The Dragons Egg : XXVIII : Army of Angels : Eveline : Draft

XXVIII

Army of Angels

Eveline

Eveline sat upon Merlin’s chair, her eyes upon the great doors of Peel Castle. Surrounding her were her companions and a dozen or so men, who were pouring over maps of the area and castle. Outside the great drums of her enemies beat and the women and children ran about the castle haphazardly, trying to find shelter and comfort. The high priests and priestesses were meeting with one another in the small druid chapel which lay outside of the main building, whilst the young and lean druid men, now stripped of their gowns readied themselves for battle, dressed in leather pants and boots, chain mail shirts and their faces and bare skin painted with ancient patterns of their tribes. They looked spirited, frightful and determined, exactly what Eveline needed out of her warriors. Bran her raven sat perched upon the left arm of merlin’s chair, quiet and observant. Patrick the high priest of the island was carefully making his way about the great wall of the castle, blessing the stones and praying for protection.

“The women and children can make for the caves below the castle,” a burly man with dark auburn hair commanded, his green eyes on Eveline.

“But the rising tide will surely drown them?” another man called Anwell returned to his master and commander of the warriors, Sugn.

“We have a six hour period before the tide returns to the shore,” Eveline said as she lifted a hand to silence the brooding men. “We must take advantage of the high tide, for surely our enemies cannot stay upon the beach forever? If we can keep ourselves safe within the confines of Peel castle until the tide comes in then that gives us another night in which to prepare…”

“Our enemies will not likely stand upon the beach for six hours my Lady,” Sugn said with knowing eyes. “Where they could, we would all be thankful, but those beasts are no mere men of this earth, they have seen many battles and know the language of war deeply. They will aim to break our wall and break us.”

“Then we must evacuate all those who cannot stay and fight,” Eveline said firmly, her eyes upon the ever silent Olivia, who looked out of place and in turmoil. “Livy, I am entrusting the care of the vulnerable in your hands, will you accept?”

“But I must stay with you?” Olivia returned her green eyes aflame.

“As much as I would wish you to my side in such a time as this,” Eveline said kindly. “War is no place for you and there is no shame in that, your place is to protect the women and children and get them away from this castle before the tide rises.”

“Alone?” Olivia asked as she glanced around at her companions.

“Never alone, Matthew and Edward will accompany you,” Eveline said with a nod of her head in the direction of the minister and her dear friend. She got up onto her feet and made for the trio, laying her hands upon Edward. “You told me once that war does not make heroes of us but ghosts. I would not have you raise a sword when it is against your morals, even…” she saw the pain in his eyes. “If your only wish is to protect me as a father protects his child. It would be against my own morals if I sent you back to your family, a mere ghost of the great man that you are.”

“I do not have to raise a sword to protect you,” Edward said with sincerity as he brought Eveline into an embrace. “We have magic.”

“And you have been a great tutor, all that you have taught me now resides within me,” Eveline whispered into his shoulder. “So you see, you will always be with me even if only in spirit.” Eveline stood back from her tutor and smiled gently before turning to Matthew. “You are a great man and what you have done for me is beyond the call of duty. I will never forget the sacrifices you have made so that I can live.”

“When the battle is over and your sword cleansed, we will be waiting to bring you to Ravinston,” Matthew said assuredly. “Be careful and be smart, your enemies they are old and their experience of battle deep, do not be indulgent or light headed and remember every life taken…”

“Another will be taken in its place,” Eveline smiled at the minister. “Do not worry minister, I will spare as many lives as possible.” Eveline turned from Matthew and stood before Olivia.

“I have never had a real friend before,” she said shyly. “But I believe I will always have a friend in you.”

“You speak as though we shall never speak again,” Olivia mumbled as she fluttered her eyelashes.

“Of course we shall speak again!” Eveline smiled with encouragement. “I have something I wish to tell you, something I saw in my future.”

“Yes?” Olivia whispered as the men about them were talking loudly and arguing amongst themselves. Eveline placed a hand upon Olivia’s stomach.

“You will have three children in the coming years, two boys and a little girl,” Eveline smiled deeply. Olivia’s eyes widened with shock.

“But how?” she stuttered.

“I spoke with my grandfather, and when I was dabbling with time, I happened to cross yours,” Eveline said as she smiled widely. “You will be a great mother, which is why you must go. Your life and destiny is to be surrounded by children and to surround them with love that overflows within you. I am so proud to be your friend and you have helped me through the hardest year in my life. I no longer feel like a young teenage woman who is unsure of herself, I feel like a young woman who has finally looked into the mirror and accepted herself as she is, flaws and all.”

“You have indeed shed the layers of youth and indeed blossomed into a great woman who has many hardships to bare,” Olivia said as she took Eveline’s hands. “I shall look after the women and children and in return you must promise me that you will look after yourself?”

“Of course I shall!” Eveline said merrily as she brought Olivia into a tight embrace. “I should also tell you that he is awake.”

“Galean?” Olivia whispered into her ear.

“Yes, he is alive,” Eveline said with emotion. Olivia drew back from their embrace, her eyes watering.

“Then you have much to live for friend,” she said with a smile. “Now go and lead your men into victory and save this great world from the ravages of those beasts!”

Eveline smiled at her friends before they turned on their heels and departed the great hall. At her side she felt William’s quiet presence and turned her eyes up into his handsome face.

“She will be fine,” Eveline said discreetly.

“She is and always has been my soul mate,” William said with a serious gaze. “I only wish I had had the courage to tell her many years ago.”

“Out paths do not always cross,” Eveline said with a shrug. “And it is painful when it feels so right, but fate has her reasons and so you must trust in them.”

“As you say Celestine,” William nodded. Eveline turned to the council of men.

“Right let us get to work!” she said with a hefty sigh. “Time does not wait for us any longer.”

For the most part of an hour the group stood about a table and made their plans for attack and defence. With a goblet of wine in her hand, Eveline turned from the men.

“How many archers are upon the walls?” she enquired as she took a deep sip of the wine, parched and a little hungry.

“About two hundred,” Sugn returned as he turned away a young archer. “I have put fifty in the flanking tower, fifty in the belfry tower and fifty in the govway tower. The enemy cannot attack the castle from the south, west and north, only from the beach.”

“It is an impenetrable fortress,” Anwell said as he poured wine into his own goblet. “They do however have a rather large battering ram, and they are heavily armed, the warriors carrying the ram are heavily protected from our arrows.”

“Fire cannot meet with the ram?” Eveline asked as she turned to the men, all of whom looked like raging ancient Celtic warriors of old.

“It is made of metal my lady,” Anwell said with a sympathetic smile. “Fire cannot avail metal.”

“The knights would not descend upon us with an army if they could not foresee victory,” Sugn said. “Their men are making their way up the side of the cliffs, soon they will scale the walls and our fortress will be under siege.”

“That is why we have archers along the wall Sugn,” Eveline said with a wave of her hand. “Come let us go to the gates.” Putting down her golden goblet, Eveline turned on her feet and made her way through the great hall, followed closely by a battle clad William, who was very quiet and aloof. Outside what was once a great monastic cathedral, many men ran across the open yard, carrying weapons. To the eyes of mere humans, Peel castle was a ruin with little building left and the majority of ground covered in a heavy grass, but beneath the shield which had been woven by the ancient druids, Peel castle was anything but abandoned. Within the walls were many spiritual buildings, small round houses and the great buildings of old, it was an ancient city upon an island and beneath it lay a great many ancient vaults. Peel Castle was the seat of the last great wizard in the west and many an army and enemy had over a thousand years tried to besiege it and steal the many ancient artefacts within its vaults, many of magic and many of golden worth. Eveline despite her less than warm relationship with Merlin had promised him upon his death that she would protect the last great druid city in the West and she intended too, for he and the last guardians of earth had given their life’s to protect her sons. As she passed the druids warriors she and the rest of her company finally came upon the great iron gates of Peel Castle. Surrounding the gates were both archers and sword bearers, their eyes upon the impending enemy who was now close. Eveline made for the steps and ascended them until she came to stand atop the wall.

“How many are there?” she asked William, her golden eyes upon the knights who stayed behind their warriors upon great black horses, very still and very quiet.

“About a thousand or two,” William returned as she scanned the enemy below. Eveline lifted her gaze away from the knights and looked down vertically from where she stood.

“The ram is near, we must prepare,” she said turning to Sugn and Anwell. “They will penetrate the gates and soon be within the castle, do we have cavalry?”

“We have two dozen horses,” Anwell answered as he followed her about the wall. Eveline scanned the area as she passed, marking points of strength and weakness.

“Have them made ready with riders and position them behind the gates,” Eveline said quickly as she made mental notes. She stopped walking and looked up at the sky, it was now quickly changing from blue to grey, with the great clouds rolling in from the now thundering ocean. She put her index finger into the air and closed her eyes briefly. “The wind is picking up.”

“My lady?” Sugn answered as they weaved their way through the archers.

“The sea will turn sharp in an hour or so, meaning those who scale the cliffs will find themselves in great trouble,” Eveline returned as she smiled across at the young warriors, their painted faces and flashing eyes filled with anticipation. “We have our advantage commander.”

“Indeed,” Sugn returned thoughtfully.

“We must hold ourselves within this castle, to meet our enemy upon the beach would be bold and would only harm our cause,” Eveline said as she swept away long strands of her loose hair. “We will only meet them upon the sand if all else fails, understand?”

“Yes my lady,” Sugn said with a bow as he turned from Eveline and took his leave. Eveline planted her hands upon the grey stones of the wall and looked out over the sea.

“It is odd to hear you speak so…so perfunctory,” William stated as she ran his fingers through his brown hair.

“And what of your silence friend?” Eveline returned with furrowed brows. “I am fulfilling my duty as a leader, despite having zero experience in the art of warfare.”

“You are proving yourself to be very capable,” William returned with a charming smile. “But people will die this day and that is why I am quiet.”

“And the wizard you so openly loved has died also,” Eveline said with folded arms. “Do you hate me for taking his life?”

“No, no I know you did it out of necessity,” William returned with a wave of his hand as he turned away and looked down into the area within the castle. “It is just the change.”

“I did not think you idle to change.”

“I too have my weakness,” William said with sadness. “The guardians of this earth are dead and now my people, all people are at peril from the dangers that lurk beyond this world.”

“Though the four guardians of this realm have died, that does not mean that they world is open to war,” Eveline said seriously. “There are many strong men who can protect the ways of our people until I return.”

“It feels different,” William sighed heavily. “Everything feels different, even you feel different from the woman I spoke with yesterday.”

“Not all change is bad change,” Eveline said gently. “I am still me.”

“Don’t listen to me, I am just melancholic,” William said with a kind smile. “I am pleased that you have found your footing as a leader, only saddened to know that you will soon depart from the world and return to your own.”

“Have you not been listening to me friend?” Eveline said as she placed a hand upon his own. “I will return. You would not think that I would leave earth to tend for itself when it faces such an uncertain future?” William tilted his head towards Eveline. “My son is here, and I would not leave neither him nor my people alone.” Above them a great cry of thunder poured forth from the dark clouds, shaking both William and Eveline from their conversation. Bran flew overhead, chirping aloud. Eveline turned her eyes to William. “It is time.”

Eveline and William ran through the now shaking archers until they met with a stone staircase and descended the steps two by two until they met with the ground. Outside of the walls a great cry of horns filled the air, and the once strong and determined eyes of the druid warriors now were filled with anxiety and trepidation. Twenty to thirty men sat astride their horses as a great sound of the raging ram against the iron doors filled the area about them. Eveline finding Anwell took him by the arm.

“The women and children are safe?” she asked as the rain began to fall hard.

“Yes they are in the caves my lady, but we will need to bring them up in four hours before the tide rises,” Anwell answered as he drew forth his sword.

“Then we must hope that the battle will be over before the sun sets this day,” Eveline said as she turned from Anwell and ran to the great gate, William at her side. Looking through a side hole in the gate she saw the heavily armed shadows as they worked together, wielding the great ram back before thrusting it forwards into the Iron Gate, shaking it to its core and throwing some of the druid men to the ground from sheer force. The rain increased and the thunder roared out over the horns, and every few minutes a great flash of lightning struck across the grey skies above, the light so intense that the men’s eyes flashed.

“My lady, you must return to the castle before the gates fall open,” Sugn urged Eveline from atop his great black stallion. Eveline looked up into his warrior painted face.

“I can fight!”

“You are the reason they are here!” Sugn said with anger. “Go back to the castle, your time to fight will soon be upon you!” Eveline felt William’s hand at her arm and did not fight him when he guided her away from the gates and back to the castle. When inside she tore herself away from him and paced to and fro before the great doors. About her a great many priests and priestesses were standing, all wearing their best gowns. Eveline turned to them and observed their presence. As she smiled, a great noise shook the foundations of the building and forced Eveline to turn about.

“The gates have been breached!” William said aloud as he quickly made to close the doors before him. Eveline ran from the doors and to the closest of windows and peered out. The shadows had breached the castle and now flowed into the grounds, sword meeting sword and arrow piercing skin. She felt herself shake with anxiety and she watched the druid priests and priestesses murmur spells aloud. Bran sat upon her shoulder patiently as she watched through the rain drenched windows as a great fight broke out before her. Above her the thunder raged on and great streaks of lightning plagued the skies outside. The men fell like dominoes against the enemy, and Eveline felt the first stirrings of fear. She turned to the pale William.

“They fall!” she said with a breathless voice. “They cannot stand against them! What shall we do?”

“We must keep you safe!” William said loudly above the roar of thunder. “That is why they are here!” Eveline cried out in frustration as she wielded Galean’s sword in her hand. She could not simply stand by and watch the druid men fall against the impenetrable enemy, whose swords were too strong. She knew that there was only one way in which to draw them away from the castle. She looked about her, the druids and William deep in concentration. The castle shook and Eveline ran her fingers through her hair roughly. There plans were coming to nothing and she was failing the druids. There magic and swords were not enough to keep the shadows at bay and time was running out. Eveline felt her heart beat wildly beneath her chainmail and with her breathe hardening she flung herself against the wall, her stomach sick and her legs a little faint.

“Courage,” she whispered to herself. There was no way out, they were trapped upon a small island with only the beach before them. Eveline was unexperienced in the art of war but she understood that right now in this moment a distraction was needed, she needed to draw away the enemy so that the druids could refocus and somehow keep the shadows out. With her eyes on the druid priests and priestesses, she furrowed her brows as an idea arose. “Fire,” she whispered as she looked down at her hands. “Magic.” Looking up from her hands she smiled. “That’s it!” she cried out as she ran away from the window at too William. “William I need your help!” she said quickly, taking his strong hand within her own. “Come!”

“Evie what are you up too?” William cried out as he followed her down a narrow corridor.

“We need to cause a distraction quick!” Eveline said as they ran along the corridor. When finally she had found the door which led out onto the yard outside she turned to William, her eyes flashing and her hands trembling slightly. “Fire and magic!”

“I don’t understand?” William said as he heaved in a breath.

“The armoury silly! We need to find the armoury and collect as much powder as possible!” Eveline said with a smile. “We need to surround the outside wall with a line of powder and set it alight, not by human fire but by magical fire! Fire that cannot be extinguished by water!”

“Dotain fire?” William asked as Eveline flung open the wooden door with her foot.

“Yes!” She said hastily as they ran through the grounds of the castle, heading south away from the fighting, towards the armoury. When finally they had made it to the armoury, Eveline flung open the doors with a wave of her hand.

“Eveline, stop for a moment please!” William shouted as she filtered her way through the small hut. Eveline turned to William, desperation in her eyes. “Your plan if you may?”

“We need to spread powder along the outside of the walls and set it alight, simple!” Eveline raged with indignation. “It will keep the shadows out and will give us enough time in which to regroup and refocus before the next onslaught.”

“Alright, but how are we going to get through that mass of fighting without being killed?” William asked as they both turned around from one another and scared the room for powder. Upon finding the large basket of powder, Eveline turned to William.

“We will just have to find a way!” she said, beads of sweat and rain falling down her face and drenching her hair and neck. “Listen we will need some help, so let’s make our way back to the castle and ask the priests for a hand, yes?”

“Yes!” William said with a nod of energy.

“Come on!” Eveline said as she picked up the large basket and with William’s help began to carry it from the armoury back to the castle. Once inside the castle, Eveline and William carried the basket to the great hall and with a large thud set it down before the confused faces. “I need your help,” Eveline said with a gulp of air. “We need to dispense of this powder around the wall, and set it alight with dotain fire, do you understand?”

“Dotain fire does not easily extinguish,” Patrick answered severely. “It may work as a distraction but what if the flames set the castle alight?”

“Listen we are all fluent in magic, and so now the time has come to use our skills!” Eveline said with frustration. “I am sure you can find a way to kill the flames priest! Now instead of wasting time can seven or eight volunteers please step forward?” Eveline put her hands on her hips and looked at the priests and priestesses. After an agonising moment, several young men and women stepped forward and rolled up their sleeves, much to the annoyance of Patrick. “Great, no we need to divide the powder into small bowls.” Behind her, William returned from the kitchens with a dozen deep bowls and handed them to the volunteers. “You know how to make a dotain fire, yes?”

“Yes,” the volunteers returned quickly as they filled their bowls.

“Good! Be sure to stay away from the men that scale the walls and if it is too dangerous then flee altogether, understand?” Eveline commanded as she took her basket and placed it under the arch of her arm.

“Yes,” the volunteers said with vibrancy.

“Great now go!” Eveline said loudly before turning to William.

“I shall fight off anyone who tries to kill us,” he said as they made their way out of the great castle and into the thriving scene of blood and fighting. Together they wound their way through the thick mass of men and shadows, blooding spilling over the ground beneath and large rain drops diluting the red liquid. Thunder still roared from above and great streaks of lightening still slashed across the skies as Eveline with the heavy basket made her way around the edge of the crowd, William fighting off those who came towards her with ill intent. Finally they found the steps which led them up onto the wall where archers still stood, flinging arrows through the dark air to the shadows below. Eveline brushed away the strands of hair and looked to William, who had just neatly kicked off a scaling warrior. Without a word, he took a shield from one of the druid men and brought it to Eveline, placing it before her head. “Quickly now!” he urged as she poured the basket onto its side and dispersed the powder, watching it as it fell upon the ground beneath and many of the shadows. It took five minutes to scale the wall to and fro and when she met with two of the volunteer’s one to the right and the other to the left, she put down the basket and flung away at the shield. Through the heavy rain she sought the faces of the knights, who were now nearing the castle upon their horses. Their eyes upon her, she lifted her hands into the air and lifted her eyes into the skies above.

“Doiteain  ar doiteain! (Fire upon fire!), Fuinseog ar fuinseog! (Ash upon ash), I orduithe dhuit chun analaigh” (I command thee to breathe!),” Eveline cried out so loudly, that the thunder could not be heard. Below, the knights let out a terrible cry so sharp, that Eveline fell back and brought her hands to her ears. As she sat upon the soaking ground, she felt and saw great licks of flames engorge the castle walls, cries of death so deep that she felt herself moved to tears. A firm hand took her and forced her to her feet.

“Eveline look at me!” William commanded as the flames surrounding the castle took a hold of his eyes. Eveline looked into his face, the cries of the knights still piercing at her very core. “Come.” Galean’s sword within a sheath at her side, Eveline followed William through the fighting men and led her down the steps once more. As they came to the grounds below, Eveline took from her sheath Galean’s sword and disconnecting her hand from Williams, joined the fight, swinging the sword high into the air, striking the enemy hard. Close to her she saw Sugn, blood sprayed over his skin.

“The gate!” she cried out. “Secure the gate!” she said loudly. Sugn merely nodded before turning and making his way towards the gate, followed by a dozen men. She found herself lost in the throng of fighting, William some feet away, his eyes dark and intense as she fought shadow upon shadow. Eveline knew that her identity had been breached, and now three to five shadows flung themselves upon her, their swords sharp and their intent pure. The noise of battle was so intense that she became immune to it as she fought off her opponents. The iron gates were still open and the dotain flames still high and hot. The heavy rains could not kill the ancient flames and Eveline felt slight relief at the distraction they had caused. As she swung Galean’s sword through the air she felt herself being forced out of the castle grounds and through the iron gates, despite her desperate pleas to William and Sugn, but no one could hear her amid the terrible noise of battle. She felt the flames lick at her skin and turned desperately to them as she was kicked hard in the back of her knees, forcing her body to the ground. Men about her ran hysterically in circles, their bodies aflame. It was a sight so horrid that Eveline’s own mind and soul felt the fire strike at the very core of her. So many lives had she taken, so many innocent lives would be taken in return for this day. Her finger tips grappling at the mud, she used all of her strength and urged the deepest remnants of her magic to come forth. Behind her, her enemy kicked her again, this time forcing her into the flames with Galean’s sword in her hand. She felt the warm liquid soar through her body and burst from her fingers, doing away with the fire and creating a space for her to stumble through. She rolled and rolled down the muddy hill, through the thicket of the oblivious shadows, who were now using magic as means of attack. Eveline rolled her body inwards as men stamped over her without mercy or recognition. She bite down on the pain as the shadows gathered in numbers about the castle. Her body was forced down the hill and onto the beach and as she fell away from the thick mass of sword bearing, axe wielding shadows she forced herself to her feet. Blood dripping down her face, her ribs broken from the onslaught of feet, Eveline stood away from the castle and found herself looking straight at the knights, who were but twenty feet away from her, shrouded in shadows, who began to laugh hideously as they realised who it was standing before them.

*

She raised Galean’s sword before her and wiped her brow with her free hand. She knew that she would have to kill the knights with the blade, but standing as she was, alone and surrounded, she knew her chances of defeating her enemy had now suddenly fallen away into shadow. The knights, cloaked in black chainmail jumped down from their great black mounts and drew back their thick hoods, revealing their faces to Eveline. She was astonished at how beautiful they were, deceived by their terrible black steads and heavy cloaks she believed they would look hideous and foul, but to her utter astonishment they were anything but foul in looks. Both knights had long white hair, black and silver eyes and strong faces, their noses thin and pointed, their silver brows thick and arched and their cheekbones so high, Eveline though God himself must have chiselled them himself. In height she was a half head shorter and in build a great deal smaller. Both of the knights brought forth long black blades, blades Eveline knew to be made of the terrible Beren stone. Eveline felt her legs shake as they quietly stepped towards her. She knew her death would not be upon this sand, but even in her quiet knowledge of such an event, she felt worried. Lifting Galean’s sword high she readied herself, until she heard a familiar birds cry and darted her eyes above her.

“Bran?” she whispered as a great raven swooped down low from the sky, unmistakably Bran. And yet as he swooped down, his wings began to enlarge and his body began to change rapidly so that when he touched the sand beside her, Eveline found herself not looking upon a raven but instead a full grown man, who on closer inspection looked instantly familiar. “Michael?” she called out dumbfounded. The great arch angel turned to her and smiled.

“You are not alone,” he said with a bow as he brought forth his sword of light. Eveline, still in utter shock turned to the knights and blinked twice as a great flock of ravens now descended from the skies above, each of them morphing into great guardians of light, their swords before them and their beautiful silver eyes intense and direct. “You know what you have to do?” Michael said with authority as the shadows and guardian’s readied themselves for battle. Eveline turned to Bran or Michael she thought with a nod of frustration.

“I know,” she said soundly. As quick as lightening, the world about her once more erupted into war as the guardians ran to the shadows with such might that Eveline felt honoured by their enthusiasm. Turning, she faced the knights and gulped. Quickly she darted towards them and cried out as she swung Galean’s sword high and with such force, she guided it down towards the first knight upon her left, feeling the hard blade slam against her enemy’s blade. As she fought with valour and intensity, her recent classes in defence suddenly began to emerge within her mind as she fought the knight, her feet dancing upon the sand as though she were a dancing swan. Behind the knight, Michael came into sight and with one swing of his own sword, knocked the knight to the ground. Without thinking, Eveline plunged her sword into his chest and heard his shrill cry come forth from his white lips. As she looked down into his beautiful yet petrifying face she felt a terrible blow to her head and fell to the sand, tripping over the body of the knight. Her head light and airy, she turned about and faced the second knight, who had now kicked Galean’s blade from her hand and grabbed a handful of her auburn hair. “Ouch!” she cried out as the knight trailed her along the cold white sand, away from the other dying knight. She tried to kick out at the knight as he brutally dragged her across the beach in the direction of the sea.

They cannot kill you, remember that….

She heard Galean’s words are they called out from within. Renewed strength against the acute agony, Eveline flung out her hand and caught the hilt of an abandoned sword and with swiftness, she flung it through the rainy air and brought it down over her captor’s hand, taking it off in one clean swing. The knight cried out as she was released onto the sand, grabbing his now amputated arm and wielding it to his chest in pain, turning his body away from Eveline as she scuttled to her feet, her stomach sick, her head in agony and warm blood running across her face and down her throat. The water lay but a few feet away and as the knight cried out, his feet pacing to a fro haphazardly, Eveline found the blade and took it in her hand and with a growl she thrust it into the knights back. The knight’s body arched upwards in return and his long white hair fell down his back as he crumbled to the sand, his sword falling to his side. Behind her she heard another cry and turned to see the other knight running in her direction, his blade high and his eyes wild with vengeance. Eveline quickly found the fallen knights sword and lifted it, and with a nauseous retch swung it down, decapitating the head from the knight’s body. Falling backwards slightly on her feet she readied herself as the last remaining knight attacked her without mercy. She felt the force of his body as he threw her to the ground, the sea water splashing over her frozen body. She cried out as the salted water filled her eyes and pierced at her, causing her to lose her vision as she pathetically scoured the water for the knight’s blade. As she crawled about the water, wiping her eyes she felt the metal of the blade pierce through her back and cried out so loudly that the ground beneath shook.

“Garoth der nudetein!” the knight cried out as he kicked down upon the water again. She knew not what he was saying as she crawled back into the strong waves. Her back felt as though it had been sliced into two and as she looked for help, she found none. The world had turned mad, the skies almost black and the guardian’s and shadows fought with such venom that none of them realised what was going on right before their very eyes. To the left she saw the flames still engulfing the castle and to her right the mass fighting, many bodies now strewn across the sand, with small rivers of blood flowing out to sea. The world was upon its axis and Eveline wanted it to stop. She saw the sheer horror in her enemy’s eyes as he came to her and took her by the hair and threw her head deep into the treacherous waters. Eveline felt her eyes pop and her lungs begin to burn as she tried to lift her head against his hand, needing to find the air above.

We do not only use man made weapons, we use magic….

Once again she heard Galean’s voice and with a sudden awareness closed her eyes and plunged her hands deep into the sand. No words were spoken as she commanded the water to recede from the shoreline and as it deep she gasped for air and with a wave of her hand she threw the knight from her and spout him upon the sand. Madness took over her as she came to stand on her feet, a little unsteady, her eyes still sore and her back draining of blood and pain.

“I am Celestine!” she roared as she ran to the knight and with her hand, tightened her fingers, his body beginning to curl up at her command. “And you snake are nothing but the mud upon my boots!” she screamed, her gentle self dispersed to the four winds as she finally found her strength and courage and stood up tall and terrifying. “You do not command me! I command you!” with her other hand outstretched she watched as the knights forsaken sword flew through the air, the hilt finding the palm of her free hand. “The darkness cannot avail you now creature!” with one great swing of her sword she killed the knight without hesitation. She watched as he took his last breathe and stumbled away from him, lowering her hands and feeling a great wash of water flow through her legs as the sea came back in a great wave. She stood and felt the sword fall from her hands and into the water. Behind her the cries of shadows rang out as they tried to run from the beach, only to be slayed by the guardian’s. Eveline crept back onto the sand and fell to her knees, her breath ragged and her body numb, she looked up into the sky as a great beam of light penetrated the dark clouds and fell over her. With one last breathe she fell onto her face and into a timeless sleep.

*

She felt herself being carried as her eyes opened, small buds of rain falling upon her face. She looked up into the great face of Michael, who smiled down upon her.

“Victory is yours your majesty,” he said sweetly as he carried her through the great archway, where the iron gates of Peel Castle now lay in ruin and disregard. She saw the faces of druid men and women and guardian’s as Michael brought Eveline through the grounds and made for the great hall. Eveline could not speak for the pain in her back was so deep that she only felt white agony, especially now that Michael carried her. As she let her face tilt itself side wards she saw the great mass of dead bodies strewn across the courtyard, some on top of others, some badly cut up and others curled up into a ball of death. As she was carried through the courtyard her eyes caught sight of a familiar face.

“William!” she tried to call out to the lifeless form upon the ground, a dozen or so arrows piercing his back. “No!” she cried as Michael brought her into the great hall, to where many men lay upon tables in agony, whilst healers attended to their wounds. Eveline could not remember much as she slipped in and out of conscience in what seemed to be hours. When finally she awoke from her troubled dreams, she found the hall quiet but for a few cries here and there. She was covered in a thick blanket and to her side sat Michael, his serious eyes on her. “What time is it?” she whispered, her throat dry and her body now warm.

“It is past midnight,” Michael returned dutifully, his sword before his feet. Eveline tried to move. “Please don’t, your back is badly wounded your majesty, you need to stay still and let it heal.”

“My friends,” Eveline said starkly as she tried to usher forth saliva, finding none. Michael picked up a goblet and came to her side.

“Drink from this,” he said kindly as he brought the goblet to her dry lips. Eveline sipped on the wine until she felt sick. “Your friends are safe and well,” Michael went on to say as he set down the goblet. “Your friend William I am afraid to say did not survive the battle.”

“I…” Eveline tried to talk but found herself unable, the sheer shock of his death too much to handle. So much death had tainted her this past year that she hardly knew how to digest the information.

“Do not try to talk, just rest a while,” Michael said softly. “We can talk more in the morning.”

Eveline once again felt herself fall into another troubled dream and when she once more opened her eyes, she found the morning sun upon her cheeks and her guardian still at her side, his ancient eyes on her.

“I cannot believe that you have been at my side all this time,” she whispered, her eyes half open.

“Does it surprise you really?” Michael asked kindly as Eveline rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Yes, everything still surprises me,” Eveline said seriously. “How many died?”

“A few hundred men and guardian’s,” returned Michael solemnly. “But you killed the knights and saved a great many men in return.”

“Not my friend, I left him to die alone,” Eveline said with a cry as she the realisation of all that had happened the previous day washed over her like an unforgiving wave of hatred.

“You could not control his death,” Michael said calmly. “He did not die in vain.”

“Please your words of justification bring now ease to my pain,” Eveline said bitterly. “I wish to see my friends.”

“I will go and get them for you,” Michael said gently as he brought himself to his feet, looked down at her for a moment and walked away. It didn’t take long for Michael to return, Matthew, Edward and Olivia following suite.

“Eveline! We tried to see you during the night, but Michael kept us at bay!” Matthew said as he knelt down to Eveline’s right.

“It’s true,” Edward said from above, keeping to his feet. Eveline looked over their faces and stopped at Olivia. She stood quietly, rocking on her feet as though in pain.

“Olivia,” Eveline spoke softly, raising her right hand in Olivia’s direction. “I’m so sorry.” Olivia, her eyes filled with unshed tears cried out in return and fell to Eveline’s side, taking her hand in her own and resting her head upon her shoulder.

“I didn’t even say goodbye,” she whispered with agony as Eveline wrapped an arm about her.

“William would never be petty about such things,” Eveline cried into her hair.

“I know, but I am,” Olivia said with a smile. Eveline held onto Olivia as she cried and when her tears began to slow, she brought herself away from Eveline and wiped her face. “I heard about what you did, you were so very brave.”

“I wouldn’t say brave, I would say unlucky,” Eveline smiled sheepishly as the men talked to one another in depth at the foot of her makeshift bed. “I literally rolled out of the gates, rolled!”

“Well that is an awfully unusual way to meet your enemies,” Olivia teased through her tears.

“I never really seem to do things in the proper manner, do I?” Eveline said with a shrug.

“That would be boring,” Olivia smiled as she wiped her face with the back of her jumper. “But truly, what you did out their it was very brave.”

“I couldn’t have done it without the help of my raven,” Eveline said as she looked down at Michael, dressed in an ethereal robe of white and gold.

“I have never met a real angel before, he is so…” Olivia quipped her eyes. “So…”

“I know, there are no words, imagine that?” Eveline smiled as she tried to lift herself up.

“No! It is too soon for you to move,” Olivia said with authority. Eveline, feeling reassured by her friends words, let herself fall to the ground.

“So many men and women died,” Eveline said under her breathe. “I am not sure I can every forgive myself.”

“They knew the cost of going to battle Evie, it was beyond you,” Olivia said with knowing eyes. “You are too cleaver to simply accuse yourself of their deaths, they were given the option to leave and instead they choose to stay and protect their way of live and you.”

“If Michael had not shown up, I am afraid I would not be here.”

“But he did show up, you have little faith in those who follow you and those who have protected you since birth,” Olivia said as she nestled her hands together upon her knees. “It is time to give them some due worth, you are surrounded by those who would lay down their lives for you.”

“That is what bothers me, I do not think myself worthy of such a sacrifice,” Eveline said, her mind troubled.

“Then do not think about it on terms of you alone,” Edward said as he turned to her. He was dressed in his usual tweed suit, his thin grey hair gently brushed back behind his large cauliflower ears. “They died not only for your sake but for their own and the survival of mankind, that is a reason bigger than yourself.”

“You always do make sense,” Eveline smiled as Olivia took her hand. “What are we to do now?” at her words Matthew and Michael turned to her.

“We are leaving in the morning after the funerals,” Matthew replied with folded arms. “You are no longer safe here and it is time to make for Ravinston and for the stones.”

“But we have a month to go until the solstice?” Eveline returned quickly.

“There is no time to spare, as soon as we make shore for Ravinston you will go through the stones,” Michael said. “There is no need to wait for the festival of solstice.”

“You mean I will be returning home in a few days’ time?” Eveline said with trembling lips.

“Yes,” Michael said. “Soon your true journey will begin.”



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