Page 111 of Awakening

Chapter 21

With Morgaine’s death, the army of undead died with her, disintegrating into ash that fell to the ground. From the ashes, over which the demons trampled, rose the spirits of the undead. Released from their curse, they hovered for a moment, and then gradually disappeared as they ascended toward the heavens.

The small victory stunned the King’s army, but the demons’ assault persisted. There was no time to celebrate. Not even a moment to rest.

Trystan’s father fought alongside the men, women, and elves. Bruised and bloodied, he hung on as others around him fell. Glancing around, he watched the undead vanish. He breathed a small sigh of relief, and for a moment, prayed that his son still lived.

“Keep fighting, all of you!” Noah yelled, thrusting his sword into the gullet of a hellhound. “We mustn’t give up!”

Aisling appeared near him and shot a hellhound with her arrow, destroying it, then disappeared again. Another hellhound knocked Noah to the ground. He jabbed it with his sword, but it overpowered him. As he struggled to keep its jaws from tearing him apart, a wolf leapt from the shadows and pushed it away from him. The hellhound freed itself and bit into the wolf’s shoulder. The wolf howled, recoiling in pain. With his sword, Noah removed the hellhound’s head with a single stroke.

He looked at the wolf. Its eyes held immense pain as it collapsed on the blood-soaked earth. “Thank you,” Noah said, and he thrust the blade into its heart, taking its life as painlessly as he could to save it from the spreading curse.

Across the field, Queen Mysel appeared next to King Locryn. She quickly let loose several arrows, destroying the nearby attacking demons. In a momentary respite, she spoke to him.

“Your soldiers have fought bravely, Your Grace,” she said. “But they are losing their will to continue on.”

“We are only human,” he replied, his breathing labored, body exhausted from the hours of fighting. “What more will you have us do?”

“Do not let them lose hope or all is lost,” she answered. “We will not abandon you or the King.”

“We have heard rumors that Trystan is dead. Is this true?” King Locryn asked.

“Whether true or not, we must fight on to preserve life in our world. We cannot allow Iôr Thraul to win.”

Masses of demons closed in.

Queen Mysel shot arrows into the attacking demons. “Have faith, and may the Guardians protect us.”

***

Emrys, released from Morgaine’s spell upon her death, focused all his energy against the demon lord. Queen Mysel and one of the guardians joined him. His magic was in no way powerful enough to defeat Thraul, but strong enough to keep the demon’s attention concentrated on him so Marc could focus on Trystan. Though he feared he would not be able to hold him off much longer. The Queen and his fellow guardian berated the demon with their arrows, but their efforts could not distract him from focusing harshly on Emrys.

“Give up, Myrddin!” Iôr Thraul yelled. “All your hopes died with your young king over there. And now, with Morgaine’s death, I cannot be stopped. My armies will consume this realm, and I shall soon have the power to destroy the guardians as well.”

***

On the outskirts of the fighting, Lôrît found General Îarik hiding among the trees as he targeted the human soldiers.

“My lord, have you heard?” Lôrît asked.

“Heard what, my friend?” Îarik replied.

“Morgaine is dead.”

“Then we are now alone in this war.” Îarik leapt down from the lower branch of the tree.

“No, my lord.” Lôrît pulled back on the string of his bow and aimed at the General. “You are now alone.”

“You think you can turn on me, Lôrît?” Îarik growled. “You have already betrayed the Queen. She will not forgive you.”

Twenty elves, seconds apart, appeared around Lôrît. They all took aim at General Îarik.

“That is where you are wrong, General. I never betrayed her.”

Îarik narrowed his eyes. It had been part of the Queen’s plan all along. She must have immediately known of or foreseen his betrayal before it occurred. No doubt Teleri had imparted on Mysel some vision. He could not return to his people, and now, with Morgaine’s death, all hopes of redeeming himself and deposing the Queen by reviving the forest were gone.

“By the laws of our people, you are hereby found guilty of treason and sentenced to immediate death,” Lôrît announced. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Forgive me, brother.”