A Long Time Coming

The Battle

Sparks fly as metal clashes against metal. The sounds of battle rise above the bodies of soldiers. I clutch my wounded shoulder feverishly. I search for my comrades, but my vision is obscured through the cloud of dust and blood. The ground that was once lush and green is now burned black. The ground is coated with ash from the burning forest nearby. We stand at the junction between the two great mountains, making our final stand against our enemy. I gaze up at the grey coloured sky, this is no longer the land of kings and queens, for this must truly be hell. Someone grabs my arms and spins me around. I start to grab for my sword. My eyes are wide in panic until I see two familiar and gorgeously sculpted faces.

Aiden looks at me intently as Break stands ready in a protective stance. Aiden pulls me toward the scorched forest line, they both keep their swords in hand.

"Aiden, what are you doing?" I have to yell over the cries of battle. He doesn't even glance back at me.

"The King and Queen have called for you." I struggle against his grip.

"I won't abandon my people! Let me go-" He pulls harder and moves faster into the trees.

"The battle is lost, can't you see that! You are the princess, not a foot soldier!" My breath catches in my throat. We run through the underbrush, the wails of my soldiers have quieted down. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes. I feel Break put his hand on the small of my back, a comforting gesture, yet wasted. We break through the clearing to reveal a large tree in the center of a grove covered in ash. Light does not seep through the tree tops, only shadows. My mother finishes carving something onto the tree as I step toward my father.

"What's going on here? We are in the middle of a battle," I scream at them both. My mother only shakes her head and continues on with her back to me.

"What was so important that I had to leave my company?" I glare at him. He shakes his head, my father looks ten years older than he really is. War has aged him greatly.

"A new development has occurred." Is all he says, as if that was explanation enough. My hands clench and unclench by the hilt of my sword. He nods at the two men at my side.

"Send them back to the Spirit World. We have no more need of them."

"What do you mean? They are the best fighters we have! How dare you-"

"That was an order!" I flinch at his tone. I didn't want to send them back, even though they needed to be. The Spirit World, their original world was the only place they could heal and regain their strength. I looked them both over. It amazes me they could still stand with such wounds, but then again, they are no ordinary men. Break takes my hand and gives it a slight squeeze. I give him a gentle smile and release his hand. I glance over at Aiden, his heated gaze sends a shiver down my spine. Closing my eyes I visualize them back in their own world.

The air around me grows warm, then deathly cold. My eyes open and they are gone. My mother leads me toward the tree which she had carved several symbols into. I look at her; her face is as still as stone, with gloomy eyes. My father turns me to face him so that my back is to the tree. I look at them in question, not understanding the situation.

"We are going to lose this war." My eyes widen and I look at both of them. No, we can't give up! I can not believe what my ears are hearing.

"Make no mistake, we will fight till our last breath leaves our lungs. I understand now though that we will not win this war, but that doesn't mean it will be finished with our deaths."

I shake my head, "I don't understand." My father gives me a warm smile and takes me into his arms.

"I fear more for the future than I do our present, my daughter. I fear there will be no one left to fight those whose ideals threaten our very existence. We have no choice, but to gamble for the good of the future." He releases me and gives me a stern look,

"We cannot let them win, you understand? No matter the circumstance, promise me that you won't let them win." Shakily, I nod my head at his severe tone. My mother's hand sweeps my bangs from my forehead.

"We love you, so much, remember that. You are our miracle and you are your people's North Star." She says with tears brimming her eyes. I glance at them both frantically. Why are they saying all this? What is going on?

"One day you will understand our sacrifice...goodbye." He shoves me hard, away from them. I wait for the tree to hit my back, but I keep falling. My arms flail out, as I began to be ripped away from them.

"Remember your promise, Lyanna." I cling to my father's whisper as darkness encased my vision. I scream, but no one can hear me now.