Chapter 49: The beginning of the end.

[Bellatrix:]
Starkev's reaction is instant as he screams, "Guards!" He knew. He knew we will be here.
"Now!" Trikan yells and I watch as Starkev's guards and Trikan's warriors meet in the middle, Trikan leading his troupe.
My fists clench around my sword and I look at Alec. "Go to him Bella, this is your fight" His voice is steady but I hear the underlying fear and worry that he tries so hard to hide.
I nod and run towards Starkev, Alec swinging his swords against the enemies as I push through the battleground.
Finally, I get to Starkev's front, his guards are fighting with Trik's warriors so it's just him and I. I raise my sword and I can tell he is ready for it but I don't move an inch.
Starkev turns slowly until he faces me, eyes filled with hatred and something else; desperation?
"It seems you have a plan Bellatrix, why not give it up now. Surrender?" He taunts me. "You cannot win."
I chuckle darkly, looking at the enemy who surrounds us. My people are being slaughtered in droves, I'm almost positive their numbers will soon be more than they have left.
The last thing I want to do is surrender to Starkev, to turn on these people whom I have awirn to protect.
But my family is dying in the distance and if I do not defeat this man here today I know I will lose everything.
I look at Starkev, seeing his face pale when I finally speak. "You won't take my home from me Starkev. You will not take my brother or sisters, my friends, my family, from me. Instead, I will make sure the soil of Astrid receives your blood today!" I yell at him. "And I swear on my magic, and my oath to the Fairy goddess, Ishtar, that I will see you and your followers suffer until there is nothing left. Until every one of your pathetic little armies is dead! And then you will beg for mercy from my blade and I will gladly grant you that!" I say coldly.
Starkev laughs at me and takes a step forward. "Your arrogance has gotten the better of you Bellatrix. I thought you were smarter than this. Do you think that because you managed to survive the first time, that you won't die again? Even with your magic. The best II will get from you is a painful graze"
He is wrong. He does not know, that his quest for what he won't get has reduced his magic.
He swings his sword, and I feel the wind blow past me.
I duck out of the way and spin my blades around and block his swing. We fall into a rhythm and I keep moving. His sword strikes my side, sending a chill down my spine and I feel hot liquid drip down my shirt.
I jump back and look up at him, anger written across my features.
"You're going to pay for that Starkev." I snarl at him, before throwing myself backwards once more, trying to land another hit. He blocks me, but it does not deter my momentum.
Another cut, another parry. Another hit and another parry, each strike hitting me harder. I feel light-headed and I close my eyes, hoping the dizziness will pass.
I feel his sword come close to my neck, and I open my eyes once again.
He raises his sword high and I dodge out of the way. He hits the ground, but his blade misses my head by inches.
I throw a kick at his ribs, and he cries out in pain. He rolls onto his other shoulder and throws himself at me again, pushing me further and further away.
I stumble backwards, desperately seeking for some sort of purchase to stand on. I am losing ground fast. Starkev stands above me, raising his sword, and preparing for another swing.
I close my eyes in anticipation, bracing myself for what I will do now. I call on it, my magic... Ice and earth. My eyes snap open and I send out my magic, ice encasing Starkev and myself like a fence.
I can tell he knows what I am doing, and his eyes widen as he realizes it too.
With an angry roar, he pulls back his foot, preparing to stomp me into oblivion. I pull back the frost, using only part of it, just enough for me to escape Starkev's path.
I spin around in a circle to find an opening between the lines of ice, and I rush in.
Once more he attacks but I dodge him and send out ice spikes that hit him square in the chest.
His breathing is laboured as he stumbles backwards, clutching the ice spike stuck in his chest. The blood seeps through the cracks between the ice, coating the ground beneath me in red.
His eyes lock onto mine once more and I feel the air stir as he brings his free hand forward, fire flashing in the palm.
I bring my arms up in a defensive stance, knowing that his magic will not be able to break me. But still, it hurts, and I can taste the blood rising in my throat.
The flames lick at my skin and I brace myself for whatever may come next.
There is no warning, just a flash of blue and I feel the heat of his magic burn my skin and hair, but I continue my defence.
I ignore the pain in my side as I use my own magic to strengthen the protection spell around me.
I hear the sound of a sword unsheathing behind me, but I keep my eyes locked with Starkev's.
He growls and starts to charge forward once more, the flames licking at his body once more. As always he comes toward me, never allowing me any room to manoeuvre or breathe.
He gets within reaching distance, and I am certain his sword is already upon me. But I hold true, even when it feels like all hope has been lost. My arms shake under the weight of my magic and Starkev lunges forward, sword raised over his head.
Suddenly, I realize that there is not much room for error. My arm stretches up, my eyes closing. When I open them I see it.
The moment of truth.
The power of Astrid, and the strength of my own soul— the chosen.
Everything stops. There is silence, and I sense the air change as the energy is drawn together in one place. Everything feels frozen.
And with a piercing yell, I let it out and then there is a burst of pure white light shooting from my chest. The last thing I see is Alec's sword plunging deep into Starkev, then I see no more.
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