amaratha gestured to the kneeling faeries. "Stab each of these unfortunate souls in the heart." Feyre stared at her, her mouth opening and closing. "They're innocent, not that it should matter to you. Since it wasn't a concern the day you killed Tamlin's poor sentinel. And it wasn't a concern for dear Jurian when he butchered my sister. But if it's a problem... Well, you can always refuse. Of course, I'll take your life in exchange, but a bargain's a bargain, isit not? If you ask me, though, given your history with murdering our kind, I do believe I'm offering you a gift." Feyre stood looking at the faeries. "Well?" Feyre stepped up to the first kneeling figure. Her fingers trembled as she picked up the dagger. "Not so fast." And the guard pulled the hood off the first victim. The High fae young and he looked terrified. "That's better. Proceed, Feyre, dear. Enjoy it!" Amaratha waves her hand." Feyre went to stand in front of him.

"Please." The fae begged. "Please." The dagger shook between her fingers. "Don't. Don't." He begged. "Please." Someone in the crowd was weeping and Holly bit her lip. And Holly couldn't listen as the fae begged for his life, until Feyre plunged the dagger into his heart. The Fae boy screamed, thrashing in the guards grip as the blade went through his heart. Feyre ripped the dagger out of his chest. The boy sagged and fell dead. Feyre dropped the dagger onto the floor.

"Very good." Amaratha said. Feyre's face was white. "Now the next. Oh, don't look so miserable, Feyre. Aren't you having fun?" Feyre faced the second figure, still hooded. It was a female. Feyre took the dagger off the pillow. The hood was torn off. Tears were rolling down the female's face. Feyre looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Cauldron save me." The female started whispering. "Mother hold me. Guide me to you. Let me pass through the gates, let me smell that immortal land of milk and honey." Feyre's hand shook. "Let me fear no evil. Let me feel no pain."

"I'm sorry." Feyre let out a sob.

"Let me enter eternity." The woman breathes. Feyre was shaking. The woman looked at Feyre and nodded. Holly was nibbling her bottom lip as the woman kept repeating what she was saying. More faeries were wailing. Feyre gripped the fae woman's shoulder and drove the dagger into her heart. The woman gasped and her eyes closed. She slumped to the floor and didn't get up. The faeries were stirring now and shifting. Holly looked at Rhys, but he was looking at Tamlin.

"What is it?" Holly whispered. Rhys didn't answer. There was one faerie left. The faeire servant offered the last dagger and Feyre picked up the dagger. The guard ripped the hood off of the last faerie. Holly sucked in a breath as Tamlin knelt in front of Feyre. Holly turned her head to the Tamlin next to the throne and the Attar appeared in his place.

"Something wrong?" Amaratha asked cocking her head.

"Not fair." Feyre said. Rhysand had gone pale.

"Fair?" Amaratha played with Jurian's bone on her necklace. "I wasn't aware you humans knew the concept. You kill Tamlin and he's free." Her smile was pure evil "And then you can have him all to yourself." Holly clenched her jaw. "Unless you think it would be more appropriate to forfeit your life. After all: What's the point? To survice only to lose him? Imagine all those years you were going to spend together. Suddenly alone. Tragic, really. Though a few months ago, you hated our kind enough to butcher us, surely you'll move on easily enough." Amaratha patted her ring. "Jurian's human lover did." Tamilin's eyes were on Feyre. "So. What will it be, Feyre?" Feyre stared at the dagger.

"Is she going to do it?" Holly whispered.

"I don't know." Rhys said. Feyre seemed to be thinking as she looked at Tamlin.

'Would Amaratha really risk killing Tamlin?' Holly thought. Feyre grabbed the dagger as she stood in front of Tamlin. Holly watched.

"I love you." Feyre said, and she stabbed him. Tamlin cried out as the blade pierced his blesh, breaking bone. Holly grabbed Rhys's arm as there was a faint thud like it hit something hard. She pulled the blade out and the tip was nicked. Tamlin clutched his chest. The wound was healing. Rhysand grinned ear to ear as Amaratha climbed to her feet.

"She did it." Holly whispered. Fairies murmured to one another.

"She won."

"Free them."

Feyre dropped the dagger to the ground as Amaratha approached her features contorting until she looked serpentine.

"I'll free them whenever I see fit. Feyre didn't specify when I had to free them, just that I had to. At some point. Perhaps when you're dead." Amaratha said.

"Amaratha!" Holly said. Amaratha shot Holly a look that would kill if looks could kill and Rhys pulled her back. Amaratha turned on Feyre.

"And you! I'm going to kill you." Amaratha said.

"No!" Holly screamed as something hit Feyre like a force. "I'm going to make you pay for your insolence." Amaratha snarled as Feyre screamed. Bones were snapping as Amaratha slammed Feyre's body into the ground. "Admit you don't really love him, and I'll spare you." Amaratha prowled towards Feyre. "Admit what a cowardly lying, inconstant bit of human garbage you are."

"Feyre!" Rhysand shouted. Amaratha got closer.

"You think you're worthy of him? A High Lord? You think you deserve anything at all, human?" Feyre's back arched and Holly heard the cracking of ribs, one by one. Rhysand called for Feyre again. Holly heard faeiries shouting foul play and demanding Tamlin be released. "What are you but mud and bones and worm meat? What are you, compared to our kind, that you think you're worthy of us?" Holly felt her sword get pulled from her back.

"Rhys!" Holly hissed.

"You are all pigs, all scheming, filthy pigs." Amaratha said. Feyre screamed as Amaratha's foot connected with her broken ribs. "Your mortal heart is nothing to us." Rhys launched himself at Amaratha, swift as a shadow, the sword aimed for her throat. Amaratha lifted a hand, not looking at Rhys. He was blasted back by a wall of white light.

"Rhys!" Holly called, grabbing her dagger as Rhys hit the ground. and lunge for her, with talons for hands. Holly stepped from the dais as Rhys slammed into an invisible wall. Amaratha turned on him.

"You traitorous piece of filth. You're just as bad as these human beasts." Holly ran for Amaratha as one by one, the talons were pushed back into his skin. "You were planning this all along." Rhys was sent flying back. Holly put her dagger through Amaratha's shoulder and she screamed in pain. Holly cried out as a blast sends her flying and she hits the ground hard.

"Holly!" Rhys and Lucien yelled as Amaratha turned on Holly as she rolled onto her stomach.

"I told your father that he should have beaten you more or killed you as soon as you were born. Your nothing but a traitor as well." Amaratha said

"Fuck you." Holly said.

"Stop!" Feyre breathed, blood filling her mouth. "Please." Amaratha turned to Feyre as Holly struggled to her feet.

"Stop? Stop? Don't pretend you care, human." Amaratha crooned, curling her finger. Feyre's back arched. Holly knew she wouldn't live. "Say that you don't love him." Amaratha all but shrieked. But Feyre didn't. Her eyes were on Tamlin. Tamlin was crawling towards Amaratha.

"Amaratha, stop this." Tamlin begged. "Stop. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I said about Clythia all those years ago. Please." Amaratha ignored him and Holly saw Feyre struggling.

"Say that you don't truly love him." Amaratha spat as Feyre's body twisted, breaking bit by bit. "Admit to your inconstant heart."

"Amaratha, please." Tamlin begged. "I'll do anything."

"I'll deal with you later." Amaratha snarled. Feyre was refusing to say it and Holly was in tears. "Say it, you vile beast." Blood filled Feyre's mouth. as she coughed.

"Love." Amaratha stopped." The answer to the riddle is love." Feyre choked on her blood. A crack comes and Feyre falls lifeless to the floor. Rhys stood and Holly's eyes were on Amaratha. Her face slackened. Lucien pushed through the crowd. Tears shone in Lucien's remaining eye as he removed his fox mask. Tamlin's still masked face twisted into something truly lupine as he looked at the queen and snarled. Fangs lengthened. Amaratha backed away.

"Please." Amaratha whispered. Golden light exploded. The queen was blasted back, thrown against the far wall. Tamlin let out a roar that shook the mountain as he launched himself at her. He shifted into his beast form. Amaratha had hit the wall and Tamlin had her gripped by the neck. The stones cracked as he shoved her against the wall.

The Attor nd he guards rushed for the Queen. Holly winnowed in front of them and lifted her hand sending a force to blast them away and The Spring Court jumped on them to hold them down. Amaratha screeched, kicking Tamlin, lashing at him with her dark magic, but a wall of gold encompassed his fur like a second skin.

"Tam!" Lucien cried out and tossed a sword through the air at him. Tamlin caught it in one of his paws. Amaratha scream was cut short as Tamlin drove the sword through her head and into the stone beath. His jaws locked around her throat and ripped it out.

Silence fell. Holly felt the blanket lift from the mating bond as Tamlin walked over to Feyre. Holly closed her eyes as she reached down the bond.

'Az?' Holly asked.

'Holly? Thank the cauldron.' Holly neared cried hearing Azriel's voice. Her eyes open and look towards Feyre and see the High Lords giving Feyre some of their power.

'They are going to make her a High Fae.' Rhys told her. Holly smiled as Rhys moved forward and gave Feyre some of her power. Rhys came to Holly.

"Go to your room and do what you got to do. Then head home. I'll be there in a few days." Rhys said. Holly saw Feyre gasp and Holly looked at Rhys.

"You were right on her. Thank you." Holly said. Rhys smiled.

"I couldn't do this without you. Go." Rhys said. Holly winnowed to her room where Illyrian Leathers and all her weapons were on her bed. Holly ran her hand over them.

'Give your father hell and send him the message his plan failed.' Rhys said in her mind. Holly quickly changed into her leathers. They were a little loose on her.

'You coming home?' Azriel asked.

'I have something to do and I will be home.' Holly finished strapping the sword down her spine. She moved to the mirror and looked at herself. 50 years of pain and suffering and she was finally going to Velaris, but first... She winnowed to Hybern.

AN: Oh shit. Lol. Till next time.