Until then, here's a brief excerpt that includes the newly added history and revamped plotline. That I had thought up way before I read the last Harry Potter book. But then, I can name at least five books that use the whole "sharing souls idea".
***
Ana shifted her grip on her sword and took three deep, steadying breaths. The helmet was much to big for her and practically obscured her vision, but she did not dare take it off. They would send her away without a second thought, without caring that they were her people and it was her world and what kind of queen could she be if she had never tasted suffering with her people?
Not the sort of suffering she'd brought upon herself when she'd tried to save them using dark magic, but true pain and toil as she crossed blades next to them and tasted the same blood, sweat, and tears.
That was the idea, in any case. She tightened the glove over her fake hand so no one would catch a glimpse of the pale almost silvery skin. It would surely give her away. Atop a grand, black stallion, Grey looked every bit the general she'd promoted him to be.
His armor was etched with the heraldic sign of the four-point star shaped almost like the nearly blackened jewel that burned under her shirt. She'd meant it as a sign of hope, of triumph against tribulation. The Mage stones had long been a symbol of fear, now they meant triumph against the one who had perverted them.
Next to him rode Gavin on a white stallion, his face was as emotionless as ever, but she could tell that he was uncomfortable in his armor by the way he held himself more stiffly than normal. His sword remained sheathed at his side, but he kept his hands ready to form spells.
They stared down the half formed monsters made of Meholanian blood and sewn together bits of skin and magic. Each of the monsters wore an ebony stone tied about their neck and carried a wickedly spiked sword. They howled curses in Meholanian and Ana could tell the men were terrified, mostly because she was just as afraid. “Hold your ground men!” Winter called out from the front of the lines. “Grey, ready your archers!”
Grey nodded and turned to his right. “Archers at the ready!”
The Meholanian archers began to infuse their arrows with magic; the golden shafts glowed blue with armor piercing spells. Ana clutched her sword with a white knuckled grip. “I am not about to tell you not to fear.” Winter began. “Fear is merely another emotion that can fuel strength. So fear for your loved ones, fear for their fate, we fight for them, we fight for our people, we fight for those we love, we fight for our land, we fight for ourselves, we fight for Queen Ana.”
“For the Mage Queen!” the men shouted.
Ana nearly dropped her sword in shock. She was flattered by their sentiment. Who was she? Why would someone want to fight for her? Ana didn't even fight for herself. I nearly destroyed them all and they still believe in me? An overwhelming desire to become good enough for their praise filled Ana to the very core. And as they chanted her name, she called, “For Mycp!”
With a final call, Winter and the forward guard charged. “Loose the arrows!” Grey screamed.
And then it began.
Ana ran with the crushing mass of warriors and her blade met another. She pushed the enemy sword aside and thrust her sword through the monster's chest. Blood and stench assaulted her senses and Ana was forced to stab the creature several more times to ensure its death. She dry gagged in to her helmet and could barely take a breath before a large sword came crashing into her line of sight.
Ana was nearly crushed under the force of the attack. Her muscles screamed as she gripped the sword so tightly her hands grew numb. Ana was overcome as the sword was pushed from her hands. She was forced to roll to escape death. Blood and dirt covered her. With a hastily whispered word, the sword returned to her hand and she struck with shaking hands. The dead creature fell onto her sword, his black blood dripping down onto her helmet, through the crevices and onto her face.
She dodged several more monsters as she moved deeper into the fray, her eyes darting about for any sign of Keleo. She knew Gavin was intent on killing him, but Ana also knew that Gavin would never survive an encounter with the fallen Arnog Mage.
The horror was beyond what she could have imagined. The screams of the dying mixed with the 'zing' of arrows and clash of steel. Suddenly she knew what Grey had meant. She knew why they hadn't wanted her in the battle.
Her arms and legs burned and sweat dripped off her brow to burn her eyes. She couldn't find Gavin in the fray and she knew her time was running out. With a shrill cry another man died beside her. “No!” she screamed. “No more!”
She threw off her helmet, but no one noticed in the midst of the carnage. “Gavin!” she screamed, although her voice was drowned out by the dying.
She felt the rage filling her and the embers in her soul catching fire. She wasn't supposed to let it feed her power, but then, what did the Gwaeon know of battle and death? What good was a kingdom if everyone was dead? Another king or queen could be found. Winter would make an excellent king. Even Grey, for all his surliness would make a good king. She pulled her stone from under the armor and looked hard at the bit of red that still remained. It was enough for what she needed to do. With a whispered word and a flash of power that brought all near her to their knees, she shouted, “Face me, Keleo!”
She vaguely heard Grey's oaths as he finally saw her and did not see the intense emotion that finally spread across Gavin's bloodstained features. All she could see was the man...creature she had dreamed of since she was a child. “Hello, little Mage Queen.” said the voice that had always resonated in her mind.
The fighting had ceased. No one seemed to dare to move or even breathe. “You don't have enough of my power to use against me.” Keleo noticed smugly.
“I don't need it. I have enough power of my own.”
The fallen Arnog smiled, the movement narrowed his eyes in a way that reminded Ana of a snake. “You apparently haven't spoken to your mother about any of this.”
Ana blinked. “My mother is dead.”
“Silly child. Zervrathaer hasn't changed a bit. She still keeps secrets, even from her own daughter.”
It was too impossible for Ana to believe. “Look, Keleo,” she replied tersely. “I know you've been stuck in my mind for far too long, but that's no reason to pull out Star Wars cliches in your final moments.”
Keleo shifted his shape into the tall, imposing form of the great, female Mage. “Haven't you noticed?” he asked in Zervrathaer's smoky tones. “You barely look like your father. The dark hair? The green eyes? Even down to the stubborn personality, you look so much like her.” he melted back into his own form. “But you're more human than mage and far too stupid to notice.”
“Liar!” Ana raged, feeling more of the inner fire consume her.
“Now who is being clichéd, little Mage Queen?”
Ana bit her lip raw to keep from saying anymore and playing into his manipulations. Actions spoke louder than words anyway. All she needed was one shot. All she had was one try. It would work. If it didn't...?
Ana didn't dare contemplate what would happen once the gem swallowed her whole and her soul was given to Keleo.
The fire was was hot that Ana felt her armor melting away and her skin blistering. She cried helplessly, bawling like the frightened child she was as she screamed in her cowardice. She was a coward. A bloody, stupid coward who hid behind a reputation she couldn't fill. The power burned until Ana felt she couldn't take it anymore. She let loose a shrill scream as blood poured from her eyes that were burned out by the energy she couldn't control.
Blood. Life. Death. And far too much light.
Something snapped.
The burning ceased. The heat remained, but it was pleasantly warm like sunlight. She could see it all, but her eyes focused on the woman standing next to her. Zervrathaer. Her mother. The woman smiled. “Hello darling.”
“Hi mom.”
“Yes...about that...”“It's alright. I was probably better off not knowing until now.”
“I'm sorry, Ana. I love you. You know that, right?”
Ana nodded. “I missed you.”
“Darling, I'm already dead. I've been dead awhile now. Slowly dying after the death of your father and your disappearance until my actual physical death. This power was the only thing holding me here. But it isn't mine anymore. It belongs to you. It always has.”
“Help me.” Ana begged. “One more time, please.”
She nodded and smiled gently. “One more time.”
And then the light faded. Vaguely Ana thought she could hear a huge explosion. In her mind's eye she saw the shocked look on Keleo's face and heard his scream. He hadn't expected the dead to come back to life, no matter how much he tried to make it happen. Ana saw Zervrathaer smile. “His soul belongs to you now.”
“I don't want it.”
“It is as much your own as the one you already have. It's like the other half.”
Ana laughed humorously. “How many people can say that they need two souls to live?”
“You're special, darling.”
“I would much rather be some semblance of normal.” Ana muttered.
The soul was like a glowing ball as it slowly came to rest in Ana's hands. “It's warm and it feels like a heartbeat.” she marveled in spite of her misgivings.
She pushed the soul into the place over her heart and felt the warmth of life return to her. It eased her weariness and brought color back to her sallow features.
Quite suddenly, Ana found herself wrapped up in the not quite real arms of her real, dead mother. “I love you, my darling.” her mother whispered before pulling back. “I name you Trice Souled, the Mage Queen Ana. Last of the Da'ld and Arnog.” she paused and grinned. “Although not quite the last if you marry that boy Gavin.”
Ana resisted to roll her eyes and say “mother!” in that whiny, teenager tone. She grinned. “Glad you approve of the emotionless head case who tried to kill me at least a dozen times.” she replied in a slightly amused, un-repentantly, sarcastic way.
“Well, yes, he's not perfect, but he does have promise.”
“I'm not in love with him.” Ana reminded her. “I don't want to be in love with anyone.”
Zervrathaer hugged her again. “Hurts will heal. You will find the desire to love again.”
Ana sighed, feeling safe in her mother's arms. The light was fading into a warm, comfortable darkness. “I love you.”
It was the very last thing Ana heard before completely giving in to the darkness.
***
So there it is. Not quite as exciting as it ought to be, but it's a decent start. All it needs is more action. Unfortunately, I seriously must work on my action scenes. Work in progress. *le sigh*
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